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e last night I can almost feel it。〃
Jord nodded agreement； slowly and reluctantly。 〃We must get the Swords into action somewhere。 And Sir Andrew's a good man； by all I've heard about him。〃
〃And your son serves him；〃 Barbara reminded her guest。
〃Aye； Lady。 Still。。。 I know that Rostov was counting on the Swords。 Well； the responsibility's yours now。 I failed early on。〃
A little later； Denis and Jord were both watching while Ben dug out from its hiding place the second of the two Blades that Denis was to carry。 The three men were down on the ground floor of the house now； in a little…traveled area behind the main shop； inside a storeroom that was usually kept closed with a cheap lock。 None of the miscellaneous junk readily visible inside the shed appeared to be worth anyone's effort to steal。
Ben was bent over； rummaging in a pile of what looked like scrap metal； consisting mainly of swordblades and knifeblades； bent or broken or rusted； in all cases long disused。 Denis could not remember when he had seen any of the metalworkers actually using this stuff。
From near the bottom of this pile of the treacherously sharp edges； Ben carefully brought out； one at a time； two weapons … the blades of both were long； blackened； but unbent。 And these two also had hilts； which a majority of the others did not。
Before wiping the two blades clean； Ben held them out to Jord。 The older man put out his hand； hesitated； and then touched a hilt； all of its details invisible under carefully applied oil and grime。
〃Doomgiver；〃 said the only human who had ever handled all the Twelve。 〃There's not one of them I'd fail to recognize。〃
The remainder of the day and much of the night had passed before Denis was ready to depart。 He was not allowed one thing he asked for： a private good…bye with young Kuan…yin； the nursemaid。 Ben said they would tell her that Denis had had to leave suddenly on a business trip of an indefinite duration。 That had happened before； and Kuan…yin should not be too surprised。
Denis got in some sleep also。 There were instructions to be memorized； which took a little time： He dressed in white； in imitation of a lone Ardneh…pilgrim； for his departure。 Ben gave him some money and some equipment。 And Denis also had a private conference with Jord。
When it was time to go； in the hour before dawn； Denis was surprised not to be conducted to the back door； where Jord had e in。 Instead the master； Old World light in hand； led Denis down a flight of stairs into a place that Denis knew as nothing more than a cramped basement storeroom。 The place smelled thickly of damp。 There were the scurrying sounds of rats； evidence that the creatures somehow defied the anti…rodent spells and poisons that were both periodically renewed。
The master used his strength to shift a heavy bale out of position。 Then it turned out that one of the massive stones that made up this chamber's floor could be tilted up。 Looking down into the cavity thus created； Denis was surprised when the light showed him a steady current of water of unknown depth； scarcely a meter below his feet。 Even though he knew how close the house was to the river； he had never suspected。
The man who Denis was now beginning to know as Ben bent down and caught hold of a thin chain within the opening。 Then he tugged until the white prow of a well…kept canoe appeared； bobbing with the water's motion。
〃I loaded her up this afternoon；〃 Ben grunted； 〃while you were sleeping。 Your cargo's under this floorboard here。 The two Swords； wrapped in a blanket so they won't rattle。 And sheathed； of course。 They may get wet but they won't rust。〃 Ben spoke with the calm authority of experience。 〃There's a paddle； and I think everything else that you're going to need。〃
Denis had used canoes a time or two before； on trading missions for the House of Courtenay。 He could manage the craft well enough。 But it wasn't obvious yet how he was going to get this one back to the river。
Ben gave him directions。 You had to crouch down low in the boat at first； to keep from banging your head on the low ceiling of the secret waterway。 Then you moved the craft forward through the narrow channel by pushing and tugging on the stonework of the sides。 There was not far to go； obviously； to reach the river。
There were no markings on the white canoe； Denis observed as he lowered himself carefully aboard。 There was nothing in it； or on Denis； to connect the canoe or him to the House of Courtenay。 Once Denis was on his way； the plan called for him to play the role of a simple Ardneh…pilgrim； his White Temple experience would fit him well for that。 As a pilgrim； it was relatively unlikely that he'd be bothered by robbers。 Everyone had some interest in the availability of medical care； and therefore in the wellbeing of those who could provide it。 A second point was that Ardneh's people were less likely than most to be carrying much of value。 In the third place； Ardneh was still a respected god； even if the better…educated insisted that he was dead； and a good many people still feared what might happen to them if they offended him。
Last farewells were brief。 Only the mistress of the house； to Denis's surprise； appeared at the last moment； to press his hand at parting。 The warmth of her fingers stayed with his； like something sealed by magic。 He could not savor it now； nor get much of a last look at her； because it was time to crouch down in his canoe； to give his head the necessary clearance。 Somebody released the chain for him； and he began to pull the light craft forward； working hand over hand against the rough wall of the narrow subterranean passage。 He was propelling himself against the current； and away from the light。 Darkness deepened to totality as the floor…stone was lowered crunching back into place。
Denis pulled on。 Presently a ghost of watery light reached his eyes from somewhere ahead。 He managed to see a low stone lintel athwart his course； and to bend his head and body almost pletely down under the gunwales to get himself beneath the barrier。
His craft had now emerged into a larger chamber； and one not quite as pletely dark。 There was room enough for Denis to sit up straight。 In a moment he realized that there were timbers about him； rising out of the water in a broad framework； and supporting a flat wooden surface a meter of so above his head。 Denis realized that he was now directly underneath a riverside dock。
There were gaps between pilings large enough for the canoe to pass； and leading to the lesser darkness of the open； foggy night。 Emerging cautiously from underneath the dock； using his paddle freely now； Denis found himself afloat upon a familiar channel of the river。 Right there was the house he had just left； all windows darkened as if everyone inside were fast asleep。 If there was other traffic on the river tonight； he could not see or hear it in the fog。 At this hour； he doubted that there was。
Denis turned the prow of his canoe upstream； and paddled steadily。 The first gleams of daylight were already being visible in the eastern sky； and he wanted to reach the gate in the city walls at dawn； when it routinely opened for the day。 There would probably be a little ining traffic； produce barges and such； waiting outside； the watch ought to pass him out promptly； and most likely without paying much attention to him。
This channel of the river took him past familiar sights of the great city。 Most people Denis had met said that it was the greatest in the world； but who knew the truth of that？ Here on the right bank were the cloth…dyers； as usual starting their work early； already staining the water as they rinsed out the long banners of their product。 And on the other bank； one of the fish…markets was opening。
Now through thinning fog there came into Denis's sight the city walls themselves； taller than all but a very few of the buildings they protected； and thick as houses for most of their height。 They were build of almost indestructible stone； hardened； the stories had it； by the Old World magic called technology。 They were supported at close intervals by formidable towers of the same material。 Tested over five hundred years by scores of sieges （so it was said）； threatened again and again by ingenious engines of attack； and various attempts at undermining； they still stood guard over a city that since they were built had never fallen to military attack。 Kings and Queens and mighty generals had raged impotently outside those walls； and would…be conquerors had died there at the hands of their own rebellious troops。 Siege； starvation； massacre； all had been threatened against Tashigang； but all in vain。 The Corgo flowed year…round； and was always bountiful with fish。 The prudent burghers and Lords Mayor of the city had a tradition of keeping good supplies of other food on hand； and … perhaps most important of all … of choosing their outside enemies and allies with the greatest care。
Now the gate that closed the waterway was going up； opening this channel of the river for passage。 The river…gate was a portcullis built on a titanic scale； wrought by the same engineering genius as the city walls。 Its movement was assisted by great counterweights that rode on iron cha