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as she danced away entirely at the end； but I have also known the greatest joy when she relented and I came into her arms。 It was Expectation who drew me to the Far Kingdoms； and it was Expectation… multiplied many times over…who offered bright promise to those who awaited me at home。 It was their dreams I carried； and they lay close as we danced across sparkling seas to those shores。
I had often wondered what vision would first present itself。 Sometimes I thought I would see a city of dazzling gold； with graceful towers and swooping minarets。 Sometimes I thought it would be rich fields and sweet meadows； with peaceful hamlets and white…walled villas abounding with flowers。 However； no matter what form it took； in my mind's eye I always saw it from some great height： a jagged peak； perhaps； or some vaulting promontory。 But I came upon our goal in a fashion more befitting a citizen of Orissa； just as it was upon the river of my birth I began the journey； it was another river that bore me to the end。
As we left dead sea that had borne us away from Gomalalee's evil； the great ship's bell tolled our arrival。 The main sail billowed； displaying the serpent crest of the Far Kingdoms。 As we approached the river's wide； graceful mouth； another bell answered from far beyond。 We pressed against the rail； eager eyes probing for the first view of the goddess who had called us here。 But she teased by drawing a veil； a pale blue mist； across her features。 Then she let it lift before our white ship； blue wisps ribboning across the sails。 A breeze wafted； polishing the view； our seduction was plete。
The first thing I saw when I entered the Far Kingdoms was an emerald tower rising out of the river。 The tower had been artistically tapered to a slender point。 A wondrous mirror spun on that point； showering the ship with butterflies of light。 I felt a pleasant tingle as one alighted on my face； then a gentle； sorcerous sniff at my intentions。 It hesitated when it found the protective spell Janos had cast over each of us after we boarded the rescue ship； but took no offense and fluttered on。
The first thing I heard when I entered the Far Kingdoms was a melodious song from the throats of a thousand or more birds。 They flew out of a forest of tall； shapely trees that smelled of mint； and swooped back and forth over us…a cloud of color as glorious as the song。 When I looked closely； I saw the birds were the size of hunting eagles： metal fighting spurs winked from their talons； their beaks were heavy and hooked for tearing。 The banks of the river were lined with a tumble of floral bowers； to our delight； one of those bowers broke off and became a floating； sweet…smelling island。 As it passed under our bow； a voice called from the thicket of purple； trumpet…shaped flowers； when our captain answered back； I saw the tips of spears needling out。
The first thought I had as we passed through those gates was that the hand extended to us in wele wore a velvet glove to cloak a steely fist。 I shivered as the second thought prickled my spine： I was glad these people called us friend instead of enemy。 As we rounded a high…hilled bend； all thought melted before the splendorous view those hills curtained。 The river was deeply curved； winding hike a glorious serpent through misted fields and blue…green forests。 Far inland； like a beacon； rose a graceful mountain as blue as the river that so bedazzled us。 Beneath that mountain； we had been told； was our goal： the city of Irayas； where the great King Domas held court over all the realms of the Far Kingdoms。
We traveled for days on that river； and each day presented a multitude of wonders。 On the first； we sailed past a bustling port city three times the size of Orissa。 Boats and ships buzzed about the docks； unloading and loading all manner of goods and foodstuffs。 The port was amazingly clean and free of foul odors。 The buildings and dwellings we saw had no mon design； except to please the eye with a variety of shapes； sizes； and colors。 Captain Utorian； our host and the king's emissary； said the port was the center of all trade within the kingdoms； which he said spread out from both sides of the river； and stretched ahead； beyond the mountain beacon； for many a league。 He told us King Domas' realm was posed of eleven principalities； each ruled by a prince who swore allegiance to the king。 Scattered about these principalities were seventy great cities； and many minor ones as well。 Grandest of all； he said； was Irayas； the seat of final justice and power。 He said the entire realm； what we called the Far Kingdoms…was named Vacaan； in honor of the supreme god of the Old Ones； who had ruled this land with great wisdom for more than a thousand years； before they mysteriously departed。 He said the ruins could be found all over Vacaan： there were remains of a city near Irayas； and ancient altars on the mountain's crown。
Utorian was a most congenial host： he took pains to answer as many questions as he could； those that made him hesitate he urged us to ask when we reached Irayas。 After he hauled us off the smoking docks at Gomalalee； he went to much trouble to see that our wounds were treated and that we were availed of hot baths and fortable quarters。 The only words he knew of our language were those he had called out when he came to carry us away from Mortacious' soulless city； but no sooner had we boarded than one of his officers presented us with transparent sponges and bade us by gesture to lick the moisture from them。 As soon as we had done so； we were able to fully speak and understand their tongue。 I fear our excitement made us spew such a great racket they must have been very sorry we did。
It was during those first few hours that Janos cast a protective spell over each of us。 Although the captain and his crew seemed to be kind and pleasant men； Janos reminded us we had only just e from being honored guests； and had best be cautious lest our hosts held similar intent。 We needed little urging。 Janos drew on new power gained from his encounter with Mortacious to forge the guardian spell。 He said it would not turn aside an assassin's knife blade； but would warn us when grave danger lurked。 After the alarm； it would be up to us to hide； fight； or run for reinforcements。 The spell was a wise precaution； but after a short time in Utorian's pany； I forgot I carried it； remembering only when we encountered the tower's inquisitive lights。
After we had refreshed ourselves； Utorian called Janos and me to his cabin； where we chatted over mugs of hot brandy that had a tangy； soothing aftertaste that lessened the horror we had just experienced。 His cabin was sparse； but artistically so； with cozy seats touched with just a little color on the soft fabric coverings and a table that remained steady in any sea。 The wood that enclosed the cabin was rich with strongly knitted grain that formed interesting patterns a man could ponder for days。 On the broadest wall was the cabin's only decoration： a silk banner； bearing the blue； coiled serpent； set upon a golden sunburst； that was the crest we had sought for so long。 Utorian wore a similar crest on his white uniform。 Besides his small bunk in the corner with a coverlet that matched the seats； the only other furnishings were an empty chart table and the locked cabinet that held his instruments and maps。 There was one other thing： a golden rope dangled through a hole in the ceiling。 Utorian said it led to the bellhouse； it operated the enchanted instrument that caused Mortacious and his horde to flee。
Before we deluged him with questions； Utorian begged our indulgence and explained his presence。 He told us King Domas and his younger brother； Prince Raveline； had followed our progress with great interest。 He made no secret of how this was done； but said…besides a few sorcerous devices beyond his small abilities…the information came from a few well…placed spies； and from the mysterious riders we called the Watchers。 He said the Watchers were not subjects of the king； but a nomadic tribe of； wizards who spurned mortal pany and restlessly roamed the land for purposes of their own。 The kingdom had made a pact with them long ago； trading magic goods they needed for whatever information required to guard Vacaan of unwanted visitors。 Then he said； 〃You must know； that until I received orders to retrieve you； all visitors have been considered unwele。 To the best of my knowledge； you and your men will be the first outsiders to visit our land since we raised it out of the ruins of the Old Ones。 I cannot say why our king has had a change of heart； but as a free and loyal subject； I can assure you without fear of contradiction his intentions are honorable； and once you have spoken to him； no one will bar you from returning safely home。 Although I was not told his reasons； I can guess them。 It is no great court secret King Domas has been pondering that perhaps we have begun to grow stale after all these years of shunning contact with the outside。 And I believe your thirst for knowledge and single…minded pursuit has further sparked his thinking。〃
The captain said we would have plete freedom of the ship until we arrived in Vacaan。 We could ask anything of anyone and go anywhere we chose。 The only exception； he said； was that we would be required to remain in our quarters when he took sight…ings。 He apologized most profusely for this and said he was forbidden to let us see his charts or instruments； nodding at the locked cabinet； because their nature was a closely guarded secret。 He said； however； once we met the king； he suspected many of those secrets would be revealed。
Utorian refilled our mugs； and the three of us toasted the promise of a bright future for our peoples。 But I could tell by his manner he believed that if change was to e； it would be Orissa that would benefit most。 This was a belief shared with nearly all the people we met in the Far Kingdoms。 They had little curiosity about the world we hailed from。 The only thing that stoked excitement was the journey we undertook to reach them； and they were always pressing us for details of our adventures。 But then their curiosity stopped。 The reason became obvious： Vacaan was a land of more marvels than I have linen pages to number。 The people were blessed with bountiful harvests； there were few ills their Evocators could not cure； they had a seemingly endless variety of pleasures and possessions。 In fact； they considered themselves so superior to all other people； it was impossible for them to imagine those people had anything of value to offer。 If I remarked on a feat； original thought； or artistic acplishment that was a source of pride to Orissa； they hastened to mention something from their own land they believed made ours pale by parison。 I thought it minor at the time； a small irritation； or source of amusement。 Later I could see it was a more serious flaw than I had imagined。 Having said that； I cannot deny that as we sailed upriver； the wonders I witnessed outshone nearly all I had ever encountered。 One of the wonders was the river itself。 I have pared it to a great serpent； and that description is apt； since that is what the snake signified on the Far Kingdoms' crest； while the sunburst stood for the sorcerous wisdom that guarded the land。
Imagine that serpent； with its lustrous blue coils close together…not quite touching…with only the head and neck extending from the twists。 Now make that serpent a river again； its head the mountain we traveled toward； and you will see that although the distance was great for the ship； a bird would make short work of it。 But I would not have bargained our sails for speedy wings； because as we tacked first in one direction； then doubled back to the other； the river let us see close up nearly all the marvels of the Far Kingdoms。
The river rose tamely through Vacaan。 When we moved to a new height there was no lock to pel the difference。 There was only a shimmer in our path； then we moved on serene waters to the higher level。 Utorian said their wizards had mastered the river long before and bent it to mon purpose。 He showed us the amazing absence of flood marks on the banks and said they had mastered the weather as well； requiring the storms to replenish the river； but no more。 They could a