"They plan to invade Granbretan?" Meliadus was incredulous. "How many men have they? What is the size of their army?"
"Five hundred horsemen, my lord."
Meliadus began to laugh.
Chapter Twelve
The New Queen
KALAN LED MELIADUS up the steps towards a throne now replacing the sinister Globe. On the throne sat Flana Mikosevaar in a jewelled heron mask, a crown upon her head, the robes of state upon her body. And before Flana Mikosevaar kneeled all those nobles loyal to her.
"Behold," Meliadus said in a voice booming coarse and proud through the vast hall, "your new Queen. Under Queen Flana you will be greatgreater than you have dreamed. Under Queen Flana a new age will blooman age of laughing madness and roaring pleasure, the sort of pleasure we of Granbretan hold dear. The world shall be our toy!"
The ceremony progressed, with each noble in turn swearing his allegiance to Queen Flana. And when at length it was finished, Baron Meliadus spoke again. "Where is Adaz Promp, Chief Warlord of the Armies of Granbretan?"
Promp spoke up. "Here I am, my lord, and I thank you for the honour you do me." This was the first time Meliadus had mentioned Promp's rewardcommand over all other commanders, save Meliadus himself.
"Will you report how the rebels fare, Adaz Promp?"
"There are few left, my lord. Those Flies we have not swatted are dispersed and their Grand Constable, Jerek Nankenseen, is dead. I slew him myself. Brenal Farnu and the few remaining Rats have bolted into holes somewhere in Sussex and will soon be flushed out. All others have united in their loyalty to Queen Flana."
"That is satisfactory, Adaz Promp, and I am pleased. And what of Hawkmoon's laughable force. Does it still progress towards us?"
"So our ornithopter scouts report, my lord. They will soon be ready to cross the Silver Bridge."
Meliadus chuckled. "Let them cross. Let them come at least half the distance, then we shall wipe them out. Kalan, how do you manage with the machine?"
"It is almost ready, my lord."
"Good. Now we must set off for Deau-Vere to welcome Hawkmoon and his friends. Come, my captains, come."
And Meliadus was led back down the steps by Kalan and along the hall until he came to the great gatesthe gates guarded not by Mantis warriors, but by Wolves and Vultures. Meliadus regretted he could not see them and thus savour his triumph the more.
After the doors had closed behind him, Flana sat frozen on her throne and thought of D'Averc. She had tried to speak of him to Meliadus, but he had not heard her. Would he be killed? she wondered.
She thought, also, of what had befallen her. Alone among the nobles of Granbretan, save Shenegar Trott, she had read many old texts, some of which were legends and alleged histories of the years before the Tragic Millennium, She believed, whatever became of herself and Meliadus, that she now presided over a court entering its last stages of decadence. The wars of expansion, the internal strifeall were signs of a nation in its death throes, and though that death might not come for another two hundred years, or five hundred, or a thousand, she knew that the Dark Empire was doomed.
She prayed that something better would emerge to take its place.
Chapter Thirteen
''What Do You See?"
MELIADUS HELD THE reins of his herald's horse. "You must not leave me, boy. You must tell me what you see and I must plan the battle accordingly."
"I will tell you, my lord."
"Good. Are the troops all assembled?"
"They are, my lord. They await your signal."
"And is that cur Hawkmoon in sight yet?"
"Figures have been seen riding towards us across the Silver Bridge. They will ride directly into our ranks, unless they flee."
Meliadus grunted. "They will not fleenot Hawkmoonnot now. Can you see them yet?"
"I see a flash like silverlike a heliograph signalonetwothree, fourfivesix. The sun makes them shine so. Six silver mirrors. I wonder what it can mean?"
"The sun on polished spears?"
"I think not, my lord."
"Well, we shall soon know."
"Yes, my lord."
"What now?"
"Now I see six riders, my lord, at the head of a mass of cavalry. Each rider is crowned with flashing silver. Why, my lord, it is their helmets that shine!"
"Are they well-polished, then?"
"They are helms. They cover their faces. II can hardly bear to look upon them, they are so bright."
"Strange. Still, doubtless the helmets will break quickly enough beneath our weapons. You have told them that Hawkmoon must be taken alive but they can kill the rest?"
"I have, my lord."
"Good."
"And I told them what you saidthat if Hawkmoon should clutch at his head and begin to act strangely they should tell you at once."
"Excellent." Meliadus chuckled. "Excellent. I shall have my vengeance, either way."
"They have almost reached the end of the bridge, my lord. They have seen us but they are not stopping."
"Then give the signal to charge," Meliadus said. "Blow your trumpet, herald.
"Are they charging, herald?"
"They are, my lord."
"And what now? Have the armies met?"
"They have engaged, my lord,"
"And what is happening?"
"I amI am uncertain, my lordwhat with the flashing of those helmets and somethere is a peculiar red light spreading over the scenethere seem to be more men in Hawkmoon's army than we at first thought. Infantryand some cavalry. By Huon's TeethI beg your pardon, my lordby Flana's Breasts! They are the strangest warriors I have ever seen!"
"What do they look like?"
"Barbaricprimitiveand yet so fierce! They are driving into our forces like a coals through cream!"
"What? It cannot be. We have five thousand troops and they have five hundred. All the reports confirmed that number."
"There are more than five hundred, my lord. Many more."
"Have all the scouts lied, then? Or are we all going mad. These barbarian warriors, they must have come with Hawkmoon from Amarehk. What now? What now? Are our forces rallying?"
"They are not, my lord."
"What are they doing, then?"
"They are falling back, my lord."
"Retreating? Impossible!"
"They appear to be falling back rapidly, my lord. Those that live."
"What do you mean? How many remain of our five thousand?"
"I would say about five hundred infantry, my lord, and a scattered hundred of cavalry."
"Tell the pilot of my ornithopter to prepare his machine herald."
"I will, my lord."
"Is the pilot ready to fly, herald?"
"He is, my lord."
"And what of Hawkmoon and his band? What of the men in the silver helms?"
"They are pursuing the remains of our force, my lord."
"I have been deceived in some way, herald."
"As you say, my lord. There are many dead. But now the barbarian warriors slaughter the infantry. Only the cavalry escape."
"I cannot believe it. O, curse this blindness! I feel as if I dreamt"
"I will lead you to the ornithopter, my lord."
"Thank you, herald. No, pilotto Londra. Hurry. I must consider fresh plans!"
As the ornithopter beat its way up into the pale blue sky, Meliadus felt a great silver flash pass across his eyes and he blinked, looking down. And he could see. He could see the six flashing helmets the herald had mentioned, he could see the slaughtered legions he had known would destroy Hawkmoon's force, he saw the remains of his cavalry scurrying wildly for their lives. And he heard distant laughter he recognised as belonging to his most hated enemy.