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 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 f