that it could do was wield the Sword； and in bat against unarmed flesh the Sword was useless。 Meanwhile； Vulcan's blood drained from his self…inflicted wounds。
He relaxed suddenly； playing dead。
In a moment； stunned and battered themselves； the people had all let go of him。
He leaped up； raging； wise enough now to use his first free effort to throw the Sword away from him。 But in the presence of his enemies it would not let him go。
A moment later； a huge man； who had just e stumbling out of the half…ruined house； had hurled himself alone at Vulcan； and brought the god down with a tackle。
And then they were all on him again。
Now another group of people； these in white robes； recognizable to the struggling Smith as servants of the Dead God； Ardneh； were running into the street before the house。 These； ing late to the scene； were clamoring in protest。 From their words Vulcan could tell that they thought they were witnessing a lynching； a mob attack upon some poor helpless man。
The people who were grappling the Smith down tried to explain。 〃pletely mad； he thinks he's Vulcan。〃 And a kind of exhausted laugh went round among them。
An aged priestess of Ardneh； looking wise and kind； came to take the useless Sword out of the madman's grasp。 It came to her easily out of his cramped grip。
〃To keep you from hurting yourself； poor fellow； or anyone else。。。 my； what a weapon。〃 The priestess blinked at the Sword。 〃This must be put away； in safety somewhere。〃
〃I'll take it；〃 said Ben。
The old woman looked into the huge man's eyes； and sighed。 〃Yes； you take it。 There is no one better here； I think。 Now we must bind this poor fellow for a while； so he does no more harm。 How strong he is！ … ah； such a waste。 But these cords will hold him； carefully； for we must do it out of love。〃
Chapter 19
In all of his fifty thousand and more years of life； the creature named Draffut； the Lord of Beasts； had never been closer to death than he was now。 Yet life； his almost inextinguishable life； remained in him。 He clung to it； if for no other reason than because there was an injured human being nearby； who cried out from time to time in his own pain。 Draffut； still true to his own nature； felt pelled to find a way to help that man。
But he was unable to do anything to help the man； unable even to move enough to help himself。 The very stream that laved his wounds seemed to be slowly drawing his life away instead of assisting him to heal。
It was daylight … whether of the last day of the fight； or some day after that； he was not sure … when he became aware that another presence； intelligent but not human； was approaching him。
The Beastlord opened his eyes slowly。 A goddess； recognizable to him as Aphrodite； was standing above him at a little distance； looking down at him where he still lay in the mud at the water's edge。
Aphrodite was standing just where Vulcan had stood； and there was a Sword in her hands too。 But Draffut knew at once that this was different than Vulcan's approach； and he felt no fear as she drew near him； and raised the Sword。
It struck at him； and he cried out with a pang of new life； as sharp as pain。 〃Woundhealer；〃 he said； suddenly strong enough to talk again。 〃And you are Aphrodite。〃
〃And you are the Healer；〃 she said。 〃Therefore I think it right that you should have this Sword。 Humans quarrel and fight over this one； even as they do with all the others。 So I took it back from them。 And I am weary of trying to decide what to do with it next … so much love allows but little time for pleasure。〃
With a motion marked by a slight endearing awkwardness； she dropped the Sword of Mercy on the surface of the mud beside him。
Draffut； able to move again； put out his huge hand； weakly and slowly； and touched the blade。 〃I thank you； goddess； for your gift of life。〃
〃There are many who have life because of me。。。 ah； already I feel better too； to be rid of it。 But that Sword suits you； I think。 You are not much like me。〃
〃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 reall