He led the way to the barricade top and ranked his guardsmen--they were _his_ now, he was again master of war and equal of kings--in a tight line, with spears braced outward. "Now hold!" he shouted. "Hold, for the sake of Ruho!" The hengists thundered up the stairs, across the portico, against and up the sides of the barricade in a living wave. For a moment battle raged. The heap of wood and stone chunks broke some of the speed of the charge, but still it shocked against the spear line with a fury that trembled in the walls. Metal clanged, men shouted, hengists screamed in a boiling tide of struggle. Alfric saw a spearman fall, spitted on a lance. He snatched the shaft and thrust it into the throat of the hengist breaking through--with all his straining force he rammed it home, and steed and rider tumbled back. The cavalry broke, hengists bucking, refusing to hit that gleaming line again. The Temple infantry line scattered as the maddened animals trampled into it. Householders were streaming into the antechamber, and Alfric's nostrils quivered to the first acrid whiffs of smoke. With a burning palace behind them, the Imperials need have less fear of an attack from the rear. "The infantry will be up against us in a moment," panted Ganimos. "Aye, we'd better charge out while they're still disorganized," said Alfric. "We'll assault the Temple itself. And pray your Moons help comes ere we're cut down!" "We'll die like men, anyway," said Ganimos, "not like beasts in a trap. Thank you for that, Stranger." "Then--_hai, Hildaborg_!" Alfric plunged over the barricade. The Household guards followed, a wave that formed into a wedge and plunged across the gardens. The finest warriors of Valkarion hit the wavering Temple forces like a spear going home. * * * * * Ax and sword! Spear and arrow! Clang and roar of metal, whirring weapons, rushing blood--shouts and curses, screams, deep-throated oaths--death unchained in the gardens of Valkarion! Alfric led the way at the point of the wedge, smiting, smiting. No man could stand before his raging fury--his ax was a dazzle and thunder before him. Hewing, hewing, he led the Household forth. "_Hildaborg! Hai, Hildaborg!_" The war cry shouted over the hills, rang in echoes with the clamor of metal and shock of combat. "_Hildaborg!_" These Householders fought like demons, thought Alfric dimly as he struck at the faces and bodies which loomed briefly out of night and shadow into the red dance of fire. How they fought! But--Ruho, if he only had a levy of Aslakan axmen behind him now!