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glow not dissimilar from the light that had shone from Greif's blind eye。 〃Could have；〃 he murmured； 〃and still shall be。〃 Without looking away； without a change of expression； he swooped to one knee； seized a long blade that had been lying on the floor； and slashed at my midsection。 But I was not there。 The third； and last； part of Halab's gift was now mine。 I had 〃seen〃 the knife； fully as long as a sword； just before Janos' hand found it…and realized his plan。 Time came to a stop as he cut at me； and it was most easy to step back beyond its reach。
〃No； Janos；〃 I said。 〃You do not need to do this。 Neither of us needs to die。〃 I said the words； but they were hollow。 They were not a deliberate lie； but came from the last part of me that still fought against the onrushing end to this tragedy。 He did not answer； but attacked once more。 His knife gleamed； glowing as if it had been carved from a single jewel； and each facet caught the dawn's sun and reflected a thousand thousand shimmerings across the room。 He lunged 。。。 and his thrust went past my side as I slipped out of the way。
He recovered as my right hand found the grip of the sword that； without looking； I had known would be there。 I drew it from its sheath； which hung on a bedside chair。 The blade I held was either the same； or a duplicate； of that plain； slender soldier's blade Janos had used to save me from Melina's pimp。 As it snaked out； Janos cut at me again； this time for my face。 My blade rose； parried his strike with a crash； and the knife jewel； if that was what it was； shattered like dropped crystal。
Its pieces still hung in midair as my blade finished its semicircle； then I lunged； every muscle； every nerve； every part of my body and soul hi that swordpoint。 It took Janos in the lungs and drove through his body until I 〃saw〃 nearly six inches of crimsoning steel emerge from his back。 Halab's final gift； a gift that carried a curse to my heart； disappeared then。
There was no movement from either of us for what seemed forever。 Janos' eyes showed enormous surprise； like those of a seer whose vision had proven faulty。 He opened his mouth； but instead of words or a scream； blood gouted。 He swayed。 I released my grip on the sword。 Janos took one step forward； then sank to his knees； both hands coining up to grasp the blade buried in his chest。 He collapsed on his back； the sword standing above him。 His eyes were closed； and then they opened； and looked up； past the swaying guard of the weapon； into my face。
〃When 。。。 the blade es out；〃 he said； in a harsh whisper； 〃my soul es with it。〃
I nodded。 My eyes were blurred once again； but not from magic。 My face was wet。
〃I 。。。 remember；〃 he said； 〃once telling you； outside that tavern where first we met。。。 that to meet a red…haired man was 。。。 was a lucky omen。〃 He forced a smile； and there was a harsh gasping as his body fought on for life。 〃At least 。。。 at least we found 。。。 found the Far Kingdoms；〃 he said。
〃We did；〃 I said。 Then； more strongly； 〃We did；〃
Pain struck Janos then； and he writhed。 〃Take 。。。 take the blade out now；〃 he said； and his voice was a mand。 〃Before I dishonor my pride。〃
I pulled the blade free。 And as it came out； a soul fled into the embrace of the Dark Seeker。
Janos Kether Greycloak； Prince of Kostroma； Captain and Knight of Orissa； unanointed Baron of Vacaan； seeker of the Far Kingdoms； and； yes； a man who had once been my friend； was dead。
CHAPTER TWENTY…EIGHT
The Holy Mountain
I E TO the end of this journey now； and as I write these lines； I can feel Janos' weight sag in my arms when I lifted his body from the cart。 My rheumy eyes look through younger ones； and I see clear the path we dragged that cart up to reach the crown of the Holy Mountain。 Sergeant Maeen and the other men step forward to help me； but I harshly order them away。 I must do this myself。
I shift my burden and turn toward the great pocked ruins of the Old Ones' altar。 I stumble toward it； weak with present age； and I am weary； so weary I pray for that youth's strength so I do not fall。 My quill trembles with effort as I lift Janos to the stone。 I lay him out and take a panting step back so I can see the man who led us here。
Ah； there you are； Janos。 I know you now； Greycloak。 I see your naked flesh on the stone； and the scars of your great failure mark that flesh。 But I am not done yet： thought must wait as I plete my labors。 Maeen puts the flask in my hands and I pour oil over Janos' corpse。 Now I must pray； but I do not know the Old Ones' words； so I merely say； Farewell； Janos Greycloak。
I light the fire and stumble back from its angry flare。 I see the flames attack； furious strikes all along his body。 They strike the hardest at the sorcerous scars； then the scars vanish； and I see Janos transformed； young and handsome as when we first met in innocence。
Now there is a moment for those thoughts I held back before。 You were my friend； Janos Greycloak； and you betrayed me。 Ah； but I have missed those curses before。 I did not begin this journal to open old wounds； but to banish those scars； like the altar fire banished Janos'。 There were two journeys intended in this ledger： one for those who read my scratchings； the other for myself。 We acplished a great thing； Greycloak and I。 We have found the Far Kingdoms。 But Greycloak traveled farther alone。 And our world will never be the same for his discoveries。 It was I who carried them back； however； and it was I who was given some of the credit。 But I did not lie； Janos Greycloak。 I did not betray； like Cassini。 My quill is eager to expunge those self…inflicted wounds。 And I think： what did you do to me after all？ What I have seen； and all I did later； was because of you。 You set us free； Janos。 You stole magic from the secret hearths of the wizards and made it a mon tool for mon men。 And my beloved Orissa now basks in peace and great bounty。 Shouldn't those gifts be enough for forgiveness？
Very well： I forgive you； Janos； and I forgive myself as well for not knowing enough to rescue you that final time。 You were not a good man； Greycloak； but you were a great man； and it was your greatness that slew you in the end … not I。
With that understanding … and forgiveness … I am anxious to get to the finish； but I will see it with new eyes now。 I hear Maeen and the men paying their final respects to Janos。 And I feel Omerye's soft presence beside me。 She lifts her pipes to play a song of sweet regrets。 The fire leaps； and the body is transformed once more…this time into dark smoke。 I feel the east wind hush past and it lifts the smoke into the sky。 The smoke pauses overhead； and swirls about as if it had manded the wind to wait。
I wipe wetness from my eyes 。。。 and look again。 Suddenly I see a vision of great clarity。 Far to the east； across dazzling seas； where they say no man lives； a trick of light lifts a mountain range above Horizon's curve。 The range looks like a great clenched fist； and between thumb and finger I see the glitter of a pure white blanket of snow。 The mountain fist exactly fits the vision I saw when the Evocators cast the bones that began our quest。
The vision pulls hard now； as I write。 But I cannot go；