Page 125 (1/2)

Sarabian raised one eyebrow questioningly

‘He’s done everything he possibly can to make you inaccessible to us, Sarabian,’ Ehlana explained

‘He was told not to do that,’ Sarabian said bleakly

‘Apparently he didn’t listen, your Majesty,’ Sparhawk said ‘We have to wade through his people whenever we get near the main palace, and every time one of us so much as sticks his head out of a hole platoons of spies start to form up to follow us Your priather’

‘It rather looks as if I’s to the esteeotten the fact that his office isn’t hereditary – and that his head’s not so firmly attached that I can’t have it rees would you bring against hies? What on earth are you talking about, Ehlana? This is Taes I can have his head chopped off if I decide that I don’t like his haircut I’ll take care of Pondia Subat, my friends I can promise his complete co-operation from now on – either his or that of his successor Please continue, Lord Vanion’

Vanion pushed on ‘Patriarch Emban will concentrate his attention on the prime minister,’ he said, ‘whoever he happens to be Sir Bevier will spend his tireat deal of infors – until it’s too late Ulath, Kring and Tynian will observe the general staff of the arh coessa will cover his own people Milord Stragen and Talen will serve as liaison with the thieves of Matherion, and Alean and Khalad will circulate a the palace servants Sephrenia and Zalasta will talk with the local Styric community and Melidere and Sir Berit will charm all the courtiers’

‘Isn’t Sir Berit just a bit young?’ Sarabian asked ‘My courtiers are a very sophisticated group of people’

‘Sir Berit has some special qualifications, your Majesty’ Melidere ser wo – will do al for him He may have to sacrifice his virtue a few ti man, so I’m sure we can count on his like that, Baroness?’ he asked plaintively

‘I’ that men don’t understand, your Majesty,’ Kalten told the e women for some reason’

‘Kalten and Mirtai will attend Sparhawk and the queen,’ Vanion continued ‘We don’t know exactly how far our opponents o, so they’ll provide you with some additional protection’

‘And you, Lord Vanion?’ the e to try to put it all together, Sarabian,’ Ehlana replied ‘We’ll all bring everything we find directly to theaps so that we’ll knohere to concentrate further efforts’

‘You Elenes are a very rowth of their dependency on logic, your Majesty,’ Sephrenia told hi soet results A well-trained Elene will spend half a dayobservations before he’ll allow hi’

‘Ah,’ E, you can be absolutely sure that he’s telling you the truth’