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The gloo as Garion and his friends gathered once e tent near the center of the encas with him and several iron braziers, and these contributions to their headquarters added certain garish, even barbaric, touches to the interior of the tent

"Where's Silk?" Garion asked, looking around as they all seated the braziers

"I think he's out snooping," Barak replied

Garion made a face "I wish that just once he'd be where he's supposed to be"

Javelin looked much more alert after his few hours' sleep

His expression, however, was grave "We're starting to run out of ti on this place Lord Hettar is co in from the west Unfortunately, the Drasnian pikeet here first"

"Unless Pol and Beldin can slow theara and Master Beldin," Javelin said, "but I think we should decide e're going to do in the event that they aren't successful It's always best to prepare for the worst"

"Wisely spoken, my Lord," Mandorallen ence continued, "we don't truly want to fight the pikemen First of all, they aren't really our ene to weaken our forces to the point that a sortie in force from the city could conceivably defeat us"

"What are you leading up to, Javelin?" Porenn asked hiet into the city"

"We haven't got enough men," Barak said flatly

"And it will take several more days to reduce the walls," Mandorallen added

Javelin held up one hand "If we concentrate the siege engines on one section of wall, we should be able to bring it doithin one day" he declared

"But that just announces which quarter we'll attack from," Lelldorin protested "The forces in the city will be concentrated there to repel us"

"Not if the rest of the city's on fire," Javelin replied

"Absolutely out of the question," Garion said flatly "My son could be in that town, and I' the whole place on fire"

"I still say that we haven't got enough men to take the city" Barak maintained

"We don't have to take the whole city, et our men inside If we take one quarter of the town and fortify it, we can hold off the cult from the inside and Haldar froht and wait for Lord Hettar and General Brendig"

"It's got soht noe're caught in a nutcracker If those pike to be able to do when they arrive is to pick up the pieces"

"No fire," Garion declared adaain entry into the city 'ere the walls are breached," Mandorallen observed

"The walls aren't really any problem," Durnik said quietly "No wall is any better than its foundation"

"It is quite impossible, Goodman," Mandorallen told hi upon it No engine in the world can ine," Durnik said