‘Lord Abriel,’ Wargun said, ‘that strategy will spread us out all over central Lamorkand.’

‘I’ll admit that it has drawbacks,’ Abriel conceded, ‘but the last time Otha invaded, we met him head-on at Lake Randera. We virtually depopulated the continent in the process, and it took centuries for Eosia to recover. I’m not sure we want to repeat that.’

‘We won, didn’t we?’ Wargun said bluntly.

‘Do we really want to win that way again?’

‘There may be another alternative,’ Sparhawk said quietly.

‘I’d certainly be glad to hear it,’ Preceptor Darellon said. ‘I’m not too happy with any of the options I’ve heard so far.’

‘Sephrenia,’ Sparhawk said, ‘just how powerful is the Bhelliom really?’

‘I’ve told you that it’s the most powerful object in the world, dear one.’

‘Now there’s a thought,’ Wargun said. ‘Sparhawk could use Bhelliom to obliterate whole chunks of Otha’s army. Incidentally, Sparhawk, you are going to return Bhelliom to the royal house of Thalesia when you’re finished with it, aren’t you?’

‘We might discuss that, Your Majesty,’ Sparhawk said. ‘It wouldn’t really do you all that much good, though. It won’t do anything at all without the rings, and I don’t feel much like surrendering mine yet. You can ask my queen how she feels about hers, if you wish.’

‘My ring stays where it is,’ Ehlana said flatly.

Sparhawk had been mulling over his earlier conversation with Sephrenia. He was growing increasingly certain that the impending confrontation was not going to be settled by vast armies clashing in central Lamorkand in the way that the one five hundred years earlier had been. He had no way to justify his certainty, since he had not reached it by logic but rather by some intuitive leap that was more Styric in nature than Elene. He somehow knew that it would be a mistake for him to immerse himself in an army. Not only would that delay him in something he must do, but it would also be dangerous. If the subversion of Sir Perraine had not been an independent act on Martel’s part, then he would be exposing himself and his friends to thousands of potential enemies, all completely unidentifiable and all armed to the teeth. Once again he absolutely had to get clear of an Elene army. His idea grew more out of that necessity than out of any real conviction that it would work. ‘Is there enough power in Bhelliom to destroy Azash?’ he asked Sephrenia. He already knew the answer, of course, but he wanted her to confirm it for the others.

‘What are you saying, Sparhawk?’ she asked in a tone of profound shock. ‘You’re talking about destroying a God. The whole world trembles at such a suggestion.’

‘I’m not raising the question to start a theological debate,’ he said. ‘Would Bhelliom be able to do it?’

‘I don’t know. No one’s ever had the temerity to even suggest it before.’

‘Where is Azash most vulnerable?’ he asked.

‘Only in His confinement. The Younger Gods of Styricum chained Him within that clay idol Otha found centuries ago. That’s one of the reasons He’s been seeking Bhelliom so desperately. Only the Sapphire Rose can free Him.’

‘And if the idol were to be destroyed?’

‘Azash would be destroyed with it.’

‘And what would happen if I went to the city of Zemoch, discovered that I couldn’t destroy Azash with Bhelliom and smashed the jewel instead?’

‘The city would be obliterated,’ she said in a troubled tone, ‘– along with any mountain ranges in the vicinity.’

‘I can’t really lose then, can I? Either way, Azash ceases to exist. And, if what Krager told us is true, Otha’s at Zemoch as well, along with Martel, Annias and various others. I could get them all. Once Azash and Otha are gone, the Zemoch invasion would disintegrate, wouldn’t it?’

‘You’re talking about throwing your life away, Sparhawk,’ Vanion said.

‘Better one life than millions.’

‘I absolutely forbid it!’ Ehlana shouted.

‘Forgive me, My Queen,’ Sparhawk told her, ‘but you ordered me to deal with Annias and the others. You can’t really rescind that command – at least not to me, you can’t.’

There was a polite rap on the door, and Tynian entered with the Domi, Kring. ‘Sorry to be late,’ the Deiran Knight apologized. ‘The Domi and I have been busy with some maps. For some reason, the Zemochs have sent forces north from their main encampment on the Lamork border. There’s an infestation of them in eastern Pelosia.’

Kring’s eyes brightened when he saw King Soros. ‘Ah, there you are, My King,’ he said. ‘I’ve been looking all over for you. I’ve got all sorts of Zemoch ears I’d like to sell you.’

King Soros whispered something. He still appeared to have a sore throat for some reason.

‘It’s starting to fit together,’ Sparhawk told the council. ‘Krager told us that Martel was taking Annias to the city of Zemoch to seek refuge with Otha.’ He leaned back in his chair. ‘I think the final solution to the problem we’ve been having for the last five centuries lies in the city of Zemoch and not on the plains of Lamorkand. Azash is our enemy, not Martel or Annias or Otha and his Zemochs, and we’ve got the means to destroy Azash once and for all in our hands now. Wouldn’t we be foolish not to use it? I could wear the petals off Bhelliom destroying Zemoch infantry units with it, and we’d all grow old and grey on some fluid battlefield to the north of Lake Cammoria. Wouldn’t it be better to go right to the heart of the problem – to Azash Himself? Let’s have done with this so that it doesn’t keep cropping up every half-eon or so.’

‘It’s strategically unsound, Sparhawk,’ Vanion said flatly.

‘Excuse me, my friend, but what’s so strategically sound about a stalemate on a flat battlefield? It took more than a century to recover from the last battle between the Zemochs and the west. This way we at least have a chance to end it once and for all. If it appears not to be working, I’ll destroy Bhelliom. Then Azash won’t have any reason to come west again. He’ll go and pester the Tamuls or something instead.’

‘You’d never get through, Sparhawk,’ Preceptor Abriel said. ‘You heard what this Peloi said. There are Zemochs in eastern Pelosia as well as the ones down in eastern Lamorkand. Do you propose to wade through them all by yourself?’