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than holding their own.
Curiosity drew him down. He sideslipped lower and lower until he had the good
luck with his dragon sight to catch the flicker of an arrow coming out from
one of the shuttered windows; but he still could not see how.
Another hundred feet down and his dragon-sight was able to make out a small
slit in the shutter. He pumped with his wings to lever himself up another
story of the building and see if he could discover any other shutters with
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arrow slits in them-just as an arrow flickered through the air where he had
been a second before.
It had not occurred to him that those in the buildings could be taking him
for some other creature sent by the Dark Powers. Once more he found himself
wishing that KinetetE had made his ward proof against weapons as well as
magic. But it was clear he was simply going to have to take that lack into
account in his plans.
He flew back to Lyonesse.
Somewhat to his pleased surprise, he found no one had left. Dafydd and David
were still there, as was the QB. Hob was jumping up and down, possibly with
excitement, as Jim came in for a landing and turned back into a human being.
What happened to you? he asked Brian, the first one to reach him, You look
different.
Nothing happened. Dull, here. Unless you mean- He ran a hand over the lower
half of his face. I am now shaven. King Pellinore was good enough to lend me
his shaving knife. I did not bring with me a hone capable of putting a fine
edge on any blade I have with me; and you may have noticed, James-I say, you
may have noticed my beard grows somewhat swiftly. Outright nuisance! I
remember I used to go two, or even three days without needing to shave-ah,
your Highness! You wished to speak to Sir James?
What news, Sir James? said David, pushing in between Brian and Jim. What
news? Have you any word of my poor land and people?
I don t think you need worry too much, Jim said. I flew over your capital.
Things may have been bad at the time you left; but everyone is under cover
there now, with doors and shutters closed; and the Harpies are hunting around
without much luck I could see. In fact, from time to time one of your archers,
shooting through an arrow slit in a shutter, downed one; and it may be Sir
Brian and I can do more about stopping any more coming, soon.
James? said Brian in a happy voice.
Talk to you about that in a bit, Brian, said Jim. But, Sire, I was under
the impression you and Dafydd were going back there.
Indeed, Sir James, I came to a change of mind, said Dafydd. With the
countryside empty of people, the danger of bringing my King back to the
capital across that much open ground and only myself to guard him from
Harpies, seemed the worst choice. And then, by staying with you, we can be at
your meeting with the Original Knights of Lyonesse; for it is my thought that
we of the Drowned Land and they are together in this, and it would be well we
should talk without delay of joining forces.
Well, yes, said Jim. It s been my thought, too-stop jumping up and down,
Hob! I ll talk to you in a minute. For Hob was now standing on his right
shoulder, going up and down like a magic fruit told to leap. -My idea, too,
that both lands should join forces. You ve got plenty of people; but as I
understand it, few armored knights. Lyonesse has a lot of them, but all
together they don t add up to a very great army, since Lyonesse is sparsely
populated forest, mostly. Am I right about that, QB?
Perfectly right, said the QB. But I think Hob has something very important
to suggest to you.
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He has? I m sorry, Hob, said Jim. I didn t realize what you wanted to talk
about was that important. Sorry to make you wait.
It was awful-I didn t mind at all, I mean-m Lord, the blocked-off words
came out of Hob in a rush, but I ve had this magnificent idea. None of you
could do it-crave pardon, Master Dafydd, Sir Brian, m Lords, and your Royal
Majesty-I just mean because it s just something a hobgoblin is made so he can
do. All I need is a waft of smoke here; and I can ride it back to where those
villains are camped on the Borderland, and hide in the smokes of their fires,
listening to their talk. I can probably learn everything they re going to do;
and bring it back to you. It would be as easy as... as drinking milk.
Hob... began Jim, and checked himself. There were a number of reasons
against Hob s doing what he had offered to do. But it would be tricky to
phrase a refusal so that it did not make Hob useless and unhappy. He was
fairly glowing with his idea.
Furthermore, Jim could not turn down Hob s suggestion in such a way as to
seem particularly careful of the small Natural. Not with the others
listening-all of whom were ready to risk their own lives, and would see no
reason why Hob should not take outrageous chances with his, to gain
information.
It s a fine idea, Hob, he said; and Hob s face fell immediately at the tone
of his Lord s voice, anticipating refusal. The trouble is, though, that Queen
Morgan le Fay is watching you and me all the time when we re here in Lyonesse.
She d notice immediately if you left me, and keep watching you to see where
you went.
I could wait until dark to go.
How would you find your way to them in the dark?
Oh, that s easy, m Lord. I d watch the stars. I ve done that before, nights
out on the smoke.
There are no stars here, put in Dafydd, or in our Drowned Land. No moon in
either one, either.
Hob stared at him for a second of silence; and then his face lit up again.
I could take the QB with me on the smoke. He s heavy, but it isn t far. The
smoke could manage him, too.
I would be happy to go, put in the QB. It is true, as you yourself know
Sir James, that I can easily go to where I wish, unobserved in the dark. I
pray you will let Hob do what he suggests and take me with him, provided we
wait until past sundown. I had thought there was nothing I could do to protect
Lyonesse; but this would be useful; and I long to do it.
No harm in letting the two go, James; and much mayhap to be gained. I
counsel you do so, said Brian.
I would give much to know, said King David, when those in the Borderland
plan to move; and in what direction. If it be toward the Drowned Land, we must
beg the Knights and Kings of Lyonesse for assistance. We will give them as
much as we have, if the attack is to be here.
Dafydd said nothing; but Jim saw his friend was watching him closely.
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All right, Hob, said Jim, pointedly speaking directly to Hob and to none of
the others. But I reserve the right to change my mind right up to the time
you have to go. For one thing, QB-or any of you-has King Pellinore said when
we might talk to the Originals? The sooner we meet with them, the better.
He said, answered the QB, that they are not all gathered together yet.
Indeed, some may still be coming in by the time the issue of where battle
might be is decided and the battle about to commence. Neither of his sons, Sir
Percival or Sir Lamorack of Wales, have been heard of so far; and I know he
yearns to see them. The battle will be nothing to him, compared to that.
He didn t say anything, then, Jim said, of just when a gathering of the
Originals might take place?
He will make it happen, said the QB. But in any case most of the great
King s Knights who decide to be here, will appear soon-and there would be no
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