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we went along the lake in the morning light。
The Gathered Waters were calm and glittering； a smiling face which gave no indication of the storms which often troubled it。 Chance reminded me of our last traveling by water； fleeing before the wind and from a ship full of pawners sent by Mandor of Bannerweli to capture me。
〃I don't want to think about that；〃 I told him。 〃And of that time。〃
〃I thought you was rather fond of that girl；〃 he said。 〃That Immutable girl。〃
〃Tossa。 Yes。 I was fond of her； Chance； but she died。 I was fond of Mandor； too； once； and he is as good as dead； locked up in Bannerwell for all he is Prince of the place。 It seems the people I am fond of do not profit by it much。〃
〃Ahh； that's nonsense； lad。 You're fond of Silkhands； and she's Gaxnesmistress down in Xammer now； far better off than when you met her。 Windlow； too。 You helped him away from the High King； Prionde； and I'd say that's better off。 It was the luck of the Game did Tossa； and I'm sorry for it。 She was a pretty thing。〃
〃She was。 But that was most of a year ago； Chance。 I grieved over her； but that's done now。 Time to go on to something else。〃
〃Well； you speak the truth there。 It's always time for something new。〃
So we rode along； engaged at times in such desultory conversation； other times silent。 This was country I had not seen before。 When I had e from Bannerwell to the Bright Demesne after the battle； it had been across the purlieus rather than by the long road。 In any case； I had not been paying attention then。
We came to the River Banner very late on the third day of travel； found no inn there but did find a ferrymaster willing to have us sleep in the shed where the femes were kept。 We hauled across at first light； spent that night camped above a tiny hamlet no bigger than my fist； and rode into Schooltown the following noon。
Somehow I had expected it to be changed； but it was exactly the same： little houses humped up the hills； shops and Festival halls hulking along the streets； cobbles and walls and crooked roofs； chimneys twisting up to breathe smoke into the hazy sky； and the School Houses on the ridge above。 Havad's House； where Mandor had been Gamesmaster。 Dorcan's House across the way。 Bilme's House； where it was said Wizards； were taught。 Mertyn's House where my thalan was chief Gamesmaster； where I had grown up in the nurseries to be bullied； by Karl Pig…face and to love Mandor and to depart。 A sick； sweet feeling went through me； half nausea； half delight； together with the crazy idea that I would ask Mertyn to let me stay at the House； be a student again。 Most students did not leave until they were twenty…five。 I could have almost a decade here； in the peace of Schooltown。 I came to myself to find Chance clutching my horse's bridle and staring at me in concern。
〃What is it； boy？ You look as though you'd been ghost bit。〃
〃Nothing。〃 I laughed； a bit unsteadily。 〃A crazy idea； Brother Chance。〃
〃You haven't called me that since we left here。〃
〃No。 But we're back； now； aren't we？ Don't worry； Chance。 I'm all right。〃 We turned the horses over to a stable pawn and went in through the small side door beside the kitchens。 It was second nature to do so； habit； habit to remove my hat； to go off along the corridor behind Chance； habit to hear a familiar voice rise tauntingly behind me。
〃Why； if it isn't old Fat Chance and Prissy Pete； e back to go to School with us again。〃
I stopped dead in savage delight。 So； Karl Pig…face was still here。 Of course he was still here； along with all his fellow tormentors。 He had not seen my face。 Slowly I put the broad black bat upon my head； turned to face them where they hovered in the side corridor； lips wet and slack with anticipation of another bullying。 I was only a shadow to them where I stood。 I shook Chance's restraining hand from my shoulder； moved toward the lantern which hung always just at that turning。
〃Yes； Karl；〃 I whispered in Dora's voice。 〃It is Peter e to School again； but not with you。〃 Stepping into the light on the last word； letting them see the death's…head mask； hearing the indrawn breath； the retching gulp which was all Karl could get out。 Then they were gone； yelping away like whipped pups； away to the corridors and attics。 I laughed silently； overe。
〃That wasn't nice；〃 said Chance sanctimoniously。
〃Aaah； Chance。〃 I poked him in his purse； where the merchants' coins still clinked fulsomely。 〃We have our little failings； don't we？ It was you who told me to travel as a Necromancer； Chance。 I cannot help it if it scares small boys witless。〃 My feelings of sick sweet nostalgia had turned to ones of delighted vengeance。 Karl might think twice before bullying a smaller boy again。 I planned how； before I left； I might drive the point home。
In order to reach Mertyn's tower room we had to climb past the schoolrooms； the rooms of the other Masters。 Gamesmaster Gervaise met us on the landing outside his own classroom； and he knew me at once； seeming totally unawed by the mask。
〃Peter； my boy。 Mertyn said you'd be ing to visit。 He's down in the garden； talking to a tradesman just now。 e in and have wine with me while you wait for him。 e in； Chance。 I have some of your favorite here to drown the dust of the road。 I remember we had trouble keeping it when you were here； Chance。 No less trouble now； but it's I who drink it。〃 He led us through the cold classroom where the Gamemodel swam in its haze of blue to his own sitting room； warm with firelight and sun。 〃Brrrr。〃 He shivered as he shut the door。 〃The older I get； the harder it bees to bear the cold of the game model。 But you remember。 All you boys have chapped hands and faces from it。〃
I shivered in sympathy and remembrance； accepting the wine he poured。 〃You always had us work with the model when it was snowing out； Master Gervaise。 And in the heat of summer； we never did。〃
〃Well； that seems perverse； doesn't it？ It wasn't for that reason； of course。 In the summer it's simply too difficult to keep the models cold。 We lock them away down in the ice cellar。 It will soon be too warm this year。 Not like last season where winter went on almost to midsummer。〃 He poured wine for himself； sat before the fire。 〃Now； tell me what you've been doing since Bannerwell。 Mertyn told me all about that。〃 He shook his head regretfully。 〃Pity about Mandor。 Never trusted him； though。 Too pretty。〃
I swirled my glass； watching the wine swirl into a spiral and climb the edges。 〃I haven't been doing much。〃
〃No Games？〃 He seemed surprised。
〃No； sir。 There is very little Gaming in the Bright Demesne。〃
〃Well； that es with consorting with Wizards。 I told Mertyn you should get out； travel a bit； try your Talent。 But it seems you're doing that。〃 He nodded and sipped。 〃Strange are the Talents of Wizards。 That's an old saying； you know。 I have never known one well； myself。 Is Himaggery easy to work with？〃
〃Yes； sir。 I think he is。 Very open。 Very honest。〃
〃Ah。〃 He laid a finger along his nose and winked。 〃Open and honest covers a world of strategy； no doubt。 Well。 Who would have thought a year ago you would manifest such a Talent as Necromancy。 Rare。 Very rare。 We have not had a student he