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were doing and went to the kitchens； where they took up knives and cleavers。
They marched up the great stairs toward the chamber where their Lord and Lady lay sleeping； each of them remembering many humiliations； injuries； and loved ones lost。
On a landing they met a troop of guardsmen。 The sergeant and the Butler exchanged glances； then marched on up the stairs； side by side。 Fifty Soldiers and servants followed them。
The castle of Maltrait had a lord with a nasty； suspicious mind； he'd always made sure he kept a good standing army handy within the walls of his keep； and a squad of young lordlings （mostly his own） to stand behind the Soldiers with lasers。 The lordlings had stood night watch in the barracks； which was why； though the house churls had opened the gate； the rebel army wasn't making much headway。
The courtyard was a frenzy of torchlight； hoarse screams； bellows of rage； winking laser beams； and the clatter of steel。 At its center stood the Lord； armor bolted over his nightshirt； hewing and hacking about him； bellowing； 〃On； my bullies； on！ Force them out through the gate； free this castle of vermin'〃 And slowly； bit by bit； the churls were being pushed back to the wall。
But； silent and unseen above them； a huge black egg drifted down； hovering over the battlements。 One of its turrets swiveled downward； lining up on the Lord。
He happened to glance upward； saw the dark blot against the stars； and realized what was happening。 He sprang backward with a bellow of warning…but the turret tracked him； and a rod of red fire sizzled out； strafing the long line of lordlings。
The Lord died in an instant。 Some of his men survived long enough for the knives of the churls to reach them。
Lady Pomgrain fled back through the keep。 Behind her； in the great hall； the air danced with laser bolts。 Steel clashed on steel。 Her husband fought like a maniac with the handful of gentlemen left to him； guarding her line of escape； but the churls pressed them hard； as soon as one was dispatched； another popped up in his place。
The Lady threw open a door on a spiral stair； stepped in； and bolted the door behind her。 Up and up she climbed； panting heavily； till she came to a door at the roof of the tower。
She leaned against it； gasping till she'd recovered a little of her strength； then； fumbling her keys in her fear； she unlocked it。 The door swung open； she all but fell in。
The room was empty and clean； as immaculate as gray stone can be； except for a large metal console with a viewscreen in its center； at the far side of the small room。
The Lady staggered over to it； pushed a button； and jewel…lights glowed into life。 She threw a key and spoke into a grid on the console's face： 〃Alarm； alarm； emergency。 The churls have risen on the estates of Pomgrain。 They have taken the castle； they are slaying the nobles！ Send help； let all men guard their own！〃
The message rolled out from her castle in a huge； expanding globe。 It touched castle after castle； and where it touched； receiving sets woke into life。
DeCade and Dirk had donned outlaw clothing against the chill of the dark predawn hours； but Dirk still wore the rope belt； and the garnet in his ear。
The garnet buzzed； Dirk tapped recognition on the end of the rope/transmitter。 He listened for a few minutes； frowning； then tapped an acknowledgment and turned to DeCade。
〃The word is out； the churls of Pomgrain took their Lady too late。 She sent out an alarm with her municator。 As I understand it； any ining signal of the emergency frequency automatically turns the receivers on。 All the Lords will know it by now。〃
〃I think they knew it already； from sources closer to home；〃 DeCade said thoughtfully。
The alarm rattled from municators all over the land； but in most castles； they spoke to empty air； there was no one near them。 Some heard； but also heard the pounding at the door。
In the King's castle at Albemarle； a young lord jerked up out of a doze； listened a moment； appalled； then dashed from the room； to bear the word to Lord Core。
Core had just ridden in； covered with dust； choleric and choking。 He listened incredulously； then he slashed out at the young Lord with the back of his band； snarling。 The lordling leaped back adroitly and was about to take offense when he realized Core was already gone； angrily pacing away； bellowing orders。
Ten minutes later； a fleet of small sentry boats with large laser cannon lifted off the roof of the palace； streaking away to all points of the pass。
The King did not hear。 The King did nothing。
The small silvery boats sped out cross the countryside； so high up that the first few rays of dawn turned their hulls to rose。
As they sailed； tiny black specks appeared above them； swelling suddenly into squat black ship's gigs bristling with turrets。 They fell like stones flung by giants。 Too late； the silvery boats detected them and swung about； to bring their single lasers to bear。 Rays of fire spat； and the silvery boats fell out of the sky； burning in glory。
Occasionally the black boat would fall； and the silver would speed on alone； another black speck would appear； high above it。
On the estate of Milord Megrin； the churls from all the villages converged on the castle； scythes and flails in hand。 Atop the wall； sentries saw them and cried out in alarm。 A corporal came running to each of them…and sapped them neatly behind the ears。
As the churls marched up to the great gate； it swung open； and they strode on in； to be met by servants； and not a few guardsmen。 Silently； the Butler led them into the great hall； where they formed a semicircle； facing the great central archway。 There they waited。
Suddenly Lord Megrin； with his wife and three children； came stumbling through the archway in their nightclothes。 Behind them came a score of grim…faced Soldiers； their pikes at the ready。 The Lord and his family stumbled to a stop； staring about them in the torchlight； dazed。 Then the Lord cried out in indignation； 〃What means this！ Why have you gathered here without my leave！〃 But there was an echo of dread in his voice。
The Butler stepped forward； his face politely grave。 〃DeCade has risen。 Lord； his Bell is rungen。 Throughout the land； churls are rising to strike down their Lords。〃
The Lord blanched； and his wife gasped； burying her face in her hands。 Then she fell to one knee and clutched her children to her。
〃Have I been so evil to you； then；〃 he said quietly； 〃that you must serve me in like fashion？〃
〃You have not； milord； and well you know it。 You have ruled well and wisely over us； we have been fortunate indeed。 Your punishments have always been just； and never harsh； you have never been cruel； not taken advantage of our bodies。 You have always seen that no man starved or froze； even if your family and yourself had to eat Lenten rations in the Christmastide to do it。 Your wife has nursed us in our illness； you have cared for us and protected us。 And； as you have served us； so shall we serve you now。〃
The Lord heaved a huge sigh of relief and relaxed；