“Taragorm is not present, King of All.”

“So … And some thought you saw Meliadus on the flagship…”

“With Countess Flana, Magnificent Emperor.”

“That is logical Yes, we have been very much de

ceived. But no matterthe palace is well defended, we assume?”

“Only a very large force could possibly hope to take it, Lord of the World.”

“But perhaps they have a very large force? And if they have Kalan and Taragorm with them, they have other powers. Were we prepared for siege, captain?” Huon addressed the Captain of the Mantis Guard who bowed his head.

“After a fashion, Excellent Prince. But such a thing is without precedent.”

“Indeed it is. Perhaps we should seek reinforcements, then?”

“From the Continent,” said a captain. “All the loyal barons are thereAdaz Promp, Brenal Farun, Shenegar Trott…”

“Shenegar Trott is not on the Continent,” King Huon said politely.

“… Jerek Nankenseen. Mygel Hoist.. .”

“Yes, yes, yeswe know the names of our barons. But can we be sure that these are loyal?”

“I would assume so, Great King Emperor, for their men perished today. If they were in league with Meliadus, they would have given him those loyal to their Order, surely?”

“Your guess is probably accurate. Very wellrecall the Lords of Granbretan. Tell them to bring all available troops to squash this uprising as quickly as possible. Tell them that it is inconvenient to us. The messenger had best leave from the roof of the palace. We understand that several ornithopters are available.”

From somewhere, muffled and distant, there was a roar as if from a flame cannon and the Throne Room seemed to tremble very slightly.

“Extremely inconvenient,” sighed the King Emperor. “What did you estimate as Meliadus’s gains in the past hour?”

“Almost the entire city save the palace, Excellent Monarch.”

“I always knew he was the best of my generals.”

Chapter Ten

Almost Midnight

BARON MELIADUS SAT in his own chambers watching the fires of the city. He especially enjoyed the spectacle of an ornithopter crashing in flames over the palace. The night sky was clear and the stars were bright. It was an exceptionally pleasant evening. To make it perfect he had a quartette of girl slaves, once well-known musicians in their own lands, play him the music of Londen Johne, Granbretan’s finest composer.

The counterpoint of explosions, of screams and the clash of metal was exquisite to Meliadus’s ear. He sipped his wine and consulted his maps, humming to the music.

There was a knock on his door and a slave opened it His Chief of Infantry, Vrasla Beli, entered and bowed.

“Captain Beli?”

“I must report, sir, that we are becoming very short of men. We have achieved a miracle on very few, sir, but we cannot ensure our gains without reinforcements. Either that, or we must regroup…”

“Or leave the city altogether and choose the ground on which we fightis that it, Captain Beli?”

“Exactly, sir.”