I didnt think there were all that many of them, Sparhawk, Bevier replied defensively.
There were enough. It only takes one to kill you.
Youre vexed with me, arent you, Sparhawk? Beviers voice was mournful.
Sparhawk looked at the young knights earnest face for a moment. Then he sighed. No, Bevier, I suppose not. You just startled me, thats all. Please, for the sake of my nerves, dont do unexpected things any more. Im not getting any younger, and surprises age me.
Perhaps I didnt consider the feelings of my comrades, Bevier admitted contritely. I promise it will not happen again.
I appreciate that, Bevier. Lets help Kalten back down the hill. I want Sephrenia to take a look at him, and Im sure shell want to have a talk with him a nice long one.
Kalten winced. I dont suppose I could talk you into leaving me here? This is nice soft dirt.
Not a chance, Kalten, Sparhawk replied ruthlessly. Dont worry, though. She likes you, so she probably wont do anything to you nothing permanent, anyway.
Chapter 3
Sephrenia was tending a large, ugly-looking bruise on Berits upper arm when Sparhawk and Bevier helped the weakly protesting Kalten down the hill to her.
Is it bad? Sparhawk asked the young novice.
Its nothing, My Lord, Berit said bravely, although his face was pale.
Is that the very first thing they teach you Pandions? Sephrenia asked acidly, - to make light of your injuries? Berits mail-shirt stopped most of the blow, but in about an hour his arms going to be purple from elbow to shoulder. Hell barely be able to use it.
Youre in a cheerful humour this afternoon, little mother, Kalten said to her.
She pointed a threatening finger at him. Kalten, she said, sit. Ill deal with you after Ive tended Berits arm.
Kalten sighed and slumped down onto the ground.
Sparhawk looked around. Where are Ulath, Tynian and Kurik? he asked.
Theyre scouting around to make sure there arent any more ambushes laid for us, Sir Sparhawk, Berit replied.
Good idea.
That creature didnt look so very dangerous to me, Bevier said, - a little mysterious perhaps, but not all that dangerous.
It didnt hit you, Kalten told him. Its dangerous, all right. Take my word for it.
Its more dangerous than you could possibly imagine, Sephrenia said. It can send whole armies after us.
If its got the kind of power that knocked me off my horse, it doesnt need armies.
You keep forgetting, Kalten. Its mind is the mind of Azash. The Gods prefer to have humans do their work for them.
The men who came down that hill were like sleepwalkers, Bevier said, shuddering. We cut them to pieces, and they didnt make a sound. He paused, frowning. I didnt think Styrics were so aggressive, he added. Ive never seen one with a sword in his hand before.
Those werent western Styrics, Sephrenia said, tying off the padded bandage around Berits upper arm. Try not to use that too much, she instructed. Give it time to heal.
Yes, maam, Berit replied. Now that you mention it, though, it is getting a little sore.
She smiled and put an affectionate hand on his shoulder. This one may be all right, Sparhawk. His head isnt quite solid bone like some I could name. She glanced meaningfully at Kalten.
Sephrenia, the blond knight protested.
Get out of the mail-shirt, she told him crisply. I want to see if youve broken anything.
You said the Styrics in that group werent western Styrics, Bevier said to her.
No. They were Zemochs. Its more or less what we guessed at back at that inn. The Seeker will use anybody, but a western Styric is incapable of using weapons made of steel. If theyd been local people, their swords would have been bronze or copper. She looked critically at Kalten, who had just removed his mail-shirt. She shuddered. You look like a blond rug, she told him.
Its not my fault, little mother, he said, suddenly blushing. All the men in my family have been hairy.
Bevier looked puzzled. What finally drove that creature off? he asked.
Flute, Sparhawk replied. Shes done it before. She even ran off the Damork once with her pipes.
This tiny child? Beviers tone was incredulous.
Theres more to Flute than meets the eye, Sparhawk told him. He looked out across the slope of the hill. Talen, he shouted, stop that.
Talen, who had been busily pillaging the dead, looked up with some consternation. But Sparhawk he began.
Just come away from there. Thats disgusting.
But
Do as he says! Berit roared.
Talen sighed and came back down the hill.
Lets round up the horses, Bevier, Sparhawk said. As soon as Kurik and the others get back, I think well want to move on. That Seeker is still out there, and it can come at us with a whole new group of people at any time.
It can do that at night as well as in the daylight, Sparhawk, Bevier said dubiously, and it can follow our scent.
I know. At this point I think speed is our only defence. Were going to have to try to outrun that thing again.
Kurik, Ulath and Tynian returned as dusk was settling over the desolate landscape. There doesnt seem to be anybody else out there, the squire reported, swinging down from his gelding.
Were going to have to keep going, Sparhawk told him.
The horses are right on the verge of exhaustion, Sparhawk, the squire protested. He looked at the others. And the people arent in much better shape. None of us has had very much sleep in the last two days.
Ill take care of it, Sephrenia said calmly, looking up from her examination of Kaltens hairy torso.
How? Kalten sounded just a bit grumpy.
She smiled at him and wiggled her fingers under his nose. How else?
If theres a spell that counteracts the way were all feeling right now, why didnt you teach it to us before? Sparhawk was also feeling somewhat surly, since his headache had returned.
Because its dangerous, Sparhawk, she replied. I know you Pandions. Given certain circumstances, youd try to go on for weeks.
So? If the spell really works, what difference does it make?
The spell only makes you feel as if youve rested, but you have not, in fact. If you push it too far, youll die.
Oh. That stands to reason, I suppose.
Im glad you understand.
Hows Berit? Tynian asked.
Hell be sore for a while, but hes all right, she replied.
The young fellow shows some promise, Ulath said. When his arm heals, Ill give him some instruction with that axe of his. Hes got the right spirit, but his techniques a little shaky.
Bring the horses over here, Sephrenia told them. She began to speak in Styric, uttering some of the words under her breath and concealing her moving fingers from them. Try as he might, Sparhawk could not catch all of the incantation, nor even guess at the gestures which enhanced the spell. But suddenly he felt enormously refreshed. The dull headache was gone, and his mind was clear. One of the packhorses, whose head had been drooping and whose legs had been trembling violently, actually began to prance around like a colt.