‘Faran,’ he said to his horse, ‘behave yourself.’

The big roan gave him a flat, unfriendly look.

‘It was a good ride,’ Sparhawk said, laying one hand on Faran’s powerfully muscled neck. ‘Get some rest.’ Then he turned and went up the stairs into the palace. ‘Where’s the queen?’ he asked one of the soldiers at the door.

‘In the council chamber, I believe, My Lord.’

‘Thank you.’ Sparhawk started down a long, candlelit corridor towards the council chamber.

The Tamul giantess Mirtai was emerging from the council chamber when he reached the door. ‘What took you so long?’ she asked, showing no particular sign of surprise.

‘Some things came up,’ he shrugged. ‘Is she in there?’

Mirtai nodded. ‘She’s with Lenda and the thieves. They’re talking about repairing streets.’ She paused. ‘Don’t greet her too enthusiastically, Sparhawk,’ she cautioned. ‘She’s with child.’

Sparhawk gave her a stunned look.

‘Wasn’t that sort of what you two had in mind on your wedding night?’ She paused again. ‘Whatever happened to that bandy-legged man who shaves his head?’

‘Kring? The Domi?’

‘What does “Domi” mean?’

‘Chief – sort of. He’s the leader of his people. He’s still alive and well as far as I know. The last time I saw him, he was working on a plan to lure the Zemochs into a trap so that he could slaughter them.’

Her eyes suddenly glowed warmly.

‘Why do you ask?’ he wanted to know.

‘No reason. Just curious.’

‘Oh. I see.’

They went into the council chamber, and Sparhawk unfastened the neck of his dripping cloak. As chance had it, the Queen of Elenia had her back to the door when he entered. She and the Earl of Lenda, Platime and Stragen were bent over the large map spread out on the council table. ‘I’ve been through that quarter of the city,’ she was saying insistently, ‘and I don’t really think there’s any help for it. The streets are so bad that patching just won’t do. It’s all going to have to be repaved.’ Her rich, vibrant voice touched Sparhawk’s heart, even when she was discussing so mundane a matter. He smiled and laid his wet cloak across a chair near the door.

‘Of course we can’t start until spring, Your Majesty,’ Lenda pointed out, ‘and even then we’re going to be fearfully short of workers until the army returns from Lamorkand, and –’ The old man broke off, staring at Sparhawk in astonishment.

The Prince Consort touched one finger to his lips as he approached the table to join them. ‘I hate to disagree with Your Majesty,’ he said in a clinical tone, ‘but I think you should give more consideration to the condition of the highways rather than the streets here in Cimmura. Bad streets inconvenience the burghers, but if the farmers can’t get their crops to market, it’s more than just an inconvenience.’

‘I know that, Sparhawk,’ she said, still staring at the map, ‘but –’ She raised her flawless young face, her grey eyes stunned. ‘Sparhawk?’ Her voice was hardly more than a whisper.

‘I really think Your Majesty should concentrate on the highways,’ he continued seriously. ‘The one between here and Demos is in really shocking –’ That was about as far as he got with that particular subject.

‘Gently,’ Mirtai cautioned him as Ehlana hurled herself into his arms. ‘Remember what I told you outside.’

‘When did you get back?’ Ehlana demanded.

‘Just now. The others are a little behind. I rode on ahead – for several reasons.’

She smiled and kissed him again.

‘Well, gentlemen,’ Lenda said to Platime and Stragen, ‘I think perhaps we can continue this discussion later.’ He smiled. ‘Somehow I don’t really think we’ll be able to command Her Majesty’s full attention this evening.’

‘Would you all mind too terribly much?’ Ehlana asked them in a little-girl sort of voice.

‘Of course not, baby sister,’ Platime boomed. He grinned at Sparhawk. ‘It’s good to have you back, my friend. Maybe you can distract Ehlana enough so that she won’t be poking her nose into the details of certain public works projects I have an interest in.’

‘We won, I gather,’ Stragen said.

‘Sort of,’ Sparhawk replied, remembering Kurik. ‘Otha and Azash won’t be bothering us any more at least.’

‘That’s the important thing,’ the blond thief said. ‘You can fill us in on the details later.’ He looked at Ehlana’s radiant face. ‘Much later, I’d imagine,’ he added.

‘Stragen,’ Ehlana said firmly.

‘Yes, Your Majesty?’

‘Out.’ She pointed imperiously at the door.

‘Yes, ma’am.’

Sparhawk and his bride adjourned to the royal apartments shortly after that, accompanied only by Mirtai. Sparhawk was not really sure just how long the Tamul giantess intended to remain in attendance. He didn’t want to offend her, but –

Mirtai, however, was very business-like. She gave a number of crisp commands to the queen’s personal servants – commands having to do with hot baths, suppers, privacy and the like, and then, after everything in the royal apartment was to her satisfaction, she went to the door, drawing a large key from under her sword-belt. ‘Will that be all for tonight, Ehlana?’ she asked.

‘Yes, Mirtai,’ the queen replied, ‘and thank you so very much.’

Mirtai shrugged. ‘It’s what I’m supposed to do. Don’t forget what I told you, Sparhawk.’ She tapped the key firmly against the door. ‘I’ll let you out in the morning,’ she said. Then she went out and closed the door behind her. The sound of the key turning in the lock was very loud.

‘She’s such a bully,’ Ehlana laughed a bit helplessly. ‘She absolutely ignores me when I give her any orders.’

‘She’s good for you, love,’ Sparhawk smiled. ‘She helps you to keep your perspective.’

‘Go and bathe, Sparhawk,’ Ehlana commanded. ‘You smell all rusty. Then you can tell me about everything that happened. Oh, by the way, I’ll have my ring back now, if you don’t mind.’

He held out his hands. ‘Which one is it?’ he asked her. ‘I can’t for the life of me tell them apart.’