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about them was suddenly charged with tension。
The newer eased his way up to the headman。 The 〃elder〃 glanced at the garnet ring on the stranger's hand； and looked away。 〃What word。 Sky…man？〃
〃The bell is rungen。 Bring down your Lords at midnight； then send men to Albemarle。〃
The 〃elder〃 nodded thoughtfully and fell in with the song again。 The gang wound on home as though nothing had happened； and； where an outcrop of forest touched the path near the village； the stranger slipped away。
The men went on into the circle of thatched huts as though it were any other evening。 Each went to his own house； but with a stony look on his face。 Then the village proceeded to supper； and gossip in the doorways； and mending tools and clothes； as it always did； while the sun finished setting and the first stars came out。 When the light was gone； each family went back in within doors； and the village slept…a little more than ninety souls。
A little later； young men began slipping out of huts； one by one； and out to the fields。 When they came to open ground； they struck out running…the easy； regular lope of long distances。 There were perhaps nine of them in all； each striking out in a different direction。
The elder of a nearby village woke in the velvet darkness； frowning。 It came again…a quiet； steady knocking。 The elder's face went blank； he climbed out of his pallet。
He opened me door to see a tall young churl with me light behind him； breathing heavily。 The elder scowled。 〃Jaquea Farmer…of…Thierry's son；〃 he growled； there was little love lost between his own village and its nearest neighbor； on the
next estate。 〃More foolish than I thought； to run about at night。〃
〃DeCade has rungen the Bell；〃 the youth panted。 〃Bring down your Lord at midnight； then send men to Albemarle。〃
The elder's face went blank again。 Then he turned aside； murmuring kindly； 〃e in。 You must take food and drink； poor lad。〃
The lad went in； smiling his thanks； the door closed behind him。
A little later； the elder's son slipped out and went from door to door。
Not long after； nine young men struck out running into me fields； each in a different direction。
By the time the courier set off on his way home； eighty…one villages had been informed； and each had sent out nine more runners。
DeCade's band slipped through the darkened forest with no more noise than a brisk breeze makes…except for Dirk。 He was feeling highly embarrassed； he didn't seem to be able to take a step without snapping a twig。 He was indulging himself in feeling mortified when a tiny buzz sounded； no louder than a cricket。
DeCade stopped just before him and scowled back over his shoulder。
Dirk pried the stone from the ring； set it to his ear； and tapped an acknowledgment on the frayed end of his rope belt。
〃All agents have reported back；〃 the Captain's voice informed him。 〃Each has alerted at least one village…fifty villages in each province； a thousand in all。〃
Dirk frowned as he tapped acknowledgment； that didn't sound like much； out of 250；000 square miles。 〃Our agents have alerted fifty villages in each province；〃 he informed DeCade。
Near them； Lapin nodded in satisfaction。 〃And each has told nine other villages； each of those has told nine more。 I doubted； Dirk Dulain； but you spoke truth…they will all rise by midnight。〃
〃It does rather look that way。〃 Dirk was numb； somehow the scope of the whole thing hadn't hit him before。
〃I cannot believe it has truly begun；〃 Madelon breathed。
DeCade grunted。 〃You will when you see the blood。〃
The churls from all the villages on the estates of Louvrais had gathered； muttering and shifting nervously about； in a great meadow surrounded by woodlots； just below the Lord's castle。 Now and again； they glanced anxiously at the sky； but the moon hid its face； and the stars watched； uncaring。
Suddenly a low； deep thrumming filled the air。 All heads snapped up； craning back their necks to watch the stars being blotted out in an expanding ellipse。 A mutter of fear and awe swept through them； their eyes bulging； then the blot on the sky was gone； and a black ship's gig pressed down on the meadow grass near them。 The thrumming stopped； the churls stood； awed and staring。
Then a whispered cheer hissed from their throats； and they leaped forward； running toward the ship。 As they came up； a rectangular section of the side dropped forward and out； bright light cut a swath across the clearing。 The churls stopped； uncertain； prickling with superstitious fear； muttering。
A tall； lean figure in tight…fitting black appeared against the light； surveyed them； then stepped out into the meadow。 Behind him； another appeared with a cube about a foot and a half on a side。 He set it down and turned back to take another like it from a third man； who appeared in the hatch。
The first man wrenched open the crate and lifted out a laser pistol。 He held it out； butt first； to the churl nearest him。 Hesitantly； the churl took it； and the sky…man lifted out another。
With a moan of delight； the churls pressed in。
Two hundred miles away。 Lord Propin finished with his concubine for the evening and rolled over on his side to sleep。 The girl lay； keeping her face carefully neutral； listening。 Even after she heard the deep； even breathing of sleep； she waited； but her beautiful face slowly contorted with hate and disgust。 Finally； sure the Lord was deeply asleep； she rose； glided to his wardrobe； and slid a jeweled dagger from its sheath on an embossed leather belt。 She glided back through a single shaft of moonlight to his bedside； and stood looking down at him。 Slowly she smiled as she raised the dagger and plunged it down。
To fee south； in Lord Ubiquii's tall； moated castle； two guards stood leaning on their pikes outside the Lord's bedroom door。
A Butler came discreetly down the hall and stopped to murmur in the ear of the older guard。 The guard's face turned grim； he nodded shortly。 The Butler bowed courteously and moved away。
The younger man frowned。 〃What was that about？〃
〃It could be trouble；〃 the older guard said slowly； 〃but not enough to trouble His Lordship。 Go to the guardroom and tell Sergeant Garstang to e here with five picked men。〃 The younger man cocked his head to one side； frowning。
〃Go！〃 the older man barked。 〃Do as you are bid。〃
The younger man turned away still watching his panion out of the er of his eye。
The elder waited till the younger man had passed from sight； waited till his footsteps had faded away。 Then he turned； opened the door he guarded； and went in to murder his Lord。
In Chateau Grenoble； the kitchen drudge came to the head Butler； murmuring quietly to him。 He listened thoughtfully； nodding； she turned away。 Then the Butler told one of his footmen to bear a message to a certain Sergeant of Guards。 As the footman went； the Butler passed among the other servants； murmuring briefly to each； one by one； they finished what they were doing and went to the kitchens； where they took up knives and cleavers。
They marched up