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other； keeping his face open and allowing emotion to do as it pleased with position and plexion。 He made his speech blunt； and he rode it down the short road to direct points。 But I had my father's eye for sizing up a customer； and this was one I did not trust。 However； distrust can catch a bargain as well as its pretty sister； so I made it into a coin for further use。 I glanced at Janos and worried when I saw how he was weighing Raveline's every word。 Ah； well； I thought； he's practiced in taking care。 Besides； knowledge was his purpose now； and what harm can knowledge be？
The brothers ended their quarrel； and I saw my chance。 I caught the king's attention and asked； 〃If I may ask a question； Your Majesty？〃
〃Ask away；〃 Domas said。
'That we have much to gain from this experience is obvious。 But； I wonder； sir： what benefit are we to you？〃
Domas was startled； he pulled his head back and peered at me for a long moment。 Then he laughed and turned to Beemus。 〃Remember the time I asked you to set aside？ So Antero and I could talk？〃 Beemus whispered that unfortunately； he did。 Domas said； 〃Well； make it longer。〃 He spread his hands apart quite wide。 〃Much longer。〃
His broad face swiveled back to me。 〃I'll tell you then；〃 he said。
With that； our audience ended。
CHAPTER TWENTY…THREE
The First Veil Parts
A KING'S PROMISE is not the same as other men's。 My word must be my bond； only a fool would trade with me if it were not。 But a king can renege when he pleases and suffer little； if at all。 His business is unique： there is no other source for such promises； and if only one is granted out of ten； there will still be ten more supplicants elbowing through the crowd to win the king's favor。
Two weeks after King Domas had given his promise； we were still gnawing on that doubtful coin to test its worth。 I had not heard from Beemus about that 〃time〃 the king had promised； and there had been no answers from the palace to my many queries。 Janos was particularly worried； for he held the 〃less majestic〃 promise of a prince； and his equally numerous messages to Raveline had also gone unanswered。 Adding to Janos' woes； Prince Raveline had done nothing at all beyond that first gesture； while Domas had made good on at least part of what he had promised。 Our men were well cared for； enjoying an easy life at a villa near the main docks； where there were many entertainments and awe…stricken women to beguile them。 Janos and I had each been given a palace for quarters and luxuries aplenty to soothe time's passage。 But the abundant and glamorous present was perched on the crumbling edge of the future； and each second of our wait had bee an agony。
〃I almost wish Raveline had stayed out of it；〃 Janos said one day。 〃With the prince claiming me as his student； no one with any real knowledge dares do more than wish me a good morrow。〃
My distrust of Raveline made me glad； but friendship prodded a sigh of sympathy。 〃Both our royal hosts have bee as unreachable as that mountain；〃 I said； indicating the holy summit that graced the view from my balcony。 Actually； it was one of many balconies I could claim in the palace I had been given； but the great blue Holy Mountain reflecting in the river had made this one my favorite。 〃I keep telling myself to be patient；〃 I continued； 〃but when patience is your only choice； such reminders are little help。〃
Janos gave his beard a tug and laughed。 〃You are a good friend； Amalric；〃 he said。 〃But I am your good friend as well。 So I know you hide your true feelings just now。〃
I shrugged and laughed with him。 I had told Janos my poor opinion of the prince； and he had brushed it off as sheer speculation； which it was。 〃When I speak to the king；〃 I said； 〃I will be sure to press him for a 。。。 shall I say 。。。 more available tutor。〃
〃If you speak to the king；〃 Janos said； the laughter quickly gone。
I sighed again； this time； heartfelt。 〃Yes 。。。 If！ I have grown to despise that word。 Whenever I have a thought there is always an if leaping out to trip me。 If only I could see the king。 And if once I saw him： if only he would listen。 And if he listened： if only he would find favor with my proposals。 And if he finds favor if only…〃
〃I take the point；〃 Janos said dryly。 〃Too well； in fact。 The word will haunt my dreams 。。。 if I should ever sleep again。〃
Laughter returned to lighten our worry。 I eased back in my soft； gilded pillows and wondered again at the Holy Mountain。 I thought of the altars of the Old Ones Utorian had mentioned； and the ceremonies they once held to honor the wisest of their Evocators after the Dark Seeker had taken his due。 For a moment I imagined the smoke rising from their ashes on the flaming stone； and I imagined the wind carrying the smoke away。 To the east； Utorian had said。 〃Why to the east？〃 I murmured。
〃East of what？〃 Janos asked。
〃Nothing；〃 I said； embarrassed by my rude reverie。 〃A bit of silliness； which forced idleness seems to encourage。〃
Janos had other things on his mind as well。 He waved at the river； which flowed past in manded peacefulness and beauty。 〃They think they are such a superior people；〃 he said； 〃and show us grand marvels； such as that tame river； to prove it。〃
〃It seems a marvel to me；〃 I said。
Janos snorted。 〃Only the scale is a marvel。 The principle is as plain as honest soap。 We routinely calm small areas about our own ships； when conditions are right； just as we call winds from bags we buy on the market to fill our sails。 It is only a bit of wind； but there is no difference between the logic applied to that wind； and what they surely must do to bend the weather to their will。〃
〃Could you do it？〃 I asked。
Janos shrugged。 〃With experiment； yes； I could crack their methods。 But I would also have to figure out where they get all the energy required。 Even with a thousand Evocators focusing all their powers on a single purpose； only a tenth of the energy needed would be produced。〃
〃But our Evocators are weaklings next to theirs；〃 I said。
〃Nonsense；〃 Janos replied。 〃Oh； I admit these fellows have more knowledge； and a few； such as Raveline； possess great natural power of their own。 But I have as much as he； and am capable of far more。〃 I knew he was not boasting； but making a statement of fact。 〃Still； even if all of their wizards were as great as Raveline； the power would still be lacking。 Therefore； they must get it elsewhere。 And when I know where； so shall I。〃
〃But we have seen more than river and weather；〃 I said。 〃There is wondrous magic wherever we look。〃
'Toys and tavern tricks；〃 Janos scoffed。 〃Once again on a larger scale。 There are written rules for all the spells we have seen。 If…that damned word again…I am allowed to see the scrolls of the ancient wizards； I will perform those tricks as well。〃
〃Is there nothing that impresses you？〃 I asked Janos。
〃Oh； to be sure；〃 he said。 〃Otherwise I would despair。 I have seen many things that I ache for knowledge of。 To name one： did you know they can transmute mon elements into gold？〃
I laughed。 〃What do you care？ Gold has never been something you fancied； except as a means to an end。〃
Janos remained serious。 〃Forget the value。 Although any ordinary element will do； they make it from sand； as that substance is the most plentiful； and they do it with such ease and in such quantities； they use gold in mon construction。 They even prefer jewelry of gold alloy； which they can only get from manufacture； because it is not so soft。 It is the doing that excites my interest。〃
〃I saw you change a scorpion into a mouse once；〃 I said。 〃And Mortacious made the mouse a gold plate。 Why is sand to gold a greater feat？〃
Janos thought for a moment； searching for a means to explain a plicated thing to a man who was less than a novice。 〃I did not change that scorpion into a mouse；〃 he said at last。 〃I put the scorpion away。 Into another 。。。 place； is the only word I can think of to describe it。 I did not see that place； but I felt it with my mind。 And with my mind I fingered an opening； then 。。。 put the scorpion through that opening。 I got the mouse the same way。 Although it was not from the same place。 Perhaps it was in Mortacious' kitchen； poor thing。 Or perhaps； it wasn't even of this 。。。 world。〃 He looked at me to see if I understood。 I was ignorant enough to think I did； and nodded。
〃Good；〃 Janos said。 〃So； you see it was only an exchange of sorts。 The gold of Irayas is a different matter。 They actually manipulate the sand； somehow。 Actually； they manipulate what makes the sand； sand。〃
〃Why； the smallest thing that goes into making sand；〃 I said； 〃is a grain of the same material。〃
〃Not at all；〃 Janos said。 Then he stopped himself。 〃I shouldn't sound so certain when I am not。 It is a new theory I have。 It came to me when I considered what they had acplished； and how it could be done。 I think； now； that all we see about us…the table we sit at； the balcony it rests upon； that mountain we view； even our own bodies…is made of particles so small the very grain of sand we consider is a mountain itself in parison。 And I think they somehow move those particles about； rearranging them； if you will； until they have the same form as gold。 In fact； it is gold； and no longer whatever the material they chose to make it from。〃
I blew out a long breath。 〃I have followed you as far as I can； my friend；〃 I said。 〃But I fear you lost me where a single grain of sand was revealed to be not one； but many grains； and those so small I have not vision enough to see them。〃
〃If you understand only that；〃 Janos said with a smile； 〃you understand all。 Right now that makes you as wise as me。〃 Gloom returned to darken his features and make him worry at his beard。 〃Do not misunderstand my scoffings at these folk；〃 he said。 〃I did not mean to diminish their acplishments。 I was only putting them into perspective。 There are many secrets worth having here。 Many； indeed。 And I am sure there are many clever fellows about； if only they would let me meet them。〃
I exploded laughter as that fearful if raised its head again。 Janos caught it and joined in。 Then he looked past me； and I heard footsteps pad out onto the balcony。 I turned to see one of my servants； a message fluttering in his hand。 〃What is it？〃 I asked； reaching for it。
The servant shook his head； saying； 〃Pardon； my lord； but it is not for you。 It is for Sir Greycloak。〃
Janos frowned as he grasped the message； absently muttering thanks。 The frown turned to glee as he read the message。 〃Who is it from？〃 I asked。
Janos waved the paper at me； victorious。 〃Prince Raveline；〃 he cried。 〃And he wants to see me immediately！〃 He jumped up and gave me a hug。 〃At last； one of those clever fellows。 Now we shall see what we shall see。〃
He made a hasty good…bye and rushed out； hurling promises over his shoulder that he would tell all when he was done。 I sat； moody； watching as Janos ran out of the palace and rushed across the sprawling grounds to his gondola tied to my palace's main dock。 My mood was laced with jealousy as well as suspicion of Raveline's intentions。 I saw no humor when I resumed that bitter roundelay： If only the king would see me。 And if he should see me： if only he would…
The circle broke abruptly as I saw Janos' boat cross paths with another。 This boat was smoothing toward the docks he had just left。 It carried the royal crest on its sides。 When it stopped； a man hopped off before it had been properly tied to a bollard。 I leaned over the rail； anxious for a better view。 I saw a little man with a most unremarkable appearance； and as he scampered to my palace door； I knew he was Beemus； ing to fetch me to the king。
I WAS TAKEN directly to the king's private chambers。 I noticed little grandeur on the way； my mind was too full of speeches quickly devised and just as quickly discarded。 The long wait； coupled with suspense； had scattered my previous plans into confusion。 I barely noticed the huge doors we stopped before； or the absence of guards。 I only saw the doors as an obstacle and raised a hand to push them open。 A whisper from Beemus stayed that presumptuous hand。 He put his finger to his lips for silence； then cupped his ear； bidding me to listen。 As we stood there； I heard the strains of the most wonderful m