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〃I think；〃 Greycloak went on； 〃that all of us did。 Am I correct？〃 Surprised nods； grunts； agreement from all of us。 〃I could tell you my dream exactly； but we cannot waste too much time on details。 In short； my dream told me that this region we are marching through； this blasted heath； es not from the gods； but from something else。 I dreamed that this was once a fallow； peaceful land； with cities and towns； even greater than what Cassini's vision told him of the river and the land beyond the Shore People's borders。 This land was shattered； and destroyed。 Destroyed in but one week。 The people were killed or driven away； I do not remember that well。 The water sank far beneath the ground； and even the hills and mountains were crushed； as we might crush an anthill beneath a boot。 Yes？ Is my dream your dream？ I shall let our Evocator finish； then。 What caused this destruction？〃
Cassini's face was even more haunted than anyone's。 〃A spell；〃 he whispered。 〃A spell or a web of spells； cast by Evocators with powers far beyond those I could even dream of； far beyond the sorcery that tore down Lycanth's great wall or the Archons' tempest we barely survived。 Not only was this land obliterated between the setting and the rising of the sun； but enough of the spell's power lingered on； so that this land shall never again be fruitful。〃
Janos asked； 〃Can you tell us where this spell came from？〃
Cassini shook his head。 〃Only that your dream was right； and it was cast by men 。。。 or by creatures who once were men； and not gods。〃
〃From th' Far Kingdoms；〃 one of the men muttered。 His name was Sylv。 〃An' we're walkin' down their throats like roebuck follyin' th' net trail into th' killing ring。〃
〃No；〃 Cassini said flatly。 〃I sensed then； and still do； great magic from the east…from where our talisman shows the Far Kingdoms to be。 But this is not from that direction 。。。 but from everywhere 。。。 and nowhere。〃
Janos came to his feet。 〃So if this spell yet lingers on 。。。 and to use your own words about the killing floor； Sylv； we had best move ourselves beyond spear reach； even if that spear might be a sorcerous one。〃
Quickly spoken by both of them； and we did pack quickly and continue moving。 But the men's fears were not assuaged。 We began seeing more and more dark looks； looks of anger and fear and guilt； looks that broke away when one of the four expedition leaders noticed them。 Janos began marching close to the two asses containing our water supply； and Maeen stayed close to the ones with our treasure。 I asked Janos if there could be a mutiny； and he told me no。 〃Not yet；〃 he said。 〃They are too tired； no one has died； and； most importantly； none of them see a place to flee to。 The most likely would be the five we rescued from the slavers； since their homes would be closer。 But they are still beaten down from their capture。 No。 No one will murder us in our sleep。 Yet。〃
The next day； Cassini lost his magic。 His shouts woke me just at dawn； and I ran to him； thinking that perhaps a desert serpent had sought him for warmth。 Cassini was sitting with the cloak he used for his bedding； his face as blank and terrified as an infant who's had his first nightmare and wakes knowing nothing but terror。
〃I 。。。 I do not have my spells；〃 he said。 〃I 。。。 my mind is wiped clean！〃 He could barely talk； and it took some time to find out just what he meant。 He'd awakened and determined to cast a simple spell that might wipe out the fleas that were living in the lining of his cloak。 〃But I could not。。。 cannot。。。 remember the gods to use in the incantation； or the incantations themselves； or even what symbols might be drawn 。。。 I cannot； in fact； remember any symbol except the circle； and the lowliest dolt knows that to be magical。〃
〃Then we are naked；〃 Maeen said； before he caught himself。 I do not think that anyone else heard him； but they did not need to。 If Cassini had lost his powers； that would mean all the little spells； from those that meant a leak in our waterskins would seal itself to whatever protective words he'd cast to shield us from outside sorcery； were gone。 We were naked。 Even worse was that； without the words； the Watcher's relict； our map； was useless。 I was very grateful that at least we'd had some warning； and Janos had begun relying on secondary； if less dependable； forms of navigation。 With luck our path still continued toward the still…unseen mountains and the five peaks and the pass through them that I had begun thinking of as the Fist of the Gods。 We marched on； despair settling deeper。
I waited until Janos was separated from the others； then fell back to walk beside him。 I chose my words carefully。 〃You told me once you had a small knowledge of wizardry；〃 I began。 〃If I e up with a scheme to occupy Cassini； perhaps send him off with a soldier to scout in front of us on some pretext…〃 I broke off； as he looked at me； and I saw that his expression was as drawn as Cassini's。
〃I； too； my friend；〃 he said。 〃I； too； have lost what little words I might have known。 But I said nothing。 Not only because of the laws； but 。。。〃
He was silent； not needing to say more。 If the men knew that both Janos and Cassini had lost their 〃powers〃 at the same time； they would know the loss could e from only one thing… another Evocator； a wizard who must be our enemy and was even now casting about this wasteland to find and destroy us。 I saw Lione looking at us with suspicion； and forced a bright expression and a laugh I knew was hollow。 Janos did the same。
It was as Cassini had feared； without protection a myriad of annoyances came on us： Deoce and I found ourselves snarling at one another over nothing； and making up became words forced and unfelt。 I caught myself making a list of everyone in the expedition； and just how inpetent； evil； and malicious each of them was； and how none of them belonged on my Finding。 Then my loathing turned inward： how dare I have the temerity to seek the Far Kingdoms？ Did I not think that better men had already tried and died？ Did I not think that anything as powerful as the Far Kingdoms would also have powerful enemies； enemies we must pass through to reach the realm？ If the Far Kingdoms existed at all； which my self…demon told me was a ludicrous thought at best。 We should turn back； turn back now。 Perhaps we could return to the river and to our friends the Shore People。 Or 。。。 But what would it matter if we were captured by slavers in the desert？ At least we would still be alive； wouldn't we？ And if they chose to kill us； why would that matter？ Our scatter of filthy； reeking bodies was best suited for the dung heap； anyway。 The thoughts wound on and on； head swallowing tail； and the circle continuing。 But we continued on 。。。 or rather I should say that Janos； with my assistance； forced us to keep marching； promising； threatening； cajoling for another step； another league； another day。 Deoce proved that she was the daughter of a strong queen and took as great a hand as Janos or I in driving the men by any means conceivable。
Sickness came next： a lethargy； a fever； an ache in the limbs； a weakness。 Two men…Sylv and Yelsom…became so sick； we had to make sledges for them from blankets and spears and let them be dragged by the asses。 Yelsom died a day afterward。 Now we were all sick to a greater or lesser degree。 At least； I told myself wryly； no one now has enough energy to plan mutiny。 But that spell remained over us…neither Cassini nor Janos could recollect the slightest detail of wizardry…their implements； tools； and herbs remained unknown curiosities to them。
Two days travel after we buried Yelsom； the land around us changed。 Instead of being almost flat and stony； it became sandy。 We saw a touch of green from time to time； low scrub brushes。 I thought I saw an animal…a tiny antelope； perhaps…dart from cover to cover。 I would never have dreamed I would be glad to enter a desert； but I was。 I hoped that we had been through the worst； and the desert would bee greener； would bee watered lands； and finally we would see the ground start to rise toward the mountains。
Our route was a bit more circuitous…the land was deeply pitted。 Now I learned more about how to navigate on land。 We would approach such a pit； trying to keep to the pass heading Janos had determined to follow。 Then we would strike a course 90 degrees away from our intended heading； keeping track of our paces。 Once we were clear of the pit； we would resume the original course until past the hole； turn another 90 degrees； and walk back the same number of paces； and then take up the correct direction once again。 It was quite maddening。
Some of these depressions were shallow； others were as deep as fifty spearcasts。 I wondered what could have made them？ Perhaps what I'd heard was true…the shooting stars that brightened Orissan summer nights were not signals from the gods； but rocks from beyond； real rocks that might have fallen from Godhome onto earth。 But why should there be so many of them； here in this desolation？
As I was musing over this； we found the first body。 It took a moment for our lead man to determine what it was； and then he shouted for Sergeant Maeen。 It hurt every bone； but I managed to stumble to the front of the column； as did Janos。 We gathered around what had been an antelope； or so I guessed。 It was not a plete body； but the sun…blackened skin of some sort of four…legged creature。 It was about ten feet from another pit。 Maeen saw another skin； further on。 It looked as if it had been torn apart。 By a hunting cat； perhaps？ But the cat would have devoured the skin and left bones； I thought。 We went on。 At least this meant there would be more water now； and fresh meat if we could net or trap one of these creatures。 We found other pits and other animal skins。 I remembered what they reminded me of…grape skins tossed aside after their juices were sucked out。 The next body we saw was that of a man； he； too； had been killed in the same manner： there was no sign of any bones； but the man's skin lay mummified on the ground； skin from midchest to the feet； his head was also missing。 The man would have been about my size and of normal shape； so much for the tales of men with heads in then…stomachs…or perhaps we had not traveled far enough to meet them。 There were no traces of clothing or weaponry； so we could not tell if we were looking at the body of a savage or a savant。 Janos suggested we close up the marching order and move carefully past brushy areas。 Again； perhaps a great cat had seized the man and ripped off his head。 No one had a better theory。
We were skirting another pit when suddenly the ground gave way beneath us； then we were sliding； scrabbling frantically in the collapsing sand； but sliding toward to the bottom of the pit I saw one of the asses 。。。 one that carried one of our treasure chests 。。。 tumble； braying in panic； gold coins spilling； cascading down 。。。 a soldier floundering； trying to climb back to solid land 。。。 Cassini shouting in panic 。。。
Something came out of the bottom of that pit。 A black nightmare。 I never saw 。。。 or my mind refused to admit it had seen 。。。 all of the creature。 There was a huge； pulsing abdomen 。。。 a wedge…shaped head on a turreted neck 。。。 jaws that were razor scimitars flashing on either side of a pursed mouth 。。。 claws scrabbling at the sand； digging； digging； digging away； making the sand slide us down； down toward death。 Cassini lost his footing； fell； and began to roll。 The ass's bray became a scream； became silent； and Cassini stopped himself； legs splayed wide on the sand； then he began sliding again； very slowly。 He was shouting for help； screaming。
Janos； too； had slipped into the creature's trap and was sprawled a few feet above the Evocator。 He fought himself up； to his knees 。。。 Cassini's hand implored him； stretched out。。。 Janos started to move 。。。 and then stopped。 We all became part of some horrible tableau； frozen in this bit of time。 Then I was leaping； once； twice； my feet digging in； and I was below Cassini and buried to the knees in the sand； his slide broken against me； and then both of us were tottering。 Somehow I steadied myself 。。。 standing 。。。 afraid to look back； afraid to see how close to the terrible thing we were； not balanced enough to draw my sword； shout