back for breath； and to take measure of what effect； if any； my words had worked。
Domas was silent for a long moment； and I believed he might even have been moved。 He said； 〃Now I truly understand why you came； Amalric Antero。 Why you were willing to chance your life； and more。 And your reasons do not shame my kingdoms as a goal。 They touch on my feelings for my own people。 Although sometimes I think they forget all that I do； I do for them。〃 He rumbled self…mocking laughter。 〃Of course； I am not so altruistic as I'm making out。 I'm a king。 Kings are selfish by nature。 We also must do cruel things； which is why my brother's about； instead of locked up in some tower。 He's my hellhound。 He makes certain my selfish nature； which wants all my people to praise my name； is kept reined in when there are troublemakers among us。〃
He stopped； as Beemus whispered in his ear。 He nodded； muttering； 〃Yes。 Yes。 I was ing to that。〃 He turned back to say； 〃Beemus reminds me your speech； while pretty； is shy of the main point。 I admit I feel sorry for your people； and their troubles。 But； Amalric Antero； what is any of that to me？〃
〃It is everything to do with you； Your Majesty；〃 I replied； 〃for without our desires； you would have little of value to entice the trade I seek。〃
〃Show me your goods； then； trader。〃
So I rolled out my blanket of imagination； and set all manner of things upon it I told him of the porous stone from the north that the people there carve into singular idols that weep perfume just before it rains。 I told him of the lovely； painted cloth the women of the south weave； and how each bolt is different from all the others in design and feel； and flow on your body when it is made into a costume。 I told him about the great variety of fruit and grain and drink that flowed to us from all the lands bordering our sea。 And I said； although I had seen great bounty in the Far Kingdoms； I noted there was a gray sameness to it as well； which is why； I supposed； his cooks went to so much trouble to disguise that sameness with rich sauces and gravies。 I talked at length； and he never wearied as I spun my trader's tale of exotic kingdoms and peoples and odd wonders as distant to him as his land was to mine。
As I rolled my imaginary carpet back up； I closed with this； 〃I claim no talent as a seer； Your Majesty； when I say that I believe you have bee bored with your protected land of plenty。 And I have heard you yourself say you fear your people have lost spirit； and are growing stale。 The goods I have offered in trade have three qualities of singular value： the excitement of strangeness； the stir of wonder at the unknown； and the spice of adventure renewed。〃 I sat back； charged with the excitement of my own sales talk。 〃That； Your Majesty； is why I believe you have just as much to gain in this bargain as we have。 That is why I am certain； that once struck the contract will be of such immeasurable value to us all。〃
King Domas' eyes reflected my own excitement。 He nodded to himself； once； twice。 I believed I had won the day。 Then a king's caution took hold； the excited glitter dulled。 〃The trading could not take place in Vacaan；〃 he said。 〃Outside influences； as my brother continually warns； can make our people discontent。〃
〃We could easily choose a neutral port；〃 I said。 〃A place convenient to both of us。〃
〃Yes； we could；〃 Domas said； but his tones were sailing for neutrality as well。
So I spread my hands wide； helpless； saying； 〃What else can I say to convince you； Your Majesty？ I have run out of what little wit my father knocked into my thick head。〃
Laughter returned to the king。 He hurt my ears with his bellow； but I didn't mind： I saw reborn excitement in his eyes。 〃Nothing more； my good fellow；〃 he finally said。 〃You've done a good job for your city； and you have nothing to be ashamed of。 I like your proposal。 I like it enough to accept on the spot。 However 。。。〃 He stopped as Beemus whispered； then went on。 〃However； as Beemus says； we must consider the details closely before we put seal to agreement。〃
〃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 wa