〃I have had little choice；〃 Janos replied。 〃No one would give me scrolls to memorize； much less allow entrance to a school for Evocators。〃
〃I have heard of no other mortal man who has acplished this；〃 Mortacious said。
〃That is a fact I could not know；〃 Janos returned。 〃As you said； no wizard has ever taken me into his confidence。〃
'Then I shall be the first；〃 Mortacious said。 〃I have theories of my own。 Perhaps they plement yours。〃
〃I am honored； Lord Mortacious；〃 Janos said。 He sat back； waiting。 His smile was easy； but I saw the wary gleam in my friend's eye。
〃Do you think sorcery has some holy purpose？〃 Mortacious asked。 〃A purpose understood only by the gods who give wizardry life？ Answer honestly； now。 I will not take offense。〃
〃I do not think it holy；〃 Janos said。 〃I believe magic is as natural as the wind。 As mon a force as the fire you light when that wind blows cold。 And as for the gods。。。 … bah！；。。 they do not exist 。。。 except in our minds。〃
Mortacious frowned。 He gave his scarf a hard tug； and once again I glimpsed the wound。 〃Then why is it when we pray to them； and make sacrifice； those prayers are sometimes answered？〃
〃Their image helps us focus；〃 Janos replied。 〃The sacrifice only sharpens that focus。 The same with chanted spells。 There is no feat of magic I have set my mind to that cannot be acplished by thought alone。 I do not need a god to make a plate a scorpion； or your chanted nonsense to lure it back to its natural state。〃
Mortacious eyed Janos thoughtfully。 〃It would be interesting； indeed； to be a wizard such as yourself。 No one taught you rules； so you questioned； then made your own。 You smash through things that would make others hesitate 。。。 or turn back。 All because you have no fear of gods and penalties； you see no task so difficult that it cannot be acplished by force of will。 Ah； yes； Janos Greycloak。 I understand why you alone have e so far。〃
Janos laughed。 〃It is a lovely speech； sir； but I detect you heartily disagree。〃
Mortacious stirred； enjoying himself。 〃Yes。 Yes； I do。 I wish it were otherwise； for you do present a pretty view。 I admit you have great talent； but it is not so great as you think。 As any true sorcerer can attest： there are real limits； real fears。 I know my Master； and He knows me。 We made a bargain； which I keep； and He has granted me powers greater than even a man such as you could dream。〃
〃I assume you make reference to the practice of black sorcery；〃 Janos said。 〃And you are a servant of one of the gods whose name it is forbidden to speak。〃
〃Does that offend you？〃 Mortacious asked。 He stroked the scarf； features pleasant。
〃Not at all；〃 Janos said。 〃Black or white； it makes no difference in my philosophy。 If there are no gods； no holy purpose； what does it matter？〃
〃Yes。 I can see how it wouldn't；〃 Mortacious said。 〃Marvelous。 Simply marvelous。 I like how your ideas； no matter how wrong…headed； lead down such a rosy path 。。。 where we both still meet。〃
〃My own view of the black arts；〃 Janos said； 〃is they must be practiced with caution。 Our beliefs in such things as good and evil have bee so deep grained that they present great resistance。 I have a theory that when so…called black magic is performed； this resistance causes gradual harm to the practitioner himself。 Over time； the sorcerer is weakened； scarred。 Possibly even transformed to something not to his liking。 Do you find this the case； sir？ Are you the same man now as the one who went in that door？〃
〃Oh； I am better than ever； if anything。〃 Mortacious chuckled。 But the chuckle was forced； uneasy。
〃Perhaps you take precautions？〃 Janos asked。 〃I have thought of a few of my own 。。。 if I should ever attempt such things。〃
Mortacious gripped the scarf； but feigned lightness。 〃There are none needed；〃 he answered。
〃How enlightening；〃 Janos murmured。 His manner was pleasant； but I could see he thought our host a fool who had made a bad bargain。 〃You said I should speak freely； Lord Mortacious；〃 Janos finally said； 〃that I would give no offense。 Yet； I hesitate to ask the question now uppermost in my mind。〃
〃Have no fear；〃 the wizard said。 〃Say what you will。〃
〃Your kingdom of Gomalalee lies in a realm of constant warfare。 We have seen the wounds your people have suffered。 So； I wonder： if your god is so great； so knowing； why has He not given you power over your enemies？〃
Mortacious roared laughter。 It made a ghastly sound； as if the winds of humor were blowing through that deep cavern where the Dark Seeker dwells。 〃Oh； but He has； my dear man 。。。 He has。〃 The neck scarf had e loose； and I saw clear the wound it hid from view。 It was a putrid； unhealed gash circling his throat。 He did not notice my gaze and returned the black scarf to its place。 His face was mocking。 〃What is the greatest power you can imagine； my little wizard？〃 he asked。 〃Tell me quick and tell me true。〃
Janos replied with no hesitation。 'To know all things。 To be able to lift my eyes from Nature's stitching and see its grand design。 I would give all I have…which； in the end； is only my life…if I could have but a single glimpse； one clear understanding。〃
〃Then you are a fool；〃 Mortacious said。 〃For the sum of all things is too large to know。 The stitches too numerous for even the gods to count。〃
Janos made his eyes widen and stroked his beard as if he were in the presence of a great； knowing master。 'Then what is the answer； my lord？ Tell me； please； where my error lies？〃
〃Why it is as simple as mon bread；〃 the wizard said； his eyes aglow with self importance。 〃The greatest power a mortal can mand 。。。 is the power over another man's soul。〃
〃I do not understand；〃 Janos said。 'Tell me more； pray； to further my education。〃
But the wizard grew wary； fearing he had said too much。 He shook his head； as if wearying of the buzz of little children。 He smoothed the scarf； picked up his cup； and drained it。 He set the cup down firmly。 〃I think not；〃 he said at last。
He brushed crumbs from his robe and came to his feet。 〃I hope you gentlemen have supped well。 Now； if you will forgive my rudeness 。。。 I shall ask you to retire。 I pray you find your quarters pleasant； and you sleep an untroubled sleep。〃
Before he could go； I made bold to say； 〃Thank you； Lord Mortacious； for your hospitality。 I would not want us to overstay it。 With your kind permission； we shall depart tomorrow…with deep regret。〃
The wizard fixed me with those fierce； desert…bird eyes。 I did not flinch； but kept a mild look upon my face。 〃We shall see；〃 he finally said； then swept out。 As soon as he was gone； Janos scooped up the crumbs the wizard had discarded and put them in his pocket。 He gave me a wink just as the man who had led us to Mortacious appeared。 〃e with me； if you please； sirs；〃 he said。
He put all twenty of us in a spacious chamber； it was window…less； and its walls were barren stone。 There were cots set up； with soft coverlets that seemed odd amid such barrackslike starkness。 There was a large water vessel in the corner； with a dipper hanging from the mouth； and in another corner there was a hole for wastes。 As Mortacious' man swung shut the heavy door； Janos signaled us to remain silent。 We heard a strong bolt shoot into place； so much for the fiction that we were only guests。 Janos crept to the door and ran his hands lightly over the surface。 Whatever he learned from the examination pleased him； for he nodded in satisfaction。 He turned back to us and made signs there was a listening spell in place。 More hand signals sent the men to their cots to feign sleep and brought Sergeant Maeen and me to his side。
〃It is as I feared；〃 he whispered。 〃There is no locking spell on the door。 Only the mechanical bar。〃
〃Why is that troublesome； sir？〃 Maeen asked。
I puzzled with him； for if escape was necessary； or even possible； then the scanty security was in our favor。 Then I felt a sudden awful weariness and yearned for the sweet fort of those soft coverlets。 Sergeant Maeen gave an elaborate yawn； and as the uncontrollable urge to ape his actions came upon me； I heard more yawns all over the chamber as our men were similarly affected。
Janos gave Maeen a hard push to jolt him awake。 〃Fetch some