Orton shook his head in disbelief. Thavis looked at me, then we both looked at Chord, whose eyes held an anger I had never seen in the man.

"So," I continued, "we both raced back here, instead of continuing up the mountain."

There was a fifth conspirator tonight, as Chord's friend May-Anne had joined us, sitting bewildered at Orton's right, between the mage and Thavis, across from Chord at our small library table.

May-Anne agreed to accept an apprenticeship with Mage Veddek as Orton's agent and to travel to Felway's holdings, joining his staff there tomorrow. Consequently, she had been briefed on our suspicions, as a matter of course. The information we had brought clearly distressed her as much as it did the two Magicians.

Chord compressed his lips, then remarked, "This has the smell of Veddek's involvement. I doubt not that the ports were opened around Mount Esh to attract the Burlies there, to guard it, or perhaps just to obstruct the road to Dervin from Corbell. Likely, this means the demons have worked a deal with Veddek."

He struck the table, and narrowed his eyes, appraising me. "I would doubt this report, were it not substantiated by the both of you. Mind, Mount Esh is not in Duke Felway's demesne, but ours. That abomination you witnessed was a demon working directly through the illegal portal. We are only blessed by the fact Veddek had the sense not to open it big enough to admit the demons directly. It is worse than I could have guessed."

I queried, "Why couldn't it just be MaCaan, or someone else, working alone?"

Chord shook his head. "The likes of MaCaan would not have the supplies to open so many oversize baiting-portals. Only a full mage would. Also, MaCaan's absence from his normal duties would not go without remark long enough to accomplish something like this. Veddek, his master, must be involved."

Orton rapped the table and snapped out, "No apprentice, not even a chief apprentice like MaCaan, is allowed to work the portals unsupervised. This is violation of guild law. The opening of any portal for any reason that does not work for the advancement of his Duke's programs is a violation of guild law, and the laws of the Crown.

Orton made a grim frown. "For that matter, any Duke authorizing an action not in the King's interest is in violation of Crown law. Duke Felway is either complicit in this, or a dupe of Veddek. At the least, this sequestering of Mount Esh amounts to an invasion of this Dukedom. The road past Mt. Esh leads only towards the border town of Dervin, and the pass to Felway's fiefs. This action isolates Dervin, threatens Corbell, and blocks movement to the border. The stratagem is an obvious attempt to blockade free passage."

Orton shook his finger at Thavis. "Your grandfather must be told of this immediately. I will need some men at arms, you and William as guides, and the services of Chord. We must close these portals before too much mischief is done, before an army of such beasts can be raised up. The security of the Crown is also involved now. The Duke must send word to Brist."

Brist, I knew, was the seat of the kingdom, though seldom mentioned here at the extreme eastern edge of things, and would be over a week away by foot. Whatever was going to happen here would occur before word even reached the seat of government.

Chord looked worriedly at May-Anne. "Perhaps best you not plan on a fast journey to Felway's fief as yet."

May-Anne rolled her eyes. "I got that, my mage. Veddek wouldn't be my first choice as Master anyway. You know very well what it is I want."

Chord reddened.

"We may be up against more than beasts and abominations," I reminded. "There is still no knowing how many rifles and what-not MaCaan may have brought through."

Orton shot me a patronizing stare. "I listened closely to your descriptions of these death sticks, William. They are complex and require some training to use efficiently, do they not?"

I had to reluctantly admit that some training was necessary.

"Then," said Orton, "we shall see how such amateurs fare against expert long-bowmen, should that happen. These creatures are vicious, but not organized. Felway could not have moved regular troops through the long pass unnoticed, and if he did somehow accomplish it, the battle would be at Dervin, not here, near Corbell. The problem is currently a sore that will only become more dangerous if we allow it to fester. We just have to hope Veddek didn't have enough Burlie dust or time to open many."

Orton sat back in his chair thoughtful for a moment, then pointed a finger at me. "You must understand the full consequences of what you have seen. First, demons cannot exercise their will in this land without human permission to take Burlies. Second, Chord and I have discussed this - the information of your adventures confirms it. The Demon need for Burlies is that they provide the power they shape and wield in this world. They have bargained, I fear, at a great advantage over our returns, and are using this stockpile now, or are being fed massively by Veddek, to be able to perform transformations such as you both witnessed. A plot, whether of the demons alone or in collusion with Veddek, and possibly Felway, that is what is at work here."

Orton stood, and said, "No more time to waste. We must go to see Wayland."

****

The house seneschal was uncompromisingly hostile to the idea of disturbing the Duke, but no match for the short tempered mages. The argument was brief. In a huff, the seneschal eventually turned, and casting a last glare over his shoulder, retreated to the Duke's private quarters.

While we waited, I took in the hall. It was as I would imagine the hall of a Viking Prince would be. The room was rectangular and fairly narrow, with one trencher that ran the length of it, down the center. Dark wood was everywhere evident, counterpointed with gilded carvings gouged into massive beams, hung everywhere with banners of royal red.

Looking to the front, I saw a platform, almost a stage, about waist high. A table, perhaps only fifteen feet long, stretched lengthwise across it. Chairs were set behind it, to face the hall's occupants. The tablet left little room between its ends and the walls. Only one man at a time would be able to easily round the heavily constructed banquet.

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Behind the platform was a stairwell, to access the private rooms of the second floor. It was up this flight the seneschal had gone. Another door looked to lead to the kitchen and servant quarters. A fireplace rose in each corner of the opposite end of the hall, though these were not in use. Between these, the room ported to a foyer, and then outside.

UnGlazed skylights, like transoms, pierced the water-stone walls in foot high breaks beneath the ceiling. These were fitted with heavy shutters that could be swung up to open, as now, or be allowed to close. Under these openings, bowls of brass filled with sputtering fat, fed smoky wicks to light the hall.

The room had a definite defensible feel about it. Those seated on the platform would be hard to attack from the floor. Using the table as a barricade would put yet another obstacle between them and others, and a speedy retreat was offered by the stairwell and door. Things here, I mused, had not always been peaceable.

A heavy fellow appeared at the top of the stairs, and trudged down before the trailing seneschal. Thinning brown hair topped his head over craggy brows and a scowling expression. "Orton! What is all this? The hour is late, so be brief!"

Mage Orton bent at the waist, straightened quickly, and told our story. He deferred to his grandson, Thavis for details, rather than to me, and quickly gave his interpretation of events. The Duke's scowl quickly turned to anger. He swept the pair of mages with dark eyes that spoke of a man used to doing violent things when needed, without remorse.

"See to your plan, but I will send Sir Connor to settle this. You two do as he says, he has the military experience for it. I will have Beck send runners to King Frederick soon as documents are prepared."

His eyes swept across me, as if seeing me for the first time, but addressed his words to Chord. "So this is your Master Smith, who is quickening commerce in our eastern farms, and making the new devices for traveling about. Much of what I am hearing from my grandson seems to center around this rogue. There is a story that I must be told soon, no doubt. As you trust him, take him too. He looks big enough."

Finally directing conversation to me, he said, "I hear you negotiated some trade with the Nublin."

Chord seemed startled that the Duke already knew this; I assumed he had not talked about it during his prior audience. The reaction did not go unnoticed by Wayland; I saw an upward twitch turn the corners of the Duke's mouth.

"Yes, a barter, on the behalf of Mage Chord," I replied.

"Astonishing. Trade with them has not been tried in a long while, at least openly. A matter of trust and history. You are a man of many talents, it seems. I may have some other chores for you besides helping erect my new tower, perhaps instead of working on it at all."

The remorseless eyes turned back to Chord. "You won't forget to mark any taxable profit from this new trade with the Nublin, Chord. Nor fail to note any arrangements you make with them directly to me. You are not in the diplomatic service of this kingdom. We understand each other?"

The mage bowed. "Without a doubt, my Duke."

"Fine. We will talk again, if you survive the night."

In spite of the press of circumstance, this seemed to further irritate Chord. Even Orton seemed subtly put out, but neither mage spoke. Wayland motioned to the seneschal, who flew off like a shot, not needing to be instructed as to what had to be done. I guessed Beck was the seneschal's name, though we were not introduced.

"Well, get about it, see Connor. Report back when you have accomplished something except destroying my evening! The audience is over, for now."

Duke Wayland turned back to mount the stairs, but not without raking both mages with a sly narrowed glance. This was not a man to cross, I realized. We waited until the Duke had turned away completely and then left the hall quickly for the yard.

***

Chord and Orton returned to the keep for some supplies. I waited with Thavis in the receiving room until they reappeared, Dimanda and May-Anne with them.

Dimanda rushed forward, inspecting me closely.

"At least you weren't hurt this time. May-Ann told me what happened. Father said you were both being sent out again. Damn the Duke! Hasn't he enough men of his own?"

I had only heard her so agitated on one other occasion. Before I could say anything, Dimanda threw her arms about me tightly.

"Be careful, and come back whole," she whispered. She turned to her father and did the same. May-Anne put her hand on Chord's arm and squeezed. "Is there anything I should be doing?"

Chord nodded. "This is going to become a border dispute with Felway, no doubt of it. Get ready to travel, and see that Dimanda is likewise prepared. See if you can find out what Felway's retinue is up to, if any remain in the city. Try to send word to the local mage in Dervin-town, on the border of Felway's Dukedom. Belmus is his name. Use one of Orton's birds. We must find out what goes there. That is satisfactory by you, Orton? You still have a bird for Belmus' Tower?"

Orton waved the query off. "Of course. Good idea."

Something occurred to me. I interrupted, asking, "Won't Wayland use that method to contact your King Fredrick?"

Orton flicked me an irritated glance. "No. This is a matter of state. It will not be trusted to a bird. There are hunters, birds of prey and such. No important business is ever conducted so. He may well send some sort of message that way as a herald, but nothing will be done until an official representative of Wayland makes an appearance."

May-Anne touched Chords cheek briefly, tuned and left.

Chord faced Dimanda. "You must recheck our accounts quickly. Wayland knows all about the Nublin and is concerned he may be missing out on some tax revenue. He will probably call the books in for audit, so see they are in good order while I am gone. Do not worry for me, I will be well escorted. Go on now." I yearned to speak privately with Dimanda, but kept silence in the face of Chord.

His eyes shuttled between me and his daughter, a small smile appeared. "Both of us will be fine." Reluctantly, Dimanda went to tend to this, and we left for the yard

Sir Conner was already reviewing his command as we approached the front gate guard-post. While short on temper, the Duke's servant had proved quick to obey . A cohort of men was sorting itself out into rows four abreast. Twenty archers fronted the forming column, followed by several halberd-carrying footmen, and a few more with short sword and shield, about fifty men, in all. At the end, five more bowmen and a very few with javelin and ax were lining up, besides ourselves and Sir Conner. There was a general bustle throughout the yard, as replacements hustled from their barracks to substitute for the men pulled from current duty stations about the estate for the sortie.

Thavis having gone ahead, was talking to the nobleman when we arrived.

"Some pitch arrows might not be a bad idea, keep the beasts confused, and then have at them with the halberds, I'd say. The big ones we saw are killable; William proved that. But gads! First pepper them with arrows from a distance, if possible--thrown spears and such. The one we contended with would butcher footmen in a brawl, given a chance."

Sir Connor pulled at his belt, nodding, and replied, "Hah! We might build a trap and lure them into a killing ground, or force them to attack up slope and fire down upon them. Most of the positions are hard against the mountain, should be no feat to get the higher ground against these animals. It's the possibility of finding regular soldiers up there as bothers me. Mostly I'll be taking archers, as 'twill be more a hunt than a bicker, I'll wager."

Orton caught the Noble's attention and said, "If you are ready, Sir. Let Thavis and William bring us forth, for they have scouted the situation. You can decide your approach when we can see what is what."

"Agreed, Sirrah," Conner replied, "but mark this, I am given command here, so you will keep to your proper place in this, and do as I say, when the time comes. Hi-Up!"

With this, we went out from the estate.