The Ruby Knight by David Eddings Read Free Book Online

and Kalten rode side by side deep in conversation. ‘A word of advice, Sparhawk,’ he said confidentially. ‘You’re an Elenian, so you don’t seem to have any problems with this sort of thing, and in Deira we’re fairly broad-minded about such things, but I don’t know that I’d let Bevier in on this. The Cyrinic Knights are a pious lot – just like all Arcians – and they disapprove of these little irregularities very strongly. Bevier’s a good man in a fight, but he’s a little narrow-minded. If he gets offended, it might cause problems later on.’
    â€˜You’re probably right,’ Sparhawk agreed. ‘I’ll talk with Talen and ask him to keep his relationship with Kurik to himself.’
    â€˜Do you think he’ll listen?’ the broad-faced Deiran asked sceptically.
    â€˜It’s worth a try.’
    They occasionally passed a farmhouse standing beside the foggy road with hazy golden lamplight streaming from its windows, a sure sign that even though the sky had not yet started to lighten, day had already begun for the country folk.
    â€˜How long are we going to stay with this column?’Tynian asked. ‘Going to Lake Randera by way of Demos is a very long way around.’
    â€˜We can probably slip away later this morning,’ Sparhawk replied, ‘- once we’re sure that nobody’s following us. That’s what Vanion suggested.’
    â€˜Have you got somebody watching to the rear?’
    Sparhawk nodded. ‘Berit’s riding about a half-mile back.’
    â€˜Do you think any of the Primate’s spies saw us leave your chapterhouse?’
    â€˜They didn’t really have very much time for it,’ Sparhawk said. ‘We’d already gone past them before they came out of their tents.’
    Tynian grunted. ‘Which road do you plan to take when we leave this one?’
    â€˜I think we’ll go across country. Roads tend to be watched. I’m sure that Annias has guessed that we’re up to something by now.’
    They rode on through the tag end of a foggy night. Sparhawk was pensive. He privately admitted to himself that their hastily conceived plan had little chance of success. Even if Tynian could raise the ghosts of the Thalesian dead, there was no guarantee that any of the spirits would know the location of King Sarak’s final resting place. This entire journey could well be futile and serve only to use up what time Ehlana had left. Then a thought came to him. He rode on forward to speak with Sephrenia. ‘Something just occurred to me,’ he said to her.
    â€˜Oh?’
    â€˜How well known is the spell you used to encase Ehlana?’
    â€˜It’s almost never practised because it’s so very dangerous,’ she replied. ‘A few Styrics might know of it, but I doubt that any would dare to perform it. Why do you ask?’
    â€˜I think I’m right on the edge of an idea. If no one but you is really willing to use the spell, then it’s rather unlikely that anybody else would know about the time limitation.’
    â€˜That’s true. They wouldn’t.’
    â€˜Then nobody could tell Annias about it.’
    â€˜Obviously.’
    â€˜So Annias doesn’t know that we only have a certain amount of time left. For all he knows, the crystal could keep Ehlana alive indefinitely.’
    â€˜I’m not certain that gives us any particular advantage, Sparhawk.’
    â€˜I’m not either, but it’s something to keep in mind. We might be able to use it someday.’
    The eastern sky was growing gradually lighter as they rode, and the fog was swirling and thinning. It was about a half-hour before sunrise when Berit came galloping up from the rear. He was wearing his mail-shirt and plain blue cloak, and his war-axe was in a sling at the side of his saddle. The young novice, Sparhawk decided almost idly, was going to need some instruction in