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e Beastlord paused； as if he were at a loss as to what else to say。
At last he went on。 〃John Ominor； the enemy of Ardneh； was called Emperor too。〃 At this offhand recollection of the events of two thousand years past； Mark could feel his scalp creep faintly。 Draffut continued。 〃And then； a little later； some called Prince Duncan； a good man； by that title。〃
Draffut fell silent。 Mark waited briefly； then pursued the subject。 〃Has this man now called the Emperor some connection with the Swords？ Can he be of any help to us against Vilkata？〃
Draffut made a curious two…handed gesture； that in a lesser being would have suggested helplessness。 When he let go of the tree…trunk its surface at once reverted to ordinary bark。 〃I think that the Emperor could be an enormous help to us。 But how to obtain his help。。。 and as for the Swords； I can tell you this： I think that Sightblinder did not deceive him for a moment； though I had it in my hand as I approached。〃
〃It did not deceive him？〃
〃I think he never saw me as anything but what I am。〃 The Beastlord thought for a moment； then concluded： 〃Of course it was not my intention to deceive him； unless he should mean me harm … and I do not believe he did。〃
The speaker's intense； inhuman gaze held Mark's eyes。 〃It was the Emperor's suggestion that I take this Sword and use it to observe the councils of the gods。 And he told me something else： that after I had heard the gods； I should bring Sightblinder on to you。〃
Mark experienced an inward chill； a feeling like that of sudden fear； but with a spark of exhilaration at the core of it。 To him both emotions were equally inexplicable。 〃To me？〃 he echoed stupidly。
〃To you。 Even the Sword of Stealth cannot disguise me well enough to let me pass for human； or for any type of creature of merely human size。 At a distance； perhaps。 But I cannot enter the dwellings of humans secretly； to listen to their secret councils。〃
〃You say you're able to spy on the gods； though。 Isn't that even more important？〃
The Beastlord was shaking his head。 〃The war that is ing is going to jar the world； as it has not been jarred since the time of Ardneh。 And the war is going to be won or lost by human beings； though the gods will have a role to play。〃
〃How do you know these things？〃
Draffut said nothing。
〃What can we do？〃 Mark asked simply。
〃I am going； in my own shape； to try to influence the actions of the gods。 As you may know； I am incapable of hurting humans； whatever happens。 But against them I can fight when necessary。 I have done as much before； and won。〃
Again Mark could feel his scalp creep。 He swallowed and nodded。 Apparently there was some basis of truth for those legends that told of Draffut's successful bat against the war…god Mars himself。
Draffut added： 〃I am going to leave the Sword with you。〃
Again to hear that brought Mark a swift surge of elation； an emotion in this case swiftly dampened by a few memories and a little calculation。
〃Sir Andrew； whom I serve； has sent me on a mission to Princess Rimac … or to her General Rostov； if he proves easier to find。 I am to tell them certain things。。。 of course； I can take the Sword of Stealth along with me。 And I suppose I could give it to them when I get there。。。 but what did the Emperor have in mind for me to do with it？ Do you trust him？〃 Questions were piling up in his mind faster than he could ask them。
〃I have known and dealt with human beings for more than fifty thousand years；〃 said Draffut； 〃and I trust him。 Though he would not explain。 He said only that he trusts you with the Sword。〃
Mark frowned。 To be told of such mysterious trust by an apparently powerful figure was somehow more irritating than pleasing。 〃But why me？ What does he know about me？〃
〃He knows of you；〃 said Draffut immediately； in a tone of unhelpful certainty。 〃And now； I must be on my way。〃 The giant turned away； then back again to say； 〃The Princess's land of Tasavalta lies to the east of here； along the coast； as I suppose you know。 As to where Rostov and his army might be at the moment； you can probably guess as well as I。〃
〃I'll take the Sword on with me； then； to the Princess。〃 Mark raised his voice； calling after the Beastlord； Draffut； moving at a giant's walk considerably faster than a human run； was already growing distant。 Mark sighed； swallowing more questions that were obviously not going to be answered now。
Splashing through the shallow river； Draffut turned once more； for just long enough to wave farewell。 Then he began to climb the far wall of the great canyon。 He climbed like a mountain goat； going right up the steep rocks。 Mark thought he could see the rock itself undergoing temporary change； wherever Draffut touched it； starting to flow with the impulses of life。
Then Draffut was gone； up and over the canyon rim。
Left alone； Mark was suddenly exhausted。 He stared for a long moment at the Sword left in his hands。 Then he bent to enjoy； at last； the drink he needed from the river whose name he did not know。 He cooled himself with splashing。 Then he stretched himself out on a shady moss； with Sightblinder tucked under his head； and slept securely。 Any enemy ing upon him now would not see him； but instead some person or thing that they loved or feared； or at any rate would not harm。 Of course there might e a sudden thunderstorm upstream； a canyon flood； and he'd be drowned； but he had lived much of his life with greater risks than that。
Mark did not awake until the sun had dropped behind the high stone western wall and it was nearly dark。 Before the light had faded entirely； he managed to get a rabbit with one of his two remaining arrows。 He even managed to retrieve the arrow undamaged； which convinced him that his luck was definitely improving。 After cooking his rabbit on a small fire； he devoured most of it and slept again。
It was deep night when he awoke the second time； and he lay looking up at the stars and wondering about Draffut。 The Beastlord was a magnificent and unique being； and it was small wonder that most folk thought he was a god。 His life had begun so long ago that even Ardneh's struggle with the demon Orcus was recent by parison。 Mark； holding the Sword of Stealth while he looked at Draffut； had seen that that was true。
The Sword had allowed Mark to see something more wonderful still。
He had seen； very plainly； though only for a moment； and in a mode of seeing impossible to explain； that the Beastlord had begun his long life as a dog。 A plain； four…footed dog； and nothing more。
That was a mystery beyond wondering about。 Mark slept yet again； and awoke beneath turned stars。 Just after his eyes opened he saw a brilliant meteor； as if some power had awakened him to witness it。
He lay awake for some time； pondering。
Who； after all； was the Emperor？ And why； and how did the Emperor e to be aware of Mark； son of Jord？ Of course Mark's late father was himself a minor figure in legends； through his unwilling conscription by Vulcan to help in the forging of the Swords。 And Mark had taken part in the celebrated raid of four years ago on the Blue Temple treasury。 But why should either of those dubious claims to fame have caused the Emperor to send him a Sword？
All the stories agreed that the Emperor liked jokes。
Mark was no closer to an answer when he once more fell asleep。
In the morning he was up and moving early。 Soon he found a side canyon that appeared passable； and led off to the east。 He refilled his water bottle before leaving the river； then followed the side canyon's gradually ascending way。 When； after some kilometers； the smaller canyon had shallowed enough to let him climb out of it easily； he did so。 Now eastern mountains； blue as if with forests； were visible in the distance。 Tasavalta； he thought。 Or somewhere near to it。
He was a day closer to those mountains when he saw the mounted patrol。 He was sure even at a considerable distance that these riders were the Dark King's soldiers。 He had fought against such often enough to be able to distinguish them； he thought； by no more than the fold of a distant cloak； the shape of a spearhead carried high。 The patrol was between him and his goal； and was heading almost directly toward him； but he did not think that they had seen him yet。
Mark had automatically taken concealment behind a bush at his first sight of the riders； and he continued watching them from hiding。 He was planning； almost unthinkingly； how best to remain out of their sight as they passed； when he recalled what Sword it was that now swung at his side。 He had used Sightblinder once before； and he trusted its powers fully。
Boldly he stood up； hand on the hilt of the Sword； feeling a stirring of its power as he approached his enemies； he marched straight toward the oning riders。 But before the patrol saw him they altered course slightly； perversely turned aside。 Mark muttered oaths。 If he had been helpless and endeavoring to hide； he thought； they would have stumbled over him without trying。
They were pletely out of sight when he reached their trail； but he followed it into the setting sun； blue mountains now at his back。 His messages for Princess Rimac were really routine。 His soldier's instincts told him that here he might have an excellent target of opportunity。
An hour or so later he found the patrol； a dozen tough…looking men； gathered by their evening fire； which was large enough to show that they had no particular fear of night attack。 The hilt of Sight blinder was vibrating smoothly in Mark's hand as he strode into the firelight to stand before them。
They looked up at him； and they all sat still。 Hard warriors though they were； he could see that they were instantly afraid。 Of what； he did not know； except that it was some image that they saw of him。 Looking down at his own body； he saw； as he had known he would； himself unchanged。
Mark left it to them to break the silence。 At last one who was probably their sergeant stood up； bowed； and asked him： 〃Lord； what will you have of us？〃
〃In what direction do your orders take you？〃 Mark's voice； to his own ears； sounded no different than before。
〃Great Lord； we are bound for the encampment of the Dark King himself。 There we are to report to our captain the results of our patrol。〃
Mark drew in a deep breath。 〃Then you will take me with you。〃
Chapter 4
Jord scratched delicately at his itching arm…stump； then grimaced at the unaccustomed soreness there。 He rubbed at the place； more delicately still； with a rough fingertip。 There was some kind of minor swelling； too。
Not that he was plaining。 On the contrary。 He was lying on a soft couch covered with fine fabric； in morning sunshine。 Birds sang pleasantly nearby。 Otherwise he was alone on the elegant rooftop terrace； largely a garden of plants and birds； fresh from last night's rain。 The terrace covered most of the flat roof of the House of Courtenay。 A plate of food； second helpings that Jord had been unable to finish； rested on a small table at his side。 He was wearing a fine white nightshirt； of a material strange to him； that felt as what he supposed silk must feel。 Well； he'd obviously and very fortunately reached wealthy and powerful friends； so none of these details were really all that surprising。
What did surprise him … what left him in fact almost numb with astonishment … was what had happened to his wounds。
The husky men； obviously some kind of servants； who had carried Jord up here to the terrace this morning had told him that he'd arrived here at the House of Courtenay only last night。 Jord hadn't questioned the servants beyond that； because he wasn't sure how much they knew about their master's secret affairs； and about who he； Jord； really was； in terms of his business here。
Jord's last memories from last night were of being afraid of bleeding to death； and of trying to pound on the back door of his house； knowing that if he fainted before he got help he'd likely never to wake up。 Well； he must have fainted。 And he had certainly awakened； feeling almost healthy； ravenously hungry … and with his wounds well on the way to being pletely healed。
The sun； rising higher now； would have begun to grow unfortably hot； but at just the proper angle a leafy bower now