fell into the pillows； aching for want of the other； all hot hands and twining limbs。 My fingers opened her tunic with ease； as if from much practice。 They caressed softness that was at once mysterious and familiar。 I heard myself say； 〃I love you； Omerye。〃 I heard her whisper back； 〃I have always loved you； Amalric。〃 And then； except to repeat those words； we did not speak for many hours。 We made love until dawn； and in the chill morning； Omerye played that song once more。 She played and I listened； and we were plete。
They say time passes swiftly for new lovers； and as if in a dream。 Only the last was true for us： we spent the following weeks in a trance； drank with one another； but each week seemed more like years and heaped together they made a lifetime。 There was much to know； but there was also much known； and before very long there it was understood that any future the gods allowed would be lived in the other's pany。 The only question was where； and that was settled the first time I broached it。 〃Shall I speak to the king？〃 I asked。 〃And ask to bee one of his subjects so I can remain here with you？〃
〃Only if it pleases you；〃 Omerye said。 〃But don't make the mistake of doing it to please me。〃
〃Wouldn't you rather remain with your own people？〃 I asked； thinking of Deoce and wondering if fate would have cast different dice if we had returned to her tribe。 〃You are much admired here。 I fear your art would suffer in Orissa。〃
〃Admiration has never been my goal；〃 Omerye said。 〃Only freedom to make any music I choose。〃
〃You would have that in Orissa；〃 I said。 〃And admiration as well。 But I do not think it is as great a treasure as it is in Vacaan。〃
Omerye's face darkened 〃It is not so wonderful as you have been led to believe；〃 she said。 〃The king may say all is encouraged for art's sake； but in practice it is another thing。 In Vacaan there are unspoken boundaries that limit all the arts。 If you go beyond it； certain 。。。 things 。。。 happen。 The least of which is you are suddenly without patrons； or audience of any kind。〃
〃But how can that be？〃 I asked。 〃Why； in Vacann； artists are paid the greatest of all pliments。 When their work is plete； a spell is cast so no one can duplicate it in any manner。 And each is preserved； so the work remains in all ways unique。〃
〃Uniquely tame 。。。 and therefore not unique at all；〃 Omerye replied。 〃When you have been here longer； you will see nothing is allowed that stirs public questioning or debate。 An artist can only dare with form； or color； or tone。 But we can never challenge authority。 Much is made of our system； because authority goes to great trouble to sniff out our talents when we are young。 Then we are given the best of training。 But along with that training a very subtle message is imparted： do this； and no more。〃
〃What happens to those who don't listen？〃 I asked。
She shivered。 〃One day；〃 she said； low； 〃they simply fail to appear。〃 The twin of the chill that had touched her； touched me； and I thought of the missing tavern keeper 。。。 and Raveline。 〃We all know better than to ask what happened to them；〃 Omerye continued。 〃And we take great care we never mention their names again。〃 She nestled deeper into my arms for fort； sighing。 〃At least I had you〃 she said。 〃That alone is what kept me content。〃
It was decided she would return to Orissa with me。 The decision tumbled me out of love's trance； and I became anxious to plete my business。 Omerye moved into my palace； and I resumed skirmishing with the king's officials。 Along with awareness came fresh worries about Raveline and Janos。 The old nightmare of the ruined city returned to haunt my sleep； but this time I had Omerye's sweet music and love to lessen the torment。 The gentle balsam she spread made it easier to think。 Ideas leaped up and became theories that only needed testing to bee solutions。 Finally； I sent Janos a firm message that I must see him。 A day or so passed before I received a reply： Greycloak agreed to meet with me 。。。 immediately。
I found him hard at work； deep in the bowels of an old building that smelled of parchment dust and the stale sulfur of ancient spells。 His eyes widened in surprise when he saw me； and I knew our meeting had been forgotten。 〃Amalric； my friend；〃 he shouted； jumping up from a writing table and spilling old scrolls on the floor。 〃What a happy coincidence。 I was just thinking of you。〃 His clothes were in absent disarray； and he was covered with so much dust； it fell in clouds when he bounded over to me； and made him sneeze。
〃You look like one of my old tutors；〃 I laughed； 〃and sound like him； too。 He was always going about with a snuffling nose and absent air。 It was a pity my father had to let him go。 The old fellow never knew what I was up to。〃
Janos smacked his forehead。 〃How stupid of me；〃 he said。 〃That's right； I invited you； didn't I？〃
〃If you insist on being absentminded；〃 I teased； 〃I suggest you form some other habit of abasement。 A few more knocks on your pate； and you'll be permanently addled。〃
〃You're right；〃 Janos said。 Still lost in his studies； he raised his palm to give his head another knock。 His wits returned as the hand reached eye level。 He stared at it a moment； then laughed。 〃You are right； twice！〃
I looked about the big room： from floor to vaulted ceiling； and from wall to distant wall； it was filled with scrolls of every shape and size。 On Janos' desk I saw one scroll held open by small weights。 The writing was not in any language I knew； but was' colorfully illuminated by geometric patterns painted in the margins。 〃These are the archives of the Old Ones；〃 Janos explained。 〃As far as I can tell； it is a plete record of all their spells…all the way back to their beginnings。〃
〃You must have made an even greater impression on the prince than I thought；〃 I said dryly。 〃For him to trust you with such ancient secrets。〃
〃Yes。 Yes； I have；〃 Janos said； so lost in his studies he did not note my mocking tone。 〃Although I am not certain he sees real value in these archives。〃 He sank back into his seat； picking up a scroll and studying the inscriptions。 〃For the wizards of Vacaan；〃 he said； 〃these are much picked…over leavings。 But they were a treasure of immeasurable value when the king's ancestors first settled here 。。。 on the very bones of the Old Ones。〃
I eyed the long walls of knowledge。 〃It is a pity we were not so blessed in Orissa；〃 I said。
Janos slapped the scroll down； excited。 〃You have it exactly；〃 he said。 〃Domas' people came here as ignorant as any barbarian。 Raveline admits it himself。 All they have acplished are refinements of what was once a great art。〃
〃I see you have not yet met the smart fellows。〃
Janos glowered。 〃Not a damned one。 I am ing to believe there are no smart fellows。 Not anywhere。〃
〃Not even your mentor； Prince Raveline？〃
〃Oh； he thinks he is；〃 Janos said。 〃But I'm learning more looking over his shoulder than listening。 What I get from a thing； and what he says is happening； are often opposites。〃
I indicated the scrolls。 〃What about the Old Ones？ Were there any smart fellows among them？〃
Janos sighed。 〃I know you'll think I'm a boaster；〃 he said。 〃But I must answer honestly。 No。 There were not〃
〃Did any of them stumble on the trail you are now following？〃
〃A few might have。 But for some reason； they never continued。〃 Janos snorted。 〃I suspect those were the wizards the Old Ones honored on the Holy Mountain。〃 Another snort。 〃Although what they were honoring remains a mystery I doubt is worth unraveling。〃
〃So that leaves only you；〃 I said。
Janos gave me an odd look； whose meaning I could not decipher。 Then he said； firmly； 〃Yes 。。。 Only me。〃
〃But only because the others have been blind； or abdicated；〃 I said。
〃Whatever the reason 。。。 No one has even e close to what I see。 All of them kept going in greater and greater circles； from one generation to the next They were doomed for never asking a single question： why？〃
〃Do you know the answer？〃 I asked。
Janos gave his head a mighty shake。 〃No。 But I am close； dammit！ Close。 I already see things no one has even dreamed of looking for。〃 Janos' excitement intensified。 〃You remember when I told you about the trick with