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And beyond was a vertical cliff edge。 I must skirt it until I found a ravine I could use for my descent。
In that moment the beasts trapped me。 The pack streamed out of nowhere…from the earth itself； as if the ground were vomiting them。 I ran toward the stage； leaping from step to step。 I jumped to the stage and put my back to a column。 I grabbed two more chunks of stone for weapons。 The creatures encircled me； and； snarling and yapping； began closing the ring。 I knew they would not be allowed to kill me； but imagined Raveline would permit me to be thoroughly savaged before he pulled his hounds off。 One creature chanced a lunge； and I crushed his skull as a bravo's reward。 Now the ring was tighter as the pack came in on me。 I ventured a look behind me； and confidence flowed。 I would die here； I knew。 But I would not perish either under the fangs of these brutes nor from Raveline's magic。 When the end became inevitable； I would choose the quick clean death of the long fall to the river and rocks below。
And then my ferret returned。 I did not know what he was at first； but I heard a hissing； a whistle； and liquid death flowed through the amphitheater toward me。 It was almost thirty feet long； sleek light…colored fur； and red…glowing eyes； and I knew not its nature until I bethought myself of a mink； and then knew better； seeing the black mask around its face just as the huge ferret took the first of the creatures from the rear； nipped once delicately at its spine； and cast the corpse aside。 The pack howled dismay at this new and unexpected attack and turned to savage the newer。 But the ferret was here； there； nowhere and everywhere； and every time its fangs snapped； one of the nightmares yapped its last。 One of Raveline's creatures bounded free and bayed a mand。 The others broke away from the battle and scuttled up the steps； trying to flee； but being slaughtered as they fled。 Then they were gone； and the great animal reared back on its haunches； snakelike head seeking new quarry； and in that moment I knew not only what； but who the being was； as my memory cast the picture of my long…dead pet； scenting the wind just before it slid after a rabbit。 He came back toward me； his long tail whipping； whistling a greeting as he had done years and years ago； and even in that moment of the greatest danger I found myself choking back sobs。
The air shimmered next to my pet； and a manlike form appeared。 I knew it to be Halab's ghost and opened my mouth for a greeting； and then ferret and shade were gone。 As was the moon； the stars； and all of the amphitheater。 It was if a black dome had been dropped down。 From its middle shone a dim ghost light。 All that existed in this world was the stage； the columns that had held the roof 。。。 and Raveline。 He held his dagger ready。
〃Most clever；〃 he snarled； and now there was no pretense of being casual。 〃And I have just made my last error with you； when I estimated you had but little of the talent。 I did not sense at any time you had any spirits watchdogging you。 Very clever indeed。 Why did you not call on your brother or whatever that beast is for rescue back in Irayas when Greif abducted you？ Or were you setting a trap for me？〃
Raveline stopped and shook his head in wonderment。 〃The double cunning that sorcery brings。 But it does not matter whether you hunted me； or I you。 This dome； this shield； is one of my proudest spells。 It utterly seals us。 We are beyond the reach of any power I know； earthly or supernatural。 I prepared it years ago； when my brother and I were first struggling over which one our father； damned may his soul be； would choose to rule over Vacaan。 It is； perhaps； the ultimate version of that protective spell Janos cast and then lifted over you。 It is proof against all； and will only vanish when I will it 。。。 or I die。 Its only limitation is the spell disallows the use of magic by anyone； including myself； under the dome。
〃So here it is； Antero。 You have your wrestling skills 。。。 and I have mine。 And I have the knife。 Now without the powers my magic gave it； but still razor enough to cut your guts out。 I am truly sorry your skills have defeated my attempts to make your demise more plex； but so be it。 At least your ghost shall never be avenged； and shall never know peace in its wanderings。 This time； Antero； I shall e to you。〃 True to his words； he shuffled toward me。
I have never considered myself either a fully skilled soldier or back…alley brawler and know little about knives other than the most sensible thing is to flee with great rapidity anyone waving a blade about。 However； Janos had tutored us what to do when faced with various assailants when unarmed。 There were ways to disarm and destroy a man who held his knife like an ice pick； like a candle； or one who waved his knife wildly in front of him as if a blade provided a magical shield。 As for a man who moved like Raveline； who shuffled in slowly； moving crablike always toward your weak side； keeping his blade well back； against his thigh or nearly touching his side； with his other hand extended for a block 。。。 Janos had smiled grimly and told us there were but two options： flight or death。
I； too； shuffled to his weak side 。。。 away from the knife 。。。 keeping my hands well out； hoping Raveline would strike wildly and I could seize a wrist； or perhaps kick his legs from under him。 As I'd learned； I watched nothing but my enemy's eyes； knowing I would sense any movement of the blade as it began。 He slashed once； then again on his backhand； but my stomach was not there。 Once more his dagger marked air； and I chanced a blow。 The razor edge of his knife sliced the inside of my arm open； but fortunately he'd missed any blood vessels。 I ignored the wound 。。。 and we circled on。 He changed his tactics slightly and moved closer； forcing me back and back again。 Eventually he would trap me against the dome and pin me like a butterfly to a wall。 My back…reaching foot touched rough stone； one of die columns； and I momentarily lost my balance。 Raveline lunged for my heart； and I sidestepped quickly； his knife scoring my chest； but my fist smashed his face。 He yelped pain and stumbled back。 His nose was broken； and blood gushed from his nostrils。 But he still kept his fighting grip on the knife。
〃How long has it been since you've felt pain； Lesser Majesty？〃
I said； deciding a man who loved the sound of his own words as much as Raveline did might also fall victim to the words of others。 〃How long； princeling…that…shall…never…be…king？ Perhaps you feel faint。 Perhaps you wish to cry。〃
His lips drew back in a soundless snarl； and he short stepped toward me； keeping one foot held back； like a fencer。 He would lunge in an instant； and I held my mind ready for his attack； not allowing tension 。。。 willing my muscles to seek their own response。
The lunge never came。 I heard； from above； a slight scraping。 Raveline glanced up； then stared； eyes widening； mouth opening； and the great rock； once part of the stage's canopy； whose mortar had held it to the column's capital for aeons and aeons； crushed him as a boot crushes a scorpion。 He was dead before he could scream 。。。 and the black dome was gone 。。。 and once more the ruined city was about me in the moonlight。 Stunned； I looked up toward the top of that column。 The air shimmered above me； and I dimly saw the form of a man。 〃Halab；〃 I gasped。
I heard； more in my mind than anywhere； the soft voice。 〃The prince knew not all the rules of all the worlds。 Even a ghost may move the real 。。。 If the call is great enough。〃
There was silence but for the rush of the river below； then Halab's voice again； 〃I am revenged； and my ghost will wander no more。 I go now； following the path you opened to Eanes a short time ago。〃
I bowed my head。 〃Good…bye； my brother。〃
I heard Halab for the last time。
〃Good…bye； Amalric。 There is one task left。 I cannot be with you 。。。 cannot be of aid。 But it is one which must be pleted。 For you； for the family； for Orissa； and for all of this world。 I make you a final gifting。 May it serve you well。〃
I felt emptiness。 Something was gone 。。。 something I realized had been not far from me all these years； since the day my father returned from the palace of the Evocators with the tale of Halab's death。
I took a deep breath。 Yes。 There was a final task to be performed。
CHAPTER TWENTY…SEVEN
The Last Voyage
NOW THERE WAS little to fear either in this cursed city or in the catabs below。 I took the poniard from beside Raveline's body and went back through the streets to where the entrance to the Black Prince's burrow yawned。 I took no wrong turnings； nor made missteps； as sure of my direction as if I were in Orissa。 I followed the stone steps as they went down； down； down； and knew I was the first of Raveline's victims ever to do this。 I passed Greif's sprawled body and bethought whether I should find some dirt to sprinkle； then decided otherwise。 His ghost had much evil to atone for； he deserved to haunt those caves for an eternity。
The black gondola was still moored to the dock。 I untied the boat and boarded it。 Using the rudder as a sweep； I turned the boat toward the cavern's mouth。 As I came out of the cavern into the dark river that