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e feeling a fool。 Sometime before dawn the Shore People had vanished。 Their tracks led west； back toward the coast and their homeland。 At first I was angry。 They had agreed； hadn't they？ Janos was trying to keep from laughing as he explained that there were certain peoples who could not say no； and they would use any evasion 。。。 to avoid it。
〃Such as 'very； very difficult；' 〃 I said bitterly。
〃Such as 'very； very difficult' to prevent having to reject someone bluntly and make them into an enemy；〃 Janos replied。
So much； I said； for my honeyed tongue； and so much for the gold pieces I'd given them。 〃Actually；〃 Janos said； 〃you did quite well。 I guess you did not notice； but they left the asses…and their harness。 Perhaps the gold paid for that。 Or perhaps it was your； ahem； honeyed tongue。〃
We could waste no more time on my embarrassment。 We laboriously loaded the asses； a task the Shore People had made appear simple but took us nearly half a day； we continued on； learning how to be drivers as we went。 For some time afterward it was mon for someone； just within my hearing； to look solemnly at a friend and announce； 〃Things are very； very difficult。〃 I pretended not to hear。
The land grew drier and drier： rolling grasslands were interspersed with rare copses of trees around increasingly muddy springs and then rivulets。 For a while we could use these groves to lead us to water； but then we saw more and more thorn trees with no moisture around them； their roots must have reached down into the underworld for moisture。 We were not； however； in jeopardy or danger； and that was due to Janos' experience。 He taught us to follow the antelope and to stake out their water holes at dawn and make clean； swift kills。 We ate the animals and then turned their stomachs into waterskins： the hides were green and smelled…but they held water。 The patient asses brayed； but accepted the additional burdens。 Our sandals and boots were wearing thin； so Janos announced that it was time for us to learn to walk as the gods intended…barefoot。 He said we must save the footwear for rougher terrain。 Cassini whined so much at this； we found it easier to make new soles for his boots from green skin every two or three days rather than force him to travel barefoot。 The lessons continued as we went： there was game to be speared or； better yet； netted； arrowheads were removed and replaced with hand…carved； blunt； fat tips of wood。 These were for the plump； flightless birds around us： the tip would stun a bird long enough for the hunter to wring its neck； yet the arrow would not travel through the quarry and be lost in the brush。 We were taught that it is generally unwise to eat a new fruit or berry if the sap is like milk； and also that red berries and fruit are sometimes dangerous。 If you think a plant or a fruit is edible； cut it and rub it on your arm； if your arm blisters； do not eat。 Besides water holes； we found that some tall trees have reservoirs in their hearts； saved from the annual rains。
If what I have just written implies that my Finding had suddenly been turned into a bleak fight for survival； that was not my intention。 Despite the difficulties； we ate well； we had enough water； and we were healthy； if dirty。
As we traveled； the sun arced overhead and the air seemed to glow in dry silence。 The world was mostly brown； but the occasional green leaped out to the eye as if it were in relief。 There seemed to be nothing ahead of us but more and more of this prairie； a prairie I did not realize was turning to desert。 There were animals besides antelope： packs of wild doglike creatures； hunting families of direwolves that would trail us for a space until they decided there were no stragglers who could be easily dragged down； and several species of large direcats： we saw them frequently lolling about； their cubs climbing out of their mothers' pouches to frolic。 The cats offered us no threat； and we made sure to stay well clear of their dens and retreats。 Once we saw； just at dawn； a great black…maned lion atop a rearing crag。 Suddenly beside him were two of the mounted Watchers。 The lion seemed not to be aware of them。 One of the Watchers stretched out a gauntleted hand； armor glittering in the rising sun； and stroked the great cat's head。 The lion preened like a pet。。。 and the Watchers were gone。
Finally the baked…summer…day dream came to an end。 Now we were in real desert； the ground rolled up and around us； searing rocks and sand broken by ravines filled with dry brush。 Even though we had several passes to keep us from trusting a single lodestone whose power might have vanished； and my mapmaking had continued as best it could； given the shortage of identifiable landmarks； we became unsure of our course。 Janos said there was no help for it； but we must hold our current heading。 When we came to the next landmark on the talisman map； a mountain range that appeared to be quite distant； we would locate ourselves exactly。 We must not； he said； start doubting in our passes or our mon sense； else we could find ourselves wandering in huge circles about this desert and； ultimately； our own arseholes。 We knew we were not the first men to traverse this desert； which was forting； because of the caravan tracks we encountered。 We followed them； which made our holding to our pass directions more difficult； but there was no other choice… not only did the tracks follow the easiest terrain； but they led us from water hole to solitary well to oasis。
Then we saw the makers of the tracks。 Far on the horizon we spotted a line of mounted riders。 Nomads； Janos guessed。 They appeared not to see us； although all of us thought that doubtful。 His guess was confirmed when we crossed their track some hours later and found not only horse but goat droppings。 Janos said he doubted that the Watchers traveled in such groups or that they brought their own mutton along。
〃It is a pity；〃 I said； 〃these people aren't blood kin to the Ifora； and we could renew old ties。 I thought that woman…Tepon； it was…quite charming。 Even if she did file her teeth。〃
Janos grinned。 〃When you e to do your memoirs； friend Amalric； and you describe this stage of our journey as arduous； perilous； and filled with dangers at every step； you should not mention your last statement。 It's hard to be dying of thirst and have your mind bedded in your groin at the same time。 As for the Ifora； I should tell you that when I first made their acquaintance I had a mounted patrol of fifty Lycanthian cavalrymen at my beck； and there were but twenty of them。 That was a ratio I tried hard to maintain。 A monality I have found among all desert folk I've encountered； is that they tend to be capricious at best and； if they feel you possess something of interest； capable of astonishing cruelties。〃
〃So let us hope we went unseen；〃 I said。 Janos nodded； dropped back to Sergeant Maeen； and gave him instructions for the men to be fully alert at all times。
The next day there were two riders on either side of our course。 At first I thought them to be the ghostlike Watchers； but they maintained their course hour after hour； riding about a league to either side of our party。 Cassini announced that he sensed spells being cast； spells that did not 〃feel〃 like they emanated from any of the previous sorceries。 Janos； too； said he felt something。 The old traditional prickling of his thumbs； I asked？ He shook his head： different； it was as if he felt someone looking over his shoulder。
At dawn we saw more riders behind us； and people on foot in addition to the two that flanked us。 They also held their distance。 We tried to keep our pace steady； both to conserve energy and to avoid showing fear。 About midday the party doubled 。。。 to twenty。 Janos told us to be doubly wary。
The attack began as a blur。 If I had not chanced to be looking in that direction； I would not have seen it。 Movement。。。 and then one of the asses reared； screaming； two arrows sticking out of its flank。 Screaming； and a shout of agony； and a man staggered out of the column； a third arrow buried deep in his thigh。 We were attacked…and the nearest bowman was half a league distant！ The next few moments were a shout of orders 。。。 me ordering the men to flatten and not to let the asses bolt 。。。 Janos and Maeen bellowing for the soldiers to put on chain mail immediately 。。。 shouts from the wounded man 。。。
I had Cassini by the arm。 He was gaping at these arrows from nowhere。 〃Dammit；〃 I was shouting。 〃A counterspell 。。。 and quickly！〃
Cassini's mouth opened and closed like he was a beached fish。 His eyes 。。。 and most likely his mind 。。。 were blank。
Janos heard my shout and understood。 〃Uncertainty；〃 he ordered。 〃The wizard is suddenly unsure。〃
Cassini looked bewildered； then he got it。 He stammered a phrase； his words growing more fluid as his memory brought the spell back to him。 Another flight of arrows blurred out of nowhere； but this time buried themselves in the sand； short of us。 There were six of them this time。
〃Good；〃 Janos said。 〃Again。 The next flight should be still farther away。〃 Then he bethought himself。 He pulled one of the arrows from the sand and handed it to our Evocator。 〃A better spell： Brother speaks to brother。〃
I saw Cassini's sunburned face redden still more。 〃How can you…〃
〃Do it； man； or we die here！〃
Cassini took the arrow in both hands and put it to his lips。 He whispered words I could not make out； but they became a chant。 Then he snapped the arrow cleanly in half。 Expecting what I should see； I glanced at the other arrows that had attacked us 。。。 they were broken； as well。
〃Good；〃 Janos approved。 〃Broadcast that spell now。 And broadcast it wide。〃
Cassini obeyed。 I do not know what effect it had； but there were no more flights of arrows。 Janos started to say something else； then caught himself； and worded what might have been conceived as an order as a vague thought； the thought of a man who knows little of magic： 〃Now； Cassini； can you put something between us and them？ Invisibility？〃
Cassini had recovered enough to curl a lip。 〃That would require too much power； and be too much a drain on my senses。 I can do something easier 。。。 and better。〃
He picked up a handful of sand； then allowed it to slip through his fingers； then he prostrated himself； muttering all the while。 I looked back at the nomads and saw small dust devils rising； swirling； just knee high between us and them。 Cassini； emboldened by promises of success； ran to the ass carrying his equipment and began sorting out gear； to build and bind his spell。 Our soldiers were now in full mail； baking in the sunlight； but much safer from another attack。 I remembered the wounded man and went to him； but he was dead。 I beckoned to Janos； who walked over； looked down； and nodded； grim。 He also noticed that one of our pack animals was dead； although it had suffered only a slight arrow wound。
〃A spell on the arrows；〃 I guessed。
〃Probably not；〃 Janos said。 〃More likely venom of some sort on the arrowhead。 The desert breeds many killers from vipers to scorpions。 There is no need to waste substance ing up with a bit of sorcery when nature provides an even swifter killer whose efficacy does not wane with distance。〃
Cassini had powders and potions out； and pentagrams and symbols drawn in the sand。 The dust devils were larger； lifting fifteen feet in the air。
〃Good；〃 Janos said。 〃The sandstorm will at least keep us safe from further attack。 Although with those others out on the flanks； it will be hard to escape。 Impossible； most likely； since I would think those men know where we are going 。。。 Now I must heal two wounds。〃
He turned to the soldiers； who knelt or sprawled in positions of defense。 〃Very good；〃 he said。 〃You moved swiftly。 I feel I chose well for my men。〃 I； in turn； searched their faces and was surprised to see none of the horror or borderline panic I had expected。 Their expressions showed anger and traces of worry。 Evidently this death； even though it had been aided by sorcery； was not that much of a shock。 Perhaps this was what was meant by the phrase 〃a soldier's lot。〃
〃On your feet；〃 Janos ordered。 〃We will be moving； and moving fast。 Sergeant Maeen； detail two men to each ass to make certain they do not bolt if we are attacked again