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〃And you fell over。 Then Sir Andrew had us all brought in。 Ben and I have told him just about everything。 We were all worried about you； but the enchantress said she thought you'd just sleep it off。 Dame Yoldi's her name； and I'm supposed to call her as soon as you wake up。 Just stay there and I'll go get her。〃
Barbara went out of the room quickly。 Mark； disregarding her orders； got up and began to dress； choosing his own old clothes though the elegant new ones beside them appeared to be of a suitable size。 Meanwhile Ben snored on peacefully in the corner。
When Mark was dressed he looked out the window briefly at distant fields and forests beneath the rising sun。 Then he stood over the table that held the sword； looking at the weapon but not touching it。 He was trying to remember； to reconstruct the experience that must have made him lose consciousness the night before； evidently many hours ago。 He could not remember suffering any blow to the head or other injury。 Only touching； for a moment； two swords at the same time； and then feeling strange。 He didn't seem to be wounded now； or hurt in any way； except for the old； half…healed mark of dragon's fire on his left cheek。
The voice came from the doorway behind him： 〃You are Mark。 Son of Jord； who is a miller in Arin…on…Aldan。〃
Mark whirled at the first word。 He found himself confronted by the man who last night had led the charge of men armed with swords from the drawbridge； and who could only be Sir Andrew himself。 Beside the knight was an elegantly dressed woman who must be his enchantress。 Mark stuttered something and started to go down on one knee。
〃No； stand up。〃 Sir Andrew's voice was powerful； but so far not threatening。 He was frowning as he stood with hands clasped behind him。 〃Duke Fraktin sends me word that he considers you a thief and a murderer。〃
〃I am not； sir。〃 The tone in which the accusation had been passed along had seemed to encourage a bold denial。 In the far corner of the room； Ben was now waking up； trying to remain inconspicuous even as he lumbered to his feet。
〃I hardly thought that you were；〃 Sir。 Andrew agreed。 〃I know Duke Fraktin is guilty of both charges himself； and perhaps worse。。。 and last night the agents he sent here showed they were no better。 They've mitted what amount to acts of war against me。 They。。。〃
The beautiful woman who was standing beside Sir Andrew put a hand on the knight's arm； gently interrupting him。 When he had let himself be silenced； she spoke urgently to Mark： 〃What do you remember of last night？〃
Haltingly at first； then gaining confidence as he was granted a patient hearing by both the highborn folk； Mark recounted his experiences at the fair as he remembered them。 He began with his arrival in the wagon with Ben and Barbara； and went on to the moment when the dragon…courier of Duke Fraktin had soared away； the sword Mark had stabbed it with still wedged into its scales。
〃As the dragon went up； it looked … changed。 It looked unreal to me。 Like it was one different creature after another。 And then 1 lost sight of it； and people were fighting all around me。 As you must know； sir； ma'm。 And then 1 think that something must have struck me down。 But just before that … I was feeling strange。〃
The enchantress came toward Mark； and stood in front of him looking at him very closely。 At first he was frightened； but something soon drained away the fear。 She said to him： 〃You were not wounded； were you？〃
〃No ma'm； I wasn't wounded。 But。。。 I just had the feeling that something was。。。 happening to me。〃
〃I don't doubt you did。〃 Dame Yoldi finished her long look at Mark； and sighed。 She looked around at each of the other people in the room。 〃I was watching from a castle window； while most of the rest of you were out in the fairgrounds。 There was a magic in that stolen sword； that made the creature carrying it seem to change。 We each of us saw it as something different when it rose up through the air … but each of us saw it as something harmless； or as a being that ought to be defended。 Just as everyone saw you； Mark； as someone to be obeyed； protected； served … as long as you were carrying that sword：〃
Mark nodded solemnly。 〃Once I had it； the man who had been chasing me called me 'Your Grace' … what became of him？〃
Sir Andrew grunted。 〃Hugh of Semur was among last night's dead。〃 The knight glanced momentarily toward Ben； who was continuing to stand in his corner； still wrapped in his blanket and trying to look small。 〃And my own men fought well； once we understood that we were required to fight。 Some of those who were pretending to be my marshals got away from us； I fear。 But some are dead； and one or two are in my dungeon now。 I fear they'll be a bad influence on my one honest criminal。〃 To Mark's further bewilderment； the knight here shook his head； apparently over some private worry。
Dame Yoldi asked： 〃Mark； who gave you that other sword； the one that's now flown away？ You've just told us that the man who did so appeared to be your father； as long as he had the sword。 But what did he look like afterward； when he'd passed Sightblinder over to you？〃
〃When I had the sword； I saw him only as a masked clown。 Lady； I do not understand these things of magic。〃
There was a pause before the enchantress answered。 〃Nor do I； all too often。〃 As she turned quickly away from Mark； he thought he caught a glimpse of some new inner excitement in her eye。 Again she took the lord of the castle by the arm。 〃Andrew； send out men to search for the carnival clowns。 They're scattered now； I'm sure； after last night； along with all the merchants and the visitors。 But if we could only find him。。。〃 For the moment Dame Yoldi appeared to be lost in some wild private speculation。
Sir Andrew stared at her； then went to the door where he barked out orders。 In a moment he was back。 〃They must be scattered like chaff； as you say。 But we can try〃
〃Good。〃 The enchantress was contemplating Mark again； now with something enough like awe to make him feel unfortable。 〃I do not know much yet； lad； about these magic swords。 But I am learning。 I do know the names of some of them； at least。 It was Sightblinder that you stabbed the dragon with； last night。 It is also known as the Sword of Stealth。 He who carries it is disguised from all potential enemies and perhaps from his friends as well。 And the man who gave it to you。。。 did he say anything？〃
〃Yes。〃 Mark blushed for his forgetfulness。 〃He said that I was to give it to Sir Andrew。 If I could。〃
〃Did he； hah？〃
〃And I meant to； sir。 But then they told me that the other sword was being stolen。 And … and I had to do something。〃
〃And so you did something。 Yes； yes； I like having folk about me who sometimes feel that something must be done。 I do wish； though； that we still had Sightblinder here。 I suppose it's in the Duke's hands now； and I don't like to think what he might do with it。〃 The knight looked at Dame Yoldi； and his worried frown was deeper than before。 〃My own flyers have all e back now； Yoldi。 They couldn't catch his courier in the air； or even see it。 Luck is with Fraktin at present。〃
〃In the form of Coinspinner； yes；〃 Dame Yoldi said。 She nodded tiredly； and spoke to Mark again。 〃Is it possible； boy； that for one moment last night you had your hands on two swords at the same time？〃
〃Yes ma'm； it's more than possible。 It happened that way。 And that was when the … the world started to go strange。〃
〃I thought as much。 And now the Duke； with his luck augmented by Coinspinner； is going to have the Sword of Stealth in hand as well。 No one else in the world has ever owned two of those swords since they were made。。。 Mark； I have learned that the smith who helped Vulcan forge them was your father。〃
Mark could feel himself standing； a small figure； alone； beside the table that held the sword called Townsaver。 〃I knew that he helped make this one。 But； until I left home； I never heard that Vulcan had forged other swords at the same time。 My father never liked to speak of it at all。 And now he's dead。 I saw him die； the same day my brother died； and Duke Fraktin's cousin in our village。
〃Last night when I thought it was my father。。。〃 Mark covered his eyes briefly with his hands。 〃But I know it was only some piece of magic。〃
Two sentries； armed and alert； had arrived at the room's door； and now one of them entered to whisper something to Sir Andrew。
〃Bring her in；〃 the knight ordered grimly。
Before whoever it was could be brought in； Dame Yoldi moved to the table near Mark's side。 With a small piece of black cloth that might have been a handkerchief she draped the hilt of the sword that lay on the table； so that the little white design of decoration could not be seen。 Then she stepped away from the table and nodded to the guards。
A moment later； a dark lady appeared in the doorway； of elegant appearance and malevolent expression。 Her air of arrogance made the soldiers at her sides appear to be a guard of honor。
She glared at each person in the room in turn。 Her gaze lingered longest on Mark； and he had th