have learned； never allows his victim the pleasure and relief of unconsciousness。 This was Greif's greatest error； and possibly my salvation。 Three times that blessedness washed over me and allowed my inner being to rearmor itself for Greif's next assault。 The final thing was the most valuable： All things e to an end 。。。 eventually。 As did that day。 But then the real nightmare began。
I recovered consciousness as I was dragged down stone steps； half carried by two men。 In front of me； lighting the way with a lantern； was Greif。 I knew him by the scars of the lash on his back。 He wore naught but a pair of black breeches。 The stairway was old； and I could see white niter outlining the stones around us。 It ended abruptly in a pool of water where a small boat。。。 the black boat of my dream 。。。 was moored。 I was slung aboard； and Greif's two helpers left； with never a word being spoken。 Greif untied the boat； stood at its tiller； and a current caught the craft； sending us rushing into and down a tunnel whose roof curved but a foot above his head。
In bare minutes we were swept into open waters。 It was night； and there was no moon； no stars。 We were moving along a canal that seemed familiar to me。 We were in the heart of Irayas； but I saw no other gondolas or watercraft。 I was neither chained nor fettered and should have leaped out of the boat； failing that； I should have shouted for help。 But I could do neither。 I suppose I was ensorcelled； although it is equally probable I was simply in shock from the abuse。 In fact； the latter is more probable； because events were as vague and as hallucinatory now as they had been before in the dream。
What I remember from that passage are but fragments。 We traveled at a speed as great as I had on the river that had brought us down from the mountains when we entered Gomalalee。 The canal entered the Serpent River； and now I knew we were powered by sorcery； for the boat flew upriver against the current； without aid of oars or sails。 As we passed beyond the city's outskirts； I saw the Holy Mountain on my right； then we sped past it into the range beyond the Old Ones' peak。 I next remember being in a deep gorge。 The hissing river beside the boat's gunwales looked as if it were no longer water； but a dark； thick； oily fluid。
Greif did not touch the tiller； but suddenly the craft bore sideways； about to crash into the rearing cliff。 Instead of meeting stone； however； a cavern's mouth yawned； a cavern the river's currents had carved over centuries。 Inside the cave a stone dock waited。 Greif tied up the boat； clambered out； turned； and beckoned。 Every piece of my soul that remained mine fought； but I followed； stepping awkwardly across the boat's thwarts and then lunging upward to the slime…thick dock carved from the living stone。 My feet dragged as my mind screamed： Strike out。 You can not go up those stairs。 You must not。 But I did。
Greif took one of the torches that guttered on either side of the arched passageway； and beckoned once more。 I heard the baying and knew what was above： there was a great； ruined； cursed city on the gorge's plateau。 Far above me； far outside this river…dug cavern； in the city； in the shattered amphitheaters； in the gods…hammered stones； the creatures sat in patient rings。 Up there in the dark of the moon the creatures that bayed like hounds bore no semblance to anything seen on this earth。 The thought came to me they might have been men； once。 Men who had struck a dark bargain。
I followed Greif。 My mind； moving as slowly as if I were drugged； told me no victim had ever e back down these steps； and desperately tried to devise a strategy。 I found none。 The thunder of a great drum began。 We entered a great chamber； with its arches lifting into blackness。 I heard a gong resound； and as Greif turned I saw that wormlike fire writhe brightly in his dead eye socket。 I heard him say words about my desire； this was what I wanted； this was my weird； and he laughed。 The laugh boomed loud； louder； joined by the baying from the creatures beyond； laughter of joy in pain and death； laughter rising to cacophony； and Raveline was there。 Silence dropped across the chamber and above among the damned creatures like an axe blow。 Greif became a statue； and considering Raveline's words； I believe was under a momentary spell of paralysis。 The prince wore bloodred pantaloons and a black； full tunic with gold lace showing at his wrists and neck。 He wore an ornate dagger on a belt。 He might have been dressed for a casual court affair。
〃So we reach the end； Antero；〃 he said。 His voice was calm。 〃Do you wish to know your doom？〃 I said nothing。 〃In bare moments； I shall obliterate your physical being。 Most of your soul will be scattered to the winds when I take you in my embrace。 But you will be more than just a hapless wandering ghost like your brother or that slave this brigand killed。 I shall keep a part of you in my own soul； and it shall witness； through my eyes； the great changes that are to e on this world。 Witness them； but without ever being able to do more than scream in mute horror as they happen。〃
〃An honor；〃 I said sarcastically； determined to at least die with a bit of dignity。
〃Not at all。 I want to keep a fragment of you close as a reminder of failure； and a caution against vainglory。〃
〃It would hardly appear that you have failed；〃 I said。
〃Quite wrong。 My failure with you and yours has taken several forms over the decades。 Many years ago I sensed the presence of your bloodline； far away and very faintly。 I paid no heed； thinking； like most Vacaanese； that the doings of barbarians beyond our kingdoms were meaningless。 But then I felt the presence more strongly。 I allowed my senses to follow the trail； and discovered your brother。〃
His words jolted me fully alert； fully awake。 I do not quite know how to explain； but for some reason one sentence of the dream Greif had spoken had never properly impressed itself on me： 。。。 This is what your brother could not embrace 。。。 I have talked about this with savants； and have heard the phenomenon is not unmon： that a man may suddenly swear everyone around him is speaking in a foreign tongue when they are not。 One described it as the familiar bee strange。
〃I allowed my spells to flow out and around Orissa；〃 Raveline continued； 〃and learned I was being warned； like a jungle beast senses the hunter when he first enters the jungle。 Your brother； untutored and with no family tradition of sorcery； was potentially a wizard greater than any land I know has conceived for time beyond memory。〃
Even in my agony and death moment； I felt a thrill of pride； and rage took me。 〃And so you killed him。〃
〃And so I killed him；〃 Raveline agreed。 〃I laid my trap carefully。 Halab was no more a perfect being than you or I are； so all that was necessary was to cast a small spell encouraging him into the slightest bit of hubris。 I sent a larger one against those fools your city respects and calls Evocators； although not one of them then or now has talent enough to divine water if he were drowning。 They were to feel threatened by Halab； and to send against him； when he asked to be examined to bee an Evocator； their most lethal devices。 Your brother was tested。 He easily stood against those paltry sprites the Evocators hurled at him； and was about to be victorious。 Here was my first failure： I still had not properly measured his greatness。
〃I cast two mighty spells then。 One to make time have a stop； which gave me moments to summon a being whose nature and name I must not even think of。 The creature's price was high： a township of innocents was sacrificed afterward。 I killed Halab； or rather my creature did。 But even then； my success was not plete。 Rather than being blotted out from this and all other worlds； Halab managed to leave his ghost behind； like any man who met death unshriven or unavenged。 At that time； I should have sent doom against all you Anteros。 It was foolish to believe Halab was a sport； a freak。 All of your family has a bit of the talent。 Your sister has a fair amount of it； made greater in that she has not married； bred； nor coupled with a man。 You； too； have a bit； as you of course are aware。
〃Ah；〃 Raveline said； having