ared orders at them； they rose and turned； and went running like berserkers against their former rades； who must now be just out of sight and trying to get away。
One of the last to bend to the Mindsword's power was a woman； a proud sorceress by the look of her； no longer young and evidently of some considerable rank。 One counterspell after another this arrogant female hurled back at the Dark King and his Sword； but they had all failed her； as he knew they must； and as she too must have known； and she too turned at last； snarling with mad joy； like the others； at being able to serve the future ruler of all the Earth。
Denis the Quick had been offered the chance to remain in the swamp； along with a handful of wounded and others who could not travel quickly； when Sir Andrew led his army out。 Reports had e in indicating that it would not be wise for Denis to attempt to make his way home alone to Tashigang； and Sir Andrew could afford no escort for him。 The situation around the city had deteriorated rapidly since Denis's departure。 Strong patrols of the Dark King's forces were in the very suburbs now； challenging the few troops that the Silver Queen had in the region。 The wealthy owners of suburban villas had fled； into the city or far away from it。 This news offered hope of a kind to Sir Andrew and his people； as it was evidence that the situation between King and Queen was now moving rapidly toward open conflict。
But Denis had declined to stay in the swamp。 There was no telling how long he'd be stuck there if he did so； or when a better chance of getting out would e； if ever。 He preferred to be out in the great world； to know what great events were happening。 He was willing to take his chances on getting back eventually to the city he loved； and to the two women there whose images still stirred his dreams。
On the afternoon of the third day since the army had left the swamp； Denis was walking with some members of Sir Andrew's staff。 Sir Andrew himself was on hand at the moment； the Knight had been riding up and down the column of his army； trying to preserve its organization … years of guerrilla tactics in a swamp were not the best practice for a long overland march … and had stopped to talk with Denis about conditions among the people in Tashigang。
They talked of the White Temple； and its hospitals； in some of which Denis had worked during his apprenticeship as Ardneh's acolyte。 They began a discussion on how to put Woundhealer to the best possible use； this was of course purely theoretical； as Denis had been unable to deliver it as charged。 Sir Andrew still did not appear to blame him； however。 Doomgiver was with the column； being carried by an officer of the advance guard； who； as it had seemed to Sir Andrew； had the greater likelihood of encountering the enemy today。
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a small flying scout； with a message from the rear guard。
The true bird； intelligent enough to manage elementary speech； cackled at them： 〃Black and gold； black and gold。 Many many。〃
〃Then Ardneh be with my Dame；〃 Sir Andrew muttered； reining in his mount； and looking behind him fiercely。 Dame Yoldi was in the rear。 〃And with us all。〃
He cried out then for swift messengers to go ahead； to summon back with all speed the trusted friends who were carrying Doomgiver in the van。 Then the Knight tried the movement of his helmet's visor； and with more shouted orders set about turning what few units of his army were in direct range of his voice； and heading them back to the relief of the rear guard。 These did not amount to much more than a handful of his own bodyguard and friends。
And Denis heard； even as he saw； Shieldbreaker e out of its sheath now。 He heard the legendary pounding sound； not fast or loud as yet but dull and brutal： The matchless magic of the Sword of Force beat out from it into the surrounding air； not with the tone of a drum whose voice might stir the blood； but rather with the sound of some relentless hammer； nailing up an executioner's scaffold。
Now the Knight himself and his close bodyguard； all mounted； set out for the rear of their army； or what had been its rear； at a pace that Denis on foot could not hope to match。
But； as he would be otherwise left virtually alone； he tried to keep up。 He might have run in the other direction instead； but he thought the rest of the army would soon be pouring back from there； and he would have to face round again and join them； or appear as a deserter。
Denis was about a hundred meters behind Sir Andrew and his mounted panions； and losing more ground rapidly； when to his surprise he saw at a little distance to his right what looked like the deserted remnants of a carnival； set down for some reason right out here in the middle of nowhere。 The booths and counters； the apparatus for the games of skill and chance； were all broken and standing idle。 No one was in sight at the deserted amusement place； as Denis halted nearby； panting。 The people belonging to the show … and who could blame them？ … appeared to have run off even before the tramp of marching armies had drawn near。
Sir Andrew and his bodyguard had not yet got out of Denis's sight； when a cry went up from the same direction and only a short distance ahead of them。 Denis； turning his head away from abandoned tents and wagons； saw what had to be Sir Andrew's rear guard； running toward Sir Andrew and his immediate panions； who had just halted on a little knoll。 It appeared to be a desperate retreat； though as far as Denis could see the rearguard was not yet panicked totally。 They had not thrown their weapons away as yet。。。 and then he saw that what he had first taken for a retreat was in fact a charge。 The rearguard； running from downhill； and already swinging their weapons like madmen； collided full tilt with Sir Andrew and his little group who had been riding to their rescue。 The cry and noise of battle went up at once； and the would…be rescuers； taken by surprise； were many of them already down in their own blood。
〃A trick！ An enchantment！〃 Despairing cries went up from those riding with Sir Andrew。
It was no trick as simple as switched uniforms。 Denis； dazedly continuing to move nearer； was now close enough to recognize Dame Yoldi's face among those who charged uphill； swinging their weapons； and shrieking mad battlecries。 She was headed directly toward the little knoll where Sir Andrew and the surviving handful of his bodyguard and officers were now surrounded and under heavy attack。
Sir Andrew might have tried to turn his mount； break free of his assailants who were on foot； and get away。 But he could not or would not try to flee。 Instead he kept shouting to his traitorous assailants； calling them by name； trying to mand them。 He stood his ground； and his bodyguard would not make an effort to break away if he did not。
The hammering sound of Shieldbreaker went up and up； louder and faster now； syncopated into an irregular rhythm。 Already it had drawn around its master an arc of gleaming steel and fresh blood。 Sir Andrew's mount stumbled and went down； hacked and stabbed by half a dozen weapons； but no attacking point or blade could e far enough within the arc of the Sword of Force to reach his skin。
The Knight； tumbled from the saddle of his dying mount； rolled over on the ground； never losing his two…handed grip on the great Sword。 Even when Sir Andrew lay on his back it never faltered in its action。 And when he stood upright again； it was as if the Sword itself had pulled him up to fight。 Shieldbreaker seemed to drag him after it； spinning his heavy body with its violence； right to left and back again； pulling him forward to the attack when one of his attackers would have faltered and pulled away。
Still； those who an hour ago had been his loyal friends came on against him by the score； shrieking their new hatred； calling on their new god； the Dark King； to strengthen them。 Shieldbreaker fought them all。 It smashed their weapons and their bones impartially； carved up their armor and their flesh alike。
Denis； hypnotized by what he saw； no longer fully in control of his own actions； crept a little closer still。 He had a long knife at his own belt but h