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in and death； laughter rising to cacophony； and Raveline was there。 Silence dropped across the chamber and above among the damned creatures like an axe blow。 Greif became a statue； and considering Raveline's words； I believe was under a momentary spell of paralysis。 The prince wore bloodred pantaloons and a black； full tunic with gold lace showing at his wrists and neck。 He wore an ornate dagger on a belt。 He might have been dressed for a casual court affair。
〃So we reach the end； Antero；〃 he said。 His voice was calm。 〃Do you wish to know your doom？〃 I said nothing。 〃In bare moments； I shall obliterate your physical being。 Most of your soul will be scattered to the winds when I take you in my embrace。 But you will be more than just a hapless wandering ghost like your brother or that slave this brigand killed。 I shall keep a part of you in my own soul； and it shall witness； through my eyes； the great changes that are to e on this world。 Witness them； but without ever being able to do more than scream in mute horror as they happen。〃
〃An honor；〃 I said sarcastically； determined to at least die with a bit of dignity。
〃Not at all。 I want to keep a fragment of you close as a reminder of failure； and a caution against vainglory。〃
〃It would hardly appear that you have failed；〃 I said。
〃Quite wrong。 My failure with you and yours has taken several forms over the decades。 Many years ago I sensed the presence of your bloodline； far away and very faintly。 I paid no heed； thinking； like most Vacaanese； that the doings of barbarians beyond our kingdoms were meaningless。 But then I felt the presence more strongly。 I allowed my senses to follow the trail； and discovered your brother。〃
His words jolted me fully alert； fully awake。 I do not quite know how to explain； but for some reason one sentence of the dream Greif had spoken had never properly impressed itself on me： 。。。 This is what your brother could not embrace 。。。 I have talked about this with savants； and have heard the phenomenon is not unmon： that a man may suddenly swear everyone around him is speaking in a foreign tongue when they are not。 One described it as the familiar bee strange。
〃I allowed my spells to flow out and around Orissa；〃 Raveline continued； 〃and learned I was being warned； like a jungle beast senses the hunter when he first enters the jungle。 Your brother； untutored and with no family tradition of sorcery； was potentially a wizard greater than any land I know has conceived for time beyond memory。〃
Even in my agony and death moment； I felt a thrill of pride； and rage took me。 〃And so you killed him。〃
〃And so I killed him；〃 Raveline agreed。 〃I laid my trap carefully。 Halab was no more a perfect being than you or I are； so all that was necessary was to cast a small spell encouraging him into the slightest bit of hubris。 I sent a larger one against those fools your city respects and calls Evocators； although not one of them then or now has talent enough to divine water if he were drowning。 They were to feel threatened by Halab； and to send against him； when he asked to be examined to bee an Evocator； their most lethal devices。 Your brother was tested。 He easily stood against those paltry sprites the Evocators hurled at him； and was about to be victorious。 Here was my first failure： I still had not properly measured his greatness。
〃I cast two mighty spells then。 One to make time have a stop； which gave me moments to summon a being whose nature and name I must not even think of。 The creature's price was high： a township of innocents was sacrificed afterward。 I killed Halab； or rather my creature did。 But even then； my success was not plete。 Rather than being blotted out from this and all other worlds； Halab managed to leave his ghost behind； like any man who met death unshriven or unavenged。 At that time； I should have sent doom against all you Anteros。 It was foolish to believe Halab was a sport； a freak。 All of your family has a bit of the talent。 Your sister has a fair amount of it； made greater in that she has not married； bred； nor coupled with a man。 You； too； have a bit； as you of course are aware。
〃Ah；〃 Raveline said； having noted the flash of startlement that must have flickered。 〃You did not know。 It is not great； but has been sufficient； over the years； for you to sidestep hostile magics without being aware of them。 Men call such a trace of the power luck。 I shall； by the way； make sure the Antero 'luck' disappears； by extirpating your entire line within the next few weeks。〃 He amused himself with my agony for a moment； then； 〃I will return to my confession。 I must admit I am quite enjoying this； since there has never been anyone in my life I was foolish enough to confide in； nor shall there be anyone again。 Unless； perhaps； if I choose to evoke your spirit from time to time and permit it an audience。 That might prove amusing。
〃To go on。 After Halab's death； I let my guard slip； like a wine…filled sentry drowsing on his battlements in the noonday sun。 The next I became aware of the Anteros was when you had partnered with Janos Greycloak。 Another wizard of remarkable； if unschooled power。 Your family attracts sorcery like honey does flies； it would appear。 Again； I determined to take action； but again I chose maltempered steel； from the Archons and their much…vaunted tempest； which was but a zephyr pared to the powers I wield； then fools such as Cassini。 At least； when I failed I had the pleasure of wreaking personal vengeance。 Then Nisou Symeon； whose merits I shall severely reevaluate when I am finished with you。 At least I have learned not to allow time to pass when a problem presents itself； and that a great problem must be dealt with directly。 And I do have Janos Greycloak now。 You know； in some ways； Janos might have been greater than Halab； since Halab would have been no more than an inchoate； if great； force for what you groundlings label as good。 Janos； with his determination to measure； catalog； and analyze magic into a system could have shaken this world； and perhaps some of the ones beyond； to their roots。 It is fortunate for me that greatness describes his vices as well as his virtues。 Janos Kether Greycloak is quite fortably defanged now。〃
Raveline held out his hand； fingers up； and closed his talons。 〃Until two days ago； he was not quite secure within my grasp。 But after you left his pany after babbling all…oh yes； I listened； in spite of Greycloak's puerile attempts at casting a blocking spell…he notified me of what had occurred。 I told him what he must do 。。。 and he obeyed！ He obeyed！ And now he is mine。〃
〃And yet you still fear him；〃 I said。
〃I fear no one；〃 Raveline said boldly。 But his eyes darted to the side as he spoke。 He recovered and snapped； 〃Enough of this。 The conversation has ceased to amuse。 Now it is time for me to clasp you to me。 e； Amalric Antero。 e to your doom。〃
Raveline opened his arms and smiled。 I felt his power； in crashing waves。 My own arms lifted。 I took a step forward。 Raw red anger rolled over me； and his spell shattered。 My hands came down。 Raveline was taken aback。
〃You have more power than I thought。 Greif！ Bring him to me！〃
Greif came out of his paralysis and sprang forward； his hugely muscled arms pinioning mine； and he lifted me free of the ground； crushing me in a grinding chestlock。 But then it was easy； and his hold sent my muscle memory flashing back to oiled bodies grappling on mats； shouting judges； and desperate tricks old wrestlers taught while admonishing us never to use them in sport。 I back kicked against Greif's knee； and he yelped； grip loosening enough for my right fist to smash back into his genitals。 His arms came loose as he shrieked； finding agony beyond awareness of this chamber。 I turned into him； my fists joining and lifting high above my head and hammer striking at the base of his neck。 Greif was probably dead at that moment； but as he fell to the stone floor I had a fistful of his greasy hair in one hand； my foot on his neck； and I jerked sharply upward。 His neck snapped like a rotten limb。
I thought I heard a whisper； a voice I had not heard since I held a dying man in my arms in the streets of Lycanth： 〃Now I am truly free 。。。〃
I came back into a fighting stance； ready for Raveline's attack。 But he had not moved； and now his smile was a bit broader。
〃That rubbish；〃 he remarked； 〃shall go unmissed。 This bees interesting。 Now it shall be what latent power you Anteros have； against my tested； developed skills。 Again I order you。 e to me； Amalric Antero！〃 This time his fingers wove a spell； and he whispered words that even though I could not make them out； sent a wormcrawl through me。
The chamber grew darker； until there was nothing but Rave…line's presence； and then nothing but his eyes； beckoning tunnels that ordered me forward 。。。 drowning pools of evil pulling me like a maelstrom。 My mind swirled and was drawn in； and there was but a moment for my thought； and perhaps I called Halab's name； not even hoping for a miracle in this evil cavern。 And it was as if a layer of gauze transposed itself in front of Raveline's basilisk gaze。 The room brightened； and in that instant I was free； free to leap forward； without grace； without intent； as a goalkeeper deadens a ball before it can score。 I crashed into Raveline and sent him stumbling back and down。
I scrabbled toward him； trying for a grip； hoping I might seize his dagger before he brought me under his spell once more。 But Raveline's abilities were more than sorcerous。 He snap…rolled away like a tournament wrestler and was on his feet； hand drawing that dagger as sinuously as a serpent bares his fangs。 Its blade glittered； and I knew it to be ensorcelled。 But this time I did not allow time for the snake to gaze on the rabbit； for in that light that had appeared as I called for Halab's aid； I saw an archway behind where Raveline had stood； and I was running as hard as I could。 But as I ran I heard that monstrous mocking laughter of Raveline's and heard his words as clearly as if he were standing next to me。 〃You wish to play this out？ You shall have your wish。 They say the prey's flesh is made sweeter through terror and pain。 Go； Antero。 My hounds are already on the scent。 We shall meet shortly； when you have been brought to bay。〃
I paid no mind。 I had escaped the first trap； and would face the next when it was sprung。 I ran on； taking every stair that led upward。 Above me was the ruined city and its creatures； but there was also the sky and the night and the air。 My lungs seared air； and my tortured body begged for mercy； and I paid neither the slightest heed。 I found two gates； gates that reached high into the gloom above。 They were locked with a crossbar as thick as my body； just at the height of my shoulders。 I looked for a windlass or lever； but saw none。 I shoved at the bar vainly； knowing it would take a squad of soldiers to muscle it free。 But the crossbar silently lifted； and the gates were unlocked。 I but touched those gates； and they swung open； exquisitely balanced either by construct or magic。 Moonlight gleamed through the doors。 The clouds had washed away while I was in Raveline's death chamber。 Outside the gates were huge toppled stones； broken pillars； and the shattered pavings of the cursed； ruined city。
I ran out into the cold moonlight。 I hoped to find a negotiable ravine or slope that would lead me either down to the flatlands or to the river。 I was willing to chance my luck swimming those viscous…looking waters through the rapids to seek safety downstream。 I took a moment to get my bearings from the stars； frigidly indifferent as they stared down。 I picked a direction I thought the quickest route to the plateau's rim would lie； and having recovered a bit of my wind； trotted off。 I heard the first bowlings from Raveline's creatures。 I so dub them； even though I do not know if they were his creations or merely maleficent beings whose vile desires paralleled the prince's。 The baying grew louder； and I broke into a run。 I came into a broad avenue。 Down the center of the boulevard lay the remains of toppled statues。 I wasted a glance as I ran past。 Each statue's face had been effaced； as if a mason had chiseled each countenance away after the statues were brought down。 The stat