“I do not forget. I carry our child. Aye, and I’ll carry it into battlefor if we are defeated there will be nothing for it to inherit save disasterand if we win then it will know the thrill of victory even before it comes into the world. But if we are all slainthen we shall die together. I’ll not be Hawkmoon’s widow and I’ll not bear Hawkmoon’s orphan. I will not be safe at Castle Brass alone, Dorian, I’ll ride with you.” She went to the mirror helm with the white crest and she picked it up. She drew it over her head and spread her soft arms triumphantly.

“Seeit fits perfectly. It was plainly made for me. We will ride together, the six of us, and lead the Kamargians against the massed might of the Dark Empirefive heroesand, I hope, one heroine!”

“So be it,” murmured Hawkmoon moving forward to embrace his wife. “So be it”

Chapter Six

A New Ally

THE WOLVES AND the Vultures had fought their way back from the Continent and were now pouring into Londra. Coming into Londra, too, were the Flies, the Rats, the Goats and the Hounds and all the other bloodthirsty beasts of Granbretan.

From a high tower, now his command headquarters, Meliadus of Kroiden watched them arrive, flooding in by every gate and battling as they came. One group puzzled him and he strained his eyes to see it better. It was a large detachment of troops riding under a black and white striped banner signifying neutrality. The banner carried beside it now became easier to see.

Meliadus frowned.

The banner was that of Adaz Promp, Grand Constable of the Order of the Hound. Did the neutral flag mean that he had not yet decided on whose side to fight? Or did it mean he planned a complicated trick? Meliadus rubbed his lips thoughtfully. With Adaz Promp on his side he could begin an assault on the palace itself. He reached for his wolf helm and stroked the metal head.

For the past few days as the battle for Londra had reached deadlock Meliadus had become pensivethe more so because he did not know if Taragorm’s device had succeeded and brought Castle Brass back to its own

dimension. His earlier good humour, based on his success in the initial fighting, had been replaced by a nervousness resulting from several uncertainties.

The door opened. Automatically Meliadus reached for his helm, donning it as he turned.

“Ah, it’s you, Flana. What do you want?”

“Taragorm is here.”

“Taragorm, eh? Has he something positive to tell me.”

The clock mask appeared behind Flana’s heron mask.

“I had hoped that you would have some positive news, brother,” Taragorm said acidly. “After all, we have made no great gains for the past few days.”

“The reinforcements are arriving,” Meliadus said petulantly, waving his gauntletted hand at the window. “Wolves and Vultures pouring inand even some Ferrets.”