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I blushed。 〃I fear what you heard is true。 It was a terrible sin I mitted； and I regret it deeply。〃
〃Oh； don't be a prudish fellow。 What's there to regret？ The doxy and Leego got their money's worth out of you； I'll warrant。〃
I made a plete and full confession； starting with the moment Melina and I first met and ending with my flight from her bedchamber。 Janos was a remarkably easy confessor。 He was sympathetic without being syrupy。 He interrupted only to ask a detail…one that always seemed to bolster my side…or make a jest to lighten my spirits。 It was like talking to a much older brother； although I realized he couldn't be much more than five years my senior。 When I was done he poured the last of the brandy； then turned the bottle up to signal it would be our last。
〃In my unworthy opinion； Amalric；〃 he said； 〃this is a tale that began sadly and ended happily。 You learned a lesson most of us don't e to until a late age； if ever。 Forget the woman。 Forget your imagined humiliations。 I assure you it will make a wonderful story to tell your sons when you are an old man。 At least tonight； you acquitted yourself well。 So be done with it。〃
I thanked him； although I was not convinced my sins could so easily be washed away。
Janos raised his goblet in a toast。 'To the new Amalric Antero。 May his future adventures be half as sweet。〃 Our goblets chinked together； and we drank。 As we lowered our glasses I caught Janos eyeing me thoughtfully across the table。 〃I think my own fortunes changed this night； Amalric；〃 he said； quite sincerely。 〃For did I not meet a redheaded man？ And is that not one of the luckiest signs the seers can find in their crystals？〃
〃For your sake；〃 I said； 〃I hope so。 It is not so lucky for its possessor； I fear。〃
Janos laughed； that rich boom of a laugh I spoke of before。 〃Now that is a riddle worthy of the greatest Evocator；〃 he said。 〃Much more so than how many demons can gambol on the head of a pin。 If the Omen portends well； does that mean the Omen will also end well？〃
Even writing from this distance； with all the events that have passed since we first met； I still do not know the answer to that riddle。 I doubt I will until the night the Dark Seeker es to carry off my soul。
My spirits lifted as I pondered his riddle。 At long last； a friend with wit。 Then； defeated； I shook my head。 〃Even if it were not late；〃 I said； 〃I doubt I could unravel your puzzle。 Indeed； it is a riddle whose answer may be as impossible to divine as 。。。〃 I searched for parisons； and one popped up like a light。 〃As finding the Far Kingdoms。〃 I laughed； but I laughed alone。 Janos was staring at me； excitement in his eyes。 〃What is it？〃 I asked。 〃Why did you say that？〃 he asked。 I was confused。 〃You mean 。。。 about the Far Kingdoms？〃 〃Yes。〃 His voice was abrupt； prodding。 〃I 。。。 really can't say。 Except it was on my mind just before Leego's thugs arrived。〃
Janos peered closer； and I suddenly felt rather stupid。 〃It's that kind of silliness on my brain that's kept me from my responsibilities；〃 I said； a bit hot。 〃Forgive my babbling。〃
〃If you knew me〃 Janos said； 〃you would realize when it es to aimless chatter； there is no man the master of Janos Greycloak。〃 I laughed as he drew me toward the door。 〃We'd best go quickly； my friend；〃 he said； 〃or we'll soon be wrecked on the shoals of more brandy and babbling。〃
We went out into the night。 Down the street I saw a torch flare； and thought once more of the Far Kingdoms。 Then the thought was gone and only night remained。
CHAPTER THREE
The Finding
I WOKE THE next morning feeling bleary； my mind stuck like a dying fly in the dregs of last night's wine。 Then I smelled the clean sharpness of the spring wind whispering in my chamber's window； and the haze vanished。 With some surprise I also realized that for the first time in many days I had not been troubled with the terrible dream of the one…eyed man。 I went from my bedchamber to the anteroom； washed； then knelt and whispered the ritual prayer to the hearthgod。 The hand mirror…no matter how close I held it…told me I would not need to be shaved this day； so I began to put on the clothes laid out for me。
Then I caught myself。 〃Banes！〃 He entered the chamber soundlessly； his face carefully made up in polite； if only slightly interested concern…the expression I later understood to be the mask bodyslaves quickly learn to wear for survival。 I indicated the clothes he had laid out： the shirt was plain； the breeches were of a sober color； the jerkin was of poor quality； and the cap could have been worn by an elder。 〃Is this what you think happened？〃
A smile flickered； then vanished。 〃I think nothing； m'lord。 But since you said my presence would not be required when you went out last evening； and you returned escorted by two soldiers not far from dawn； and I found wine and earth stains on your clothes； which were scattered as if the Month of Winds had been prematurely in your chambers； and…〃
〃Enough！〃
〃As you wish； sir。〃
〃I had some unexpected encounters was all。〃
〃I have never heard her called that； before。〃
I chose to ignore his words。 My teachers had repeatedly cautioned me from childhood that I was overly familiar with slaves and the lower classes…just as I was guilty of showing insufficient respect to my elders and superiors。 But it is impossible for anyone with bowels to play the lordling to a small； balding slave whose first service was carrying you from your father's arms to the waiting Evocator at the naming ritual。
〃But I thought；〃 Eanes continued； 〃you might wish your dress for this day to be 。。。 shall we say of a hue that would not offend an eye that is bleeding； nor a parent still below stairs who heard the clatter as you reeled in？〃 Eanes might have been surprised I did not pale； but I had need of my father today： there was a debt to repay； and thanks to Melina and my own foolishness； I did not have the means。 I walked into the wardrobe and carefully chose my costume： breeches of green； with a matching flat cap worked with gold threads； a flower…embroidered belted tunic； ankle boots； since the weather appeared balmy； and a short cloak。 Remembering the last night's embarrassment； I chose a simple rapier； one without curlicued quillons； slung it from a baldric set with the family seal； and considered myself in a mirror： my image was just as I wished to appear…a sober young heir； but not one in mourning； a young man who； though sprightly in his air； was not the type to consort with whores of any pricing； or their pimps。
〃I see；〃 Eanes said。 〃So she left you empty pursed once again。 And you are planning to go out and about。 I assume you will not require my presence。〃
〃I may not have paid much mind to my tutors； but I recollect the one…I disremember if it was the fellow who somehow fell into the harbor or the one whose robes ended up mysteriously on fire…who told me the story of the savant who prided himself on the excellence of his predictions； and while boasting to his students of this talent one day； he kept walking along a cliff edge some yards after the solid land had e to an end。 And so the babbler died； to the great cheers and relief of his tortured students。 The real