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But we of the profession； from the moment that we enter； are engaged by the local powers in a continuous struggle。 We undergo a ceaseless assault upon our specially developed senses。 I am strong enough to bear it。 Regrettably； my faithful helper here was not … not without me at his side to aid him。〃
Doon demanded： 〃Why did you let him play the leader until now？〃
〃Oh yes； that。 As you must know； Baron； being a leader has its problems as well as its advantages。 It elevates one； but often as a target。 I could not be sure at first about you and your men； whether or not you were really just the simple adventurers that you appeared to be。 There was a whiff of something subtle and dangerous about you … I think now that it was the Sword； no more。。。 Well； Baron； you have it in your hand again。 Are we going on； or not？ I am ready to follow； if you will lead the way。〃
Doon； looking half entranced himself； inspected the weapon in his hand。 He felt of it； and tried it once or twice in and out of the scabbard。 Then like a sleep…walker he raised it ahead of him； moved it to right and left and back again。
〃But what about。。。〃 Ben； looking down upon the crumpled robes of Indosuaros； began a protest。 Then he realized that those garments were no longer tenanted by any human form。
Ariane； reluctant to believe that； lifted the robes and shook them。 A giant spider leaped out and went running away into the grass。
The Sword … the real Sword； for the first time here in the sealing of magic … directed Doon at an angle away from the curving stream。 With haggard confidence he followed its guidance again。 Mitspieler； having picked up Indosuaros' rings； and taken what he wanted from the contents of his pack； marched second in the shortened line。 Ariane was in the middle； with Mark just behind her and Ben to guard the rear。
The real Sword neither followed the stream nor kept to what looked like a straight line among the trees。 Instead it subjected its users to sudden and apparently purposeless shifts of course。 They walked fifty meters in a straight line； then turned a sharp corner and walked straight in a new direction for forty meters more。 This was followed by another turn； after which it seemed to Mark that they moved in the arc of a great lefthanded circle； and yet another change； after which they walked a circle curving to the right。 Mark was just beginning to wonder if even the genuine Sword were now malfunctioning； when through the treetops ahead he caught sight of what looked like a familiar line of cliffs。
The rock formation was no more than about fifty meters away when it first became visible； they had hiked no more than a hundred and fifty meters or so from the place where they had seen the last of Indosuaros。 Now the Sword guided them rapidly toward the rocks； though their course was still not quite a straight line。 Once more the inescapable stream appeared； curving toward the explorers； flowing in the direction of the cliffs。 In a few moments they were close enough for Mark to see where the current tumbled precipitously into a cave that opened just at the cliffs' base。
Looking higher on the rocky wall； he tried to locate the entrance through which they had e into this realm of magic； at what now seemed like some time in the remote past。 The cliffs looked very much the same； but if the entrance cave was actually here he could not see it。
Doon now led them wading into the shallow water。 They followed the course of the stream bed almost to the cave； before stepping out onto a dry path； that switchbacked its way down into the earth beside the stream。 The water disappeared now into a jumble of rocks； though the tumbling roar of it stayed with them。
The stream reappeared near the bottom of the dark cliff； its channel now bee a plex of artificial basins and waterfalls； followed by a paved ditch at the bottom。
As the false sunlight faded out pletely behind the expedition； another kind of light came into view； ahead of them。 It took them some time to get down near its source。
Chapter 13
The reddish light ahead emanated from fierce torch…like flames； flames that sprang from many vents high on the sides of another great cave。 These torch…flames appeared to consume invisible fuel； as if they fed on jets of gas flowing somehow from inside the earth。 So large was this cave that only parts of it were effectively illuminated by this strange light； its size was therefore hard to estimate； but certainly it was enormous。
Here again the stream vanished。 This time its disappearance had an air of permanence； as it dove into a broad pipe or conduit of what looked like ancient masonry； with its intake covered by a heavy； rusted grill； and from this point on even the sound of the stream faded； until soon it was altogether gone。
And here the path pleted its descent into this new cave； across a fan of fallen rubble。 Mark could make out sections of high wall still standing on either side of the path。 It appeared that some defensive works had once stood here； had been breached by some powerful attack； and then had never been repaired。 And indeed the dark hillside that the party was now descending looked in the headlamps' beams like some dream of an old battlefield； with fragments of old bones and rusted weapons mingled with the earth and the fallen stones of the wall。
Now； from somewhere ahead； a new sound was suddenly audible。 It was dull and thick； heavy and rhythmic； loud as a great slow drum； ominous as a troubled heart。
〃Our presence has been noted； I'm afraid；〃 Mitspieler mented on hearing it。 〃I will do what I can； but I advise you to be ready to fight。〃
At a distance of twenty meters or so ahead； the cave's illumination was somewhat brighter。 There the walls narrowed in； bringing the towering gas…flames a little closer on either hand。 At about the same place； the slope of the rubbled hillside gentled； until there ceased to be a slope at all。 The drum； if such it was； continued sounding somewhere in the distance。 It was acpanied now by other dull； booming sounds； that made Mark think of the stone lids of sarcophagi falling back。 He wished that image had not e to him； for now in the middle distance； beyond the narrowing of the cave； he could see long rows of what might be couches； or； in the poor light； elevated coffins。 He saw； or imagined that he saw； draped human forms recumbent upon some of these； or perhaps in them。 And he thought or imagined that some of these forms were stirring into action as the great war drum quickened its beat slightly。。。
。。。 but there were two drums； Mark realized now； and probably no sarcophagi…lids at all。 He thought of focusing his lamp's beam into the distance to make sure； but decided not to risk disturbing whoever might be there with a bright light。
Doon and his four followers continued their advance。 But now； directly in their path； just at the place where the cave narrowed and the flames were brighter； a limping human form appeared to bar their way。 This figure； armed with shield and spear and helmet； was quickly joined by another and another。 More appeared； until there were ten in all； all in motley clothing and irregularly armed and armored。 Unmatching uniforms； faded or shredded； hung upon unhealthy…looking bodies； some scrawny and some bloated。 The thin men were so thin that for a moment Mark feared that he and his panions were about to encounter skeletons animated by some new power of magic； but this impression passed as they drew closer。
The force assembled to oppose them acted more effectively than their first appearance had suggested。 When their leader barked a short mand it was vigorously executed。 Their weapons； drawn and presented now； were in some cases little more than bars of rust； but they were held in firm readiness。
He who acted the part of their officer now slouched a step forward from the center of the patchwork line。 〃The password！〃 he demanded； facing toward Doon's advancing group。 His voice was a dry croak； as if the throat that formed it might not have been used for a long time。。。 〃Give me the password！〃
〃In a moment〃 Doon called back； quite calmly。 〃I have it here in hand。〃 He brandished Wayfinder。 In the near darkness at Mark's right； Ariane's sling had begun whining its dull song of warning； and the hope passed briefly through his mind that she might be as good as Barbara with that weapon。 Mark had his bow in hand already； and had dropped his pack。 Now he reached back to draw an arrow from his quiver。 He saw Ben's Sword e out。 And from the corner of his eye he saw Mitspieler start to raise one hand； and disappear。
The opposing leader snapped out another mand； and his ragged rank of followers charged to the attack。 They made their move with evident good discipline and determination； though not with overwhelming energy or speed。 Mark was able to get off two shots； scoring hits with both； before he had to drop his bow and defend himself at close quarters with his long knife。 A moment later the spearman who was menacing him had his thin legs cut out from under him by Ben's Dragonslicer。
Two more of the enemy had already been chopped down by the Baron； and the two struck by Mark's arrows were out of action。 From the hands of one of these Ariane had seized a mace； and she was making the air perilous around her with inexpert swings。
The first clash was over； and Doon's party had managed to get through it without injury。 Six or eight of the enemy were still on their feet … they must； thought Mark； have received some reinforcement that he had not noticed during the skirmish … and they had retreated now to some little distance； dragging wounded with them。 Even as they were trying to reform their rank； some invisible force began to strike at them。 One after another were felled； as by blows from an unseen hand。 As the third man went down； the rest scattered in fear and confusion。 They cried out alarms as they dispersed back into the shadowed depths of the enormous cave； among the rows of couches。
In the area that they had just quitted； a human form now seemed to materialize out of the air。 It was Mitspieler； the wizard was holding a bloodied dagger in one hand as he came strolling back to his panions。
〃I think；〃 he called to them； 〃that the help they cry for may be some little time in arriving。 But it will e in great numbers when it does； so we should waste no time。 Baron … and the rest of you as well； I now hold you to your pledge。 Loan me the Sword again； or else bend your own will upon it； to help me find what I am looking for。〃
The Baron； like his followers； was picking up the backpack he had dropped to fight。 He hesitated only briefly before answering。 〃And what is that？〃
〃I am trying to locate a certain member of the garrison； who came here as a robber like ourselves； but more than a century ago。 Most likely he is in one of these barracks…beds； but the rows of them look endless； and it could take a long time to find him without the Sword。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Doon resignedly； and gripped Wayfinder with both hands； as if preparing to deal some mighty blow。 He stared at the Sword。 〃Let Wayfinder lead us to him； whoever and wherever he is … and then on to the gold。〃 And he swung the blade's point in an arc； until the power in it signaled to him。
Headlamps probing ahead； the five raced in the indicated direction； between long rows of coffin…couches； and into dim regions that were farther from the torch…flames on the receding walls。 Gradually the enormous size of this cavern was being more apparent。 The bed…pedestals； some of which bore the dead or sleeping forms of warriors； when seen close at hand were not quite like normal beds and not like biers … Mark was suddenly reminded of the worm…addicts' couches in the basement of the Red Temple。
〃The garrison is enormous；〃 he mented as they trotted through it。 〃Where did they all e from？〃
Mitspieler； panting as he kept pace； answered。 〃From parties like our own。 Some large； some small； all ing； like us； to pillage the Blue Temple。〃
〃So many？〃
〃It's been going on for centuries； since before any of us were born。。。 They are bound by strong magic in t