slice and lifted it eagerly to my lips。 I paused； confused； as I heard Mortacious give a malicious snigger。 Suddenly； the tempting strip became a hissing； wriggling viper； venom dripped from its fangs； searing the table。
〃Why； Amalric Antero； you are a greedy beggar；〃 Janos said； voice light as a young boy's。 〃You're always snatching up the best cut。 Here…allow me at least one bite！〃 He plucked the snake away with a flourish。 〃A little undercooked； perhaps；〃 he said。 His other hand； fingers arched in a spell…making curve； brushed by the viper's jutting fangs。 The snake became a strip of innocent meat again。 He popped it into his mouth and washed it down with a glass of wine。 〃Quite tasty；〃 he said； and cupped a hand in front of his mouth to hide a polite belch。
Mortacious' face turned grim。 He plucked at the neck scarf； irritated at Janos' skillful display。 But my friend wasn't done。 〃Why； what manner of dish is that before you； Lord Mortacious？〃 he cried in mock surprise。 He snapped his fingers at the heavy gold plate before our host。 Mortacious reared back as the plate became a great golden scorpion； its tail hard arched； sting glistening with venom as deadly as that viper's。
〃e here； my pretty；〃 Janos cooed； and the scorpion sped across the table at a frightening speed and ran up his sleeve。 It whipped its sting in anger as he gave it a pat； then became a small； squeaky mouse with soft white fur and a tender pink nose。 Janos set it down； saying； 〃Can't make up its mind； poor thing。〃 Mortacious hissed and pointed a long； bony finger at the mouse。 It gave a sharp squeak and burst into flame； in a moment the mouse had been turned to golden ash。 The wizard swept up the ash； then let it sprinkle back down on the table。 The particles swirled and then formed back into a plate。 I saw that its edge； perfect before； was chipped； but Mortacious was so proud of this final turnabout； he didn't notice。 The wizard adjusted the scarf and displayed a wide grin； his teeth made twin groves of yellow gnarled trees。 He clearly believed he'd bested Janos。
Janos dipped his head； allowing the victory； but as he made that motion of humility； he slipped his hand into his pocket and quickly out again。 〃I fear I have no appropriate return；〃 he said with a sheepish smile。
Lord Mortacious reared back and laughed。 His breath washed over me； it smelled of the foul smoke outside。 〃We have had games enough； my friends。 Now let us eat and drink our fill。 For this promises to be a most enjoyable visit。〃 He clapped his hands together； in delight； I supposed； for the mood among his men shifted abruptly。 They began to move about； chatting with one another in idle table gossip。 I noticed； however； that when they ate it was only a nibble； as if they had supped before our arrival。 Here and there I noted features and limbs marred by wounds such as I'd witnessed on the street。 Mortacious eyed me； lifted a hunk of bread from his plate； and broke off a small bit。 The crumbs tumbled across his robe。 He dipped the bread into his wine and slipped it into his mouth。 I was suddenly ravenous and fell upon my food like a direwolf。 But what was appetizing to the eye was tasteless to the tongue； the meat was dry； and even washed down with wine it remained a hard lump in my belly。
Mortacious gave me a knowing smile； as if he held a malicious secret。 〃I hope you did not find my jest rude； Lord Antero；〃 he said。 He waved at his men。 〃They make such dull pany； I could not resist poking fun at an intelligent man。 Your look of astonishment was a rare delight。〃
〃Then how could I take offense？〃 I replied。 'To give innocent amusement to such a gracious host is small repayment for your generosity。〃
〃You are not disforted in the presence of a wizard？〃 he asked。 He plucked at the scarf； and I saw a brief glimpse of what appeared to be an ugly wound。
〃Not at all；〃 I said； wondering if it was a wound； what was its cause？ 〃It will make a remarkable tale someday when I relate my adventures to my grandchildren。〃
Mortacious' mouth stretched into a humorless smile。 〃If you live to tell it；〃 he said。
〃Oh； I fully expect to；〃 I replied。 I saw Janos give a slight nod at my correct response。 〃The gods have been with us thus far in our quest。 Although when your men confronted us； I admit I had some doubt。〃 I raised my glass to him。 〃But once again； instead of trial； the gods permitted me to enter your august pany。〃 Mortacious laughed。 〃Oh； yes； yes； yes；〃 he hissed in supreme pleasure。 〃The ways of the gods are a marvel to all； but a blessing to few。〃 He returned my toast； and we both drank。 Then he leaned forward； his face assuming a look of great interest。 〃But do you not fear their wrath； traveling in the pany of a man whom some charge has gained his sorcerous skills through blasphemy？〃
If he meant to surprise me； he succeeded； if he meant to confound me； he failed。 〃Why should it； my lord？ Was not this undertaking blessed by the Evocators of Orissa … including that aged and holy sage； Gamelan； himself？〃 Mortacious grimaced and tugged at his scarf； and I could see it was his fort as well as weakness； betraying emotion he intended to keep hidden。
He turned to Janos； who was busy chewing on his own tasteless repast。 〃Your friend brings more than redheaded luck to your venture。 He brings cool wisdom as well。〃
〃That is what sealed our friendship long ago；〃 Janos said。 〃More so； even； than his kindly nature and amiable manners。〃
Mortacious shook his head in mock awe。 〃A most remarkable partnership for a most remarkable venture。 I pray for your sake that it keeps。 For when such a friendship sours； it makes a bitter drink。〃 Janos made no reply； but only smiled and sipped his wine。 〃I have been wondering；〃 Mortacious said； 〃why you have yet to ask what I know of your goal？ You seek the answer to a mystery； but you make no inquiries of the lord whose realm lies closest to the Far Kingdoms。〃
Janos made his most charming grin； it peeped like a thief from the black thicket of his beard。 〃I would have； my Lord Mortacious 。。。 if I thought you would answer。〃
Mortacious laughed； this time with genuine amusement。 〃You guessed correctly；〃 he replied。 〃Few questions are answered with kindness by those who dwell in the Disputed Lands。〃
Janos shrugged。 〃It required no crystal gazing； good sir。 There were signs of conflict all along the way。 And we witnessed a great battle just before your men came upon us。 If I lived in a land with as many enemies as you must suffer； I would suspect any questioner as well。〃 Janos made bold； hooked the wine decanter； and poured all around。 〃There is one question； however； that begs an answer； and can cause no harm if I ask it。 And that is： why have you called us into your pany？〃
Mortacious smoothed the scarf。 〃It is as I said： to satisfy my curiosity。〃
〃And when that has been acplished？〃 Janos pressed。
The wizard eyed him； slowly stroking his black scarf as if it were his lover's flesh。 The hand was death white against the scarf； fingers； long blind worms。 Finally； he answered。 〃Then you shall pass from my kingdom in safety 。。。 and with my blessing。 But before that hour is upon us； I have questions of my own。〃
〃Ask away； sir；〃 Janos said。 〃I am but a simple soldier with no secrets but the sweet words I've hoarded to please a maiden's ear。〃
〃If that were so；〃 Mortacious said； 〃you would not be at my table。 And you might have met a different fate at my men's hands。〃 Janos shrugged … point conceded。 〃I have heard； my good Greycloak；〃 Mortacious continued； 〃that you were born to wizardry； but have no formal training。 Nor were you permitted another sorcerer's pany。 Yet my informants say you are as skilled as any in the land … and that skill was won solely by hard force of your reasoning powers。〃
〃You were informed correctly；〃 Janos said。 〃Although my skills may have been overrated。 I possess enough to protect myself and my friends 。。。 and to amuse an amiable dinner panion。〃
Mortacious brushed this away； impatient with further byplay。 〃It is your methods that interest me； sir。 Others learn by dull rote…you； by testing theory。〃
〃I have had little choice；〃 Janos replied。 〃No one would give me scrolls to memorize； much less al