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I wanted to ask more； but the slippery one was nearly at our table； his back turned in studied unconcern； but you could see his ears swivel to listen。 So I said； loudly； 〃Here； now。 Let me buy the next round。 And we'll all toast our royal hosts。〃 There was much overloud pliance to my proposal； and after a time of broadly innocent fun； Maeen tipped me the wink that I should depart now； so they could casually follow after a suitable period。
I returned home in great alarm。 I wondered at those 〃parties；〃 as Maeen called them； that were hosted by Raveline。 Orgies； I supposed； sexual tricks and frenzy stoked by magic。 I remembered well the great appeal such things had to Janos。 And I had just seen for myself that all was not wondrous light in Irayas。 But then I thought of the important negotiations with the king。 I knew Domas was not lying about his interest； nor was he hiding some dark purpose。 Hope sprang again with the reminder that I actually had seen nothing； I had only heard。 I did not distrust Maeen's word； but he himself had it by third or fourth hand。 Not only that； I self…chided； but wasn't I letting my dislike of Raveline flaw my view？ After all； what did I have to base that dislike on？ The prince had certainly not done anything to deserve it。
While I still had that clumsy ball of yarn tied up with such dubious knots； Janos reappeared。 He burst into my palace； full of energy； wit； and high spirits。 〃I've missed you； my friend；〃 he roared； slapping my back。 〃I've been buried in dusty old scrolls for too long； and my ears are so stuffed with spells； I fear I am growing deaf from not hearing normal talk。〃 ：
〃Then your studies go well？〃 I asked。
〃Damned well；〃 Janos said。 His manner had always been blustery； but I suspicioned a touch of aping of our bluff…mannered hosts。 Suspicion faded as he clapped me on the back again and said we ought to see how the men were doing； and swap a drink or three。 We found them at another tavern； just as large and soundly working class as the first。 With Janos we were twenty again； the reunion was noisy and glorious。 Much drinking followed； and perhaps a tipsy tear for fond memories of shared adventures。 But just before we were all taken by drink； Maeen came to me。 〃Remember that talky landlord？〃 he asked； low。
〃At the other tavern？〃 He nodded。 I looked about their new favorite place admiringly。 〃You were well to be shed of him； I suppose。 And you chose the replacement well。〃
〃We weren't shed of him；〃 Maeen said。 〃We hadn't time。 He disappeared that night； and no one has seen or heard from him since。 And the tavern was ordered closed。〃
〃By whom？〃 I asked。
〃He wouldn't put his name to it；〃 Maeen said。 〃But everyone says it could be none other than Prince Raveline。〃
CHAPTER TWENTY…FOUR
Omerye
ANY RENEWED BROODING over Janos and Raveline was cut short the next day when Beemus showed up at my palace。 He said； in his whispered shadow…speak； the king was engaged in important business； but assured me it was only slightly more important； in Domas' view； than the business he had with me。 Barring unforeseen emergency； our trade agreement was next in line。
〃Can you give me some hint which way the king is leaning？〃 I asked。 He replied with a shrug； but acpanied the shrug with an upward tilt of one er of his mouth； making； for Beemus； a grin of encouragement。 〃When will he decide？ Can you guess？〃 Another shrug； the mouth line remained straight； meaning； he wasn't sure。 〃Can you at least tell me this： will it be very long？〃 Beemus thought a moment； then shook his head： no； it would not be long。
After he had gone； I faced the day with brighter hopes。 I sent a message to Janos； thinking we could discuss our prospects。 But when I saw Gatra's familiar scrawl on the reply； I knew without reading that； once again； Janos was not available and had returned to Raveline's side。 This was not enough to spoil my cheer； so I called for my boat and set out for a lazy day viewing Irayas。
The water has always brought me peace； and I spent several enjoyable hours alone with my boatman that day； cruising the river。 It was late afternoon when I came to a district I had never seen before： it was an older area； near the center of the city。 The canals were narrower and heavily shaded in the arch of thick…branched trees； the water reflected trunks twisted into forms and faces long past maturity。 The homes； although certainly not poor or mon； were smaller and steered sharply away from sameness。 I smelled fresh paint； the dust of newly cut stone； and woolen yarn； dampened to greet the loom。 As we moved through the maze that tied the district together； I saw bright color in the windows of the homes。 They were paintings； I realized； and lovely tapestries； as well； all were art in the making； for I also saw limners and weavers at work。 The boatman took me past one large； open yard that held a delightful litter of sculptures in all stages of development。 We turned into a pleasant bywater； and I eased back to enjoy the song of a bird piping from a tree not far away。 Then I realized； with a cold pang； it wasn't a bird making that music。 The single note was followed by a gentle stream on the air。 The delicate signature was unmistakable： it was Omerye's。 I hoarsed for the boatman to turn back； but he was so intent on the music himself； he did not hear and only drew harder on the oars。 Then it seemed the pipes had caught my presence； for I recognized the same notes of sudden interest I'd heard in Domas' chamber。 More music followed： gentle sniffing all about me； then a joyous cry of familiarity。 Low…dipping branches parted； revealing a small dock； and on that dock； feet dainty； bare； and trailing in the water； sat Omerye。 As the boat drew up she played a final note； it was one of glad greeting。 Then she lowered the pipes and looked at me。 Her red hair made a lustrous frame about her pale features； but in the light I saw it was not as close to mine as I thought： it was a deeper red； and softer。 She was dressed in a white tunic cut short to mid…thigh； and it clung close to her lush figure。 The smile she wore was shy； but it made me glow； and then that glow made me sad； for I knew I must leave。
〃I knew you would e。〃 Her voice was as light and musical as her pipes。 There was no artifice in it： she had known； and； somehow； so had I。 She pointed the pipes at a white cottage with a slanted roof of weathered blue： her home。 〃Please？〃
There was only one answer I could give； but when I forced it out； it turned on its head and I heard myself say； 〃Yes。 I would like that very much。〃 I clambered onto the dock； trembling when her hand touched my shoulder to help steady me。 We stood together； close； almost touching。 She was tall； and I found her eyes with no trouble： they were blue； then her chin tilted up； and they were green； the chin tilted higher still； and now they were gray。 Her lips were slightly bruised in color and swollen from her piping。 They would be easy to kiss； I thought。 She stepped away and took my hand and led me to the cottage。 Behind me； I heard the boatman chuckle and the scrape of wood as he pushed off； and I almost turned to urge him to wait； for I would not be more than a moment。 I he