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eled in the dream。
I caught myself glooming at the river near dawn； watching the dark waters flow out toward the sea； and found myself thinking of how they looked gentle； like a weling bed to a tired man。 I pulled myself back。 My father might have struck me if he had been alive and had known my thoughts。 No Antero had ever allowed himself to sink into this kind of self…pity。 But I must do something； and do it immediately。
As soon as the thought hit me； I knew what to do。 Orissa would do nothing to save Janos； even if the city suddenly came to its senses。 Very well； I would； I hastened home。 I woke the household and began issuing orders。 I told Rali what I intended； and she frowned。 〃You might be jumping into waters deeper than you think；〃 she said； and I flinched inadvertently at her parison。 〃Perhaps Janos is more precious to Lycanth 。。。 or they've so convinced themselves 。。。 than we realize。〃
〃I don't see that；〃 I said。 〃I have never known a Lycanthian to refuse gold。 And I shall instruct Janos； before ransoming； to tell the Lycanthians everything he knows。 Let them mount their own expedition if they wish； and face the desert； the slavers； and the carrion eaters。 Janos； as proven by his getting lost in the return journey； has but a faulty map in his mind。 No other exists； save what I drew； and what I remember。〃
Rali shook her head。 〃You are thinking like a logical man； my brother。 That may lead you into trouble。 When men concern themselves with the color of their flags； such as both our cities are doing at the moment； and what they see as prestige of race 。。。 all rationality vanishes。 Add to that the insanity a mere mention of the Far Kingdoms is producing these days 。。。〃 Her voice trailed off。 〃Go if you must； Amalric。 But I fear for you。〃
By dawn the anonymous carriage I had hired was beyond the gates of the city。 In it were two chests of pure； soft gold rolls I'd taken from the vaults below our villa。 Those would entrance the Lycanthians； even their magic…soaked Archons； if necessary。 Not quite a king's ransom； but certainly sufficient for a baron or two。 The gold was guarded by six of my best retainers。 I wished to take Sergeant Maeen； but realized if the sole survivor to the tragedy left the city headed toward Lycanth； my enemies would find the obvious explanation and have troops after us within hours。
THE JOURNEY TO Lycanth went uneventfully。 I ordered the carriage and my men to remain at the last decent inn； just a day's journey from the city； until summoned； and rode to Lycanth alone。 I did not notice the weather or if there were other travelers about。 I was busily rehearsing my reasoning and the approach I would use to free Janos。 I entered the city without incident and rode toward the same inn we had stayed in previously。 I planned to refresh myself and then begin investigating in what manner one approached the Lycanthian rulers to seek a boon。 I never reached the inn。
It was twilight； and the streets were crowded as the Lycanthian workers made their way home； and I had to force my horse through the throng。 Quite suddenly I was alone； sitting my horse on a near…deserted street； the last Lycanthian scuttling indoors。
I heard a baying； had time to remember； and around the corner loped that obscene； hairless hyena with the face of a man； it was the creature that had ordered us to the castle of the Archons； and then called out that young woman to her death。 It sat on its haunches and regarded me。 Again； it bayed； and the cry echoed across the stone buildings around me。
Then it spoke。 〃Amalric Antero。 You are summoned。 You must obey。〃
I pulled at my horse's reins reflexively； trying to turn my mount away from the caller。 But a rank of soldiers doubled across the street behind me； spears leveled。 A second line of guards appeared behind the creature。
〃Amalric Antero。 You are summoned。〃
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Dungeon of the Archons
I WAS BROUGHT to that great sea castle just at the end of the promontory and escorted through long； echoing； dank corridors； guarded and locked portals； and high…ceilinged chambers。 It seemed as if the only beings in this great castle were guards； myself； and that noxious creature that trotted just ahead of me。 We reached an entranceway blocked only by a heavy； dark green curtain。 The soldiers； without ever a mand； wheeled and marched away 。。。 leaving only the Finder as my guard。
〃Amalric Antero。 You are summoned；〃 and it went through the curtain。 I followed； numb； into yet another bare chamber。 Everything in this room was entirely of stone： from the groin…vaulted ceiling； to the stanchions that held flaring torches； to the low riser at the far end of the room。 There were two circular pedestals on either side of the riser。 The creature positioned itself in front of that stage。 I heard； or rather felt； a humming…as if the air itself was moving。 The humming grew louder； and then I saw a shimmer atop each pedestal； a shimmer taller than the height of a tall man。 The Finder abased itself。 I did not
I suppose I should have knelt。 I had and have since knelt in front of many strange gods； kings； and even bandits who have given themselves lordly titles。 It matters little and frequently adds to future profit or immediate survivability。 It sometimes is just a matter of mon courtesy。 But here； in the bowels of the Archons' castle； I kept my feet。 Perhaps I felt pride as an Antero； or as an Orissan。 But I would not kneel to these swirling mists。 The humming grew louder still； then changed pitch and grew into an angry bass drone； such as might e from a nest of monstrous wasps； but nothing else happened； and then the drone stopped。
As the silence lingered； a man came out of the darkness behind the pedestals。 He was quite beautiful； a term I do not generally use for males； but this man…from his softly curled blond hair； to his boyishly smiling full lips； to his slender body； was beautiful。
〃Lord Amalric。 I had hoped our 。。。 acquisition of your minion might make you decide to e to Lycanth。 I am Nisou Symeon。〃 This then was the man； hardly more than a boy； both my father and Greif had said was the most evil of the Symeons…the clan the Anteros had warred against for three generations。 Even though I was in desperate straits； I noted his face and realized once more that only a fool judges good or evil by its beauty or ill favor。
I sorted through my various responses； discarding the obvious ones of fear； surprise； disdain； or even bravura posturing。 〃Lord Symeon；〃 I finally said。 〃So you have convinced your rulers that you can seize an Orissan nobleman without heed of any consequences。〃
〃My Lords； the Archons； needed no convincing；〃 Symeon said。 〃In case you have been buried in your dreams of the past like most Orissans； you may not have noticed there is a new spirit abroad in Lycanth。 It is time for us to reaffirm our historic duty and seek our proper place in the sun。〃 I remembered Cassini's harsh verdict outside Lycanth； when he said that we should have obliterated the city and its populace； for fear they would rise once more。 Even such a one as Cassini may sometimes glimpse beyond the veil。
〃Further；〃 Symeon continued； 〃even if we were concerned as to