The Diamond Throne

‘The count tried to fight them, of course, but they quickly disarmed him and tied him to a stake in the centre of the courtyard. They killed all the men inside the castle, and then—’

  ‘All the men?’ Annias interrupted him, his face suddenly stern.

  ‘They killed all the men inside the castle, and then—’ Tessera faltered. ‘Oh, I almost forgot that part. They killed all the men inside the castle—except for the churchmen—and then they brought out the count’s wife and daughters. They were all stripped naked and then violated before the count’s eyes.’

  A sob escaped the King of Arcium. ‘My aunt and my cousins,’ he cried.

  ‘Steady, Dregos,’ King Wargun said, putting his hand on the other king’s shoulder.

  ‘Then,’ Tessera continued, ‘after the count’s womenfolk had all been repeatedly raped, they were dragged one by one to a spot directly before where the count was tied and their throats were cut. The count wept and tried to tear his hands free, but his bonds were too tight. He pleaded with the Pandions to stop, but they only laughed and continued their butchery. Finally, when his wife and daughters were all dead and lying in their own blood, he asked them why they were doing this. One of them, the leader, I think, replied that it was on the orders of Lord Vanion, the Preceptor of the Pandions.’

  King Dregos leapt to his feet. He was weeping openly and clawing at his sword hilt. Annias stepped in front of him. ‘I share your outrage, your Majesty, but a quick death for this monstrous Vanion would be far too merciful. Let us hear this good, honest man out. Go on with your account, Tessera.’

  ‘There isn’t much more to tell, your Grace,’ Tessera replied. ‘Once the Pandions had killed all the women, they tortured the count to the point of death and then they beheaded him. After that, they drove the churchmen out of the castle and looted the place.’

  Thank you, Tessera,’ Annias said. He motioned to another of his soldiers, and the guard went to the same side door to admit a man dressed in a peasant smock. The peasant had a slightly furtive look and he was trembling noticeably.

  ‘Say your name, fellow,’ Annias ordered.

  ‘I am Verl, your Grace, an honest serf from the estate of Count Radun.’

  ‘And why are you in Cimmura? A serf may not leave the estate of his lord without permission.’

  ‘I fled, your Grace, after the murder of the count and all his family.’

  ‘Can you tell us what happened? Did you witness this atrocity?’

  ‘Not directly, your Grace. I was working in a field near the count’s castle when I saw a large group of men dressed in black armour and carrying the banners of the Pandion Knights ride out of the castle One of them had the count’s head on the point of his spear. I hid myself and I could hear them talking and laughing as they rode by.’

  ‘What were they saying?’

  ‘The one who was carrying the count’s head said, “We must carry this trophy to Demos to prove to Lord Vanion that we have carried out his orders.” After they had gone past, I ran to the castle and found everyone inside dead. I was afraid that the Pandions might come back, so I ran away.’

  ‘Why did you come to Cimmura?’

  ‘To report the crime to you, your Grace, and to place myself under your protection. I was afraid that if I stayed in Arcium, the Pandions would hunt me down and kill me.’

  ‘Why did you do this?’ Dregos demanded of Vanion. ‘My uncle has never given any offence to your order.’

  The other kings were also glaring at the Pandion Preceptor accusingly.

  Dregos wheeled round to glare at Prince Lycheas. ‘I insist that this murderer be placed in chains!’

  Lycheas tried without much success to look like a king. ‘Your demand is reasonable, your Majesty,’ he said in his nasal voice. He cast a quick look at Annias, seeking reassurance. ‘We therefore command that this miscreant Vanion be placed—’

  ‘Um, excuse me, your Majesties,’ the Earl of Lenda interposed, ‘but by law, Lord Vanion is entitled to present his defence.’

  ‘What defence can there possibly be?’ Dregos asked in a sick voice.

  Sparhawk and the others had remained at the back of the council chamber Sephrenia made a small gesture, and Sparhawk leaned towards her ‘Someone here is using magic,’ she whispered. ‘That’s why the kings are so willing to accept the infantile charges against Vanion. The spell induces belief.’

  ‘Can you counter it?’ he whispered back.

  ‘Only if I know who’s doing it.’

  ‘It’s Annias. He tried a spell on me when I first came back to Cimmura.’

  ‘A churchman?’ she looked surprised. ‘All right. I’ll take care of it.’ Her lips began to move, and she concealed her hands in her sleeves to hide their gesturing.

  ‘Well, Vanion,’ Annias sneered, ‘what have you to say for yourself?’

  ‘These men are obviously lying,’ Vanion replied scornfully.

  ‘Why would they lie?’ Annias turned to the kings seated at the front of the room. ‘As soon as I received the reports of these witnesses, I dispatched a troop of church soldiers to the count’s castle to verify the details of this crime. I expect their report within the next week. In the meantime, it is my recommendation that the Pandion Knights all be disarmed and confined within their chapterhouses to prevent any further atrocities.’

  King Obler stroked his long grey beard. ‘Under the circumstances, that would be the prudent course,’ he said sagely He turned to Darellon of the Alcione Knights. ‘My Lord Darellon,’ he said. ‘Dispatch a rider to Deira. Tell him to bring your knights to Elenia. They are to assist the civil authorities here in disarming and confining the Pandions.’

  ‘It shall be as your Majesty commands,’ Abriel replied, glaring at Vanion.

  The aged King of Deira looked at King Wargun and King Dregos. ‘I would strongly advise that the Cyrinics and Genidians also send forces,’ he said. ‘Let us seal up these Pandions until we can separate the innocent from the guilty.’

  ‘See to it, Komier,’ King Wargun said.

  ‘Send your knights as well, Abriel,’ King Dregos commanded the Preceptor of the Cyrinics. He glared at Vanion with hate-filled eyes. ‘I pray that your underlings attempt to resist,’ he said fiercely.

  ‘A splendid idea, your Majesties,’ Annias said, bowing. ‘I would further suggest that as soon as we receive confirmation of the murders, your Majesties travel with me and these two honest witnesses to Chyrellos. There we can lay the entire affair before the Hierocracy of the Church and the Archprelate himself with our strong recommendation that the Pandion Order be disbanded. Strictly speaking, that order is under Church authority, and only the Church can make the final decision.’

  ‘Truly,’ Dregos grated. ‘Let us rid ourselves of this Pandion infection once and for all.’

  A thin smile touched the primate’s lips. Then he flinched, and his face went deathly pale as Sephrenia released her counterspell.

  It was at that point that Dolmant stepped forward, pushing back the hood of his monk’s robe to reveal his face. ‘May I speak, your Majesties?’ he asked.

  ‘Y-your Grace,’ Annias stammered in surprise, ‘I didn’t know that you were in Cimmura.’

  ‘I didn’t think you did, Annias. As you’ve so correctly pointed out, the Pandions are under Church authority As the ranking churchman present, I think it’s proper for me to take charge of this inquiry You are to be commended for the way in which you have conducted things thus far, however.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘That will be all, Annias,’ Dolmant dismissed him. He turned then to the kings and to Lycheas, who was staring open-mouthed at him.

  ‘Your Majesties,’ the patriarch began, pacing back and forth with his hands clasped behind him as if deep in thought. ‘This is indeed a serious accusation. Let us, however, consider the character of the accusers. On the one hand, we have an untitled merchant, and on the other, a runaway serf. The accused is the preceptor of an order of Church Knights, a man whose honour has alway
s been above question. Why would a man of Lord Vanion’s stature commit such a crime? Indeed, we have as yet received no substantiation that the crime did in fact take place. Let us not move in haste.’

  ‘As I mentioned, your Grace,’ Annias injected, ‘I have dispatched church soldiers to Arcium to view the scene of the crime with their own eyes. I have also ordered them to seek out the churchmen who were in the castle of Count Radun and witnessed this horror and to return with them to Cimmura. Their reports should leave no doubts whatsoever.’

  ‘Ah, yes,’ Dolmant agreed. ‘None whatsoever. I think, however, that I might be able to save us a bit of time. As it happens, I myself have with me a man who witnessed what happened at the castle of Count Radun, and I don’t think his testimony can be questioned by any man here.’ He looked at the robed and cowled Count Radun, who had remained unobtrusively at the rear of the chamber. ‘Would you be so good as to step forward, brother?’ he said.

  Annias was gnawing on a fingernail. His expression clearly showed his chagrin at having the proceedings taken out of his grasp and at the appearance of Dolmant’s unexpected witness.

  ‘Would you reveal your identity to us, brother?’ Dolmant asked mildly as the count joined him before the kings.

  There was a tight grin on Radun’s face as he pushed back his hood.

  ‘Uncle!’ King Dregos gasped in astonishment.

  ‘Uncle?’ King Wargun exclaimed, coming to his feet and spilling his wine.

  ‘This is Count Radun—my uncle,’ Dregos told him, his eyes still wide with amazement.

  ‘You seem to have made an astonishing recovery, Radun.’ Wargun laughed. ‘My congratulations. Tell me, how did you stick your head back on?’

  Annias had gone very pale He stared in stunned disbelief at Count Radun. ‘How did you—’ he blurted. Then he recovered. He looked around wildly for an instant as if seeking a way to escape. Then he seemed to get hold of himself. ‘Your Majesties,’ he stammered, ‘I have been misled by false witnesses. Please forgive me.’ He was visibly sweating now. Then he spun about. ‘Seize those two liars!’ He pointed at Tessera and Verl, who were both cringing in terror Several red-liveried guards quickly rushed the pair from the room.

  ‘Annias thinks very fast on his feet, doesn’t he?’ Kalten murmured to Sparhawk. ‘How much would you care to wager that those two will manage somehow to hang themselves before the sun goes down—with a certain amount of help, of course?’

  ‘I’m not a betting man, Kalten,’ Sparhawk replied. ‘Not on a proposition like that, anyway.’

  ‘Why don’t you tell us what really happened at your castle, Count Radun?’ Dolmant suggested.

  ‘It was really fairly simple, your Grace,’ Radun replied. ‘Sir Sparhawk and Sir Kalten arrived at my gates some time ago and warned me that a group of men dressed in the armour of Pandion Knights were planning to gain entry by subterfuge and murder me and my family. They had a number of real Pandions with them. When the impostors arrived, Sir Sparhawk led his knights against them and drove them off.’

  ‘Fortuitous,’ King Obler observed. ‘Which of these stalwarts is Sir Sparhawk?’

  Sparhawk stepped forward. ‘I am, your Majesty.’

  ‘How did you become aware of this plot?’

  ‘It was quite by accident, your Majesty. I happened to overhear a conversation concerning it. I immediately informed Lord Vanion, and he ordered Kalten and me to take preventive steps.’

  King Dregos rose to his feet and came down from the dais. ‘I have wronged you, Lord Vanion,’ he said in a thick voice. ‘Your motives were the very best, and I accused you. Can you forgive me?’

  ‘There is nothing to forgive, your Majesty,’ Vanion replied. ‘Under the circumstances, I’d have done exactly the same.’

  The Arcian King took the preceptor’s hand and clasped it warmly.

  ‘Tell me, Sir Sparhawk,’ King Obler asked, ‘could you by chance identify the plotters?’

  ‘I couldn’t see their faces, your Majesty.’

  ‘A shame, really,’ the old king sighed. ‘It would appear that the plot was fairly widespread. The two who came before us to testify would also seem to have been a part of it, and at some prearranged signal were to have stepped forward with their obviously well-coached lies.’

  ‘That same thought had occurred to me, your Majesty,’ Sparhawk agreed.

  ‘But who was behind it? And against whom was it really directed? Count Radun, perhaps? Or King Dregos? Or even Lord Vanion?’

  ‘That might be impossible to determine—unless the so-called witnesses can be persuaded to identify their fellow plotters.’

  ‘Excellent point, Sir Sparhawk.’ King Obler looked sternly at the Primate Annias. ‘It lies upon you, your Grace, to ensure that the merchant Tessera and the serf Verl are available for questioning. We would all be most distressed should anything of a permanent nature happen to either of them.’

  Annias’ face grew stiff. ‘I shall have them both closely guarded, your Majesty,’ he assured the King of Deira. He gestured to one of his soldiers and muttered some instructions to the man, who blanched slightly, then hurried from the room.

  ‘Sir Sparhawk,’ Lycheas blustered, ‘you were ordered to Demos and told to remain there until you received permission to leave. Why is it that you—’

  ‘Be still, Lycheas,’ Annias snapped at him.

  A slow flush crept up the pimpled young man’s face.

  ‘I would say that you owe Lord Vanion an apology, Annias,’ Dolmant said pointedly.

  Annias paled and then turned stiffly to the Pandion chief. ‘Please accept my apologies, Lord Vanion,’ he said shortly. ‘I was misled by liars.’

  ‘Of course, my dear Primate,’ Vanion replied. ‘We all blunder from time to time, don’t we?’

  ‘I believe that more or less concludes this matter then,’ Dolmant said. He cast a sidelong glance at Annias, who was obviously making a great effort to control his emotions. ‘Be assured, Annias,’ the Patriarch of Demos said to him, ‘I will cast this entire matter in as charitable a light as I can when I make my report to the Hierocracy in Chyrellos. I’ll try my very best not to make you look like a complete idiot.’

  Annias bit his lip.

  ‘Tell us, Sir Sparhawk,’ King Obler said, ‘could you in any way identify the people who approached the count’s castle?’

  ‘The man who was leading them is named Adus, your Majesty,’ Sparhawk told him. ‘He’s a thick-witted savage who does the bidding of a renegade Pandion named Martel. Many of his men were just ordinary mercenaries. The rest were Rendors.’

  ‘Rendors?’ King Dregos said, his eyes narrowing. There have been tensions of late between my kingdom and Rendor, but this plot seems a bit involuted for the Rendorish mind.’

  ‘We could spend hours in speculation, Dregos,’ King Wargun said, holding his empty wine cup out for a serving man to refill. ‘An hour or so on the rack should persuade the merchant and the serf down in the dungeon to tell us what they know about their fellow plotters.’

  ‘The Church does not approve of such methods, your Majesty,’ Dolmant said.

  Wargun snorted derisively ‘The dungeons beneath the Basilica of Chyrellos are reputed to employ the most expert interrogators in the world,’ he said.

  ‘That practice is being discontinued.’

  ‘Perhaps,’ Wargun said, ‘but this is a civil matter. We’re not constrained by churchly delicacy, and I for one don’t propose to wait while you pray an answer out of those two.’

  Lycheas, who had been smarting from the almost absent-minded rebuke Annias had delivered to him, straightened on his throne-like chair. ‘We are delighted that this matter has been resolved so amicably,’ he announced, ‘and we rejoice that the reports concerning the death of Count Radun have proved to be unfounded. I agree with the Patriarch of Demos that we can consider this inquiry concluded—unless Lord Vanion’s excellent witnesses can shed further light on just who might have been behind this monstrous conspiracy.
’

  ‘No, your Highness,’ Vanion told him. ‘We are not prepared at this time to do so.’

  Lycheas turned to the kings of Thalesia, Deira, and Arcium, trying with scant success to look regal. ‘Our time, your Majesties, is short,’ he said. ‘We each have kingdoms to rule, and there are other matters requiring our attention. I suggest that we tender Lord Vanion our appreciation for his aid in clarifying this situation and give him permission to withdraw so that we may turn to state matters.’

  The kings nodded their agreement.

  ‘You and your friends may leave now, Lord Vanion,’ Lycheas said grandly.

  ‘Thank you, your Highness,’ Vanion replied with a stiff bow ‘We are all happy to have been of service to you.’ He turned and started towards the door.

  ‘A moment, Lord Vanion,’ Darellon, the slightly built Preceptor of the Alcione Knights said. Then he stepped forward. ‘Since your Majesties’ conversations will now turn on state matters, I think that I, Lord Komier, and Lord Abriel will also withdraw. We are little versed in statecraft and could contribute nothing of value to your discussions. The matter that has come to light this morning, however, requires some consultation among the militant orders. Should conspiracies of this nature recur, we must make preparations to meet them.’

  ‘Well said,’ Komier agreed.

  ‘A splendid idea, Darellon,’ King Obler gave his assent. ‘Let’s not be caught asleep again. Keep me advised of the thrust of your discussions.’

  ‘You may rely upon me, your Majesty.’

  The preceptors of the other three orders marched down from the dais and joined Vanion, who led the way from the ornate audience chamber. Once they were out in the corridor, Komier, the hulking Preceptor of the Genidian Knights, grinned openly ‘Very neat, Vanion,’ he said.

  ‘I’m glad you liked it.’ Vanion grinned back.

  ‘My head must have been packed in wool this morning,’ Komier confessed. ‘Would you believe I almost accepted all that tripe?’

  ‘It was not entirely your fault, Lord Komier,’ Sephrenia told him.

  He gave her a questioning look.

  ‘Let me think my way through it a bit more,’ she said, frowning.