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shattered him rather than turning him to steel。 Raveline is a creature of enthusiasms； moving from one great project to another as his interests wax and wane。〃
〃He has been interested in this for quite a number of years；〃 I said。
〃I asked you to hear me out。 Please！ So he is infatuated with our lands； and has been； as you say； for a period of time。 I believe this is simply because they have always been beyond his grasp； in the same sense a child desires a sweetmeat different from the one he sucks。 Once the umbrella of the Far Kingdoms has overspread Orissa and Lycanth； he will find another enthusiasm。 Perhaps it will be further exploration； perhaps it will be his harem。 But he will look away； I promise you。 By then we Orissans shall be as rich as anyone here。〃
I waited； but Janos said nothing more。 I took a chance。 〃He wants us to serve him。 What are the penalties if we should displease him？ I do not know if he has the power to duplicate that great wasteland he said came from the Old Ones； but he made it very clear to me he would happily dispense such a judgment on anyone； and I use his words； who dares stand against Vacaan。 Which means Prince Raveline。 Further； he said he tested us； but did not elaborate。 I wonder what those tests were 。。。 precisely？ What Evocator cast the spell that rebuilt Wahumwa？ Was it his sorcery that destroyed the finest soldiers Orissa could field？〃
〃No！〃 Janos said loudly； then stopped。 〃Well 。。。 I must be honest；〃 he went on； in a calmer tone。 〃I'm not sure。 I don't think so。 But what if he did？ Would we Orissans have taken measures if a great army tramped steadily toward our borders？〃
〃Not before we found out their intent；〃 I said。
〃I wonder；〃 Janos said。 〃I wonder。 Let us consider something else； as long as we are talking about Orissa。 We … you and I … won a victory not long ago against the Evocators and their stranglehold on Orissa。 They represented the long…dead past； and they used that past to diminish today's life and tomorrow's dreams。 Do you think all of those hidebound fools vanished with Cassini？ I know they will try to impose their choking tradition again； most likely within a short time after we return to Orissa and inform them the old ways are doomed。 And what of Lycanth？ I know those people。 I know their Archons。 They are talking even now of rebuilding their damned monstrous wall。 How long before they begin increasing the size of their army？ And once that is acplished they will cast covetous eyes on Orissa。〃
〃What of it？〃 I wanted to know。 〃We defeated them once； we can do it again。〃
〃I am not sure of that；〃 Janos said。 〃I have not seen men in Orissa recently with the mettle people like your father and his generation showed。 No； Amalric； we need Raveline。 I beg your pardon； let me be more exact We need what he represents。 We need the knowledge that this city and these lands hold。 I sneered at those dusty archives and their librarians； but there is more knowledge on one cobwebbed shelf than in the entire citadel of the Evocators。 With this knowledge； with these powers； we can bring about a Golden Age； a Golden Age such as man passed through before； and then was found unworthy to live in。 In a few years we shall have all the wisdom these lands possess； and then we can step beyond them。 We are a young people； and they are old； tired； and set in their ways。 I see Vacaan； Irayas； and Raveline as a false dawn； a harbinger of a new； fresh age； an age beyond gold。〃
〃Well said；〃 I replied。 〃But this is not the time for a battle oration。 Consider reality。 Do you really think Orissa could rise up against the rule of the Far Kingdoms？ I look about me at all these happy； contented faces； like so many purebred cows who do not realize their sole purpose is to breed more cattle and eventually grace their master's table。 Do you think these people of Vacaan will ever revolt？ And if they do； what would their chances be？ Do you want to see Orissans； the people you've taken as your own； bee like these cud…chewing cattle？〃
〃Would they be worse off？〃 Janos asked。 〃Do not answer hastily。 Think of that slum we walked through when we returned to Orissa。 Cheapside。 Have you seen anything near its poverty since we've been in these lands？ And Cheapside is far from the worst in Orissa。 I shall not even mention Lycanth's seething tenements。 I believe that if you offered most Orissans a choice between the golden chains of this land； and what they now live with 。。。 they would loudly be shouting for the blacksmith； his hammer； and shackles。〃
I held my angry retort； poured wine； and forced myself to sip。 Then I became even angrier。 〃I remember； years ago； in the desert； when we freed Deoce and tried to free the other slaves the nomads had taken 。。。 and how furious you were at those who chose to return to their chains。 So now you think it acceptable wisdom to seek out the slaver？ Hold； sir。 I have another statement。 You said most Orissans would choose to be ruled by the Far Kingdoms if they were richly rewarded。 What of the others … those you think to be a minority？ What of men like Ecco； Gamelan； or even Maeen and the other soldiers here in Irayas？ They'll think it a capital jest when we tell them what their pains have produced。 And what of the women？ What of that little chambermaid； Spoto？ What of my sister； Rah'？ And Otara； her lover？ Or the other Maranon Guards？ Do you think they will cheerfully invite tyranny？ What will Raveline do with them？〃
〃All kings have laws to support their rule；〃 Janos said； a bit weakly。 〃Is Vacaan's law； where those who rebel simply vanish； more evil than the Kissing of the Stones？ Or even the Archons' Calling？〃
〃As to the first；〃 I said； 〃yes。 No one is executed in Orissa without an open trial。 As to Lycanth； I cannot answer。 Especially since I have not spoken to anyone who has been disappeared； and know not what agonies were connected with their going。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Janos said slowly； 〃we should summon such a spirit and ask him。 Although I warn you the dead speak in awful tongues。〃 Then he made a slight shift in course。 〃Say you are right in your doom crying。 What plan do you have？〃
I took several deep breaths； again to calm myself。 〃I have but the beginnings of one； and wele your additions … or even an alternate proposal；〃 I said。 〃I would suggest both of us temporize with Raveline。 Make vague promises such as any merchant does when a shipment is overdue。 It was my impression that King Domas has already decided to allow some trade to mence。 Now； since you say Raveline is a creature of momentary enthusiasms； perhaps we should use that agreement as a way for us to return to Orissa。 Once in our homeland； I think it absolutely imperative we immediately put my plan of a few days ago into action。 You； Janos； must take the entire Evocators' Guild in hand； and begin preparation。 But not for an immediate war； nor for war at all。 I am thinking aloud as I speak； admittedly； but I cannot see how Raveline could mount an attack； either magical or physical； against us； when his people have no interest beyond their own noses。 Further； I agree that these Vacaanese are terribly hidebound。 I think we should trade with them； and learn everything we can。 I think you s