enues and streets。 This was also； of course； the first time that Mark had seen the House of Courtenay； and he was duly impressed by the wealth and luxury in which his old friends Barbara and Ben were living。 But he was given little time today in which to be impressed by that。 The household； like the rest of the great city around it； was in a state of turmoil and tension。 Soon after entering Mark got the impression that none of its members knew as yet whether they were preparing for war and siege； or for evacuation。 Packing of certain valuables as if for possible evacuation was being undertaken； by a force of what Mark estimated as at least a dozen servants and other workers； while simultaneously another group barricaded all but a few of the doors and windows as if in expectation that the House must undergo a siege。
Almost immediately on entering the building's ground floor； ing into the clamorous confusion of what must be a workshop； Denis immediately became engaged in conversation with a man he introduced to Mark as the steward of the household； named Tarim。
Denis was already aghast at some of the things Tarim was telling him。
〃Evacuation？ Tashigang？ Don't tell me they're seriously considering such a thing。〃
〃We have heard something of the Mindsword's power；〃 said Tarim worriedly。 He turned his aging； troubled eyes toward Mark。 〃Perhaps you gentlemen who travel out in the great world have heard something of it too。〃
Denis was impatient。 〃I think we've some idea about it； yes。 But we're not helpless； there are other weapons； other Swords。 We've even brought one with us。。。 and if they evacuate this city； half a million people or however many there are； where will they all go？〃
Tarim shrugged fatalistically。 〃Flee to the upper hills； I suppose； or the Great Swamp。 I didn't say that it made sense to evacuate。〃
Someone else had just entered the ground floor room。 Turning； Mark saw the man who all his life he had thought of as his father。 Who was his father； he told himself； in every sense that truly mattered。
And so Mark called him at first sight。 For the time being； the Emperor was forgotten。
Mark had been only twelve the last time he saw Jord； then lying apparently dead in their village street。 But there was no mistaking Jord； for the older man had changed very little。 Except for being dressed now in finer garments than Mark had ever seen him wear before。 And except for。。。
The really exceptional transformation was so enormous； and at the same time appeared so right and ordinary； that Mark at first glance came near accepting it as natural； and not a change at all。 Then； after their first embrace； he wonderingly held his father at arms' length。
Jord now had two arms。
Mark's father said to him； 〃What the Swords took from me； they have given back。 I'm told that Woundhealer was used to heal me as I lay here injured and unconscious。 It did a better job even than those who used it had hoped。〃
〃The Sword of Mercy has touched me too；〃 Mark whispered。 And then for a little time he could only stand there marveling at his father's new right arm。 Jord explained to Mark how the arm had begun as a mere fleshy swelling； then a bud； and then in a matter of a few months had passed through the normal stages of human growth； being first a limb of baby size； then one to fit a child。 It was as large and strong as the left arm now； but the skin of the new limb was still pink and almost unweathered even on the hand； not scarred or worn by age like that on Jord's left fist； visible below the sleeve of his fine new shirt。
Suddenly Mark said； 〃I've just e from seeing Mother； and Marian。 When they hear you have a new arm。。。〃
The two of them； father and son； had many things to talk about。 Some things that were perhaps of even greater importance than a new arm … and Mark still had one problem to think about that he was never going to mention to this man。 But they were allowed little time just now for talk。 Ben and Barbara were arriving from somewhere in the upper interior of the house to give Mark a joyful wele。
Barbara jumped at him； so that he had to catch and swing her。 She threw wiry arms around his neck and kissed him powerfully； so that he held her； as he had Jord； at arms' length for a moment； wondering if in her case too there had taken place some change so great as to be invisible at first glance。 But then he had to drop her； for Ben； less demonstrative as a rule； came to almost crush Mark in a great hug。
They were followed by a plump nursemaid； introduced to Mark as Kuan…yin who was carrying their small child Beth。 The toddler was obviously already a great friend of Jord's； for she went to him at once and asked him how his new arm was。
Kuan…yin； released from immediate duty； at once went a little apart with Denis。 Mark could see that the two of them； standing face to face amid the confusion of workers packing and barricading； had their own private greetings to exchange。
〃We'd like to get a weling party for you started right away；〃 Ben was saying to Mark； 〃but we can't。 It'll have to wait at least until tomorrow。 The Lord Mayor has called a council of leading citizens； and Barbara and I are invited。 Substantial people now； you know。 Master and Lady Courtenay。 And the Mayor knows we have some kind of a hoard of weapons； to help defend。。。 what's that at your side？〃
Ben grabbed the sheath； and looked at the Sword's hilt。 〃Thank Ardneh； Coinspinner！ We've got to go to that meeting； and you've got to e too； and bring this tool along； to see that they don't decide on some damned foolishness like surrendering。 You'll be wele； bringing word from outside as you do。 And also as a representative of Tasavalta。 And bringing another Sword。。。 that'll stiffen up their spines。 Townsaver is in town already。〃
Mark grinned at him。 〃Doomgiver is on the way。〃
〃Thank all the gods！〃 Holding Mark by the arm； Ben lowered his voice for a moment。 〃We can't surrender； and we certainly can't evacuate。 Imagine trying to take a three…year…old on that。。。 you and I know what it would be like。 But if the rest of the city goes； we'll have to try。〃
The Lord Mayor's palace； like every other part of the city that Mark had seen so far； was a scene of energetic； confused； and doubtfully productive activity。 Here as elsewhere the inhabitants appeared to be striving to make ready for some allout effort； whose nature they had not yet been able to decide upon。
Mark； Ben； and Barbara were admitted readily enough at the main doorway of the Palace。 This was a building somewhat similar to the House of Courtenay； though even larger and more sumptuous； and with reception rooms and offices on the ground floor instead of workshop space。 Soon they were conducted up a broad curving stair of marble； past workmen descending with newly crated works of art。
On the way； Mark's friends were trying to bring him up to date on the situation that they were about to encounter。
〃We're likely；〃 Ben warned； 〃to run into our old friend Hyrcanus at this meeting。〃
Mark almost missed his footing on the stair。 〃Hyrcanus？ Is he still Chief Priest at the Blue Temple？ But he。。。〃
〃He still is；〃 Barbara assured him。 〃And the Blue Temple is an important faction here in Tashigang。〃
〃I suppose they must be。 But I never thought about it until now；〃 Mark murmured。 〃Hyrcanus。 I remember hearing somewhere that he was certain to be deposed。 I thought he was gone by now； it's four years since we robbed him。 Plundered his deepest rathole； as nobody else has ever done before or since。〃
〃Thank all the gods for that rathole；〃 Barbara murmured。 〃And send us another like it。 A handful of its contents has done well for Ben and me。 I hear that the Temple are now considering moving their main hoard of treasure into Tashigang。 We just wanted to warn you； Hyrcanus will probably be here； and he won't be happy to see us。〃
〃He thinks I'm dead；〃 Mark murmured。 But it was too late now to try to preserve that happy state of affairs。
They had now reached the door of the conference room； a large； well…appointed chamber on an upper floor； and were ushered in without delay。 Even after being warned it was a shock for Mark to behold Hyrcanus with his own eyes； it was the