I asked Janos if he could tell； and he waved me to silence； never stopping his whisper。
I heard the crash of opening gates； and the sound of great hinges as the coach passed through； and I could hear the note of the wheels change from cobbles to smooth paving。 The gate boomed closed behind us。 The coach came to a halt。 We sat in dimness and silence； then the door was jerked open； and torchlight blazed。
〃Out！〃 It was a mand。 I slid out； blinking。 We were in a great courtyard； and the carriage was drawn up near one of the courtyard's high walls。 In front of us was Nisou Symeon。 Behind him were twenty heavily armed solders。 We had been betrayed from one trap into another。
〃I wele you； Lord Amalric Antero； to the somewhat unique pleasures of my house。〃
The world shuddered and reeled。 I wanted to shout obscenities； hurl myself at Greif； who stood not far behind Symeon； a twisted smile of mockery on his face； rip at Symeon even though I knew I would be impaled on the soldiers' spears a moment later。 I fought for control； a fight as bitter as any I have waged in my life； and somehow found it； although it might have taken seconds or minutes。
〃Why？〃 I managed。 〃You had us in the dungeon。 Sooner or later； the Evocators or the torturers would have begun。 Or do you have some ground wizard waiting？ I assume you still wish what secrets you imagine we possess。〃
〃Possibly；〃 Symeon said。 〃As to why？ Circumstances may have changed from a short time ago。〃
〃I see。 So you're planning to keep the information you hope to extract from us from your masters？〃
Janos walked toward Symeon； moving as if he were some great bewildered lummox。 〃Why are you going to betray the Archons？〃
He had his hands stretched out； as if in bewilderment。 One of them brushed the edge of Symeon's robe。
〃Get back； you！〃 Symeon snapped； and one of the soldiers dropped his spear until the point was at Janos' chest。 Janos did as ordered。 〃I do not speak to minions；〃 Symeon went on。 〃Especially one who is a traitor to the cause he served。〃
〃Traitor； Nisou Symeon？〃 I asked。 〃From one who is directly betraying the Archons？〃
〃I am loyal；〃 he said； 〃to the master whose oath I have taken！ As I have said； circumstances have changed。 The knowledge I wish from you has bee of secondary import。 Enough。 You are to go inside； and the soldiers will conduct you to your resting place。 It is fully as secure as any of the Archons' dungeons。 I will tell you now； this will be your last sight of the heavens； rain…drenched though they be。 Waste no time on words therefore； but enjoy them。〃
I realized Janos was whispering；
〃Fire my friend
〃Fire you hear
〃Fire you burn
〃Remember your brother
〃Fire my friend
〃Fire you burn！〃
The pitch from the torch 〃remembered；〃 flickered； and Symeon's robes suddenly caught fire。 The flames； built by sorcery as much as by dry cloth； roared up； the rain having little effect Symeon screamed agony。 The soldiers were a shambles of confusion and shouts。
〃Up；〃 Janos shouted； and sprang to the doorway of the coach； stretching up for the roof。 The spearman who'd confronted him； a bit more alert than the others； dashed forward； ready for a thrust； and I kicked his feet from under him and had the spear。 Janos bounced twice on the coachtop； then leaped … fingers catching the edge of the wall…and pulled himself up。 I dashed forward； foot on the wheel； about to spring for the coach roof。 Hands pulled at me。 I lashed backward with the spear butt and heard a scream； louder even than the ones from the living torch that Symeon had bee； and was on the coachtop。 Lighter； smaller； and more gymnastic than Janos； I leaped； and had the walltop under my elbows； and Janos pulled me to my feet。
I had but one moment to look behind me and saw Greif； staggering backward； howling； hands clapped over his eye。 Nisou Symeon was on the ground； soldiers diving to cover him and smother the flames； and then we jumped…chancing the long drop to whatever might lie below。
We landed on cobblestones； recovered； and then we were running； running as hard as ever we had in this life； running into the night； into the rain； and now I praised the gods of Orissa we had torn down Lycanth's great wall。 If we could make it through their streets and past whatever night patrols they had； there was freedom。 Freedom and home。 I knew we would find safety。 After escaping from the clutches of the Archons and Symeon； there could be nothing but good ahead。
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Cassini's Revenge
OUR FIRST SIGHT of Orissa； however； made me certain that 〃good；〃 whatever it might be； still lay in the distant future。 Smoke curled from several places inside the city； and the river was ominously deserted。 I could see no sign of activity around the docks。 The city gate we approached confirmed trouble。 The huge ironwood gates were closed； which never happened except in direst emergency。 Above them； on the catwalk； was a full squad of soldiers； dressed not in ceremonial armor but in full fighting gear。
〃Who es？〃
〃Lord Amalric Antero and Captain Janos Greycloak； Orissans。〃
There were surprised exclamations from above； a warrant officer's sharp mand； and then the gates swung open； without anyone acknowledging us。 We entered。 The sally ports were also closed； and for a moment； I felt we'd entered yet another trap。 Then they opened。 The soldiers who'd opened the portals also did no more than e to attention and did not salute either of us as they should have。 We said nothing； but hastened toward the Antero villa。
Once beyond Lycanth's wall； Janos and I had chanced going to the inn where I had left my men and gold。 The keeper told us they'd returned home； sure of their lord's demise； weeks earlier。 Perhaps it was to the good there'd been just the two of us。 We were armed only with the spear I'd grabbed in Symeon's courtyard and an evil…looking brash cutter Janos had cozened from the innkeeper。 We'd traveled cross…country as much as possible； because the roads and hills were alive with patrols。 There were not only patrols in Lycanthian uniform； but cavalry sweeps whose men wore the livery of the Symeon household。 〃So I did not cremate him as I intended；〃 Janos said。 I； too； was disappointed。 Supposedly no man should cold…bloodedly wish the death of another； but I knew my life； my family； my clan； my household； and any generation of Antero to e would be in jeopardy until the Symeons were destroyed。 I knew I would not be able to mount the blood feud for some time to e。 But that would be in the future…at the moment it was enough that we'd managed to slip past all Lycanthian units without problem； and arrived home。
There were many Orissans in the streets； but almost all of them were men。 There were a few young women； but no children at all。 Their faces were sullen； and I heard shouts and arguments。 We saw the root of one smoke plume； the still…smouldering ruins of a building that had burned within the last day or so。 It had housed a small counting house used by Evocators to collect duty from any caravan entering the city by this gate。 I remembered the estimable Prevotant； in my warehouse long ago； and approved whichever god had sent mischance against this House of Bribery。
We did not know what was going on； but knew we had best hurry for the safety of the villa before investigating。 We did not make it。 A foot patrol…six spearmen； two archers； a corporal； and a young legate…came out of a side street。 All of them wore the Coast Watch breastplates； a unit whose duties normally kept them outside Orissa。
〃Halt！〃 came the shout。 Spears were couched and bowmen nocked arrows。 Neither Janos nor I moved。 The legate took a scroll from his belt pouch。 〃Amalric； Head of the Family named Antero； entitled by the grace of the Magistrates and Gods of Orissa to call himself Lord？〃
〃I am he。〃
〃Janos Greycloak； once of Kostroma； once of Lycanth； sometimes using the title of Captain？〃
〃I will answer to the name 。。。 and you will answer to the insult one day；〃 Janos snapped。
〃Be silent！ I mean no insult； but am obeying the mands of the Magistrates as to the manner of address。 I have here an order for the arrest of Lord Antero and； if Janos Greycloak is with him； f