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Patriarch E to be a probleone no more than a few miles Emban was not comfortable on a horse, and he filled the air with co to work, you know,’ Kalten observed about hts have to listen to Emban feel sorry for himself all the way across the Daresian continent, he’s likely to have soet to Matherion I’ht now ht about it He looked at the queen’s carriage ‘That landau’s not quite big enough,’ he told his friend ‘I think we need sorander Six horses are more impressive than four anyway See if you can find Bevier’

When the olive-skinned Arcian rode forward, Sparhawk explained the situation ‘If we don’t get E to take us a year to cross Daresia Are you still on speaking terms with your cousin Lycien?’

‘Of course We’re the best of friends’

‘Why don’t you ride on ahead and have a chat with hiht – six horses probably We’ll put Ee with e Ask your cousin to locate one for us’

‘That ht be expensive, Sparhawk,’ Bevier said dubiously

‘That’s all right, Bevier The Church will pay for it After a week on horseback, E that doesn’t wear a saddle Oh, as long as you’re going there anyway, have our ships moved upriver to Lycien’s docks Madel’s not so attractive a city that any of us would enjoy a stay there all that ed’

‘Will we need anything else, Sparhawk?’ Bevier asked

‘Not that I can think of Feel free to i you can think of on your way to Madel For once, we have a et at our disposal The coffers of the Church are wide open to us’

‘I wouldn’t tell that to Stragen or Talen, hed ‘I’ll be at Lycien’s house I’ll see you when you get there’ He wheeled his horse and rode south at a gallop

‘Why didn’t you just have hine?’ Kalten asked

‘Because I don’t want to have to defend te get to Tamuli’

‘Oh That makes sense – sort of’

They arrived at the house of Sir Bevier’s cousin the Marquis Lycien, late one afternoon, and ravelled court in front of Lycien’s opulent home The Marquis bowed deeply to the Queen of Elenia and insisted that she accept his hospitality during her stay in Madel Kalten dispersed the knights in Lycien’s park-like grounds

‘Did you find a carriage?’ Sparhawk asked Bevier

Bevier nodded ‘It’s large enough for our purposes,’ he said a bit dubiously, ‘but the cost of it may turn Patriarch Emban’s hair white’

‘I wouldn’t be too sure,’ Sparhawk said ‘Let’s ask hiravelled court to where the Patriarch of Ucera stood beside his horse, clinging to his saddle-horn with a look of profound misery on his face

‘Pleasant little ride, wasn’t it, your Grace?’ Sparhawk asked the fat roaned ‘I don’t think I’ll be able to walk for a week’

‘Of course ere only strolling,’ Sparhawk continued ‘We’ll have to et to Tamuli’ He paused ‘May I speak frankly, your Grace?’