The Hour of the Gate Read Online Free

qualify as that. But I don’t know what we can do with your great flaming friend back in the courtyard, since he so impolitely burned down his quarters.”
    â€œWe’ll take care of him,” Jon-Tom assured the Mayor.
    â€œPlease 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.
    â€œAye, 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!”
    â€œYou’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.
    â€œIsn’t that what you wanted, sir? Isn’t that what we’ve come all this way for?”
    â€œHmmm? 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.
    â€œWhat more can we do?” asked Mudge. “We can’t fight with wot we ain’t got, Your Magicalness.”
    â€œNo, we cannot, good Mudge. But there may be more than what we have.”
    â€œBeggin’ your pardon, sor?”
    â€œI won’t rest if there is.”
    â€œWell 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, comfortable environs of Lynchbany and the Bellwoods quite as soon as he’d hoped.
    â€œI will do that, Mudge, and I will let you know when I inform the others… .”

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, and the decor reflected it. Even the ceiling was high enough so Jon-Tom could stand straight without having to worry about a lamp decapitating him.
    Sleeping quarters were placed around a central meeting room which had been set aside exclusively for their use. Jon-Tom still had to duck as he entered the circular chamber.
    Caz was leaning back in a chair, ears cocked slightly forward, a glass held lightly in one paw. The other held a silver, ornately worked pitcher from which he was pouring a dark wine into a glass.
    Flor sat on one side of him, Talea on the other. All were chuckling at some private joke. They broke off to greet the newcomers.
    â€œDon’t have to ask how it went,” said Talea brightly, resting her boots on an immaculate couch. “A little while ago this party of subservient flunkies shows up at the barracks and tells us rooms have been reserved for us in this gilded hole.” She sipped wine, carelessly spilled some on a finely woven carpet. “This style of crusading’s more to my taste, I can tell you.”
    â€œWhat did you tell them, Jon-Tom?” wondered Flor.
    He walked to an open window, rested his palms on the sill, and stared out across the city.
    â€œIt wasn’t easy at first. There was a big, blustery badger named Wuckle Three-Stripe who was ready to chuck us in jail right away. It was easy to see how he got to be mayor of as big and tough a