They trotted rapidly along the ways, their mail clanking. Erelong they
were out of the deserted district and approaching the central forum.
It seethed with people. All Valkarion seemed to be out tonight, moving
slowly, aimlessly, under the compulsion of a nameless fear. The town
buzzed with voices, low, secretive, and the shuffle of thousands of
feet under the lamps and the bobbing torches. High over the muted
tumult, blown on the harrying wind, chant and gong-beat came from the
Temple.
Alfric and Hildaborg pushed their way through the milling, murmuring
tide. The unease, the rising wave of fear, was like a tangible force;
the northerner's skin prickled with it. Eyes, thousands of eyes,
shifting and staring out of pale faces--the city was full of eyes.
He heard a voice as he came to the edge of the great plaza. Thrusting
forward, the tall barbarian looked over the heads of the crowd. There
was a rostrum, surrounded by a tight ring of Temple guards, and from
atop it a robed priest was haranguing the throng.
"--the Dynasty is dead, and the wrath of the Moons lies heavy over
Valkarion. Woe to the world, for the heathen fiend, the scourge of
Dannos, is loose!
"Yet I bring hope--aye, from all-merciful Mother Amaris I bring cheer
in this darkest hour. There is time, still time to seize the barbarian
ere his power grows. There is still time, too, to seize and disown the
half-caste witch Hildaborg. There is time to submit to the wise rule of
the Temple, that the High Priest may intercede with All-father Dannos.
Repent and be forgiven--destroy the evilworkers who brought this
trouble on you, and the Mating of the Moons will yet bring forth a new
birth of hope!"
Alfric grew aware of the muttering about him--the commons of Valkarion,
laborer, artisan, merchant, peasant, turning thought over and growling
it to his neighbor.
"--an ill choice, to see the city ruined or bow to the shavepates."
"I am afraid. The Moons are high and bitter bright now, they are
looking down on us. I am afraid."
"'Twas Hildaborg who lowered the taxes. 'Twas Hildaborg, and not dotard
Aureon or thieving Therokos, who whipped the army into shape and beat
off the Savonnian invaders. What has the Temple ever done for us, save
milk us for our tithes and frighten our babes with stories of godly
wrath?"
"Hush! The Moons are watching!"
"Hildaborg is beautiful, she is like a goddess as she rides through the
streets and smiles on us. Amaris herself is not more beautiful."
"The Temple is holy."
"The priests burned my brother for sorcery. He had one of the old
books, that is all; he tried to build the machine it told of--and they
burned him."
"They have enough old books themselves. They sit on all the wisdom of
the ancients, and none of us can so much as read."
"The Fates are abroad tonight. I am afraid."
"My son is in the Household. They're after his skin--he'll hang if he
isn't dead already--unless--"
"Aye, my son is in the city guards. They told him to go hunt down the
stranger and the Empress--the _Empress_!--and off he went." A grim
chuckle. "But I think he is sitting quietly in some corner, waiting."
"There is an old battle ax at home. My grandfather bore it in the
Rurian war. I think I could still swing it if need be."
"I am afraid--"
* * * * *
Alfric smiled, a steely grimace in the shadow of his visor, and led the
way onward.
But he was not to pass easily. He thrust aside a burly peasant, who
turned on him with a snarl. "Mind your manners, guardsman! Is't not
enough you should be traitor to the Empress?"
"Aye, the city guards have sat about drinking and gaming and making
the streets unsafe for our daughters," said another man harshly. "They
didn't get off their fat butts till this chance came to go yapping
after Hildaborg."
Alfric tried to shoulder past the ring of angry folk who gathered.
"Aside!" he called. "Aside, or I use my spear!"
"Mind your manners, guardsman," grinned the peasant. He came closer,
and Alfric smelled the wine on his breath. "What say we have a little
fun with these priest-lovers, comrades? Will they squeal when we pummel
'em?"
Alfric's fist shot out like a ball of iron. There was a dull smack, and
the peasant flew back against the man behind. The barbarian flailed out
with his spear butt, and the crowd gave way.
"Through!" he muttered to Hildaborg. "Quick, we have to get away."
"They're our friends," she whispered frantically. "Can't we reveal--"
"And bring the guard down on this unarmed mob? We wouldn't last a
moment. Come!"
A stone clanged against the girl's helmet. She staggered, half
collapsing into Alfric's arms. The crowd growled, beast-like, and
shoved in closer.
"Aside!" shouted Alfric. "Make way, or the curse of the Moons is on
you!"
"You talk like a priest," said a laborer thickly. He lifted a heavy
billet of wood. "On them, boys! Kill them!"
Alfric laid the half-stunned girl on the ground, stood over her, and
drew his broadsword. "An outlander!" shouted someone, back in the sea
of shadowy, torch-lit, hating faces. "A mercenary, hunting our empress!"
The mob surged against him. He thrust around with the sword, striking
to disable but not to kill--though he'd slay if he had to, he thought
desperately.
Stones were flying. One hit him on the cheek. Pain knifed through his
head. "Hai, Ruho!" he roared, and banged a skull. The mob edged away a
little. Eyes and teeth gleamed white in the bloody torchlight.
A trumpet-blast sounded, harsh and arrogant over the rising voices.
Someone screamed. Alfric saw spears aloft, steel gleaming red--a squad
of guardsmen to the rescue.
The rescue! He groaned, lifted Hildaborg, and sought to retreat through
the crowd.
Too late. The guards were hacking a bloody way through the mob; it
scattered in panic and the squad was there.
"Just in time," panted its chief. "The folk are ugly. They've killed a
dozen guardsmen already, to my knowledge, a couple of priests, I don't
know how many Temple slaves--Dannos smite the blasphemers!"
"Thanks." Alfric set the reviving girl on her feet. "Now I have to
go--special mission, urgent--"
The chief looked sharply at him. "You have a barbarous accent," he said
slowly, "and you're no Valkariona. Who--"