"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."
Meliadus rubbed at his mask. "There are detachments of Wolves, Vultures and even Ferrets on the mainland. Perhaps if they were recalled…"
"Would there be time, sir?"
"Well, we should have to make time, captain."
"Aye, sir."
"Offer all prisoners a change of mask," Meliadus suggested. "They can see that we are winning and might wish to join a new Order."
Beli saluted. "King Huon's palace is superbly defended, sir."
"And it will be superbly taken, captain, I am sure."
The music of Johne continued and the firing continued and Meliadus felt sure that all was going perfectly. It would take time to capture the palace, but he was confident that it would be taken, Huon destroyed, Flana put in his place and Meliadus the most powerful man in the land.
He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was nearing eleven o'clock. He got up and clapped his hands, silencing the girls. "Fetch my litter," he ordered. "I journey to the Palace of Time."
The same four girls returned with his litter and he climbed in to sink among the cushions.
As they moved slowly along the corridors, Meliadus could still hear the music of the flame cannon, the shouts of men in conflict. Admittedly victory had not yet been accomplished and even if he slew King Huon there might be barons who would not accept Flana as Queen Empress. He would need a few months in which to consolidatebut it would help if he could unite them all into turning then: hatred against the Kamarg and Castle Brass.
"Hurry," he called to the naked girls. "Faster! We must not be late!"
If Taragorm's machine worked, then he would have the double advantage of being able to reach his enemies and unite his nation.
Meliadus sighed with pleasure. Everything was working so perfectly.
BOOK THREE
And now the resolution was imminent. The Heroes of the Kamarg plotted in Castle BrassBaron Meliadus plotted in Taragorm's Palace of Timethe King Emperor Huon plotted in his Throne Roomand all the plots that were made began to influence each other. The Runestaff, too, centrepiece of the drama, was beginning to exert its influence upon the players. And now the Dark Empire was divideddivided because of Meliadus's hatred of Hawkmoon whom he had planned to use as his puppet but who had been strong enough to turn against him. Perhaps it was thenwhen Meliadus had chosen Hawkmoon to use against Castle Brassthat the Runestaff had made its first move. It was a tightly woven dramaso tightly woven that certain threads were close to snapping…
- The High History of the Runestaff
Chapter One
The Striking of The Clock
THERE WAS A chill in the air. Hawkmoon drew his heavy cloak about him and turned his sombre head to regard his comrades. Each face looked at the table. The fire in the hall was burning low, but the objects on the table could be clearly seen.
First there was the Red Amulet, its ruddy light staining their faces as if with blood. This was Hawkmoon's strength, giving its owner more than natural energy. Then there were the crystal Rings of Mygan which could transport those who wore them through the dimensions. These were their passports back to their own space and time. Beside the rings was the scabbarded Sword of the Dawn. In this lay Hawkmoon's army. And finally, wrapped in a length of cloth, there was the Runestaff, Hawkmoon's standard and his hope.
Count Brass cleared his throat. "Even with all these powerful objects can we defeat an Empire as great as Granbretan?"
"We have the security of our castle," Oladahn reminded him. "From it we can go through the dimensions at will and return at will. By this means we can fight a prolonged guerilla action until we have worn down the enemy's resistance."
Count Brass nodded. "What you say is true, but I am still doubtful"
"With respect, sir, you are used to fighting classic battles," D'Averc reminded him. D'Averc's pale face was framed by the collar of a dark leather cloak. "And you would be happier with a direct confrontation, drawn up in ranks of lancers, archers, cavalry, infantry and so on. But we have not the men to fight such battles. We must strike from the dark, thereforefrom behind, from cover at least initially."
"You are right, I suppose, D'Averc." Count Brass sighed.
Bowgentle poured wine for them all. "Perhaps we should get to our beds, my friends. There is more planning to do and we should be fresh…"
Hawkmoon strode to the far end of the table where the maps had been laid out. He rubbed at the Black Jewel in his forehead. "Aye, we must plan our first campaigns carefully." He studied the map of the Kamarg. "There is a chance there is a permanent camp surrounding the place where Castle Brass stoodperhaps waiting for its return."
"But did you not feel that perhaps Meliadus's power is waning?" D'Averc said. "Shenegar Trott seemed to think so."
"If that is the case," Hawkmoon agreed, "then it is possible that Meliadus's legions are now deployed elsewhere, since there seems to be some sort of contention at the Court of Londra as to whether we are very important as a threat or not."