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sometimes glimpse beyond the veil。
〃Further；〃 Symeon continued； 〃even if we were concerned as to any reprisal from Orissa； I doubt if it would be mounted over mischief done to an Antero。 Your homeland hardly sings your praises these days。〃 I maintained a stony countenance and made no reply； but he certainly was correct。
〃What we require from you；〃 Symeon continued； 〃is a full and plete description of your route to the Far Kingdoms。 It is axiomatic that Lycanth is the only logical power to seek an alliance with the kingdoms…especially considering the catastrophe Orissa； abetted by your underling； managed to produce from the most recent attempt to reach the kingdoms。〃
〃You are quite mistaken if you think Captain Greycloak is in any way my 'underling' or 'patriot。' 〃
〃Oh？ I suppose you have merely e to Lycanth to save him out of pure altruism？ And； if he is not your underling； then what？〃 He curled his lip。 〃Lover？〃
I blinked； not having been aware that Lycanthian attitudes were as backward as their buildings。 It was no trouble to ignore what he evidently considered an insult。 I managed a cynical grin。 〃Very well。 What blandishments are you prepared to offer for my cooperation？〃
〃I could be quite foolish；〃 he replied； 〃and promise you gold； or a high position here in Lycanth。 Of course you cannot be permitted to return to Orissa until there is an 。。。 adjustment between our two cities。 But I shall offer you neither； not being a dunce nor thinking you one either。 There can be but one prize for you 。。。 all others are valueless beside it。 Actually； I need promise nothing； and my Lords the Archons would think me less than their full…hearted servant if I did。 We wish to possess the knowledge you and Captain Greycloak share of the routes toward the Far Kingdoms； from coastal tides to edible fruits to annoying insects to the natives to any and all sorceries you encountered。 We are prepared to use all the talents and skills of Lycanth in encouraging you to enlighten us； and have no qualms as to how or when these skills will be utilized to convince you。 We also are in no particular hurry； since both my Lords and myself are aware of the 。。。 problems that can be created from an overeager questioning。〃
〃Such as death？〃
〃That；〃 Symeon said calmly； 〃or madness； or even； if the inquisitor is insufficiently skeptical； convincement of a deliberate or accidental lie。 This； then； is our purpose and intent。 Do you wish to ment； or perhaps make a statement of brave rejection we all may savor？〃 I shook my head。 Symeon nodded。 〃Then that will be all 。。。 for the moment。 All of us will know quite soon when you and Greycloak desire to speak to us once more…desire to speak with all your hearts and souls。 So； if you will follow my Lords' messenger to your quarters 。。。〃 Without waiting for a response； Symeon wheeled and vanished into the shadows。 At the same instant； the shimmers were gone； and the torches flared； then guttered。
Having no options； I followed the Finder back down the echoing stone corridors。 I expected to be taken to a dungeon。 Instead； the creature led me to stairs…stairs that wound up and up； and then through more corridors until I guessed we were approaching the top story of the huge castle。 At last the beast stopped in front of a huge U…shaped door。 The beast's mouth opened； it whined and I was suddenly deaf。 It took me a moment to realize that the spell the creature was casting had a secondary element； making it impossible for the listener to distinguish the words。 Hearing returned as the door swung open。 In front of me stretched the hallway of a palatial apartment。 Paintings were on the walls； and the ceilings were hung in silk。 I hesitated outside。
〃Enter if you are of this world； be damned if you are not；〃 came a cry from within。 It was Janos' voice。 I obeyed； and the door swung shut behind me。 I tried its handle； which turned uselessly in my hand； and knew the Finder had recast the locking speD。 I walked down the corridor； toward the room where Janos' voice had e from。 On either side were large； high…ceilinged rooms； some fitted with beds； some with couches； some intended for dining or other entertainment。 If it were not for the preponderance of that dark stone the Lycanthians are so partial to； and the subject matter of the paintings； tapestries； and sculptures； which ran heavily to the morbid； it was an apartment in which I would not have been ashamed to put up my most…loved friend or most…respected guest and his retinue。
Another surprise awaited me when I entered the main chamber： Janos reclined on a richly upholstered couch。 He was surrounded by books； scrolls； and tablets。 In front of him was an easel； with a large paper on it that was filled with his scribblings and sketches…all obviously of a sorcerous intent。 Behind him were half a dozen large； open windows； and through them I could see the lights of Lycanth and its harbor spread below us。 Janos was dressed like a nobleman at his leisure； in lounging robe and silk blouse and tights。 He was hardly the picture of a prisoner who had undergone torture； both physical and sorcerous。 Then I noticed his face； tight； drawn； as exhausted as it had been when we reached the end of our Finding and returned to the Pepper Coast。
〃Wele； my friend； and friend you have more than proven yourself；〃 he said。 He got up and embraced me。 〃No man could ask for a better partner； although I wish； for your sake； you were more selfish。〃
〃I hadn't；〃 I said with a bit of asperity； 〃exactly planned on being the guest of the Archons。〃
Janos managed a chuckle。 〃They told me； some hours ago； you were outside the city and would be apprehended shortly。 I'd hoped your canniness would have been able to sense their trap。〃 He shook his head。
〃How did they foretell my ing？〃
〃I don't know。 They refused to tell me； and what。。。 prognostications I was able to cast gave me no clues。 Perhaps a warning spell or a creature stationed on the road approaching； or a spy with Evocator's training in Orissa itself； even。 You know； I assume； the prime mover in this conspiracy is an enemy of yours？〃
〃Nisou Symeon。 I met him for the first time in my life below…stairs。〃 I told Janos what had happened。 He made no ment； and there was none necessary。 He offered me wine； juices； or water from a beverage table nearby。 I poured myself a goblet of wine； then thought better。 I set it down and began to pour juice。
〃Have the wine；〃 Janos said。 〃Or whatever you desire。 As far as I can tell nothing has been drugged； and thus far their seeking of knowledge has not required alcohol's befuddlement。 Also； I would remend both of us eat and drink as much as we can hold； because our circumstances will soon be changing。〃
I poured； drank deeply as I realized how thirsty I was； and refilled my goblet。 I walked to one of the windows and looked out。 Our apartment…our cell…hung just over the water； and far below I could see the white flash of breaking surf on the rocks beyond the harbor。 〃Is there a spell on the windows？〃
〃Naturally。 Not that I think one is needed； unless you happen to have two sets of wings secreted about you。〃
I turned back and forced a smile。 This ordeal； and I sensed it would be that； might be slightly more endurable if I sought humor whenever I could。 I had questions； and chanced asking them openly。 〃Should we be cautious as to what we talk about？〃
〃Yes； within reason。 I would not； for instance； be specific about 。。。 our mutual adventures。 But it is acceptable to discuss matters in general。 I have conjured up words that should make anyone listening to our conversation actually hear a very dull recital of the religious lessons from my childhood。 But thus far they have cast Lesser Spells against me； which I have been able to withstand and for the most part neutralize。 I have not sensed Great Incantations more than twice； although who would know if a truly grand conjuration was laid？ For instance； it is possible I am now talking to a plete fabrication of the Archons'。 And you must wonder whether I myself am but a demon of their powers。 But that way lies madness。〃
〃They have allowed you your 。。。 ah 。。。 interest；〃 I marveled； using an innocuous term as I had reflexively from boyhood； when I first realized my brother Halab's interest was venturing into the forbidden。
〃Allowed？ That is not the description。 They cannot put a blanket prescript on any wizardry； else that would block their own spells。 But they can lay specific wards； so that I cannot quite remember any spell or type of spell that could be used to break chains or bonds； for instance。〃
〃Like the way you and Cassini had your magical memory removed in 。。。 in another place？〃
'Thank several gods their spell is not that plete。 But they tried。 Forgive me if I seem inattentive； or preoccupied。 But 。。。〃
There came a flicker from the side of the chamber； and it was as if； for just a flash； a door opened to a dark chamber； and I saw men with their flesh being ravaged by black…clad tormenters with nameless tortures。 Then there was nothing but the farther wall。
〃That is an example of what I've termed Lesser Spells；〃 Janos said。 〃All of them are intended to wear us down； and to shake our fortitude and stamina。 Other spells surround this chamber： sleeplessness； short temper； loneliness； dejection； and various disgusting but harmless physical debilitations…all of which I have kept at bay。〃
〃You have e far in your study of Evocatorial principles since I first realized your secret interest；〃 I said； meanwhile marveling that from somewhere I had the coolness to carry on such an inconsequential discussion while trapped in the coils of a brutal enemy。
〃I thank you； but I feel no pride。 I should be able to sustain my efforts with no more energy than scratching a mosquito bite takes in the physical world。 Or perhaps I am secretly harboring my strength for when they attempt a full scale assault on us。〃
〃You said they tried what you called Great Incantations twice。 What form did they take； so I may be on my guard？〃
〃Both were loathsome。 The first and most tolerable was a variation on the succubus； involving a young and beautiful sorceress who entered my dreams； and promised her reality after we had performed various acts of sex magic。 All I was to grant her； in return； was some tales of how wizardry was performed in other lands。 That I was able to reject without much of a struggle； recognizing that such stories could well provide the entryway into the rest of my soul。 When I did； the apparition vanished。
〃The second attempt was more dangerous； and began with various Lesser Spells； but ones cast with full power of a Master Evocator's will behind them。 I was depressed； angry at everything and everyone beginning with myself。 I felt an utter failure。〃
〃Like；〃 I hazarded； 〃the Lesser Spells you said are around us are designed to produce。〃
〃Not quite；〃 Janos said。 〃These were a bit different。 Behind them was the undercurrent that I deserved greatness； and that the gods and men had conspired； unknowingly； to deny me my full glory。〃 I knew how such a spell would find resonance within Janos' rationally healthy ego。 〃Eventually； I determined to end my life。 Not from real pain； but to 'show' someone or something； I know not who； what evil they'd done in keeping me from my rightful heritage。〃
〃I see the evil in that spell；〃 I said。 〃But I do not see how it would produce any information on 。。。 on a certain subject that is sought。 Worse； you would be dead； and their best chance to get that knowledge lost。〃
〃Oh； no。 There would have been counterspells laid and perhaps even physical nets hung below these windows should I have chosen to cast myself from them； as well as other protective conjurations around anything I might use to kill myself…like the knives in our kitchen or the draws for the curtains。 I also assumed I was watched。 But I haven't pletely described the spell。 As part of my final cock snooking at the world； I would write a full description of what I could have given them； had they but known。〃
〃The Far…〃
〃Just so； the quest exactly described。〃 I understood and shuddered。 That truly was a subtle spell； and I wondered if I could have withstood one as carefully laid to take advantages of my multitudinous weaknesses。
I so