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〃Except in one way。 We are both of us creations of humanity。 But I only in part。 And out of their science； not their dreams。 I will still exist； if … when … humanity changes its collective mind about me。〃
The goddess tossed her perfect hair … and was it pure gold； or raven black？ 〃You say that about us； but I don't believe it。 If humanity created us； the gods and goddesses； then who could possibly have created them？ But never mind； I am tired of all this philosophy and argument。 There seems to be no end to it of late。 I think the world is changing。〃
〃Again。 It always does。〃 And now Draffut was dragging himself to his feet。 The mud that had caked upon his fur when he was dying was falling off now； crumbling and twisting even as it fell； moving in the glow of the renewed life within him。
Painfully； a stopped； slow giant carrying the Sword of Mercy； he began to make his way across the muddy ground toward the injured man。
Rostov listened long and intently to what his latest and best source of information had to tell him about what was going on inside the walls of Tashigang； and what had happened last night during the outrageous； heroic sally against the Dark King's camp。
One of Rostov's patrols had luckily picked up the young man； who was carrying Coinspinner in his right hand； in the garden of one of the abandoned suburban villas along the Corgo。
〃Trust a bad copper to turn up；〃 the General had growled at first sight of him； then he had allowed his steel…bearded face to split in a tight grin。 〃The Princess will be anxious to see you； Mark。 No； I shouldn't call you that； should I？ What's the proper term of address for an Emperor's son？〃
〃For。。。 who？ The Princess； you say？〃 the wounded youth had answered weakly。 〃Where is she？〃
〃Not far away。 Not far。。。〃 Rostov still grinned。 He could begin to see now what the Princess had seen all along in this tough young man。 Who； as it now turned out； not only had good stuff in him； but Imperial blood。 That was evidently； in the rarefied realm of magic and politics where these things were decided； something of acceptable importance。 Rostov was glad … it was time that Tasavalta had some sturdy warrior monarchs on the throne again。
On a field not many kilometers from Tashigang； the armies of Yambu and Vilkata confronted each other； in a dawn dimmed almost to midnight by an impending thunderstorm。 The Silver Queen was preparing herself to draw Soulcutter。 She knew that she would have to do so before the Dark King brought the Mindsword into range； if not； her army would be lost to her； and she herself perhaps maddened into being Vilkata's slave。
She had recently received a strange report： first the god Vulcan had been seen inside the city； bound helplessly by the gentle hands of white…robed priestesses and priests； and then he was gone again。 Some said that an angry unarmed mob had seized the Smith； and the wooden frame he had been bound to； and had thrown him in the river； and he had floated out of the city through the lower gates。
Queen Yambu thought： and is the world now to belong to us humans； after all？ If we can overthrow the gods； and kill them possibly。 Not that they had ever bothered to rule the world when it was theirs。 Perhaps it has been ours all along。
Without really being startled； she became aware that a man was standing in the doorway of her tent； and gazing in at her impertinently。 She assumed he was one of her officers； and was about to speak sharply to him for staring at her thus； when she realized that he was not one of her own men at all。 The words died on her lips。
His face was in shadow； and not until she shifted her own position did she see the mask。 〃You；〃 she said。
He came in uninvited； pulled the mask off and helped himself to a seat； grinning at her lightly。 He had not changed at all。 Outside she could still hear the sentries walking their rounds； unaware that anyone had passed them。
The Emperor said to her： 〃I still have not had my answer。〃
It took the Queen a moment to understand what he was talking about。 〃You once asked me to marry you。 Can that be what you mean？〃
〃It can。 Didn't you realize that I was going to insist on an answer； sooner or later？〃
〃No； I really didn't。 Not after。。。 what happened to our daughter。 Have you forgotten about her？ Or is this visit just another of your insane jokes？〃
〃I have not forgotten her。 She has been living with me。〃 When Queen Yambu stared at him； he went on calmly： 〃Ariane was badly hurt； about four years ago； as you know。 But she's much better now。 She and I have not talked about you much； but I think that she might want to meet you again some day。〃
The Silver Queen continued to stare at her former lover。 At last she said； 〃My reports； and I have reason to trust them； said that Ariane was killed； in the treasure…dungeon of the Blue Temple。〃
The Emperor scowled his distaste for that organization。 〃Many have died； in that。。。 place。 But Ariane did not die there。 Even though the young men with her at the time were also sure that she was dead。 One of those young men is my son； did you know that？ I like to take care of my children； whenever I can。 She is not dead。〃
And still Queen Yambu stared at him。 She could not shake off her suspicion that this was all one of his jokes； perhaps the prelude to a hideous revenge … she had never been sure； even when they had been lovers； whether he was a vengeful man or not。
At last her royal poise abandoned her for the moment； and she stammered out： 〃I … I sold her to the Red Temple。〃
The frown was turned at her now； and briefly she understood what ancient Imperial power must have been； that Kings and Queens had quaked before it。
〃I might have killed you for that； if I had known about it when it happened。 But years have passed； and you are sorry for that selling now。 She has survived； and so have I。 And so have you。〃
In anger she regained her strength。 〃I have survived without you； you impossible。。。 and you say you want to marry me； still？ How do I know you mean what you are saying now？〃
〃How do you know when to trust anyone； my dear？ You'll have to make a choice。〃
She wanted to cry out that she did not know when to trust anyone； that was her whole problem。 〃You madman； suppose I were to answer you and tell you yes。 Could you defeat the Mindsword for me then？〃
〃I'll do all I can to help you； if you will be my bride。 We'll see about the Mindsword when it es。〃
〃It's here now。 Oh； you bastard。 Impossible as always。 Leave now。 Get out of here； or I'm going to draw Soulcutter。〃 And she put her hand on the unrelieved blackness of that hilt； that rested as always within reach。 〃And I suppose you'll go on seducing brides； and fathering more bastards； after we are married？〃
He said； softly and soberly； 〃I will be more faithful to you than you can well imagine。 I love you； I always have。 Why do you think I fought for you； beside you； when you were a girl？〃
〃I don't believe it； I tell you。 I don't believe any of it。 Leave now； or I draw Soulcutter。〃
〃It's your Sword； to do with as you will。 But I will leave when you decide to draw it。〃
She started to draw the Sword； and … at the same moment called out in a clear voice for her guards。 When they came pushing into the tent a moment later； they found their Queen quite alone； and Soulcutter safely in its sheath； though her hand on the hilt was poised as if for action。
The soldiers found themselves staring half…hypnotized at that hand； both of them hoping that they would be out of the tent again before the Sword was drawn； and already in the air around it； around themselves； they thought they could feel the backwash of a wave of emptiness。
Queen Yambu wasted no more time； but gave the orders necessary to get her troops into the state of final readiness for battle。 That done； she ordered an advance。
With Vilkata's ranks still no more than barely in sight； she waited in the middle of her own line； mounted on her famous gray warbeast； ready to draw the Sword of … of what？ As far as she knew； this one had only one name。
Now the enemy lines were creeping forward。 There； in their center； that would be Vilkata himself； waiting for the perfect moment in which to draw the weapon that he was gambling would be supreme。
The hand of Queen Yambu was on her own Sword's hilt。 She urged her mount forward； a little。 Not yet。
Now。
The Mindsword and Soulcutter were drawn； virtually simultaneously。
Her own first reaction； to the overwhelming psychic impact of her own Sword； was that she wanted to throw it away … but then she did not。 Because she could no longer see how throwing it away would make any difference； would matter in the least。
Nor did anything else matter。
Nothing else in the whole universe。
The Mindsword was a distant； irrelevant twinkle； far across the field； beneath the gloom of thunderclouds。 While near at hand； around Queen Yambu herself。。。
Those of her own troops who were closest to her had been looking at her when she drew。 After that they were indifferent as to where they looked。 Around her a wave of lethargy； of supreme indifference； was spreading out； a slow splash in an inkblack pool。
In the distance； but drawing rapidly nearer； a charge was ing。 Vilkata's troops； with maddened yells； the fresh inspiration of the Mindsword driving them。
Some of the Queen's soldiers； more and more of them with each passing second； were actually slumping to the ground now； letting their weapons fall from indifferent hands。 It appeared that they would be able to put up no resistance； that the Dark King might now be going to win easily。 But of course that did not matter either。
With berserker cries； the first of the Dark King's newly energized fanatics rushed upon them。 The defense put up by the soldiers in black and silver was at best half…hearted； and it was weaker the closer they were stationed to their Queen。
But the attackers； Vilkata's men and women； were now entering the region of Soulcutter's dominance。 It was their screams of triumph that faltered first； and then the energy with which they plied their weapons。 Next their ranks came to a jostling； stumbling halt。
The Queen of Yambu … not knowing； really； why she bothered … slowly raised her eyes。 The Sword she held above her head was so dull that it almost hurt the eyes to look at it。
The Sword of Despair … she had thought of the other name for it now。 Not that that mattered； either。 Not that or anything else。
Why was she bothering to hold the Sword so high？ She let her arms slump with its weight。 When her warbeast； puzzled and suffering； wanted to move； she let it go； sliding from its back。 She stood almost leaning on the Sword now； its point cutting shallowly into the earth。
Nor did any of that really mean anything； as far as she could tell。
The fighting that had begun； sporadically； was dying out。 Soulcutter was winning； all across the field。 If neither victory nor survival mattered； to anyone； there would be no battle。
Yambu was aware； though only dimly and indifferently； that so far the Dark King's weapon had been able to shield him； and a small group of his followers around him； from Soulcutter's dark； subtle assault。
That group began to charge toward her now； yelling warcries。 But its numbers shrank； and shrank more rapidly the closer it came to Queen Yambu。 One by one the people in it turned aside from the charge； to sit or kneel or slump to the ground； giving up the effort in despiar。
King Vilkata's demons were the last to desert him。 And even before that had happened； he himself had given up the attack and was in full flight from the field。
Rostov； out having a personal look around； turned his scouting squadron back when they came to the edge of the field。 Ahead of him the General could see what looked to him like the worst slaughter he had ever beheld； in a lifetime spent largely amid scenes of butchery。 There were two armies on the field； and as nearly as he could tell from this distance； both of them had been virtually wiped out。 But the General turned back； and ordered his soldiers back； not because of what he saw but because of what he felt； what they had all felt when trespassing upon the fringes of that grim arena。 Another few steps in that direction； thought