Demon Knight

certainly not capable of organizing one. When I asked people — King Fredrico, the cardinals, condottieri, anyone — who would make the best comandante, the only name I ever heard was Longdirk. He had ensnared me with that single letter, months before. I had to cooperate or slink home with my ears down. I confess that the opportunities he gave me to slight him in public have been the most enjoyable parts of my visit.'

He chewed for a moment, then said with a reluctant smile, 'There is something almost noble in the way he endured it. By day, we spat in his beard. By night, when we met, he would thank us! Small wonder that Nevil discounted him.'

'And you will force me to marry this snake, Cousin? This churl, this betrayer, this demon incarnate?'

Sartaq turned to Lisa, looking startled.

'Forgive me. I express myself poorly in this language. I am aware that your heart draws you to this man, but—'

'With respect, Cousin, it does nothing of the sort! Far from it! Disregard any such rumor.'

'Oh?' He laughed. 'Then this is easier. What I am trying to tell you is that the last man in Europe I will let you marry is Toby Longdirk. He has worked wonders. He may even destroy Nevil completely before this day is out. But is he an improvement? Where does his loyalty lie? I do not know. Nor do I know if he planned this, but because we excluded him from all the ceremonies, he has never performed the ritual of obeisance! Not even when he was appointed comandante yesterday.'

Lisa gasped, and a moment later her mother gulped.

'Are you telling us, Cousin, that Longdirk deliberately murdered my husband to avoid having to swear allegiance to the Khan?'

Sartaq shrugged and drew his knife to cut a slice of meat from the cold lamb. 'I don't think so.' He seemed reluctant to make that admission. 'We had not planned to include the obeisance in the middle of the wedding. My advisors believe that the murder was aimed at Longdirk, and his spiritual defenses deflected it. But it is worrisome. If this battle goes Longdirk's way, as I expect it will, then there will be no stopping him. Don't be surprised if his men turn up at the door to take you into, um… 'protective custody' is the usual expression, I believe.'

CHAPTER EIGHT

He could see nothing. He could hear. He could smell sweat, taste blood, and he most certainly could feel.

The drum beat its slow refrain—tap—pause—tap—and after each tap the cat-o'-nine-tails crashed against his back, and the whole world exploded in fire. He was back on Mulliez's whipping post, hanging by his wrists, being beaten to bloody shreds.

tap—pause—'Neuf!'

But this was wrong. He could not think because of—

crash!—

— the pain, but this could not be happening. This was gramarye and—

tap—pause—'Dix!'

he ought to be able to deal with it, if he could just find—

crash!—

— oh, demons! — the answer. This was not real. This was gramarye. Hex.

tap—pause—'Onze!'

— the cardinal! Hob! Help! Sorghie!—

crash!—

— oh, spirits! Help me, Sorghie! I've never called for help in my—

tap—pause—'Douze!'

— life before, but I need you, need you, need you…

In a dark sky on a dark field a white owl swoops low and, snatching up its quarry, is gone on wings of silence…

* * *

He had his clothes on. There was no blood in his mouth or on his back. He was lying on rough ground with his head in Sorghaghtani's lap, and she was sobbing hysterically, weeping without tears. Sunlight through branches dappled the sky.

'Sorghie! Sorghie?'

She gasped, barely able to breathe. 'Little One?'

'It's all right, Sorghie. Thank you, oh, thank you!' He found her hand and squeezed it. Trees, early-morning sky, a few birds singing… No sign of Chabi. 'How did you get here?'

'Did you not need me?'

'I needed someone, yes!' He would probably have managed without her, eventually, but the sooner the better in that sort of trap. Marradi! That nasty, small-minded—

She choked a few times. Her absurd shaman hat lay discarded on the grass, and sunlight glinted highlights in her thick black hair. Her eyes were still bandaged. 'What happened, Little One?'

'A very spiteful man, that's all.' Ricciardo Cardinal Accursed Marradi.

'He was going to kill you?'

Toby heaved himself up to a sitting position. His head swam a bit, but he was basically unharmed. One day, when he had time, he would try to work out what had happened. 'Maybe. I don't think so. I think he laid a death hex on me so he could tell his friends he had, but he knew I had some gramarye and could break it.' No way to be sure, though. He wasn't even sure he could have broken it without Sorghie's help. It had been a close call.

'You broke your oath now?'

'Let's go and see.' The sun was still very low through the trees, but that distant rumble was the mudded-up sound of guns and thousands of hooves, war cries and dying screams, drums and bugles — the noise of battle that could inspire a man to wild killer frenzy and simultaneously make him want to crawl under a bush and hide. It could not have been going on very long yet. He rearranged himself to rise, and somehow the movement put his face closer to hers, and then it was quite natural to take her in his arms and kiss her.

She was as tiny as a doll. She returned the kiss eagerly, moaning with delight, seeming willing to let it go on forever, child trying to become instant woman. He wanted to crush her and certainly could if he tried, while her embrace was barely perceptible through his armored jerkin.

Breaking loose was surprisingly difficult. 'Oh, Sorghie! That cannot be.'

She buried her face in his neck, snuffling like a puppy. 'We helped, didn't we?'

'You didn't just help. Without you and Chabi it would have been impossible. I would not have remembered to give the signal, and the armies would not have attacked.'

'Our walk was not for nothing then?'

'No.' He kissed her again. He did not fear the hob with Sorghie. She was so tiny in his arms that his body was not taking her seriously. Given time, though… He eased his lips away from hers. She smiled and also sighed.

'All over?'

'Yes, I'm afraid so. Come along.'

Smeorach had tangled his reins in a bush not far off and was resolutely trying to eat with the bit still in his mouth, which would just plain ruin his digestion. Toby climbed aboard and pulled the blind shaman up beside him. Then he rode off into the Unplace.

* * *

Only two reserve battles of infantry remained near the Neapolitan camp. Voices were raised in alarm when the unknown horse materialized nearby, but a glance showed him that the war was not here, and he did not linger.

* * *

Smeorach's hooves clattered on paving, and he neighed in alarm to find himself in the crowded street outside Giovanni's Inn. But this was home at the moment. It had oats. He neighed again, more hopefully. Other