the consequences of such a conjuration could have been fatal
for me and all those in my care."
"If you did so once, could you not summon the spirit once
more and leam the true nature of this strange evil you feel
exists in Cugluch?" wondered one of the councillors.
Clothahump laughed gently. "I see there are none here
versed in wizardly lore. A pity no local sorcerer or ess could
have joined us in this council.
"It was remarkable that I was able to conduct the first
conjuration. Were I to try it again I could not bind the
M'nemaxa spirit within restrictive boundaries. It would burst
free. In less than a second I and all around me would be
reduced to a crisp of meat and bone."
"I withdraw the suggestion," said the councillor hastily.
21
Alan Dean Foster
"We must rely on ourselves now," said Clothahump.
"Outside forces will not save us."
"I think we should..." began one of the other members.
He fell silent and looked to his left. So did the others.
The marten Aveticus was standing. "I will announce the
mobilization," he said softly. "The armies can be ready in a
few months' time. I will contact my counterparts in Snarken
and L'bor, in all the other towns and cities." He stared evenly
at Clothahump.
"We will meet this threat, sir, with all the force the
warmlands can bring to bear. I leave it to you to counter this
evil magic you speak of. I dislike fighting something I can't
see. But I promise you that nothing which bleeds will pass
the Jo-Troom Gate."
"But General Aveticus, we haven't reached a decision
yet," protested the gopher.
The marten turned and looked down his narrow snout at his
colleagues. "These visitors," and he indicated the four strang-
ers standing and watching nearby, "have made their decision.
Based upon what they have said and shown to us, I have
made mine. The armies will mobilize. Whether they do so
with your blessing is your decision. But they will be ready.''
He bowed stiffly toward Clothahump.
"Learned sir, if you will excuse me. I have much work to
do." He turned and strode out of the room on short but
powerful legs. Ion-Tom watched his departure admiringly.
The marten was someone he would like to know better.
After an uncomfortable pause, the councillors resumed
their conversation. "Well, if General Aveticus has already
decided so easily..."
"That's right," said the hummingbird, buzzing above the
table. "Our decision has been made for us. Not by these
people," and he gestured with a wing, though it was so fast
Jon-Tom couldn't swear he'd actually noticed the gesture so
22
Tas HOUR OF THE GATE
much as imagined it, "but by the General. You all know how
conservative he is.
"Now that we are committed, there must be no dissension.
We must act as one mind, one body, to counter the threat."
He soared higher above the floor.
"I shall notify the air corps of the decision so that we may
begin to coordinate operations with the army. I will also send
out the peregrines with messages to the other cities and towns
that the Plated Folk are again on the march, stronger and
more voracious than ever. This time, brothers and sisters, we
will deal them a defeat, give them a beating so bad they will
not recover for a thousand years!"
Words of assent and a few cheers echoed around the
council chamber. One came from the cub manipulating the
scrolls. His scribe looked at him reprovingly, and the young-
ster settled back down to his paper shuffling as Millevoddevareen
left via an opened window.
"It seems that your appeal has accomplished what you
intended," said the gopher quietly, preening an eyelash.
Gems sparkled around her thick neck and from the rings on
every finger. "At least among the military-minded among us.
All the world will react to your cry of alarm." She shook her
head and smiled grimly.
"Heaven help you if your prediction turns out to be less
than accurate."
"I can only say to that, madam, that I would much rather
be proved inaccurate than otherwise in this matter." Clothahump
bowed toward her.
There were handshakes and hugs all around as the council-
lors descended from their dais. In doing so, they left behind a
good deal of their pomposity and officiousness.
"We'll finish the slimy bastards this time!"
"Nothing to worry about... be a good fight!"
There was even grudging agreement from the Mayor, who
23
Alan Dean Foster
was still irked that General Aveticus hadn't waited for the
decision of the council before ordering mobilization. But
there was nothing he could do about it now. Given the
evidence Clothahump had so graphically presented, he wasn't
sure he wanted to try.
"You'll advise us immediately, sir," he said to Clothahump,
"if you leam of any changes in plan among the Plated Folk."
"Of course."
"Then there remains only the matter of a new and perhaps
more elegant habitation for you until it's time to march. We
have access to a number of inns for the housing of diplomatic
guests. I suppose you qualify as that. But I don't know what
we can do with your great flaming friend back in the court-
yard, since he so impolitely burned down his quarters."
"We'll take care of him," Jon-Tbm assured the Mayor.
"Please see that you do," Wuckle Three-Stripe was recovering
some of his mayoral bearing. "Especially since he's the only
real danger we've been certain of since you've appeared
among us."
With that, he turned to join the animated conversation
taking place among several members of the council.
Once outside the chambers and back in the city hall's main
corridor Jon-Tom and Mudge took the time to congratulate
Clothahump,
"Aye, that were a right fine performance, guv'nor," said
the otter admiringly. "Cor, you should o' seen some o' those
fat faces when you threw that army o' bugs up at 'em!"
"You've done what you wanted to, sir," agreed Jon-Tom.
"The armies of the warmlands will be ready for the Plated
Folk when they start through the Jo-Troom Pass."
But the wizard, hands clasped around his back, did not
appear pleased. Jon-Tom frowned at him as they descended
the steps to the city hall courtyard.
24
THE HOUR OF THE GATE
"Isn't that what you wanted, sir? Isn't that what we've
come all this way for?"
"Hmnun? Oh, yes, my boy, that's what I wanted." He still
looked discouraged. "I'm only afraid that all the armies of all
the counties and cities and towns of all the warmlands might
not be enough to counter the threat."
Jon-Tom and Mudge exchanged glances.
"What more can we do?" asked Mudge. "We can't fighl
with wot we ain't got. Your Magicalness."
"No, we cannot, good Mudge. But there may be more than
what we have."
"Beggin' your pardon, sor?"
"I won't rest if there is."
"Well then, you give 'er a bit of some thought, guv, and
let us know, won't you?" Mudge had the distressing feeling
he wasn't going to be able to return to the familiar, comfort-
able environs of Lynchbany and the Bellwoods quite as soor
as he'd hoped.
"I will do that, Mudge, and I will let you know when ]
inform the others...."
25
II
The quarters they were taken to were luxurious compared
to the barracks they'd spent their first night in. Fresh flowers,
scarce in winter, were scattered profusely around the high-
beamed room. They were ensconced in Polastrindu's finest inn,