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He got up and left the tent。 Seeing that some people were still gathered at the place where he had left Sir Andrew and Dame Yoldi； he hurried in that direction。 Now； as he walked； Denis could see a few more people in orange and black approaching quickly on foot along the landward road。 These were turning and gesturing； as if to indicate that someone or something of importance was ing after them。 Everyone nearby was looking in that direction。
Denis halted in surprise at sight of the next two figures that appeared down the road。 Both were wearing black and silver； the colors of Yambu。 Both were mounted； riding freely； not at all like prisoners。 Still； neither was visibly armed。 One was a burly man； and the other。。。
With a silent gasp； Denis recognized the Silver Queen herself。 He had seen her twice before； both times years ago； both times in the city of Tashigang。 She； as the city's formal overlord； had been appearing then in ceremonial processions。 He； then no more than a street urchin； had been clinging to precarious perches above the crowds； eager to watch。
In those processions the Queen had ridden her virtually unique mount； a superbly trained and deadly warbeast。 Her steed today was less remarkable； though still magnificent； a huge riding beast matching that ridden by her panion。 This burly man； her escort； as they approached Sir Andrew and the others waiting； dropped a deferential half…length behind。
The two riders halted； calmly； at a little distance from where the folk in orange and black were waiting to receive them。 They dismounted there and approached Sir Andrew's group on foot； the tall Queen a pace ahead in her light silvery ceremonial armor； taking long strides like a man。 Denis calculated that she must be now well into her middle thirties； though her tanned face looked younger。 Her whole body was strong and lithe； and despite her stride the generously female shape of her body left no doubt at all about her sex。 The Queen's nose； Denis noted now in private impertinence； was too big for her ever to be called pretty； by any reasonable usage of the word。 And yet； all in all … well； if he were to meet some woman of attainable station who looked just like her； he'd not refuse a chance to know her better。
And have you forgotten me already？ The voice of Aphrodite came to Denis only in his imagination。 It shook him； though； in a resonance of conflicting feelings。
Sir Andrew was standing with folded arms； waiting for his visitors； as if the last thing in the world he might do would be to make any gesture acknowledging his old enemy's greater rank。 But she； approaching； as if she thought he might do so and wished to forestall him； was quick to make the first gesture of greeting； flinging up her right hand in the universal gesture of peace。
〃We meet again！〃 The Silver Queen's voice； hearty and open； neither assumed a royal superiority nor pretended a friendship that did not exist。 〃My honored enemy！ Would that my friends and allies were half as dependable as you。 So； will you take my hand？ And never mind the fripperies of rank。〃
And when Dame Yoldi moved between them； Queen Yambu added： 〃Aye； lady； you may look at my hand first。 I bring no poisoning； no tricks； which is not to say that none such were suggested by my magicians。
Dame Yoldi did indeed make a brief inspection of the Queen's hand。 Meanwhile Denis was having to use his elbows to keep himself from being crowded back by the small but growing throng of Sir Andrew's people who wanted to observe the meeting closely。 There had evidently been more than twenty on the island after all。 He managed to remain close enough to see that the Queen's hand looked like a soldier's； being short…nailed； spotted with callouses … the sort that came from gripping weapons … and strong。 But； for all that； it was shapely； and not very large。
The Queen's offered hand was briefly engulfed in Sir Andrew's massive paw。 And then the Knight stood back again； grim…faced； arms folded； waiting to hear more。
The Queen cast a look around her。 Sir Andrew's friends and bodyguard； heavily armed； most of them impressive warriors； were hovering suspiciously close to her and her panion； and looking as grim as Sir Andrew did himself。
She said to the Knight： 〃I do trust you； you see； and your safe…conduct guarantee。 In nine years of fighting you； off and on； I've learned to know you well enough for that。〃
The Knight spoke to her for the first time。 〃And we have learned something of your character as well； Madam。 And of yours； Baron Amintor。 Now； what will you have of me？ Why this urgent call for a meeting？〃
The Baron was as big and solid as Sir Andrew； and with much the same hearty and honest look； though the Silver Queen's panion was probably the younger of the two men by some fifteen years。 Both were battle…scarred； Denis observed； evidently real fighters。 Amintor's eyes were intelligent； and Denis had heard that he was gifted with a diplomatic tongue when he chose to use it。
And the Queen。。。 this Queen had been no more than a half…grown girl when she ascended to the throne of Yambu。 Her first act afterward； it was said； had been to put to death the plotters who had murdered both her parents in an abortive coup attempt。 Nor had the throne been easy for her to hold； through the twenty years that followed。 Many plotters and intriguers during that time had gone the way of that first set。 Ever since its shaky beginning； her reign … except in a few lucky places like Tashigang … had not been gentle。 It was said that she grew ever more obsessed with the idea that there were plots against her； and that about four years ago she had sold her bastard adolescent daughter into slavery； because of the girl's supposed involvement in one。 The girl； Ariane； had been her only child； everyone knew that the Silver Queen had never married formally。
Now the Queen said to Sir Andrew； 〃I like a man who can e straight to the point。 But just one question first： are you aware that the Dark King now has the Mindsword in his possession？〃
The Knight answered calmly。 〃We have been so informed。〃
Both the Queen and Baron Amintor appeared somewhat taken aback by this calm response。 Yambu said； 〃And I thought that you were existing in a backwater here！ My pliments to your intelligence service。〃
And Amintor chimed in： 〃You'll agree； I'm sure； Sir Andrew； that the fact does change the strategic situation for us all。〃
Sir Andrew took just a moment to consider him in silence； before facing back to the Queen。 〃And just what； Madam； do you expect this change to mean？〃
The Silver Queen laughed。 It was a pleasant； rueful sound。 There was a fallen tree nearby； a twisted log that rested at a convenient height on the stubs of its own branches； and she moved a couple of steps to it and sat down。
〃I foresee myself as Vilkata's first victim； unless I do something about it； quickly。 I'll speak plainly … if you've begun to know me； as you say； you know that's how I prefer to speak。 If Vilkata with the Mindsword in his hand falls on my army now； then unless they can withstand it somehow … and I've no reason to hope they can … then my army will at best melt away。 At worst it'll join Vilkata and au