"Oh, Oxeter by all means. I've had a stream of im- practical suggestions from the Queen."

"Her Majesty finds herself deprived of wise counsel in your absence," Otorin said diplomatically, and then spoiled it with a wicked smile. "Oxeter it is, then," he added noting Darius' expression.

"The doughty Duke is lying low; keeps to his cham- ber most of the time, waiting for word from his son.

Your siege would seem to be tighter than he expected."

"No one's got out and we've shot down five bungle- birds to date- They're tricky, but they're slow." Darius'

voice rumbled with satisfaction.

"Yes. I don't think they expected cloudsteeds. Your experience at Bandor has come in handy."

"Can I expect more forces coming to raise the siege?"

Darius asked.

"I think not," Otorin said judiciously, "at least not yet."

"Then perhaps we should add some f.a.gots to the fire."

"How so?"

"By setting the granary and the other wooden build- ings alight."

"And allowing a bunglebird to get through," Otorin added.

71.

"Precisely."

Otorin smiled. "You learn fast, my friend."

Darius raised his tankard. "I have a good teacher."

"In that case, may I suggest an added stratagem?"

"By all means."

"Organize a company to sap the outer walls."

"Is (hat necessary?" Darius asked.

"Probably not." Otorin was imperturbable. "On the other hand, with the cloudsteedsmen keeping the enemy indoors, there's no danger. A company of experienced sappers would be invaluable to the Crown. Warfare has changed and I suspect that there will be a lot more sieges in the future."

"I take your point," Darius said, allowing admiration to surface. "I'll see to it. Think it'll draw old Paramin?"

"If he's drawable."

"Would you get sufficient warning if he does decide to move?"

Otorin got up and went over to the window before replying. "Probably, but if he does rise, he'll not do it alone. As far as I can tell, he hasn't contacted the south- ern group, but he's a devious b.u.g.g.e.r and I can't be sure."

"It sounds as if I should order the cloudsteeds to make regular reconnaissance flights."

"A good idea, but if we're going to keep them this busy, it might be sensible to bring down the second Wing."

"The Queen won't like it," Darius said. "Active duty costs more."

Otorin turned from the window and raised his eye- brows, but said nothing.

"Well," Darius said into the silence, "at least we'll be doing something."

"You are to be commended on your restraint," Oto-

72 rin said, and Darius was not sure whether he was being ironic. "It isn't like you to sit and do nothing."

"I've been riding around talking to the locals," the General admitted.

"And?"

"The more I see the less I like this Semicount."

"Oh, really?"

Darius sighed and took another drink before reply- ing. "When we first arrived the people around here sang his praises; understandable, of course. We'd ridden to his rescue and it was safer to say what they thought we wanted to hear. There's grumbling now though and what I see are hedges, lots of hedges, and sheep, most of 'em bearing the lord's brand. The common pasture's been enclosed."

"You should get out of Stronta more often," Otorin said, recrossing the room and taking his seat. "It's go- ing on all over. Manors are being strengthened at the expense of the small tenant farmers. Boonwork is being commuted for money, and at a very rapid rate. What used to be the privilege of the freedman is becoming a burden on the cottar."

"Can't say as I like it," Darius remarked. "I'm old- fashioned, I'll admit, but the old customs and the old duties worked well. The lord consumed and controlled, but the villagers ran their own lives, made all the agri- cultural decisions when it came to their own holdings.

"That's another thing. This Semicount kept meager estate by all accounts, stints on feastdays, provides thin beer, serves oat bread instead of wheat at the Plough Supper." He snorted. "It's no way to treat one's peo- ple."

"Peasants always gripe about their lords," Otorin ob- served mildly.

"Oh, there's more to it than that," Darius replied.

"The bailiff's nowhere to be found. It's said that he's 73.

in the castle with his master, but I have a feeling that he was murdered. And I can't find anybody who'll ad- mit to being reeve."

"So there's no one to look out for the lord's inter- ests," Otorin said.

"No tallage has been collected; though there have been deaths, no one has paid heriot or gersum. There hasn't been a Hallmoot since Greeningale."

"So Spa.r.s.edale hasn't collected any taxes or fines to tide him through the loss of the harvest."

"More to the point, justice hasn't been done," Darius returned. "Once order goes, a small society like this one crumbles." He stopped and cleared his throat. "I'm thinking of presiding at a special Hallmoot."

Otorin smiled. Typical, he thought. "Why not?" he said. "It'll give you something to do instead of sitting around and swilling ale."

"You take altogether too many liberties for a sub- ordinate," Darius growled amiably. "Now that you're back, you might try and make yourself useful. Organiz- ing that team of sappers might be a good place to start."