Wayfinder's Story — Fred Saberhagen

Long ago, the gods forged Twelve Swords of Power and threw them on the gameboard of life for men to scramble over. But they forged too well; the Swords could kill the gods themselves. Now, the gods gone and the Swords scattered, Wayfinder, the Sword of Wisdom, turns up in the hands of one Valdemar, a simple (or is he?) grower of grapes, who is in search of the perfect woman.

Ahead lies a battle against the world's most infamous wizard.