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This last suspicion was strengthened when the Tasavaltan army was also reported to be now on the march； and also approaching Tashigang。 Rostov would make a formidable opponent。 But it would be a day or two yet； according to report； before his army would be on the scene。
And there was Vulcan … Vulcan was now almost at hand。 It struck Vilkata more forcefully now than ever before； that the gods were often stupid； or at least behaved as if they were； which in practice of course came to the same thing。
Holding the Mindsword drawn and ready in his hand； the Dark King rode out to confront this deity who said that he had e to do him honor。
Riding a little ahead of a little group of trembling human aides； his vision provided by a demon now equally tremulous with fear； Vilkata flashed the Mindsword over his head。 At the same time he cried out in a loud voice； demanding the Smith's obedience。
Vulcan's first answer was a knowing grin； shattering in its implications。 Then the god laughed at the human he had once been forced to worship。
With a wicked gleam in his huge eyes； Vulcan brandished the smoldering tree…trunk that once had been a torch； and announced that he meant to have revenge for that earlier humiliation。
〃Did your scouts and spies； little man； take seriously what I shouted to them about my ing here to do you honor？ Good！ For as soon as I have time； I mean to do you honor in an unprecedented way。 Ah； yes。
〃I am a god； little man。 Remember？ And Shieldbreaker is now in my hand！ Can you understand what that means？ I； who forged it； know。 It means I am immune to all other weapons； including your Mindsword。 There is no power on earth that can oppose me now。〃
The Dark King； as usual at his bravest when things seemed most desperate； glared right back at the god； and nursed a silent hope that Doomgiver in some human hand might still bring this proud being down。 Or Farslayer。。。 then he saw another' sheath at Vulcan's belt； another black hilt； and he knew a sinking moment of despair。
Vulcan； taking his time； had yet a little more to say。 He was going to have his revenge on Vilkata； but not just yet。 〃First of all； little man； there are more Swords that I must gather。 Just to be sure。。。 therefore I claim this city and all its contents for my own。 And all its people。 They will wish that Mars still lived； when my rule begins among them。〃
And the god turned his back on the King； and marched off to claim his city。 However many panions the Smith had had when he came over the horizon； he was now down to just one； a four…armed male god that Vilkata was unable to identify offhand。 Not； he supposed； that it much mattered。
As long as Vilkata was actually in Vulcan's presence； he had been able to confront the Smith bravely enough。 But when the confrontation was over； the man was left physically shaking。 Still； in a way he was almost glad that Vulcan was now openly his enemy。 Always； in the past； it had taken a supreme challenge of some kind to rouse Vilkata to his greatest efforts and achievements。 When he knew a crisis was approaching； fear gnawed at him maddeningly； and sometimes came near to disabling him。 But when the crisis arrived； then he was at his best。
As was the case now。 Rejoining the main body of his army； he called his staff together and issued orders firmly。 In a new； bold voice； the Dark King manded them to abandon the siege that they had scarcely yet begun。 Once more he set his whole vast host in motion； turning it to meet the Silver Queen and Soulcutter。
Vulcan's turn would e； and soon。 There were still certain weapons to which even a god armed with the Sword of Force would not be immune； the tools of boldness and intelligence。 Meanwhile； for the time being； Vilkata would abandon the city of Tashigang to the gods。
Chapter 17
In the hour before dawn； at a time when two hundred of the loyal defenders of Tashigang were fighting outside the walls； there was treachery in the Lord Mayor's palace。 Money changed hands； and weapons flashed； in a corridor on an upper floor； where one room had been made into a cell for holding an important prisoner。 Chairman and High Priest Hyrcanus of the Blue Temple was freed； in steps of bribery and violence。
The move to rescue Hyrcanus was planned and executed by his immediate subordinates in the Blue Temple； as part of a general insurrection； in accordance with the High Priest's own previous orders。 The intention was to seize control of the city； and wele in the Dark King and his army。
Attempts by the Blue Temple Guard to seize the walls and gates from inside were unsuccessful。 The concurrent try to assassinate the Lord Mayor failed also； nor were the Blue Temple raiders able to capture the palace … not all of the Watch there were easily subverted or taken by surprise。 And Hyrcanus was wounded in his escape； so that he had to be half carried； gasping and ashen…faced； back to the Blue Temple's local headquarters on a street not far away。
Once there； propped up on a couch while a surgeon worked on him； the Chairman demanded to be brought up to date on how the situation stood； inside the city and out。 When his aides had informed him as best they could； one of his first orders was to dispatch a pany of thirty Blue Temple Guardsmen against the House of Courtenay。 Their orders were to take or destroy the building； and seize whatever Swords and other useful items they could discover … along with any available gold and other valuables； of course。 They were also to take the important inhabitants of the house prisoner if possible； or kill them as second choice； and in general to crush that place as a possible center of resistance。
Then Hyrcanus began to lay his plans to attack the walls and gates once more。
When the first Blue Temple raid struck the palace； in the hour before dawn； Baron Amintor was waiting in a ground floor room for a good chance to see the Mayor privately。 When the Baron saw the Guard in its capes of blue and gold e swirling in to the attack； he immediately decided that he could best serve his Queen's interests and his own by remaining alive and active in the city； whatever the oute of this particular skirmish might prove to be。 The fate of the palace and the Mayor still hung in the balance when Amintor prudently retired； and set out through the streets to carry warning to the House of Courtenay。 He of course remembered that that was where the young man named Denis lived； who was supposed to be able to set a counterattack of looters in motion against the Blue Temple。
When the Baron reached his destination … not without a minor adventure or two along the way … he found the House already on the alert； its doors and windows sealed。 It took him some time and effort； arguing and cajoling； to get himself admitted to speak with someone in authority。
Once inside； he found himself face to face with the tiny woman who had been introduced to him at the palace as the Lady Sophie。 Now； surrounded by her own determined…looking retainers； she received his warning with evident suspicion； which he in turn accepted philosophically。
〃I can only suggest； Madam； that you wait and see if I am right。 Wait not in idleness； of course； order your affairs as if the Blue Temple were indeed leading a revolt。 I will await the result with confidence。〃
〃You will await the result in a room by yourself。 Jord； Tamir； disarm him and lock him in that closet。〃
The Baron's capacity for philosophical acceptance became somewhat strained； but at the moment he had no real choice。
The attack by the Blue Temple against the house began presently； just as the Baron had predicted； with fire and sword and axe against the walls and doors and windows。 But the attackers met fierce resistance from the start。 Brickbats and scalding water were dumped on them from the flat roof； and the first window that they managed to break open immediately sprouted weapons； like teeth in a warbeast's mouth。
Denis was not there to aid in the defense。 Barbara had taken the Baron's warning seriously； enough to dispatch the young man with orders to put into operation whatever looting counterattack he could。 The street connections made in his early life ought to serve him well in the attempt。
And even a feint； or the suggestion of an attack； might serve as well as the real thing。 In a city this big； the Blue Temple vaults must hold vast treasure； and Denis had already begun to spread among the city's street people the rumor that the Blue Temple's main hoard； an agglomeration of wealth well beyond the capacity of most people to prehend； had already been moved into Tashigang for safekeeping。 It was unlikely that even a large mob could succeed in looting the Temple here； but even the threat ought to make the misers squirm and roar； and pull in their claws to defend that which they valued more than their own lives and limbs。
As the direct attack on her own house began； Barbara's first act was to see to it that her daughter； with Kuan…yin as caretaker and Jord as personal bodyguard； was put into the safest and strongest room available。
Then Barbara ran upstairs to get Townsaver。 If this warning and attack were only part of an elaborate hoax to discover where it was hidden； the Baron was safely lo