fs.thethirdbookofswords-µÚ52²¿·Ö
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pproaching£»¡¡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¡¡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¡¡