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But despite all of the obstacles and objections； he could be royally stubborn； and he was going forward。 None of his fears were great enough to prevent that。 In the end he decided to keep his own supernal weapons under wraps for the time being； and to try what he might to induce the city to surrender under threats。
The afternoon he arrived before the walls； he had his great pavilion erected within easy sight of them … though not； of course； within missile range。 At the same time Vilkata ordered a plete envelopment of the city； and entrenchment by his troops； as if for a lengthy siege； all along their encircling lines。
Even his great host was thinly spread by such a maneuver； which necessitated occupying a line several kilometers long； but Vilkata intended to concentrate most of his troops in a few places later； if and when it actually became necessary to assault the walls。 Meanwhile he wanted to give an impression not only of overwhelming force but of unhurried determination。 And still he was not satisfied that things were going well； he kept urging both his scouts and his wizards to provide him with more information。
At dusk on the second day of the siege； the Dark King's vaguely growing sense of some impending doom was suddenly relieved。 The last flying messenger to arrive during daylight hours brought in a report saying that the troublesome Beastlord Draffut was finally dead； and the god Mars … who was also troublesome； because he had managed to remain free of the Mindsword's control … was dead with him。 And that Vulcan； triumphant over both of them； was headed toward the city of Tashigang； waving the Sword Shieldbreaker and crying his own eternal loyalty to the Dark King。
When the half…intelligent courier was asked to predict the time of the god's arrival； it gave answers interpreted to mean that the progress of the Smith across the countryside was slow and erratic； because he was stopping frequently to offer sacrifice to his god Vilkata； and also because he walked a zig…zag course； but Vulcan continually cried out that he was ing on to Tashigang； where his other Swords were gathering； and where he meant to do honor in person to the King。
His other Swords？ Vilkata pondered to himself。 Of course the Smith had forged them all； and perhaps that was all that he meant by the use of such an expression。 In any case； there was nothing Vilkata could do about the Smith； or any other god； until they came within the Mindsword's range。 And the Dark King did not want to appear to be worried by what sounded； on the surface； like very good news indeed。 Therefore he gave permission for a celebration of Vulcan's triumph to begin； and sent out trumpeters and criers to make certain that the death of Draffut and the advance of the victorious Vulcan were made known within the walls of Tashigang as well。
Vilkata even took part in the revel himself； at least as far as its middle stages。 He retired paratively early； thinking that in any case he was giving himself time to sleep and recover before Vulcan could possibly arrive。 He wearied himself with women； and came near besotting himself with wine； and then tumbled into his private bed to sleep。
His awakening was hours earlier than he had expected； and it came not at the gentle call of his valet； or some officer of his bodyguard。 The sound that tore Vilkata out of dreams of victory was the ripping of his pavilion's fabric； not far from his head； by some enemy weapon's edge。
No matter how mad the odds seemed against success； when merely human calculation was applied； Coinspinner had insisted that the defenders of the city organize a sally against Vilkata's camp； a military maneuver involving the sending of what could be at most a few hundred troops； to fight against the Dark King's many thousands。 At least this was the only interpretation that could finally be placed on the way that the Sword of Chance； whenever it was consulted； pointed insistently into the heart of the enemy camp。
Mark； Ben； and Barbara； along with the other members of the Lord Mayor's council； discussed the possibility of sending one or two agents or spies； armed with Coinspinner； out into the camp； to try to achieve whatever the Sword was telling them to do there。 But Mark had experience of the Dark King's security systems； and without Sightblinder to help he could imagine no way of acplishing that。
On the other hand； the more carefully the idea of a surprise sally was considered； the less pletely mad it seemed。 It could； of course； be launched by night； and it certainly ought to take the enemy by surprise。 The Mayor drew out secret maps。 It was noted that one of the secret tunnels leading out of the city … like most places so elaborately fortified； Tashigang was equipped with several … emerged from a concealed opening under the bank of the Corgo； behind the enemy front line and only about a hundred meters from where Vilkata's pavilion had been set up。
A plan was hastily worked out。 Both Ben and Mark would acpany the attack。ing force； Mark with Coinspinner in his hands。 Ben； after speaking strongly against surrender of the city； could not very well avoid the effort now； nor did he want his old friend to go without him。 The handful of Tasavaltan troops who had escorted Mark to Tashigang now volunteered； to a man； to go with him again。 He was somewhat surprised and gratified by this； either his leadership or his Sword had inspired more confidence than he knew。
The bulk of the raiding force； which was two hundred strong in all； was made up from the survivors of Sir Andrew's slaughtered army。 They proved to be as eager for revenge as Mark had expected them to be。
The deployment of the force into the secret； stone…walled tunnel took place in the late hours of the night。 The city end of the tunnel was concealed in the basement of an outbuilding of the Mayor's palace。
Waiting in the cramped； dark； and dripping tunnel for some final magical preparations to be made； Mark had some time to talk with his old friend Ben。 He told Ben something of his meeting with the Emperor。
When Mark first mentioned the name of Ariane； Ben shook his head； not wanting to hear more； but when he heard that the Emperor had claimed the red…haired girl as his daughter； the huge man turned hopeless eyes to Mark。 〃But what does it mean？ What does that matter now？ She's dead。〃
〃I don't know what it means。 I know you loved her。 I wanted you to hear what he told me。〃
Ben nodded； slowly。 〃It's strange。。。 that he said that。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃When we were leaving the treasure…dungeon … right after she was killed … I looked up onto that headland； the Emperor's land they said it was； right across the fjord。 I thought for a moment I saw red hair。 It doesn't mean anything； I don't suppose。〃
And now； suddenly； there was no more time for talk。
The Mayor's most expert sorceress was squeezing her way through the narrow tunnel； marking with a sign each man and woman of the raiding party； as she passed them。 When he hand touched his own eyes briefly； Mark found that now he could see a dim； ghostly halo behind the head of everyone else in the attacking force。 When fighting started in the darkness； they ought to be able to identify each other。 At least until the enemy magicians solved the spell； and were able to turn it to their own advantage。 Most likely they were more skillful than this woman of the Mayor's。 But it was necessary to take what seemed desperate chances。 That was what Coinspinner was for。
The party moved out。 The tunnel extended for more than a kilometer； and its lower sections were knee…deep in water。 An occasional loud splash or oath； the shuffle of feet； the chink of weapons； were for some time the only sounds。
The outer end of the tunnel； in which an advance party had been waiting for some time； was quietly opened。 Two by two； moving now as quickly and silently as possible； the raiders launched themselves out of the tunnel into shallow water； and up and out into the open night。
Mark； with Coinspinner in his hands； was the second or third fighter to emerge。 Now there could be no mistake about it。 The Sword of Chance was directing him； ordering the whole attack； straight to Vilkata's pavilion。 The huge tent stood plain in the light of several watch…fires near it； its black…gold fabric wrinkling in a chiaroscuro wrought by the night breeze。
The first few of the Dark King's soldiers to blunder innocently into the way of the advancing column were cut down in savage silence。 For those few endless…seeming moments； the advantage of surprise held。 Then the alarm went up； in a dozen voices at once。 The thin column of raiders broke into a charge； still； half or more of their total number had not yet e out of the tunnel。
Now resistance began； weapon against weapon； fierce and growing stronger。 But it was still too disorganized to stop the charge。 Mark； near the front of the attack； used Coinspinner as a physical weapon。 Troops were gathering to oppose the raiders； the alarm was spreading。 But now for a moment the pavilion was within reach； the Sword of Chance could touch its fabric。 Fine cloth parted with a shriek before its edge。
Men who had been inside burst out with weapons in their hands to bar the way。 Already a counterattack was taking form； against both sides of the column and its front。 The formation shattered； with its front forced back by opposing swords and shields； the fight became a great melee； a free…for…all。
A different and even deadlier resistance was gathering too。 Above the watch…fires； over the huge tent itself； the air roiled now with more than rising heat。 The demonic guardians of the Dark King and of his chief magicians were readying themselves to pounce upon intruders。
The Lord Mayor's best sorceress； stumbling near Mark's side in the darkness； stopped suddenly and seized Mark by the arm。 He could feel the woman's whole body quivering。
〃Do what you can；〃 she demanded of him。 〃And quickly！ Else we are all lost。 I had hoped they would not be this strong。。。〃
Mark himself with his experience had been grimly certain that they would。 Still the Sword had brought him here。 And he had another power of his own； already tested once。
His faith in it was tested now。 Suddenly the Emperor was only one more man； and far away； while the ravening airborne presences that lowered themselves now toward Mark were the most overwhelmingly real things in all the universe。
Mark had rehearsed no incantations beforehand。 If he meant to trust the Emperor； he would trust him in that as well； that no special words were needed。 The words that came to him now were those of Ariane； uttered in the Blue Temple cave four years ago：
〃In the Emperor's name； forsake this game； and let us pass！〃
Vilkata； awakened by the sounds of the attack； had just rolled groggily out of bed。 The demon that served as his eyes； recalled abruptly to duty； had just begun to send sight…images to the Dark King's brain。 Then in a moment the demon was catapulted into a blank distance； and those images were blanked away again。
For a moment the Dark King did not grasp the full import of his full and sudden blindness。 Certainly some emergency had arisen； and his first thought was for the Mindsword。 He groped for it； but his hands found only a tangled fall of cloth； part of his pavilion was collapsing around him。 And the weapon was not where he thought it ought to be。 Could he possibly； in last night's drunkenness； have failed to keep the Sword with him； beside his bed as always？ He could remember； at some time in the party； using it in sport； trying to drive one of his women mad with devotion to him。 But after that。。。
Surrounded by the sounds of fighting； groans； oaths； and the clash of arms； he groped frantically about him on the floor； amid soft pillows and spilled wine。 Between the confusion of his awakening and his sudden blindness he was disoriented。 No； he had brought the Mindsword with him to his bedchamber； he remembered and was sure。 But now he could not find it。 Where was it？
The clamor of the fighting continued very near him。 The fabric and the supports of the tent must have been assaulted； the bodies of people running and fighting had jostled into it； and more great sheets of loosened cloth were falling； crumpl