The Sapphire Rose. David Eddings

on down into Rendor.

      ‘Who is Flute?’ Ehlana interrupted him at one point.

      ‘A Styric foundling,’ he replied. ‘At least we thought she was. She seemed to be about six years old, but she turned out to be much, much older than that.’ He continued his account, describing the trek across Rendor and the meeting with the physician in Dabour who had finally told them that only magic could save the stricken queen. He then went on to tell her of the meeting with Martel.

      ‘I never liked him,’ she declared, making a face.

      ‘He’s working for Annias now,’ Sparhawk told her, ‘and he was in Rendor at the same time we were. There was a crazy old religious fanatic down there – Arasham – and he was the spiritual leader of the kingdom. Martel was trying to persuade him to invade the western Elene kingdoms as a diversion to give Annias a free hand during the election of the new Archprelate. Sephrenia and I went to Arasham’s tent, and Martel was there.’

      ‘Did you kill him?’ Ehlana asked fiercely.

      Sparhawk blinked. This was a side of her he had never seen. ‘The time wasn’t exactly right, My Queen,’ he apologized. ‘I came up with a subterfuge instead and persuaded Arasham not to invade until he received word from me. Martel was furious, but he couldn’t do anything about it. He and I had a nice chat later, and he told me that he was the one who had found the poison and passed it on to Annias.’

      ‘Would that stand up in a court of law, My Lord?’ Ehlana asked the Earl of Lenda.

      ‘It would depend on the judge, Your Majesty,’ he replied.

      ‘We have nothing to worry about on that score, Lenda,’ she said grimly, ‘because I’m going to be the judge – also the jury.’

      ‘Most irregular, Your Majesty,’ he murmured.

      ‘So was what they did to my father and me. Go on with the story, Sparhawk.’

      ‘We returned here to Cimmura and went to the chapterhouse. That’s where I received the summons to go to the royal crypt under the cathedral to meet with your father’s ghost. He told me a number of things – first that it was your aunt who had poisoned him and that it was Annias who’d poisoned you. He also told me that Lycheas was the result of certain intimacies between Annias and Arissa.’

      ‘Thank God!’ Ehlana exclaimed. ‘I was half-afraid that he was my father’s bastard. It’s bad enough to have to admit that he’s my cousin, but a brother? Unthinkable.’

      ‘Your father’s ghost also told me that the only thing that could save your life was the Bhelliom.’

      ‘What’s the Bhelliom?’

      Sparhawk reached inside his doublet and drew out the canvas pouch. He opened it and drew out the Sapphire Rose. ‘This is Bhelliom, Your Majesty,’ he told her. Once again he felt more than saw that annoying flicker of darkness at the very edge of his vision. He shook off the feeling as he held out the jewel.

      ‘How exquisite!’ she cried, reaching out for it.

      ‘No!’ Sephrenia said sharply. ‘Don’t touch it, Ehlana! It could destroy you!’

      Ehlana shrank back, her eyes wide. ‘But Sparhawk’s touching it,’ she objected.

      ‘It knows him. It may know you as well, but let’s not take any chances. We’ve all spent too much time and effort on you to waste it at this point.’

      Sparhawk tucked the jewel back into its pouch and put it away.

      ‘There’s something else you should know, Ehlana,’ Sephrenia continued. ‘Bhelliom is the most powerful and precious object in the world, and Azash wants it desperately. That’s what was behind Otha’s invasion of the west five hundred years ago. Otha has Zemochs – and others – here in the west trying to find the jewel. We must deny it to him at any cost.’

      ‘Should we destroy it now?’ Sparhawk asked her bleakly. The question cost him a great deal of effort to say for some reason.

      ‘Destroy it?’ Ehlana cried, ‘but it’s so beautiful!’

      ‘It’s also evil,’ Sephrenia told her. She paused. ‘Perhaps evil isn’t the right term, though. It has no concept of the difference between good and evil. No, Sparhawk, let’s keep it for a while longer until we’re certain Ehlana is past any danger of a relapse. Go on with the story. Try to be brief. Your queen is still very weak.’

      ‘I’ll cut this short then,’ he said. He told his queen of their search of the battlefield at Lake Randera and of how they were finally able to locate Count Ghasek. The queen listened intently, almost seeming to hold her breath as he recounted the events at Lake Venne. He quickly sketched in King Wargun’s interference – though he did not use that exact word – and finally described the dreadful encounter in Ghwerig’s cave and the revelation of Flute’s real identity. ‘And that’s where things stand now, My Queen,’ he concluded. ‘King Wargun’s battling with the Rendors down in Arcium; Annias is in Chyrellos awaiting the death of Archprelate Cluvonus; and you’re back on your throne where you belong.’

      ‘And also newly betrothed,’ she reminded him. She was obviously not going to let him forget that. She thought for a moment. ‘And what have you done with Lycheas?’ she asked intently.

      ‘He’s back in the dungeon where he belongs, Your Majesty.’

      ‘And Harparin and that other one?’

      ‘The fat one’s in the dungeon with Lycheas. Harparin left us rather suddenly.’

      ‘You let him escape?’

      Kalten shook his head. ‘No, Your Majesty. He started screaming and trying to order us out of the council chamber. Vanion got bored with all the noise and had Ulath chop off his head.’

      ‘How very appropriate. I want to see Lycheas.’

      ‘Shouldn’t you rest?’ Sparhawk asked her.

      ‘Not until I have a few words with my cousin.’

      ‘I’ll fetch him,’ Ulath said. He turned and left the room.

      ‘My Lord of Lenda,’ Ehlana said then, ‘will you preside over my royal council?’

      ‘As Your Majesty wishes,’ Lenda said with a low bow.

      ‘And Lord Vanion, would you also serve – when your other duties permit?’

      ‘I’d be honoured, Your Majesty.’

      ‘As my consort and champion, Sparhawk will also have a seat at the council table – and I think Sephrenia as well.’

      ‘I am Styric, Ehlana,’ Sephrenia pointed out. ‘Would it be wise to put a Styric on your council, given the feelings of the Elene commons about our race?’

      ‘I’m going to put an end to that nonsense once and for all,’ Ehlana said firmly. ‘Sparhawk, can you think of anyone else who might be useful on the council?’

      He thought about it, and suddenly an idea came to him. ‘I know a man who isn’t of noble birth, Your Majesty, but he’s very clever and he understands a great deal about a side of Cimmura you probably don’t even know exists.’

      ‘Who is this man?’

      ‘His name’s Platime.’

      Talen burst out laughing. ‘Have you lost your mind, Sparhawk?’ he said. ‘You’re going to let Platime into the same building with the treasury and the crown jewels?’

      Ehlana looked a bit puzzled. ‘Is there some problem with this man?’ she asked.

      ‘Platime’s the biggest thief in Cimmura,’ Talen told her. ‘I know that for a fact because I used to work for him. He controls every thief and beggar in the city – also the swindlers, cut-throats and whores.’

      ‘Watch