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〃Is the food not to your taste？〃
〃It's very good。 Only they gave me more than enough。〃
The lady was looking at him thoughtfully。 There were chairs nearby but just now she evidently preferred standing。 〃So； the Princess Rimac sent you to us。 As courier； to carry two Swords back to her。〃
Jord tried to flex his wounded knee a little； and grimaced at the sensation。 〃I seem to have failed in that task before it was fairly started。〃 It was said matter…of…factly。 〃Well； I'll do as best I can with whatever es next。 It seems I'll need to heal before I can do much at all。〃
The lady continued to regard him。 It appeared that for some reason she was strongly interested。 Presently she said 〃The servants … all except Denis； who's really more than that … think that you are simply a fellow merchant； who's had an encounter with thieves and is in need of help。 Such things are all too mon in our business。〃
〃And in mine； unhappily。 Again I thank you for saving my life。〃 Jord paused。 〃But tell me something。 Those who carried me up here said that I arrived only last night。 But。。。〃 He gestured in perplexity toward his wounds。
〃One of the blades that you were going to take to Princess Rimac is the Sword of Mercy。〃
〃Ah。〃 Jord； who had been supporting himself on his elbow； lay back flat again。 〃That explains it。〃
The lady had turned her head away。 The little child was babbling somewhere on the other side of the roof。 But someone else； a huge man of about the lady's own age； was approaching around a corner of trellis。 Birds flew out of his way。 〃My husband；〃 she explained。
Again Jord raised himself on his elbow。 〃Master Courtenay。 Again my thanks。〃
The big man smiled； an expression that made his face much more pleasant in appearance。 〃And you are wele here； as I expect my wife has already told you。〃
Jord's hosts seated themselves together on a bench nearby； and asked to hear from him about last night's attack that had left him wounded。 Both appeared relieved when he told them he had dispatched his lone assailant before he had collapsed himself。
The master of the house informed him； 〃A few more of those who were following you arrived a little later。 But we managed to dispose of them。〃
〃Following me？ More of them？〃 Jord swore earthily； calling upon various anatomical features of several gods and demons。 〃I feared as much； but I saw nothing of 'em。〃 He groaned his worry。
Master Courtenay's thick hand made a gesture of dismissal； there was nothing to be done about that now。 Then Coutenay glanced at his wife； a look transmitting some kind of signal； and she faced their guest with the air of someone opening a new subject。
〃Jord；〃 she asked him； 〃what village do you e from？〃
It had been years since that question had surprised him。 〃Why； you're quite right； Ma'am； I'm a village man； not of the cities。 And I've lived in a good many villages。〃
〃But twenty years ago you were living in Arin…on…Aldan； weren't you？ And still there； up to about…ten years ago？〃
Jord nodded； and sighed faintly。 〃Like a lot of other villages； Lady； it's not there any longer。 Or so I've heard。 Your pardon； gentlefolk； but most who start asking me about my village have an earlier one than that in mind。 Treefall； the place that Vulcan took me from to help him forge the Swords。 Yes； I'm that Jord。 Not too many Jords in the world with the right arm missing。 Often I use another name； and I put most people off when they start asking where I'm from。 But you of course I'll answer gladly。 Whatever you'd like to know。〃
〃We；〃 said the huge； broad man； 〃are no more gentlefolk than you。 The name I was born with is nothing like Courtenay； but simply Ben。 That was in a poor village too； where one name was enough。 Ben of Purkinje； some call me now。 You've heard that somewhere； most 。likely； within the past four years。 I'm the Ben who robbed the Blue Temple； and they're out to hunt me down。 I'm pretty sure it was their people who followed you here last night。〃
〃And my name is really Barbara；〃 the lady said simply。 She moved one small pale hand in a gesture that took in the luxury of the terrace； her whole house。 〃This is all Blue Temple wealth； or was。 A single handful of their chests and baskets full of jewels。〃
〃Ah。〃 Jord nodded。 〃I've heard of the man called Ben who robbed those robbers。 That story has gone far and wide。。。〃
The lady interrupted him； eagerly。 〃Since you've heard the stories； you must have heard that a man named Mark was in on the raid with Ben； here。〃 Here Barbara really smiled at Jord for the first time。 〃And you have a grown son named Mark； don't you？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the man on the couch。 〃It's a mon enough name。 Why？〃
〃Because it is the same Mark；〃 the lady said。 〃And we are his good friends； though we have not seen him for a long time。 He took no wealth for himself from the Blue Temple。 He's still out there soldiering； in Sir Andrew's army。 And I'm afraid he thinks that you are dead。〃
〃Ah；〃 said their visitor again。 He lay back flat； and closed his eyes； and clenched his fist。 His lips moved； as if he might be praying。 Then he opened his eyes and once more raised himself a little on his elbow。
He spoke to his hosts now almost as if he were their prisoner and they his judges。 〃Mark had to run away from the village； that day。。。 is it ten years now？ Almost。 He had to take Townsaver and get away with it。 Yes； he saw me struck down。 He must have been thinking ever since that I'd been killed。 He wasn't able to e back； nor we to find out where he was。 So much happened； we had to leave the village。 We never had any news。。。〃
Jord's voice changed again； happily this time。 〃Tell me about him。 Still soldiering； you say？ What。。？〃 He obviously had so many questions that he didn't know where to start。
Again someone was arriving on the rooftop。 Jord heard a door close； and footsteps came crunching lightly along the graveled path。 A pause； and a few words in what sounded like the nursemaid's voice。 Then the footsteps resumed。 This time there appeared a slender； dark…haired youth who was introduced to Jord as Denis； nicknamed the Quick。 He greeted the older man courteously； and stood there rubbing his forearm through its long sleeve as if it might be sore。
Jord rubbed his arm…stump again。 Already it seemed that the swelling； where the Sword had touched him； was a little greater。
Ben asked the new arrival； 〃What news from the streets？〃
〃None of the local people on our payroll noticed anything out of the way around midnight。 It was a good night to be staying in。〃
〃Denis；〃 said Ben； 〃sit down。〃 And he indicated an unoccpuied chair nearby。 Then he turned his head and called： 〃Kuan…yin？ Take the baby downstairs； would you？〃
Presently a door closed again。 Four people looked solemnly at one another。 Ben said to his young employee； 〃There's one thing we've not told you about Jord yet。 His reason for ing here。〃 And at that point Ben paused； seemingly not knowing quite what to say next。
His wife put in； 〃You must know by now； Denis； where our political sympathies lie。〃
〃The same as mine； Mistress；〃 the young man murmured。 〃Or； indeed； I wouldn't be here now。〃 But he knew that was not true； he would have stayed an