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ould have withstood one as carefully laid to take advantages of my multitudinous weaknesses。
I sought another subject and asked why he'd said we should eat and drink well now； because our circumstances would be changing。 I could not believe the Archons' and their Evocators hadn't set spells in place to prevent any divination。 Or should I not be asking this question？ Janos answered； now with a real smile： he had no foreknowledge at all； but what we were being subjected to was standard interrogation procedure； used by everyone from inquisitors to military information specialists to； he added； most likely my mother and father。 He termed it good side/bad side。 First the prisoner is given fine food and wines and treated kindly； but always with the caution that 〃others〃 feel differently about how the captive should be treated； and the prisoner should cooperate instantly to avoid truly monstrous tortures。 〃Didn't your mother ever suggest to you； as a child； you had best tell her just what sin you had mitted to set your tutor's teeth on edge； because when your father came home and found out you were absolutely in for it？〃 I agreed； knowing what he meant； not saying I had no memories of my real mother。
〃So；〃 I said； 〃what do we do while waiting to see the other side of Lycanthian 'hospitality' ？〃
〃We do what prisoners have always done： we wait； we exercise our muscles and we talk。 Talk about everything 。。。 except what might be important。〃
This we did over the next several days。 I was nervous and afraid； but I sensed I was more relaxed than Janos； even though my nights were made hellish by the repetition of the dream。 Over and over the boatman with no face took me into the cavern； and over and over I was led into the chamber by the being on whom I had imposed Greif's face since I'd first met him in this hell city。 But dreams can be lived with…I'd lived with this one for years； now。
Janos had not heard of the deaths of Deoce and Emilie； and burst into tears； the great racking sobs of a warrior chieftain when the very bravest die needlessly。 But mostly our conversations were trivial and light； as to the best way to learn a language quickly… Janos' theory was in bed； and since he spoke at least twenty…three tongues and ten dialects； I took his hypothesis seriously； whether Lycanthians had their sense of humor amputated at birth or if the gods had cursed them…we settled for divine curse； hoping that would anger those unseen beings we knew were watching us either through cleverly concealed peepholes in the walls or by sorcery； and so forth。 Our exercises helped devour the hours of boredom。 We did endless rounds of muscle drills and trotted around the apartments like tigers running around the cage of a menagerie。 Janos also showed me various techniques he knew with which a man without a weapon need not abandon hope or life even if one or more armed men attack him。
I spent hours pacing in front of the windows； trying to e up with a plan for an escape。 Janos； however； seemed to slip into that semitorpor I'd seen in the Rift。 Perhaps I might have chided him； but I remembered a tale written by a small trader who'd been captured by the Ice Barbarians of die far south and spent several years as their captive/guest before being released。 He said he learned there are only two times to escape： the first immediately after capture； before your guards have time to put all their coun…termeasures in place； or after a long time has passed； when the sentinels have been lulled by your seeming acceptance of your plight。 And I knew； when I saw how Janos' eyes blazed when he looked across Lycanth to the hills that meant freedom； that he； too； was familiar with the rules of an evasion and was biding his time。
We were fed well； twice a day…the menus constantly varied。 We never saw a warder； however； and I remembered Symeon's words that he and the Archons would know when we were broken and ready to tell everything。 But that appeared to be in the distant future。 Boredom； anger； annoyance； frustration； worry about what was going on in Orissa； even an increasing edginess that Janos laid to a certain amount of the invisible assaults getting past his counterspells…none of these were enough。 I made the mistake of thinking I was unshakable； that Symeon himself would die of boredom before I did。
They came for us after midnight。 The outer door crashed open； and cleated boots slammed down the corridor toward my bedchamber as I woke and stumbled out of bed。 I heard shouts from Janos' room； then blows。 Six men burst into my chamber； men wearing mail corselets and helmets with face guards。 They were armed with iron…bound truncheons and carried long daggers sheathed at their waist。 For a moment； I was in wonderment…if this was the beginning of the 〃bad side；〃 why hadn't they sent the Finder or other creatures from the depths to awe and horrify us？ My question was answered when I was hurled to the floor。 As I stumbled to my feet； one of the men smashed me in the face with a gloved hand。
〃Tha's t' make sure you'll be doin' as we say；〃 he snarled； and I smelled sour beer on his foul breath。 In that instant I realized； and have since confirmed； that man can be more awful than the vilest demon of the pits。 They shouted me into clothes； chained my hands and feet； and shoved me out of the room。 Janos； his face bloody； was slumped against the corridor wall outside； another six men and an officer were around him。 We were chivied down； down； below the main floor of the castle and far underground。 The air grew danker； the stones dripped； and the stairs grew narrower and mold covered。 The risers were worn down by century after century of men and women who'd been forced down them； and I wondered how many victims had ever e back into sunlight。
〃Y're out under th' bay now；〃 one of the guards growled。 〃Give you somethin' t' think about； lookin' up； knowin' there's no blue sky or green grass above you。 'Specially when the ceilin' starts leakin'。〃
There were no sentinels stationed at the barred and locked gates； yet they nevertheless swung wide as we approached。 Finally we reached the bottom。 The stones around us were niter…whitened and very old； set one on another with no mortar showing。 The iron gates and torch standards were black and rusty； and the wooden doors and occasional table or crude chair were dark with age。 We passed a large cell。 Inside were skeletons； some hung from rusty chains； others scattered where the men had died。 There was no sign of a door。 Had these long…dead prisoners been transported inside by sorcery； and then forgotten？ No one seemed to notice the bones except Janos and me。 After that； I saw； in the flare of torchlight； a round metal plate in the floor； with a central vent perhaps a foot long by six inches。 As we passed over it； I heard； from below； giggles； interspersed with the chitter of rats。 The plate appeared to have been cemented into the stone flagstones when they were first laid。
Now the corridor was barrel arched。 To one side； I saw an open door； no larger than that for a baker's small oven。 It was the entrance to a cell； less a partment than a coffin。 There was a stone bench cut into one wall。 A prisoner would have no room to stand or stretch。 Further on； there was a stain spattered across a stone wall that looked as if someone had cast a bucket of paint and then let it dry。 One of the guards saw I'd noted the stain。 He tapped his great club and smiled； as if recalling a particularly pleasant memory。 I glanced into another room。 This was the guardroom。 From my glimpse； I guessed the guards were allowed to take prisoners from their cells for whatever purpose pleased them。 I looked away。
The corridor opened into a large semicircular chamber。 Around the arc were heavy bars between stone pillars that I thought at first were separate cells； but saw was one large holding area。 The reason for the unusual design of the dungeon was clear…the prisoners held in the cell were expected to witness what was going on in the open room across。 It was the torture chamber； set apart by two huge iron doors； now blocked open。 Perhaps the chamber was the same one I had seen when Janos allowed his counterspell to slip for a moment。 There was the paleness of a woman's body； bound to a rack； and beside her a glowing brazier； pincers； and other iron implements red… or white…hot in the coals。 Her mouth was open； as if she was screaming； but there was no sound。 Perhaps there was a spell cast to prevent screams from disturbing the guards； or perhaps the prisoner was beyond screaming。 I also saw； before I forced my eyes away； other doomed prisoners； half a dozen of the black…clad inquisitors； chains dangling from the ceiling and walls； and implements of agony； from the boot to the rack。
The guard's officer moved his hands over cell bars； and a door opened。 Our manacles were unlocked； and we were hurled into the cell。 〃Watch the room across；〃 the officer advised。 〃So you won't think you'll be forgotten forever。〃 His men found this hilarious。 They marched out of the chamber； and there was no light except for a torch at either end of the large room； and the glare ing from the horror scene across。 I sagged down； onto the muck and filth some long…ago…scattered straw did nothing to sop up。
〃Amalric！〃 Janos' voice was harsh。 I straightened and saw them。 Our fellow prisoners。 There were possibly fifty men in the cell。 Most of them stood or lay in defeated abandon； paying but little attention to the latest victims。 But not all 。。。 A group shuffled toward us。 I could smell them。 I almost thought their eyes glowed； as I have been told the eyes of some wolves glow before the kill； although I've never seen such a happening。
One； somewhat larger； moved in front of the others。 〃We'll take th' clothes；〃 he said； in a monotone that carried neither threat nor promise； 〃and th' pretty boy'll serve who we say。〃
Janos had me by the arm； and we backed toward a wall。 The prisoners shuffled after us； unhurriedly。 Why not？ They had all the time in the world； and probably their game would be all the better for being prolonged。 Janos kept chancing glances behind him。 I thought we were merely finding cover for our backs。 Janos scooped and came up with something 。。。 something white 。。。 a stick； and passed it to me。 I had time to realize I was holding a man's leg bone when Janos reached down once more； as the prisoners were closing； and his fist came up clenching one cuff of a pair of chained manacles； the bones of the long…dead man who'd been pinioned shattering down to the floor。 The first prisoner roared； and leaped toward us； just as Janos swung the shackle like a morning star into the man's face。 He screamed like a lanced bear； reared back； blood spurting in the gloom； and fell as another one of them shambled in on me。 I slashed with my bone club； the bone shattered like the corpse's arms had； and I lunged； my club now a shard…edged dagger； striking deep into the other's stomach。 I jerked it free as one of them pinioned me about the shoulders。 I ducked； about to toss him overhead； and Janos came in with the chain。 I heard the man's bones crack； and his arms fell away； and I straightened。 Another attacker was reaching with strangler's hands； and I remembered one of Janos' tricks； brought both arms up； crossed at the wrist inside the man's reach； snapped them out； flinging the man's arms wide。 Without pausing； as Janos had taught me； I kicked the man's kneecap； recovered； spinning to one side； fisted hand crashing into his throat； and he gurgled and stumbled away。 Another crash； and a scream as Janos' death dealer landed once more； and then there were only three attackers； backing away； hands held up defensively。
〃All right。 All right；〃 one of them panted。 〃But there'll be another time。〃
〃No； there shall not；〃 Janos said flatly。 〃If there is； you had best kill both of us 。。。 or plan on never sleeping again。 Look at me 。。。 you。〃 The one who'd spoken stopped his retreat。 〃I know things you 。。。 and those bastards across me〃…jerking a thumb outside the cell at the torture chamber…〃cannot even dream of。〃 Before the man could react； Janos dropped the manacles； bounded forward； one hand cupped and reaching out。 I swear he but touched the other with his curled fingers in what might have bee