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〃I think that is the wisest course； myself； Your Majesty；〃 I said； rising； for I knew without prodding it was time to depart。 〃As my father said； 'All bargains glow when first struck； but most bee cold lumps by the time you put them in your pocket。' 〃
〃A wise man；〃 the king said。
〃Thank you； sir。 He was。 Now； if you will permit me； Your Majesty 。。。〃 I began to withdraw。 Domas hastened it with a gentle wave of his hand； and Beemus jumped down to lead me away。
〃How did I do？〃 I asked when we reached the corridor。 Beemus whispered that I had done very well； indeed。 With that reply I also knew I had the little man's support； it was easily big enough to carry the day。
I told Janos every detail of the meeting； only holding back the music and 。。。 Omerye。 When I was done I saw he had noted some omission： Janos had the twin of that odd look the king gave me。 Normally Greycloak would have pressed； and I would have confessed； although to what； I was not certain； he had news of his own to convey； and the moment passed。 But first he had to examine my efforts for flaws。 Finding none； he praised them and said I was sure to bring the work to a happy conclusion。
When I asked him how his own meeting had gone； he became so charged with enthusiasm； his words kept stumbling on confusion as he tried to describe all the wonders Prince Raveline had revealed。 He stopped after his last effort： a spell from the scrolls of the Old Ones that caused water to crystallize into ice。
〃It was manipulation again；〃 he cried。 〃Like sand to gold； but not near as plex； because water is 。。。 is 。。。〃 Light dawned and he struck his head a great blow。 〃By the gods； now I see it！〃 he shouted。 His mind raced； grasping for an elusive prey。 Then he shook his head in frustration as it escaped。 〃Gone； now； dammit！〃 He looked and saw an ox's ignorance in my eyes； and laughed。
〃Never mind；〃 he said。 〃It will e。〃 He poured us more drink。 〃Raveline has invited me back tomorrow； and the morrow after that。 So there will be much more。〃
〃Did he show you his demons？〃 I joked。
But the jest went awry； and Janos flushed dark。 〃No 。。。 He didn't。〃 The flush was of disappointment； and it made me glad。 I worry for nothing； I thought。 The king forbids it。 Even his brother would not dare to defy him。 Then I thought： especially his brother would not dare。
Janos raised his cup in nostalgic toast。 〃To the Far Kingdoms。〃
And I raised mine in that old echo of reply。 〃To the Far Kingdoms。〃
All was good for a while as we plunged into the life that was Irayas。 The meetings with Domas and Raveline opened a flood of invitations： we ate and drank at noble tables； we learned new dances in grand ballrooms； and an embarrassment of honors and gifts were showered on us。 At night we sailed the silvery lanes of that great lighted city； roaring songs with new friends clutching our shoulders。 By day we strolled through wonderful gardens and even more wonderful galleries where the arts of Vacaan were displayed。 I saw Omerye once： she was studying the statue of a great harpist。 The mysterious bond between us tugged hard； and she began to turn her head in my direction； but the wound Deoce's death had caused gave a sudden ache； and I quickly backed away before she saw me。
The jolt she had given me roused awareness； and I began to worry again。 I could no longer ignore that weeks had gone by； and I had yet to meet again with the king。 I could have paved a small road with all the messages I sent； asking what progress had been made in the trade agreement。 Some went unanswered； most drew the mild reply of： You must understand； these matters are plex。 And we praise your patience in advance for bearing up under these unfortunate； but necessary； delays。
As I worried over these oracles from dry authority； I suddenly noted a great absence of Janos。 A second worry now gnawed as I realized it had been some time since I had seen him。 And before that； his presence had bee rarer with each passing day。 I also remembered recent messages I had sent to his palace： they met the same fate as those I had sent the king。 His servant； Gatra； always answered with regret that his master was busy with the prince and could not be disturbed。 Perhaps another date？ But each date we set became inconvenient when the time drew close。
Finally I went to the tavern our men favored。 It made an unruly sprawl along the freight docks。 After so much time amid the perfection of Irayas' wealthy neighborhoods； the ramshackle buildings along the docks and the noisy chatter of mon folk was refreshing。 I suppose I was homesick for the docks of Orissa； with their tantalizing sights and smells； and the feeling that here； every person； be he fisherman or monger or My Lady fingering the quality； was equal。
Sergeant Maeen and the others were delighted to see me。 Lione begged me to put my money away and bought a round for the whole tavern in honor of my visit。 As we drank and exchanged gossip； I looked around and saw the men were doing well for themselves。 There were plenty of eager young women in their pany； and they were good women； daughters and young widows of workers and stall keepers。 I expected many marriages to e out of this； and idly wondered who would stay and who would go when the time came for us to depart。 The other men in the tavern； many of whom had bee friends of Maeen and the others； were also a sturdy； hard…working lot； and among the clientele I saw only a few who wore the twisted smile of small larcenies。 The sergeant asked how Sir Greycloak was getting on。
〃I was hoping you could tell me〃 I said。 〃I have not seen him about for some time。〃
Maeen frowned； then forced cheer。 〃You know how Sir Greycloak is at times； my lord；〃 he said with a laugh。 〃He gets that mind of his after a badger in his den； then dives right in after it。 Don't worry。 He'll show up for some fun with his old mates； by and by。〃
〃Have you heard any news of him？〃 I asked。
Lione leered。 〃Oh； he's not all learnin' and business； my lord。 Sir Greycloak's as randy as most。〃 He gave me a nudge。 〃Some say； even more so。〃
Maeen cut him silent with a glare。 To me； he said； 〃Pay him no mind； lord。 Sir Greycloak might have been to a few parties； or so。 Just to get the kinks out But it's all in good fun。〃
〃Did 。these 。。。 uh 。。。 parties 。。。 have anything to do with Prince Raveline？〃 I asked； knowing the answer； but hoping I erred。
Maeen's long hesitation told me I had not。 Then he said； 〃Well 。。。 I suppose； they did； my lord。〃 The frown returned to channel his brow。 He sighed。 〃They were pretty wicked too； I hear。〃 He gave a nervous laugh。 〃But there's no call to worry； my lord。 It's only a man's passing fancy。 And when all is said and done； Sir Greycloak is easily the match of Prince Raveline。〃
A drunken shout broke in。 〃What's that dog's name I hear？ Prince Raveline； is it？〃 A big； red…faced fellow followed the shout by lumbering into our group。 〃This is my tavern； sirs。 I'll not have that name blacken its premises。〃
I eyed the landlord； curious at such hate。 Maeen and the others had pulled away； some were muttering nervously。 Duty drew Maeen back to give the landlord a warning。 〃We're only here for a friendly drink； man。 If it's politics you want； we'll take our merce elsewhere。〃
The tavern keeper bleared； angry drunk and near violence。 〃If I want to call that prince a dog； I'll call him a dog； damn you！ And it's shaming a dog to do it for all the harm that man has caused！〃 Before he could continue； friendly patrons grabbed him。 He struck out and wrestled a bit； but was finally hauled away： two women； daughter and wife； I guessed； dragged him through a door and slammed it The whole time the landlord blistered the air with curses on Raveline and his doings。
We were left uneasy by his outburst； but Maeen seemed most troubled of all。 He looked nervously about； checking the villains I had picked out before。 But where I had seen twisted smiles； there were only bad masks of bland disinterest 〃We'd better find another tavern soon；〃 the sergeant muttered to Lione。 〃That landlord is set on bringing trouble。〃 Lione vigorously nodded agreement。
〃I admit he's an uncouth fellow；〃 I said。 〃But what trouble can he bring？ His words may be unpleasant； but the king does not discourage his subjects from speaking their minds。 In fact； he demands it。 You heard him say so； himself。〃
Maeen stirred； unfortable。 He leaned close and spoke low。 〃The king may say one thing； my lord； but that is not how it works down here。〃 He patted the table for emphasis。 〃And from what I've heard； my lord； it does not always work that way above。〃
'Tell me more；〃 I murmured。
Maeen shook his head。 〃It's not wise to linger on it too long； my lord。 There are ears about〃 He indicated one of the blackguards who was slipping closer to us。 〃But I will say this。 Mayhap the king's good intentions are being spoiled by another。 And that other fellow； if you know who I mean； seems to take offense real easy； like。 Dark things have been known to happen when his name is abused。〃
I wanted to ask more； but the slippery one was nearly at our table； his back turned in studied unconcern； but you could see his ears swivel to listen。 So I said； loudly； 〃Here； now。 Let me buy the next round。 And we'll all toast our royal hosts。〃 There was much overloud pliance to my proposal； and after a time of broadly innocent fun； Maeen tipped me the wink that I should depart now； so they could casually follow after a suitable period。
I returned home in great alarm。 I wondered at those 〃parties；〃 as Maeen called them； that were hosted by Raveline。 Orgies； I supposed； sexual tricks and frenzy stoked by magic。 I remembered well the great appeal such things had to Janos。 And I had just seen for myself that all was not wondrous light in Irayas。 But then I thought of the important negotiations with the king。 I knew Domas was not lying about his interest； nor was he hiding some dark purpose。 Hope sprang again with the reminder that I actually had seen nothing； I had only heard。 I did not distrust Maeen's word； but he himself had it by third or fourth hand。 Not only that； I self…chided； but wasn't I letting my dislike of Raveline flaw my view？ After all； what did I have to base that dislike on？ The prince had certainly not done anything to deserve it。
While I still had that clumsy ball of yarn tied up with such dubious knots； Janos reappeared。 He burst into my palace； full of energy； wit； and high spirits。 〃I've missed you； my friend；〃 he roared； slapping my back。 〃I've been buried in dusty old scrolls for too long； and my ears are so stuffed with spells； I fear I am growing deaf from not hearing normal talk。〃 ：
〃Then your studies go well？〃 I asked。
〃Damned well；〃 Janos said。 His manner had always been blustery； but I suspicioned a touch of aping of our bluff…mannered hosts。 Suspicion faded as he clapped me on the back again and said we ought to see how the men were doing； and swap a drink or three。 We found them at another tavern； just as large and soundly working class as the first。 With Janos we were twenty again； the reunion was noisy and glorious。 Much drinking followed； and perhaps a tipsy tear for fond memories of shared adventures。 But just before we were all taken by drink； Maeen came to me。 〃Remember that talky landlord？〃 he asked； low。
〃At the other tavern？〃 He nodded。 I looked about their new favorite place admiringly。 〃You were well to be shed of him； I suppose。 And you chose the replacement well。〃
〃We weren't shed of him；〃 Maeen said。 〃We hadn't time。 He disappeared that night； and no one has seen or heard from him since。 And the tavern was ordered closed。〃
〃By whom？〃 I asked。
〃He wouldn't put his name to it；〃 Maeen said。 〃But everyone says it could be none other than Prince Raveline。〃
CHAPTER TWENTY…FOUR
Omerye
ANY RENEWED BROODING over Janos and Raveline was cut short the next day when Beemus showed up at my palace。 He said； in his whispered shadow…speak； the king was engaged in important business； but assured me it was only slightly more important； in Domas' view； than the business he had with me。 Barring unforeseen emergency； our trade agreement was next in line。
〃Can you give me some hint which way the king is leaning？〃 I asked。 He replied with a s