按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
were going well； he kept urging both his scouts and his wizards to provide him with more information。
At dusk on the second day of the siege； the Dark King's vaguely growing sense of some impending doom was suddenly relieved。 The last flying messenger to arrive during daylight hours brought in a report saying that the troublesome Beastlord Draffut was finally dead； and the god Mars … who was also troublesome； because he had managed to remain free of the Mindsword's control … was dead with him。 And that Vulcan； triumphant over both of them； was headed toward the city of Tashigang； waving the Sword Shieldbreaker and crying his own eternal loyalty to the Dark King。
When the half…intelligent courier was asked to predict the time of the god's arrival； it gave answers interpreted to mean that the progress of the Smith across the countryside was slow and erratic； because he was stopping frequently to offer sacrifice to his god Vilkata； and also because he walked a zig…zag course； but Vulcan continually cried out that he was ing on to Tashigang； where his other Swords were gathering； and where he meant to do honor in person to the King。
His other Swords？ Vilkata pondered to himself。 Of course the Smith had forged them all； and perhaps that was all that he meant by the use of such an expression。 In any case； there was nothing Vilkata could do about the Smith； or any other god； until they came within the Mindsword's range。 And the Dark King did not want to appear to be worried by what sounded； on the surface； like very good news indeed。 Therefore he gave permission for a celebration of Vulcan's triumph to begin； and sent out trumpeters and criers to make certain that the death of Draffut and the advance of the victorious Vulcan were made known within the walls of Tashigang as well。
Vilkata even took part in the revel himself； at least as far as its middle stages。 He retired paratively early； thinking that in any case he was giving himself time to sleep and recover before Vulcan could possibly arrive。 He wearied himself with women； and came near besotting himself with wine； and then tumbled into his private bed to sleep。
His awakening was hours earlier than he had expected； and it came not at the gentle call of his valet； or some officer of his bodyguard。 The sound that tore Vilkata out of dreams of victory was the ripping of his pavilion's fabric； not far from his head； by some enemy weapon's edge。
No matter how mad the odds seemed against success； when merely human calculation was applied； Coinspinner had insisted that the defenders of the city organize a sally against Vilkata's camp； a military maneuver involving the sending of what could be at most a few hundred troops； to fight against the Dark King's many thousands。 At least this was the only interpretation that could finally be placed on the way that the Sword of Chance； whenever it was consulted； pointed insistently into the heart of the enemy camp。
Mark； Ben； and Barbara； along with the other members of the Lord Mayor's council； discussed the possibility of sending one or two agents or spies； armed with Coinspinner； out into the camp； to try to achieve whatever the Sword was telling them to do there。 But Mark had experience of the Dark King's security systems； and without Sightblinder to help he could imagine no way of acplishing that。
On the other hand； the more carefully the idea of a surprise sally was considered； the less pletely mad it seemed。 It could； of course； be launched by night； and it certainly ought to take the enemy by surprise。 The Mayor drew out secret maps。 It was noted that one of the secret tunnels leading out of the city … like most places so elaborately fortified； Tashigang was equipped with several … emerged from a concealed opening under the bank of the Corgo； behind the enemy front line and only about a hundred meters from where Vilkata's pavilion had been set up。
A plan was hastily worked out。 Both Ben and Mark would acpany the attack。ing force； Mark with Coinspinner in his hands。 Ben； after speaking strongly against surrender of the city； could not very well avoid the effort now； nor did he want his old friend to go without him。 The handful of Tasavaltan troops who had escorted Mark to Tashigang now volunteered； to a man； to go with him again。 He was somewhat surprised and gratified by this； either his leadership or his Sword had inspired more confidence than he knew。
The bulk of the raiding force； which was two hundred strong in all； was made up from the survivors of Sir Andrew's slaughtered army。 They proved to be as eager for revenge as Mark had expected them to be。
The deployment of the force into the secret； stone…walled tunnel took place in the late hours of the night。 The city end of the tunnel was concealed in the basement of an outbuilding of the Mayor's palace。
Waiting in the cramped； dark； and dripping tunnel for some final magical preparations to be made； Mark had some time to talk with his old friend Ben。 He told Ben something of his meeting with the Emperor。
When Mark first mentioned the name of Ariane； Ben shook his head； not wanting to hear more； but when he heard that the Emperor had claimed the red…haired girl as his daughter； the huge man turned hopeless eyes to Mark。 〃But what does it mean？ What does that matter now？ She's dead。〃
〃I don't know what it means。 I know you loved her。 I wanted you to hear what he told me。〃
Ben nodded； slowly。 〃It's strange。。。 that he said that。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃When we were leaving the treasure…dungeon … right after she was killed … I looked up onto that headland； the Emperor's land they said it was； right across the fjord。 I thought for a moment I saw red hair。 It doesn't mean anything； I don't suppose。〃
And now； suddenly； there was no more time for talk。
The Mayor's most expert sorceress was squeezing her way through the narrow tunnel； marking with a sign each man and woman of the raiding party； as she passed them。 When he hand touched his own eyes briefly； Mark found that now he could see a dim； ghostly halo behind the head of everyone else in the attacking force。 When fighting started in the darkness； they ought to be able to identify each other。 At least until the enemy magicians solved the spell； and were able to turn it to their own advantage。 Most likely they were more skillful than this woman of the Mayor's。 But it was necessary to take what seemed desperate chances。 That was what Coinspinner was for。
The party moved out。 The tunnel extended for more than a kilometer； and its lower sections were knee…deep in water。 An occasional loud splash or oath； the shuffle of feet； the chink of weapons； were for some time the only sounds。
The outer end of the tunnel； in which an advance party had been waiting for some time； was quietly opened。 Two by two； moving now as quickly and silently as possible； the raiders launched themselves out of the tunnel into shallow water； and up and out into the open night。
Mark； with Coinspinner in his hands； was the second or third fighter to emerge。 Now there could be no mistake about it。 The Sword of Chance was directing him； ordering the whole attack； straight to Vilkata's pavilion。 The huge tent stood