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I thought I knew you. But Hyrklana. You know what they think of the Hamalese there.
I do. I have visited Hyrklana and I have unfinished business there.
But, interposed Quienyin. You are not Hyrklanian?
No.
So you are from Djanduin?
I could have left it there. Djan knew, I was well enough cognizant of all Djanduin to claim it completely
as my country. As long I had fought for that beautiful land against her enemies and won.
I have land in Djanduin, I said. I love the place it is unspoiled so far.
So you are a notor of Djanduin, as we believe?
Yes.
Tyfar was continuing to stare at me. You know that because of the war waged by the Empress Thyllis,
Hamal is not much cared for in many lands of Havilfar. This is simple knowledge. Perhaps you are from a
land that has been invaded by Hamal. Perhaps, Jak my friend, you conceive yourself as an enemy to
me?
I had waited on his last words in some trepidation. But I was able to relax. He had said, enemy to me.
Had he said, enemy to my country my reply must, in all honor, have been different.
The trouble was, Tyfar was quite right. Mad Empress Thyllis had alienated just about every country
within reach of her iron legions.
And, also, I had the feeling, substantiated only by intuition and a few scraps of idle converse, that Tyfar s
father, Prince Nedfar, was both not happy with Thyllis and not in her good books. And I had suggested
to Lobur the Dagger that I worked secretly for Empress Thyllis. I squared my shoulders.
I cannot tell you, Tyfar, all that I would wish to tell you. Suffice it to say that I know the Sacred
Quarter, I can walk it blindfolded, I have ruffled many a night away as a bladesman. I have wide estates
in the country well, not so much wide as passing fair and rich and I work for the good of the
country.
That was true.
He was surprised.
You are Hamalese?
I have estates in Hamal. I am called there Hamun ham Farthytu, the Amak of Paline Valley. But I was
not Hamalese. If anything, I was Vallian, not being born on Kregen.
These things I could not tell Tyfar or Quienyin.
I work for the good of Hamal, I said. Again, I spoke the truth, even though, perhaps, Vallia would
have to put down the worst excrescences of Hamal, chief of whom was the Empress Thyllis. I deplore
what the empire is doing to neutral countries
So do I, by Krun!
That declaration, by a prince whose father was second cousin to the empress, really was nailing his
colors to the mast.
I managed a smile.
Then we see eye to eye in that, Tyfar. Do not press me further. Only remember: what I do I do for the
good of Hamal and for all of Paz. For the eventual good.
And you will not confide in me?
Not will not.
He frowned and then banished the scowl and replaced it with a smile, uncertain, but a smile nonetheless.
I see.
And Deb-Lu-Quienyin, that puissant Wizard of Loh, sat looking at me, and he had stopped gnawing on
his bone.
Hyrklana, Djanduin, or Hamal, he said briskly, waving the bone, it does not matter, not to me. I have
gone through so much with Notor Jak that if he came from some hellhole in Queltar where no man
should have to exist by the Seven Arcades, he is a man and a friend
Well said, San. Tyfar stood up. Now he did smile. I see you are about secret business, Jak. Well and
good. That is your affair and none of mine. You have given me your word that you work for Hamal. I,
too, work for Hamal, as does my father. I trust we do not work in opposition.
I shook my head. Now, now, Prince. You will not worm it out of me like that!
He laughed. Some princes I knew would have called on their retainers to spit me there and then.
So, because I did not wish to drop into a maudlin scene, I took up the thought that had been in my mind
when this scene began.
We would all like to know that our families and friends are safe. I addressed myself to Quienyin
directly. You know what I talk about, San. It is nothing new. But we have no rights to your kharrna, no
claims
Come now, Jak do not belittle what we nine mean one to the other!
I nodded. So be it. If you go into lupu you can tell us what is happening far off. I think Tyfar would
more than welcome news that his father and sister are safely out of this desolate place.
We all sat, still and silent, looking at the Wizard of Loh.
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