of steel； harsh breathing； and gasps of effort。 Leego leaped up； urging his men on。 For a moment； we were almost overwhelmed。 Then my new friend drew a long knife and charged； sword and dagger cutting this way and that。 Someone got behind him； but I speared that man through the back； and I heard me whistle of lungs emptying。 Suddenly the men were running； bowling Leego over in their panic to escape my demon rescuer。 I started after them； but my friend stuck out his foot； and I tumbled face forward into the mud。
By the time I rose the man had Leego pinned to the ground with a heavy boot across his throat。 I plucked fire beads from my pocket； held them high； and whispered the enchantment that brought them to life。
〃Bring them closer； lad；〃 the man said。 〃I need some light on my work。〃
I could see him clearly now。 He was a soldier； I noted； an officer。 He was quite tall； heavily muscled and darkly handsome； with a jagged scar above his beard marring those good looks。 His teeth glittered as brightly as his sword。
〃Please； sir；〃 Leego begged； 〃there's only a small misunderstanding。 I'm sure I can make it right〃 He squealed as my friend trod harder against his windpipe。
〃What's his name？〃 the soldier asked。
〃Leego；〃 I answered。 〃He's a Procurer。〃
The man took this in； then leaned over my nemesis。 〃Look closely at my face； Leego；〃 he said。 〃I want you to remember it well。〃 Leego gurgled and nodded。 〃My name is Janos Greycloak； you whore's son；〃 the man went on。 〃Captain Greycloak； to be more precise。 I overheard your conversation with this gentleman； so I am witness to your threats。〃
〃No harm meant；〃 Leego croaked。 〃It was only business； kind Captain。〃
〃Well； if business includes blackmail；〃 Janos said； 〃then let me warn you： If you accuse this man； I shall stand with him and humbug your every charge。 If murder is your true intent； let me make myself clear。 If anything happens to him； I shall find you； Leego； and you will beg for something so merciful as murder。〃
〃I shall not harm him； good sir；〃 Leego shrieked。 〃I promise by all that is holy。〃
〃Don't blaspheme；〃 Captain Greycloak said。 He stepped back as if to let Leego rise。 He sheathed his sword。 As Leego came to his elbows； that boot crushed down again。 The captain pinched Leego's ear between two strong fingers。 Leego howled。 〃To make absolutely sure we have a bargain；〃 the captain said； 〃I shall take something of yours。〃
His knife slashed and Leego screamed。 Captain Greycloak held Leego's ear in his hand； blood dripping across the spider face。 The captain shook it； scattering more blood like rain。 〃If this young gentleman has trouble with you in the future；〃 he said； 〃I shall give this stump to an old warty witch I know。 She specializes in particularly odious curses。 Do you understand my meaning？〃
〃Yes； my lord；〃 Leego whined。
〃Out of our sight； then；〃 the captain said。
Leego fled down the street without looking behind him。 When he was gone； the captain looked at the lump of bloody flesh in his hand。 He laughed； hurled it away； and wiped his fingers with odd fastidiousness on his breeches。 〃As if I had coin for witches；〃 he said。
〃Captain Greycloak；〃 I said； 〃I shall always be at your service for this night's work。〃
〃I'm glad to hear that；〃 he said； 〃for I have suddenly developed a powerful thirst。〃 He clapped me on the shoulder and led me back to the tavern。 〃You would do me a great honor； gentle sir； if you would address me as a Mend。 And my friends…an unfortunate few； I fear…call me Janos。〃
〃Then Janos； it is； sir；〃 I said with fervor。 〃And you must call me Amalric。 What's more； if I have any buttons left to trade with the tavern keeper； I will buy a river of brandy to bless this friendship。〃 Light…headed with relief； I trooped into the inn to make the rat…faced tavernkeep a richer man。
Soon； we had finished one goblet of brandy and were well into a second。 I had been musing on the fact that I had just sent one man to his death； and most likely the one I'd lung…stabbed would not live out the night； yet I felt neither guilt nor shame； unlike the ballads pretend。 Thinking further on the brawl outside； honesty shamed me into confessing aloud I did not consider myself worthy of rescue。
〃The argument；〃 I said； 〃was over a dishonorable act on my part。 I did not deserve your interference。〃
〃Don't be so hasty in flailing yourself； my friend；〃 Janos answered。 〃I know quite a little of men like Leego； and I strongly doubt at any moment in your dealings you ever had the upper hand。〃
〃I was a fool；〃 I said。 It felt cleansing to say those words aloud。
Janos nodded。 〃I suspect you were；〃 he said。 〃It usually happens when a man thinks with his cock instead of his brain。〃 He laughed。 〃However； I did overhear one thing that intrigues me。 Something about a love potion。 Applied to his prize whore。〃 His eyes sparkled with what I thought was amused interest。 Later I learned that his interest in these matters was far from casual。
I blushed。 〃I fear what you heard is true。 It was a terrible sin I mitted； and I regret it deeply。〃
〃Oh； don't be a prudish fellow。 What's there to regret？ The doxy and Leego got their money's worth out of you； I'll warrant。〃
I made a plete and full confession； starting with the moment Melina and I first met and ending with my flight from her bedchamber。 Janos was a remarkably easy confessor。 He was sympathetic without being syrupy。 He interrupted only to ask a detail…one that always seemed to bolster my side…or make a jest to lighten my spirits。 It was like talking to a much older brother； although I realized he couldn't be much more than five years my senior。 When I was done he poured the last of the brandy； then turned the bottle up to signal it would be our last。
〃In my unworthy opinion； Amalric；〃 he said； 〃this is a tale that began sadly and ended happily。 You learned a lesson most of us don't e to until a late age； if ever。 Forget the woman。 Forget your imagined humiliations。 I assure you it will make a wonderful story to tell your sons when you are an old man。 At least tonight； you acquitted yourself well。 So be done with it。〃
I thanked him； although I was not convinced my sins could so easily be washed away。
Janos raised his goblet in a toast。 'To the new Amalric Antero。 May his future adventures be half as sweet。〃 Our goblets chinked together； and we drank。 As we lowered our glasses I caught Janos eyeing me thoughtfully across the table。 〃I think my own fortunes changed this night； Amalric；〃 he said； quite sincerely。 〃For did I not meet a redheaded man？ And is that not one of the luckiest signs the seers can find in their crystals？〃
〃For your sake；〃 I said； 〃I hope so。 It is not so lucky for its possessor； I fear。〃
Janos laughed； that rich boom of a laugh I spoke of before。 〃Now that is a riddle worthy of the greatest Evocator；〃 he said。 〃Much more so than how many demons can gambol on the head of a pin。 If the Omen portends well； does that mean the Omen will also end well？〃
Even writing from this distance； with all the events that have passed since we first met； I still do not know the answer to that riddle。 I doubt I will until the night the Dark Seeker es to carry off my soul。
My spirits lifted as I pondered his riddle。 At long last； a friend with wit。 Then； defeated； I shook my head。 〃Even if it were not late；〃 I said； 〃I doubt I could unravel your puzzle。 Indeed； it is a riddle whose answer may be as impossible to divine as 。。。〃 I searched for parisons； and one popped up like a light。 〃As finding the Far Kingdoms。〃 I laughed； but I laughed alone。 Janos was staring at me； excitement in his eyes。 〃What is it？〃 I asked。 〃Why did you say that？〃 he asked。 I was confused。 〃You mean 。。。 about the Far Kingdoms？〃 〃Yes。〃 His voice was abrupt； prodding。 〃I 。。。 really can't say。 Except it was on my mind just before Leego's thugs arrived。〃
Janos peered closer； and I suddenly felt rather stupid。 〃It's that kind of silliness on my brain that's kept me from my responsibilities；〃 I said； a bit hot。 〃Forgive my babbling。〃
〃If you knew me〃 Janos said； 〃you would realize when it es to aimless chatter； there is no man the master of Janos Greycloak。〃 I laughed as he drew me toward the