"Well, yes-but you haven't really told them the bad parts," Rod said judiciously. "For all they know, their fa- ther's winning the battle. And can you really say he didn't?"

"Nay," she said, as though it were forced from her. "Yet I did not flee till I looked down from the battlements, and saw that the melee had begun to go against him-even as we had feared." Then she buried her face in her hands, and her shoulders heaved with sobbing. Gwen clucked over her, comforting, and Rod had the good taste to keep quiet until the d.u.c.h.ess had regained some measure of control over herself. She lifted her head, gazing out over the meadow with unseeing eyes. "When first the reeves began to bring us tales of villages suborned, we dismissed them with laugh- ter. Who could come to rule a village, whiles its knight stood by to shield it? Yet the first tale was followed by a second, and a second by a third, then a fourth, then a fifth- and ever was it the same: that a sorcerer had made the people bow to him. Then it was a witch who forced the homage, with the sorcerer's power supporting her; then a warlock."

"How'd they do it?" Rod asked. "Did the reeves know?"

The d.u.c.h.ess shook her head. "They had heard only ru- mors of dire threats, and of bams bursting into flame, and kine that sickened and fell. Yet for the greater part, there had been only surliness and complaining from the peasants, complaining that swelled louder and louder. Then the witch or warlock stepped amongst them, and they turned with joyful will to bow to him or her, and the sorcerer whose power lay 'neath. My lord did bid one of his knights to ride about his own estates, and visit the villages therein. The knight returned, and spoke of peasant mobs that howled in 109.

fury, brandishing scythes and mattocks, and hurling stones.

When he charged, they broke and ran; yet when he turned away, eftsoons they gathered all against him once again."

Her mouth hardened. "Thus were they bid, I doubt not."

"Sudden, rabid loyalty." Rod glanced at Gwen. "Would you say they didn't really seem to be themselves? The peas- ants, I mean."

"Nay, a.s.surdly not!" The d.u.c.h.ess shuddered. "They were as unlike what they had been, as Maytime is from winter.

Such reports angered milord, but not greatly. They angered his va.s.sal, the Baron de Gratecieux, far more; for, look you, the greater part of Milord Duke's revenues was yielded to him by his counts, who gained theirs from their barons. Yet the barons gain theirs from their knights."

Rod nodded. "So a knight's village resisting payments is a little more serious to the baron than to his duke."

The d.u.c.h.ess nodded too. "He did implore Milord Duke for arms and men, which my lord did give him gladly. Then rode the Baron 'gainst the sorcerer."

She fell silent. Rod waited.

When she didn't go on. Rod asked, "What happened?"

The d.u.c.h.ess shuddered. "Eh, such reports as we had were horrible, in truth! The Baron's force did meet with a host of magics-fell creatures that did pounce from the air, fireb.a.l.l.s and rocks that appeared among them, hurtling; arrows that sped without bows or archers, and war-axes and maces that struck without a hand to bear them. Then peasant mobs did charge upon them, howling and striking with their sickles. Yet far worst of all was a creeping fear, a sense of horror that overcame the Baron's soldiers, till they broke and ran, screaming hoa.r.s.ely in their terror."

Rod met Gwen's eyes, and her words sounded in his ears alone: / count a witch-moss crofter, and the warlock who doth hurl stones 'mongst us; and there be witches who do make the weapons fly. Yet what's this creeping horror?

Rod could only shake his head. He looked down at the d.u.c.h.ess again. "What happened to the Baron?"

The d.u.c.h.ess shuddered. "He came not home; yet in later battles, he has been seen-leading such soldiers as lived, against the sorcerer's foes."

110 Rod caught Gwen's eye again; she nodded. Well, they'd met that compulsive hypnosis already. "How many of the soldiers survived?"

"There were, mayhap, half a dozen that lived to flee, of the threescore that marched to battle."

Rod whistled softly. "Six out of sixty? This sorcerer's efficient, isn't he? How many of the defeated ones were following Baron de Gratecieux in the next battle?"

The d.u.c.h.ess shrugged. "From the report we had-may- hap twoscore."

"Forty out of sixty, captured and brainwashed?" Rod shuddered. "But some got away-the six you mentioned."

"Aye. But a warlock pursued them. One only bore word to us; we know not what happened to the other five."

"It's a fair guess, though." Rod frowned. "So right from the beginning, Alfar's made a point of trying to keep word from leaking out." Somehow, that didn't smack of the me- dieval mind. "You say you learned this afterwards?"

The d.u.c.h.ess nodded. "It took that lone soldier a week and a day to win home to us."

"A lot can happen in a week."

"So it did. The sorcerer and his coven marched against the Castle Gratecieux; most of the household acclaimed Alfar their suzerain. The Baroness and some loyal few ob- jected, and fought to close the gates. They could not prevail, though, and those who did acclaim the sorcerer their lord, did ope the gate, lower the drawbridge, and raise the port- cullis."

Rod shrugged. "Well, if they could make whole villages switch allegiance, why not a castleful?"

"What did the sorcerer to the Baroness?" Gwen asked, eyes wide.

The d.u.c.h.ess squeezed her eyes shut. "She doth rest in the dungeon, with her children-though the eldest was wounded in the brawling."

Gwen's face hardened.

"How did you leam this?" Rod tried to sound gentle.

"Servants in Gratecieux's castle have cousins in my kitch- ens."

"Servants' network." Rod nodded. "So Alfar just took 111.

over the castle. Of course, he went on to take over the rest of the manor."

"Such villages as did not already bow to him, aye. They fell to his sway one by one. At last, the other barons did take alarm, and did band together to declare war upon him."

"Bad tactics." Rod shook his head. "The h.e.l.l with the declaration; they should've just gone in, and mopped him up."

The d.u.c.h.ess stared, scandalized.

"Just an idea," Rod said quickly.

The d.u.c.h.ess shook her head. "'Twould have availed them naught. They fought a sorcerer."

Rod lifted his head slowly, eyes widening, nostrils flar- ing. He turned to Gwen. "So he's got people thinking they can't win, before they even march. They're half defeated before they begin fighting."

"Mayhap," the d.u.c.h.ess said, in a dull voice, "yet with great ease did he defeat the barons. A score of sorcerer's soldiers did grapple with the barons' outriders, on the left flank. The scouts cried for a rescue, and soldiers ran to aid them. The sorcerer's men withdrew; yet no sooner had they vanished into the forest, than another band attacked the vanguard of the right flank. Again soldiers ran to bring aid, and again the sorcerer's men withdrew; and, with greater confidence, the barons' men marched ahead."

Even hearing the story. Rod felt a chill. "Too much con- fidence."

The d.u.c.h.ess nodded, and bit her lip. "When they came within sight of Castle Gratecieux, a wave of soldiers broke upon them from the forest. At t'other side of the road, rocks began to appear, with thunder-crashes, and also from that side came a swarm of thrown stones-yet no one was there to throw them. The soldiers recoiled upon themselves, then stood to fight; yet they fell in droves. Three of the five barons fought to the last with their men, and were lost. The other two rallied mayhap a score, and retreated. The sor- cerer's army pressed them hard, but well did they defend themselves. Naetheless, a half of the men fell, and one of the barons with them. The other half won through to the High Road, whereupon they could turn and flee, faster than 112 the sorcerer's men could follow. A warlock followed them, and rocks appeared all about them; yet he grew careless and, of a sudden, an archer whirled and let fly. The arrow pierced the warlock, and he tumbled from the sky, scream- ing. Then away rode the baron and his poor remnant-and thus was the word brought to us. And I a.s.sure thee, mine husband did honor that archer."

"So should we all," Rod said. "It always helps, having a demonstration that your enemy can be beaten. Didn't your husband take these rumors of danger seriously before then?"

"Nay, not truly. He could not begin to believe that a band of peasants could be any true danger to armored knights and soldiers, even though they were witches. Yet when the Baron Marole stood before him and told him the account of his last battle, my lord did rise in wrath. He summoned up his knights and men, and did send his fleetest courier south, to bear word of all that had happed to Their Royal Majesties."

Rod frowned. "He sent a messenger? How long ago?"

The d.u.c.h.ess shrugged. "Five days agone."

Rod shook his head. "He should have been in Runnymede before we left."

She stared at him for a long moment, her eyes widening, haunted. "He did not come."

"No," Rod answered, "he didn't."

The d.u.c.h.ess dropped her gaze. "Alas, poor wight! Need we guess at what hath happed?"

"No, I think it's pretty obvious." Rod gazed north along the road. "In fact, he might even have dressed himself as a peasant, in hopes he'd be overlooked. In any case, he's probably the reason Alfar sent his new army out to cut down refugees."

"Refugees?" The d.u.c.h.ess looked up, frowning. "What are these?"

"Poor folk, who flee the ravages of war," Gwen ex- plained.

Rod nodded. "Usually because their homes have been destroyed. In this case, though, the only ones who've been heading south are the ones who realized what was coming, and got out while they could."

"You've seen such folk, then?"

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Rod nodded. "A few. I'd say we've been running into one every mile or so."

The d.u.c.h.ess shook her head slowly. "I marvel that they 'scaped the sorcerer's soldiers!"

"They started early enough, I guess-but I'm sure the soldiers caught up with plenty of other bands. And, of course, we did manage to, ah, interfere, when a squad of men-at-arms was trying to stop a family we b.u.mped into."

The d.u.c.h.ess studied his face. "What had this family seen?"

"Not a dam thing-but they'd heard rumors."

"And were wise enough to heed them." The d.u.c.h.ess's mouth hardened. "Yet will Their Royal Majesties send an army north, after naught but rumor?"

Rod shook his head. "Not a chance."

She frowned. "Yet how is it thou dost..." Then she broke off, eyes widening in surprise, then hope. "Yet thou dost come, thou!"

Rod answered with a sardonic smile. "Quick-witted, I see. And yes, the King sent us-to find out the truth of the rumors."

"And thou dost lead thy wife and baims into so vile a brew of foulness?" the d.u.c.h.ess cried. She turned on Gwen.

"Oh lady, nay! If thou dost thy children love, spare them this horror!"

Gwen looked up at Rod, startled.

Like a gentleman. Rod declined the unexpected advan- tage. He only said, "Well... you'll understand that my wife and children are a bit better equipped to deal with evil witches than most might be-so they're not really in so great a danger."

It earned him a look of warmth from Gwen, but the d.u.c.h.ess cried, "Danger enow! Lord Warlock, do not let them go! Thou dost not comprehend the might of this fell sorcerer!"

"We've had a taste of it."

"Then let that taste make thee lose thine appet.i.te! A fulness of his work will sicken thy soul! 'Tis one thing to see a mere squadron of his victims, such as these poor folk..." She waved toward the soldiers. "Yet when thou dost see them come against thee by the hundreds, thine heart 114 shall shrink in horror! Tis not that his magic is so fell- 'tis the purely evil malice of his soul!"

Rod's eyes gleamed. "You've seen him yourself, then?"

She dropped her eyes. "Aye, though only from a dis- tance. 'Twas enow." She shuddered. "I could feel his hatred washing o'er me, as though I stood 'neath a cloudburst of dirtied water. Methought that I should ne'er again feel clean!"

"But how could the Duke let you come so near the battle!"

"He fought against it, I a.s.sure thee-yet the battle did come nigh to me. For when he had dispatched the courier southwards, and his knights had come up with all their men, he donned his armor and rode forth to meet the sorcerer."

Rod nodded. "Sounds right. I never would've accused Duke Romanov of hesitating-or of the slightest bit of uncertainty."

"Error, though?" The d.u.c.h.ess looked up, with a sardonic smile. "I know mine husband. Lord Warlock. Dearly though I love him, I cannot help but be aware of his rashness. Yet in this matter, I believe, even full caution would have im- pelled him to battle-for 'twas fight or flee, look you, and, as Duke, he could not flee-for he was sworn to the pro- tection of his people. 'Twas his duty, then, to fight-and if he must needs fight, 'twas best to fight just then, when the sorcerer and his forces were newly come from battle, and would therefore be weakened with battle losses."

"But strengthened with the men he'd captured." Rod frowned. "Or didn't you realize..." He gazed at her, and let the words gel in his mouth.

"What?" She frowned.

Rod cleared his throat, and shifted from one foot to the other. "Well, uh... where he recruited his men from. His army, I mean."

"Ah." She smiled bitterly. "From those he had defeated, dost thou mean? Aye, that word was brought to us with the news of Baron Gratecieux's lost battle. The soldier who came back, did tell us of old friends he'd seen who, he knew, had fought in the train of one of Gratecieux's va.s.sal knights."

"Well, at least it's not a surprise now," Rod sighed. "I suppose it would take Alfar a little while to process his new recruits..."

115.

"To bind them under his spell?" The d.u.c.h.ess shook her head. "I know not. I know only that my lord did march out toward the castle that had been Gratecieux's-and I went up to the highest turret, to see them go."

Rod lifted his head a little. "Could you see all the way to Gratecieux's castle?"

"Aye; his towers are taller even than those of Their Royal Majesties. We can see only the battlements-yet we can see that much. Not that I had need to."

Rod frowned. "You mean they didn't even get that far?"

The d.u.c.h.ess nodded. "The sorcerer had marched out to meet him. Even when my lord set out, the sorcerer's forces already stood, drawn up and waiting, by a ravine midway betwixt the two castles. 'Tis as though he knew aforetime of my lord's coming."

"He did," Rod growled. "All witches and warlocks here are mind readers."

The d.u.c.h.ess looked up, surprised. Then her mouth tight- ened in exasperation. "Aye, certes. And I knew it. I had but to think-and I did not."

"It matters not," Gwen said quickly.

"Truth. What aid could I provide?" The d.u.c.h.ess spread her hands helplessly. "I could but watch. Yet though the sorcerer had magics, my lord the Duke had guile."

"Oh, really? You mean he managed to escape the am- bush?"

"Aye, and drew them onto ground of his choosing. For they waited on the road, look you, with a wooded slope to the left, and a bank strewn with boulders on the right."

Rod nodded. "Good ambush country. What'd your hus- band do about the roadblock?"

"He saw it afar off, and marched his force off the road ere the slopes had begun to enfold it. Out into the open plain they went, and away toward Castle Gratecieux."