。。。 Janos had smiled grimly and told us there were but two options： flight or death。
I； too； shuffled to his weak side 。。。 away from the knife 。。。 keeping my hands well out； hoping Raveline would strike wildly and I could seize a wrist； or perhaps kick his legs from under him。 As I'd learned； I watched nothing but my enemy's eyes； knowing I would sense any movement of the blade as it began。 He slashed once； then again on his backhand； but my stomach was not there。 Once more his dagger marked air； and I chanced a blow。 The razor edge of his knife sliced the inside of my arm open； but fortunately he'd missed any blood vessels。 I ignored the wound 。。。 and we circled on。 He changed his tactics slightly and moved closer； forcing me back and back again。 Eventually he would trap me against the dome and pin me like a butterfly to a wall。 My back…reaching foot touched rough stone； one of die columns； and I momentarily lost my balance。 Raveline lunged for my heart； and I sidestepped quickly； his knife scoring my chest； but my fist smashed his face。 He yelped pain and stumbled back。 His nose was broken； and blood gushed from his nostrils。 But he still kept his fighting grip on the knife。
〃How long has it been since you've felt pain； Lesser Majesty？〃
I said； deciding a man who loved the sound of his own words as much as Raveline did might also fall victim to the words of others。 〃How long； princeling…that…shall…never…be…king？ Perhaps you feel faint。 Perhaps you wish to cry。〃
His lips drew back in a soundless snarl； and he short stepped toward me； keeping one foot held back； like a fencer。 He would lunge in an instant； and I held my mind ready for his attack； not allowing tension 。。。 willing my muscles to seek their own response。
The lunge never came。 I heard； from above； a slight scraping。 Raveline glanced up； then stared； eyes widening； mouth opening； and the great rock； once part of the stage's canopy； whose mortar had held it to the column's capital for aeons and aeons； crushed him as a boot crushes a scorpion。 He was dead before he could scream 。。。 and the black dome was gone 。。。 and once more the ruined city was about me in the moonlight。 Stunned； I looked up toward the top of that column。 The air shimmered above me； and I dimly saw the form of a man。 〃Halab；〃 I gasped。
I heard； more in my mind than anywhere； the soft voice。 〃The prince knew not all the rules of all the worlds。 Even a ghost may move the real 。。。 If the call is great enough。〃
There was silence but for the rush of the river below； then Halab's voice again； 〃I am revenged； and my ghost will wander no more。 I go now； following the path you opened to Eanes a short time ago。〃
I bowed my head。 〃Good…bye； my brother。〃
I heard Halab for the last time。
〃Good…bye； Amalric。 There is one task left。 I cannot be with you 。。。 cannot be of aid。 But it is one which must be pleted。 For you； for the family； for Orissa； and for all of this world。 I make you a final gifting。 May it serve you well。〃
I felt emptiness。 Something was gone 。。。 something I realized had been not far from me all these years； since the day my father returned from the palace of the Evocators with the tale of Halab's death。
I took a deep breath。 Yes。 There was a final task to be performed。
CHAPTER TWENTY…SEVEN
The Last Voyage
NOW THERE WAS little to fear either in this cursed city or in the catabs below。 I took the poniard from beside Raveline's body and went back through the streets to where the entrance to the Black Prince's burrow yawned。 I took no wrong turnings； nor made missteps； as sure of my direction as if I were in Orissa。 I followed the stone steps as they went down； down； down； and knew I was the first of Raveline's victims ever to do this。 I passed Greif's sprawled body and bethought whether I should find some dirt to sprinkle； then decided otherwise。 His ghost had much evil to atone for； he deserved to haunt those caves for an eternity。
The black gondola was still moored to the dock。 I untied the boat and boarded it。 Using the rudder as a sweep； I turned the boat toward the cavern's mouth。 As I came out of the cavern into the dark river that poured down toward the flatlands and Irayas； the current sent the boat speeding down the canyon。 The craft obeyed my unspoken and undefined desire as well as it had Greif s。
I could see dawn's promise as I neared the city。 Perhaps I should have made the enchanted gondola take me to my palace； where I knew Omerye agonized。 But I also knew I must confront Janos now； not just for the sake of my people 。。。 but for all who live as wizards' slaves。 To this day I honestly do not know what end I foresaw when I finally did confront him。 For my soul's sake； I pray my intent was pure and untainted by desire for revenge。
As Janos' mansion bulked out of the calm waters； I dropped Prince Raveline's dagger into the river。 Through the remnants of the night I saw its jewels and sorcelled blade spin until the knife…my only weapon…vanished。 I tied Raveline's boat to a piling under the main deck where that sobbing woman's skiff had been lashed。 I had planned to climb one of the pilings to avoid the guard that should have been on the landing； but there was none。 I crept up the stairs and noted with greater surprise that one of the edifice's entryways yawned wide。 Perhaps； I thought； this was the gift Halab's ghost had promised； I slipped within。 I did not know how close I would be able to e to Janos before his own watchdog spell would clamor him awake； but I continued onward； quietly as a questing ferret。 The torches and lamps that illuminated the huge building were guttering low； but I needed no illumination as dawn's light grew steadily around me。 My wonder grew； because I saw never a sign of sentry； factotum； or servant。 At last I entered the courtyard and approached the tower where I knew Janos would be。 I went up the stairs toward his bedchamber； which was just below the study he used for incantations。
Janos lay sprawled in the middle of his huge bed。 He was alone。 He wore but a silken loincloth。 He slept deeply； so deeply I thought he had been enchanted。 At that moment my resolution vanished and I stood； as if mired； at the foot of his bed。 Then I spoke his name。 Janos' eyes snapped open； and as I saw awareness dawn； he rolled sideways and was on his feet； graceful and deadly as a startled leopard。
He knew instantly what had happened。 〃You killed him？ You killed Raveline？〃 His voice was incredulous。 〃And I sensed nothing？ How could that be？〃
I did not answer…I only stared at Janos in shock。 Only two days gone I had marveled at how he had aged。 Yet now it looked as if decades had passed since we looked at each other in the mirror abovestairs。 Where jaundiced gray had striped his hair and beard before； it now discolored it in patches； and his face was as raddled as a rich old degenerate。 But he looked worse than any of those debauchees； because there was a brooding evil in his appearance； evil like I'd seen on Raveline's face 。。。 and yes； Mor…tacious'。 Janos' eyes had changed as well。 Once they held the fierceness of the eagle； but now held the hard glare of a carrion eater。 Most telling of all was the necklace he wore about his neck： the dancing girl from the Far Kingdoms that his father had given him。 She had been 〃healed〃 by our journey； and when last I saw her； she had been a glorious； seductive work of art。 Now she was tarnished and broken at the hips 。。。 just as she was the first day Janos showed her to me at the wineshop in Orissa。 I knew at once that although I had been the one who had been tortured； hunted； and savaged by beasts on four legs and two 。。。 Janos had paid a heavier price for betraying me。
I had said nothing since calling his name and had no words prepared。 I held Janos' eyes with my own for a moment。 He looked away 。。。 it was the first time he had not been able to face me。 〃What were you promised？〃 I asked； and noted there was no anger in my voice； even though all the years of panionship should have caused me to seethe rage。 〃How much silver and gold was offered for your reward？〃
Now anger grew on his face。 〃There was no price named；〃 he hissed。 〃What I did 。。。 was needful。 You would have destr