Now anger grew on his face。 〃There was no price named；〃 he hissed。 〃What I did 。。。 was needful。 You would have destroyed 。。。 you have destroyed everything。〃
I maintained calmness。 〃What is this everything； Janos？ By luck；〃 and I recollected what Raveline had told me luck was； 'I am still alive。 Now Raveline's darkness will not be able to destroy our lands。 And now we have the measure of the Far Kingdoms。 And even if King Domas expels us as the price for his brother's death； what of it？ We will still be able to achieve what they have gained 。。。 and more。 Is that everything？ Or is everything the ruin of your own ambitions 。。。 and the loss of your black guide？〃
〃We needed Raveline；〃 Janos said。 〃I needed him。 He was my stepping stone。 He would have been my tool。〃
〃For what end？ So you could bee more evil than he？ So you could reach deeper into demon worlds than he has？ So you； in the end； would be able to rule with fire and the lash in a manner that would make people remember the Black Prince as a kindly benefactor？〃
〃Words； words； Antero；〃 Janos barked。 〃You still use words that you do not know the meaning of。。。 or that have no meaning at all。 Evil。。。 good 。。。 We stand at the threshold of another age； an age beyond all of the petty considerations of prattling parents and teachers。 Men say that once there was a Golden Age； when we were all like gods。 That age never existed。 All there has been； since this world formed itself from the slime； were flounderings； sometimes a bit toward the light； sometimes a slip back into the abyss。 Raveline would have helped me split the clouds and let the radiance shine for all eternity。 Men would have been； not gods； but beyond gods。 Except for your doing。 Except for one small…souled peddler who can see nothing but profit and some sort of mythical woolly…brained benevolence in a world where there is nothing but predator and prey。 There was but one chance for all of us。 Can't you see？ Chance； which is the only real god to worship； created one brief moment for this change to begin； for man to step up and beyond。〃
That was quite enough。 〃Gods；〃 I said； and there was anger in my voice as well。 〃You claim I use meaningless words。 Well； this peddler is having trouble with some of your words； and gods is one of them。 Another is this new age you mention。 If we are to be gods； my pardon； more than gods； all of us small…souled beings should now look at the face of Janos Greycloak； and see the awful halo of the future he promises。 Look at yourself。 Your face mirrors what you have bee； man！ You're nothing but a degenerate who prattles drunkenly of the morrow's blessing while he cheerfully plunges into the gutter with the swine。 Janos； can't you see？ I recollect a time when you spoke of what gains we could bring back from the Far Kingdoms 。。。 gains for everyone。 Instead； what is your goal； now？ You told me to look at one grain of sand and see a myriad within it。 I cannot。 All I see is that poor woman in her boat； sorrowing under your mansion。 What did you give her； Greycloak？ Did you make her 。。。 or her children 。。。 more than gods？ Look at yourself now； my once friend。 And answer this simple merchant's question： why； if your quest is for the heavens； do you now have the face of a demon？〃
Janos did not look away。 His obvious scorn grew； and I realized why he was letting his anger build。 〃Knowledge 。。。 power 。。。 exacts its own price；〃 he said。 〃You would know that； if you were anything but a child。〃
We stared at each other for a long moment； and in that moment； Halab's final gift manifested itself。 I knew what must be done； and my heart shriveled as it realized that just as there had been no possibility of Janos' redemption； my duty was now equally graven in stone。 I fought the revelation； but knew its truth。
The second part of the gift followed。 I was suddenly watching the room with two sets of eyes； as if one brain controlled two beings who stood apart from one another。 Images of everything doubled and overlapped。 Everything…except for Janos。 His eyes gleamed brightly as they became lamps； their glow not dissimilar from the light that had shone from Greif's blind eye。 〃Could have；〃 he murmured； 〃and still shall be。〃 Without looking away； without a change of expression； he swooped to one knee； seized a long blade that had been lying on the floor； and slashed at my midsection。 But I was not there。 The third； and last； part of Halab's gift was now mine。 I had 〃seen〃 the knife； fully as long as a sword； just before Janos' hand found it…and realized his plan。 Time came to a stop as he cut at me； and it was most easy to step back beyond its reach。
〃No； Janos；〃 I said。 〃You do not need to do this。 Neither of us needs to die。〃 I said the words； but they were hollow。 They were not a deliberate lie； but came from the last part of me that still fought against the onrushing end to this tragedy。 He did not answer； but attacked once more。 His knife gleamed； glowing as if it had been carved from a single jewel； and each facet caught the dawn's sun and reflected a thousand thousand shimmerings across the room。 He lunged 。。。 and his thrust went past my side as I slipped out of the way。
He recovered as my right hand found the grip of the sword that； without looking； I had known would be there。 I drew it from its sheath； which hung on a bedside chair。 The blade I held was either the same； or a duplicate； of that plain； slender soldier's blade Janos had used to save me from Melina's pimp。 As it snaked out； Janos cut at me again； this time for my face。 My blade rose； parried his strike with a crash； and the knife jewel； if that was what it was； shattered like dropped crystal。
Its pieces still hung in midair as my blade finished its semicircle； then I lunged； every muscle； every nerve； every part of my body and soul hi that swordpoint。 It took Janos in the lungs and drove through his body until I 〃saw〃 nearly six inches of crimsoning steel emerge from his back。 Halab's final gift； a gift that carried a curse to my heart； disappeared then。
There was no movement from either of us for what seemed forever。 Janos' eyes showed enormous surprise； like those of a seer whose vision had proven faulty。 He opened his mouth； but instead of words or a scream； blood gouted。 He swayed。 I released my grip on the sword。 Janos took one step forward； then sank to his knees； both hands coining up to grasp the blade buried in his chest。 He collapsed on his back； the sword standing above him。 His eyes were closed； and then they opened； and looked up； past the swaying guard of the weapon； into my face。
〃When 。。。 the blade es out；〃 he said； in a harsh whisper； 〃my soul es with it。〃
I nodded。 My eyes were blurred once again； but not from magic。 My face was wet。
〃I 。。。 remember；〃 he said； 〃once telling you； outside that tavern where first we met。。。 that to meet a red…haired man was 。。。 was a lucky omen。〃 He forced a smile； and there was a harsh gasping as his body fought on for life。 〃At least 。。。 at least we found 。。。 found the Far Kingdoms；〃 he said。
〃We did；〃 I said。 Then； more strongly； 〃We did；〃
Pain struck Janos then； and he writhed。 〃Take 。。。 take the blade out now；〃 he said； and his voice was a mand。 〃Before I dishonor my pride。〃
I pulled the blade free。 And as it came out； a soul fled into the embrace of the Dark Seeker。
Janos Kether Greycloak； Prince of Kostroma； Captain and Knight of Orissa； unanointed Baron of Vacaan； seeker of the Far Kingdoms； and； yes； a man who had once been my friend； was dead。
CHAPTER TWENTY…EIGHT
The Holy Mountain
I E TO the end of this journey now； and as I write these lines； I can feel Janos' weight sag in my arms when I lifted his body from the cart。 My rheumy eyes look through younger ones； and I see clear the path we dragged that cart up to reach the crown of the Holy Mountain。 Sergeant Maeen and the other men step forward to help me； but I harshly order them away。 I must do this myself。
I shift my burden and turn toward the great pocked ruins of the Old Ones' altar。 I stumble toward it； weak with present age； and I am weary； so weary I pray for that youth's strength so I do not fall。 My quill trembles with effort as I lift Janos to the stone。 I lay h