The sounds of gunfire filled the night air, waking Sirna from a sound sleep. What's happening? she asked herself, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. The shouts grew louder and she heard what sounded like fireworks going off in the Foundry courtyard.
Sirna, who'd been sleeping fully dressed ever since the invasion of Sashta, got up off her straw tick. She hadn't been sleeping very well ever since word had come from a ragtag gang of soldiers that Kalvan had been defeated and the Army of Hos-Hostigos was in retreat. She picked up a musketoon from beside her bed. Hers and Aranth Saln's had been the only voices of reason as the Study Team elected to stay in Hostigos instead of taking the conveyer home.
Varnath Lala was convinced she could negotiate with the Styphoni and sell the Study Team's skills to the invaders, thereby learning invaluable information about the inner workings of the newly reformed Styphon's House. Talgan Dreth had run once from the Styphoni, "But never twice. Never again!"
The rest of the Team echoed one viewpoint or the other in a marathon gab session that tried Sirna's patience to the breaking point.
Skordran Kirv, the Paratime Police operative, had been just as stubborn; if the Kalvan Study Team wouldn't leave, neither he nor his men would use the transporter either. "Nobody will take it amiss if we post a few extra sentries on the towers, Dralm damnit! If we don't we'll look like fools to the Styphoni and traitors to the Hostigi."
"Treason? Are you mad?" Talgan Dreth asked.
"Great King Kalvan's last words to me at Tarr-Hostigos, before he left for Beshta, were: 'If things go badly, be sure to evacuate the Foundry in a timely fashion. Whatever the cost, do not let them be captured by the Grand Host!' Would you like to explain to Duke Harmakros why you attempted to keep me from observing the Great King's orders?"
"Harmakros is-"
"Not dead, yet. Until he is, he'll be watching over Hostigos Town and everything nearby. Which includes us."
Harmakros was probably already seething. Word had come from Tarr-Hostigos yesterday to start evacuating the Foundry. The horns of Skordran Kirv's dilemma were: first, neither he nor the Paratime Police dared let the University Study Team go into exile with Hostigi refugees for fear they would blow their cover under the adverse conditions they'd encounter; second, the Paracops couldn't evacuate the Foundry until such time as the Grand Host were near enough that the Styphoni could be blamed for the disappearance of the Zygrosi brass-founders and helpers.
What the Paratime Police didn't want was some refugee telling Kalvan the Foundry had been evacuated a day before the Grand Host had even arrived! Kalvan had proven he could add and even multiply on a number of different occasions. The last thing anyone wanted was to have Kalvan start adding up his strange journey and the peculiar habits of the Zygrosi Foundry workers.
What evacuation meant to Sirna personally was the end of her assignment on Kalvan's Time-Line. Kalvan would write off the whole Study Team as 'lost in action,' which meant Sirna would be returning to Home Time Line-for good. She'd greeted this possibility with both regret and anticipation. Regret that she would have to leave this bustling time-line when things were going very badly for people she had grown to know and admire. Anticipation at leaving some of the more unpleasant University faculty for the peace and quiet of the library where she would write her thesis, and at living again where civilized amenities were taken for granted.
Regret at having to confront Hadron Tharn and having to explain why she had not provided the information she had been charged with obtaining.
"Well, if there is one thing I've learned from living here, it is to confront problems directly. If Tharn makes any threats, I'll just tell him to desist, or I'll have a polite chat with Paratime Police Chief Verkan Vall. That should shut Tharn up like nothing else.
"I still think there is time enough," Talgan Dreth continued. "Every hand we set to watching for enemies still hours or days away is one less man to move things into-to safety."
Sirna smiled. Talgan Dreth had to be overwrought indeed to come that close to breaching Paratime security. She rather wished he'd come closer. Anything to make sure the Kalvan Study Teams wouldn't be encumbered with him when they returned to Home Time Line.
"You are gambling too much on your notions of what the Styphoni might do," Kirv replied. "I say they could be here much sooner than that. We need to guard against what the Styphoni can do, not what they might do."
The old argument of capabilities versus intentions. Three years ago Sirna had barely heard of it. Two years ago it was still a theoretical question, even if Aranth Sain could talk about it for hours. Now it was a life-and-death matter.
"Captain Kirv," the Study Team Director said, using his most formal classroom voice. "We not only have a large number of computers and recording machines to remove, but also a number of priceless tools that were obtained from other time-lines at great expense. I would like to transport as much of this material as possible to Fifth Level so that future Kalvan Study Teams will have a chance to become familiar with these tools and not waste time importing them from the Kalvan Control Time-Lines.
"I'll hold off posting the sentries for another half-day," Kirv said reluctantly. "We do have a number of charges to set around the Foundry. Kalvan does not want the Foundry to fall into Styphoni hands. We'll have to deal with the 'protected' conveyer storeroom later; after a war like this what will one more big explosion mean to the survivors? But hear this, Talgan: get your people organized for the moving party! I'm posting sentries where they're needed, and may Galzar's Mace strike anyone who argues."
"You start posting sentries without my orders and I'll report you to Chief Verkan!"
"I don't care if you report me to Great King Kalvan. Anything they'll do to me for disobeying your orders isn't half what they'll do if I neglect my duty!"
Kirv turned away from Talgan Dreth and walked straight past Sirna without seeing her. As he passed, he muttered in a voice obviously not meant to be overheard, "If any of us live that long."
Sirna was about to hurry after him and ask for an explanation when she sensed someone behind her. She turned, to see Urig, the senior warehouse foreman.
"Mistress Sirna. I thought I'd best warn you. Some of the lads-they're talkin' about makin' off with the horses on their own."
"Thank you for the warning, Urig. We're going to want everyone to help move equipment for at least two or three candles; what can be moved goes into carts. What can't be moved goes into the warehouses, with tar and fireseed laid ready. Then we'll be dividing up the extra horses, food, money-everything. Those who have given good service won't be forgotten. And who knows? Even if Kalvan loses this one battle, he may win the next."
Urig's look told her that the last sentence had been a waste of breath, but he jerked his head. "I'll give 'em your words, Mistress Sirna. It's grateful they'll be. The lads trust you, you're not like some of them-" He made a pointed glance over at some of the senior faculty.
Sirna didn't know if that was the actual plan, if indeed Talgan Dreth had any plan at all. His habit of being close-mouthed made it impossible to tell. Sirna only knew she was going to see that something was done for the Foundry workers-even if it meant defying the Director.
She could be sure of trouble back at the University if she did. But here-and-now, she could be sure of help from Aranth Sain and Captain Kirv, at least. And, when he recovered his health, Chief Verkan.
Sirna jumped again as a soft footfall sounded behind her. It was Aranth Sain, who greeted her outraged look with a soft laugh.
"If you can find anything to laugh at in this-!" Words failed her. She took a deep breath and added more gently, "At least try not to sneak up behind me."
"I wasn't sneaking. I've just been trying not to be noticed by our dear Director, and I guess the habit stuck."
Having a potential ally on hand made Sirna breathe easier. "Will you help me keep my promises to Urig? If he begins to doubt me, we'll have a mutiny on our hands right when we're trying to get everything to safety."
"I will. But I'm going to spend the next four hours on the roof of the main forge. One extra pair of eyes on sentry can't hurt. If I know Kirv, he will have his men on sentry duty, but they'll have to stay hidden. I'm not one of Skordran's people, so Talgan can't fume at him over me."
Sirna's mouth went dry. "Are the Styphoni that close?"
"The main body, no. They'll be coming on in a day or two. Phidestros is a damned good general, but he's working with a divided command, Arch-priests up to his bellybutton and an army that's taken a pounding.
"What I'm worried about is his sending cavalry on ahead. We've heard rumors that armed bands of Roxthar's torturers are taking hostages and killing peasants-in fact, Kirv showed me a few pictures of the Investigators in action."
"Can I see?"
He shook his head. "You don't want to see these pictures! They're not for civilians."
Sirna felt a shiver make its way up her back.
"The cavalry we don't need to worry about," Sain continued. "But a few regiments from Phidestros' reserve could raise havoc in Hostigos Town. At least among those stupid enough to dally this long."
It was a physical impossibility for Sirna's mouth to go drier. Her knees couldn't decide between knocking together or folding under her.
"Come on. I'll walk you over to the forge. Tandar Volth is inside, making sure what we can't move is melted down. Varnath Lala tried to stop him, but Tandar had two of the smiths throw the old crow out and bar the door against her."
"Pity I didn't see that."
"You'll see even more entertaining things before you get to Home Time Line, I'd wager."
"Dinner at the Constellation House?"
"Done."
It had still been a stalemate and she'd gone to her bed, long before Captain Kirv and Talgan Dreth's arguments had wound down. From the sounds outside it appeared they all might have to pay for the ritual antagonism between University and Paratime Police.
There was a loud WHUMMPH! which shook the old farmhouse like an earthquake. She peered out the window and saw the foundry turned into smoldering fiery ruin! How are we going to escape now, she asked herself? Had Kirv set off the demolition charges without warning anyone to beat Talgan at his own game? No, that didn't sound like the Paratime Policeman. Maybe his sentries had spotted a major force of Styphoni coming toward the Foundry!
There was another loud explosion, as though someone had set off a casket of fireseed; only this one was right below her and she felt the floor underneath shiver and then collapse, sending her downward in a tangle of bed, furniture and stones. She landed in a sprawl and was hurting all over, but everything was still working-even her fingers.
She heard someone shout, "Capture the foreign dogs. Roxthar wants to investigate them himself. Beware of all demonic arts!"
"Dear Father Dralm!" Sirna whispered, as she tried to compress herself into a tiny little ball amongst the rubble and ruin of the second floor. There was something wet running down her arm and she was certain it was her own blood. She felt around and winced as her fingers found a deep scratch in her upper arm.
She heard Lala screech, "We can talk about this! I demand to see your superior. I am an important personage. I know things the Inner Circle wants to know. I order-"
Lala's words were cut off by a gunshot and a shrill scream.
She saw a big figure, which she recognized as Aranth Sain, moving through the rubble toward the back door. She tried to call out, but all that came forth was a croaking sound. Then Aranth was gone into the shadowy night.
There were more screams and the sounds of fists hitting flesh. "Take this fool in chains. He will answer to the Investigator for killing the woman." Suddenly there was a fusillade of shots and more screams.
A voice that sounded like Captain Kirv's said, "Move back, away from the Styphoni, so I can get a good shot!"
There was another barrage of gunfire and she heard Kirv's voice turn into a womanish scream. Her heart dropped into her stomach. She was alone!
There were more screams and cuffs, she recognized the voice of Talgan and said a quiet prayer.
"Please don't hurt me!" Talgan shouted, his pleas cut short by a wet thud. She had never liked the administrator, but no one deserved to provide sport for the Investigation!
Sirna felt around in the dark and found her musketoon. She'd heard too many stories about Roxthar and his Dralm-damned Investigation. Holy torture was what it was. It was no wonder that on Home Time Line religion was considered a plague on mankind, a verbally transmittable mental illness.
Sirna had never felt so alone in her life.
Suddenly some men entered the room with bright torches and burning sticks covered with tar. They were searching through the rubble for survivors. Several of the men were mercenaries, but one wore the white robe of the Investigation and she saw several Temple Guardsmen in their shiny armor and red capes. The Red Hand, isn't that what the Hostigi call them?
Kirv hadn't been prepared for a Temple band of Styphon's Guardsmen. She held her breath and squeezed against the wall as though she could will herself to disappear.
She watched as a soldier found a leg under some fallen masonry. It took three men to drag the body of a woman out of the rubble; it was Mrytta the housekeeper. "By Galzar's Teeth, she's an ugly one! Almost as old and withered as the hag the Captain shot."
"And just as dead," someone else finished.
"Shut up," another soldier commanded. "There's somebody else in here, I can feel it."
Suddenly a light flashed in her eyes, temporarily blinding her. Sirna heard a shout. She closed one eye and aimed the musketoon at the priest in the white robes, hoping that all the shooting lessons Aranth had given her had taught her something.
Her shot was deafening in the quiet tomb of what had once been a prosperous farmhouse. The priest screamed and clutched his stomach. Good, she thought, he's gut-shot! There was a salvo of returning fire and something struck her head like a hammer-