Kieron awoke in darkness. Of the fire on the hearth, only embers remained and the stone rooms were silent but for the sound of sleeping men. The single Valkyr sentry was at his elbow, whispering him into wakefulness. Kieron threw back the fur coverlets and swung his feet over the edge of the low couch.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Nevitta, sir."
"Nevitta! Here?" Kieron sprang to his feet, fully awake now. "Is there a woman with him?"
"A slave-girl, sir. They wait in the outer chamber." Kieron reached for his harness and weapons, threading his way through his sleeping men. In the dimly lit antechamber, Nevitta stood near the muffled figure of Alys. Kieron went immediately to the girl, and she threw back her hood, baring her golden head to the torchlight. Her eyes were bright with the pleasure of seeing Kieron again, hut there was anger in them, too. The lord of Valkyr knew at once that she had not succeeded with Toran.
"What happened, Nevitta?"
"An attempt was made on the little princess' life, sir." "What?" Kieron felt the blood drain from his face.
"As I say, Kieron." The old Valkyr's face was grim.
"We had to fight our way out of the Palace."
"I never had a chance to speak to Toran," the girl said sombrely. "It was all that could be done to reach the spaceship. Even the. Janizaries tried to stop us. Two of your men died for me, Kieron."
"Who did this thing?" asked Kieron ominously.
"The men who attacked the princess' quarters," said Nevitta deliberately, "wore the harness of Kalgan."
That hit Kieron like a physical blow. . hard. "Kalgan! And you brought her here? You fool, Nevitta!"
The old Valkyr nodded agreement. "Yes, Kieron. Fool is the proper word…"
"No!" Alys spoke up imperiously. "It was my command that brought us here. I insisted."
"By the Seven Hells! Why?" demanded Kieron. "Why here? You could have been safe on Valkyr! I know it was my order to bring you here, but after what happened. ."
"The princess would not hear of seeking safety, Kieron," said Nevitta. "When Kalgan proved its treachery by trying to assassinate her, she could think only of your danger here. . unwarned. She would risk her life to bring you this news, Kieron."
Kieron turned to face the girl. She looked up at him, eyes bright, lips parted.
"What could make a princess risk her life. ." Kieron began numbly.
"Kieron. ." The girl breathed his name softly. "I was so afraid for you."
The Valkyr reached slowly for the clasp of her cloak and unfastened it. The heavy mantle dropped unnoticed to the flagstones. Alys stood, swaying slightly, parted lips inviting. Kieron watched the throbbing pulse in her white throat and felt his own pounding. He took a step toward her, his arms closing about her yielding suppleness. His mouth sought her lips.
Unnoticed, Nevitta slipped from the antechamber and silently closed the door after him…
Kieron stood before the arched window, staring out into the eternal, misty dusk of Kalgan, his heart heavy. Behind him, Alys lay on the low couch. Her bright hair lay in tumbled profusion about her face as she watched her lover at the window. Kieron turned to look at her, feeling the impact of her warm beauty. He began to pace the floor, wracking his brains for a lead to his next move in the subtle war of treachery and intrigue that had taken shape around him.
He had ordered his men ready for attack, but for the moment there was little need for that kind of vigilance. What was needed was more information. Carefully, he marshalled what few facts he had at his disposal.
The connection between Freka and the plotters in the Imperial City which he had suspected was proved at last by the attempt on Alys' life by men of Kalgan. The star-kings were being used to fnght a battle not their own. But whose? Freka's. . or Ivane's? No matter which, they were being tricked into striking the Imperial Crown from Toran's head, and the gain to them and their people would be — more oppression.
The treatment he himself had received in the Imperial Court made sense now. Landor sought to drive him into the arms of Freka's revolt. Only Alys had spared him.
Now, the star-kings must be warned. But by the code of the Edge, Kieron must prove to them that he was not the craven coward that Freka's laughter had branded him. And he needed proof. Proof of the monstrous structure of treachery and intrigue that had sprung up out of a worn-cupidity and an unknown star-king's cold inhumanity.
Kieron stared moodily down into the damp courtyard beneath the open window. In the early dawn it was deserted. Then, quite suddenly, there was activity in the walled-in square. An officer of the Citadel guard escorted heavily cloaked figure into the yard, and with every evidence of great resp ect, withdrew. The solitary figure paced the wet cobbles nervously.
Who, wondered Kieron, would be treated with such obvious obsequiousness and yet left in a back courtyard to await the summons of Freka of Kalgan? A sudden thought struck him. It could be only someone who should not be seen by the star-kings and their attendants that tilled the Citadel of Neg to overflowing.
Kieron studied the cloaked nobleman with renewed interest. It seemed to him that he had seen that mincing walk before…
Landor!
Kieron flung open the door to the outer chamber. His startled men gathered about him. Alys was on her feet bebind him. He signalled for Nevitta and four men to enter.
"Nevitta! Tear down that wall tapestry and cut it into shreds. . Alys, tie the strips together and make a rope of it! Make certain the knots are secure enough to bear a man's weight… That's Landor down there!"
Kicking off his spurred boots, Kieron eased himself over the ledge of the window. The courtyard was thirty feet below, but the ancient walls of the Citadel were rough and full of the ornate projections of Interregnal architecture. Kieron let himself down, feeling the mist wet on his face. Twice he almost lost his footing and pitched to the courtyard floor. Alys stared down at him from the window, whitefaced.
He was ten feet from the bottom when Landor looked up. Recognition was instant. There was a moment of stunned silence, and Kieron dropped the remaining distance to land cat-like on his feet, blade in hand.
"Kieron!" Landor's face was grey.
The Valkyr advanced purposefully. "Yes, Landor! Kieron! I wasn't supposed to see you here, was I? And you don't dare raise an outcry or the others will see you, too! That would raise quite a smell in the Consort's pretty brew, wouldn't it?"
Landor shrank back, away from the gleaming blade in Kieron's hand.
"Draw, Landor," said Kieron softly. "Draw now, or I'll kill you where you stand."
In a panic, the First Lord of Space drew his sword. He knew himself to be no match for the Valkyr star-king, and at the first touch of blades, he turned and fled for the gate. He banged hard against the heavy panels. The gate was locked. Kieron followed him deliberately.
"Cry for help, Landor," Kieron suggested with a short, hard laugh. "The place is full of fighting-men."
Landor was wide-eyed. "Why do you want to kill me, Kieron," he cried hoarsely; "what have I done to you. .?"
"You've taxed my people and insulted me, and if that were not enough there would still be your treachery with Freka — tricking me and the others into rebellion so that Ivane can seize the crown! That's more than enough reason to kill you. Besides. ." Kieron smiled grimly, "I just don't like you, Lander. I'd enjoy spilling some of your milky blood."
"Kieron! I swear, Kieron…"
"Save it, dancing master!" Kieron touched Landor's loosely heHd weapon with his own. "Guard yourself!"
Landor uttered an animal cry of desperation and lunged clumsily at the Valkyr. Kieron's sword made a glittering encirclement and the First Lord's weapon clattered on the cobblestones twenty feet away.
Kieron's eyes were cold as he advanced on the now thoroughly terrorized courtier. "Kneel down, Landor. A lackey should always die on his knees."
The First Lord threw himself to the cobbles, his arms around the outworlder's knees. He was grey with fright and babbling for mercy, his eyes tightly shut. Kieron reversed his sword and brought the heavy hilt down sharply on Landor's head. The courtier sighed and pitched forward. Kieron sheathed his weapon and picked the unconscious man up like a sack of meal. Time was short. The guards would be returning to escort Landor to Freka.
Kieron picked up the courtier's fallen sword. There must be no sign of struggle in the courtyard. The Valkyr carried Landor over to where Alys and Nevitta had lowered their improvised rope. He trussed Lander up like a butchered boar and called to them. "Haul him up!"
Landor disappeared into the window and the rope came down again. Kieron climbed hand over hand after the vanished courtier. Within seconds he stood among his warriors again, and the courtyard was empty.
"Landor!" Kieron splashed wine in the unconscious man's face. "Lander, wake up!"
The courtier stirred and opened his eyes. Immediately they filmed with fear. A hostile circle of faces looked down at him. Kieron, his dark eyes flaming. Alys. . the great red face of Nevitta, framed by the winged helmet. . other savage looking Valkyrs. It was to Landor a scene from the legendary Seventh Hell of the Great Destroyer.
"If you want to live, talk," said Kieron. "What are you doing here on Kalgan? It must be a message of importance you carry. Ivane would have sent someone else if it weren't."
"I… I carry no message, Kieron."
Kieron nodded to Nevitta who drew his dagger and placed it against Landor's throat.
"We have no time for lies, Landor," said Kieron.
To emphasize the point, Nevitta pressed the blade tighter against the pulse in the First Lord's neck. Landor screamed.
"Don't…!""
"Talk — or I'll cut the gizzard out of you!" Nevitta growled.
"All right! All right! But take the knife away… 1" "Ivane sent you here."
Landor nodded soundlessly.
"Why?"
"I. . I. . was to tell Freka that. . that his men failed to… to.."
"To kill me!" finished Alys angrily. "What else?"
"I. was also to tell him that the rest of the plan was. . was. . carried out… successfully."
"Damn you, don't talk in riddles!" Kieron said. "What 'plan'?"
"The Emperor is dead," Landor blurted, eyes wild with terror. "But not by my hand! I swear it! Not by my hand!" Alys choked back a cry of pain.
"Toran! Poor…Toran…"
Kieron took the terrified courtier by the throat and shook him.
"You filthy swine! Who did it? Who killed the Emperor?"
"Ivane!" gasped Landor. "The people do not know he is dead and she awaits the star-king's invasion to proclaim herself Empress!. . In the god's name, Kieron, don't kill me! I speak the truth!"
"Freka helped plan this?" demanded Kieron.
"He is Ivane's man," stammered Landor, "but I know nothing of him! Nothing, Kieron! The warlock Geller brought him to Ivane five years ago. . that is all I know!"
Geller of the Marshes. . again. Kieron felt the awful dread seeping through his anger. Somehow the connection between Geller and Freka must be discovered. Somehow. .
Kieron turned away from the terrified Landor. The picture was shaping now. Freka and Ivane. The star-king's rebellion. Toran… murdered.
"Keep this hound under guard!" ordered Kieron. Landor was led away, shaken and weak.
"Nevitta!"
"Sir?"
"You and the princess will go back to the ship as you came. She must be taken to safety at once. As soon as that pig is missed, we'll have visitors. ."
"No, Kieran! I won't go!" cried Alys.
"You must. If you are captured on Kalgan now it will mean a carte blanche for Ivane."
"But then you must come!"
"I can't. If I tried to leave here now, Freka would detain me by force. I know his plans." He turned again to Nevitta. "She goes with you, Nevitta. By force if necessary.
"Return to Valkyr and gather the tribes. We can do nothing without men at our backs. One of the ships will remain here with me and the men. We will try to get clear after we are certain that—" He looked over at the slim girl, his eyes sombre—"that Her Majesty is safe."
The Valkyr warriors in the room straightened, a subtle change in their expression as they watched Alys. A gulf had suddenly opened between this girl and their chieftain. They felt it too. One by one they dropped to their knees before her. Alys made a protesting gesture, her eyes bright with tears. She saw the chasm opening, and fought it futilely. But when Kieron, too, went to his knees, she knew it was so. In one fleeting moment, they had changed from lover and beloved to sovereign and vassal.
She forced back the tears and raised her head proudly; as Galactic Empress, Heiress to the Thousand Emperors, she accepted the homage of her fighting men.
"My lord of Valkyr," she said in a low, unsteady voice. "My love and affection for you — and these warriors will never be forgotten. If we live. ."
Kieron rose to his full height, naked sword extended in his hands.
"Your Imperial Majesty," he spoke the words formally and slowly, regretting what was gone. "The men of Valkyr are yours. To the death."
Kieron watched Nevitta and Alys vanish down the long, gloomy hall outside the Valkyr chambers — to all appearances a warrior chieftain and his slave-girl ordered away by their master. Even then, thought Kieron bleakly, there was danger. He saw them pass one sentry, two… three. . They turned the corner and were gone, Kieron's hopes and fears riding with them.
Already, there were sounds of confusion in the Citadel of Neg. Men were searching for the vanished Landor. Searching quietly, reflected Kieron with grim satisfaction, for the visiting star-kings must not know that Freka the Unknown held familiar audience with the Imperial First Lord of Space. Spur of the moment hunting parties and entertainments were keeping the visitors occupied while the Kalgan soldiery searched.
Kieron weighed his chances of escape and found them small indeed. They dared not stir from their quarters in the Citadel until the roar of Nevitta's spaceship told that the Empress was safely away. And meanwhile, the search for Landor drew nearer.
An hour passed, the sand in the glass running with agonizing slowness. Once Kieron thought he heard the beat of hooves on the drawbridge of the Citadel, but he could not be certain.
Two hours. Kieron paced the floor of the Valkyr chambers, his twelve remaining warriors armed, alert, watching him. Nervously he fingered the hilt of his sword.
Another hour in the grey, eternal twilight. Still no sound of a spaceship rising. Kieron's anxiety grew to gargantuan proportions. The search for Landor came closer steadily.
Kieron could hear the soldiers tramping the stone corridors and causeways of the Citadel.
Suddenly there was a knock at the barred door to the Valkyrs' quarters.
"Open! In the name of the lord of Kalgan!"
A Valkyr near the door replied languidly. "Our master sleeps. Go away."
The knocking continued. "It is regretted that we must disturb him, but a slave of the household has escaped. We must search for him."
"Would you disturb the Warlord of Valkyr's repose for a slave, barbarians?" demanded the warrior at the door in a hurt tone of voice. "Go away."
The officer in the hallway was beginning to lose patience.
"Open, I say! Or we'll break in!"
"Do," offered the Valkyr pleasantly. "I have a sword that has been too long dry."
How Landor must be sweating in that back room, Kieron thought wryly, thinking that the Valkyrs would rather kill him than let his message reach Freka. But Landor's death would serve no useful purpose now. Time! Time
was needed. Time enough to let Nevitta get Alys out of danger!
Kieron stepped to the door, hoping that some warriors of the Outer Marches might possibly be within earshot and catch the implication of his words. "Kieron of Valkyr speaks!" he cried. "We have Landor of Earth here! Landor, the First Lord — is that the slave you seek?"
But the only response was the sudden crash of a ram against the panels of the wooden door. Kieron prepared to fight. Still, no sound of a spaceship rising…
The door collapsed, and a flood of Kalgan warriors poured into the room, weapons flashing.
Savagely, the Valkyrs closed with them, arid the air rang with the metallic clash of steel. No mercy was asked and none was given. Kieron cut a circle of death with his long, out-world weapon, the fighting blood of a hundred generations of warriors singing in his ears. The savage chant of the Edge rose above the confused sounds of battle. A man screamed in agony as his arm was severed by a blow from a Valkyr blade, and he waved the stump desperately, spattering the milling men with dark blood. A Valkyr warrior went down, locked in a death-embrace with a Kalgan warrior, driving his dagger into his enemy again and again even as he died. Kieron crossed swords with a guardsman, forcing him backward until the Kalgan slipped on the flagstones made slippery with blood and went down with a sword-cut from throat to groin.
The Valkyrs were cutting down their opponents, but numbers were beginning to tell. Two Valkyrs went down before fresh onslaughts. Another, and another, and still another. Kieron felt the burning touch of a dagger wound. He looked down and saw that a thrust from someone in the melee had slashed him to the bone. His side was slick with blood and the white ribs showed along the ten inch gash.
Now, Kieron stood back to back with his two remaining companions. The other Valkyrs were down, lying still on the bloody floor. Kieron caught a glimpse of Freka's tall figure behind his guardsman and he lunged for him, suddenly blind with fury. Two Kalgan guards engaged him, and he lost sight of Freka. A Valkyr went down with a thrust in the belly. Kieron took another wound in the arm. He could not tell how badly hurt he was, but faintness from the loss of blood was telling on him. It was getting hard to see clearly. Darkness seemed to be flickering like a black flame just beyond his range of vision. He saw Freka again and tried to reach him. Again he failed, blocked by a Kalgan soldier. A thrown sword whistled past him and imbedded itself in the last. Valkyr's chest. The man sank to the floor in silence, and Kieron fought alone.
He saw the blade of an officer descending, but he could not ward it off. And as it fell, a great hissing roar sounded beyond the open window. Kieron almost smiled. Alys was safe…
He lifted his sword to parry the descending stroke, Weakened, the best he could do was deflect it slightly. The blade caught him a glancing blow on the side of the head and he staggered to his knees. He tried to raise his weapon again. . tried to fight on. . but he could not. Slowly, reluctantly, he sank to the floor as darkness welled up out of the bloody flagstones to engulf him…