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；〃 he'd warned。 〃Do exactly as you are told 。。。 and nothing more。 The destination you chose for your Finding has aroused the interests of our enemies。 They will be watching and listening closely。〃
Janos was unusually silent as well。 I glanced over the head of the small clerk whose charge we were in and saw him nervously fingering his beard。 He saw me； and the frown on his face turned to a quick grin。 〃Nothing to worry about；〃 he said。 〃The worst they can do is tell us no。〃 I thought of Halab and did not answer。
A slave came running down the steps。 〃They are ready for you； masters；〃 he said。 The clerk tugged at my sleeve。 〃Put this on； sir〃 he said； handing me a long bit of red cloth。 〃Tie it tight and do not remove it until you are granted permission。〃 As he handed a second blindfold to Janos； I breathed a prayer to our hearthgod and wrapped the cloth about my eyes until there was no more light。 The clerk led us stumbling up broad stone steps and into the palace。
The place was a whirl of scents and odd noises： a mixture of perfumes and sulphur； jangling chimes and tap tap tapping of hollow wood on stone。 As we moved from room to room the air grew cold； then warm； then suddenly cold again。 There were constant whispers； dark sibilants hissing from every corner。 There came a whoosh of dry air as a large door opened； and we entered a room that smelled of shed lizard skin。 A tug on my sleeve halted me。
〃You may remove the cloths； gentle sirs；〃 said a harsh voice。 It was not the clerk's。 I untied the blindfold and entered a world of gray stone and dirty yellow light。 A robed figure stood before us。 It was the Evocator Janos and I had encountered in the streets some time before。
〃I bid you wele； gentle sirs；〃 he said。 〃My name is Jeneander。 I am to be your guide on this reckoning day。〃
I stood mute for a moment； then felt Janos' elbow in my ribs。 〃Praise the gods you are to be our light；〃 I intoned； and quickly took a purse from my robe and pressed it into Jeneander's eager hands。 It disappeared as quickly as a sea lizard plucks a gull from the air。
Jeneander leaned closer and whispered； 〃I will leave for a few moments。 Refresh yourselves with this in my absence。〃 He passed us a small； oilcloth…wrapped bundle。 〃I am pleased to announce one of our most promising young Evocators has found favor with your proposed expedition；〃 he said loudly。 〃He will be here presently to join in the Casting。 You may know of him。 His name is Cassini。〃
I buried a groan。 〃Good fortune continues to smile on us；〃 I managed to reply。 We exchanged bows with Jeneander； and he slipped away to prepare for the ceremony。 I hastily unwrapped the bundle and found several large hunks of black bread drenched in wine。 〃But what of our fast？〃 I whispered to Janos。 〃I thought all food was forbidden？〃
Janos chuckled and snagged a chunk of bread。 〃I have learned； my dear Amalric； there are as many shadings to that word as there are coins in a rich man's strong room。〃 He wolfed down the bread。 〃Eat up。 I believe our new friend was more worried about our food…starved wits than a minor bit of blasphemy。〃 I ate； gobbling down the bread with gusto。 Immediately my mood shifted； and I began to see things in a clearer light。
〃Who is this Cassini？〃 Janos asked。 〃I thought we had a choice of the Evocator the Council will require to acpany our expedition。〃
〃Sometimes；〃 I said。 〃Sometimes not。〃
Janos eyed me。 〃From your expression…artfully guarded； I hasten to add…I got the impression you know of this Cassini。〃
〃Dear me；〃 said a voice； 〃it's only midday and already I hear my name being bandied about。〃 We both turned to greet the speaker。 He was a tall man…about my age…with not much flesh on his bones； and a soft； spoiled mouth。 The Evocator's robes he wore were richly embroidered for one so young； indicating his family's wealth。
〃Ah； there you are； Cassini；〃 I replied。 〃I was just about to describe your charming personage to my panion 。。。 Captain Janos Greycloak。〃
At my introduction； they bowed to one another。 〃Cassini and I were once rades of the athletic field and tavern；〃 I explained to Janos。 〃There were many who mourned the day he got the Calling and left us to our childish pursuits。〃 Janos understood from the wag of a guarded finger； I was not among those who'd mourned。 〃We did not know each other that well； which was my misfortune and his good luck。〃
Cassini stepped forward； a prissy smile on those soft lips。 〃Then you are not disappointed that I have chosen to join your Finding？ Please be truthful； my friend； if I can call you that。〃
〃Oh； absolutely not；〃 I lied。 〃Curse my seed if I should ever entertain such a thought。〃
I turned to Janos。 〃Our journey has been blessed from the start；〃 I said。 〃For in Cassini you will find a studious and pious Evocator and a most amiable panion。〃
〃Not so overly pious that I object to those morsels in your hands；〃 Cassini said with an artificial laugh； pointing at the remains of the crust…and…wine feast。 We had the good sense to blush and quickly rid ourselves of the evidence。
〃Wele to our ranks； good sir；〃 Janos said。 〃I feel almost as if the Casting had been performed and we were already on our way； with a good omen lighting our path。 May I ask what in particular allowed you to find favor with our efforts？〃
〃Why； the goal； of course；〃 Cassini said。
〃Then you are not among those who question the existence of me Far Kingdoms？〃
〃I wouldn't go that far；〃 Cassini answered。 〃There is not yet enough evidence to make up my mind to the matter。 However； the effort itself is certainly worthy。 No matter what the truth turns out to be； I would be honored to carry the news back to my elders。〃
Janos nodded； showing he understood。 From the gleam in his eye； I saw he understood more deeply than Cassini intended。 For Cassini was a young man of favored birth； but little talent I doubt； in fact； if he had a tenth of the talent of my brother。 Wealth and family connections had won him membership into the Evocators。 But now his career was stalled…perhaps permanently。 He badly needed a great success to shake off the torpor。 In the Far Kingdoms； he saw his chance。 Janos realized Cassini was acting out of private desperation； for there was an edge to the Evocator's tone； a forced calmness to his manner； betrayed by shifting feet and fidgeting hands。
〃You were right in thinking there is much to be gained from this expedition；〃 Janos said。 〃But I would be doing you a disservice if I did not point out there is grave danger as well。 No one has gone where we intend to go 。。。 and returned to tell about it〃
〃I am but an empty vessel for the gods to fill； or break；〃 Cassini said。 〃Knowledge of their design is its own reward。〃 The usual unfortable silence followed this sticky； false modesty； broken by Jeneander's return。
He greeted Cassini with a smile。 〃Now the third adventurer has joined us。〃 He motioned。 〃e。 The Council awaits。〃
We followed through heavy curtains down a long passageway lit by fire beads dangling from the heads of old gods and the fanged beasts who were once their Favorites。 They cast eerie shadows on the walls： horns and long teeth and sharp talons。 The passageway spilled into an immense dark cavern of a room。 Jeneander led us to a stone platform raised several feet off the floor。 It was ringed by great torches that guttered； smoked； and sparked。 We stood there blinking for long moments； trying to get our bearings。 I cannot speak for Janos； but my own heart was full of dread。 It gave a hard jolt as a great voice rang out； 〃Who are these mortals who stand before us？〃
〃Seekers of the way of Orissa； my lords；〃 Jeneander answered。
〃And who attests to their piety and worth？〃
〃I do； my lords。 I 。。。 Jeneander bring them before you。〃
〃Who shall speak for them？〃
Silence。 Then I felt Janos' toe jab my heel。 My wits returned to some manner of order。 〃I speak for them； my lords；〃 I answered。 〃I； Amalric； son of thy daughter； Emilie； son of thy son； Paphos Karima Antero。〃
I could see more clearly now。 Just in front of the platform was bare stone floor。 It was graven with sorcerous squares； triangles； and mysterious numbers and symbols。 The whole was enclosed in an enormous circle； outlined in pure gold leaf。 The Council of Evocators sat on the other side of the circle in all its black…robed and gold…sashed glory。 There were ten of them； and they sat on thrones of carved emerald。 The wall above was a swirl of color and smoke and writhing shadow forms。 The speaker sat on the center throne。 He had a wrinkled； hawklike visage； as if someone had carved that bird of prey from an apple and then let it shrink and dry。 His hair and beard were gleaming white and spilled down as if they had not been cut for years。 His eyes were smoldering yellow and seemed to pierce my soul。 It was Gamelan； the eldest of the Evocators。
〃And what is the nature of your quest； Amalric； son of Emilie； son of Paphos Karima Antero？〃 Gamelan asked。
〃We seek the Far Kingdoms； my lords。 For the greater good of Orissa and the glory of her gods。〃
There was a pause as the Evocators whispered among themselves。 I did not know if this was the usual practice； but saw from Cassini's worried look it was not。 Finally Gamelan spoke。 〃There is one among you who is a stranger； but who was born from the womb of a daughter of Orissa。〃
〃I am that man； my lords；〃 Janos answered。 〃Janos； son of Kether； son of Prince Greycloak of Kostroma。〃
〃We have heard you have some interest in the Evocator's art。〃
Fear seized my heart。 What was the purpose of this question？ Who was spreading tales about my friend？ There seemed to be no safe answer。 Seers are all knowing； so if Janos denied it； he was impugning their power。 But if he admitted it； Halab's way might lie ahead。 〃It is true；〃 Janos answered swiftly； 〃I have a small talent； but none of it es from wizardry or witchcraft； I assure you。 As a soldier amongst the barbarian Lycanthians I was forced to rely on my own Orissan…blessed wits。 I have had some success with the boils and foot rot that afflicted my men。 And I once cured an arse wound inflicted on my sergeant。〃
I thought I heard stifled laughter amongst the Evocators。 But it must have been my nervous imagination； for was not laughter unseemly amongst such an exalted group？ 〃Once I kissed Orissa's gates；〃 Janos continued； 〃I quickly threw away what little I had learned。 I believe that even the curing of boils is foolhardy without professional counsel。 And when I learned just moments ago that one of the most skillful young Evocators in all the realm was to acpany us on our journey； I immediately promised a fat lamb for the god who chose to smile on us。〃
I could almost feel Cassini preen； his ego spreading like a peacock in its mating dance。 From the nods amongst the Evocators I could see that Janos' answer had found favor。 〃Very well； then；〃 Gameian said when the whispering had ceased。 〃The time has e to cast the bones。 Are you ready； Amalric Emilie Antero？〃
〃I am ready； my lords；〃 I answered。
Jeneander stepped up to me and opened an ornate box。 It was divided into two partments。 On one side were two thick chunks of what appeared to be the thigh of some creature。 On the other were the fragments of a human skull。 But which to choose first？ My hand hesitated； then some power seized it and drew it to the left。 I took the thigh bones from the box。 I clutched them in my right fist； and with my left struck my breast five times as I intoned； 〃Oh； great Lord Te…Date…god and protector of all wayfarers…I summon thy vision for our holy quest to the Far Kingdoms。〃 I tossed the bones into the golden circle。 Then I drew out the skull fragments； struck my breast thrice more； and pleted the incantation。 〃Bless us great Lord Te…Date with thy wisdom。 And in these bones reveal our fates。〃 The fragments gave up a dry rattle as I cast them beside the others。
A silence followed that knows no equal in the world of men。 A cold darkness crept in until only the glowing circle could be seen； but my scalp prickled and burned as if I were near a great heat。 My tongue grew as dry as lizard scales； and my eyes became hot； tearless holes。 The thigh bones moved。 They rose from the floor； and the sound of their scraping against the stone injured my