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river mouth and sailed onto the Narrow Sea； it was clear they were of the wrong type。 Too many of them were shallow…draft river barges or hastily converted coastal traders。
Bad weather struck； and although it was less severe than the Archons' tempest that had been sent against the Kittiwake； the fleet was scattered。 The ship the officers were on； which included Janos and Sergeant Maeen； had been one of the first to make landfall； not many leagues from the Shore People's grounds on the Pepper Coast。 〃That was the only luck the gods gave us；〃 Maeen added。
It had taken several weeks for the rest of the fleet to straggle to the Shore People's village； and five ships were never seen again。 The expedition had laboriously unloaded： horses tossed over the side and expected to swim to shore； small boats planked across and used as barges； and even long lines of soldiers used to pass along lighter items from grounded ships to shore。 Finally the expedition was on land。 By that time there had been several incidents between soldiers and the Shore People： several of their women had been assaulted； there had been a few brawls； and some of the expedition's supplies had been stolen。 It had taken all of Janos' diplomacy and Black Shark's reasoning to keep matters from being worse。 Maeen； heading the guard platoon for the expedition manders； was privy to most of the meetings。 He told me General Versred had said this was so much nonsense… the Shore People were not worth the time。
Eventually the expedition lumbered off； roughly following the same path as my Finding； roughly； since there was no way a host of nearly two thousand men could follow the same paths and trails we did； or live off the land as we had。 Their insistence on carrying luxuries like tents； two missaries…one for the men； one for the officers…and full wardrobes also slowed the travel。 Their freight wagons also dictated the route。 Maeen told me that five or six of the officers had brought female 〃friends〃 along； and these friends could not be expected to travel afoot。 The horses themselves were an irritant； much more skittish and choosey about their rations than our asses； and requiring more attention。 Men began dying even as the expedition moved through that pastoral； abandoned land we thought parklike…dying of errors； disease； and ignorance。 Twice the expedition became lost and had to retrace its path。 This I did not understand…what were their Evocators doing？ The sergeant said it seemed their spells were blocked or sent awry with an even greater severity than Cassini had suffered。 I asked about the relict； the scroll from the Watcher。 It had worked just intermittently。 The most reliable guide was a copy of the map I'd drawn。 And what of Janos？ Janos had bee interested in one of the officer's 〃friends。〃 The officer seemed not to object to the attentions paid his inamorata。 Sergeant Maeen said it seemed Janos was traveling with only half his mind on the journey； but 〃perhaps he was reserving his strength for the wasteland。〃 I remembered Janos' lassitude among the Rift Tribe； but said nothing。
Maeen said the expedition cut a desolate path nearly a league wide as it went。 Like the locusts of his youth； he went on； except that he remembered locusts traveling more rapidly。 They reached the river's headwaters and moved into the desert。 I asked if they'd been harassed by the slavers or their sorcery。 Maeen said they had not。 I asked if the Evocator's powers had returned； and he said not to any noticeable degree。
Then he looked around the room nervously。 〃Perhaps； Lord； you are aware of Captain Greycloak's 。。。 interests？〃
〃You mean sorcery？〃
〃Yes； sir。 He had one of the tents set aside for his own use and spent much time in it。 When he did I was ordered to mount a guard about the tent； and to alert him if any officers or Evocators approached。 It's my belief； sir； the reason we weren't struck by magic in that place； as we were before； was the captain's doing。〃 There had been no sign of the Watchers； either。
The expedition had avoided the crater； Sergeant Maeen continued； although he had thought of using it for a resupply base。 I found my teeth on edge； imagining what this horde of soldiery would have done to the paradise Deoce and I had found。 Then I nearly wept as I realized once more； as if for the first time…as I did every hour of every day…that my love had gone beyond forever。 But I showed no expression on my face except interest in Maeen's tale。 Janos had changed his mind not from any romantic concerns； but because he feared the crater's spell was too strong； and if death visited that paradise again； it was likely the expedition would suffer awful casualties in repayment。 Besides； they had enough provisions and water。 There had been no thought of seeking the Rift…there was no way the valley could have supported the expedition； even though there were now no more than fifteen hundred in the party。
The wasteland was a drear nightmare； but it did not bother Maeen since he knew eventually there was an ending to the barren。 They'd followed Janos' and my path through the foothills； but now the problem was the season was growing late…autumn had already e on。 Perhaps； Maeen wondered； this was where the worst of their troubles were sown。 Janos seemed to wake from his lethargy the closer they drew to the pass and behaved as if he were a drover； wanting to physically lash the expedition on to greater and greater speed。 Maeen shook his head at that。 〃I understood what the captain wanted 。。。 but there wasn't any way to put grease under the ways。 Maybe if we'd been a smaller party； carried less baggage； been better trained 。。。〃 He let his voice trail off。 〃I had the feeling； meaning no criticism of the captain and his ways； he wasn't being listened to any more； that the general and the other officers thought he was ranting like a fishwife。 You can only kick a beast that size so much； you know。〃 Janos； General Versred； and his staff had determined to force the pass before the first snowfall。 Once on the other side； they could seek winter quarters。
〃But it never came to that；〃 Maeen said。 〃We went on； and came to a city； just at the foot of the pass。〃
I remembered the place。 〃That must have been where the cavalry came from that attacked us。〃
Maeen nodded。 〃That's what the city leaders said； and apologized。 All of them spoke the trading language。 Said they had terrible enemies beyond； and the mander of the unit had been too hasty。 They apologized； as the captain would put it； most profusely。〃 Maeen looked as if he wanted to spit； but recollected his surroundings。 〃From that day； our doom closed on us；〃 he said。
The city was beautiful； as were its people。 〃They told the general and Captain Greycloak how much they weled our ing。〃 This would mark the dawn of a new day； the city fathers had said； a day when they would make alliance with Orissa； and no longer fear the warriors of the Disputed Lands。 They were especially pleased when they learned the expedition's goal。 e spring some of the city's young soldiers might wish to join the party； and march on east； to the Far Kingdoms。 The city； which was named Wahumwa； had been； aeons earlier； firm friends with the peaceful savants of the Far Kingdoms。
The sergeant stopped； pulled a tattered roll of cloth from his tunic； and handed it to me。 〃As proof；〃 he said； 〃those lying bastards gave the captain this。〃
I unrolled the cloth and gaped at what had been revealed。 It was a banner； suitable for cavalry； and so old the linen was a dirty gray。 But the markings were quite clear： set against a jagged sunburst was a great coiled serpent。 I remembered the symbol well。 My mind quickly flew to the Pepper Coast and the warrior in amber whose ghost we had soothed。 The serpent and sunburst had been carved into the leather pouch the dead warrior wore。
Sergeant Maeen said； 〃They told us that banner had been carried by the soldiers of the Far Kingdoms。 And was left behind the last time they came to help them fight。〃
〃What did Janos think？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； he said it was from the Far Kingdoms； all right。 And that it must be the crest of the rulers there。〃
〃He was that certain；〃 I pressed。 I remembered we both thought the crest might signify something like that。
〃As certain when they gave it to him；〃 Maeen answered； 〃as the day he gave it me to hand over to you…if I lived to see you。〃
I rolled the cloth back up and put it in my writing desk。 It sits there to this day。 Then I gently prodded the sergeant to take up where he left off。 〃So； the people of the city claimed friendship with the Far Kingdoms？〃
〃Yes； sir。 That is what those liars told us；〃 Maeen said bitterly。 〃They told us the city had fought several wars with the barbarians of the Disputed Lands； and had lost contact with the Far Kingdoms。 Because of these wars there were vacant apartments enough for all of us and to spare。 We need not pitch our tents or sleep on the ground。 And as for panionship from the city's many widows or unattached women 。。。 that too was for the asking。〃 Maeen touched the herbal drink to his lips； then set it down and asked if he might have brandy。
I poured him a goblet； and he went on。 〃So we moved in； and little by little； what had been a military force crumbled； as the winter storms began。 Why need we drill； or even make formation； if we could build our strength beside a fire； with a doxy and mulled wine？ I did not like those days。 I felt as if I were the butt of a private joke； as if all of us were being made fools； like these people were jesting behind our backs。〃
I puzzled： surely； when Janos and I had been there； we would have seen smoke from the city's fires by day； or the fire dance reflected against the mountains by night。 But perhaps not； perhaps the city had been hidden by a fold in the ground。 Maeen told me Janos had attempted to reconnoiter the pass itself； but each time had been driven back by the weather。 Finally he resigned himself to being mired in the luxurious trap until the snow melted； and once more returned to his private studies。 〃Although little good they did him…or us…in the end； I fear。〃
To celebrate midwinter's eve； the city people announced a feast。 It was in a great hall； with long tables； rare foods； and a woman seated beside each man。 Servants ran back and forth with platters and pitchers while musicians played and perfume floated through the air from scented tapers。 〃I do not know why I came armed；〃 Maeen said。 〃But I did； slipping a fighting dagger into the sleeve of my robe…violating all that I know of hospitality。 And the gods be thanked for my discourtesy。〃
He did not see any signal； but the woman across from him suddenly plunged a dagger into the back of her panion。 The hall went mad in a screaming welter of blood and slaughter as swords and knives cut down the Orissans。 〃My blade slashed before the one beside me could free her own。 She fell； then the captain was on his feet； smashing them； using a great candelabra as a club。 I knew we were dead men； but it was as if the people were entranced by the blood they'd spilled。〃 He shivered。 〃I saw a woman； fair and blond； on her knees ripping at General Versred's throat like she was a lioness。 And then she 。。。 and the rest of them 。。。 fed。〃
The men and women of the city ravened into the corpses； but seemed to have no interest or concern for those Orissans yet alive。 And while this spell lasted； the survivors of the shattered expedition fled； grabbing what weapons and supplies they could； racing out into the storm and the night and the winter。 Eerily； they were not pursued by the loathsome people who inhabited the city they called Wahumwa。 〃Perhaps they had all they needed；〃 Maeen said。 I thought just so； and that human flesh was not their real objective； but kept it to myself。
There were perhaps two or three hundred Orissans who lived through the massacre。 The ranking officer was Janos； of the officers； only two legates survived。 The long retreat began。 Now the scythe swung hourly as men dropped from exhaustion； from thirst； or were captured or slain by the desert tribesmen。
〃At last there were but thirty or so of us； and Janos the only officer。 We had no means of navigation but the sun and the stars； and wandered from our intended course。 Finally we struck