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The young man nodded。 〃Then of course； you'd be bound for the King's Town。。。〃
〃Sir； your pardon；〃 said the sergeant suddenly； 〃but wasn't there word that wandering Gentlemen were goading the churls into joining the rebels？〃
〃I have heard such talk 。 。 。〃 The Squire gave Dirk a calculating look。
Dirk felt Gar tense beside him。
'Two out…of…place Gentlemen； wandering toward Albemarle；〃 the sergeant mused。 〃Could be they're carrying word from one nest of outlaws to another。〃 The Squire nodded； eyes on Dirk。
Dirk decided on Righteous Indignation。 〃Sir！ We are gentlemen； and loyal to the King！〃
〃So am I；〃 said the Squire softly。 〃Yet； when all is said； each man is most loyal to his own interests。 And； to say truth； we seek a spy； known to be near this parish； who would probably go disguised as a gentleman。〃
〃One；〃 Dirk pointed out； suddenly grateful for Gar's presence。 〃Not two。〃
The Squire shrugged impatiently。 〃Two spies instead of one is to our credit。〃
〃There's this； too；〃 the sergeant pointed out。 〃Milord Cochon needs more foot soldiers。〃
Dirk fought down a surge of panic and hauled out his best smile。 〃Squire； surely you jest。 Who would a spy be from？ There is only the King。〃
〃And the outlaws；〃 the Squire reminded him。 〃Have you heard no talk of rebellion？〃
Dirk nodded slowly； frowning。 〃Aye； I've heard…but scarce could credit it； I see no sign。〃
〃But I do；〃 The Squire said grimly。 〃You will e with us。 Gentlemen。 If you are not rebels； you will have my apologies； and places with Lord Cochon。 But if you are 。 。 。〃 He let the sentence hang； smiling grimly； and turned to the sergeant； jerking his head toward Gar and Dirk。
The sergeant nodded； and nudged his mount forward； bringing up a cocked crossbow。
Dirk's hands slipped down on the wood； and the quarterstaff leaped end…over…end to crack down on the Soldier's hand。 The sergeant yelped； the crossbow clattered to the ground。
Gar's staff lashed out over Dirk's head； parrying a sword cut from the Squire。 Out of the corner of his eye。 Dirk saw another Soldier forcing his horse off the street into the space between two huts； winding his crossbow； but he had no time to worry； for a third Soldier was pressing in from the left；
sword swinging up。 Dirk snapped the quarterstaff around； caught the base of the blade sear the hilt； the Soldier howled； and the sword flipped end…over…end into an alley。
Dirk heard a cry behind him； whirled to see the fourth Soldier slipping from his saddle； and Gar spinning back toward him； staff rebounding back to guard。
Dirk nodded； grinning； and swung back to the Squire； who had transferred his sword to his undamaged left hand and was chopping down。 Dirk brought up his staff just in time； but the force of the blow slapped the staff back against his forehead。 The world darkened； star…shot； as he fell to his knees； he could barely make out the Squire； swinging the sword up for another cut； then a huge body blocked his vision； he heard a CHUNK！ and a shrill cry from the Squire； blessed Gar； and turned to see the sergeant on the ground； cranking furiously at his crossbow； bracing it against his knee with his forearm； but just to his left； the third Soldier picked up his sword and swung about； blade chopping down。
Dirk shook his head to clear the mists and drove upward from a crouch； catching him under the chin with the tip of his staff。 The Soldier flew backward； hit the ground； sprawling。
Dirk shot to his feet； staff back to guard 。。。
。。。 to find himself facing two leveled crossbows。 The sergeant aimed at him from his left； the trooper between the huts had him covered from the right
He didn't stay to look； he fell to ground and rolled； noting in passing that Gar seemed to have disappeared。 A bolt hissed where his head had been； another grazed his leg。 As he started to roll to his feet； he saw a long arm shoot out from behind the trooper between the huts； wrapping itself around the man's throat。 Then he was pleting the roll； ing up between sergeant and Squire； waiting for the blade in the back； but bound to bring the smug Squire down with him。 His body uncoiled like a spring in a straight line with his staff and caught the Squire in the belly as the sword swung down。 The Squire shot backward over the rump of his horse； the blade sliced air a foot from Dirk's face and went spinning； and Dirk whirled to face the sergeant。
Who wasn't there。
He was running toward Gar； bellowing and swinging his crossbow like a club。
Gar's staff shot out like an extended stiff arm。 The crossbow clattered uselessly on its shaft； the tip caught the sergeant in the collarbone。 He shot backward and landed sprawling； out cold。
Silence settled down over the village street。
Dirk glanced around him and noticed the villagers were conspicuous by their absence。 Wise。
He looked around him； at the five unconscious bodies； then up at Gar； who stood； feet wide apart； staff in his hands； a slight； ironic smile on his face。
Dirk limped over to him； panting。 〃You're a better man than I thought；〃 he gasped。 〃Where'd you learn to handle a quarterstaff…rich kid？〃
Gar's smile twitched。 〃My own home planet is still a little on the…shall we say…primitive side。〃 He nodded toward the unconscious troop。 〃Offhand； I'd say our cover is blown。〃
Dirk turned slowly； looking around him。 〃You might say so； yes。〃
〃Well； you're the local expert；〃 Gar grunted。 〃What do we do now？〃
A door flew open beside them； and a woman stepped out 〃In here； quickly！ Before they awaken！〃
Dirk stared。
She was tall and dark； with small； full breasts straining against a tight…laced bodice。 The flowing skirt followed the gently rounded curve of her hip。 This much was like any other Maid…but the heart…shaped face； the small； straight nose； the full lips and large green eyes with long fluttering lashes； and the wealth of darkly gleaming hair； made up a face more beautiful than he had ever seen。 How did the Lords miss this one？
〃Quickly！〃 she hissed； pointing angrily to the interior of the hut。 〃You must be gone from sight before they wakening。〃
Dirk stepped in slowly； feeling numbed； Gar followed closely behind； watching his 〃guide〃 warily。 The girl whirled in after them and latched the door。
The slam jolted Dirk out of his stupefaction。 He looked around him； eyes narrowing。 Dirt floor； central firepit； rough…hewn furniture； a little light escaping in through small parchment windows…nothing unusual； a peasant hut like any other。 The same applied to the peasant woman and her girls； and the two young boys； scarcely more than toddlers。 The women were all Housewives built on the wide and generous scale； and the boys were small blocks of beef； undoubtedly like their father。 Typical Farmer family； even down to the apprehension in their faces； the churls were never free of it； though admittedly it was a little worse right now。 Quite a bit worse…two fugitives in their house。
Dirk glanced at their brunette captor again…make that three。 Maybe。 Certainly she wasn't a Housewif