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thought； was the mark of a man who would at least listen if the bargain was presented logically and without decoration。 Then we were being hurried to him； and in a moment the twenty of us were drawing up in formation before the king。 We started to bow low； as we thought proper； but he stopped it with a wave。 〃None of that bowing business；〃 he said。 〃A good rigid and respectful posture will do。〃 He turned to his brother。 〃There's all too much ceremony in this court；〃 he said。 〃All that bowing makes me dizzy。〃
Raveline laughed； hearty and full； but it was heavy with mockery。 〃Just order us all to stop；〃 he said； 〃and then you'll see how much you miss it〃
Domas gave him a mild look。 〃You're being clever again；〃 he said。 Then he sighed； as Raveline answered with more mockery by bowing； very slowly and very low。 〃I don't feel clever today；〃 the king said。 He looked at Beemus。 'Think of something clever for me； Beemus。 Something that'll cut him good。 You're good at that。〃 Beemus whispered a promise； and Domas turned his attention back to us。 〃So these are the fellows who have caused such a fuss；〃 he rumbled。 But he said it with a smile。 Then he studied us thoroughly； the smile growing broader still。 〃A fine…looking lot；〃 he said to his brother。 〃Don't you agree？〃
Raveline was doing his own bit of studying： his wizard's eyes roaming here and there； finding me； where they paused； then Janos； where they lingered for a much longer moment。 〃I do indeed；〃 the prince said。 His voice was nearly as loud as the king's。 He was smiling as well； but his lips stretched thinly over his teeth。 Like a hunting dog's； I thought； when he returns with the scent of his prey。
The king rose from the throne and with Beemus scampering at his side； strode down the steps to view us more closely。 Janos and I tensed； thinking we would be the first to be examined。 Instead； the king strolled casually around the formation。 〃What a sturdy group of men；〃 he boomed in admiration。 〃You can see why they made it。 And none the worse for wear； to boot。〃
〃A little lean； perhaps；〃 Raveline quarreled。 〃And battered a bit。〃
〃Who wouldn't be；〃 Domas replied； 〃after ing so far to find us？〃 He looked down at Beemus。 〃Are you still thinking？〃 Beemus said he was。 〃Good；〃 the king said。 〃Make it nice and sharp and wounding； please。〃
More studying and nodding followed。 Then Domas suddenly whirled and waved to the chamber； shouting； 〃Friends！ Friends！ Your attention； please。〃 His bellow filled the great chamber and rolled back without the aid of magic。 Others took up the cry； quite unnecessarily； saying； 〃The king is speaking！ The king is speaking！〃 The crowd looked up expectantly。
〃I want you all to meet these fellows；〃 the king bellowed； 〃You've probably heard I'm interested in them； and here they are in flesh。 They're all brave adventurers。 And what adventure it's been！ They've e all the way from far Orissa。 Daring deserts and bandits； and all sorts of other terrors。〃 Domas resumed his stroll； talking to the crowd as he went； with patient Beemus trotting at his side。 〃Let's talk to a few； shall we？ And see what makes such spirit。〃 He paused； hurling a great stone of a frown at the crowd。 〃A spirit many of you sadly lack。〃 Then he returned his attention to us； and a smile replaced the frown。 His smile was quite unlike his brother's： it was wide and generous and its path was smooth from much use。
The king looked us over again； until his gaze fell on Sergeant Maeen。 〃You； sir；〃 the king roared； pointing。 〃Tell us your name。〃
Maeen purpled with embarrassment。 The purple deepened as confusion caught him between a salute and a bow he recalled had been forbidden。 Domas rescued him with a mander's salute for a soldier。 Dilemma solved； Maeen snapped his best brisk reply； saying； 〃Sir！ I am Sergeant Maeen！ Sir！〃
The king shouted to the crowd； 〃Did you hear that？ Sergeant Maeen； he says。 I guessed his rank。 You can see by the cut of him that he's a sergeant。〃
〃Thank you； Your Majesty；〃 Maeen said。
〃Tell us； good sergeant； what do you think of us now that you're here？ How did you find Vacaan？〃
Maeen's features glowed； and he struggled mightily for the proper response。 Finally； he blurted； 〃Marvelous； Your Majesty！ It's just marvelous！〃
Domas roared laughter。 〃Do you hear that？〃 he bawled。 〃He thinks we're 。。。 marvelous！〃 More laughter。 Then； 〃Good plain soldier's talk。 We need more of that around here。〃 Maeen blushed。
Then the king asked； 〃Is there anything you don't like？ That isn't 。。。 marvelous？〃
Maeen gave it his honest consideration； puzzling until he found a small blight。 〃It's the food； sir；〃 he said。
〃The food？〃 Domas thundered。 〃What don't you like about our food？〃
〃Oh； I like it fine； Your Majesty；〃 Maeen said。 〃But； begging your pardon； sometimes I think it's somewhat 。。。 rich。〃
Domas was absolutely delighted with this。 〃I think so； too； Sergeant；〃 he said。 〃They're always putting glop on nice fresh stuff and ruining it。 Next time； tell them to scrape it off。 Of course； I do that all the time； and it does me no good。 And I'm their damned king！〃
Prince Raveline broke in。 〃I think you have found a friend in my brother； Sergeant；〃 he said。 〃And I can see why。 You're just his style of fellow。〃
〃Thank you； Your Majesty；〃 Maeen said。
Domas held up a hand。 〃You shouldn't call him 'Your Majesty；' 〃 he admonished。 〃It's like confusing officers with sergeants。 Only kings are majestic。 My brother's a prince。 And princes are 。。。〃 He paused； searching； and a sudden glow lighted his features。 He shouted for all to hear； 〃Princes are 。。。 less majestic。〃 Then he laughed until the tears flowed； the crowd laughing with him。 Raveline made his smile that was a sneer。 Beemus whispered to Domas； who nodded； then said； 〃It was clever； wasn't it。 But you keep thinking； Beemus。 I'll be needing more soon enough。〃 He shot his brother a look and snorted。 〃Good old Less Majestic。〃
Still laughing； he thanked Maeen and strolled on； picking out several more of our men； introducing them to his subjects； and praising each in turn。 Finally； he came back to the front where we stood。
He caught my red hair first。 〃You； sir。 Don't tell me your name； I know it。 It's 。。。〃 He frowned as it escaped him。 Beemus whispered； and Domas grinned。 〃Antero； that's it。。。 Amalric Antero。〃
〃I am honored； Your Majesty；〃 I said。
Domas puzzled at me for a moment； then he said； 〃You're the merchant？〃 I said I was。 〃Merchants aren't usually the daring sort。 All they care about is profit。〃 I told him that profit was certainly not my goal。 The king studied me further； and I could see he believed me。 He tapped Beemus。 〃I want to speak with him further；〃 he said。 〃Make a bit of time in the next day or so。〃 This request drew a furious bout of whispering from Beemus。 〃I know； I know；〃 the king said。 〃But do it for me anyway； and there's a good fellow。〃
That done with； he turned to Janos。 〃I know your name right off；〃 he said。 〃It's Janos Greycloak； soldier and wizard。〃
〃Thank you； Your Majesty；〃 Janos said。
〃Which are you the most of； Greycloak； soldier or wizard？〃
〃It was both that helped get us here； Your Majesty；〃 Janos answered。
The king was impatient。 〃No avoidance now。 I've made this court an open court。 All are manded to speak their minds。 I do。 So does my 。。。 less majestic brother。〃 He chuckled in memory of his fun。
Janos braced up； even firmer than before。 〃I have been a soldier all my life；〃 he said。 〃But during that time； there was only one banner that drew me。 The Far Kingdoms have been my dream； sir。 Now I am here； if you will permit it； the study of magic is what interests me most。〃
Domas eyed him； gave a slow nod； and said； 〃Why not？〃 He turned to the crowd； shouting； 〃That's enough。 I want some privacy now。 You all go back to whatever you were doing。 Wasting my money； I suppose。 Oh； yes。 These fellows will be visiting a while； and I want you to show them the utmost courtesy。 Is that understood？〃 Rumbles from the crowd and friendly faces showed it was。 Then the crowd turned away as he'd demanded； and Domas went back to his throne。
He thought for a moment； then； 〃I said before； I liked your looks。 I liked them better when I looked closer。 But only time can tell how right 。。。 or wrong； I am。 So here is what I am going to do。 Beemus； here； will find you places to stay。 As honored guests； I suppose he'll e up with a palace for Antero and Greycloak。 And something 。。。 not so rich〃…he grinned at Maeen…〃for the rest of you。 Now； if I've forgotten anything； or you have trouble of any kind； ask Beemus and he'll take care of it。〃
We murmured our thanks； the king nodded； accepting them。 〃Now； here's the rules。 Be on your good behavior； but not so good you spoil your fun。 Besides； I want to see what you're really like； and I can tell you now； I don't like tight…arsed fellows。〃
He looked at Janos。 〃You； sir； wish to study our magic。 I'll see if any of my wizards will take you under their wing。〃 He shook a warning finger at Janos。 〃But don't go dabbling with the black sort。 There's no demons allowed in my realm。 And I intend to keep it that way。〃
Janos dipped his head in acceptance； his eyes were alight with pleasure。 Just then； Raveline stepped forward。 〃I'd be glad to take him on； brother；〃 he said。 〃I hear he has amazing talent。〃
〃I thought you might；〃 Domas said。 〃And that is fine with me。〃 He looked back at Janos。 〃Prince Raveline is my chief wizard。 Damned good one； too。 Although not as good as he thinks。 Fact is； I could best him with a little practice； but wizardry and ruling do not go together in Vacaan。 We've kept them separate from the start and always shall in the future。〃
〃I also do his dirty work for him。〃 Raveline laughed。
〃And you're damned good at that as well；〃 Domas said。 〃Too bad you enjoy it so much。〃 Then； to us； 〃I know he practices the black arts in that palace of his。 And he knows that I know； and all that circular rot。 Unfortunately it's a necessary evil。 We have many enemies outside。 With only his filthy work to keep them at bay。〃
〃Such admiration； brother dear； is overwhelming；〃 Raveline said。
The king ignored him。 〃So there's no confusion； you ought to know what all my subjects know： I dislike my brother intensely。 As much as he hates me。 The only reason we haven't killed each other； as everyone in Vacaan also knows； is that it was forbidden from the beginning。 If one of royal blood kills another； or causes one of our subjects to kill； then our dynasty is ended。〃
The king chortled。 〃My less majestic brother has greater need to kill me。 You see； he wants more than anything to be king； but I have ten royal children in line for the throne。〃 He laughed again at his brother。 〃You'll be dead ten times over； oh less majestic one。〃
Raveline returned his laughter。 〃Then I shall have to be happy with my dirty work；〃 he said。 More words were fired back and forth； and we tried not to show disfort at this display of long and bitter rivalry or show signs of taking sides； although I easily chose mine。 I studied Raveline as the two royals engaged one another。 Utorian had said the prince was the younger brother。 I would have guessed otherwise： while Domas seemed to be in the early part of his fourth decade； Raveline had the look of a man knocking hard on the door of his fifth。 His forehead above and below the crown was deeply channeled； his eyes were pouched and edged with fishnets of long conspiracy； the lips were knowing and sensuous from practiced decadence。 I heard his laugh again： it was rich and deep； but it came too easily and was touched with the love of mockery。 His brother the king roared laughter in reply； but this mirthful boom rang sincere。 Domas was a man who relished the very act of laughter … even when it jeered。
My dislike for Raveline did not grow slowly from the bitter ground of later experience； it rooted and leaped to full maturity at first sight If I had written his description a minute after we met； my quill would still have lusted for poisonous ink。 His description； I realize； paints a man with masked features that hid sorcerous connivance and twisted purpose。 In reality； he worked hard to match his brother； keeping his face open and allowing emotion to do as it pleased with position and plexion。 He