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〃Why； so I might；〃 DeCade said reasonably； 〃were I Magnus d'Armand still。〃
Core's eyebrows rose。 〃Oh？ You have bee someone else？ Whom； may I inquire？〃
〃I am DeCade！〃 the giant thundered； and lashed out back…handed with the great staff。
But Core was quick； he skipped aside with the look of shock still on his face； the staff caught him only a glancing blow on the shoulder。 He reached for his sword…and Dirk slammed into him and picked the Lord's dagger…sheath as the
trees rained outlaws and knives flashed in the sun。 A score of Soldiers fell under that weight； knives probed chinks in armor； men screamed； and the outlaws rose alone。
Then the rest of the Soldiers wakened to what was happening。 They turned on me outlaws； bellowing； and the clearing turned into a melee of single bats。
Dirk stepped back from Core just far enough to free his knife hand thrust； but Core's sword hissed out of its scabbard； turning Dirk's blade and slashing out at him。 Dirk leaped backward； sucking in his belly； and Core's sword swung up to chop。 It fell； and Dirk stepped back from the slash and tripped on a body。 Core gave a shout of joy and wound up for another thrust； but Dirk balled his body up and uncoiled； feet…first； at Core's chin。 Core ducked and stepped back。 Dirk landed on his feet and lashed out with a kick at the groin； Core fell back again； staying two inches clear of the kick； then he slashed while Dirk was recovering。
Dirk screamed as the blade sliced his calf； and fell。 He flipped over onto his back just in time to see Core； mouth wide in a caw of triumph； ing straight down at him； the tip of his blade aimed straight for Dirk's eyes。 He snapped his head to the side； and the blade slit his ear。 Dirk bellowed with pain； throwing himself over to seize Core's hand before the Lord could recover。 Core's lips writhed back from his teeth in a snarl。 He threw himself backward； trying to break free。
Dirk let go。
Core shot back and away； stumbled； and flipped down on his back。 Dirk rolled to his knees； unsure of the cut leg； and gathered himself to spring。 Core rolled up to his knees； and Dirk leaped； pushing hard with the good leg。 Core threw himself to the side； and Dirk went sprawling on his face。 He heard Core laugh； and flipped onto his back just in time to see the sword slashing down at his eyes。 Frantically； be threw up his arms…and caught Core's wrist with his left hand。 By pure reflex； he lashed out with his right； catching Core on the point of the jaw。 The Lord lurched back； and Dirk rolled away； up onto his knees again…in time to see Core； recovered and on his feet； slashing down。
A quarterstaff whirled down between them； cracking the sword blade in half and slamming the hilt into Core's chest。 The Lord shot back； mouth gaping； and Dirk clambered to his feet carefully； testing his leg； as DeCade stalked after the Lord； murder in his eyes。
Core stumbled back； taming； caught half a breath； and broke into a stumbling run。
DeCade leaped after him。
A panicked horse fled toward them； screaming。 Core leaped for his life as it passed； caught the saddle bow； and swung aboard； reeling。 DeCade bellowed and leaped into the horse's path； quarterstaff swinging like a poleaxe； but Core sawed back on the reins； and the horse reared； screaming in agony。 DeCade's staff whined past its belly。 Core yanked at reins； the horse swung about； came down headed toward the trees。 Core shouted and kicked its ribs； hard； and the horse took off like a cannonball； slamming through the ranks of the outlaws； and disappeared into the trees。
Dirk stood staring after him； hearing the horse's crashing progress fading into the distance。 His eyes glazed； and he turned away with the sunken feeling of defeat inside him。
〃Fools！〃 DeCade bellowed。
Dirk's head snapped up。
The clearing was still； filled with windrows of dead Soldiers and outlaws。 In the center； thigh…deep in corpses； DeCade bellowed in rage； slashing about him with his staff。 〃Idiots！ Blockheads！ Traitorous dogs！ You let him escape！
The outlaws slipped back out of his reach with battle…war…iness； their faces blanched with the deepest religious fear； trembling at the wrath of their saint； not understanding。
〃Spawn of jackals！〃 DeCade screamed and leaped at Hugh； his staff whirling。 Hugh danced aside。 Lapin loomed up with elephantine majesty； her face somber。
DeCade froze； staring down at the huge woman who blocked him from his quarry。 His face tightened in a quick stab of pain。 He said slowly； 〃I know you。 You are chief of these outlaws。〃
〃I am。〃 Slowly and with great difficulty； Lapin wallowed down to one knee and bent her head。 〃I honor you。 Grandmaster。〃 Then her head rose again。 〃But why do you curse us？ If we have sinned against you； surely our offense was not so great that you should be so much enraged。 What hurt have we done？ We came； unbidden； to give timely rescue to you and your band。 All your enemies we have slain； save this one； and are we so much to blame if we have let one mere man escape？〃
〃But you…have…let…one man escape！〃 DeCade grated。 〃And that man was a Lord！〃 His voice rose； he moved back into the center of the clearing； raking them all with his eyes。 〃Fools！ Do you not see？ He will ride faster than we can follow； to Albemarle！ By dawn he shall bear word to the King that I live again； that the peasants will rise…and the King will send word to all his Lords…he has magic means for it； let me assure you！ When our churls rise with swords； they shall find armies against them； with fire…cannon！〃 His staff rose above his head； and his voice rose with it； toward a scream； trembling。 〃I shall not be cheated！ I have waited too long in the shadows for this time！ I shall not see this world lost again！ And there is no way to prevent it！〃
His shriek pierced their ears； the outlaws winced and hid their faces。
Dirk stared at DeCade's eyes。 There was madness creeping up there； DeCade was going insane！
〃Can you ring the Bell before morning and make it heard throughout this land？〃 DeCade screeched。 〃No； nor can you have let one Lord escape； and for that； our cause is lost！ But if I cannot kill them。。。〃
〃DeCade！〃 Dirk's voice cracked like a gunshot。
The giant froze。 Then his head swung slowly toward Dirk； I like a hawk picking a sparrow out of the flock。
Dirk stepped forward； limping but briskly； to hide the weakness in his knees。 He didn't know what he was going to say； but he knew he had to snap the giant out of it。 He saw the blood…lust e into the man's eyes； saw the huge staff swing up； twirling。。。 and Dirk remembered what he was here for。 〃Ring your Bell！ I can make it heard by all churls； before dawn！〃
DeCade froze。
Every eye in the clearing fastened on Dirk。
DeCade stood like stone； poised to strike； madness still in his eyes。
Dirk stood firm； staring back at him。
Slowly； the fog in DeCade's eyes seemed to clear a little。 His voice was low and ominous。 〃Tell me how you can do this。〃
〃There are wires woven through my belt