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s my hopes leaped upon my features again； she laughed。 〃Very later；〃 she said。 Then； 〃Maybe 。。。〃
That night； Janos called a meeting of the expedition leaders。 〃I think it would be wise；〃 he said； 〃for us to agree to certain things。 How long we are going to stay here； for instance。 And how we are going to behave during this stay。〃
〃I know how anxious you are to move on； Janos；〃 I said； 〃but we need a rest before we strike out again。 I doubt the journey will get any easier； and the better shape we can get ourselves and the equipment into； the better chance we'll have against what is to e。〃
〃I will not quarrel with that；〃 Cassini said。 〃However； your mention of behavior is puzzling。〃
〃I am speaking of the pact the creatures who live in this crater seem to have made；〃 Janos said。 〃I think we should follow their rules； if that word applies； and limit our hunting as they do。〃
Cassini glared。 〃What makes you think dumb beasts can make such an agreement？〃 he scoffed。 〃The peacefulness you see is for our benefit； and our benefit alone。〃
〃Do you still think this is your doing？〃 Janos asked； not troubling to hide disgust in his tone。
〃What other logical explanation can there be？〃 Cassini said。 〃Since the moment we left Orissa； I have been casting spells to assure our safety and well being。 Plus we have the powerful blessing of the Council of Evocators。 Thus far； both these things have kept arrows from piercing our flesh； and found us water in the middle of a wasteland。 Now； they have given us respite。〃
Instead of a heated retort； Janos considered Cassini's words。 〃Help me； my learned Evocator；〃 he said； and both Cassini and I were surprised that there was no mockery in his tone； 〃see the wisdom of your logic。 Without revealing any deep secrets of your craft； how is it you choose a spell？ And how is it you know what that spell's ultimate effect may be？〃
〃It is very simple；〃 Cassini said； 〃for those who are blessed with an Evocator's powers。 We study all the spells that have been written； under the wise tutelage of a Master Evocator； and mit those spells to memory。〃
〃But there must be countless spells；〃 Janos said。 〃Even for an Evocator； wouldn't it be difficult to memorize them all？〃
〃Certainly；〃 Cassini answered。 〃And just as there are Evocators with greater or lesser degrees of power； so it is that some are better at memorizing。 I； for one； have an excellent memory。 This is not a boast； but an attribute pointed out by my first teacher when I was accepted by my brother Evocators。 However； for those not blessed； and even I find it hard to recall absolutely everything； we merely have to go to the archives where all spells are kept。〃
〃When you travel；〃 Janos pointed out； 〃you can't carry a library。〃
Cassini tapped his forehead。 〃I keep it here；〃 he said。 〃Which is one reason you are fortunate； Captain； that I asked to be included in this expedition。〃
〃Yes； I can see that we are；〃 Janos answered。 〃However； I just want to get one thing straight。 The spells you use； then； are recited from rote。 Wisdom； as they say； passed down over the ages in ancient texts？〃
〃Exactly；〃 Cassini said。 〃We know they work； because they have always worked。 It does not matter why。 For it is not possible for men to ever understand such a thing。 Only the gods can know why。〃
Janos stared at him。 Cassini flushed； realizing where the conversation had taken him。 But just to make sure； 〃Then we can't say the whys of this small paradise we have found；〃 Janos said。 〃Or am I missing something？〃 Cassini sputtered； but found no answer。 〃So we do not know；〃 Janos pressed on； 〃if the peace we find here is the doing of men； or the doing of 。。。 beasts。 True？〃
'True；〃 Cassini answered； hating it。
〃Then I suggest we do not second…guess the gods；〃 Janos said。 〃I suggest we abide by the rules we found here； just as if they were handed down by the gods themselves。〃
〃I think it's the safest thing to do；〃 I said； jumping strongly in on Janos' side。 〃Besides； if Janos is in error； there can be no harm。 And we can't possibly say what will happen if he is correct。〃
〃Very well；〃 Cassini said； teeth gritting。 〃We'll do it your way。〃
〃We'll all keep the hours？〃 Janos pressed。
〃Yes；〃 Cassini said。 He rose before Janos engaged in more verbal trickery； and stalked away from the fire。
〃Is it not amazing； my friend；〃 Janos said； 〃to learn something so basic as sorcery has no laws whatsoever…except the rules the sorcerers make to keep all knowledge to themselves？〃
〃I suppose that is just the nature of things；〃 I said。
〃Do you really think that？〃 Janos asked。
I started to answer； then shook my head。 〃Who can say？ I drove my own teachers to near madness with such questioning when I was a boy。〃
〃And now that you are a grown man？〃
〃I am not Cassini；〃 I said。 〃There is no need for games。 Say what is on your mind。 For I can see from your agitation that you are bound to。〃
Janos laughed at my foresight。 〃Oh； don't we all love to hear ourselves talk？〃 he said。 〃There must be a small demon of self…admiration that dotes on the sound of our own voices。〃 He sipped sweet water from a gourd and passed it to me to drink。 〃I do have my own theories； as you have guessed； and they go much beyond Cassini's prattling that a thing works； because it has always worked。〃
I nodded for him to continue。
〃I believe there are certain principles underlying the whole thing；〃 Janos said。 〃One； is that like produces like； and it follows that an effect resembles its cause。 Another is that things formerly in contact will continue to act on each other； no matter how great the distance。 One example that illustrates both： if an Evocator chooses to destroy someone； he tries to get something personal； a lock of their hair； for instance。 Such as was tried on you in Lycanth。 He then makes a likeness of the enemy； with the hair as part of the makings； and then attacks the likeness … by burning； for instance。 If this is done correctly； the enemy will suffer greatly； and sometimes even die。〃
〃Black magic；〃 I muttered。
〃That is an example of the Evocators' laws；〃 Janos said。 〃They divide sorcery into black and white。 Good and evil。〃
〃You don't think there is a difference？〃
〃Not at all。 For the one trying to destroy his enemy； the sorcery is a good thing。 White； in other words。 For the target； why； it is most certainly black。 I think the only difference is where you stand。〃
〃Why do you trouble yourself with such things？〃 I asked。 〃Why not leave well enough alone？〃
〃It is a means to an end； I suppose；〃 Janos said。 〃I became interested when I was a slave； so I guess that further means I was anxious to seize some control over a life that another could snuff out on a whim。〃
I shook my head。 〃Is this healthy？ Better yet 。。。 is it wise？〃
〃Neither； I suspect；〃 Janos said。 〃For another theory of mine is that every spell cast must have some effect on its caster。 So eventually； after many spells； the sorcerer should be aware his own substance is being harmed。 The trouble is； sorcery is such a seductive science … for science I believe it will be some far…off day。 When one is faced with a goal that cannot be denied； then anything may be risked。〃
I thought of the love potion and Melina and could not help but agree。 〃What do you hope to achieve by this study？〃 I asked。
〃To reach my goal；〃 Janos said； his voice soft。 〃And nothing more。〃 He looked deep into the fire。 〃There will be wiser men in the future； Amalric；〃 he said。 〃Men who will ferret out all the laws 。。。 be they sorcerous or what we call natural。 Why does a river flow down from a mountain instead of up？ Why does a stick placed on a rock lift an object you could not budge with brute muscle？ How does a divining rod find water？ How is it possible to catch the wind spirits in a leather bag； and then let them loose later to fill the sails？ Perhaps I am a fool； but I reckon there are laws that govern these things。 And wouldn't it be elegant； my friend； if they were all the one and the same？ That there is no difference between the natural and spiritual？〃
〃Do you really think so？〃 I asked； amazed。
A chuckle from Janos。 〃No。 It would be too easy。 But if you should live so long to meet those distant thinkers； do not be surprised if at least some of what I say proves true。〃
That was the end of our conversation； but I have thought about his words many times since that short time we dwelt in paradise。 One thing I remember clearly； however； is that I felt a sudden surge of hope when he told his views。 If there were rules； I thought； if there were laws of sorcery any man or woman could learn； this might be a great boon to all。 If that day ever came； I mused； would it break the hold the Evocators have over mon people such as myself？ Such as they had over my brother？ At that moment； a thought bubbled up： Janos might be onto something as worthy as this Finding itself。 I heard Deoce laugh at a nearby camp fire； and the thought fled。
The days that followed went swiftly and were among the happiest in my life。 We fell easily into the graceful ways of the crater。 We swam and frolicked with the animals； dined on fruits and nuts； and killed for flesh only during the appointed period when hunter and hunted returned to their customary roles。 Our skin was soon scrubbed of all the embedded grime of the trek； and the hollow places created by our ordeal filled with new； healthy muscle。
Deoce and I grew closer。 She was lovely before； but under the peaceful influence of our new abode； she became strikingly beautiful。 Her limbs were more shapely； her skin and hair glowed with health； and her eyes were flashing beacons that filled in the gaps when language failed。 Our panions pretended to ignore us as we strode hand in hand about the lush crater。 There was many a quiet brook and soft； green glen that invited our presence； and during that interlude we probably visited them all。 We continued our language lessons； but they went more swiftly now； and in a short time both of us became so adept at jumping from her native tongue to my own； it was as if it were just one language。
I learned Deoce was a princess； as I suspected。 Her mother was the chieftain of a small but wealthy principality named Salcae。 In her clan； Deoce said； men； being better with details and smaller things； controlled the tents and the hearth； except in time of war； when everyone fought。 The women were the scouts； the leaders； the war captains。 For political reasons her mother had betrothed Deoce to a nobleman from another clan。 She was on her way to be married when her party was ambushed by the slavers。
At first I was greatly upset when told of the impending wedding。 But Deoce quickly put my mind at rest when she explained that the 〃nobleman〃 was a boy of less than six years； and since she had been in the pany of strange men for so long without proper chaperoning； there was no chance she would be considered suitable marriage material。 However； myself。。。 … concern turned to anguish for her when I heard this。
Deoce chuckled when she learned the reason for my dismay。 〃It only means now I won't have to marry a little boy；〃 she said。 〃In my own clan it is not so important to be a virgin。 It is only important to 。。。 other people。 People like〃…she shuddered…〃the slavers。 They were going to sell me as a harvest sacrifice。〃 She gave me a grim smile。 〃If I were not a virgin； at least I would have had a better chance of staying alive。〃
She looked at me； thoughtful。 I wondered what was going on in her mind。 Then she sighed。 〃In some ways；〃 she said； 〃it was easier when our 。。。 words 。。。 were fewer。〃
〃In what way？〃 I asked。 But she just shook her head and said； 〃Never mind。〃 Despite my question； I knew her meaning。 If anything； I had bee an overly courtly suitor since that day on the embankment when I tested her with a kiss。 Our newfound ease in speech drew me much closer to her than mere lust would have。 As we sat chatting； I realized we had bee fast friends。 We became even faster friends a bit later； when she quizzed me about my journey and I felt enough trust to tell her the nature of my mission。
〃The Far Kingdoms？〃 she cried when I named our goal。 〃Do you really mean to find them？〃 Her eyes were so full of enthusiasm and awe； I was gladder than eve