The fog swept toward the throne. One of Achim Fergana's n.o.bles leaped to his feet, sword in hand, and slashed vainly at the mist. It took him, lifted him, and tore him in twain, blood gouting and entrails spattering, steaming in the cold. He had not even time to scream before he was dead, his torn corpse cast aside.

Fergana was up, his own blade out The fog seized and pinioned him, pulling his arms apart until he might have been stretched helpless on an invisible rack.

Gratings above us clattered open, and the achim's archers in the gallery took aim, and arrows volleyed.

Some of them struck home-in Kaiti bodies-but most clattered against the flagstoned floor.

The fog swept up, and there were screams as it fell on the guards, held them helpless like pinioned kittens, and throttled them.

Tenedos fumbled in the small pouch at his belt, and down the table the Fergana'sjasks were yammering magical phrases, trying to devise up a counterspell.

Laughter rang through the room, laughter I thought I'd heard before. Then cameJask Irshad's voice: K"You fools can save your efforts. My magic is far greater than yours could ever hope to be, just as I am the greatestjaskin this or any other land.

"Baber Fergana, O False Achim, this is the time you shall rue all of the shame, all of the humiliation, you have dealt me over the years, even though I was once your most faithful servant.

I fled your tyranny before dawn this morning, knowing I would return after nightfall, and finally strike back at a time and a manner Chamisso Fergana desires.

"A long time ago, when first I realized the depths of your evil, I came up with a device I told you would provide perfect safety. Dolls, each of which would contain the life-element of everyone around you.

"You, fat roaring fool that you are, thought it an extraordinary idea. And so you let whoever owns the dolls own the heart ofKait.

"Look not beneath the dais, O false Achim whose doom comes. For I have the dolls, and I am fled into a safe place, where I have sworn eternal fealty to your brother, the achim-to-be, Chamisso Fergana.

"Know this, too, dog of an achim. Over the years, little by little, I was able to make another doll. A doll of you, although it could easily be mistaken for some peasant's pig, so foul and misbegotten does it appear.

"It holds your hair, your spittle, a bit of your blood, even some of your life fluid one of the wh.o.r.es you call wives permitted me to sc.r.a.pe from the inside of her thigh.

"You are mine, Baber Fergana, and you shall die most slowly, in a manner that will be told of in whispers until the city ofSayana has fallen stone from stone.

"I shall now give you the pleasure of seeing what that death is, and making your agony even more dire.

"I thought of wreaking it on someone you hold dear, but realized there is no such being.

"The only one you love, Baber Fergana, is yourself.

"So I asked permission, and the achim-to-be was kind enough to grant it, to rid Kait of two of its enemies, from a land that we'll deal with most harshly when Chamisso Fergana sits the throne.

"Yourfate is here, SeerLaish Tenedos and Legate Damastes d Cimabue. I hold the mannequins you were foolish enough to give your substance to, and I give them to my wraith!"

The fog lowered from the balcony, and I pulled my sword, as stupidly as Fergana or that n.o.bleman, but knowing nothing else to do. It formed tentacles, and the tendrils hesitated, then began flailing about, like vines in a windstorm, as if the fog were unsure of its victims, suddenly blinded. Then, from outside the castle, I heard the sudden screams of animals in agony, the poor beasts the fog now was tearing at.

When Bikaner, Damastes, and myself had donated our hair for the dolls, Damastes had switched the tiny golden boxes before handing them toJask Irshad. Since he suspected Irshad might test them, to make sure we hadn't smuggled in matter from outside, he and Troop Guide Bikaner had secretly clipped bits of hair from three of the court animals. That animal hair had gone into the boxes and thence into our dolls, and now, those beasts died our deaths.

Time stopped, no one moved, and the fog itself was immobile. But next to me Laish Tenedos's fingers blurred.

The Seer Tenedos cast far greater spells later, spells that held or broke entire armies. But this might have been his most impressive, since he had no time to prepare, nor materials to choose from. He later told me he had rue and red eyebright in his pouch, and used mustard and horseradish from the table condiments. He muddled them together on his plate, then dropped the mixture into the tiny flame of the oil lamp in front of him. He said the real strength of the spell was in the words, and not the materials used.

I do not know the language he spoke in, and Tenedos never offered to tell me what the words meant or what they summoned. But I can recollect them precisely, and set them down as they sounded in my ears:

"Plenator c'vish Milem Han'eh delak morn Morn sevel morn Venet seul morn T'ghast l'ener orig Origmorn Orig mom Plenator c'vish Milem."

I felt warmth, warmth growing into heat, and in seconds it was hot in the hall, very hot, like the heat of a summer day in the desert outside.

The fog coiled, then shriveled, like a slug in a saltcellar, and a long, dying wail came, like a man falling into a bottomless abyss, and the throne room was clear.

Baber Fergana stood next to his throne, sword forgotten on the stones beside him, his face a gape of amazement.

Men stared at each other, realizing they yet lived. But in that instant before the babble started,Jask Irshad's voice came:"Very well. Fergana, the magic of the Ph'renghas given you life once more.

"But I still hold the dolls, False Achim. And my sorcery has barely been tested.

"Chamisso Fergana and I have another idea. You have three days, Baber Fergana. If you give up your throne, I will give you an easy death, far easier than that you 've granted your enemies.

This is only because of the Most Benevolent Chamisso Fergana's concern for the people ofSayana.

"But if you do not abdicate, in three days I shall return. And I shall bring another death to you, death in its most terrible, most lingering form.

"It shall not come just to you, but to everyone in your court, every man... and woman... whose spirit I possess in my mannequins.

"If you still cling to your throne, I promise I shall kill everyone who now hears me very slowly, in an awful manner.

H "Then Chamisso Fergana will loose his secret allies, the Tovieti, to ravage the streets ofSayana.

"Consider my offer, False Achim.

"Consider my offer, princes who serve evil.

"In three days, I shall return for my answer."

There was silence, silence broken by a babble.

I saw Landgrave Malebranche hurry from the room, and wondered why Irshad had ignored the other Ph'reng in the throne room. But other things were more important.

Tenedos was on the dais, talking to Achim Fergana. He went to the back of his throne and touched a level I'd never noticed, and the dais swung away, revealing that the trick was mechanical, not magical.

The cover of the pit was gone, and the depression was empty, of course.

Now the babble redoubled, and despair, rage, and fear roared through the chamber. But that went almost unheard.

I was staring across the chamber, into Laish Tenedos's eyes, and their message was clear: If Kait was not to be turned over to anarchy, and the always-turbulent kingdom explode north into Urey and Numantia in its chaos, somehow I was going to have three days to find and steal back that collection of dolls.

NINE.

The Raidersayana was atumble with noise, confusion, and fear. Achim Fergana's troops were alerted, and were trying bring some sort of order, but with little success. There were men running in all directions, shouting the most nonsensical things about doom being upon us all; women shrieked in panic; and the taverns and temples-man's two favorite shelters-were packed, despite the late hour.

Obviously word of the horror in the palace had spread through the city like oil across water, growing in awfulness as the story traveled.

Some merchants were taking advantage of the disorder, and their stalls or shops were open, and they stood outside, loudly shouting the efficacy of their magical wares. Buy an amulet and turn away the wrath to come. Let a seer cast a spell, and you will be unharmed when the dread Tovieti come to ravage Sayana. They were doing a brisk business.

Since everyone was busy with his own destiny, we went unnoticed as we made our way back to the compound. I noted the Time of Heat was almost over and the Time of Rains was to begin as I heard thunder growling on the horizon. I smiled. Bad weather would be a definite advantage when we went out next.

I ordered my soldiery to full alert, summoned all officers and warrants, and advised them of what had happened. I didnot tell them exactly what my plans were, only that I wanted twenty volunteers for a dangerous task, ready to march out in three hours. I could have made up a band right then, but of course could hardly have stripped my tiny command of its leaders. I added that I wanted five of my men to be Kaiti, chosen from the best of our native troops.

My plan was very simple: to ride hard for that cavern Tene-dos had "seen" in his vision.Jask Irshad and the mannequins must be somewhere nearby. I would strike at dawn as soon as we reached the cavern, find the mannequins, and steal them back. If we could not make our escape with them, if there was any free-running water, I could render the sorcelled objects harmless by casting them into it-something I remembered our village witch had told me.

My idea might sound absurdly simple, but I felt confident. Irshad and Chamisso Fergana would a.s.sume that everyone in Sayana, whether Kaiti or Numantian, would be paralyzed with fear and indecision. If we struck secretly and ruthlessly, the G.o.ds might favor the bold. Also, if we did nothing, there seemed no way to keep the government of Kait from tumbling and a b.l.o.o.d.y holy war against Numantia from beginning. I knew that we in Sayana would be the first to die. Viewed coldly, it was a case of a certain death in three days, or a possible one before that. The choice was easy.

There was no time to spare-if my idea had the slightest chance, it must be undertaken before anyone, either from Achim Fergana's forces or from the rebels in the hills, could begin to think about what might happen next. I must be away before sunrise.

I was a bit surprised when Captain Mellet was the first to volunteer-he was hardly the sort I'd thought for a dashing raid. I refused him, and he, a bit sourly, said, "I suppose yet again I'll be keeping the home fires toasty. Well, don't let me stop you from having a good time," and stamped away peevishly. From his command we chose Legate Baner, an excep- *tionally eager and boyish officer whom everyone, including myself, felt like an older brother to; Sergeant Vien, a deceptively fat man who moved like a snake; and six infantrymen, all of whom swore they knew which end of a horse ate, and which shat. I was taking foot soldiers as well as Lancers because I planned to approach our target on foot in the final stages.

From my own troop I took nine, making Troop Guide Bikaner senior warrant, and my choices included the always-glowering Karjan; Curti, my best archer; and the stolid Sval-bard.

The five Kaiti were headed by Yonge, the sharpest of the hillmen, and the most likely to be worthy of command. With Tenedos's permission, I promoted him on the spot to sergeant, and planned to commission him if we returned with our lives. To the demons with the whines I'd get from our masters in Numantia about so honoring one of the not-quite-equal Men of the Border States.

I took my men into one of the mansion's libraries, where Tenedos had laid a spell guaranteeing there'd be no magical eavesdropping, and told them how I wished them armed and dressed. I watched closely as I spoke: Too often a man will volunteer in the heat of the moment, but once he realizes how hazardous the task, has qualms. If I'd seen the slightest tremor, I would have found some pretext to drop that soldier from the roll-there were many volunteers eager to replace the hesitant But all of the volunteers remained steadfast.

I went to my own quarters, followed by Karjan, to ready my own gear. Pinned to the door was a note to please go to the resident's quarters at once.

I should have known what I would see when I entered his rooms. Instead of a well-dressed prosperous diplomat and magician, I was greeted with a scruffy-looking sort in sandy robes, hood, and sandals, who might well have been one of the Kaiti wizards who opposed us at the battle of the ford. "I promised you wards against any enemy being able to eavesdrop on your orders session in the library,"

Tenedos said, a bit smugly. "I said nothing about myself. A very interesting plan you have, Damastes. It will be worthwhile to see how it develops. I, by the way, borrowed these rags from one of our gate-men-but he will have no memory of the loan."

"Sir," I said. "You cannot go with us. I will not permit it!"

"You," Tenedos said, his voice suddenly frosty, "Legate a Cimabue, may offer all the suggestions you wish, but you cannot give me orders."

"Oh but I can, sir. I was ordered by my superiors, whose orders I must follow exactly, to keep you from harm. And-"

"And pahfiddle to that," Tenedos said. "I am going with you for two very good reasons. First is that I am the only one who's been to this cavern where the mannequins are most likely held. How were you proposing to find it?"

"I planned to ask you to pinpoint the location on a map. I a.s.sume your sorcery can relate actual locations to a topographic picture. Sir." I was veering slightly toward insubordination.

"Perhaps, although you'll not know this time. Second is that you are no magician, Legate, nor is any other Numantian besides myself. We will be opposed by sorcery, in case you've forgotten. The Tovieti use magic, as we discovered, andJask Irshad is hardly a novice seer."

"Sir. What happens if you're killed?"

"Then you flee to Urey, give the Rule of Ten the gladdening news that will give them the excuse to mobilize the army, and probably get promoted."

"Hardly," I said. "I'd best die beside you."

"How n.o.ble," Tenedos said, a bit of a smile touching his lips. "Just as I'd expect from a dashing young subaltern of the cavalry."

"Not n.o.ble, sir. They'll flay me alive if I came back without you, and that's a very slow death." I was only half jesting. Certainly my career, such as it was, would be completely finished. Not that I was concerned about that-I had sworn to protect this G.o.ds-d.a.m.ned little magician, and he seemed determined to make me disobey my oath at every turn.

X,"Be that as it may," Tenedos said, "I see you have no grounds to argue, since you've already changed the subject."

It was true-logic and sense were in his camp. When I first thought out my plan as we rode back from Achim Fergana's palace, I'd wondered just how I'd deal with Irshad's magic, and vaguely thought I'd ask Tenedos for a protective spell or something.

Since I'd learned well from my father not to argue with a superior when his mind is set, and also never to belabor a cause that's lost, I came to attention, clapped my fist against my chest, and said, "Very well, sir. Please be ready to move out within the hour. I'll have a horse and provisions ready. One other thing-you are now under my command, inall matters save the application of magic. Is that understood?"

Now Tenedos's smile was very broad. "Yes, Legate a" Cimabue,sir. I'll obey precisely, Legate a"

Cimabue.Sir." I swear the man was as excited as any recruit horseman who's about to see his first action.

Less than an hour later, as villainous a crew as the mansion had ever seen was gathered in the courtyard: twenty-two hill bandits, raffish in their dirty robes, and dripping weapons. The robes, hoods, and sandals were most authentic, perhaps a little too much so, I thought, scratching at a Kaiti flea who'd decided Numantian blood was palatable, and wrinkling my nose a bit at the smell. Under the light-brown robes we wore loin-clothes and our own chain mail shirts. On our heads were the hoods most Kaiti travelers wore, and we had strapped boots on our feet. For warmth, we wore heavy sheepskin jackets.

We'd rough-curried our horses to look a bit like the ragged mounts of the Kaiti, although they were still too clean and well groomed to stand a close examination. Each man had two horses, not only for a reserve, but to carry the mannequins back, if we gained our objective. Our provisions were in saddlebags and we had sleeping robes rolled behind our saddles. All of my Numantians had been given the Spell of Understanding earlier, although they hardly had the accents of native Kaiti when they spoke. Tenedos himself spoke like a native; he must have either studied the language hard or, more likely, finely honed the Understanding Spell to perfection. We also could use Sergeant Yonge or one of the other Kaiti soldiers.

Our arms were Numantian, but we had no intention of pa.s.sing that close a scrutiny.

It was as well that Tenedos was accompanying us, since I'd looked at the only map I could find of the region. Beyond the thin track that led back into the hills, and some roughly sketched-in villages, it told me nothing.

Tenedos had asked how I planned to slip out of the mansion, since of course we were always watched. I said one at a time, through one of the back gates, and he'd curled a lip and said, coldly, that he could do "vastly" better than that. So he did.

I had ordered everyone indoors; my Numantians were keeping close watch on the Kaiti soldiers and our household staff. Captain Mellet had been ordered to keep the compound sealed until our return-or until circ.u.mstances proved that it was no longer necessary, for good or evil. The pretext was the resident-general's shock and horror over the events at the palace.

Rain spattered down and it was but three hours before dawn. There was only one person in the street outside, and he was huddled in a doorway a distance down from the gates. He kept himself back in the shadows, as much to keep out of the chill wind as to avoid discovery. The man was blowing in his hands, trying to warm them, when Curti's arrow took him in the throat. The spy's corpse sagged, and two soldiers dragged him back into the compound. We'd dispose of the body later.

The more impressive part of the deception I could barely see and hear. In the probable event that Achim Fergana's or Irshad'sjasks were keeping watch by sorcery, Tenedos had arranged a more spectacular display for them. A wizard would have "seen" a dozen men standing around flickering oil-fed fires, Kaiti who so hated the Numantian presence that they watched us day and night. I didn't see anything, although I thought I caught a dim flicker of flames from the comer of my*eye, and heard a ghostly shout of"M'rt te Ph 'reng!" That sor-cerous watcher would have known no one could come out of the compound without attracting attention and known we were all still within.

The spell cast, the twenty-two of us rode for the city gates.

There were still people abroad at this hour, but they were either crazed with rumors, spice weed, drink, or intent on their own goals, and had little interest in us. We held weapons ready under our robes as we rode.

There was no problem leaving Sayana-Achim Fergana's guards were more afraid of what lay outside trying to enter than the other way around. The officer of the gate didn't bother coming out of his gatehouse when he saw the party of hard-looking hillmen ride up, but motioned to the two soldiers at the levers to open them.

We rode out, into the night, into the wilds of Kait, at a trot.

There was just enough light, despite the overcast and occasional rain, to see the rough track we were following. I wasn't worried about being ambushed; even thieves must sleep sometime, plus very few bandits would risk hitting twenty-two armed opponents. The dirt track was narrow, less a road than a path-at no point could more than three horses have ridden abreast.

Every hour we rested for a few minutes. I checked the horses the infantry and Kaiti were riding carefully, but none of the mounts were mishandled. At sunrise we stopped long enough to brew a pot of the fragrant tea the Kaiti loved, and gnawed dried strips of beef.

Four times that day we rode through tiny villages, each a handful of mud huts around a small square.

The Kaiti were ragged, dirty-and their eyes gleamed hatred for us rich men who actually owned horses.

But they saw our ready arms and grim faces and behaved as if we did not exist.