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〃It can。 Didn't you realize that I was going to insist on an answer； sooner or later？〃
〃No； I really didn't。 Not after。。。 what happened to our daughter。 Have you forgotten about her？ Or is this visit just another of your insane jokes？〃
〃I have not forgotten her。 She has been living with me。〃 When Queen Yambu stared at him； he went on calmly： 〃Ariane was badly hurt； about four years ago； as you know。 But she's much better now。 She and I have not talked about you much； but I think that she might want to meet you again some day。〃
The Silver Queen continued to stare at her former lover。 At last she said； 〃My reports； and I have reason to trust them； said that Ariane was killed； in the treasure…dungeon of the Blue Temple。〃
The Emperor scowled his distaste for that organization。 〃Many have died； in that。。。 place。 But Ariane did not die there。 Even though the young men with her at the time were also sure that she was dead。 One of those young men is my son； did you know that？ I like to take care of my children； whenever I can。 She is not dead。〃
And still Queen Yambu stared at him。 She could not shake off her suspicion that this was all one of his jokes； perhaps the prelude to a hideous revenge … she had never been sure； even when they had been lovers； whether he was a vengeful man or not。
At last her royal poise abandoned her for the moment； and she stammered out： 〃I … I sold her to the Red Temple。〃
The frown was turned at her now； and briefly she understood what ancient Imperial power must have been； that Kings and Queens had quaked before it。
〃I might have killed you for that； if I had known about it when it happened。 But years have passed； and you are sorry for that selling now。 She has survived； and so have I。 And so have you。〃
In anger she regained her strength。 〃I have survived without you； you impossible。。。 and you say you want to marry me； still？ How do I know you mean what you are saying now？〃
〃How do you know when to trust anyone； my dear？ You'll have to make a choice。〃
She wanted to cry out that she did not know when to trust anyone； that was her whole problem。 〃You madman； suppose I were to answer you and tell you yes。 Could you defeat the Mindsword for me then？〃
〃I'll do all I can to help you； if you will be my bride。 We'll see about the Mindsword when it es。〃
〃It's here now。 Oh； you bastard。 Impossible as always。 Leave now。 Get out of here； or I'm going to draw Soulcutter。〃 And she put her hand on the unrelieved blackness of that hilt； that rested as always within reach。 〃And I suppose you'll go on seducing brides； and fathering more bastards； after we are married？〃
He said； softly and soberly； 〃I will be more faithful to you than you can well imagine。 I love you； I always have。 Why do you think I fought for you； beside you； when you were a girl？〃
〃I don't believe it； I tell you。 I don't believe any of it。 Leave now； or I draw Soulcutter。〃
〃It's your Sword； to do with as you will。 But I will leave when you decide to draw it。〃
She started to draw the Sword； and … at the same moment called out in a clear voice for her guards。 When they came pushing into the tent a moment later； they found their Queen quite alone； and Soulcutter safely in its sheath； though her hand on the hilt was poised as if for action。
The soldiers found themselves staring half…hypnotized at that hand； both of them hoping that they would be out of the tent again before the Sword was drawn； and already in the air around it； around themselves； they thought they could feel the backwash of a wave of emptiness。
Queen Yambu wasted no more time； but gave the orders necessary to get her troops into the state of final readiness for battle。 That done； she ordered an advance。
With Vilkata's ranks still no more than barely in sight； she waited in the middle of her own line； mounted on her famous gray warbeast； ready to draw the Sword of … of what？ As far as she knew； this one had only one name。
Now the enemy lines were creeping forward。 There； in their center； that would be Vilkata himself； waiting for the perfect moment in which to draw the weapon that he was gambling would be supreme。
The hand of Queen Yambu was on her own Sword's hilt。 She urged her mount forward； a little。 Not yet。
Now。
The Mindsword and Soulcutter were drawn； virtually simultaneously。
Her own first reaction； to the overwhelming psychic impact of her own Sword； was that she wanted to throw it away … but then she did not。 Because she could no longer see how throwing it away would make any difference； would matter in the least。
Nor did anything else matter。
Nothing else in the whole universe。
The Mindsword was a distant； irrelevant twinkle； far across the field； beneath the gloom of thunderclouds。 While near at hand； around Queen Yambu herself。。。
Those of her own troops who were closest to her had been looking at her when she drew。 After that they were indifferent as to where they looked。 Around her a wave of lethargy； of supreme indifference； was spreading out； a slow splash in an inkblack pool。
In the distance； but drawing rapidly nearer； a charge was ing。 Vilkata's troops； with maddened yells； the fresh inspiration of the Mindsword driving them。
Some of the Queen's soldiers； more and more of them with each passing second； were actually slumping to the ground now； letting their weapons fall from indifferent hands。 It appeared that they would be able to put up no resistance； that the Dark King might now be going to win easily。 But of course that did not matter either。
With berserker cries； the first of the Dark King's newly energized fanatics rushed upon them。 The defense put up by the soldiers in black and silver was at best half…hearted； and it was weaker the closer they were stationed to their Queen。
But the attackers； Vilkata's men and women； were now entering the region of Soulcutter's dominance。 It was their screams of triumph that faltered first； and then the energy with which they plied their weapons。 Next their ranks came to a jostling； stumbling halt。
The Queen of Yambu … not knowing； really； why she bothered … slowly raised her eyes。 The Sword she held above her head was so dull that it almost hurt the eyes to look at it。
The Sword of Despair … she had thought of the other name for it now。 Not that that mattered； either。 Not that or anything else。
Why was she bothering to hold the Sword so high？ She let her arms slump with its weight。 When her warbeast； puzzled and suffering； wanted to move； she let it go； sliding from its back。 She stood almost leaning on the Sword now； its point cutting shallowly into the earth。
Nor did any of that really mean anything； as far as she could tell。
The fighting that had begun； sporadically； was dying out。 Soulcutter was winning； all across the field。 If neither victory nor survival mattered； to anyone； there would be no battle。
Yambu was aware； though only dimly and indifferently； that so far the Dark King's weapon had been able to shield him； and a small group of his followers around him； from Soulcutter's dark； subtle assault。
That group began to charge toward her now； yelling warcries。 But its numbers shrank； and shrank more rapidly