Our numbers were few. Our men had all but forgotten their old training. But our hearts were full of exultant battle-lust, for at long last we were able to strike back at our old enemies.

By the time all our force was in the streets, the Argzoon had cut down more than a third of our men—but we had taken more of them!

And the longer we fought, the more of their old skills the ex-slaves remembered. The fighting in the city became more sporadic as the Argzoon attempted to re-form.

We used the pause to check our own strength and discuss strategy. We held a large area around the castle, but the Argzoon still held most of the city.

Somewhere were Horguhl and Shizala. I prayed that Horguhl would not order Shizala slain in the pique of defeat; that the Queen still had confidence in her warriors' ability to win.

The Argzoon attacked first, but we were ready for them, with warriors deployed in every street.

For a time neither side gained any advantage. We held our position and the Argzoon held theirs.

"It is deadlock," said Movat Jard as he, Carnak and I conferred.

"How can we break it?" I asked.

"We must get a fairly large party of warriors into position behind them," Carnak said. "Then we can attack them from two sides and drive a wedge through their ranks."

"A good plan," I agreed. "But how can we move that party of warriors? We cannot fly."

"True," Movat Jard said, "but we can go under them. Remember the slave-pens? Remember that I said there were several entrances and exits?"

"Yes," I replied. "Could we go through one of these and emerge behind the enemy?"

"Unless they are ready for that trick," he said, "we could. But if they have blocked the entrances, we stand to lose more—since we will have a force of good warriors stranded down there unable to help defend the area we have gained. Is it worth the risk?"

"Yes," I said. "For if we do not gain an advantage soon our men will tire. They are already weak from the sojourn. We cannot afford to waste any more time."

"Who will lead them?" Carnak stepped forward, evidently thinking of himself.

"I will," I said. "You are both needed here to rally the defenders."

They understood the necessity of this.

Within a shati, I was leading a force of some thirty warriors towards the slave-pen entrance Movat Jard had indicated.

Down the winding ramps we went at a loping run.

And we ran straight into a detachment of Argzoon coming the other way!

Almost before we knew it we were wasting time and men in a battle for the underground passage.

The Argzoon seemed to be fighting with little will, and I had killed two myself and disarmed several more before the rest lay down their arms, holding out their hands in a gesture of surrender.