"Lo,” said Archon, “Flavion approaches."
"Lord Grendel!” said Flavion.
"It seems you are wounded!” said Lord Grendel.
"It is negligible,” said Flavion. He seemed to waver, slightly. There was blood at his left temple.
"Have your wound treated,” said a Kur.
"It is nothing,” said Flavion.
"Stout Flavion,” exclaimed a Kur.
"You bring us intelligence?” said Lord Grendel.
"Yes,” said Flavion, “intelligence of enormous, and, I fear, transitory, import. I have scouted the habitats and have discovered a route within their defenses, a long path overlooked, and consequently undefended, betwixt high structures, one much shielded from observation, that will lead us to the palace itself, where a certain lightly guarded gate, known to me, may be easily forced."
"This puts the palace in our hands!” said Archon.
"Brave and noble Flavion!” cried a Kur.
"But,” said Flavion, “we must act immediately, as soon as darkness falls."
"Why?” asked Statius.
"This weakness in their defenses is certain to be soon remedied, surely by daylight, when the streets are reconnoitered by the guard."
"Our humans will be at a serious disadvantage in the night,” said Statius.
"Let them be led, clutching strings,” said Flavion. “This moment must not be lost."
"And what forces might we invest in this venture?” asked Lord Grendel.
"As many as possible,” said Flavion. “All, if necessary. Once the palace falls, all opposition will cease."
"Act now, Lord Grendel,” urged a Kur.
"Yes!” cried others.
"Go, dear Flavion,” said Lord Grendel, “and have your wound tended."
"There is no time for delay, Lord Grendel,” protested Flavion. “Prepare! Summon the forces! It will be dark soon. This opportunity may never come again! We must act, act!"
"Have your wound tended,” said Lord Grendel.
"You must act!” said Flavion. “The situation demands it! Otherwise you are casting away the war! If you do not do this, who will care to follow you? Mutiny will assail your camps!"
"Have your wound tended,” said Lord Grendel.
"Yes, Lord,” said Flavion, and, angrily, departed.
"So,” smiled Lord Grendel, to Cabot, and Statius, who was of late, from a conversation the reader may recall, one in which an ally, or friend, figured, now well apprised of their suspicions with respect to a certain member of their company, “shall we cast away the war?"
"Do as Flavion urges,” said Statius, “and the war will well be cast away."
"I suggest,” said Cabot, “that Flavion himself lead the secret march."
"Yes,” said Statius, “chained, and with bells attached to his hands and feet, and neck."
"Did you see his wound?” asked Cabot.
"Yes,” said Lord Grendel. “And I think dear Flavion was correct, it was negligible."
"There was a good deal of blood,” said Cabot.
"Given the wound,” said Lord Grendel, “it is not likely the blood was his."
"He will try to stir up dissension amongst our forces,” said Cabot.
"Then,” said Lord Grendel, “we will have to kill him."
"I would rather you did not do that,” said Cabot.
"Why not?” asked Statius.
"I think he knows the location of a certain female slave,” said Cabot.
"Forget her,” said Statius. “She is meaningless, nothing, only a female slave, no more than a piece of vendible collar meat."
"She is nicely curved,” said Cabot, “and is appealing in a closely fitting locked collar."
"Slaves are cheap,” said Statius.
"She might bring two tarsks in the open market,” said Cabot.
"Forget her,” said Statius. “We can give you slaves who would bring ten tarsks in an open market."
"Better than she?"
"Certainly."
"I shall have to think about it,” said Cabot.
"If you recover the slave,” said Statius, “you would not mind our killing him."
"Certainly not,” said Cabot, “and if we do not find her, I would insist on it."
"At least, my dear Statius,” said Lord Grendel, “you cannot blame this projected treachery on the Lady Bina."
The Lady Bina, as might be expected, was with the rebel forces, as were the others who had been in Lord Grendel's camp, which had now been abandoned. In accord with the orders of Lord Grendel she had now been freed of the thick, broad, heavy, hammered-shut waist belt, with its heavy chains; had been cleaned, and brushed and combed; had been clothed, however excitingly and minimally; and had now been given an ample and nourishing diet, though one somewhat simple; and certainly some of her curves had now filled out and returned to their state of former interest, curves which, had she not been a free woman, would have been vulgarly referred to as “slave curves.” As she was no longer within the camp, confined within its palings, a number of adjustments had taken place in the nature of the security to which she was subject. The widened link on the slave bracelets, which had permitted her to separate her hands, had now again been closed, in such a way that her hands, again, were pinioned behind her back; she had also been placed in ankle shackles, with a linkage of three horts; and chained by the neck to a stake. Also, of course, she still wore the bell. Thus, even had she been free of the shackles and chain, she could not, as her hands were confined, have impeded the sounding of the bell, which would make her easy to follow and locate, even for a human.
"She has treacheries enough to her account to justify a thousand deaths by the most harrowing of tortures,” said Statius.
"You have no intention of acting on the recommendations of Flavion, I trust,” said Cabot to Lord Grendel.
"Certainly not,” said Grendel.
"Flavion does stand high in our war,” said Statius. “Most take him as indispensable, and courageous, and, I fear, he will attempt to undermine the authority of Lord Grendel."
"That of one who is at best no more than a monster,” said Lord Grendel.
"And one who acts in concert with a human, and even with one who was once a despised nondominant,” said Statius.
"He will doubtless insidiously, as he can, capitalize on such things,” said Cabot.
"I fear he will find a ready field for the sowing of such seed,” said Statius.
"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, “particularly as the war does not soon proceed to some clear resolution."
"Too,” said Cabot, “it is clear he wants the death of the Lady Bina, on whom many are eager to impose justice, indeed, of a most hideous sort, and he may, thus, use your dalliance in this matter, and your reluctance to expeditiously prosecute her, as further grounds to undermine your authority, to insinuate your weakness, and such."
"Surely that can await the outcome of the war,” said Lord Grendel.
"Not indefinitely,” said Statius. “And many suspect that you will die before you permit harm to come to her. Thus, if her prosecution is forced, you may both die, she by torture, and you, as well, should you attempt to interfere, and the insurrection is then deprived of its ablest leader."
"And in his place, doubtless,” said Cabot, “would appear our friend, Flavion."
"And that,” said Statius, “would guarantee the victory of Lord Agamemnon."
"It would be easy,” said Cabot. “He might simply order a full-scale frontal assault on impregnable positions, and thus seem to many a courageous and audacious captain, one perhaps to be honored even in defeat."
"And Kurii would follow him,” said Statius.
"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, “if the orders were given. It is the Kur way."
"Then the orders must not be given,” said Cabot.
"You must permit the torture and death of the Lady Bina,” said Statius. “Even if you attempt to flee with her, Flavion will come to power."