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."Follow the flock!" Brion pointed at the noisy receding mass."They go to bear word of us to John!Where they go, he lies!""Oh, I don't doubt that he lies," Matt agreed."Probably never told the truth in his life.""Seven times, I think," Brion corrected him, "though he meant the comments for insults to Gaheris andmyself, and probably did not realize their honesty."Matt frowned up at him."What truth could he tell you that would be an insult?""That I am pompous, self-righteous, and arrogant," Brion said darkly."I searched my soul when he toldthat to me and found all three charges true.I strive to master them, but fear I fail.""You are prevailing most excellently against them," Rosamund said, and slipped her hand into his."But that is only because I have you by me," Brion told her, his eyes glowing, "and know I can never begood enough for you."Rosamund started to answer, then hesitated."Don't contradict him, Your Highness," Matt advised."That's an excellent way for him to thinkexcellent for your purposes, anyway."Rosamund smiled and tossed her head, giving Brion a saucy smile.He grinned back and pressed herhand to his lips.file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20krui.zard%20in%20Rhyme%2006%20-%20Haunted%20Wizard.html (299 of 329)20-2-2006 21:41:55Stasheff, Christopher Wizard in Rhyme 6 Haunted WizardThe army cheered.Brion blushed, lowering Rosamund's hand."Can we never be alone?""Oh, we shall," she promised him, nudging her horse nearer his, "but you must win your kingdom first."Matt decided that she'd probably make a pretty good queen.Two nights later, as Matt sat at the campfire with his parents and their unwelcome guest, Buckeyesuddenly snarled, "This takes too long! Why, we are scarcely a day's ride from the border! Much more,and we shall have to swear allegiance to Queen Alisande! If nothing else can make these druids standand fight, I shall!"He stalked away into the night, and the Mantrells exchanged stares of surprise."What troubles him so suddenly?" Papa asked."It has been building for days," Mama offered."He has been growing more and more moody with everyhour.""I think he's been looking forward to a battle where he can really cause trouble," Matt said, "and isfeeling very frustrated to find things so peaceful.""What do you suppose he intends to do?" Mama asked.They never found out, at least not the specifics, but the next day, as Brion rode out of a woodland andinto a meadow, he saw a peasant come running across the open field with a pack of howling peasantsfifty yards behind him, with three men in white leading the way, shaking gilded sickles.Behind them came a virtual army of peasants.Not just a virtual army it was a real army, marching double-quick and without synchronization, butmarching.Knights rode in the van, on the flanks, and at the rear, as though to cut down any stragglers,and a mock druid whose white robe was decorated with gold rode before them all.Brion turned to Matt, astonished."How have you brought them here?"Matt could only spread his hands and shrug."If I'd known they were coming, Your Majesty, I'd havegiven you warning.""Would that you had!" Brion spun to his men, shouting, "Take the high ground!" then kicked his horsefile:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20krui.zard%20in%20Rhyme%2006%20-%20Haunted%20Wizard.html (300 of 329)20-2-2006 21:41:55Stasheff, Christopher Wizard in Rhyme 6 Haunted Wizardto a canter and rode up the side of a nearby ridge.The knights-errant who had joined him echoed hisshout, "To the high ground!" and rode after, some leading the peasant army, some following and urgingthem on.At the top of the ridge, the peasant army turned, faces grim and determined.The knights rode up anddown the line, transmitting Brion's orders."Spearmen in front! Aye, that means all fishermen withharpoons, and all peasants with pruning hooks! Archers to the sides when the king commands, turn theenemy into hedgehogs! But wait for the king's command, wait for it, wait for it! Those in back, wait, andif the man in front of you falls, then step over him and take his place! Don't try to elbow him aside inyour eagerness there will be slaughter enough for all.Stand, don't charge! Even if they flee, do not runafter!"Then the bauchan came barreling straight into the center of the army.Peasants took one look at himclose up and squalled, pulling away."Close up!" the knights bellowed.Buckeye kept on going, all the way to the back of the six ranks and on out, up to the hillock where Mattstood with Brion and his companions, watching the chasing mob slow as it realized what it had comeagainst.The druids called orders, and the mob turned into the van of the army, men falling into line andwaiting for the mass behind them to catch up."What in blazes did you do to get them to come after you?" Matt demanded."I tracked down their archdruid and waited for his ceremony," Buckeye said between gasps; he was stillpanting."That was not so much of a wait; he holds his revels every night, and slays at least one on hisstone table.I transformed myself into the form of a demon and burst in as he was about to stab his nakedvictim.The depraved congregation screamed in terror and would have run, but Niobhyte knew me forwhat I was and denounced me instantly, with a spell that dispersed my illusion and showed me as Ireally am.""So you ran," Matt interpreted "Aye, and he roared at them to follow until they caught me, for he knewthat what I had done at his own ceremony I might well do at others, many others, and bring his wholecharade down in fear and trembling, showing it for the falsehood it was.A dozen times they caught me,a dozen times I disappeared, a dozen times they came shouting after, and as one mob wearied andslowed, another came charging forth from the peasant horde that followed." He grinned up at Brion."Aspirit of the land has brought them to you, O King, an army of peasants against an army of peasants.What will you do with them?""Let them wear themselves out in charges against me," Brion said, his voice iron, "then loose my houndsupon them!"file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20krui.zard%20in%20Rhyme%2006%20-%20Haunted%20Wizard.html (301 of 329)20-2-2006 21:41:55Stasheff, Christopher Wizard in Rhyme 6 Haunted WizardWings thundered above them.Everyone looked up, startled, and the dragon's great form darkened thesun
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