I outlined some of my ideas with the forge workers. The first was to make several hundred caltrops, spiked jack-like constructions that no matter how they landed, always thrust a point into the air. With several Nublin busy at this, I surveyed the available mineral stocks. Sulfur, saltpeter and charcoal were abundant here, so I had several barrels of each ground fine, and delivered to me. The original barrels, and one extra of special construction, were soon filled with a black powder mixture, which I set aside. I did not share the manufacture of this mixture with my companions. Even here at the Nublin forge, the casting of any sort of field cannon was very unlikely, and there were still things I was yet unwilling to introduce.

I thought on the crude ring of gold alloy, and working with Brock at the forge, removed some of the metal, and made a thinner, more finished looking job of the band. I wanted to make some kind of flexible wire, but the technology for what I had in mind was just beyond what I could achieve here. Considering my need, something about sixty feet or so would be about right. Thin rod was possible, and I settled on a sort of thin surveyor's chain. Loop ended lengths fitted one into another. We worked a melt of copper infused with the saved-out alloy from the band, and cast the links, crimping the vaguely yellowish sections together on an anvil. Even carefully folded, the result made a bulky package, but one I intended Gort to carry.

The more complicated sprocket chain design we had doped out on my earlier visit was used to make a couple of upgrade field ballista, basically just giant crossbows.

The Nublin smith had not been idle since my departure, and had already been experimenting with my link and cog designs, which made this easier. The gearing system made them quicker to draw than their antique precedents. These gave my conscience pause, but as bows were already available here, I felt they were an inevitable development anyway.

The ballista could be broken down and portaged through the mountains easily. By the time these projects were well along, Gort had returned, looking like a walking shrub, carrying several bushes, and the Corm Da, none the worse for its rest in the forest ash.

I quizzed the Golem, "Gort, how long will you remain active?"

"Seventeen years eleven months and two days."

I felt that I was on to something here, but for what I had in mind, timing would be tight, and eventually, access to Veddek's mage tower, crucial.

I set the villagers to boiling the bushes down to a thick goo version of the Burlie poison. The making of it was not new to the Nublin, who considered Burlies dangerous vermin. The caltrops were coated in this, as fast as they were completed. Four days had passed, and I could only wait for some word to reach me from Corbell, as the Nublin continued to build, and prepare their own supplies. More Nublin began to appear in the village, grim faced and armed, from other of the scattered communities.

I was considering sending Gort back to the cabin, to see if May-Anne could be found yet, when the striding form of Thavis finally reappeared over the mountainous crests. Next to him bobbed the familiar red cloaked form of Chord, and yes, Dimanda as well. She ran ahead on flashing legs as she spotted me, and jumped into my arms.

"You didn't think to get away with a simple note did you?" she said, and gave me a melting kiss, to which I responded passionately.

The feel of her back moving against my hands, the press of her against me, was the heaven my life had denied me. "I love you with all of my heart. I was wrong to let the uncertainty of my future hold me back from telling you before. Forgive me. As things stand, I still do not know what future I can promise you, but that is how I feel, Dimanda."

"Took you long enough, oaf that you are."

"You shouldn't have come to Durbin. I don't like knowing you are in harm's way. This Mage Belmus..."

Dimanda waved my protests off. "We are all in harms way, should Felway succeed. Think you Chord would stay a baron under that man? I will not see you walk into danger without doing all I may to aid you. Belmus? He is of the guild, and treats me well enough."

"You feel safe there?"

Dimanda shrugged. "I stay in his tower. Durbin is a crossroad for commerce between fifes, so there will be some mixed allegiance between Felway and Wayland among merchants and such, but the town swarms with Wayland's troops at the moment."

Chord floated to within a few feet before setting his shiny boots back on the rocky ground. He smiled at us, eyes wandering about the village scene, taking in the activity of the stout and bearded residents. "I tried to forbid her this trip. Exposing her presence about town was unnecessary. You can see how well that worked out."

Thavis waved and smiled also, but went on to talk with Brock first, who walked off with him toward the mountainside forge. I pulled regretfully back from Dimanda as her father approached. Chord inspected me as if checking for missing parts, then grabbed my arm.

"So, William! You have survived, and none the worse for your travels, it seems. What goes?"

"I imagine Thavis has told you most of it, by now. The Nublin and I are preparing a little excursion against the Burlies. More on that in a bit. First, what is happening with Wayland?"

"The duke has set aside his construction project and musters his army at Dervin, before the pass. The King Frederick sent word that Felway and his mage should be brought before him. The news Thavis brought put Wayland in a rage. The Duke has sent runners to update the King, who raises his war levy even now. He presses every able bodied man he can quickly lay hands on into service. It is from Dervin though, that I have come."

I was not surprised by any of this, save for the welcome appearance of Dimanda. "What," I asked, "does the pass itself look like?"

Chord gestured in the direction of the pass. "It is crawling with Burlies, and more of those giant...things show up every day. It is as the road from Corbell would have been, had we not discovered the infestation so quickly. If Wayland must fight through them all to reach Tark, his army will not be ready to meet the forces Felway musters there."

"What about the king's troops?"

"The Crown sends men, but other bad things are happening in the fief. Magii report that summonings have become unsuccessful, and that when they do occur, the demons summoned refuse to trade service, or ask for absurd amounts of Burlies to provide them. Elsewhere, the beasts have become scarce. In such times of discontent, other borders also need to be sustained. This slows things. Most armsmen that would be in reach are likely gathered in the pass now. More worrying, the larger Burlies there seem to be organized; are forming up into groups behind the Burlies, driving them forward against Wayland. He contains them, driving them back with fire and smoke, but they return. He does not want to waste supplies on them, knowing what will confront him in Tark, so he waits for more of the crown's men."

It felt to me that Felway must have been rushed into this. If seeding a pass with Burlies and such was to be the extent of his edge, it could now only be a defensive one. Veddek, his mage should not have set Macaan to harassing Corbell so early. Certainly he had expected to hold the way from Corbell to Dervin first, his troops securing Dervin, and so both ends of the pass. Without such a beachhead, It was hard to see how the duke could deploy his army.

I thought of the two lonely cannons I had seen, and wondered what other dealings Veddick may have entered into with the demons, if he was still hoping to acquire some mass of modern arms from my world. It would take time to make the kinds of contacts to complete such an order and more time to familiarize his Dukes military with modern arms. Certainly he wouldn't be buying and registering firearms through Mcaan one at a time. My coming here in place of Macaan had disrupted plans, possibly leaving Felway to feed, house, and keep secret too many men, for too long. Looking back, the foray at Mt. Esh seemed a desperate, ill-timed move. Veddek must have needed something from the summit desperately, and had sent Macaan there to achieve it, and delay an aware Wayland as best he could.

I related to Chord my dreams and suspicions since Mt. Esh and told him of the gold circlet Brock had forged me. Chord's attitude changed, becoming angry as he listened.

"Why did you not tell me of this before? At the least, you could have mentioned what you found at the Mount when you spoke to Orton at Corbell!"

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I reminded Chord of the circumstances of that meeting, never mind the condition I had been in.

Chord's anger faded into a depression. "Our fault in the most part, then. Orton should have taken more time to learn what you might have found. I think your guesses are right, also I would assume that Veddek intends to take the crown and sword for his own, double-cross Felway, and rule here as Credine's avatar. He must think he knows enough to keep from being subsumed by the God. That would explain much. Raising up powerful weapons, summoning Demonic troops; all a sham to feed Felway's lust for Wayland's Dukedom. None of it would mean anything before the power of a deity. Veddek could pluck it all away in a heartbeat. Of the two, Felway is not the premier intellect. I doubt Veddek informed Felway of all the nuances of the Corm-Da and The Crown of the Green Isle."

"But," I noted, "we have both the sword and the crown."

"You have them, not we. Besides, who is it as sits within your flesh, when they are awake?"

"Credine." I mumbled.

"Yes, Credine, who wishes only to reinstate his rule here. Also, as we talked of before, another Sword was likely forged by Macaan to get back here. The missing crown must be driving Veddek mad. Likely he hopes to seek you out, and wrest it from you. Meantime, all he can do is to encourage Felway in this military adventure. From what you have said, the rite to permanently invest the avatar of Credine must be performed at a full moon, atop his tower, as your dreams depicted. Premonitions, I take them to be. Be wary. The full moon is almost upon us, and that is an unhandy coincidence, I think. Quite likely a good thing you bonded to the blade though, else Veddek would have done so with a copy, by now, and he would not have quailed to use the connection to his advantage."

"Couldn't he bond with the second copy anyway?"

Chord shook his head. "No. In your bonding, it became imbued, the living attribute of its predecessor, and by this, a link to its last owner, Credine. A copy may enable the demons to home on it, allow safe passage through the planes, but it cannot activate a link to Credine. If the original blade still existed, your copy would not have either, even had you bled your lifeblood on it. This is a meld of the old magic principles of contagion and similarity. Principles still at work here, even though the only manna source is that which Credine brought with him, and lost to the land, to imbue the Burlies. Perhaps the Burlies are its manifestation. It is a life force, you know."

"If the Burlies are some part of Credine, why do they seem to work at odds to his purpose?"

Chord snorted. " You confuse the Ka of the God, with his mind, or will. There is power, then there is the mind that directs it. While usually bound together, they are not the same things."

"Had I known some of this before, it would have been easier for me to have pieced things together, Chord."

"Piece what together, exactly?" said Chord. "At what exact point did you suddenly know all you know now? Did you ever approach me with the intent to become an acolyte, that I should begin instruction in the principles and precepts of magic? Why do you suppose I have asked you to feel out your connection with the blade, asked, as you have been reluctant to do, that you keep me informed of these things?"

To this I had no reply. Best, I thought, to share what I could now.

"I have an idea, and can likely help get rid of the creatures in the pass," I said. "The Nublin hate the Burlies. It was their appearance here that started the bad blood up between Man and Nublin in the first place." I showed Chord the poisoned Caltrops, Ballista, and few barrels of black powder I had managed.

"Orehammer, the chief here, has rallied the Nublin to kill those in the pass. They know these mountains well. We will rain caltrops down on them, fire poisoned shafts on them, until they are no more. The Nublin don't care, and won't involve themselves in human wars, but all those Burlies in one place, is almost too good a chance for them to pass up. If I am to get to Veddek, find how passage between my...land and back is achieved, Wayland must be able to secure Tark. We will move out in a day or so. Go back and tell Wayland he won't need to wait for the Crown's full muster. If the pass gains too many demon-enhanced burlies, he may never breach it. If his men can break through the legions at Tark, and if I can get access to Veddek's keep, I may be able to end this, and be in a position to force answers from him."

I went on to explain what I had discovered of the Golem, and what I planned to do with it.

Chord pondered. "Risky, and it brings the power Veddek seeks right to his doorstep. If what you propose doesn't work, if Wayland can't win through..."

"If it doesn't work, you have a God, Felway, or whatever option Veddek and the demons plan, to contend with."

Chord frowned, "and if it does..."

"Change, but for the better, overall, I think."

"None of these futures are ideal, William."

"One of them is going to happen, though. At least we can guide the choice, with some luck. If Felway marches, or even manages to repel Wayland, and what I suggest is not tried--"

"Veddek's agents will find you, or someone else will start all this again. Perhaps even Wayland himself. At best, it would never end."

"As you say."

Chord brightened. "But if we destroyed the crown..."

"The band? Do we know we have all of the materials composing it? Do we know that it cannot be resurrected? The blade was. As long as Credine's force exists in this land, that threat remains, and I have no wish to lose myself to Credine. Do you want to live under the eye of a capricious all powerful agency? Truly?"

Chord went silent. "Very well. I must be cautious what Wayland is told. Your part in this, carefully explained. None of the others, even Orton, can know enough to piece together what we propose. There is great disruption in the offering and not everyone would see this as I do, as you do."

"Agreed," I said. "When did you say the next full moon was?"

"Four days from now...Oh, I see. Why not come with the army, once you clear the pass?"

I shook my head. There was no way I intended to bring the explosives into reach of Wayland for that long. Felway may have gotten his hands on some, but hopefully, that might be remedied. To Chord, I said, "If at least one of the forts cannot be disrupted before Wayland closes on them, that will also be the end of things. That must be done from above, through the narrow passage we made. Not risked from the flats before them in the pass."

"Who will go with you? Besides the Golem?"

"Brock will go, if paid, I think, as will Thavis if you can spare him. We would make for a certain sheer behind the Tark-side pass end, and do what we can about the fort there, then if Wayland can break through, we can join you in the siege of Felway's hold. You understand what must be done. I hope to use the Golem as a sapper, dig under the keep wall and plant my blowing-up powder there. Then, we'll see."

Chord thought further. "I am not happy with this private campaign of yours, William. This should be left to Wayland. Couldn't you guide the army along these paths? Come at the town from the other end, evading the forts?"

"I don't think thousands of men could scrabble through those goat trails undetected, single file, and hope to assemble undiscovered on the road somewhere, armed, fed, and ready to fight. More probably, they would be slaughtered somewhere along the way. Rejoining the army before Tark's keep, and otherwise keeping secret, is best, I think. Wayland will understand this. As you are Barron of the eastern districts, and I am your squire, I am under your direction in this, yes? Time is the real enemy here, so you need to make the final call. Either way, the Nublin will march on the pass. They are not Wayland's subjects to command. What will you have me do?"

Chord weighed my report, looked back in the direction of Dervin, then again at the activity of the rushing Nublin around him.

He wiped his hand over his face, and nodded.

"Wayland will try the pass, one way or another. That much I do know. I will tell him you stay here to observe the Nublin assault, and suggest you will rejoin the army after. I can suggest your offer to sap the walls before Felway's estate; he will probably agree to it. It is something that would likely be tried anyway." A sly smile quirked up the corners of Chord's mouth. "Dimanda will wait for you in Dervin; the local mage put her up there for me, and she will not return home until you are safe, no matter what I would wish."

"And why should I?" Dimanda insisted. "The two of you are my life, and you are both here."

I reddened, remembering the arranged betrothal. "Dimanda, I wouldn't hold you to the betrothal you two cooked up to save me from Wayland, but I want to ask Chord for your hand in earnest, if you would have me. Would you marry me? Or consider me?"

Her reply was direct, and it was a few minutes before she pulled away to speak again.

"Just you try to get out of it and see what happens to you, William Drake."

"And May-Anne? Did she also follow the army here?"

Now it was Chord's turn to blush. "No, she stays in Corbell, where she can do the most good, keeping her ears open. I had to promise her an apprentice position with me...and other things."

"Umph, also about time, if I may say so," spouted Dimanda. I've talked further with May-Anne, and know all about your little history with her. Father, really!"

Thavis had returned with Brock by this time, and stood staring at us.

"The two of you look like radishes. Have you been telling bawdy stories while I was away? Brock showed me some of the work you have done. Impressive. I take it the Nublin are to free the pass of the beasties?"

"Yes and if you will come, I will try to disable the forts, and sap the walls of Felway's hold, too." I said.

"An excellent itinerary, when do we start?"

I walked with Dimanda hand in hand all that evening. We talked of our feelings about family and children, likes and dislikes, many things. Beneath it all an undercurrent of both happiness and uncertainty scrabbled.

"I don't know why you can't just leave the rest of this to the dukes. It is a matter for the army, not you," she groused.

"The army is not going to find out how I can be rid of Credine. It is not going to be concerned with how permanent my stay here might be, or even whether I, we, can return to Illinois. The army must breach the pass and take Tark, if I am to have a chance to seek my future, our future, or even have one. We could lose each other to Credine, or to broken magic, or to Fellway's wrath. You may lose me yet, anyway."

"Do not say such things!"

"I have tried not to, but my heart wouldn't let me keep you out of it. We need to face this risk, Dimanda. You need to know all of it, not just the dream. Let me work, and maybe, keep you with me." We pulled together and kissed.

"I, I don't want to lose you. I don't want to risk you."

"Me neither, but we both need these answers."

"Promise you will come back, that we marry, that this will pass, and all be well."

So we passed lies of hope and future between us, smiled and held back goodbyes, and all the things the hope-filled do.