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ave served us； so shall we serve you now。〃
The Lord heaved a huge sigh of relief and relaxed； his wife looked up； unbelieving。 Then tears of joy filled her eyes。
〃But you must understand；〃 the Butler said more gravely； 〃that what has happened now； must happen； too many of our brethren have dwelt in torture and abasement。 The wheel has turned； the churls must rule。 You may no longer be Lord of this manor。〃
The Lord stood stiffly； his face unreadable。 Then； slowly； he bowed his head。
〃Yet credit us with sense；〃 the Butler said more gently。 〃We doubt that any one among us could administer this manor half so well as your good self； we own it now； in mon； but we wish you still to oversee the running of it； to instruct us and direct us。〃
The Lord stared； unbelieving。 Then he cocked his head to the side； frowning。 〃Let me be sure I understand you。 You tell me that I am your servant now； but that the service you require of me is your governing。〃
The Butler nodded； relief evident in his face before he brought it under control again。 〃Save only this： you are no more a servant than any other here。 All here are now members of the munity； and servants of it。〃
The Lord pursed his lips thoughtfully。 〃That is more than justice。 If the churls have risen； as you say； you do me and mine much mercy。〃
〃Only yours returned； milord。 As you have cared for us； so we shall care for you。〃
〃But will they let you？〃 the Lord demanded。 〃Will not DeCade； or whoever rises to rule the churls； demand our blood？〃
His wife looked up； alarmed。
〃They may；〃 the Butler said grimly； 〃but only if they kill each one of us to reach you。 You are our Lord； and not a man shall touch a hair of your head！〃
A rumble of agreement passed through the crowd。
The Lord stood a moment； trembling； then his eyes filled with tears。
DeCade led his army out of the forest into a meadow。
Dirk's head suddenly snapped up； he listened for a moment； then put out a hand to DeCade。 〃Tell them to wait。〃
DeCade frowned； but raised a hand； signaling for a halt The outlaws and other churls stopped； watching him； frowning。
Then they heard the low thrumming filling the air。 All eyes snapped up as the big black ship's gig floated down out of darkness。 It touched earth； hatches opened； and a gang of black…clothed figures started hauling out crates。
〃Your weapons； DeCade；〃 Dirk said； poker…faced。 〃Handle with care。〃
DeCade's eyes flamed。 He swung his arm over his head； and the churls charged up to the ship with a ragged cheer。 As the sky…men handed out pistols； grinning； five more ship's gigs came to land。
The army paused for instruction and target practice； on the each…one…teach…one system。 Then they moved on toward Albemarle； singing softly； like a wind of destruction。
Moonlight painted swaths across the floor of the barracks room in the Lord de Breton's castle。 The Soldiers snored on their pallets； a double row of gray…blanketed mounds。
A stocky figure in footman's livery appeared in the doorway。
Silently； it padded down the alleyway between the pallets and stopped next to a sergeant He placed a hand on the Soldier's shoulder and squeezed； the sergeant sat bolt upright； instantly awake。 The liveried figure whispered in his ear； then stood back； quickly and silently； the sergeant came to his feet。 He took down his harness from a peg on the wall and strapped on his weapons。 Then he padded down the alleyway； stopping here and there beside a sleeping Soldier。 Wherever he stopped； he lifted a small bludgeon； and； remembering the Lord's rape of his sister on her wedding night； struck the sleeping man behind the ear。 The Soldier grunted and went limp。 The sergeant bound each one with his own harness； gagged him； and moved on to the next who might possibly be loyal to the Lord。 When he had finished with the last suspect rade； he straightened； surveyed the room for a moment； then prowled down along the alley again； shaking the remaining soldiers awake； whispering in their ears。 They came to their feet； one by one； and dressed for war…chain mail and steel helmets…and picked up swords and crossbows。 The sergeant stood surveying them as they drew up in formation； then he nodded； and turned to lead the way out the door。
As they marched； he beckoned to one Soldier and murmured in his ear； the man turned away； to slip across the courtyard to the gate tower。
The gatekeeper sat his post； drowsing off to sleep。 The Soldier's blade chopped down； and the gatekeeper slept very well indeed。 The Soldier took the windlass； cranking it carefully。
Slowly； the great drawbridge came down； thumped home。 A horde of churls materialized from the shadows and swept in through the gate in almost military order； with scythe…blades fixed to knife…handles； and here and there the gleam of an old； but very…well…cared…for sword。
They moved in silently； divided into Tradesmen and Farmers； each village following its elder。
At the doors to the keep； the servants waited。 As the churls came up； the servants turned away and strode into the castle。 The army broke up into squadrons； each following a servant。
The castle woke to torchlight； shrieks； and cries。 Half the Lord's Gentlemen ran from their bedrooms； buckling on swords。 The other half would never wake again； the sergeant and his Soldiers had seen to that。
The remaining Gentlemen pulled together quickly and turned to fight the horde that pressed them； but the scythe blades were sharp and the arms strong。 Only the gentlemen in the front rank could use their lasers； and the hall was narrow。
Churls screamed and died on lances of light； but their cousins behind them chopped off the arms that held the pistols。 The Gentlemen fell back； retreating further and further upward； to their Lord's bedchamber。
The Lord stood in the doorway； beckoning。 Quickly； the Gentlemen filed into the room； and the huge door boomed shut behind them。 A moment later； the churls filled the corridor； bellowing for blood。 Two Soldiers shouldered their way to the fore； attacking the oak with battle…axes。
Inside the Lord swung back a section of wall and stood back while his family and all his Gentlemen filed down a hidden spiral staircase。 The Lord waited till the last man was past him； then sealed the wall behind him。 When the Soldiers broke into the room； it was empty。
Half an hour later and a mile away； the Lord and his retinue filed out of a hidden tunnel mouth。 The churls were gone from the village； they had no trouble stealing horses。 They mounted and rode away； cantering through the night。
Dirk marched with the garnet in his ear； now； the reports were beginning to e in quickly。 He looked about him and saw only darkened woodland。 Occasionally； he caught a glimpse of an outlaw sliding through a moonbeam； and there was always the dark bulk of DeCade a little in front of him； and Madelon； Father Fletcher； and Lapin behind； but that small band could almost have been walking alone through the forest。
And they weren't showing any sign of slackening。 Dirk wasn't； either； but it was