The Warlock in Spite of Himself wisoh-2

by Неизвестный

  Rod sailed into the ruckus, bulldozing his way through grappling pairs of beggars and soldiers, slipping in blood and loose heads.

  Loguire saw the blow coming and threw up his shield to ward it off. The councillor's sword sheared through it silently, but missed Loguire. The old Duke yelled in pain as the heat was conducted through shield and armor to his skin and momentarily dropped his guard.

  The councillor swung the sword up for the final blow.

  Fess slammed full tilt into the councillor's horse. The animal went down and the councillor went flying with a scream of terror, sword flinging wide from his grasp.

  Soldiers scurried back to be clear when the magic sword fell.

  Rod, without the slightest tremor of conscience, wheeled about and trampled the councillor underFess's iron hooves. The man gave a bubbling scream, choked off; and the scream rang on in Rod's mind.

  Now his conscience began to clamor; but he locked it away till the battle was done.

  He whirled about toward the sword, hearing the soldiers gasp "Witchcraft!"

  "No, just magic," Rod shouted as he swung down, caught the sword, and remounted. "That's not so strange, is it?"

  He threw the sword to Loguire hilt-first; the old nobleman caught it and saluted him, and Rod broke out of the lines again.

  The battle clamored about him, steel on steel and bone and gristle, no quarter asked. The locked armies lay in the middle of the field like some great, pulsing, obscene amoeba.

  Overhead the esper-witches turned and wheeled home, no longer able to tell friend from foe.

  Rod charged back and forth through the battle-lines—Fess plowing his way easily through mere mortal flesh—guarding the three generals and as many knights as he could, directing the clearing of the wounded when he could, adding the weight of his arm to break deadlocks.

  The beggars seemed to have the soldiers hopelessly outclassed; this was their kind of fighting. Many of them were killed, but seldom without having first accounted for six or more of the enemy, with wooden staves, rusty swords, keen knives, and total disrespect for age and/or rank.

  Rod thought of Karl Marx and winced.

  Big Tom had long since gotten lost in the battle. Rod hoped he was all right.

  Then at the back of the rebel line, Big Tom rose up roaring "To me! To me!"

  A thousand beggars rallied to him and began to chop their way through the Southern ranks.

  The idea spread; beggar groups sprang up all along the line, and began to press the amoeba of war in on itself.

  Big Tom was hewing his way through to a very definite goal.

  Rod frowned and stood up in his stirrups, trying to plot Big Tom's course.

  There, in the center of the battle, twenty frantic scarecrows labored furiously to construct some sort of machine: a spidery tripod topped by a wasp-waisted contraption with alien curves. It was the councillors, with their last hope.

  Rod rapped with his heels, and Fess leaped—but the robot had responded a touch slow. With a sense of dread, Rod realized that the strain of battle was beginning to tell on Fess.

  The horse bounded over the heads of the army and plowed through to the force of councillors, just as Tom broke through from the other side, with only a fraction of his beggar troops.

  A long, lurking moment of silence filled the little circle as the councillors saw their executioners.

  Then the councillors howled, drawing back into a tight circle about the machine, the ferocity of despair in their eyes, their glowing swords leaping out.

  Tom's boys circled out around the councillors and closed in.

  The councillors' swords were deadly; but they had to hit to be effective, and the beggars were good at hitting and getting clear.

  A lot of beggars dropped, cut in half; but a lot more lived. They outnumbered the councillors four to one. They whittled away at the ranks.

  The councillors screamed, chopping, and died.

  In the center of the circle, Rod could make out one lonely figure still working frantically at the machine—Durer.

  Then, suddenly, there were only five councillors left.

  Durer spun away from the machine with a shriek of despair and lugged something out of his wallet-pouch.

  A laser-pistol.

  Rod dropped down to Fess's far side, the bulk of the horse between him and the councillors, knowing that only a head shot could hurt the robot, and snapped open a hidden panel in his horse's side. In it was his last-ditch defense: the latest-issue DDT laser pistol.

  He fumbled the weapon out, hearing the screams of the beggars as their legs were sheared off at the knee, and shot around under Fess's neck.

  His shot creased Durer's leg. The scarecrow-man clasped his knee and fell, howling.

  Tom bellowed.

  The beggars stepped in. Oaken staves whirled, knocking the remaining councillors off their feet.

  The staves rose high, poised a moment, and fell with a sickening, moist crunch.

  Big Tom bellowed victorious laughter and scooped up a fallen councillor's sword.

  Durer rolled back up to one knee and fired.

  The red pencil of light caught Tom in the shoulder. He roared, spinning, and fell.

  Half-crawling, half-leaping, Durer went for him, struggling to get a clear shot.

  Rod snapped a shot at him, and missed.

  Durer howled and dove behind a fallen body.

  Rod slammed his heels into Fess. "Quick! Before he can recover to shoot!"

  The horse leaped; the laser beam caught it in the belly—a hollow steel belly, no harm.

  But the robot's legs stiffened, its head lolled forward, even while it was in the air.

  Rod sprang free as Fess landed, crumpled, rolled.

  Rod rolled too, came up to see Durer, risen to one knee, level the pistol at him.

  Tom's huge body smashed into him.

  Durer caromed away, pistol flying wide from his hand.

  The same had happened to Rod's. He cast about him, frantically searching.

  Tom rolled, came to his feet, lurched after Durer, catching up a fallen councillor's sword… and tripped over a body.

  Quick as an eel, Durer was up, catching Tom's fallen sword, chopping down…

  Rod dove.

  His shoulder caught Durer in the belly, whipped the little man around; the sword landed harmlessly in the earth.

  Durer leaned on the sword, kept his feet, and swung the sword up, turning to Rod.

  Rod rolled to his knees, saw the sword coming…

  Tom bellowed, slammed into Rod, striking him out of the sword's path.

  The glowing sword fell, shearing off Tom's shoulder and a third of his rib cage.

  Rod screamed as he rolled to his feet and swung around. His arm locked aroundDurer's throat, his knee came up into the small of the back. Something snapped.

  Durer screamed and went limp, screaming still, the sword falling from his fingers.

  Rod threw him down.

  Still screaming, the scarecrow groped for the sword.

  Rod dropped to his knee and chopped down.

  The callused edge of his hand smashed larynx and vertebrae.

  Durer gurgled, convulsed, and lay still.

  Rod stood, gasping, and turned, to see Tom's shoulder pumping blood in great gouts, the big man's face contorted in a silent grimace.

  Rod was down again, groping frantically in the welter of blood and spare bodies.

  He came up with the laser pistol and swung back to Tom.

  The remaining beggars lurched forward, too slow; before they could reach him, Rod pulled the trigger and, holding it down, sliced off another half-inch along Tom's wound. Tom screamed.

  Then they were on Rod, mauling and clubbing.

  "Nay!" Tom rasped, a sickening parody of his former bellow. "Fools, let him be! Do y'not see! He stopped the blood!"

  He sank back as the grasping hands hesitated, then loosened. Rod limped back to him, bruised on face and body, rubbing the worst of them
—his scarcely-healed shoulder.

  He sank to one knee by the gasping hilk of a man, face still wrenched with pain. The stink of cauterized flesh filled his head.

  Tom forced his eyes open a fraction and tried to grin. " 'Twas… well meant… master. Two minutes ago, it… might ha' saved me."

  Rod jerked off his cloak, balled it up, thrust it under Tom's head. "Lie back and rest," he growled through a tight throat. "You're a healthy hunk, you'll make it. You haven't lost all that much blood."

  "Nay," Tom panted," too much… lost. And the… body's shock…"

  His face twisted with a spasm of pain. Rod turned away to Fess, slapped the reset switch and fumbled in one of the horse's hidden pockets for an ampul.

  He limped back to Tom, slapped the ampul against the burned flesh.

  Tom relaxed with a huge sigh as the anesthetic took hold. "My thanks, master," he murmured weakly. "That hast given me, at least, painless death."

  "Don't talk that way." Rod's face was frozen. "There's many a roll in the hay for you yet."

  "Nay, master." Tom shook his head, closing his eyes. "My time is nigh."

  "You're not going to die. You'll leave me in your debt if you do. I won't have it."

  "A pox on what thou wilt or wilt not!" Tom spat, with a touch of life again. "I am not thine to command or deny now, lordling. He who now hath me in thrall is far more puissant than thou, and will one day command thee also."

  He sagged back on the pillow, heaving gasps of air.

  Rod knelt silent by his side.

  Tom's remaining hand groped over his belly to catch Rod's forearm. "Aye, thou'rt now in my debt, though 'twas not of my choice."

  "Not your choice?" Rod scowled. "What are you talking about? You saved my life!"

  "Aye, and thereby lost my own. But I would never ha' done so with a clear head."

  "Clear head?"

  "Aye. In battle, one sees and one does, whatever comes first to mind. 'Twas thee, or living my life longer to serve the House of Clovis; and in the heat of the battle I chose thee, in my folly!"

  He was silent a moment, breathing hoarsely; then his hands tightened again. "Yet while I die, thou wilt live in my debt! And what thou canst not pay to me, thou must pay to my people."

  Rod tried to draw his hand back. "No!"

  "Aye!" Tom's eyes flew wide, glaring, angry. " 'Tis the payment I demand! Thy life for mine, thy life spent here on Gramarye, to work for the good of my people!"

  "I'm not my own master…"

  "Nay, thou art." Tom sank back, weary. "Thou art, and if thou knowest it not, thou'rt true fool."

  "The price is too high, Tom. My death in battle, yes, gladly. But living here, all my days, I cannot. I too serve a dream…"

  " 'Twas my choice, also," Tom sighed, "the dream or the man. Nay, then, choose what thou wilt."

  "I'm under a geas…"

  "Then my geas also is on thee, freeing thee from the other. Thou must serve me and mine now…"

  The dying face darkened. "I had thought I knew what was best for them… but now, as all darkens about me…"

  He heaved up suddenly, body wracked with a spasm, coughing blood. Rod threw his arms about the big man, holding him up.

  The spasm passed. Tom clutched weakly at Rod's arm, gasping. "Nay, then… thy mind is… clearer… thou must decide…"

  "Be still," Rod pleaded, trying to lower him again. "Don't waste what little life is left—"

  "Nay!" Tom clutched at him. "Let me speak! Es-pers… Tribunal… they'll make it… work…We…fightthem…here…inthe…"

  "Be still," Rod pleaded. "Save your breath, I know what you're saying."

  Tom craned his neck to look up at him. "You…?"

  Rod nodded. "Yes. You told me the last little bit I needed, just now. Now lie down."

  Tom sagged in his arms. Rod lowered him gently, letting his head rest in the blood-soaked cape.

  Tom lay panting. "Tell me… I must know… if you know…"

  "Yes, I know," Rod murmured. "The DDT will win out. You can only fight it back here. And you fight each other as well."

  "Aye." Tom nodded, a barely perceptible movement. "Thou… must decide… now… and… master…"

  He mumbled, too soft to hear, and labored for another breath, eyes opening, anxious.

  Rod bent forward, putting his ear to Tom's lips.

  "Don't die for…a dream…"

  Rod frowned. "I don't understand."

  He waited, then said, "What do you mean,Tom?"

  There was no answer.

  Rod straightened slowly, looking down at the vacant eyes, the loose mouth.

  He touched the base of the throat, the jugular.

  He let his fingertips rest there long minutes, then slowly reached up to close the man's eyes.

  He stood, slowly, and turned away, his eyes not seeing.

  Then, slowly, his eyes focused. He looked around at the staring, pathetic beggars, their eyes fixed on the huge body.

  A slight, slender shape stepped hesitantly into the ring. "M-master Gallowglass?"

  Rod turned, saw, and stepped forward as the beggars began to move in, to kneel by Tom's body.

  Rod moved away from them, head hanging heavily.

  He raised his eyes. "What is it, Toby?"

  "Milord…" Toby's face was strangely tragic in its confusion as he looked at the group of beggars, disturbed without knowing why. "Mlord, they… They cry for quarter, milord. Shall we give it them?"

  "Quarter? Oh, yes. They want to surrender." Rod nodded, closing his eyes.

  He turned and looked at the group of beggars. "Oh, I don't know. What does Brom say?

  "My lord O'Berin says, aye, grant it them, but the Queen says nay. The Lords Loguire are with Brom."

  "And still the Queen says nay." Rod nodded, bitterness tightening his mouth. "And they want me to break the deadlock, is that it?"

  "Aye, milord."

  The circle of beggars parted a little. Rod saw Tom's waxen, still face.

  He turned back to Toby. "Hell, yes. Give 'em quarter."

  The sun had sunk behind the hills, leaving the sky a pale rose, darkening to the east.

  The twelve Great Lords stood, bound in chains, before Catharine.

  Near her sat Loguire and Tuan, Brom and S ir Maris.

  Rod stood a little distance away, leaning back against Fess, arms folded, chin sunk on his breast.

  The old Duke Loguire's head was also bowed, deep misery in his eyes, for his son Anselm stood a pace in advance of the rest of the lords, directly before the Queen.

  Catharine held her head high, eyes shining with triumph and pride, face flushed with the joy of her power.

  Rod looked at her and felt a twist of disgust in his belly; her arrogance had returned with her victory.

  At a sign from Brom O'Berin, two heralds blew a flourish. The trumpets whirled away from their lips, and a third herald stepped forward, loosening a scroll.

  "Be it known to all by these presents, that on this day the miscreant vassal, Anselm, son of Loguire, did rise in most vicious rebellion against Catharine, Queen of Gramarye, and is threfore liable to the judgment of the Crown, even unto death, for the crime of high treason!"

  He rolled the scroll and slapped it to his side. "Who speaks in defense of Anselm, chief of the rebels?"

  There was a silence.

  Then old Loguire rose.

  He bowed gravely to Catharine. She returned his courtesy with a glare, astonished and angry.

  "Naught can be said in defense of a rebel," Loguire rumbled. "Yet for a man who, in the haste of hot blood, rises to avenge what he may consider to be insults to his father and house, much may be said; for, though his actions were rash and, aye, even treacherous, still he was moved by honor, and filial piety. Moreover, having seen the outcomeof rash action, and being under the tutelage of his duke and his father, might well again realize his true loyalties and duties to his sovereign."

  Catharine smiled; her voice was syrup and honey.
"You would then, milord, have me enlarge this man, upon whose head must be laid the deaths of some several thousand, once again to your protection and discipline; to you who have, as this day has proved, failed once already in these duties?"

  Loguire winced.

  "Nay, good milord!" she snapped, face paling, lips drawing thin. "Thou hast fostered rebels against me before, and now seek to do it again!"

  Loguire's face hardened.

  Tuan half-bolted from his chair, flushed with anger.

  She turned to him with a haughty, imperious look. "Has milord of the beggars aught to say?"

  Tuan fought for calm, grinding his teeth. He straightened and bowed gravely. "My Queen, father and son have this day battled valiantly for you. Will you not, therefore, grant us the life of our son and our brother?"

  Catharine's face paled further, eyes narrowing.

  "I thank my father and brother," said Anselm, in a clear, level voice.

  "Be still!" Catharine fairly shrieked, turning on him. "Treacherous, villainous, thrice-hated dog!"

  Rage came into the Loguires' eyes; still they held themselves silent.

  Catharine sat back in her chair, gasping, clasping the arms tight, that her hands might not tremble. "Thou wilt speak when I ask thee, traitor," she snapped. "Till then, hold thy peace!"

  "I will not hold my peace! Thou canst not hurt me more; I will have my say! Thou, vile Queen, hast determined I shall die, and nothing will sway thee! Why, then, slay me!" he shouted. "The penalty for treason is death! I had known as much before I rebelled; slay me and be done with it!"

  Catharine sat back, relaxing a trifle. "He is sentenced by his own mouth," she said. "It is the law of the land that a rebel shall die."

  "The law of the land is the Queen," rumbled Brom. "If she says a traitor shall live he shall live."

  She spun to him, staring in horror. "Wilt thou, too, betray me? Will not one of my generals stand beside me this day?"

  "Oh, be done with it!" Rod stormed, looming up over the throne. "No, not one of your generals will support you now, and it seems to me that might give you some slight hint you're in the wrong. But oh, no, not the Queen! Why hold a trial? You've already decided he'll die!" He turned away and spat. "Come on, get this farce of a trial over with," he growled.

  "Thou too?" she gasped. "Wilt thou also defend a traitor, one who hath caused death to three thousand.