I regained my posure and saw movement through gathering gloom。 I thought it would most likely be a roving cavalry patrol； and once again was wrong。 From behind a copse trotted a pack of direwolves。 There must have been a dozen of them。 They came directly for us； and I swore for not having dared to bring a weapon。 These huge shaggy killers would bring down the horses in an instant； and I doubted if the six of us could stand against the beasts for more than a few seconds。 Each of them stood about eight feet at the foreshoulder； and their dreadful fangs gleamed long and blood hungry。 I braced； waiting for the horses to see the wolves and bolt。 But they did not。 The wolf pack split around us； as if they were； indeed； escorting cavalry。 They trotted on either side of the carriage。 I could hear the scrape of their nails against the roadway。 One of the beasts was beside my window； and it looked in。 I vow its gaze was nearly human and wholly baleful。 Overhead there was the whisper of great wings； and I saw a patrolling flight of those spur…armed； monstrous eagles we'd observed ing upriver to Irayas。 Raveline's castle was well guarded； indeed； I thought as the fortress came into view。 It was a huge hexagon with round towers at each angle； and it sat in the center of a perfectly flat field。 I estimated each wall would have stretched nearly a third of a league。 I thought all the castles I had ever seen； including that sea castle of the Archons； could have been fitted into this edifice's keep。 I saw no sign of guards either on the battlements or patrolling around the structure。
One man waited outside a yawning portal … Prince Raveline。 There were no other guests； no weling servitors。 Now I was truly afraid； my fear enough so I felt I could taste its metallic aridity。 The coach drew to a halt in front of him； and the footmen sprang down and bowed to their master。 He nodded acknowledgment； strode to the door； and opened it himself。
〃Lord Antero；〃 he said。 〃You honor my presence。〃
I slid out； bowed deeply； and touched my lips to the hand he extended。 〃It is you who honor me；〃 I said。 〃I have never been invited into the home of any prince； let alone one so great as yourself。 Nor personally handed down from my carriage by the prince himself。〃
〃There；〃 Raveline said。 〃Now we have both dispensed with the required niceties。 I plan no other ceremonies； and if you have speeches or clever pliments ready； we shall take them as given and returned。〃 He smiled； but his eyes were cold； cold。
He took my arm and led me into the castle。 〃I pondered long as to whether I should invite others。 I did not。。。 do not。。。 want you to think you are being slighted by not being surrounded with panoply and courtiers； but we have matters of import to discuss… matters I would rather none of those who dance attendance around my brother would witness。〃 He made a mirthless smile。 〃I cannot；〃 he continued； almost to himself； 〃order the tongue cut out of every loose…lipped sycophant in the Great Court。 Much as that would prove a blessing。〃
I hoped my face showed no response as I realized Raveline must have seriously considered the option before reluctantly rejecting it。 We passed into the heart of his castle。 He apologized for not giving me the full tour； but said that would take several days and might serve for our mutual amusement at another time。 〃Besides；〃 he said； 〃I am not entirely sure even I can find my way about。〃
For this reason； I cannot go on for page after page of the marvels of this Black Prince's abode。 I shall mention but a few things of note。 One was each wall and floor appeared to have been hewn from a single slab of stone； polished to a mirror glaze； then hand fitted to its mate。 Another was the warmth。 I know of no way to keep castles from dankness and chill； but in this one I was as fortably warm in every room and hall； without being scorching； as I am at this moment writing in my study with a peat fire glowing。 I gaped at the treasures； from tapestries glowing with inner lights； to furniture shaped and polished until it whispered like the finest silk to my fingertips； to paintings ranging from realistic to bold bursts of pure color that sang to my heart。 There were other things I noted and turned away from hastily； things that sometimes still appear in my dreams； that I will not； must not describe。
Raveline led me through the great hall； where relicts and battle flags from his dynasty's reign hung below the shadow…buried gambrel roof； into a smaller chamber。 In the center of the room was a table。 On it were half a dozen covered dishes。 There were only two places laid； and each of the utensils and plates had been turned or cut from a different…colored block of jade； from red to translucent to various greens to white。 To one side was another table； this one laden with a dizzying assortment of bottles and decanters； containing the liquors of many lands。
Prince Raveline asked me what I cared to drink； and I suggested I would be most content with whatever he chose； although I warned him I would most likely offend by not showing proper appreciation by draining my glass。 〃For it is a custom of my people； especially with me； who has a weak head； to avoid the grape until business has been concluded。 Since you said outside you had some matters of import to discuss； I would be deeply shamed if I woke tomorrow and found all the wisdom I'd spouted had been filtered through dregs。 After I have heard your ideas； and determined how best we Orissans can implement them； well； then we can pour it down by the hogshead if Your Highness wishes。〃 Raveline smiled； poured two glasses； but said nothing； neither acknowledging my flattery nor reprimanding me for it。
We sat down and； without preamble； he began。 〃You know of course that your journeys toward our lands were watched； from the first day you were first wrecked on the Pepper Coast until we provided rescue on the wharves at Gomalalee。〃
I kept a bland countenance and answered that we had been told of the Far Kingdoms' interest； but not that it had reached back to my Finding。 〃A question； my lord。 You used the words Pepper Coast。 I thought the people of Vacaan had but the smallest interest in what lies beyond then〃 own borders？〃
〃Mostly correct；〃 Raveline said。 〃But there are exceptions。 I am one such； which will be a topic of conversation in a few moments。 But holding to the subject at hand first： you were not only watched； but you were tested at times。 For instance； in Gomalalee。〃
〃Of course； if we had failed to respond as you deemed fit。。。〃 I said； and let my sentence trail off。
〃Then； you would hardly have been worthy of being the ones who did achieve Vacaan。〃 I felt anger flash； remembering dead men； injured men； sick men； and desperate men facing death from thirst or sorcery； but repressed it。 I did； however； allow a touch of sarcasm to color my next sentence as to how pleased we were to have been found worthy。
〃Now to return to the earlier matter；〃 Raveline said。 〃I am sure you're aware that； at present； the interest the kingdoms of Vacaan have in your western lands is minor； and shall probably extend to no more than allowing some of our knowledge or goods to be exchanged； at a point beyond our borders； for whatever crafts； artifacts； or perhaps people of pleasure we might find amusing。〃
I felt a slight thrill…despite his use of words meant to diminish my hopes； this was a clue from the king's brother himself that my efforts might meet with success…and smiled approvingly。 Needless to say； I set aside any reaction to the proposal that I might be interested in pimping for the Far Kingdoms。
〃You look pleased；〃 Raveline observed。 〃I； myself； think such a boon would be a paltry return for how much you and your panions； especially Sir Greycloak； have endured over the years。 So what we will discuss； after we eat； is how much closer a relationship between the lands of the west and these kingdoms might be； should circumstances 。。。 alter。〃
With that； he lifted one of the dish covers and began to serve our meal。 I do not remember what viands we consumed； other than they were perfection…each bite sending a different explosion through the senses。 What impressed me was the manner of ser