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Kristin swore； softly and wearily。 〃There is now a general who insists on seeing me； if I have learned to interpret these jabbering signals correctly。 I have so much to do； and all at once。〃 She seized Mala by the hands。 〃I want to talk to you again； and soon。〃 A minute later； Mala was gone； and Kristin was receiving General Rostov。
The General began by reporting； in his gravelly voice； that the man Jord had a good reputation in the Intelligence branch。 There was no actual Tasavaltan dossier on the son as yet … rather； one had just been started … but he seemed to have a good reputation with Sir Andrew's people。 And a long and strange and intimate connection with the Swords； as Jord did too； of course。
〃Nothing to connect either of them； though； Highness； with the disappearance of Woundhealer。〃
〃No； I should think not； General。。。 now what are your military plans？〃
Rostov drew himself up。 〃It's like this； Highness。 The best place to defend your house is not in your front yard； but down the road as far as you can manage it。 If you can manage it that way。〃
〃If that is a final。。。 what is it； Karel？〃
The wizard had reappeared at the ornamental gate。 〃A matter of state； Highness。 You had better hear it before pleting any other plans； military or otherwise。〃
〃One moment；〃 said the Princess； and faced back to Rostov。 〃I believe you； General。 And I have decided to go with you。 If you are saying that the army must march to Tashigang； because that is where the fate of our people is being decided； then that is the place for me to be also。〃
Choking in an effort to keep from swearing； General Rostov disputed this idea as firmly as he was able。
〃Both of you；〃 said Karel； 〃had better hear me first。 What I have to say is connected with the woman who was just here。〃
Chapter 16
They were kilometers in length； and tall as palaces。 They wound uphill and down； in a great tail…swallowing circle； in curves like the back of the legendary Great Worm Yilgarn。 They were the walls of Tashigang； and at long last they stood before him。
The taking of the city； even the planning of its capture； were turning out to present considerably greater problems than the Dark King had earlier envisioned。 He had once pictured himself simply riding up to the main gate on the Hermes Road； and brandishing the Mindsword in the faces of the garrison； who had been conveniently assembled for him on the battlements。 Then； after a delay no longer than the time required for his new slaves in the city to open up the gate； he would enter in triumph； to see to the disposal of his new treasure and the elimination of some of his old enemies。
That last part of the vision had been the first part to turn unreal and unconvincing； which it did almost as soon as Vilkata began to think about it。 The Mindsword would seem to rob revenge almost entirely of its satisfaction。 If one's old enemies had now bee one's loyal slaves； about as faithful as human beings could be； then what was the point of destroying or damaging them？
In any case； Vilkata could see now that Tashigang was not going to fall into his hands as neatly as all that。 On the last night of his march toward the city； the night before he first faced the ancient serpentine walls directly； the Dark King had received a warning from his demonic counselors。 They had determined； they said； that the Sword Doomgiver had just been carried inside the city's walls； where it was now in the possession of some of the most fanatical defenders。 Therefore he； the Dark King； stood in danger of having his most powerful magic…aye； even the power of the Mindsword … turned against him when he tried to use it in an attack。
After receiving this grim caution； Vilkata sat in blind silence for a time； dispensing with the demon's vision the better to concentrate on his own thoughts。 Meanwhile those of his human counselors who were attending him waited in their own tremulous silence around him； fearing his wrath； as they imagined that he still listened to the demonic voices that only he could hear。
The Dark King tried to imagine the direst warnings of his inhuman magical counselors ing true。 It would mean the devotion of all his own troops would turn to hatred。 And also； perhaps； it would mean all of the evil that he had ever worked on anyone now within the walls of Tashigang ing back on himself； suddenly； to strike him down。
And he was warned； too； that the Sword Townsaver might also be within the city。 The Sword of Fury in itself ought not to blunt the Mindsword's power： But what Townsaver might do； to any portion of an attacking army that came within a blade…length of its wielder； was enough in itself to give a field mander pause。
The Dark King shuddered； the fear that was never far below the surface of his thoughts suddenly ing near the surface。 As he shuddered； the humans watching him thought that he was still listening to the demons' speech。
And then； there was the matter of Farslayer； too。 Until he had that particular weapon safely in his hands； he had to be concerned about it。 Any monarch； any man； who dealt consistently in such great affairs as King Vilkata did； was bound to make enemies and would have to be concerned。 There were always plenty of short…sighted； vengeful little folk about。。。 and neither the Dark King's wizards nor his immaterial demons could give him any idea of who possessed the Sword of Vengeance now。
If only he had been able to pick up Shieldbreaker from the field of battle！ But no； another distraction； another threat； had intervened to prevent that。 And now no one could tell him where that trump of weapons was located either。
Coinspinner was another potential problem。 It； too； was now thought by the Dark King's magical advisers to be present inside the walls of Tashigang。 And he was sure that the Sword of Chance would bring those damned impertinent rascals good luck； good fortune of some kind； even in the face of the Mindsword's influence。 Vilkata kept trying to imagine what kind of good luck that would be。 Whatever it was； it would not be good for him。
But despite all of the obstacles and objections； he could be royally stubborn； and he was going forward。 None of his fears were great enough to prevent that。 In the end he decided to keep his own supernal weapons under wraps for the time being； and to try what he might to induce the city to surrender under threats。
The afternoon he arrived before the walls； he had his great pavilion erected within easy sight of them … though not； of course； within missile range。 At the same time Vilkata ordered a plete envelopment of the city； and entrenchment by his troops； as if for a lengthy siege； all along their encircling lines。
Even his great host was thinly spread by such a maneuver； which necessitated occupying a line several kilometers long； but Vilkata intended to concentrate most of his troops in a few places later； if and when it actually became necessary to assault the walls。 Meanwhile he wanted to give an impression not only of overwhelming force but of unhurried determination。 And still he was not satisfied that things were going well； he kept urging both his scouts and his wizards to provide him with more informatio