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。