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hallows of my soul。 At two hundred yards I felt what it meant to have the shadow of the Dominator overhanging the world。 I felt what the Lady felt when she considered her husband's potential resurrection。 Every emotion be… came edged with a hint of despair。 In a way； the black castle was more than a gateway 〃through which the world's great old evil might reappear。 It was a concretization of metaphorical concepts； and a living symbol。 It did things a great cathedral does。 Like a cathedral；it was far more than an edifice。
I could stare at its obsidian walls and grotesque decoration； recall Shed's stories； and never avoid dipping into the cesspool of my own soul； never avoid searching myself for the essential decency shelved through most of my adult life。 That castle was； if you like； a moral landmark。 If you had a brain。 If you had any sensitivity at all。
There were times when One…Eye； Goblin； Elmo or another of the men acpanied me。 Not one of them went away untouched。 They could stand there with me； talking trivialities about its construction or； weightily； about its significance in the pany's future； and all the while something would be happening inside。
I do not believe in evil absolute。 I have recounted that philosophy in specific elsewhere in the Annals； and it affects my every observation throughout my tenure as Annalist。 I believe in our side and theirs； with the good and evil decided after the fact； by those who survive。 Among men you seldom find the good with one standard and the shadow with another。 In our war with the Rebel； eight and nine years ago； we served the side perceived as the shadow。 Yet we saw far more wickedness practiced by the adherents of the White Rose than by those of the Lady。 The villains of the piece were at least straightforward。
The world knows where it stands with the Lady。 It is the Rebel whose ideals and morals conflict with fact； being as changeable as the weather and as flexible as a snake。
But I digress。 The black castle has that effect。 Makes you amble off into all the byways and cul…de…sacs and false trails you have laid down during your life。 It makes you reassess。 Makes you want to take a stand somewhere； even if on the black side。 Leaves you impatient with your own malleable morality。
I suspect that is why Juniper decided to pretend the place did not exist。 It is an absolute demanding absolutes in a world with a preference for relatives。
Darling was in my thoughts often while I stood below those black； glossy walls； for she was the castle's antipode when I was up there。 The white pole； and absolute in opposition to what the black castle symbolized。 I had not been much in her presence since realizing what she was； but I could recall being morally unnerved by her； too。 I wondered how she would affect me now； after having had years to grow。
From what Shed said； she did not reek the way the castle did。 His main interest in her had been hustling her upstairs。 And Raven had not been driven into puritanical channels。 If anything； he had slipped farther into the darkness…though for the highest of motives。
Possibly there was a message there。 An observation upon means to ends。 Here was Raven who had acted with the pragmatic amorality of a prince of Hell； all so he could save the child who represented the best hope of the world against the Lady and the Dominator。
Oh； 'twould be marvelous if the world and its moral questions were like some game board； with plain black players and white； and fixed rules； and nary a shade of grey。
Even Asa and Shed could be made to feel the aura of the castle if you took them up during the daytime and made them stand there looking at those fell walls。
Shed especially。
Shed had achieved a position where he could afford conscience and uncertainty。 I mean； he had none of the financial troubles that had plagued him earlier； and no prospect of digging himself a hole with us watching him； so he could reflect upon his place in things and bee disgusted with himself。 More than once I took him up and watched as that deep spark of hidden decency flared； twisted him upon a rack of inner torment。
I do not know how Elmo did it。 Maybe he went without sleep for a few weeks。 But when the pany came down out of the Wolanders； he had an occupation plan prepared。 It was crude； to be sure； but better than any of us expected。
I was in the Buskin； at Shed's Iron Lily； when the first rumors raged down the waterfront and stirred one of the most massive states of confusion I've ever seen。 Shed's wood…seller neighbor swept into the Lily； announced； 〃There's an army ing down out of the pass！ Foreigners！ Thousands of them！ They say。 。。。〃
During the following hour a dozen patrons brought the news。 Each time the army was larger and its purpose more obscure。 Nobody knew what the pany wanted。 Various witnesses assigned motives according to their own fears。 Few came anywhere near the mark。
Though the men were weary after so long a march； they spread through the city quickly； the larger units guided by Elmo's men。 Candy brought a reinforced pany into the Buskin。 The worst slums are always the first site of rebellion； we've found。 There were few violent confrontations。 Juniper's citizens were taken by surprise and had no idea what to fight about anyway。 Most just turned out to watch。
I got myself back up to my squad。 This was the time the Taken would do their deed。 If they planned anything。
Nothing happened。 As I might have guessed； knowing that men from our forerunner party were guiding the new arrivals。 Indeed； nobody got in touch with me； up there； for another two days。 By then the city was pacified。 Every key point was in our hands。 Every state building； every arsenal； every strong point； even the Custodians' headquarters in the Enclosure。 And life went on as usual。 What little trouble there was came when Rebel refugees tried to start an uprising； accurately accusing the Duke of having brought the Lady to Juniper。
The people of Juniper didn't much care。
There were problems in the Buskin； though。 Elmo wanted to straighten the slum out。 Some of the slum dwellers didn't want to be straightened。 He used Candy's pany forcefully； cracking the organizations of the crime bosses。 I did not see the necessity； but wiser heads feared the gangs could bee the focus of future resistance。 Anything with that potential had to be squashed immediately。 I think there was a hope the move would win popular favor； too。
Elmo brought the Lieutenant to my hillside shack the third day after the pany's arrival。 〃How goes it？〃 I asked。 The Lieutenant had aged terribly since I had seen him last。 The passage westward had been grim。
〃City's secure；〃 he said。 〃Stinking dump； isn't it？〃
〃Better believe。 It's all snake's belly。 What's up？〃
Elmo said； 〃He needs a look at the target。〃
I lifted an eyebrow。
The Lieutenant said； 〃The Limper says we're going to take this place。 I don't know how soon。 Captain wants me to look it over。〃
〃Fun times tomorrow；〃 I muttered。 〃Ain't going to grab it on the sneak。〃 I donned my coat。 It was chilly up on the slopes。 Elmo and One…Eye tagged along when I took the Lieutenant up。 He eyeballed the castle； deep in thought。 Finally； he said； 〃I don't like it。 Not even a little bit。〃 He felt the cold dread of the place。
〃I got a man who's been inside；〃 I said。 〃But don't let the Taken know。 He's supposed to be dead。〃
〃What can he tell me？〃
〃Not much。 He's only been there at night； in a court behind the gate。〃
〃Uhm。 The Taken have a girl up at Duretile； too。 I talked to her。 She couldn't tell me nothing。 Only in there once； and was too scared to look around。〃
〃She's still alive？〃
〃Yeah。 That's the one you caught？ Yeah。 She's alive。 Lady's orders； apparently。 Nasty little hick。 Let's hike around it。〃
We got onto the far slope； where the going was rough； to the acpaniment of constant crabbing by One…Eye。 The Lieutenant stated the obvious。 〃No getting at it from here。 Not without help from the Taken。〃
〃Going to take a big lot of help to get at it from any direction。〃
He looked me a question。
I told him about Feather's troubles the night we took Shed and his barmaid。
〃Anything since？〃
〃Nope。 Not before； either。 My man who's been inside never saw anything extraordinary； either。 But； dammit； the thing connects with the Barrowland。 It's got the Dominator behind it。 You know it's not going to be a pushover。 They know there's trouble out here。〃
One…Eye made a squeaking sound。 〃What？〃 the Lieutenant snapped。
One…Eye pointed。 We all looked up the wall； which loomed a good sixty feet above us。 I did not see anything。 Neither did the Lieutenant。 〃What？〃 he asked again。
〃Something was watching us。 Nasty…looking critter。〃
〃I saw it too；〃 Elmo volunteered。 〃Long； skinny； yellowish guy with eyes like a snake。〃
I considered the wall。 〃How could you tell from here？〃
Elmo shivered and shrugged。 〃I could。 And I didn't like it。 Looked like he wanted to bite me。〃 We dragged on through brush and over boulders； keeping one eye on the castle； the other on the down slope。 Elmo muttered； 〃Hungry eyes。 That's