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in fact。 And I stood by and helped。 Smithery was my trade in those days。 Not that any of the skill that made those swords was mine … no human being has skill to pare with that。 And five other men from my village were called to help also … to work the bellows； and tend the fire； and so on。 We had no choice but to help。〃
Here the woman surprised the Duke again； this time by interrupting； with a faint clearing of her throat。 〃Does Your Grace remember ever visiting that village？ It's called Treefall； and it's almost in the mountains。〃
Duke Fraktin looked at the woman … yes； definitely； he was going to have to see her alone； later； without her husband。 Something was up。 〃Why； I suppose I may have been there；〃 the Duke said。 The name meant nothing to him。
He faced the man again。 〃No； Jord； I don't suppose you had much choice when Vulcan ordered you to help him。 I understand that unfortunately none of the five other men survived。〃
〃Vulcan used 'em up； sir。 He used their bodies and their blood； like so many tubs of water； to quench the blades。〃
〃Yet you he spared。。。 except of course that he took your arm。 Why do you suppose he did that？〃
〃I don't remember that part at all well； Your Grace。。。 might I sit down？ My head。。。 〃
〃Yes； yes。 Pull up one of those chairs for him； Mala。 Now Jord。 Go on。 About when you made the swords。〃
〃Well； sir； I fainted。 And when I woke again； my right arm was gone。 A neat wound； with most of the bleeding stopped already。 And my left hand was already holding Townsaver's hilt。 And Vulcan bent over me； as I was lying there； and he said。。。〃
〃Yes； yes？〃
〃That now the sword was mine to keep。 Townsaver。 The Sword of Fury； he called it too。 To keep and to pass on as inheritance。 I couldn't understand。。。 I hurt like hell。。。 and then he laughed； as if it were all nothing but a great joke。 A god laughing makes a sound like … like nothing else。 But it has never been a joke to me。〃
〃No； I suppose not。〃 The Duke turned and stepped back up onto his dais； and poured himself another small cup of wine。 When he looked down at the jeweled hilt of the fine dagger at his belt； his hand itched to toy with it； but he forebode。 At this moment he wanted to do nothing； say nothing； in the least threatening。 He asked mildly： 〃How many swords did you say that Vulcan forged that day？〃
〃I don't think I said； Your Grace； but there were twelve。〃 The miller looked a little better； more in control of himself； since he'd been allowed to sit down。 〃Would you believe it？〃 he almost smiled。
〃I would believe it； since you say so； and you are an honest man。 I would know if you were lying。 Now； about these other eleven swords。 It is very； very important that their existence should be kept very quiet。 No one outside this room is to hear of them from you。 My good people； what do you suppose I should do to make sure of that？〃
The man looked to be at a loss。 But the woman stepped forward smoothly。 〃You should trust us； Your Grace。 We won't say a word。 Jord's never mentioned those other swords until now； and he won't。 And I won't。〃
The Duke nodded to her slowly； then switched his attention back to the man。 〃Now； smith； miller； whatever … what happened to those other eleven swords？〃
A helpless； one…armed shrug。 〃Of that； sire； I have no iaea。〃
〃Did Vulcan name them； as he named your sword？ What were they like？ Where did they go？〃
Again Jord made a helpless motion。 〃I know none of those things； Your Grace。 I never got a good look at any of those other swords； at least not after the early stages of the forging。 I saw twelve white…hot bars of steel； waiting for Vulcan's hammer … that was when I counted 'em。 Later I was too busy to think； or care and later still； I had my bleeding stump to think about。 I couldn't。。。 〃
〃e； e； Jord。 You must have seen more than that。 You were right there； the whole time； weren't you？〃
〃I was； sir； but。。。 Your Grace； I'd tell you more if I could。〃 Jord sounded desperate。
〃Very well； very well。 Perhaps you will remember more about those swords。 What else did Vulcan say to you？〃
〃I don't know what all he might have said； Your Grace。 He gave me orders； told me what to do； I'm sure。 I must have understood what he was saying then； but I never could remember afterwards。〃
〃You do remember seeing those twelve white…hot steel bars； though。 Were they all alike？〃
〃All meant to be straight blades； I think。 Probably much like the one that I was given。 Weapons never were my specialty。〃
〃Ah。〃 The Duke sipped at his wine again； and paced the room。 He took thought； trying to find the cleverest way to go。 〃The sword that you were given。 How was it decorated？〃
〃The blade； not at all； sir。 Oh； there was a very fine pattern right in the steel； such as I've never seen elsewhere。 But that was； as I say； in the very metal itself。 Then there was a rough steel crossguard； no real decoration there either。 And then the handle above was straight and black； of some material I didn't recognize： sometimes I wondered if it was from the Old World。 And on it was a fine white pattern of decoration：'
〃What did this pattern represent？〃
〃I puzzled often about that； sir。 It might have been a crenelated wall； like on a castle or a town。〃 And the woman nodded agreement to what her husband said。
The Duke asked： 〃Do you suppose that you could sketch it for me？〃
〃I'll have a try； sir。〃 The man sounded reasonably confident。
〃Later。 Now； you were a smith yourself。 Regardless of whether weapons were ever your specialty； I take it that this sword was of such beauty that you must have realized it would be worth a lot of money even leaving aside any magical properties it may have had。 Did it never enter your head to sell it？〃
The man's face hardened at that。 〃Beg pardon； Your Grace。 I didn't think it had been given me to sell。〃
〃No？ Didn't Vulcan say that it was yours； to do with as you liked？〃
〃He said it was mine； sir。 But until it came time for me to pass it to my sons。 That was said very definitely； too。〃
〃I'm curious； Jord。 What did you think your son would do with it； when it came to him？ Just keep it on the wall； as you did？〃
〃I don't know； sir。〃
The Duke waited a little； but nothing more came。 He sighed。 〃A pity。 I'd have given you a very handsome price； if you'd brought the thing to me。 I still will； of course； should the blade ever happen to e into your control again。 If； for example； your son should bring it back。 Or if； perhaps； you should look through the woods and find it where he dropped it。 I'll give you a good price and ask no questions。〃
The man and woman looked at each other； as if they wished they could take advantage of the Duke's generosity。
The Duke sat in his chair； leaning forward。 〃Just realize that； sooner or later； in one way or another； I'll have that sword。〃 He leaned back； brightening。 〃And I do want to give your son a substantial reward； for trying his best to defend my cousin … as did your older son； indeed。 So before I forget。。。〃 And from a pocket the Duke produced a golden coin； i