"In a manner of speaking. Let's lay our cards on the table. I can't talk about the work I do any more than you can talk about the work you do. You don't trust me. I accept that. I'll work to correct your mistake. I trust you, but then I've read your file." Scylla regarded him with increased interest. "You're much better-looking than your file photo. What happened here?"

Mosiah appeared somewhat taken aback by this direct approach, though I could see he wasn't pleased with that reference to his file.

"General Boris sent you," he said.

"I know the General. A good man." Scylla smiled. "What happened?"

"It was all over in a matter of moments, too fast for me to summon help." Mosiah's voice was cold, perhaps to keep from sounding defensive. "I was alone, standing watch unseen, remaining hidden in the corridors, as was our custom, so as not to disturb Joram and his family."

"And where were the rest of the Duuk-tsarith?" Duuk-tsarith?" Scylla asked. "You might have been left alone on guard duty, but I know you weren't alone here in the Font." Scylla asked. "You might have been left alone on guard duty, but I know you weren't alone here in the Font."

Mosiah's face darkened. He did not reply. I knew the answer to that question well enough, as I'm sure Eliza did, though she was only now gradually coming to understand. The other Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith had been searching for the Darksword. They knew as well as the Technomancers that Joram had refused to give it up. I thought of all these dread forces, with their dread powers, mundane and arcane, searching for the sword, and of Eliza and me, in our innocence, walking off with it, s.n.a.t.c.hing it out from under their very noses. A shiver crept over me. I had guessed we might be in some danger. I had never realized how great. They needed Joram and the Darksword. The rest of us were expendable. had been searching for the Darksword. They knew as well as the Technomancers that Joram had refused to give it up. I thought of all these dread forces, with their dread powers, mundane and arcane, searching for the sword, and of Eliza and me, in our innocence, walking off with it, s.n.a.t.c.hing it out from under their very noses. A shiver crept over me. I had guessed we might be in some danger. I had never realized how great. They needed Joram and the Darksword. The rest of us were expendable.

"And so the other Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith were off on a little treasure hunt of their own, leaving you alone to stand guard. What made them think-wait! I know." Scylla glanced toward Eliza. "The Darksword had been moved. You sensed its absence, though you could not detect its presence. Very well. You were alone. And then the Technomancers came." were off on a little treasure hunt of their own, leaving you alone to stand guard. What made them think-wait! I know." Scylla glanced toward Eliza. "The Darksword had been moved. You sensed its absence, though you could not detect its presence. Very well. You were alone. And then the Technomancers came."

"Yes, they came," said Mosiah curtly. "There is not much to tell after that." He spoke to Eliza, ignored Scylla pointedly, which seemed to afford her mild amus.e.m.e.nt. "I never thought I'd say this, but we have that fool Simkin to thank for giving us as much warning as we had."

Eliza and I exchanged glances. "I knew it," she said softly, so that only I heard her.

"Joram could not sleep," Mosiah continued. "He had been out walking, down by the sheep, and had just returned. Your mother was waiting up for him. They spoke together. I left them alone," he said in answer to Eliza's accusing look. "I did not intrude on their privacy. Perhaps, if I had been there . . ." He shrugged.

"It would have made no difference," Scylla said quietly.

"I suppose not. I was here in the warming room when I heard Joram cry out the word Simkin! Simkin! I returned, still inside the magical Corridors, to find what looked like a watered-down version of Simkin waving that ridiculous orange scarf of his and going on about Joram coming under attack from a horde of silver salt-shakers or something equally nonsensical, although I must admit that pretty well describes the I returned, still inside the magical Corridors, to find what looked like a watered-down version of Simkin waving that ridiculous orange scarf of his and going on about Joram coming under attack from a horde of silver salt-shakers or something equally nonsensical, although I must admit that pretty well describes the D'karn-darah. D'karn-darah.

"I guessed what was happening and sent out a warning to my brethren. Joram blazed like fire and left the room. I started to follow, when the D'karn-darah D'karn-darah stormed the house. It was then I made a mistake." stormed the house. It was then I made a mistake."

Mosiah gazed at us steadily. "I thought . . . Well, you'll see. Joram had left the room. Where else would he go, but after the Darksword? The one weapon which would protect him and Gwendolyn-"

"Oh!" Eliza gave a smothered cry, covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, no!"

"Don't blame yourself, Eliza," Scylla said quickly. "There was nothing your father could have done. They would have captured him and the Darksword and all would have been at an end. At least now there is hope."

But Eliza was not comforted.

Mosiah was talking, reliving the event, as if trying to figure out what had gone wrong. "I knew knew he had gone after the Darksword! When he came back almost immediately without it, what was I to think?" he had gone after the Darksword! When he came back almost immediately without it, what was I to think?"

"You thought he was deliberately keeping it hidden, refusing to use it even in his own defense," Scylla said.

"Yes!" Mosiah was frustrated, angry. "I revealed myself to him. He recognized me and he didn't seem all that surprised to see me. We didn't have much time. I could hear the D'karn-darah D'karn-darah coming. I asked him to give me the Darksword. Til take it away!' I promised him. 'I'll keep it safe!' " coming. I asked him to give me the Darksword. Til take it away!' I promised him. 'I'll keep it safe!' "

"How could you?" Scylla asked. "Its null-magic would have destroyed the Corridors."

"We had designed a special sheath for it," Mosiah said. "Once the Darksword was inside this sheath, we could have transported it easily. Joram refused, of course. He wouldn't give me the sword. I thought ... I thought he was being stubborn, as usual. I didn't know that he couldn't couldn't give me the sword. I didn't know then that he knew or guessed who had taken it." give me the sword. I didn't know then that he knew or guessed who had taken it."

Mosiah raised his head, looked at Eliza. "If he had trusted me. If he had told me the truth-I know. Why should he? It was obvious at that point that I'd been spying on him.

"After that, there's not much to tell. Within moments three D'karn-darah D'karn-darah entered the bedroom. We could hear more inside the other parts of the house. Then another came to us, dragging Father Saryon. He was all right," Mosiah rea.s.sured me, and he smiled slightly. "He is a tough one, Reuven. The first thing the good father said when he saw us was, 'Don't give it to them, Joram!' entered the bedroom. We could hear more inside the other parts of the house. Then another came to us, dragging Father Saryon. He was all right," Mosiah rea.s.sured me, and he smiled slightly. "He is a tough one, Reuven. The first thing the good father said when he saw us was, 'Don't give it to them, Joram!'

"The D'karn-darah D'karn-darah demanded the Darksword. Joram refused. They told him to give them the sword or he would see those he loved suffer. They had seized hold of Gwendolyn. What was Joram to do? He couldn't give them the sword even if he had wanted to, because he didn't have it. demanded the Darksword. Joram refused. They told him to give them the sword or he would see those he loved suffer. They had seized hold of Gwendolyn. What was Joram to do? He couldn't give them the sword even if he had wanted to, because he didn't have it.

" 'Take me.' He tried to bargain with them. 'Let my wife and Father Saryon go. Take me and I'll tell you where the sword is hidden.'

"I doubt if they would have ever agreed to such a bargain, not when they held all the cards, but we'll never know. At that moment a teddy bear, which had been lying on the bed, flew up and struck the D'karn-darah D'karn-darah who was holding Gwen captive." who was holding Gwen captive."

"Good old Simkin," Scylla said, smiling.

"Yes, good old Simkin," Mosiah echoed dryly. "The D'karn-darah D'karn-darah was taken by surprise, as you can well imagine. The bear struck the Technomancer on the forehead. The blow was not a hard one, but it rocked her back on her feet. In her astonishment, she let go of Gwen. The bear continued to pummel the was taken by surprise, as you can well imagine. The bear struck the Technomancer on the forehead. The blow was not a hard one, but it rocked her back on her feet. In her astonishment, she let go of Gwen. The bear continued to pummel the D'karn-darah, D'karn-darah, smacking her on the face, buffeting her head, and eventually ended by clamping himself over her nose and mouth. He appeared to be trying to smother her. At that moment Gwendolyn disappeared." smacking her on the face, buffeting her head, and eventually ended by clamping himself over her nose and mouth. He appeared to be trying to smother her. At that moment Gwendolyn disappeared."

"Disappeared?" Eliza repeated, bewildered. "What do you mean-disappeared? Did my mother run away? What happened to her?"

"I don't know," Mosiah said, angry at himself, at his own impotence. "If I did, I would tell you. She vanished. One moment Gwen was there. The next she was gone. I thought at first that perhaps some of my people had taken her into the Corridors, but later investigation revealed that they knew nothing of what happened to her.

"But Joram thought the worst. He a.s.sumed the D'karn-darah D'karn-darah had taken Gwen. He went wild with rage, flung himself barehanded at the had taken Gwen. He went wild with rage, flung himself barehanded at the D'karn-darah. D'karn-darah. He caught them off guard. They had not been expecting an attack by a stuffed toy, nor one of their hostages to disappear. Joram's lunge carried two of them to the floor. I took out the fourth." He caught them off guard. They had not been expecting an attack by a stuffed toy, nor one of their hostages to disappear. Joram's lunge carried two of them to the floor. I took out the fourth."

Mosiah smiled grimly. "You'll find a charred spot on the bedroom floor. By that time, however, more D'karn-darah D'karn-darah arrived. They subdued Joram . . . and took him away." arrived. They subdued Joram . . . and took him away."

"Subdued him," Eliza said, noting that Mosiah had averted his gaze once more. "How? Tell me. What did they do to my father?"

"Tell her," Scylla said. "She needs to understand the nature of the enemy against which we fight."

Mosiah shrugged. "Very well. They struck Joram over the head, dazing him. Then they inserted the needles. You may have read of a practice known as acupuncture. Needles are inserted into specific areas of the body to produce regional anesthesia. The D'karn-darah D'karn-darah have developed the reverse. Each needle is charged with electromagic. The stimulus it produces in the body is extraordinarily painful and debilitating. The pain is only temporary, however, and goes away when the needles are removed. But until then, a person is reduced to a state of helpless agony. When Joram was sufficiently subdued, they took him away. Father Saryon demanded to be allowed to accompany him, and of course, they were grateful to have an extra hostage." have developed the reverse. Each needle is charged with electromagic. The stimulus it produces in the body is extraordinarily painful and debilitating. The pain is only temporary, however, and goes away when the needles are removed. But until then, a person is reduced to a state of helpless agony. When Joram was sufficiently subdued, they took him away. Father Saryon demanded to be allowed to accompany him, and of course, they were grateful to have an extra hostage."

"You escaped," said Scylla.

"There was nothing I could do," Mosiah returned coldly. "I risked being captured myself and they have no reason to keep me alive. I deemed that I could be more useful surviving to fight them than throwing away my life needlessly."

Eliza had gone very pale during the description of her father's torment, but she stood strong and quiet. "What happened to my mother?" she asked, her voice quavering only slightly. She was fighting hard to remain under control.

"I don't know," Mosiah confessed. "If I had to guess, I would say that the D'karn-darah D'karn-darah took her. But, if so . . ."He appeared thoughtful, then shrugged helplessly. "I don't know." took her. But, if so . . ."He appeared thoughtful, then shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."

"Do you you know?" Eliza turned to Scylla. know?" Eliza turned to Scylla.

"Me? How could I know?" Scylla demanded, astonished that she was even asked. "I wasn't there. I wish I had been, though." She looked quite grim.

"Well, what do we do now?" Eliza was calm, very calm, much too calm. Her hands were clenched together, the fingers twined tightly, the knuckles white.

"We wait," said Mosiah.

"Wait! Wait for what?"

"We must wait for them to contact us," said Mosiah.

"To tell us where to bring the Darksword," Scylla added. "To make the exchange. The Darksword for your father's life."

"And I will give it to them," Eliza said.

"No," said Mosiah. "You will not."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

"Now the game begins in earnest." in earnest."

FORGING THE DARKSWORD.

"I will will give it to them," Eliza countered. "You won't stop me. I should never have taken the Darksword in the first place. What they do with it doesn't matter-" give it to them," Eliza countered. "You won't stop me. I should never have taken the Darksword in the first place. What they do with it doesn't matter-"

"It does," said Mosiah. "They will use it to enslave a world."

"My father's life is all that matters," Eliza maintained stubbornly.

She swayed where she stood. She was exhausted, her strength almost gone. There was nowhere to sit down; every piece of furniture in the room had been smashed. Scylla put her arm around the young woman, gave her a bracing hug.

"I know it all looks very bleak now, Eliza, but things are not as bad as they seem. We'll feel better for a cup of tea. Reuven, find something for us to sit on."

She did not speak the instruction aloud. She signed the words to me! Smiling, she quirked her pierced eyebrow as much as to say, See, I do know you! See, I do know you!

Of course. All that would be in my "file." Once I was over my astonishment, I left the room in search of chairs. And I felt better, having a task to perform. I had to go to distant and long-unused parts of the building to find any furniture that was still intact. Surely the D'karn-darah D'karn-darah could not imagine that they would find the Darksword hidden in a straight-backed wooden chair, but that's how it appeared. The destruction was wanton and cruel and seemed, to my mind, to have been the result of fury and frustration over not finding what they sought rather than of any true hope of discovery. could not imagine that they would find the Darksword hidden in a straight-backed wooden chair, but that's how it appeared. The destruction was wanton and cruel and seemed, to my mind, to have been the result of fury and frustration over not finding what they sought rather than of any true hope of discovery.

If this is what they do to objects, what will they do to people? I asked myself, and the thought was chilling.

I found no chairs, but I did come across several short wooden stools from one of the lower level rooms which must have, I think, been used as a cla.s.sroom for children. I do not know how the Technomancers missed this room, except that it stood at an odd angle off a corridor and would have been in pitch-darkness during the night.

As I picked up one of the stools I noticed, even in my weariness, how it had been crafted out of a single piece of wood. Crafted by magic, held together by magic, which prohibited the use of nails or glue. The wood had not been cut, but lovingly shaped and coaxed into taking the form the creator wanted.

I rubbed my hand over the smooth wood and suddenly, inexplicably, tears came to my eyes. I wept for the loss, for all the losses-the loss of my master, the loss of Joram and Gwendolyn, the loss of their daughter's peaceful, serene way of life, the loss of Thimhallan, the loss of such simple beauty as I held in my hands, the loss of that other life of my own, the life of which I'd had such tantalizing glimpses.

I startled myself, for I am not given to tears and sobbing. I don't believe that I had cried since I was a child. I was half-ashamed of myself, when I finally forced myself to quit, but the outburst of emotion had done me good, acting like a release valve. I felt calmer and oddly rested, more capable of handling whatever might come.

Picking up four stools, slinging the rungs over my arms, I returned to the main living quarters.

I found I had not been the only one working. The smoldering furniture had been carried outdoors, either by Mosiah or his magic. The smoke was clearing from the room, blown away on a crisp morning breeze. A fire crackled in the fireplace. Water was heating in a kettle which, though dented, had survived the destruction. Scylla was scooping loose tea leaves into a cracked pot. Eliza was sorting through broken crockery, searching for any cups that might have escaped intact. She looked up at me with a wan smile when I entered. She, too, was better for having something to do.

Lifting one half of a large broken platter, she found Teddy lying beneath it.

The bear was in a sorry state. One arm was completely ripped off, one b.u.t.ton eye missing. His right leg hung by a thread, his stuffing dribbled out of torn seams. His orange scarf was bedraggled and singed.

"Poor Teddy!" Eliza said, and taking the maltreated bear in her arms, she began to sob.

She had borne up bravely until that moment. That was her release valve.

Mosiah, with a wry smile, seemed about to say something, but Scylla forestalled him with a look and a shake of her head. Mosiah certainly wasn't taking orders from Scylla and would have gone on to have his say, except that even he could see this wasn't the time.

I longed to comfort Eliza, but I felt myself in an awkward position. I had only known her a day and a night-a traumatic day and night, to be sure, but that wasn't really relevant. Her grief was hers alone, and there was really nothing I could say or do to ease it.

I set down the stools near the fire. Mosiah walked over to gaze out the window, his black robes leaving a sinuous trail in the ash on the floor. Scylla poured water from the kettle into the teapot. By this time Eliza had dried her tears.

"I'll sew him back together," she said, using the sleeve of her shirt to wipe her eyes.

"Don't bother," came a weak voice. "I'm done for. Finished. Kaput. The sands of my hourgla.s.s are running low. My goose is cooked. My stuffing left to be nibbled by mice. What happened? Did we win? Is your dear father safe, child? That's all that matters. If so, my life has not been spent in vain. Tell me, before I slip away to meet my Maker-"

"He'd only throw you back," Mosiah said shortly. Leaving the window, he came to stare grimly down at Teddy. "Don't fret over this fool, Eliza. Simkin is immortal. And a very bad actor."

"So this is Simkin," said Scylla, joining them. She stood over him, her hands on her hips. "You were my favorite character in Reuven's books, you know."

Teddy gazed up at her with his one remaining b.u.t.ton eye.

"Pardon me, madam," he said stiffly, "but I don't believe we have been introduced."

"I'm Scylla," she answered, and handed me a cup of tea.

Perhaps it was my fatigued imagination, but at the sound of that name, Teddy's black b.u.t.ton eye glittered in the firelight and stared very hard at Scylla.

"Put me together again, will you? There's a dear child." Teddy spoke to Eliza, but he continued staring at Scylla.

"Put yourself together, fool!" Mosiah said irritably. "Let Eliza alone."

"No, I don't mind," Eliza said.

She found her mother's workbasket, tossed into a corner, and though her lips tightened a moment when she picked up the basket and its scattered contents, she retained control over herself. Sitting down on the stool, she took the amputee bear into her lap and restuffed him, then began to st.i.tch his arm on.

Teddy smirked insufferably, when Eliza was not looking, and made such suggestive noises-particularly when she was poking the stuffing back into him-that I could have cheerfully torn him apart again. But his foolery ceased whenever his black-b.u.t.ton gaze fell on Scylla.

We sat down on the short-legged stools, drew them near the fire. Eliza sipped her tea and sewed up Teddy.

"How long will we have to wait?" she asked, trying to sound calm.

"Not long," Mosiah replied.

"According to General Boris's scouting reports, the Hch'nyv will be within attacking range of Earth and Thimhallan within forty-eight hours," Scylla said.

"The Technomancers must have the Darksword away from here and back on Earth before then," Mosiah added.

Eliza glanced at me and a faint flush stained her cheek. "So these . . . aliens really are a threat? It's not a trick? They would really kill us all?"

"Without hesitation. Without compunction. Without pity or mercy," Scylla replied, grave and somber. "We "We have found no level on which we can communicate with them, although it is rumored that others have." have found no level on which we can communicate with them, although it is rumored that others have."

"The Technomancers have made contact," said Mosiah. "That much we know. We fear that Smythe has made some sort of deal with them."

Forty-eight hours. Not very much time. No one spoke, but each sat silent, absorbed in his or her own thoughts. Mine were very black and despairing. And, as if conjured up from the darkness of the mind, the smoke, and the fire, an image took shape and form upon the hearth.

Kevon Smythe stood before us.