rse through the throng。 Quite suddenly I was alone； sitting my horse on a near…deserted street； the last Lycanthian scuttling indoors。
I heard a baying； had time to remember； and around the corner loped that obscene； hairless hyena with the face of a man； it was the creature that had ordered us to the castle of the Archons； and then called out that young woman to her death。 It sat on its haunches and regarded me。 Again； it bayed； and the cry echoed across the stone buildings around me。
Then it spoke。 〃Amalric Antero。 You are summoned。 You must obey。〃
I pulled at my horse's reins reflexively； trying to turn my mount away from the caller。 But a rank of soldiers doubled across the street behind me； spears leveled。 A second line of guards appeared behind the creature。
〃Amalric Antero。 You are summoned。〃
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Dungeon of the Archons
I WAS BROUGHT to that great sea castle just at the end of the promontory and escorted through long； echoing； dank corridors； guarded and locked portals； and high…ceilinged chambers。 It seemed as if the only beings in this great castle were guards； myself； and that noxious creature that trotted just ahead of me。 We reached an entranceway blocked only by a heavy； dark green curtain。 The soldiers； without ever a mand； wheeled and marched away 。。。 leaving only the Finder as my guard。
〃Amalric Antero。 You are summoned；〃 and it went through the curtain。 I followed； numb； into yet another bare chamber。 Everything in this room was entirely of stone： from the groin…vaulted ceiling； to the stanchions that held flaring torches； to the low riser at the far end of the room。 There were two circular pedestals on either side of the riser。 The creature positioned itself in front of that stage。 I heard； or rather felt； a humming…as if the air itself was moving。 The humming grew louder； and then I saw a shimmer atop each pedestal； a shimmer taller than the height of a tall man。 The Finder abased itself。 I did not
I suppose I should have knelt。 I had and have since knelt in front of many strange gods； kings； and even bandits who have given themselves lordly titles。 It matters little and frequently adds to future profit or immediate survivability。 It sometimes is just a matter of mon courtesy。 But here； in the bowels of the Archons' castle； I kept my feet。 Perhaps I felt pride as an Antero； or as an Orissan。 But I would not kneel to these swirling mists。 The humming grew louder still； then changed pitch and grew into an angry bass drone； such as might e from a nest of monstrous wasps； but nothing else happened； and then the drone stopped。
As the silence lingered； a man came out of the darkness behind the pedestals。 He was quite beautiful； a term I do not generally use for males； but this man…from his softly curled blond hair； to his boyishly smiling full lips； to his slender body； was beautiful。
〃Lord Amalric。 I had hoped our 。。。 acquisition of your minion might make you decide to e to Lycanth。 I am Nisou Symeon。〃 This then was the man； hardly more than a boy； both my father and Greif had said was the most evil of the Symeons…the clan the Anteros had warred against for three generations。 Even though I was in desperate straits； I noted his face and realized once more that only a fool judges good or evil by its beauty or ill favor。
I sorted through my various responses； discarding the obvious ones of fear； surprise； disdain； or even bravura posturing。 〃Lord Symeon；〃 I finally said。 〃So you have convinced your rulers that you can seize an Orissan nobleman without heed of any consequences。〃
〃My Lords； the Archons； needed no convincing；〃 Symeon said。 〃In case you have been buried in your dreams of the past like most Orissans； you may not have noticed there is a new spirit abroad in Lycanth。 It is time for us to reaffirm our historic duty and seek our proper place in the sun。〃 I remembered Cassini's harsh verdict outside Lycanth； when he said that we should have obliterated the city and its populace； for fear they would rise once more。 Even such a one as Cassini may sometimes glimpse beyond the veil。
〃Further；〃 Symeon continued； 〃even if we were concerned as to any reprisal from Orissa； I doubt if it would be mounted over mischief done to an Antero。 Your homeland hardly sings your praises these days。〃 I maintained a stony countenance and made no reply； but he certainly was correct。
〃What we require from you；〃 Symeon continued； 〃is a full and plete description of your route to the Far Kingdoms。 It is axiomatic that Lycanth is the only logical power to seek an alliance with the kingdoms…especially considering the catastrophe Orissa； abetted by your underling； managed to produce from the most recent attempt to reach the kingdoms。〃
〃You are quite mistaken if you think Captain Greycloak is in any way my 'underling' or 'patriot。' 〃
〃Oh？ I suppose you have merely e to Lycanth to save him out of pure altruism？ And； if he is not your underling； then what？〃 He curled his lip。 〃Lover？〃
I blinked； not having been aware that Lycanthian attitudes were as backward as their buildings。 It was no trouble to ignore what he evidently considered an insult。 I managed a cynical grin。 〃Very well。 What blandishments are you prepared to offer for my cooperation？〃
〃I could be quite foolish；〃 he replied； 〃and promise you gold； or a high position here in Lycanth。 Of course you cannot be permitted to return to Orissa until there is an 。。。 adjustment between our two cities。 But I shall offer you neither； not being a dunce nor thinking you one either。 There can be but one prize for you 。。。 all others are valueless beside it。 Actually； I need promise nothing； and my Lords the Archons would think me less than their full…hearted servant if I did。 We wish to possess the knowledge you and Captain Greycloak share of the routes toward the Far Kingdoms； from coastal tides to edible fruits to annoying insects to the natives to any and all sorceries you encountered。 We are prepared to use all the talents and skills of Lycanth in encouraging you to enlighten us； and have no qualms as to how or when these skills will be utilized to convince you。 We also are in no particular hurry； since both my Lords and myself are aware of the 。。。 problems that can be created from an overeager questioning。〃
〃Such as death？〃
〃That；〃 Symeon said calmly； 〃or madness； or even； if the inquisitor is insufficiently skeptical； convincement of a deliberate or accidental lie。 This； then； is our purpose and intent。 Do you wish to ment； or perhaps make a statement of brave rejection we all may savor？〃 I shook my head。 Symeon nodded。 〃Then that will be all 。。。 for the moment。 All of us will know quite soon when you and Greycloak desire to speak to us once more…desire to speak with all your hearts and souls。 So； if you will follow my Lords' messenger to your quarters 。。。〃 Without waiting for a response； Symeon wheeled and vanished into the shadows。 At the same instant； the shimmers were gone； and the torches flared； then guttered。
Having no options； I followed the Finder back down the echoing stone corridors。 I expected to be taken to a dungeon。 Instead； the creature led me to stairs…stairs that wound up and up； and then through more corridors until I guessed we were approaching the top story of the huge castle。 At last the beast stopped in front of a huge U…shaped door。 The beast's mouth opened； it whined and I was suddenly deaf。 It took me a moment to realize that the spell the creature was casting had a secondary element； making it impossible for the listener to distinguish the words。 Hearing returned as the door swung open。 In front of me stretched the hallway of a palatial apartment。 Paintings were on the walls； and the ceilings were hung in silk。 I hesitated outside。
〃Enter if you are of this world； be damned if you are not；〃 came a cry from within。 It was Janos' voice。 I obeyed； and the door swung shut behind me。 I tried its handle； which turned uselessly in my hand； and knew the Finder had recast the locking speD。 I walked down the corridor； toward the room where Janos' voice had e from。 On either side were large； high…ceilinged rooms； some fitted with beds； some with couches； some intended for dining or other ente