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She rose and came to greet me； a hand extended。 I could not tear my eyes away。 She rewarded me with the slightly mocking smile I recalled so well； as though we shared a secret。 I touched her hand lightly； and was astonished to find it warm。 Away from her； when she vanished from mind except as a distant object of dread； like an earthquake； I could think of her only as cold； dead； and deadly。 More on the order of a lethal zombie than a living； breathing； even possibly vulnerable person。
She smiled a second time and invited me to take a seat。 I did so； feeling grotesquely out of place amidst a pany which included all but one of the great evils of the world。 And the Dominator was there in spirit； casting his cold shadow。
I was not there to contribute； that became obvious。 The Captain and Lieutenant did the talking for the pany。 The Duke and Custodian Hargadon were there； too； but contributed little more than I。 The Taken carried the discussion； questioning the Captain and Lieutenant。 Only once was I addressed； and that by the Captain； who inquired as to my readiness to treat casualties from the fighting。
The meeting had only one point so far as I was concerned。 The assault was set for dawn； day after the one ing up。 It would continue till the black castle was destroyed or we lost our capacity to attack。
〃The place is a hole in the bottom of the ship of empire；〃 the Lady said。 〃It has to be plugged or we all drown。〃 She entertained no protests from the Duke or Hargadon； both of whom regretted asking her for help。 The Duke was now impotent within his own domain； and Hargadon little better。 The Custodian suspected he would be out of work entirely； once the threat of the castle ended。 Few of the pany and none of the Taken had been at any pains to conceal their disdain for Juniper's odd religion。 Having spent a lot of time among the people； I could say they took it only as seriously as the Inquisitors； Custodians and a few fanatics made them。
I hoped she went slow if she intended changes； though。
Like so slow the pany would be headed elsewhere before she started。 You mess with people's religion and you mess with fire。 Even people who don't much give a damn。 Religion is something that gets hammered in early； and never really goes away。 And has powers to move which go beyond anything rational。
Morning after the day ing up。 Total war。 All…out effort to eradicate the black castle。 Every resource of the Lady； Taken； pany and Juniper to be bent to that end； for as long as it took。
Morning after the day ing up。 But it did not work that way。 Nobody told the Dominator he was supposed to wait。
He got in the first strike six hours before jump…off； while most of the troops and all the civilian laborers were asleep。 While the only Taken patrolling was Journey； who was the least of the Lady's henchmen。
It began when one of those bladder…like things bounced over the wall and filled the gap remaining in the Lieutenant's ramp。 At least a hundred creatures stormed out of the castle and crossed。
Journey was alert。 He had sensed a strangeness in the castle and was watching for trouble。 He came down fast and drenched those attackers with the dust that melted。
Bam！ Bam…bam…bam！ The castle hit him the way it had hit his one…time wife。 He fishtailed through the air； evading the worst； but caught the edge of every crack； and went down smouldering； his carpet destroyed。
The banging wakened me。 It wakened the entire camp； for it started the same time as the alarms and drowned them entirely。
I charged out of the hospital； saw the castle creatures boiling down the steps of the Lieutenant's ramp。 Journey hadn't stopped more than a handful。 They were enveloped by that protective glow One…Eye had encountered once before。 They spread out； sprinting through a storm of missiles from the men who had the watch。 A few more fell； but not many。 They began extinguishing lights； I suppose because their eyes were more suited to darkness than ours。
Men were running everywhere； dragging their clothing on as they rushed toward or away from the enemy。 The laborers panicked and greatly hampered the pany's response。 Many were killed by our men； vexed at finding
them in the way。
The Lieutenant charged through the chaos bellowing orders。 First he got his batteries of heavy weapons manned and trained on the steps。 He sent messengers everywhere； ordering every ballista； catapult； mangonel and trebuchet moved to a position where it could fire on the ramp。 That baffled me only till the first castle creature headed home with a body under each arm。 A storm of missiles hit him； tore the bodies to shreds； battered him to a pulp； and nearly buried him。
The Lieutenant had trebuchets throw cannisters of oil which smashed on the steps and caught fire when flaming balls were thrown after them。 He kept the oil and fire flying。 The castle creatures would not run through the flames。
So much for my thinking the Lieutenant was wasting time building useless engines。
The man knew his job。 He was good。 His preparation and quick response were more valuable than anything done by the Lady or Taken that night。 He held the line in the critical minutes。
A mad battle began the moment the creatures realized they were cut off。 They promptly attacked； trying to reach the engines。 The Lieutenant signaled his under…officers and brought the bulk of his available manpower to bear。 He had to。 Those creatures were more than a match for any two soldiers； and they benefited from the protective glow as well。
Here； there； a brave citizen of Juniper grabbed a fallen weapon and jumped into the struggle。 Most paid the ultimate price； but their sacrifice helped keep the enemy away from the engines。
It was obvious to everyone that if the creatures escaped with many bodies； our cause was lost。 We'd soon be face…to…face with their master himself。
The ball pairs began ing over from Duretile； splashing the night with terrible color。 Then Taken dropped from the night； Limper and Whisper each depositing an egg which hatched the fire that fed on the stuff of the castle。 Limper dodged several attacks from the castle； swooped around； brought his carpet to ground near my hospital； where we were swamped by customers already。 I had to retreat there to do the job for which I was paid。 I kept the uphill tent flaps open so I could watch。
Limper left his aerial steed； marched uphill with a long； black sword that glimmered evilly in the light from the burning fortress。 He radiated a glow not unlike that protecting the castle creatures。 His； however； was far more puissant than theirs； as he demonstrated when he pushed through the press and attacked them。 Their weapons could not reach him。 His sliced through them as though they were made of lard。
The creatures； by that time； had slaughtered at least five hundred men。 The majority were workers； but the pany had taken a terrible beating； too。 And that beating went on even after the Limper turned the tide； for he could engage but one creature at a time。 Our people strove to keep the enemy contained till the Limper could get to them。
They responded by trying to swamp the Li