Helmet is not wrong. The view from the belfry is mesmerising. The height of the bell tower affords one with a vista of the Paragorn Sea which is unrivalled, excepting perhaps of that from the Towers of Arkanthor, but the location of Kera’Bur and the surrounding environs which frame the view add a quality to it that the grim isolation of Arkanthor lacks. With the golden rays of morning advancing from the east to meet the inbound swagging clouds blown in from the west, amidst a slight drizzle, a rainbow has formed arcing above the forests of Cilardon and the sharp mountain peaks of Anghorka.

“You know, if it were clearer I’d imagine one could see the city of Xan from here, clear across the straights of Pangor and probably Menacil as well,” says Madeleine, leaning against the eastern railing of the belfry.

“Yes, I’m imagining it right now,” says Hy-Jinx, standing next to Madeleine, feeling the sunlight warm her face as the wind from the west cools her back. Madeleine is about to say ‘No moping’ but Hy-Jinx seems oddly at peace, slowly breathing and sensing the swirl and interplay of nature.

“It’s like a mirror,” observes Dozer who having stood looking south across the Outer Fayre has crossed to look out over the Inner Fayre.

Madeleine turns to him, “How so?”

“North and south.” He says. Lifting his chin slightly, indicating for Madeleine to look over the edge to the down below. “Except that side’s a smouldering mess.” He says, refering to the obvious destruction the Barbarian horde has wreaked upon the Outer Fayre.

“I see what you mean,” says Madeleine, observing the mass of soldiers ranked within the Oval Court to the north, mirroring the mass of jostling barbarians in Bellview Square to the south. Each plaza held separate by the inner wall which, from this height, looks like a thin line drawn across the two with the gnomon of the bell tower located dead centre. About a hundred foot along the wall, either side of the bell tower two massive gatehouses squat, known respectively as the ‘Iron-entrance’ and the ‘Iron exit’ - far too well constructed and reinforced, both physically and with troops, for the barbarians to attempt a sally.

“It’s an interesting pattern isn’t it?” says Helmet, drawing Hood’s attention away from the outer view and focussing it on the skirt of the bell, ringed as it is with a knotted design cast into it, a design that looks strangely familiar to Hood but he just can’t put his finger on it…Well he can, literally, and he does so, tracing one of the loops as he walks the full circumference around the walkway, musing at the design. Clang…clang…clang…Helmet gently tapping the bell again with a gauntleted finger.

“So what’s the plan?” enquires Bembry, “We were told this is as far as we need to take you.”

Hood looks expectantly at Madeleine who, initially oblivious to the look, having gone back to gazing at the panorama, gradually becomes aware that people are staring at her, waiting for a response.

“Sorry?”

“The plan?” says Bembry.

“I thought it was obvious. Modified crossbows, grappling hooks, steel tipped bolts, leather straps and rope,” she replies.

“But the span is about a hundred and eighty to two hundred feet - we don’t have anywhere near enough rope to…” Bembry stops mid-sentence. Madeleine slowly turns her mask towards the massive bundles of different thicknesses of rope in the rope room below.

“Right - got you. So why did we carry…In case of emergencies. Right, got you…I’ll go get stuff set up then, Dozer d’you want to help?”

“Not particularly, but I suppose I will.”

As the two of them work below, the four others each take a rail, Hood looking out to the north beyond the ranked troops, at the library’s facade, studying the ancient architecture and looking carefully at the open balcony, located about ten foot above the main doors, where they plan to abseil in to gain entrance. Hy-Jinx continues her sightless reverie of the sun’s rays, peacefully centring herself within her breathing. Helmet, to the south, contemplates the size of the barbarian horde and watches the swirling motions within it trying to determine if it reflects the progress of the battle three floors below. Madeleine, as she takes in the back drop of forest and mountain scenery to the west, her thoughts drifting, finds her thumb unconsciously ruffling the edges of the deck of Allegoricals, still within her jacket pocket. Gradually becoming aware of her thumb’s movement, and recalling her earlier encounter on the boat, and Madam Masque’s explanation of the compass points…

‘The west is the past, the centre the present. Where the north and south are: the winds or forces that are acting upon us. The east the future, dependent upon which forces influence us. All is interpretation, a mirror for the mind to know itself. A means of remembering future things that may or may not be.’

… she can’t help but think that perhaps some cosmic reading is being enacted and being so, she must represent the past, Hood and Helmet the forces present to the present, and Hy-Jinx the future - a blind future or perhaps simply one that cannot yet be seen. She turns and stares at the bell, hanging suspended in midair, suspended centrally between them. Silent, yet pregnant with its own might, with its own meaning…What does a bell mean? She asks herself…Now what did Hy-Jinx say again?: ‘A bell is so much more than a bell’.

“Okay, I think we’re ready.” calls up Bembry. “Do you want to do this?”

“I believe better now than later.” responds Helmet, “The beauty of the sun, although a blessing, will soon break the city wall with its rosy fingers, and with it our chances of remaining unnoticed.”