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otting at his side。 〃Let's talk to a few； shall we？ And see what makes such spirit。〃 He paused； hurling a great stone of a frown at the crowd。 〃A spirit many of you sadly lack。〃 Then he returned his attention to us； and a smile replaced the frown。 His smile was quite unlike his brother's： it was wide and generous and its path was smooth from much use。
The king looked us over again； until his gaze fell on Sergeant Maeen。 〃You； sir；〃 the king roared； pointing。 〃Tell us your name。〃
Maeen purpled with embarrassment。 The purple deepened as confusion caught him between a salute and a bow he recalled had been forbidden。 Domas rescued him with a mander's salute for a soldier。 Dilemma solved； Maeen snapped his best brisk reply； saying； 〃Sir！ I am Sergeant Maeen！ Sir！〃
The king shouted to the crowd； 〃Did you hear that？ Sergeant Maeen； he says。 I guessed his rank。 You can see by the cut of him that he's a sergeant。〃
〃Thank you； Your Majesty；〃 Maeen said。
〃Tell us； good sergeant； what do you think of us now that you're here？ How did you find Vacaan？〃
Maeen's features glowed； and he struggled mightily for the proper response。 Finally； he blurted； 〃Marvelous； Your Majesty！ It's just marvelous！〃
Domas roared laughter。 〃Do you hear that？〃 he bawled。 〃He thinks we're 。。。 marvelous！〃 More laughter。 Then； 〃Good plain soldier's talk。 We need more of that around here。〃 Maeen blushed。
Then the king asked； 〃Is there anything you don't like？ That isn't 。。。 marvelous？〃
Maeen gave it his honest consideration； puzzling until he found a small blight。 〃It's the food； sir；〃 he said。
〃The food？〃 Domas thundered。 〃What don't you like about our food？〃
〃Oh； I like it fine； Your Majesty；〃 Maeen said。 〃But； begging your pardon； sometimes I think it's somewhat 。。。 rich。〃
Domas was absolutely delighted with this。 〃I think so； too； Sergeant；〃 he said。 〃They're always putting glop on nice fresh stuff and ruining it。 Next time； tell them to scrape it off。 Of course； I do that all the time； and it does me no good。 And I'm their damned king！〃
Prince Raveline broke in。 〃I think you have found a friend in my brother； Sergeant；〃 he said。 〃And I can see why。 You're just his style of fellow。〃
〃Thank you； Your Majesty；〃 Maeen said。
Domas held up a hand。 〃You shouldn't call him 'Your Majesty；' 〃 he admonished。 〃It's like confusing officers with sergeants。 Only kings are majestic。 My brother's a prince。 And princes are 。。。〃 He paused； searching； and a sudden glow lighted his features。 He shouted for all to hear； 〃Princes are 。。。 less majestic。〃 Then he laughed until the tears flowed； the crowd laughing with him。 Raveline made his smile that was a sneer。 Beemus whispered to Domas； who nodded； then said； 〃It was clever； wasn't it。 But you keep thinking； Beemus。 I'll be needing more soon enough。〃 He shot his brother a look and snorted。 〃Good old Less Majestic。〃
Still laughing； he thanked Maeen and strolled on； picking out several more of our men； introducing them to his subjects； and praising each in turn。 Finally； he came back to the front where we stood。
He caught my red hair first。 〃You； sir。 Don't tell me your name； I know it。 It's 。。。〃 He frowned as it escaped him。 Beemus whispered； and Domas grinned。 〃Antero； that's it。。。 Amalric Antero。〃
〃I am honored； Your Majesty；〃 I said。
Domas puzzled at me for a moment； then he said； 〃You're the merchant？〃 I said I was。 〃Merchants aren't usually the daring sort。 All they care about is profit。〃 I told him that profit was certainly not my goal。 The king studied me further； and I could see he believed me。 He tapped Beemus。 〃I want to speak with him further；〃 he said。 〃Make a bit of time in the next day or so。〃 This request drew a furious bout of whispering from Beemus。 〃I know； I know；〃 the king said。 〃But do it for me anyway； and there's a good fellow。〃
That done with； he turned to Janos。 〃I know your name right off；〃 he said。 〃It's Janos Greycloak； soldier and wizard。〃
〃Thank you； Your Majesty；〃 Janos said。
〃Which are you the most of； Greycloak； soldier or wizard？〃
〃It was both that helped get us here； Your Majesty；〃 Janos answered。
The king was impatient。 〃No avoidance now。 I've made this court an open court。 All are manded to speak their minds。 I do。 So does my 。。。 less majestic brother。〃 He chuckled in memory of his fun。
Janos braced up； even firmer than before。 〃I have been a soldier all my life；〃 he said。 〃But during that time； there was only one banner that drew me。 The Far Kingdoms have been my dream； sir。 Now I am here； if you will permit it； the study of magic is what interests me most。〃
Domas eyed him； gave a slow nod； and said； 〃Why not？〃 He turned to the crowd； shouting； 〃That's enough。 I want some privacy now。 You all go back to whatever you were doing。 Wasting my money； I suppose。 Oh； yes。 These fellows will be visiting a while； and I want you to show them the utmost courtesy。 Is that understood？〃 Rumbles from the crowd and friendly faces showed it was。 Then the crowd turned away as he'd demanded； and Domas went back to his throne。
He thought for a moment； then； 〃I said before； I liked your looks。 I liked them better when I looked closer。 But only time can tell how right 。。。 or wrong； I am。 So here is what I am going to do。 Beemus； here； will find you places to stay。 As honored guests； I suppose he'll e up with a palace for Antero and Greycloak。 And something 。。。 not so rich〃…he grinned at Maeen…〃for the rest of you。 Now； if I've forgotten anything； or you have trouble of any kind； ask Beemus and he'll take care of it。〃
We murmured our thanks； the king nodded； accepting them。 〃Now； here's the rules。 Be on your good behavior； but not so good you spoil your fun。 Besides； I want to see what you're really like； and I can tell you now； I don't like tight…arsed fellows。〃
He looked at Janos。 〃You； sir； wish to study our magic。 I'll see if any of my wizards will take you under their wing。〃 He shook a warning finger at Janos。 〃But don't go dabbling with the black sort。 There's no demons allowed in my realm。 And I intend to keep it that way。〃
Janos dipped his head in acceptance； his eyes were alight with pleasure。 Just then； Raveline stepped forward。 〃I'd be glad to take him on； brother；〃 he said。 〃I hear he has amazing talent。〃
〃I thought you might；〃 Domas said。 〃And that is fine with me。〃 He looked back at Janos。 〃Prince Raveline is my chief wizard。 Damned good one； too。 Although not as good as he thinks。 Fact is； I could best him with a little practice； but wizardry and ruling do not go together in Vacaan。 We've kept them separate from the start and always shall in the future。〃
〃I also do his dirty work for him。〃 Raveline laughed。
〃And you're damned good at that as well；〃 Domas said。 〃Too bad you enjoy it so much。〃 Then； to us； 〃I know he practices the black arts in that palace of his。 And he knows that I know； and all that circular rot。 Unfortunately it's a necessary evil。 We have many enemies outside。 With only his filthy work to keep them at bay。〃
〃Such admiration； brother dear； is overwhelming；〃 Raveline said。
The king ignored him。 〃So there's no confusion； you ought to know what all my subjects know： I dislike my brother int