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All of us crossed fingers。 Eanes gave a heavy sigh。 〃It is so bad；〃 he said； 〃I am even looking forward to the ocean； where I will be forced to hold Lord Amahic's head over the side when he pales； and inform him that puking to windward is not blessed。 Thanks be that I myself have a stomach of the most solidly cast iron。〃 He picked up the bag and went out。
'To the best of my knowledge；〃 I said； 〃Chatterbox Eanes has never been on any boat in his life； except perhaps one in a garden pond。〃
Janos smiled a bit。 〃He reminds me of my own nurse。 Scuffling； whining； plaining； worrying； but always…〃
A scream curdled the night。 Janos and I were out the door onto the balcony。 His sword was already in hand； I scrabbled mine out。 We clattered down the stairs into the courtyard。 The two watch soldiers at the gate were peering out； their weapons ready。 Other soldiers pelted out from their chambers； buckling on their gear。
〃Eanes；〃 one of the soldiers shouted； pointing down the street。 The watch had been ordered to let nothing lure them from then…posts。 〃He just went…〃
I didn't hear the rest； as we rushed out into the street。 Janos grabbed one of the torches from its stanchion as we went。 At the end of the street； I saw three men struggling。 We hallooed and charged forward。 One of them broke away and darted off into the blackness。 The other paused long enough for me to see his arm strike across the chest of the third； who collapsed。 Then there was no one in the cobbled street but the sagging body of a man。
It was Eanes。 We turned him over。 He'd been slashed twice… once on the arm； cutting it to the bone； and then across the body； deep into his body cavity。 But he still lived。
〃Call Cassini；〃 I ordered to Janos。 He shouted for the Evocator and his healing herbs。 I could hear feet running toward us。
Eanes' eyes opened； then found me。 〃They 。。。 didn't get it。 I did not let them；〃 he gasped。 〃They wanted 。。。〃
〃Be silent。〃 Janos knelt beside me。 He held out a small leather bag…the bag carrying my hair clippings。 My bowels clenched。 It could not be。 They thought the well…dressed little man was carrying a bag of coins。
〃They said 。。。 they wanted what had e 。。。 from you 。。。 that I would be rewarded if I yielded it over。 And if I didn't 。。。〃 Eanes sucked in air； air that was no fort to his ripped lungs。
〃Hold on；〃 I said。 〃Cassini is powerful。 He has potions and spells。 You'll be all right。〃
Eanes shook his head。 〃No；〃 he whispered。 〃One boon； master。 One last boon。〃 I knew he was dying。 〃Free me；〃 he managed。 〃Let me die a free man。〃
That was no boon…it was my fault he would die here on these rough cobblestones in this damned city。 But that was all I could do。 I tried to find words； but I'd had never freed a slave before。 Janos spoke。
〃Say the words after me；〃 he ordered。 I echoed him。
〃I 。。。 Lord Amalric Antero； of Orissa； do declare this slave Eanes； Eanes of 。。。 of 。。。〃
〃Of Mangifera；〃 came the whisper。
〃Of Mangifera 。。。 a free man。 He now owes no man homage 。。。 save those superior to him by station or duty 。。。 he has the right to property 。。。 to wife 。。。 to children； who shall be free as well 。。。 he has the right to his own life 。。。 to his own death 。。。 I； Lord Amalric Antero； do declare 。。。 willingly and openly 。。。 here； under the sight of all gods。。。 I will have no claims 。。。 now or forever 。。。 on this man； his children； his family； or his soul。〃
Eanes' lips parted； in what might have been intended as thanks or as a smile。 Then his gaze changed； and he saw through me； saw beyond me。 Saw nothing。 His body was suddenly quite heavy。
I could not see his face through the blur。 Someone took the body from me。 Janos helped me rise。 Then I remembered： I scraped up a handful of dirt from between the cobbles and let it sift down on Eanes' body。 Now his ghost would not wander the earth。 And； I promised； I would fulfill the rest of the duty； so that he would be blessed by the Dark Seeker； and avenge his murder。 But at the time I felt no anger。 Just a great sorrow； and a great shame； for in all those years of service； I had never asked my most faithful servant； and my truest friend； just what his homeland was。
Janos put an arm around my shoulders。 〃We mourn later；〃 he said； his voice harsh。 〃We sail today。〃
We packed hastily。 I fumbled with my possessions； knowing that for the first time in my life； I had no one to remind me what hairbrush went where； which tunic should be folded in what manner； and so forth。 When I realized my thoughts； I cursed myself yet again for selfishness。 A man had just died； and all I could think of was whether my pomade had been corked properly and packed in the correct trunk。 Sergeant Maeen detailed one of his soldiers to help； but I fear he was of little assistance。 At least I had the courtesy not to snarl。
I sought out the innkeeper and paid our reckoning。 He vowed he knew someone who knew the Orissan ceremonies； and that he would have Eanes' body burned after the ritual； as our beliefs dictated； so no magus could rouse the dead earth and animate it to be serving flesh。 Janos had said he was to be trusted in this； so I did not bother mentioning that the Antero family has a long memory； and it would be a black matter indeed if he did not keep his promise。 I think he looked into my eyes； however； and knew。
When we gathered in the courtyard； Janos brought us into line and gave each of us a small tooth； gold mounted and hung on a chain。 He told us they'd e from ferrets and would make us hard to kill。 I remembered my pet ferret and how Halab had brought it to life。 Perhaps this would be a good omen on a journey that appeared plagued from the beginning。 Cassini frowned… any charms should have e from him； rightly…but did not say a word； and he slipped his amulet over his head as quickly as the rest of us。
Janos stood in the middle of the courtyard； staring at the one tooth remaining。 Perhaps he was wondering if it would have saved Eanes if he'd given it to him two hours before。
It was long after dawn before the Kittiwake sailed out of Lycanth's harbor。 It took time to raise L'ur； for him to find the sailors we'd hired； for him to find a waterfront witch to cast an evidently satisfactory prophecy for the journey。 A heavy summer fog still hung across the harbor when we finally let go our lines； and four sailors manned the sweeps to row us far enough out to rig a sail for the light breeze ing off the land。 Our prow pointed toward the open sea。 To one side was the monstrous sea castle of the Archons and； across the narrow harbor mouth； the watch tower； claws on the curling； grasping rocky hand of the harbor that seemed reluctant to let us go。
I turned back to look at Lycanth as it vanished into the mist。 The mist lifted； and I saw the dock we'd just left。 There was someone standing there 。。。 so motionless； I thought him at first to be just one of the pilings。 Then I recognized him； even though the distance should have been too great for my eyes to make out such detail。 But I knew。 I knew。
The man watching our departure was Greif。
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Archons' Tempest
IN THE DAYS that followed I had rueful revenge on Eanes。 The sun was bright； the wind brisk； and the seas high。 The Kittiwake charged through those seas like a living thing； great sail straining for more speed。 For once one of Banes' prophecies didn't e true。 I was as healthy at sea as on land。 I thought of him often as waves broke over the ship； wetting us all to the skin。 The soldiers were permanent fixtures at the sides； heaving their guts into the spume； to the vast amusement of Captain L'ur and the other seamen。 Among the gut spewers was Cassini； which gave Janos his private pleasure。 Seasickness； Janos laughed in my ear； did not seem vulnerable to a conjurer's ways。 It was a good joke at the time…for I had never felt so healthy in my life。 My strength swelled with each passing league as we beat our way toward the port of Redond。 My blood was alive with adventure； and all thoughts of Greif 's dark figure vanished。 As for Eanes： I promised myself I would learn from his death； although I was not sure yet what lesson should be drawn。 Privately； I dedicated the expedition to him…promising a fat ewe as a sacrifice when we returned… and put him away in my chest of tragedies； along with Halab and my mother。
It is mon for every voyager heading for new lands to pay small attention to his fellow travelers in the beginning。 Each sight is so new and different； the ways and doings of his panions are overshadowed； so I cannot say with accuracy what the other members of the party spent their days doing。 I remember Cassini being permanently sick。 I remember the grumbling seamen； although I believed the grumbling minor。 I don't remember much of our soldiers； except that Sergeant Maeen separated them from the seamen and kept them busy with small tasks and training。 I remember Janos keeping mostly to himself； poring over charts and mysterious scraps of documents。
In the beginning I saw other ships…all from a distance； since L'ur was a properly wary captain who never tempted a pirate。 But I wondered at them； as all lubbers wonder； guessing from whence they came and where they were bound。 It came to me they could be seeking no landfall as wondrous as the country I sought； and laughed at their puny expectations。 Once we were well out into the open sea； we saw no ships； for few dared this journey； and those who did traveled as cautiously as we did。
The seas were alive with all manner of creatures。 There were fish that flew out of the water； turtles with backs broad enough to carry several men； insects with bodies as big as a man's head and long； spindly legs that carried them swiftly on the hunt from kelp bed to kelp bed。 I saw a creature twice as long as our craft that spewed water from a hole set in the top of its head。 It fled our approach。 Later I saw two immense birds； or things that looked like birds； with vast； leathery wings and long； sharp beaks。 They alighted on a dark shape drifting in the waves； crying out in delight and tearing at its flesh。 As we drew closer； I saw it was the corpse of one of the spouting beasts I'd seen。 There were several spears in its side。
On another day a sea lizard broke surface。 It was huge and old with long trails of barnacles streaming from its side。 At first the men said this was lucky。 But it followed us； and they grew wary； casting dark looks back。 It trailed us for a long time； and the looks became curses before the sea lizard disappeared。 But the men did not forget。
Just after that the seas changed color and shape as we entered a region of great depths。 The sailors whispered that there was no bottom here and an angry god dwelt in the vast reaches…a god whose name no man had heard and lived。 The captain laughed at the talk； mocked it as superstitious blathering； unworthy of a true sailor。 But I caught a hollowness in the mockery and saw him finger his talisman。 He did nothing to stop the whispers。
Despite the fears of the seamen； nothing in particular occurred during our voyage across the deep。 But I understood their nervousness。 In the time we traveled in those waters； we saw never a living thing…no fish； or sea lizards； or even a wayward bird。 It was as if we had e upon a watery desert。 So when a seaman spotted another sail one day and gave the cry； we rushed to the bulwarks rather than hastily preparing to take； flight。 L'ur made the excuse of checking his position and buying fresh food and steered for the stranger； with the two…hands…clasped flag of friendship flying from our mast。 The ship was lateen rigged like our own； but with three sails。 It stayed its course as we closed； making no attempt to tack nearer or to flee。 We cried out that we were friends。 No one answered。 As we came within a spearcast of the ship and could see its decks clearly； we realized there was no one to answer。 The ship's sails drew taut and the snap and crack they gave in the wind echoed eerily。 We saw with a jolt that the rudder had been shipped。 Who was steering； and how？ 〃Wizardry；〃 I heard a seaman hiss。
L'ur barked orders to pull away； but it was too late to prevent us from skimming closer to the strange ship's side。 The deck was spattered with a terrible gore； fresh gore…with r