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g； while one of the women oared another small craft along behind。 As they glided deeper into the swamp； under the twisted limbs of giant trees festooned with exotic parasite…plants； Denis saw a small arboreal creature； of a type strange to him； headed in the same direction。 It was brachiating itself along through the upper branches at a pace that soon overtook and passed the boats。 He surmised it was some species of half…intelligent messenger。
Presently； after about a kilometer of paddling； Denis was delivered to a camouflaged mand post； a half…walled structure made of logs and shirt…sized tree fronds； where he repeated his terse message to an officer。 Again he was sent on； deeper into the swamp； this time with a different and larger escort。
This leg of the escorted journey took longer。 It occupied a fair portion of the remaining daylight hours； and ended with Denis's canoe grounding on the shore of what appeared to be a sizable island of firm land that reared up out of the swamp。 There were people on this island already。 He estimated a score of them or more； many of them conspicuously wearing Sir Andrew's orange and black。 A few tents had been set up； but the place did not have the worn look of a permanent encampment。
The people who were already gathered here appeared to be waiting for something。 They were not； as it turned out； anticipating Denis's arrival； which in itself did not cause much of a stir。 His canoe was beached for him； and he was at once conducted a short distance inland； toward one particular knot of people who were engaged in some serious discussion。 Taking the chance to look about him from the slightly higher vantage point of this firm ground； Denis realized that this was no true island at all； or else it was a much larger island than he had first assumed。 From here he could see a double track； what looked like a regular road； though a poor one； approaching through the trees to end in the small clearing where the knot of people were conversing。
The focus of that group's attention was one man； heavily built； gray…haired； and wearing clothing that might once have been fine。 This man was standing with his back to Denis； but the black hilt of a Sword visible at his side convinced Denis that this must be Sir Andrew himself； who was known to hold Shieldbreaker。
Sir Andrew turned。 The face of the man known as the Kind Knight showed more age than his strong body did。 He was holding a book in his left hand； and had been gesturing with it to make some point； when Denis's arrival interrupted the discussion。
Standing at Sir Andrew's right hand was a woman； not young but certainly still attractive。 There was much gray now in the lady's black hair； but Denis thought that in youth her face must have been extremely beautiful。 He had no idea what her name might be； but at first glance he was certain she was a sorceress。 Certain details of her dress gave that indication； but the impression was created chiefly by an impalpable sense of magic that hung about her。 Denis could feel that magical aura； and he did not consider himself a sensitive。
Two pairs of brown eyes； the lady's younger and quicker than Sir Andrew's； studied the new arrival。 Names were formally exchanged。
〃And where；〃 asked the Knight then； in his slow； strong voice； 〃is this cargo that you say you have for me？〃
〃In the canoe； sir。 There's a false bottom。〃
〃And what is the cargo？ Speak freely； I have no secrets from any here。〃
Denis glanced around。 〃A Sword； sir。 One of the famous Twelve； I mean。 Sent from the man called Ben； in Tashigang。 There were two Swords； but something happened to me on the way。〃
〃I can see that；〃 the enchantress murmured。 Her eyes were narrowed as she studied Denis。 〃Show me this remaining Sword。〃
They moved quickly to the waiting beached canoe。 At Denis's direction the concealing board was pried up once more。 Dame Yoldi； the graying sorceress； supervised this operation carefully； and gave the exposed cargo a close inspection before she would allow Sir Andrew to approach it。
She also questioned Denis first。 〃You say that two Swords were sent； and one lost on the way？〃
〃Yes Ma'am。〃 Denis related in barest outline； and not dwelling on his own feelings； what had happened between him and the goddess。 He heard a snicker or two； and scoffing noises； in the background。 But he thought the lady perhaps believed him。 At least she stepped back to let Sir Andrew approach the canoe。
The Knight's right hand plucked Doomgiver from the secret partment； and held it； still sheathed； aloft。 There was a general murmur； of appreciation this time； not scoffing。
〃Do you feel anything from the two Swords； Andrew？〃 the sorceress asked gently。 〃You are holding two at one time…you still wear Shieldbreaker。〃
He huffed and gave her a look。 〃I've not forgotten what I wear。 No； I feel nothing in particular … you once told me that even three Swords at once would not be too many for some folk to handle。〃
〃And I tell you again that two； in certain binations； might do strange things to other folk。 And you are sensitive。〃
〃Sensitive！ Me！〃 He huffed again。
Dame Yoldi smiled； and Denis could see how much she loved him。 Denis wondered suddenly if he himself had actually handled the two Swords at the same time at any point。 If he had； he couldn't remember feeling anything strange。
Now Sir Andrew turned back to Denis。 〃We must soon hear your story about the goddess； and Woundhealer； in more detail。 Meanwhile we are all grateful to you for what you have brought to us。 But at the moment even such a gift as the Sword of Justice must wait to have my full attention； and you must wait to get your proper thanks。〃
〃You're quite wele； sir。〃
Already Dame Yoldi had Denis by the arm and was turning him away。 〃At the moment you are in need of food and rest。〃 She gestured； and a woman came to take Denis in charge。
He resisted momentarily。 〃Thank you； Ma'am。 But there is one bit of news； bad news； that I must tell you first。〃 That certainly got their full attention back。 Denis swallowed； then blurted out the words。 〃The Dark King has the Mindsword in his hands。 So we were told in Tashigang； by some of Ardneh's people。〃 The source put a strong flavor of reliability upon the news。
His hearers received his announcement with all the shock that Denis had anticipated。 He braced himself for the inevitable burst of questions； which he answered in the only way he could； pleading his own lack of further knowledge。
At last he was dismissed。 Led away； he was given bread and wine； then shown to a tent where he stretched out gratefully upon the single cot。 His eyes closed； their lids suddenly heavy； and with a swiftness that might have been genuinely magical； he plunged into a deep sleep。
Denis awoke suddenly； and feeling greatly refreshed。 He was surprised to see that the pattern of tree shadows on the tent had shifted very little； and no great length of time could have passed。 What had awakened him he did not know。
Listening to the silence outside the tent； he thought that there was some unusual tension in it。
He got up and left the tent。 Seeing that some people were still gathered at the place where he had left Sir And