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self to sip again。 This time it was more tolerable； powerful stuff that stoked fires in the belly and smoke in the mind。 I vowed caution。
〃Tell me； Lord Mortacious；〃 Janos said； 〃how is it you know of such lowly travelers as ourselves？〃
Mortacious chuckled； fingering the black scarf at his neck。 〃Lowly？ I think not。 As for my knowledge of you； it is no great trick for a wizard。 As ruler of this realm； which many evil men envy； such knowledge is a necessity。〃
Janos suddenly relaxed； he drank his wine and loudly smacked his lips in pleasure。 〃To be perfectly frank； my lord； when your men first approached we feared our intentions had been mistook。 For we e to these parts by accident； not design。 Our purposes are entirely peaceful。〃
〃So you say；〃 Mortacious murmured。 〃But there is a bloody trail behind you that might indicate otherwise。〃
〃If they had let us pass；〃 Janos said； 〃they would have lived。 The barbed remark hooked amusement rather than anger。 Mor…tacious smiled。 〃Exactly； dear Greycloak。 Ignorance can be fatal。〃 He topped our glasses。 〃When I learned of your approach； I was seized with curiosity。 I had to meet the men who so ardently sought the Far Kingdoms。〃
Except for the conversation between Janos and Mortacious； the room was silent。 His men made listless motions of eating and drinking； they did not talk with one another； or look this way and that。 Down the long table our own friends whispered amongst themselves and shifted restlessly。 But I saw they'd had the good sense to help themselves to some joints of meat and bread and were devouring them as if it were their last meal； a thought not far from my own mind as I looked at my still empty platter。
Mortacious caught my look and fussed。 〃Forgive me； dear sirs； for forgetting your needs。 e； let me assist you in finding a tasty morsel or two。〃
He carved a thick slab of steaming meat for me； another for Janos； and put them on our plates with much ceremony。 A most delicious odor arose to greet my senses and beg me to sup。 I cut a long 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