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rger groups。 But I had also heard tales of how vulnerable such a small party could be； if surprised by enemies。
I also determined that Deoce would stay。 Now； many years later； I see I was being foolish…she'd already proven her toughness surviving the slavers and her tenacity in the wasteland。 But 。。。 but if she were to die； to die because of my probable foolhardiness in pushing on with only a few 。。。 I would never forgive myself。 She raged when I told her。 What did I think of her feelings； if I were to be abducted 。。。 or worse？ What would she tell my father when she went to Orissa？ How would he be even polite to her if she； daughter of a chief and granddaughter of a great satrap； had let her true love disappear into the wilds？ I noticed； while she tore at me； both of us were now assuming we would return to Orissa and remain together。 I thought I was being clever when I cut through her angry diatribe and proposed marriage。 She almost struck me。 Instead； she ordered me out of the hut。 I could sleep where I would； with anyone I pleased。 And as far as marriage 。。。 to the hottest and sandiest of afterlifes with you； Amalric Antero。 Most of the village had heard our argument； and I found myself greeted with mock sympathy and concealed smiles。 I found a small vacant hut； and； brooding over the plexity of women； continued my planning。
Nothing she had said changed my thinking； so it would be Janos； Cassini； and me。 I wondered just how I would broach the subject to our Evocator； and did not see a way。 He might be as eager for the Far Kingdoms as I was…or had been at one tune； anyway。 But he might well see such a three…man push as suicidally insane。 Besides； he was hardly a boon panion on the road when he could force the soldiers to act as his bodyslaves； and now he would have to carry his own weight。 Finally； the man was not a soldier…I now considered myself； especially after the foray into the slavers' camp； to be as petent as the least of Maeen's soldiery。
So； it would be just Janos and me。 During the past few days； when I'd struggled with my plan； I'd hardly seen him。 He'd been busy with his concubines and； I rather guessed； those mysterious supplies he'd brought from Lycanth。 Now； I sought his cottage。 From inside I heard chanting and then moans。 I waited until silence had fallen； plus an appropriate few minutes for recovery before I tapped on bis doorpost。
〃It is？〃
〃Amalric。 Your sometime leader。〃
〃Enter； my friend。〃
Not knowing what to expect； I did so。 I could not have imagined what was within。 Incense hung thick in the large main room。 All the furniture had been moved out。 Hanging on the walls were three parchment scrolls with symbols I did not recognize。 The floor had been covered with white sand。 〃Drawn〃 on it； with red…colored sand； was a pentagram； inside a triangle； which was inside a circle。 There were seven people in the room。 Six of them were women； and the other was Janos。 Janos wore nothing but a thin red robe。 Five of the women wore nothing but red cords around their waists。 They knelt at each corner of the pentagram。 They were holding down…actually using no real force…the sixth woman by hands； feet； and hair。 She was naked。 None of them； except Janos； seemed aware of me。 I could understand why the sixth was oblivious…she was returning from that far place we go in orgasm； and the sand and pentagram around her hips was roiled。 The others seemed entranced； as if taking part in some experience impossibly transcendent。
〃It is over； my friends；〃 Janos said softly； and the women's expressions returned to normal。 They helped the sixth one to sit up； and someone brought her some wine。 They recognized and greeted me。 None of them seemed to be even slightly aware of the somewhat bizarre circumstances。
Janos led me to another room。 〃I fear the remains of our pleasures might prove a bit distracting；〃 he said dryly。 〃What brings you here？〃 he wanted to know。 〃I would have thought you and Deoce would have been 。。。 finding your own heavens by this hour。〃
I didn't tell him Deoce and I were currently not recognizing each other's existence。 I did tell him of my decision。 He reached up and touched the figurine of the dancing girl that hung against his naked chest。
〃Interesting；〃 he mused。 〃A small party； intending to spy out the land。 Amalric； sometimes I think you would have made a better Frontier Scout than a rich merchant。〃
I thanked him and informed him that I wanted to leave within a day or two； as soon as we assembled dry provisions and weaponry。
〃Ah；〃 he said； and it suddenly appeared to me as if he had lost interest in our quest； lost interest in everything except whatever he was now occupied with。 〃Yes。 We should go。 But we should choose the hour； and day of our leaving carefully。 Perhaps；〃 he said； his voice sounding most vague； 〃perhaps we should have our Evocator cast runes； for the most propitious time。 Or； perhaps it might be wiser that we do wait until the men are well。 Consider this； Amalric。 Neither of us have bee ill； but that is hardly a guarantee we will not。 I would hate to be back of beyond and fall prey to whatever ailment has been dogging us。 I think my friends in the other room would be far better nurses than you。〃
I started to snap something； but stopped myself。 〃I see。〃 I stood。 〃It would appear I caught you at a bad time。 We will talk further on this。 Tomorrow。〃 Trying not to appear angry； and certainly failing； I left。
I might have grown angrier； had I chance to brood； but Deoce was waiting for me in my bachelor's hut。 It matters not what was said； nor what tears were shed。 Lovers mending a quarrel are only of interest to the two star…struck ones； and either boring or disgustingly sentimental to everyone else。
Janos was waiting for me at dawn； when I stumbled out to make my ablutions。 He apologized profusely。 He had no idea what had gotten into him； except； well； perhaps if I remembered his friends； I might forgive him。 Of course we would make the scouting expedition。 It was a brilliant plan。 We could realize the dreams of our life after traveling just a few hours and a few leagues； or so he hoped。 We would leave this day； if I wished。 Assuming I still wanted a fool and a sloth for pany。 I laughed。 As if I myself had never been confronted with and rejected a good idea at an 。。。 inappropriate moment。
Now I could sense the Far Kingdoms； taste their perfume； and feel their riches run through my fingers like a crazed miser with his bags of gold。
Two days later； carrying light packs and dry provisions； Janos Greycloak and I struck out for the Fist of the Gods。
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Fist of the Gods
OUR MARCH LASTED longer than the few hours and leagues that my friend had led me to believe。 Janos laughed and said this was a valuable lesson for me； one any good leader of soldiers should learn。 You must never tell a ranker any distance is greater than five leagues； to avoid ruining his spirit。 Five leagues at a time； he told me； and you can conquer the world。
We traveled fast； much faster than we had even at the beginning of our journey when we struck out from the Pepper Coast。 But we moved as circuitously as possible； skirting open areas if we could； and if we could not； we carefully checked for signs of danger before leaping from cover to cover。 Our night camps were fireless…our cooking was done with dry wood at midday； and the food eaten cold for supper that night and breakfast the next morning。 Our travels were also slowed by my insistence on mapmaking。 For Janos； it would be enough to discover the Far Kingdoms。 I must be able to return time and again； and； more importantly； instruct my traders as to the routes they would follow。
The rolling hills became foothills； leading toward the mountains in the distance； mountains that never seemed to be any closer。 Cassini had reluctantly taught Janos the spells necessary to evoke the Watcher's talisman； and we took our first 〃sighting〃 three days' travel beyond the Rift。 That was our first mistake。 The talisman showed we were exactly on the route we wished； and the Fist of the Gods lay directly in the line of march。 But it was less than two hours after the incantation that I suddenly felt someone 。。。 or something； was looking for me。 It was a feeling； I realized； that had been with me since before the Shore People had abandoned us； and even Cassini's spell on the river had not shaken it。
The only time it had been absent was in the Rift。 I felt I was thinking foolish thoughts； and so Janos was the first to bring it up。 He； too； had the sensation。 At first； he pared himself to a rabbit； somehow realizing a hungry hawk is soaring overhead； or Cassini's idea of a great fish drifting in its pool。 Then he corrected himself…he did not feel that the Searcher； if it was anything beyond a figment； was necessarily evil。 But neither did he feel any benevolence。 Whatever it was； was just 。。。 interested in us。
It was that day we saw the Watchers again。 Two of them sat astride their mounts on a hillcrest not far away。 When we saw them； we were just ing out of a grove of trees。 I might have continued on； ignoring them as we had earlier； but Janos stopped me。 Without a word； he motioned me down； onto the ground； hidden by so