Valli was first to break the silence. She touched his face with her fingers and whispered, «Ah, Blade. Blade! That was a baby. I know it. I feel it. You spewed a fountain into me and of it will come a child. I thank you. I will have your child, and who is to say that he will not also be a god.»

It was some time before he could control his breathing well enough to speak. Then he said, «I hope so, Valli. If that is what you want.»

She clung to him. «It is what I want. And you will stay in Zir, Blade? You will not go away? You have power now and you will not let them kill this child as they did my first?»

Blade could not promise this and knew it-and yet he could not bring himself to hurt or worry her. So he lied.

«I will remain. I will protect your child, if indeed you have one.» He laughed and kissed her tenderly. «You are getting a little ahead of things, you know. Imagining. One time in bed does not always make a child and you cannot know-«

«I know,» Valli said firmly. «I know, Blade. I am sure. You do not understand such matters, even if you are a god.»

Blade laughed and gave it up. «All right. Have your way of it. Now we can talk of other matters-the real reason I sent for you.»

Valli lay with eyes closed and her arms outflung. She whispered. «What we have just done is reason enough for me. But speak on. I will do anything you ask, as you well know.»

Blade explained what had been in his mind for some time. He needed an intelligence network-a system of spies, to put it bluntly-and he thought to make a beginning with the harem women. Valli was to be in charge of collecting the information and bringing it to him. It was a bare beginning, a first step, but Blade must begin somewhere and at once.