I do not fall。 My quill trembles with effort as I lift Janos to the stone。 I lay him out and take a panting step back so I can see the man who led us here。
Ah； there you are； Janos。 I know you now； Greycloak。 I see your naked flesh on the stone； and the scars of your great failure mark that flesh。 But I am not done yet： thought must wait as I plete my labors。 Maeen puts the flask in my hands and I pour oil over Janos' corpse。 Now I must pray； but I do not know the Old Ones' words； so I merely say； Farewell； Janos Greycloak。
I light the fire and stumble back from its angry flare。 I see the flames attack； furious strikes all along his body。 They strike the hardest at the sorcerous scars； then the scars vanish； and I see Janos transformed； young and handsome as when we first met in innocence。
Now there is a moment for those thoughts I held back before。 You were my friend； Janos Greycloak； and you betrayed me。 Ah； but I have missed those curses before。 I did not begin this journal to open old wounds； but to banish those scars； like the altar fire banished Janos'。 There were two journeys intended in this ledger： one for those who read my scratchings； the other for myself。 We acplished a great thing； Greycloak and I。 We have found the Far Kingdoms。 But Greycloak traveled farther alone。 And our world will never be the same for his discoveries。 It was I who carried them back； however； and it was I who was given some of the credit。 But I did not lie； Janos Greycloak。 I did not betray； like Cassini。 My quill is eager to expunge those self…inflicted wounds。 And I think： what did you do to me after all？ What I have seen； and all I did later； was because of you。 You set us free； Janos。 You stole magic from the secret hearths of the wizards and made it a mon tool for mon men。 And my beloved Orissa now basks in peace and great bounty。 Shouldn't those gifts be enough for forgiveness？
Very well： I forgive you； Janos； and I forgive myself as well for not knowing enough to rescue you that final time。 You were not a good man； Greycloak； but you were a great man； and it was your greatness that slew you in the end … not I。
With that understanding … and forgiveness … I am anxious to get to the finish； but I will see it with new eyes now。 I hear Maeen and the men paying their final respects to Janos。 And I feel Omerye's soft presence beside me。 She lifts her pipes to play a song of sweet regrets。 The fire leaps； and the body is transformed once more…this time into dark smoke。 I feel the east wind hush past and it lifts the smoke into the sky。 The smoke pauses overhead； and swirls about as if it had manded the wind to wait。
I wipe wetness from my eyes 。。。 and look again。 Suddenly I see a vision of great clarity。 Far to the east； across dazzling seas； where they say no man lives； a trick of light lifts a mountain range above Horizon's curve。 The range looks like a great clenched fist； and between thumb and finger I see the glitter of a pure white blanket of snow。 The mountain fist exactly fits the vision I saw when the Evocators cast the bones that began our quest。
The vision pulls hard now； as I write。 But I cannot go； I cannot go。
I look up at the smoke that was Janos and see it suddenly give way to the eastern wind； then sail eagerly across the vast skies to meet the vision。
I whisper after it； Farewell； Janos Greycloak。 Farewell； my friend。 May the gods speed you on this final journey…to the Far Kingdoms of our youth。
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