Deathstalker 08 - Deathstalker Coda

like a war cry. They gathered before him, milling uncertainly, and then one man at the front of the crowd sank down on one knee, and everyone followed his example, until the whole crowd was kneeling before Lewis, their faces radiant.
    The first man to kneel had a familiar face. Lewis remembered Michel du Bois, once the member of Parliament for Virimonde, now an exile and outlaw like Lewis. Once, they had been rivals for Virimonde’s love, even enemies, but du Bois had changed much since Lewis last saw him. He looked up at Lewis with wild eyes, fanatical and perhaps a little mad. He bowed jerkily to Lewis, ignoring Jesamine completely.
    “Welcome home, Sir Deathstalker. All the families of Virimonde have sent representatives here, to do you honor. Where you lead, we will follow. The whole planet has taken an oath of vengeance against the Durandal and his people, sworn upon your name and upon our blood. We are yours, to lead into battle. We are all Deathstalkers now.”
    “Talk about intense,” Jesamine muttered. “Is he on something?”
    “Hush,” said Lewis. He nodded to du Bois. “Your manner has changed since our last meeting,” he said carefully.
    “The world has changed,” said du Bois, his eyes unblinking. “My loyalty has always been to Virimonde. You know that. Finn has proven himself unworthy, and an enemy. A coward, and an animal. Take us with you to Logres, Sir Deathstalker, and we will drag him from his throne and hang him from the walls of the palace.” He paused a moment, looking past Lewis at the ruined castle. “I had an aunt who was a Deathstalker. From a minor branch, but she bore the name proudly. She died here, with the rest of the Clan. She was always good to me. We have all lost loved ones here.”
    “I never knew we were related,” said Lewis. “You never said.”
    “I wanted to make it on my own, by my own worth, not through Family connections,” said du Bois. For a moment he looked and sounded almost normal, but the moment passed. “We have all sworn to be Deathstalkers; every man and woman on this planet, under your leadership.”
    And the huge crowd responded with a low murmur of agreement, an almost animal growl of wrath and determination.
    “Woe to all who raise the rage of Virimonde,” murmured Lewis. “Very well, Michel. Get these people out of here, and get them organized. I want everyone that’s coming offplanet in two hours, in everything you’ve got that flies. The fleet is waiting for you, and they’ll find room for anyone who wants to come and fight but doesn’t have a ship. How many can we count on?”
    “Every man and woman has sworn to follow you,” du Bois said simply.
    “Hold everything,” said Jesamine. “Everyone? The whole adult population?”
    “What was done here touched everyone,” said du Bois. “We were all raised as warriors, in Owen’s name, to do him honor. Now he has returned, how can we be found wanting?”
    He rose to his feet, turned and addressed the waiting crowd, giving them Lewis’s instructions, and they roared their approval. Du Bois continued talking, stirring them to action with grand rhetoric. Lewis and Jesamine left him to it, and walked slowly through the courtyard of what had once been a mighty castle.
    “Why haven’t they even tried to repair it?” said Jesamine. “The basic structure seems sound enough. They could have at least made a start.”
    “It wasn’t their place to do anything,” said Lewis. “They were waiting, to see what I would decide. And besides; it’s evidence. This is a war crime. A sight to inspire people to revolt. I’m going inside, to see how bad the damage is. You don’t need to come, Jes.”
    “Of course I do, sweetie. Even Deathstalkers need someone to lean on, sometimes.”
    The first bad thing they encountered was a monstrous pile of junk, raised up before the smashed-in front doors. Finn’s people had piled up in the courtyard all the Deathstalker belongings that weren’t worth looting or trashing. They’d clearly tried to set the pile on fire, but it hadn’t taken. Lewis approached the pile slowly, almost cautiously. He recognized a few items, here and there, but made no attempt to touch or rescue anything. His ugly face grew increasingly set and harsh. In the end, he turned his back on it, like turning his back on a grave, and headed for the open main doors. Jesamine went with him, not sure he even knew she was there anymore.
    Inside the castle, the damage was worse,