ng。 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