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away； I heard the mutter of thunder。
Janos ordered all lights that could be seen from the outside extinguished。 He gathered the ten strongest men together and broke them into two groups； under the mand of Maeen。 They would be our reserve if； or rather when； we were attacked。 The four men who knew a little of archery were stationed on the roof。 The watch posts were manned by the youngest servants； whose eyes and ears would be the sharpest of any。 Great torches were lighted in front of our gates； at each corner of the villa； and to the rear。 Other torches； tied to spears； were made ready。 If the large lights were snuffed out； their replacements could be hurled beyond the walls for emergency illumination。 Those who wished food were given it； although Janos said he would have preferred no one eat…belly wounds； he told me； were grievous enough without being further corrupted by the stomach's overflow。 Also； to prevent filth from being driven into a wound； he had all of us put on clean； dark clothing。 Then we waited。
Two hours later the torches began streaming from the center of the city toward the villa。 The crowd chants were growing louder。 I noted something odd； and brought it to Janos' attention。
〃We are； I guess； to be torn apart by a horde angered beyond reason by my scoffing at the gods。 Or so our enemies will have it。〃
〃What signs do you have；〃 Janos asked wryly； 〃that yon throng is not your basic mob； wreaking vengeance in the name of all that is good and holy？〃
〃I see the torches in front and to the sides； moving in lines as if they were being carried by trained soldiers。 And the chants sound rehearsed。 My guess is they have ordered loyalist elements of the army into civilian costume。〃
〃No；〃 Janos disagreed。 〃Again； we are opposed by their sorcery。 Soldiers would talk； after the event； no matter how they are ordered to keep a still tongue。 But men and women； brought out of their homes by a skillfully cast spell； whose skein is finer than a fishing net； will produce the same directed havoc 。。。 and with no guilt or recollection in the morning。 History of this night will not be written on a palimpsest。〃
Within half a glass； the rabble had arrived and surrounded the villa。 〃Yet another clue as to their organization；〃 Janos pointed out。 〃A real mob would be centered where things are most likely to happen； which means the front of the villa。 Instead； we are now trapped。〃
〃What es next？〃
〃Rocks； chants； then a group will chance charging a weak point。 We should strike hard； with arrows and spears to drive them back。 We must hurt them hard and suddenly any time they make such a thrust。 Sooner or later； they will either tire of bleeding without result； or else 。。。〃
I didn't need to ask what the alternative was。 〃I suppose there is no hope of the Magistrates ing to our assistance？〃
Janos shook his head。 〃Our best chance is that we are still here when the sun rises。〃
The mob milled and shouted； and rocks and pottery arced toward us。 But there was no sign of the anticipated thrust。 〃Perhaps；〃 Janos wondered； 〃they are planning the first attack be sorcerous in nature。 Look around the crowd； Amalric。 Look for their leaders。 This mob is definitely led in the person； and not by some Evocator with ghostly hands from their palace。 There！ See？〃
I spotted； at the rear of the throng； several pin lights。 〃Bull's…eye lanterns；〃 Janos suggested。 〃The group's leader or leaders； probably being guided since he will be in the throes of his spell working。〃
〃Cassini。。。？
〃Do you think he would allow us to be destroyed without witnessing the event？ There is Cassini； and I know if we had a magic glass and could look back to the palace of the Evocators； there would be a great mutter of his fellows chanting like fiends。〃
Time passed with no further developments。 Janos became worried。 〃They are expecting something； some event that will turn the tide。 Or else they would not be keeping the crowd in hand so tightly。〃
A woman screamed。 Screamed from inside the villa！ 〃Go；〃 Janos ordered。 〃I'll watch Cassini and forestall whatever his move is meant to be。〃
I hurtled downstairs； hearing shouts； and the clash of steel now。 Somehow 。。。 some way 。。。 the mob had broken into my house。 A bent…nosed man； waving a bloody axe； burst toward the bottom of the stairs。 I leaped over the banister at him； my sword cleaving。 It struck deep into his shoulder； and he staggered and went down； ripping my blade from my hand。 I landed； left hand pulling out a duplicate of the long scramasax I'd carried on my Finding。 Another villain was on me before I could pull my sword free of the body； his club raised。 I went under him and cut his guts out。 I had his club in my free hand； and two more were on me。 I parried； swung； and they fell back。
I was shouting； 〃Anteros！ Anteros！ To me！ To me！〃 and Sergeant Maeen and my reserves boiled out of the side room I'd told them to wait in。 The room at the foot of the stairs that led to the main door was a sea of shouting； stabbing； fighting men…they were ing in on us from somewhere。 And then I saw him； and knew from where the assault was ing。
Across the room was Tegry！ He was one of the few who'd been trusted with the secret of the tunnel； and must have betrayed it to Cassini。 He carried a spear and wore some sort of rusty armor。 He saw me as well； screamed rage； and cast the spear。 It went well to the side； thudding into the wall； and it was my turn。 I leaped up and grabbed the torchlike oil lamp from its stanchion and threw…threw with all the anger a body could hold at this ultimate betrayal of not just me and my family； but my father as well
The flaming lamp struck him in the face； and even over the sounds of fighting I could hear the howl of agony。 He fell back； and I lost sight of him as my stalwarts struck again。 I heard arrows hum past and saw； at the top of the landing； my archers； sending shafts into the rabble。 A shout； then another shout； and the survivors were turning； pushing their way toward the door； back toward the tunnel。 Very few of them made it。
The room was a welter of blood。 I counted five； no six of my own down； wounded； or dying。 I saw Tegry once more。 He'd pulled himself up to a sitting position； against one wall。 His face was ghastly； black； red； and blistered。 His hair and beard had been burned away by the oil as it clung and seared。 His blind eyes saw nothing； but he must have sensed my footsteps。 He held …his hands out； mumbling what might have been a plea for mercy。 He received it； dying more cleanly and quickly than the death he had tried to send me and mine。
I heard Janos shouting。 I told two servants to block the entrance to the tunnel； recovered my sword； and the rest of us went up the stairs at a run； stumbling now； exhausted； winded。 Janos was standing in the balcony； a bow in hand。 Methodically he was whipping war arrows into the crowd below。 〃Now they attack；〃 he shouted。 〃You bowmen 。。。 on line。 Choose your targets well。 Those men there； first。 Remember； you cannot hit all of them if you cannot hit any of them。〃
The mob had secured a battering ram from somewhere； and eight men held its handles and ran back and forth； crashing the bronze…fisted end