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iles went hailing thickly down into the sea of the attackers； but Mark could not see that they did much damage。 An arrow might penetrate a larva's shell； but the thing kept advancing anyway； pushing up another ladder and then climbing to the attack。 A slung stone might crack a carapace； but the hit figure came on anyway； until a leg joint was broken too badly to let it walk； or its arms disabled to the point where it could no longer climb a ladder。
The hundred ladders carried forward to the walls in that first attack； Mark decided； must have been made for the larvae by their human masters and allies。 Last night he had heard Nestor talking in the castle； describing in detail what he had seen of the larvae at close range； and what kind of fighting might be expected when their horde swept to the assault on the castle walls。
Sir Andrew had listened very carefully to the same account。 The knight had then sat alone for a while； the picture of grim thought； and then had issued orders； disposing of his defense forces as best he might。 Mark had got the impression； listening； that all the experts on hand knew that the walls were going to be undermanned。
Then Sir Andrew had had Nestor speak to the defenders also of Draffut； of how the Lord of Beasts had seemed to favor their cause； and to hint of active intervention on their side。 This raised the hopes of everyone somewhat； though Nestor was careful not to claim that any such promise had been made by Draffut。
Nestor； as he had explained to a smaller gathering of his old panions of the wagon； had decided he had no real choice but to take part in the fighting； once he had decided to e to Sir Andrew's castle with the sword。
〃Besides； where would I have gone to get away？ From here all roads lead ultimately to Fraktin or Yambu； except those that go back into the swamp； or to the northwest； and I expect that even those are closed by now。 〃
Armed with the Sword of Fury； and wearing the best armor that Sir Andrew had been able to fit him with at short notice； Nestor was somewhere in one of the central guard…towers when the first attack began。 The strategy was for him to wait there until close bat provided a suitable chance to bring the sword's powers into use。 But though the sword whined restlessly when the attack began； and drew its threads of vapor from the air into itself； that chance did not e with the first assault。
Not that there was much of a break between the first and second。 The Gray Horde did not retreat from the foot of the walls to reform； as a human army would certainly have done。 Instead its thousands milled around； indifferent to slung stone and arrow。
And then surged forward behind the ladders once again。
By now it had been discovered that large stones dropped on the attacking larvae below the walls were somewhat more effective than slings and arrows； but that fire was disappointingly inefficient。 The deadwood figures were not really dry； and they would have to be burnt into ashes to be stopped。
〃A breach！ A breach！〃
Mark heard the cry go up some minutes after the second surge with ladders against the walls began。 Looking down at the top of the west wall； to his right； he saw that gray mannikins were on it； their arms windmilling as they fought。
〃The sword es！〃
〃Townsaver！〃
Through the defenders' thin reserves the figure of Nestor； recognizable in his new armor； was moving into action。 Above and through the banshee…howling of the enemy sounded the high shriek of the blade。 The sound called up for Mark his last day in his home village； and he felt a surge of sickness。
The hand of Dame Yoldi pressed his arm。 〃It es awake； and timely too。 We have a holding here； and unarmed folk in it to be defended。 The gods cannot be wholly evil； to have forged a weapon of this nature。〃
Mark could not think beyond that screaming sound。 Nestor had reached the foe now； and the blade in his hands blurred back and forth； faster than sight could follow it； and the first gray rank went down。
This was Duke Fraktin's first chance to hear Townsaver scream； and he was greatly interested。 He watched from a distance as the small blur in one man's hands cleared the west wall of larvae。 The Duke was impressed； but not particularly surprised。
He watched also； with fascination； how gracefully and angrily Queen Yambu rode her prancing warbeast in front of her own ranked army of human men； even as he himself paced near the center of his own。 The bulk of the Duke's forces were now disposed in a semicircular formation； with its right wing on the lake almost behind the castle； left wing anchored just about where the winding road came up the hill to find Sir Andrew's fortified main gate。 Upon that gate a hundred larvae were now battering with a ram fashioned from the trunk of a huge tree。 Their feet slipped and slid in mud that had been their predecessors' bodies； while stones and fire decimated their ranks from above。 Meanwhile； along the road； rough battalions of replacements jostled forward； howling dully； ready without fear or hope to take their turn beneath the walls。
From the winding road around west to the lake again； the human forces of Yambu held the field。 They were arrayed； like the Duke's army； in a rough halfcircle。 The Duke like everyone else was well aware that the two armies of attackers were watching each other closely and uneasily； even as both watched the progress of the swarming preliminary attack on the castle by Yambu's auxiliaries。
The Duke turned to his blue…garbed wizard； who was waiting nearby clad in incongruous…looking armor。 〃At least；〃 His Grace remarked； 〃a good part of the Horde is going to he used up against those walls； and particularly by that sword。 We can hope that most of those dead…wood monsters will be out of the way before it es our turn to fight Yambu； for the spoils。〃 〃Indeed； sire。〃
〃I'm convinced now； Blue…Robes； that it was she who tried to kidnap my cousin。 Obviously she's got word of the swords somehow。。。 what word is there from the east？〃
This last was spoken to the Duke's staff at large。 None of them had any real news to report from that direction。 At night there were the reddened eastern skies for all to see； and by day the distant plumes of smoke。 When the Duke had dispatched a flying scout with a message for the small garrison at Arin…on…Aldan； the scout had e back with a report of being unable to find the village or its garrison； in the altered landscape and foul air。 （The message had been an order for the family of Jord the Miller to be brought into the Duke's presence for some serious interrogation； milder methods having failed。） Indeed it appeared now that munications with the foothill region had broken down pletely。 Reports； scattered and uncertain； indicated that the whole civilian population of that area was now in flight； and military patrols were at best disrupted。 The Duke sighed； for his vanished family of subjects for interrogation。 But he had a battle to fight here； and could spare no extra manpower for search operations of doubtful utility over there。
Still； the blue…robed wizard did not appear ent