ith these powers； we can bring about a Golden Age； a Golden Age such as man passed through before； and then was found unworthy to live in。 In a few years we shall have all the wisdom these lands possess； and then we can step beyond them。 We are a young people； and they are old； tired； and set in their ways。 I see Vacaan； Irayas； and Raveline as a false dawn； a harbinger of a new； fresh age； an age beyond gold。〃
〃Well said；〃 I replied。 〃But this is not the time for a battle oration。 Consider reality。 Do you really think Orissa could rise up against the rule of the Far Kingdoms？ I look about me at all these happy； contented faces； like so many purebred cows who do not realize their sole purpose is to breed more cattle and eventually grace their master's table。 Do you think these people of Vacaan will ever revolt？ And if they do； what would their chances be？ Do you want to see Orissans； the people you've taken as your own； bee like these cud…chewing cattle？〃
〃Would they be worse off？〃 Janos asked。 〃Do not answer hastily。 Think of that slum we walked through when we returned to Orissa。 Cheapside。 Have you seen anything near its poverty since we've been in these lands？ And Cheapside is far from the worst in Orissa。 I shall not even mention Lycanth's seething tenements。 I believe that if you offered most Orissans a choice between the golden chains of this land； and what they now live with 。。。 they would loudly be shouting for the blacksmith； his hammer； and shackles。〃
I held my angry retort； poured wine； and forced myself to sip。 Then I became even angrier。 〃I remember； years ago； in the desert； when we freed Deoce and tried to free the other slaves the nomads had taken 。。。 and how furious you were at those who chose to return to their chains。 So now you think it acceptable wisdom to seek out the slaver？ Hold； sir。 I have another statement。 You said most Orissans would choose to be ruled by the Far Kingdoms if they were richly rewarded。 What of the others … those you think to be a minority？ What of men like Ecco； Gamelan； or even Maeen and the other soldiers here in Irayas？ They'll think it a capital jest when we tell them what their pains have produced。 And what of the women？ What of that little chambermaid； Spoto？ What of my sister； Rah'？ And Otara； her lover？ Or the other Maranon Guards？ Do you think they will cheerfully invite tyranny？ What will Raveline do with them？〃
〃All kings have laws to support their rule；〃 Janos said； a bit weakly。 〃Is Vacaan's law； where those who rebel simply vanish； more evil than the Kissing of the Stones？ Or even the Archons' Calling？〃
〃As to the first；〃 I said； 〃yes。 No one is executed in Orissa without an open trial。 As to Lycanth； I cannot answer。 Especially since I have not spoken to anyone who has been disappeared； and know not what agonies were connected with their going。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Janos said slowly； 〃we should summon such a spirit and ask him。 Although I warn you the dead speak in awful tongues。〃 Then he made a slight shift in course。 〃Say you are right in your doom crying。 What plan do you have？〃
I took several deep breaths； again to calm myself。 〃I have but the beginnings of one； and wele your additions … or even an alternate proposal；〃 I said。 〃I would suggest both of us temporize with Raveline。 Make vague promises such as any merchant does when a shipment is overdue。 It was my impression that King Domas has already decided to allow some trade to mence。 Now； since you say Raveline is a creature of momentary enthusiasms； perhaps we should use that agreement as a way for us to return to Orissa。 Once in our homeland； I think it absolutely imperative we immediately put my plan of a few days ago into action。 You； Janos； must take the entire Evocators' Guild in hand； and begin preparation。 But not for an immediate war； nor for war at all。 I am thinking aloud as I speak； admittedly； but I cannot see how Raveline could mount an attack； either magical or physical； against us； when his people have no interest beyond their own noses。 Further； I agree that these Vacaanese are terribly hidebound。 I think we should trade with them； and learn everything we can。 I think you should be in charge of synthesizing this knowledge。〃 I suddenly ran out of words and slumped back in my chair。 〃Beyond those thoughts 。。。 no； I have no precise plan； especially since Raveline； in fact； has not even proposed attacking our lands。〃
〃But he will； in one form or another；〃 Janos said firmly。 〃However； in the end； it shall e to naught。〃 He pulled me to my feet and led me across the chamber to a circular mirror。 〃Look in this glass； my friend。 Look at us。 When we met； you were a boy； and I was a youth whose greatest responsibility was a pany of spear throwers。 Now we have reached the Far Kingdoms； and in our grasp is all the power； all the wisdom； the gods which do not exist are reputed to hold。 All that stands between us is one person； someone I know can be dealt with； at the proper time； and I cannot make my point too strongly。 If we cock a snook at Raveline now； and flee for the border 。。。 I doubt we shall even make it as far as the Pepper Coast。 So we die in some wasteland 。。。 and Orissa returns to its unchanging obstinancy。 Amalric Antero； we were chosen to bring Orissa into a new age； and you must realize it。 If we must temporize with this Raveline for a space 。。。 well； so be it。 We are both still young； and there are years ahead； and the times change。〃
I started to respond； then really looked into the glass。 At the moment I looked anything but young： my face was lined by the miles and the pain and all the deaths； my hair no longer flamed as red as it had； and my eyes looked beyond； as if I'd seen too much and my soul needed time to recover in peace and green。 But I looked like a swaddling babe pared to Janos。 He was but a few years older； but now； in this light； he could have passed for the father of the man who had rescued me from that dockfront bar。 His thinning hair and beard were striped with gray…a yellowed gray； as if Janos had recently risen from a sickbed。 Time's scars slashed furrows across his face； his plexion was jaundiced； his cheeks had begun to sag； and I could see the beginnings of wattles where his beard ended。 But it was the eyes that held me。 They were red rimmed and set deep in their sockets。 Their haunted gaze had experienced 。。。 and weled； horror。 I had seen eyes like that recently； and recalled where： at Lord Mortacious' banquet。。。 when I first met the wizard's death stare。 I repressed a shudder and pulled away； angry once more。
〃You actually believe that we can stand against a man who can create a nightmare city like Wahumwa？〃 I said。 〃Not only stand； but in time destroy him or render him impotent？ Janos； wake up。 If I agree to his plan； he will permit me to exist just so long as I follow his every desire； his every wish； as if it were graven on my soul。 Pawns are not permitted to debate with the master。 But there is something more important than the role I would play in Raveline's new world。 Janos； I cannot believe you think you can somehow subvert this man to your ends。 Frankly； I am not entirely sure he even is a man。 Prince Raveline has spent his entire life playing royal games of death and power。 He will eat you for a light lunch！〃 My voice was loud in the postmidnight silence。
Janos； too； was angry。 〃You think I am that weak？〃
〃I think you are that foolish！〃 I snapped。 〃You are dancing attendance on Raveline； just as I did on that whore Melina。 Not only do I see no Captain Greycloak to e to your rescue； but in the end you will prove yourself an even bigger dunce than I was。〃
〃How dare you；〃 Janos hissed。 〃You 。。。 a merchant's son； barely a man； who never had to fight a real battle。 Whose most difficult decision was the markup on a bolt of cloth。 You 。。。 preaching wisdom to me； Janos Kether Greycloak； whose line has led a people since the beginning of history。 How dare you？〃
My fist was clenched and drawn back before I could find control。 Words danced on my lips about how I had finally learned what he thought of me； and then I saw myself in the glass； face as red as my hair； and instead of striking out I dug my nails deep into my palm。 I was panting as if I