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Janos laughed, that rich boom of a laugh I spoke of before. "Now that is a riddle worthy of the greatest
Evocator," he said. "Much more so than how many demons can gambol on the head of a pin. If the
Omen portends well, does that mean the Omen will also end well?"
Even writing from this distance, with all the events that have passed since we first met, I still do not know
the answer to that riddle. I doubt I will until the night the Dark Seeker comes to carry off my soul.
My spirits lifted as I pondered his riddle. At long last, a friend with wit. Then, defeated, I shook my
head. "Even if it were not late," I said, "I doubt I could unravel your puzzle. Indeed, it is a riddle whose
answer may be as impossible to divine as ..." I searched for comparisons, and one popped up like a light.
"As finding the Far Kingdoms." I laughed, but I laughed alone. Janos was staring at me, excitement in his
eyes. "What is it?" I asked. "Why did you say that?" he asked. I was confused. "You mean ... about the
Far Kingdoms?" "Yes." His voice was abrupt, prodding. "I ... really can't say. Except it was on my mind
just before Leego's thugs arrived."
Janos peered closer, and I suddenly felt rather stupid. "It's that kind of silliness on my brain that's kept
me from my responsibilities," I said, a bit hot. "Forgive my babbling."
"If you knew me" Janos said, "you would realize when it comes to aimless chatter, there is no man the
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master of Janos Greycloak." I laughed as he drew me toward the door. "We'd best go quickly, my
friend," he said, "or we'll soon be wrecked on the shoals of more brandy and babbling."
We went out into the night. Down the street I saw a torch flare, and thought once more of the Far
Kingdoms. Then the thought was gone and only night remained.
CHAPTER THREE
The Finding
I WOKE THE next morning feeling bleary, my mind stuck like a dying fly in the dregs of last night's
wine. Then I smelled the clean sharpness of the spring wind whispering in my chamber's window, and the
haze vanished. With some surprise I also realized that for the first time in many days I had not been
troubled with the terrible dream of the one-eyed man. I went from my bedchamber to the anteroom,
washed, then knelt and whispered the ritual prayer to the hearthgod. The hand mirror-no matter how
close I held it-told me I would not need to be shaved this day; so I began to put on the clothes laid out
for me.
Then I caught myself. "Banes!" He entered the chamber soundlessly, his face carefully made up in polite,
if only slightly interested concern-the expression I later understood to be the mask bodyslaves quickly
learn to wear for survival. I indicated the clothes he had laid out: the shirt was plain; the breeches were of
a sober color; the jerkin was of poor quality; and the cap could have been worn by an elder. "Is this what
you think happened?"
A smile flickered, then vanished. "I think nothing, m'lord. But since you said my presence would not be
required when you went out last evening; and you returned escorted by two soldiers not far from dawn;
and I found wine and earth stains on your clothes, which were scattered as if the Month of Winds had
been prematurely in your chambers; and-"
"Enough!"
"As you wish, sir."
"I had some unexpected encounters was all."
"I have never heard her called that, before."
I chose to ignore his words. My teachers had repeatedly cau-
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tioned me from childhood that I was overly familiar with slaves and the lower classes-just as I was guilty
of showing insufficient respect to my elders and superiors. But it is impossible for anyone with bowels to
play the lordling to a small, balding slave whose first service was carrying you from your father's arms to
the waiting Evocator at the naming ritual.
"But I thought," Eanes continued, "you might wish your dress for this day to be ... shall we say of a hue
that would not offend an eye that is bleeding, nor a parent still below stairs who heard the clatter as you
reeled in?" Eanes might have been surprised I did not pale; but I had need of my father today: there was
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a debt to repay, and thanks to Melina and my own foolishness, I did not have the means. I walked into
the wardrobe and carefully chose my costume: breeches of green, with a matching flat cap worked with
gold threads; a flower-embroidered belted tunic; ankle boots, since the weather appeared balmy; and a
short cloak. Remembering the last night's embarrassment, I chose a simple rapier, one without curlicued
quillons, slung it from a baldric set with the family seal, and considered myself hi a mirror: my image was
just as I wished to appear-a sober young heir, but not one in mourning; a young man who, though
sprightly in his air, was not the type to consort with whores of any pricing, or their pimps.
"I see," Eanes said. "So she left you empty pursed once again. And you are planning to go out and
about. I assume you will not require my presence."
"I may not have paid much mind to my tutors, but I recollect the one-I disremember if it was the fellow
who somehow fell into the harbor or the one whose robes ended up mysteriously on fire-who told me the
story of the savant who prided himself on the excellence of his predictions; and while boasting to his
students of this talent one day, he kept walking along a cliff edge some yards after the solid land had
come to an end. And so the babbler died, to the great cheers and relief of his tortured students. The
reality is I shall be infinitely pleased to have your company, even if I fear senility is setting in. We will be
going out shortly."
"Yes, noble Amalric, my never-to-be-sufficiently-praised owner. I will be ready. Although I must
add-you were correct when you said you paid little heed to your teachings. Consider the fable whose
moral you so twisted. In truth, after the tragic death of that poor wise man, several of his students killed
themselves, despairing that they would no longer benefit from his guidance. And, considering the day
looks as if it threatens rain and storm, and I have more than a hint of chill-caused by my waiting up deep
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into the night, worrying about my poor master, stumbling drunk-enly through some filth-strewn alley and
stalked by evil cutthroats-you should learn from the shamed suicides of those students, and meditate long
that I shall not be with you forever." As usual, the end-scoring favored Eanes.
FOUNTAINS FLASHED IN the gardens in the center of our villa, and our tame birds rainbowed
colors from limb to limb of budding trees. My father was sitting at a long table, a plate of fruit and a glass
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