play on my weakness。 For he was a creature of his obsession。
I poured more wine； new interest making me forget the heat。 〃Thank you for that；〃 I said。 〃It takes a strong man to admit a failing。〃
Janos laughed ruefully。 〃I have more failings than strengths； my friend；〃 he said。 〃But I appreciate your words just the same。〃
〃You are a most curious person；〃 I said。 〃My sister called you mad； bad； and dangerous to know。 And my sister is not often wrong。 Tell me about yourself； if you would。 All I know are the rumors of the marketplace and the few hints you've dropped。 How is it you find yourself here with me？ Awaiting the winds from a lazy god。〃
Janos's face darkened。 At first I thought I had offended him by prying。 His next words shook me。 〃Damn all the gods；〃 he said； voice hoarse。 〃They never e when they're wanted。 And arrive only when disaster is plete。 Do not depend on the gods； Amalric。 For they are as cunning and mean as any demon。〃
I was too amazed at this blasphemy to speak。 Janos rushed on。 〃Let me tell you what happens to those who trust in the gods； instead of setting their own course。 As you know； my mother was the daughter of an Orissan noble； and my father was a prince of Kostroma when they were joined。 When he returned to his homeland with his bride； his father had died and the populace was waiting to anoint him king。 This was a heavy responsibility and there were brothers who could have taken the load； but the people wanted him 。。。 and with great reluctance； he accepted。〃
〃Why would one be reluctant to be a king？〃 I wondered。
〃For many reasons； as you shall see if you live long enough。 But in Kostroma a king's lot was especially difficult。 For a king of Kostroma was responsible for the city's luck。 It was the law when calamity struck； and all hope was lost； it was the king who was required to lay down his life for the kingdom as the ultimate sacrifice。 My mother's family was partly correct in viewing Kostroma as a land of barbarians。 But my family was much more civilized than their imaginings； of course； and in the few years I was given with my parents I had all sorts of skilled tutors to make up for any lack in innate civilization。〃
〃Forgive me for tearing at a tender scab；〃 I said； 〃but I had heard your parents were dead。 Does this story have something to do with that？〃
〃All of it；〃 Janos said。 〃Kostroma had many enemies； but my father used his wits to keep them divided and his warrior skills to keep them from our fields。 Then one day news came that a great horde was advancing on our lands。 I do not know who they were or are； for I was too young to know more than they were a dangerous and particularly evil enemy。 My father sent out scouts； and they came back with reports of such vast numbers； he knew all was lost Kostroma was doomed。
〃So my father donned his priestly robes and took up the standard of our god； our protector。 He advanced alone to the field outside our city where the enemy host was formed； set down the standard； and called upon our god to accept his sacrifice and save the city。 Such was our bargain with that god。 I will not speak his name； because my hate might give him life。
〃The enemy charged； my father between them and the city。 He cried again for help and stood his ground。 A horseman laughed and lopped off his head with a single blow。 His body tumbled and the horseman impaled his head on swordpoint and led the army through the city gates。 They killed all who fought them and carried off those who surrendered to sell as slaves。 My mother was one of the dead。 In a way this was fortunate； for as a final humiliation to Kostroma； all the princesses were thrown to the horde to be tormented。
〃I did not learn until later what went on in the city； for I was with my father that day。 Although I rose barely to his waist in height； I was a prince and knew I must stand by his side in the sacrifice。 When he fell I struggled to raise that standard myself。 I remember how heavy it was。 How scared I was。 But I knew if I raised it and called the god； he would e quickly and put everything right。 Someone rode for me； shouting and waving his sword。 I struck at him with the standard； but he knocked it away and plucked me off the ground and into the saddle。〃
Janos' eyes were tormented。 〃After the battle I was put in the slave pens。〃
〃But you escaped；〃 I cried。 〃You must have； or you wouldn't be here to tell the tale。〃
〃No；〃 Janos rasped。 〃I was marched for many a league； almost dying from weariness and thirst。 Eventually we came to Redond and their slave market； where a buyer for the Lycanthian army bid on me like I was one of my father's lambs。〃
I gawked； a little amazed at myself for not shrinking away from someone who had just revealed that he came from the lowest caste。 I looked again at the dark…bearded man with the scarred cheek and saw only my friend。 〃How did you survive？ You must have escaped； and returned to your home。 Yes； this is what must have happened。〃
Janos shook his head once more。 〃No。 I stayed。 And as for Kostroma； it no longer exists。 Our enemies razed it and scattered the stones。 Only beasts dwell there now。〃
He lifted the dancing girl from beneath his shirt。 〃I have only this to remember my father by。 It is all I have left to keep his memory close。 And that of my mother's。 It had been broken on that day and was now so tarnished； no one saw any value in it and took it from me。〃
Janos drained his cup and motioned for more。 I hastily refilled it； anxious to hear the rest of this strange tale。 〃I was slave to the soldiers for many a year；〃 he said。 〃At first I toiled in the kitchens； or cleaned the latrines。 I was a nasty lad with an evil temper and I kept a sharp knife close for anyone who tried to make me his bum boy。 My gift for languages was discovered。 An army had been raised to fight near where Kostroma had been and I knew the dialects； so I was taken along。 From that time on； I traveled whenever the army went out。 I was well trained as a killer and treated despicably。 But I was encouraged to test my language skills； so over time I came to know many peoples and many cultures。〃
〃How did you e to be free； then？〃 I asked。
〃The Lycanthians are an evil lot and I despise them all；〃 Janos answered。 〃But they have one custom in which they are superior to the Orissans。 Lycanthians allow slaves to buy their freedom。 From there they can advance to any point in society。 That is what I did。 I saved my coin； did all I could to earn 。。。 or steal more。 And finally I had enough to purchase my freedom。 I always intended to return to my mother's homeland。 But pride kept me away a few more years。 Pride； and more。〃
He fingered the dancing…girl necklace again。 〃This is what kept me from going mad all those years；〃 he said。 〃I dreamed of the Far Kingdoms on countless nights； imagining it to be a wondrous place； where all my suffering would cease。 I envisioned it a place set above the dwellings of the gods。 A place where no one is slave to another； and all words are spoken in kindness。 Wherever I went； whatever I did； the goal of finding the Far Kingdoms motivated my actions。 It was a boy's imaginings。 But it hardened into something much more。 I swore in my lifetime I would see it for myself。 So I stayed with the Lycanthians； and rose to captain in their ranks。 Once again I set aside funds； until I had enough to finally quit the city。〃
〃Dreams would not have kept me from going mad；〃 I said。 I spoke with great assurance； for I could not imagine myself a slave to another man。
〃You would be surprised； my friend；〃 Janos said； 〃what a person will do for just one more breath of life。 As for madness； perhaps I am。 But； as I said； any sanity I do possess I owe to my dream。 I studied languages。 I examined people so I could see them from every direction as well as into their hearts。 And you will not be amazed to know； for I have seen your looks when I practiced in my quiet corner of this ship； that I developed an unseemly interest in the Evocator's art。 I spoke with shamans in distant villages； studied the habits of barbarian priests。 I hope you will still call me friend when I confess I have a small knowledge of wizardry and have pored over ancient texts。〃
〃I gue