The turmoil grew louder. At the head of the street appeared half a hundred of Karak's soldiers, struggling against more than equal number which steadily, swiftly, was swelled by others of Sirk pouring from side lanes and dropping from roofs and windows of the beleaguered houses.
It was the moment for which I had waited!
I gave the command. I raised the battle–cry. We drove down upon them. Our skirmishers opened to let us through, melting into the shouting ranks behind. We ripped into the defenders of Sirk. Down they went, but as they fell they fought, and many a saddle of the nobles was empty, and many were the steeds lost before we won to the first barricade.
Hai! But how they fought us there from behind the hastily felled trees—women and men and children hardly big enough to bend the bow or wield the knife!
Now the soldiers of Karak began to harry them from the sides; the soldiers of Karak shot into them from the tops of the houses they had abandoned; we fought Sirk as it had planned to fight us. And those who fought against us soon broke and fled, and we were over the barricade. Battling, we reached the heart of Sirk, a great and lovely square in which fountains played and flowers blossomed. The spray of the fountains was crimson and there were no flowers when we left that square.
We paid heavy toll there. Full half of the nobles were slain. A spear had struck my helmet and well–nigh dropped me. Bare–headed, blood–flecked I rode, shouting, sword dripping red. Naral and Dara both bore wounds, but still guarded my back. The Witch–woman, and the Smith and his scarred familiar fought on, untouched.
There was a thunder of hoofs. Down upon us swept a wave of horsemen. We raced toward them. We struck like two combers. Surged up. Mingled. Flash swords! Hammers smite! Axes cleave! Hai! But now it was hand–to–hand in the way I knew best and best loved!
We swirled in a mad whirlpool. I glanced at right and saw the Witch–woman had been separated from me. Tibur, too, was gone. Well, they were giving good account of themselves no doubt—wherever they were.
I swung to right and to left with my sword. In the front of those who fought us, over the caps of Karak which had swirled between us, was a dark face…a dark face whose black eyes looked steadily into mine—steadily…steadily. At the shoulder of that man was a slighter figure whose clear, brown eyes stared at me…steadily…steadily. In the black eyes was understanding and sorrow. The brown eyes were filled with hate.
Black eyes and brown eyes touched something deep and deep within me…They were rousing that something…calling to it…something that had been sleeping.
I heard my own voice shouting command to cease fighting, and at that shout abruptly all sound of battle close by was stilled. Sirk and Karak alike stood silent, amazed, staring at me. I thrust my horse through the press of bodies, looked deep into the black eyes.
And wondered why I had dropped my sword…why I stood thus…and why the sorrow in those eyes racked my heart…The dark–faced man spoke—two words—
"Leif!…Degataga!"
That something which had been asleep was wide awake, rushing up through me…rocking my brain…tearing at it…shaking every nerve…
I heard a cry—the voice of the Witch–woman.
A horse burst through the ring of the soldiers. Upon it was Rascha, lips drawn back over his teeth, cold eyes glaring into mine. His arm came up. His dagger gleamed, and was hidden in the back of the man who had called me—Degataga!
Had called me—
God—but I knew him!
Tsantawu! Jim!
The sleeping thing that had awakened was all awake…it had my brain…it was myself…Dwayanu forgotten!
I threw my horse forward.
Rascha's arm was up for second stroke—the brown–eyed rider was swinging at him with sword, and Jim was falling, settling over his horse's mane.
I caught Rascha's arm before the dagger could descend again. I caught his arm, bent it back, and heard the bone snap. He howled—like a wolf.
A hammer hummed by my head, missing it by a hair. I saw Tibur drawing it back by its thong.
I leaned and lifted Rascha from his saddle. His sound arm swept up, hand clutching at my throat. I caught the wrist and twisted that arm back. I snapped it as I had the other.
My horse swerved. With one hand at Rascha's throat, the other arm holding him, I toppled from the saddle bearing him down with me. I fell upon him. I twisted, and threw him over the bar of my knee. My hand slipped from his throat to his chest. My right leg locked over his.
A swift downward thrust—a sound like the breaking of a faggot. The Back–breaker would break no more backs. His own was broken.
I leaped to my feet. Looked up into the face of the brown–eyed rider…Evalie!…
I cried out to her—"Evalie!"
Abruptly, all about me the battle broke out afresh. Evalie turned to meet the charge. I saw Tibur's great shoulders rise behind her… saw him snatch her from her horse…saw from his left hand a flash of light…It sped toward me…I was hurled aside. None too soon—not soon enough—
Something caught me a glancing blow upon the side of my head. I went down upon my knees and hands, blind and dizzy. I heard Tibur laughing; I strove to conquer blind dizziness and nausea, felt blood streaming down my face.
And crouching, swaying on knees and hands, heard the tide of battle sweep around and over and past me.
My head steadied. The blindness was passing. I was still on my hands and knees. Under me was the body of a man—a man whose black eyes were fixed on mine with understanding—with love!
I felt a touch on my shoulder; with difficulty I looked up. It was Dara.
"A hair between life and death. Lord. Drink this."
She put a phial to my lips. The bitter, fiery liquid coursed through me, brought steadiness, brought strength. I could see there was a ring of soldier–women around me, guarding me—beyond them a ring of others, on horses.
"Can you hear me, Leif?…I haven't much time…"
I lurched aside and knelt.
"Jim! Jim! Oh, God—why did you come here? Take this sword and kill me!"
He reached for my hand, held it tight.
"Don't be a damned fool, Leif! You couldn't help it…but you've got to save Evalie!"
"I've got to save you, Tsantawu—get you out of here—"
"Shut up and listen. I've got mine, Leif, and I know it. That blade went through the mail right into the lungs…I'm trickling out—inside…hell, Leif—don't take it so hard…It might have been in the war…It might have been any time…It's not your fault…"
A sob shook me, tears mingled with the blood upon my face.
"But I killed him, Jim—I killed him!"
"I know, Leif…a neat job…I saw you…but there's something I've got to tell you…" his voice faltered.
I put the phial to his lips—it brought him back.
"Just now…Evalie…hates you! You have to save her…Leif …whether she does or not. Listen. Word came to us from Sirk through the Little People that you wanted us to meet you there. You were pretending to be Dwayanu…pretending to remember nothing but Dwayanu…to allay suspicion and to gain power. You were going to slip away…come to Sirk, and lead it against Karak. You needed me to stand beside you…needed Evalie to persuade the pygmies…"
"I sent you no message, Jim!" I groaned.
"I know you didn't—now…But we believed it…You saved Sri from the wolves and defied the Witch–woman—"
"Jim—how long was it after Sri's escape that the lying message came?"
"Two days…What does it matter? I'd told Evalie what was—wrong—with you…gone over your story again and again. She didn't understand…but she took me on faith…Some more of that stuff, Leif…I'm going…"