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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 locked up now； and would never see。 A few days ago the Lord Mayor； perhaps trusting the security of this house as much or more than that of his own palace； had asked Master and Lady Courtenay to keep it here。
She was still climbing stairs when a great crash from below told her that a door had somehow already been broken in。 Smoke and the cries and clash of battle rose from below； as Barbara knelt to bring the great Sword out of its hiding place under her bedroom floor。
Fighting nearby； threatening innocent nonbatants in their home； had wakened the Sword of Fury already。 The weighty steel arose with magical ease and lightness in her grip； the Sword already making its preliminary faint millsaw whine。 For a moment as she held it； there crossed Barbara's mind the thought of Mark's hands； a small boy's hands then； the first time he had held this Sword； his grip no stronger then perhaps than hers was now upon this very hilt。。。 she was already hurrying back toward the stairs。
From below there sounded a new crash； a shout of triumph in the invaders' voices。
Their joy would be short lived。 In Barbara's hands； Townsaver screamed exultantly； and pulled her running down the stairs。。。
Chapter 18
Ben； caught in Vilkata's camp when the retreat turned into a desperate scramble for survival； bulled his way into the fighting at the mouth of the no…longer…secret tunnel。 But it was quickly obvious that the tunnel was now hopelessly blocked as a means of escape。 Having no other real choice； he promptly mitted himself to the river instead。 Many other bodies； alive and dead； were afloat in the Corgo already。 All of them； swimming or bobbing； would eventually reach one or another of the great water…gates that pierced the city's walls only a few hundred meters downstream。
Ben splashed and waded and swam his way well out into the current； trying to avoid the hail of missiles； slung stones and arrows； now being launched by enemy troops along the bank。 The steadily growing lightness of the eastern sky brightened the water as well。 The enemy certainly had the tunnel now。 Not that it was going to do them any good as an invasion route； it had been designed for plete and easy blockage at the point where it approached the walls； and also at the inner end； almost below the palace。
The bottom fell off steeply under Ben as he moved out from the shore。 And now he had to slip out of his partial armor； and drop his heavier weapons； strong swimmer though he was； if he was going to keep from drowning。
He swam downstream； missiles still pattering like heavy hail upon the water's surface round him。 He went under water for a while； still swimming； and came up for air and swam again。 The high walls rose up before him swiftly； the river ran fast here； and swept him down upon them。 The gray…brown of their hardened granite was brightening in the new daylight。 Now Ben could see that this portion of the walls； along with the upstream water…gates； was being manned in force by the Watch in gray…green uniforms。 More of the Watch were down at water level； just inside the gate ahead of him； admitting one at a time through a turnstile arrangement the returning survivors of the sally。 There was already enough daylight to let them do this with security。
Ben swam a few more strokes； and then could pull himself up； first on rock and then on steel bars； magically protected against rust。 Around him a steady trickle of other survivors were doing the same thing； a bedraggled crew； he thought； but not entirely defeated。 He did not see Mark anywhere； but that did not necessarily mean anything。
Once he had been let in through the turnstile； Ben's way led upward； into and behind the wall； along a flight of narrow steps。 His last glance at the scene outside the city showed him that Vulcan and some other god； a many…armed being Ben did not recognize； were approaching； now no more than a few hundred meters away。
Others soldiers were stopping on the stairs to watch。 Ben； for his part； had had more than enough of confrontations and fighting for a time； he was anxious to get home and see what was happening there。
Among the Watch officers who were seeing to the admission of returning fighters； confusion reigned。 It was the situation more often than not in any military； Ben had observed。 Someone was announcing that the survivors were to stand by for debriefing and then reassignment on the walls。 But someone else； not an officer； passed on a rumor that the Blue Temple was in revolt； and the House of Courtenay under attack within the city。 Ben on hearing this ducked out and hurried through the streets toward his home。 In the confusion no one appeared to notice his departure。
The streets of Tashigang were largely empty； what stores and shops he passed were all of them closed and shuttered。 Once he observed； a few streets away； a running group that looked like some detached fragment of a mob。 Ben stayed out of their way； whatever they were about。
Tired and generally battered； though essentially unhurt； he stumbled at last into the familiar street。 There was his house； at least it was still standing； and his heart leaped up in preliminary joy； this was followed in a moment by new anxiety； when he saw how the building was scorched and still smoking above ground level； and how the windows and doors to the street were battered。 Now he could see part of what looked like a bucket brigade of his faithful workers； stretching between the house and the nearby river。
Ben ran panting through the broken front door； into the main room of the ground floor； and stopped。 Carnage was everywhere。 Amid broken furniture and weapons were piled hewed and mangled bodies； the great majority of them wrapped in cloaks that had once been blue and gold。
Barbara； elated； looking unhurt； came bounding from somewhere to greet him。
〃Townsaver；〃 she explained； succinctly； indicating the condition and contents of the room。 〃They started a fire； and broke in。。。 but then some of them were glad to get away。〃
Then； in sudden new worry； she was looking behind her husband； at the empty street。 〃Where's Mark？〃
〃I don't know。 We were separated。 He may be all right。〃 And from the way the question had been asked； Ben understood that she would have preferred him to be the one still unaccounted for。
Vulcan； standing waist…deep in the swift Corgo； was unhurriedly rending open one of the huge water…gates of steel and iron bars。 He might of course have climbed the city wall； or flown over it somehow； but this mode of entry struck him as more appropriate。 He had made the city his now； and he was going to enter his city through a door。
Shiva； his recently acquired panion； was squatting nearby on the riverbank and watching。 The rivets and other members of the gate were breaking one at a time； parting with loud pops as Vulcan bent his strength upon them； the fragments flying now and then like crossbow bolts。
Vulcan was speaking； but； as often； his words were addressed mainly to himself。 〃If I were capable of mistakes； that would have been one。。。 letting my twelve Blades go so meekly； after I had them forged。 Giving them away to Hermes like that； to be dealt out to the human vermin for the Game。。。 a mistake； yes。 But now I'll make no more。〃
Now Shiva pitched into the river the smoldering treetrunk that he had still been carrying。 The huge spar of wood went into the water with a steamy splash。
As if in reply； there was a swirling in the water； and the nebulous figure of Hades appeared just above its surface。 On the high city wall there were a few human screams。 The few human watchers who had remained in the immediate area were quickly gone； getting themselves out of sight of that god's face； of which it was said that no man or woman might look on it； and live thereafter。
Hades said； in his formless voice； that he had e to bring a warning to his old rade Vulcan。 It was that anyone who used Farslayer could never triumph thereby in the end。
Vulcan glared at him。 〃To a true god； there is no end。 Was that a warning； troglodyte； or a threat？ If you choose to deal in threats； Farslayer is here at my side again； and as you say； I do not hesitate to use it。〃
The almost shapeless words of Hades' answer came back to him： Death and darkness are no more than portions of my domain； Fire…worker； such threats do not concern me。
And again there was a stirring of the river and the earth； and Hades was gone。
Vulcan cast aside the remnants of the gate he had now torn down； and waded through the stone arch it had protected； and went on into the city。 From the inside； Tashigang looked about as he had expected； he had heard that this was the largest city that the human vermin had ever built。 He noted with indifference that the four…armed god Shiva was still following him。
There was a running human figure nearby； caped in blue and gold； and Vulcan bent down and shot out a hand and scooped the creature up； inflicting minimal damage； he wanted some information from it。
〃You； tell me…where is the place you call the House of Courtenay？ I hear th