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The Sword of Chance was pointing at someone or something outside the city walls； in fact at the very center of Vilkata's advancing army。 The Dark King's force had just now e barely into sight； through distant summer haze。 It was still； Mark thought； well out of Mindsword range。
And Coinspinner pointed as if to Vilkata himself。 Mark looked at Ben； and got back a look of awe and calculation mingled。
Chapter 15
The delegation from the palace； two women and one man； arrived at Mala's door very quietly and unexpectedly。 It was the afternoon after she heard of Mark's departure from Tasavalta on a mission for the Princess。 Her first thought on seeing the strangers at her door was that something terrible had happened to her son or her husband； or to both； but before she could even form the question； one of the women was assuring her that as far as was known； both were well。 The three of them had e to conduct Mala to the palace； because the Princess herself wanted to see her。
The Palace was not far above the town； and less than an hour later Mala was there； walking in an elaborate flower garden； open within high walls。 The garden had tall flowering trees in it； and strange animals to gape at； hybrid creatures such as the highborn liked to amuse themselves with； climbing and flying amid high branches。
Mala was left alone in the garden； but only for a few moments。 Then a certain fat man appeared； well dressed and with an aura of magic about him。 He introduced himself as Karel； which name meant nothing to Mala； and he； though obviously a person of some importance； appeared quite content that it should be so。 He walked along the garden path with Mala； and asked her about her family； and tried to put her at her ease。 That he succeeded as well as he did was a tribute to his skill。
And then he asked her； in his rich； soft voice： 〃Do you know the Sword of Mercy？ Or Sword of Love； as it is sometimes called？〃
〃I know of it； sir； of course； you must know who my husband is。 But if you mean have I ever seen it； no。〃
〃Then have you any idea where it is； at this moment？ Hey？〃 Karel's gaze at her was suddenly much more intense； though he was still trying to appear kind。
〃When my son was here； there was a story going about that he … and the Princess … had brought it with them to Tasavalta。 But he himself said nothing to me of that； and I did not ask him。 I knew better than to be curious about state secrets。 Nor could I guess where it is now。〃
Karel continued to gaze at her with a steady intensity。 〃He did bring it； and it was here yesterday after he left。 That's no state secret。〃 The magician suddenly ceased to stare at her。 Shaking his head； he looked away。 〃And now it's gone； and I don't know where it is either。 And whether that ought to be a secret or not。。。〃 He sighed； letting the words trail off。
Mala felt vaguely frightened。 〃I don't know either； sir。〃
〃No； of course you don't。 I believe you； dear lady； now that I have looked at you closely。。。 and there is one other matter that I want to ask you about。〃
Her frightened look said that she could hardly stop him。
He sighed again。 〃Here； sit down。〃 And he led her to a nearby marble bench； and sat on it beside her； puffing with relief when his weight came off his feet。 〃No harm will e to you or Mark for a truthful answer； whatever it may be。 I think I know already； but I must be sure。。。 who is Mark's real father？〃
Under the circumstances the story of more than twenty years ago came out。 Mala had thought at the time that the man might be Duke Fraktin。 Later she had been convinced that it was not。 And later still； slowly and gradually； the truth had dawned。
〃But sir； I beg you； my husband。。。 Jord。。。 he mustn't know。 He's never guessed。 Mark is his only living son。 He。。。〃
〃Hmmm；〃 said Karel。 And then he said： 〃Jord has served us well。 We will do all we can for him。 The Princess is waiting to see you。 I told her that I wished to speak to you first。〃
The magician heaved himself up ponderously from the bench； and guided Mala through an ornamental gate； and into another； smaller garden； where there were benches that looked like crystal instead of marble； and paths of what looked like gravel but was too soft for stone； and here the Princess was standing waiting for her。
She looks like a nice girl； was one idea that stood out clearly in the confusion of Mala's thoughts。
Kristin had been hopelessly curious as to what the mother of the man she loved was like； this was largely because she was still curious as to what Mark himself was like； having had little time in which to get to know him。 It was all very well to order herself； with royal mands； to forget about him。 To insist that Mark was her lover no longer； that if she ever saw him again it would only be in passing； in some remote and official contact； but somehow all these royal mands meant nothing； when the chance arose to talk to Mark's mother in line of duty； in this matter of the Swords。
When the minimum necessary formalities had been got through； the two women were left sitting alone on one of the crystal benches； and Karel had gracefully retired； not； Kristin was sure； that he was not listening。 She knew Karel of old； and the fat wizard had more on his mind just now than Swords； or a missing Sword； important though those matters were。
Mala was saying to her： 〃I had hoped that one day I would get the chance to talk to you； Highness。 But I did not want to seem to be a scheming mother； trying to get advantage for her son。〃
〃You are not that； I am sure。。。 unless you are scheming for Mark's safety only。 Any mother would do that。〃
Kristin had questions to ask； about Mala； Jord； their family； when she asked about Mark's father； she thought that his mother looked at her strangely； but then how else would the woman look； being brought here suddenly like this； to talk to royalty？
And the questions kept ing back to Mark himself。
More time had passed than Kristin had realized； but sill not very much time； when there was an interruption； a twittering from an observant small beast high in a branch above them。
Kristin swore； softly and wearily。 〃There is now a general who insists on seeing me； if I have learned to interpret these jabbering signals correctly。 I have so much to do； and all at once。〃 She seized Mala by the hands。 〃I want to talk to you again； and soon。〃 A minute later； Mala was gone； and Kristin was receiving General Rostov。
The General began by reporting； in his gravelly voice； that the man Jord had a good reputation in the Intelligence branch。 There was no actual Tasavaltan dossier on the son as yet … rather； one had just been started … but he seemed to have a good reputation with Sir Andrew's people。 And a long and strange and intimate connection with the Swords； as Jord did too； of course。
〃Nothing to connect either of them； though； Highness； with the disappearance of Woundhealer。〃
〃No； I should think not； General。。。 now what are your military plans？〃
Rostov drew himself up。 〃It's like this； Highness。 The best place to defend your house is not in your front yard； but down the road as far as you can manage it。 If you can manage it that way。〃
〃If that is a final。。。 what is it； Karel？〃
The wizard had reappeared at the ornamental gate。 〃A matter of state； Highness。 You had better hear it before pleting any other plans； military or otherwise。〃
〃One moment；〃 said the Princess； and faced back to Rostov。 〃I believe you； General。 And I have decided to go with you。 If you are saying that the army must march to Tashigang； because that is where the fate of our people is being decided； then that is the place for me to be also。〃
Choking in an effort to keep from swearing； General Rostov disputed this idea as firmly as he was able。
〃Both of you；〃 said Karel； 〃had better hear me first。 What I have to say is connected with the woman who was just here。〃
Chapter 16
They were kilometers in length； and tall as palaces。 They wound uphill and down； in a great tail…swallowing circle； in curves like the back of the legendary Great Worm Yilgarn。 They were the walls of Tashigang； and at long last they stood before him。
The taking of the city； even the planning of its capture； were turning out to present considerably greater problems than the Dark King had earlier envisioned。 He had once pictured himself simply riding up to the main gate on the Hermes Road； and brandishing the Mindsword in the faces of the garrison； who had been conveniently assembled for him on the battlements。 Then； after a delay no longer than the time required for his new slaves in the city to open up the gate； he would enter in triumph； to see to the disposal of his new treasure and the elimination of some of his old enemies。
That last part of the vision had been the first part to turn unreal and unconvincing； which it did almost as soon as Vilkata began to think about it。 The Mindsword would seem to rob revenge almost entirely of its satisfaction。 If one's old enemies had now bee one's loyal slaves； about as faithful as human beings could be； then what was the point of destroying or damaging them？
In any case； Vilkata could see now that Tashigang was not going to fall into his hands as neatly as all that。 On the last night of his march toward the city； the night before he first faced the ancient serpentine walls directly； the Dark King had received a warning from his demonic counselors。 They had determined； they said； that the Sword Doomgiver had just been carried inside the city's walls； where it was now in the possession of some of the most fanatical defenders。 Therefore he； the Dark King； stood in danger of having his most powerful magic…aye； even the power of the Mindsword … turned against him when he tried to use it in an attack。
After receiving this grim caution； Vilkata sat in blind silence for a time； dispensing with the demon's vision the better to concentrate on his own thoughts。 Meanwhile those of his human counselors who were attending him waited in their own tremulous silence around him； fearing his wrath； as they imagined that he still listened to the demonic voices that only he could hear。
The Dark King tried to imagine the direst warnings of his inhuman magical counselors ing true。 It would mean the devotion of all his own troops would turn to hatred。 And also； perhaps； it would mean all of the evil that he had ever worked on anyone now within the walls of Tashigang ing back on himself； suddenly； to strike him down。
And he was warned； too； that the Sword Townsaver might also be within the city。 The Sword of Fury in itself ought not to blunt the Mindsword's power： But what Townsaver might do； to any portion of an attacking army that came within a blade…length of its wielder； was enough in itself to give a field mander pause。
The Dark King shuddered； the fear that was never far below the surface of his thoughts suddenly ing near the surface。 As he shuddered； the humans watching him thought that he was still listening to the demons' speech。
And then； there was the matter of Farslayer； too。 Until he had that particular weapon safely in his hands； he had to be concerned about it。 Any monarch； any man； who dealt consistently in such great affairs as King Vilkata did； was bound to make enemies and would have to be concerned。 There were always plenty of short…sighted； vengeful little folk about。。。 and neither the Dark King's wizards nor his immaterial demons could give him any idea of who possessed the Sword of Vengeance now。
If only he had been able to pick up Shieldbreaker from the field of battle！ But no； another distraction； another threat； had intervened to prevent that。 And now no one could tell him where that trump of weapons was located either。
Coinspinner was another potential problem。 It； too； was now thought by the Dark King's magical advisers to be present inside the walls of Tashigang。 And he was sure that the Sword of Chance would bring those damned impertinent rascals good luck； good fortune of some kind； even in the face of the Mindsword's influence。 Vilkata kept trying to imagine what kind of good luck that would be。 Whatever it was； it would not be good for him。
But despite all of the obstacles and objections； he could be royally stubborn； and he was going