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t connections made in his early life ought to serve him well in the attempt。
And even a feint； or the suggestion of an attack； might serve as well as the real thing。 In a city this big； the Blue Temple vaults must hold vast treasure； and Denis had already begun to spread among the city's street people the rumor that the Blue Temple's main hoard； an agglomeration of wealth well beyond the capacity of most people to prehend； had already been moved into Tashigang for safekeeping。 It was unlikely that even a large mob could succeed in looting the Temple here； but even the threat ought to make the misers squirm and roar； and pull in their claws to defend that which they valued more than their own lives and limbs。
As the direct attack on her own house began； Barbara's first act was to see to it that her daughter； with Kuan…yin as caretaker and Jord as personal bodyguard； was put into the safest and strongest room available。
Then Barbara ran upstairs to get Townsaver。 If this warning and attack were only part of an elaborate hoax to discover where it was hidden； the Baron was safely locked up now； and would never see。 A few days ago the Lord Mayor； perhaps trusting the security of this house as much or more than that of his own palace； had asked Master and Lady Courtenay to keep it here。
She was still climbing stairs when a great crash from below told her that a door had somehow already been broken in。 Smoke and the cries and clash of battle rose from below； as Barbara knelt to bring the great Sword out of its hiding place under her bedroom floor。
Fighting nearby； threatening innocent nonbatants in their home； had wakened the Sword of Fury already。 The weighty steel arose with magical ease and lightness in her grip； the Sword already making its preliminary faint millsaw whine。 For a moment as she held it； there crossed Barbara's mind the thought of Mark's hands； a small boy's hands then； the first time he had held this Sword； his grip no stronger then perhaps than hers was now upon this very hilt。。。 she was already hurrying back toward the stairs。
From below there sounded a new crash； a shout of triumph in the invaders' voices。
Their joy would be short lived。 In Barbara's hands； Townsaver screamed exultantly； and pulled her running down the stairs。。。
Chapter 18
Ben； caught in Vilkata's camp when the retreat turned into a desperate scramble for survival； bulled his way into the fighting at the mouth of the no…longer…secret tunnel。 But it was quickly obvious that the tunnel was now hopelessly blocked as a means of escape。 Having no other real choice； he promptly mitted himself to the river instead。 Many other bodies； alive and dead； were afloat in the Corgo already。 All of them； swimming or bobbing； would eventually reach one or another of the great water…gates that pierced the city's walls only a few hundred meters downstream。
Ben splashed and waded and swam his way well out into the current； trying to avoid the hail of missiles； slung stones and arrows； now being launched by enemy troops along the bank。 The steadily growing lightness of the eastern sky brightened the water as well。 The enemy certainly had the tunnel now。 Not that it was going to do them any good as an invasion route； it had been designed for plete and easy blockage at the point where it approached the walls； and also at the inner end； almost below the palace。
The bottom fell off steeply under Ben as he moved out from the shore。 And now he had to slip out of his partial armor； and drop his heavier weapons； strong swimmer though he was； if he was going to keep from drowning。
He swam downstream； missiles still pattering like heavy hail upon the water's surface round him。 He went under water for a while； still swimming； and came up for air and swam again。 The high walls rose up before him swiftly； the river ran fast here； and swept him down upon them。 The gray…brown of their hardened granite was brightening in the new daylight。 Now Ben could see that this portion of the walls； along with the upstream water…gates； was being manned in force by the Watch in gray…green uniforms。 More of the Watch were down at water level； just inside the gate ahead of him； admitting one at a time through a turnstile arrangement the returning survivors of the sally。 There was already enough daylight to let them do this with security。
Ben swam a few more strokes； and then could pull himself up； first on rock and then on steel bars； magically protected against rust。 Around him a steady trickle of other survivors were doing the same thing； a bedraggled crew； he thought； but not entirely defeated。 He did not see Mark anywhere； but that did not necessarily mean anything。
Once he had been let in through the turnstile； Ben's way led upward； into and behind the wall； along a flight of narrow steps。 His last glance at the scene outside the city showed him that Vulcan and some other god； a many…armed being Ben did not recognize； were approaching； now no more than a few hundred meters away。
Others soldiers were stopping on the stairs to watch。 Ben； for his part； had had more than enough of confrontations and fighting for a time； he was anxious to get home and see what was happening there。
Among the Watch officers who were seeing to the admission of returning fighters； confusion reigned。 It was the situation more often than not in any military； Ben had observed。 Someone was announcing that the survivors were to stand by for debriefing and then reassignment on the walls。 But someone else； not an officer； passed on a rumor that the Blue Temple was in revolt； and the House of Courtenay under attack within the city。 Ben on hearing this ducked out and hurried through the streets toward his home。 In the confusion no one appeared to notice his departure。
The streets of Tashigang were largely empty； what stores and shops he passed were all of them closed and shuttered。 Once he observed； a few streets away； a running group that looked like some detached fragment of a mob。 Ben stayed out of their way； whatever they were about。
Tired and generally battered； though essentially unhurt； he stumbled at last into the familiar street。 There was his house； at least it was still standing； and his heart leaped up in preliminary joy； this was followed in a moment by new anxiety； when he saw how the building was scorched and still smoking above ground level； and how the windows and doors to the street were battered。 Now he could see part of what looked like a bucket brigade of his faithful workers； stretching between the house and the nearby river。
Ben ran panting through the broken front door； into the main room of the ground floor； and stopped。 Carnage was everywhere。 Amid broken furniture and weapons were piled hewed and mangled bodies； the great majority of them wrapped in cloaks that had once been blue and gold。
Barbara； elated； looking unhurt； came bounding from somewhere to greet him。
〃Townsaver；〃 she explained； succinctly； indicating the condition and contents of the room。 〃They started a fire； and broke in。。。 but then some of them were glad to get away。〃
Then； in sudden new worry； she was looking behind her husband； at the empty street。 〃Where's Mark？〃