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mastered the weather as well； requiring the storms to replenish the river； but no more。 They could also mand the river to fold in and out at any point； making it easy for the farmers to irrigate and ensure bountiful harvests。 The crops that made up those harvests； he added； came from blessed seed that always bore fruit and repelled disease and insects。 I thought of our own hard…laboring farmers as we blew past unimaginably rich fields and orchards； I remembered with pain the ruinous flood and famine we had just suffered。 I prayed our journey might ease that labor； and rout suffering from our hearts。
We saw forests thick with game； hills laden with veins of malleable metal and valuable gems； and pastures bleating and lowing with fat herds and flocks。 We saw people of every variety： from farmer； to laborer； to merchant； to lord and lady。 They were a calm； graceful people given to easy laughter； which we heard floating across the water。 The men were handsome even to great age； and the women were pleasing to look upon； with time only touching thek features with wisdom and dignity。 Their children seemed the happiest of all： they appeared to run and roam at will； and it was their shrill laughter we heard most frequently。
Utorian said all their children had some schooling； and the ones with the best minds or talents were picked out for special attention。 No avenue was closed to them after that； they could rise to nearly any level of society。 When he said it； I thought of Halab and mourned that he hadn't been born in such a land。
We gazed on the many cities that nestled against the river。 All of them were a marvel to behold。 Some delighted the eye with variety； such as the port we sailed by on the first day of the river voyage。 Some were all of a kind： made of carved white marble； or richly painted timbers； or of strong； gleaming metal。 Their design ranged from low…built structures blending with the forests that framed them； to swooping towers connected by delicate spans； to cozy domiciles； with high…peaked roofs； and cheery fires glowing through the windows at night。 Each city we viewed dazzled us in some way； and just as we thought there could be nothing more to amaze us； a new marvel would be revealed as we rounded the bend。 Then at last we came to Irayas： it was the most glorious city of all。
We came upon it without warning。 The channel spilled east… away from the mountain for the final time…and suddenly flared； the banks retreated before our eyes into distant ribbons of greens。
The river made a lake； and out of the lake floated Irayas。 Our senses quivered in the spell it cast； willing strings under the hands of a master harpist。 Irayas was a place of light and water。 The setting sun was at its back； and the city was ablaze in full glory。 Color shimmered through crystal towers and leaped off golden domes。 The river flowed beneath； a molten mirror in the sun's dying light。 The air was musical with chimes and bird song； scented with dusk's blooms。 Small boats wisped through that beauty； timid supplicants of a goddess queen。
Visions such as this make a wanderer's wine： once he has tasted it； there is little he will not suffer to drink from that vine once more。 We sipped until we were drunk； then night fell； and we were left groaning in darkness。 But Irayas had a trick for that thief； and we gasped in renewed amazement as light sprang up over the city。 The glass towers became bright fountains； the gold domes glowed from within。 The canals that served as thoroughfares were illuminated by long strings of small； lighted globes。 The sounds of a busy city continued； and I realized the Evocators of Irayas had extended productive hours long past the close of day。
We slept aboard the ship that night。 My thoughts were so fired； I believed rest would be impossible； but exhaustion took all of us early。 I was awakened once by wild music and tavern shouts。 Isn't it a wonder； I mused； that wherever there is a waterfront； no matter how grand the city it services； you can always find a place for strong drink and raucous play？ Then I fell back into dreamless sleep。
The next day Utorian took us to meet the king。 His palace spread over more than half the ten islands that formed the center of the river sprawl that was Irayas。 The grounds were a marvel of well…tended lawn； trees； and beds of flowers or exotic plants。 There were gentle animals and songful birds to please the heart； artistic statuary to delight the spirit。 The palace was a many…domed wonder； all cast from precious gold。 The columns and arches were of gold alloy； and the exterior walls were a kind of glass that could be darkened for privacy or to shade the sun's glare。
Soldiers in gold and white tunics and breeches guarded the corridors of the vast palace； but Janos noted that their spears and sidearms were clumsy； gaudy； and seemed mostly ceremonial in function。 We entered a courtroom so immense it shrunk all purpose other than the king's。 It was made to seem even larger by the vaulting glass walls。 Some were clear and emitted a plenitude of light； others were mirrored； reflecting the multitude who had gathered to seek the king's attention or tend his business。 It was a curved； three…tiered chamber； with many steps leading to each level。 The bottom tier where we entered was the most crowded； and the dress was that of mon folk； the second held a smaller group； with costumes and manners superior to the first； the last was nearly empty； reserved for wizards and other men of high authority。 They strolled the edges in wise conference。 Rising above all this busy splendor of state was a broad platform； bearing a great golden throne； with a high arched back that displayed an immense royal crest。
King Domas sprawled across that throne in easy boredom。 Even from a distance； he was a man who was not diminished by size of chamber or throne。 He idly twirled his crown … a plain； gold band I saw later in closer view … about his finger as he listened to advisers； and where their speech was smothered by the noisy crowd； his tones rumbled over all of it。 Then I lost sight of him as Utorian hurried the twenty of us forward。 His importance was apparent by the way the throng stepped respectfully aside。 Mildly curious stares tracked us until we came against the rail that marked the edge of the third level。 He told us to wait and craned his head this way and that as if looking for assistance。 We pressed against the railing； gawping like farmers fresh from field to city。 But our gawping was downward； as a yawning； golden…throated pit seized our eyes before they could rise and marvel at the throne。
The depression filled most of the third level； there was a path around it for strolling officials； and another that wound to the bottom。 Floating there； like a huge eye； was an enchanted simulacrum of the Far Kingdoms。 Every detail…from snaking blue river to city； farm； and field…was revealed in exact； living scale。 You could see boats on the river； and I imagined little moving dots of people and animals。 Even more amazing was that the sky itself had been duplicated and brought to life； I conceived flights of birds slipping in and out of the clouds I saw floating in the winds。 As we watched； wizards and officials walked down the curving path； discussing and observing the simulacrum。 Several wizards fixed their attention on a cloud bank； swollen and black with storm； and manded it to move to a different place； where lightning suddenly flashed and rain fell。 I had no doubt that real…life subjects of that parched area were being blessed by the storm that raged before us in miniature。
A kingly bark of disagreement broke through； and I raised my eyes to see Domas up close for the first time。 His advisers were knotted about him in heated debate。 Whatever had tested the king's patience must have been resolved or no longer held his interest； for I saw him politely cover a yawn and resume twirling his crown about his finger。 The king was big…a head at least over Janos…and his plain white tunic stretched over a body quarried of stone blocks。 His hair and features were fair。 So plainly was he dressed that other than the crown there was no indication this fellow ruled such a powerful realm。
There was another man to the side of the throne。 He was as big as Domas； and in fact； looked quite like him in features and blocky form； but where the king was fair he was dark。 His costume was of richly embroidered gold； with a princely emblem on the breast。 He seemed to favor heavy； ornate jewelry and rings； and his long black hair was held by an emerald band that shouted he was royalty as well。
〃Prince Raveline；〃 Janos whispered。 I had guessed the same。 Janos leaned closer； his whisper edged with excitement。 〃He's a wizard。 A most powerful wizard。〃 I had guessed that； too： his dark eyes held the inner gleam of an Evocator； and my skin prickled unpleasantly。 I studied him closer； seeing that despite the glitier of Raveline's appearance； his manner lacked Domas' self…possession； and if you stood them together there would be no mistaking who was king； and who was a merely noble brother。
There was a stir along the rail； and I saw a little man with a most unremarkable appearance slipping toward Utorian。 His breeches were a badly washed white； and his tunic was worn。 Dangling absently from the tunic was a tarnished gold crest。 However； there was no mistaking the little man's importance： the captain bent quickly； but with stiffened back to hear his whispers。 The little man had to rise on his toes to make his lips reach and showed no concern some might think his posture clownish。 As he spoke； and Utorian nodded； his eyes flicked to us； then made quick jabs at Janos and me as he guessed our identity from among the twenty。 This may be a mouse； I thought； but it is a bold little mouse with quick wit and no fear of kitchen cats； because this mouse dines with the king。 The little man dropped off his toes； ducked under the rail； and scurried around the pit and up the steps to the throne。 Utorian motioned frantically for us to make ready。 We did so； and as the king swiveled to smile greetings to his little favorite； there was much clothes tugging and hair smoothing among us。
Domas waved； sweeping back the clump of advisers； and the little man repeated his whispered performance； except this time he clutched the king's robes for balance。 The king's features lighted； boredom falling away as he listened。 He boomed reaction。 〃You don't say？ How long have they been here？〃 The voice was big as the man； easily reaching us and beyond He frowned as the little man's whispering continued。 Then； 〃Why didn't you tell me before； Beemus？〃
I was taking his measure as quickly as I could； sniffing that big voice for clues。 Domas formed his words heartily； strung them on short necklaces； and carelessly flung them to the crowd for anyone to catch。 Beemus whispered reply to the king's question； he acpanied the answer with a shrug I am sure made some inpetent a sorry man for ignoring us。 If he was watching； he would have been sadder still when he saw Domas' brow furrow in anger and his fair skin redden。 But this king was bored with anger just now； and the inpetent would have sighed in relief as excited interest cleared his features again。
Domas smiled hugely and gave Beemus a pat； saying； 〃Never mind that。 I'll get to the bottom of it later。 You just go fetch them for me； Beemus。 Quickly； now。 We've been rude enough。〃 Beemus jumped down and made the long scurry to do his bidding。
The king turned to his advisers； saying； 〃Enough！ We've tracked through this mud before。 It's time for new business； sirs。 New business； indeed。〃 He rubbed his hands together in anticipation。 Prince Raveline moved lazily to join him； at some pains； I thought； to avoid an appearance of haste。 I switched my attention back to Domas； taking a last measurement before we were called to such confusing splendor。 He was a forthright man； I theorized； blunt in purpose and deed as well as word。 He had no care what anyone thought of him： I am King Domas； his bluff manner said； and I can be who or what I please。 My trader's instincts were chiming as Beemus reached us。 Such confidence； I thought； was the mark of a man who would at least listen if the bargain was presented logically and