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〃The hell with you and your orders； Lord Antero；〃 J'an growled； muscles rippling as he readied a great axe； an axe we used to split beef carcasses。 〃I die when an' where I see fit。 There'll be no damn' Evocator or his spawn seein' the back of me this night。〃
Maeen was beside him and said nothing； but spat on the floor and drew a final line with his foot。 I looked about me and realized that more than ten of my servants had chosen to die here； as J'an had。 There was a great lump caught in my throat。 I looked at Janos。 His teeth gleamed white against his beard。
〃Now；〃 he said。 〃Now let there be such a doom of blood the gods themselves will hear the keening and know that Janos Kether Greycloak； Overlord of Kostromo； will be among them。〃 He grinned。 〃There will be sagas sung of this night； I wager。 And I am ready。〃
Not being gifted at funeral oratory； I forced what I hoped was a death…dealing smile across my lips； said nothing； and lifted my sword and dagger。
The door crashed in 。。。 and the screams started。 From the outside！ I heard the keen of pipes； the boom of drums； bowstrings again； and spears thudding into the walls outside； and screams and frenzy。 All of us were brought back from that exaltation of death to the real world。 We looked at each other； bewildered； as the sounds of a great battle built outside。 Janos yanked the axe from J'an； and with three great blows ripped the door away。 We ran outside。
From out of the night came three phalanxes of the Maranon Guard。 They moved slowly and deliberately forward； spears overlapped； overstepping bodies as they came。 Behind the attacking groups were archers and javelin hurlers； casting as they found targets。 The Guard's pipers and drummers were crashing a deadly cadence。 I saw Rali leading her column； but she had no time to be looking for me。
The mob scattered and ran 。。。 into the country 。。。 into the fields； back the way they'd e。 I sheathed my dagger and pulled a spear from where it had hurled itself in the ground。 Cassini would be fleeing with the rest。 It was utterly forbidden to raise a hand against an Evocator； but I had so much blood on my hands； I was not worried about another few drops； whether they came from a sorcerer or not。
But Cassini had not fled。 He was not running。 I saw him just where he'd been before the mob attacked。 He stood in the center of the street。 He was all alone…his advisers and assistants must have fled with the rest I do not know if he was in shock or under some pulsion。
Suddenly he spread out his arms to the sky and began shouting； shouting words in some unknown language。 I drew back from my spearcast and then froze。 The thunder from the heavens rose； booming； louder than the Guard's drums； louder than an entire army's percussion。 Everyone…soldiers； my servants； Janos； the wounded…were as if petrified。 White faces looked upward。
The thunder grew louder。 Then； from the still pletely cloudless sky； a great hand formed of blue flames。 The hand reached down； toward us。 I wanted to scream； to bury myself in the earth； but could not move。
The hand came down on Cassini。 His shouts became shrieks； and then the fingers closed on the Evocator。 They lifted him perhaps ten feet above the ground 。。。 and squeezed； like a gardener killing a worm。 The fingers opened and dropped what was left of Cassini onto the roadway。 Then flames； hand； and thunder vanished； as if they'd never been。
I turned away。 Janos was standing there； still mazed。 I walked past him； through the ruins of my door； over the bodies scattered across my anteroom。 Outside I could hear shouts and cries as reality…or what we accept as reality…returned。
I did not wish to share my thoughts with anyone at this moment。 We had won； yes。 But the 〃war；〃 for that is what it was； wasn't over for me。 There was one more battle to be fought； one more victory to be gained； a victory owed to the dead and to the yet to be born。
〃LORD AMALRIC ANTERO； and Sir Janos Kether Greycloak； please step forward。〃
Janos and I were in the citadel of the Magistrates。 It was less than a week later； but it was as if an era had passed in Orissa。 The Old Guard who'd believed themselves triumphant had vanished from the halls of power。 Now Ecco sat at the center of the Magistrates' Bench。 Sisshon had announced he was suffering from a rare disease within two days of the battle of the villa； and retired for intensive； private treatment。 His supporters had similarly found tasks that generally took them far from the city。
Three days after the battle； the Emergency Regulations had been suspended； and Orissa began working its way back to normalcy。 But there were changes…one of the most notable had been the knighting of Janos。 He noted； a bit amusedly after the ceremony； that his knighthood would not be hereditary。 〃Evidently they worry about what a half…breed's bastard offspring might bring upon them in the years to e； assuming I have any such issue。 But I am well content with this honor； since as we all know the world shall end with my death or transfiguration。〃 He laughed mightily and； in the pany of Sergeant Maeen and Rali； drank with his spurs on。
Most important； the Evocators' stranglehold on the city had been broken。 Those who'd been in Cassini's camp were no longer to be seen in public。 As a matter of fact； none of the Evocators paraded through the city with the same panoply they had in the past。 Jeneander； Prevotant； and their ilk were busy trying to determine what the new order would be and how they could somehow control it。
Gamelan had returned and now spoke for the Evocators。 For this momentous event he now sat beside Ecco at the bench。 We stood at attention as he spoke。 Behind us was a throng of our supporters； from Rali to Malaren to； it seemed； half the inhabitants of Cheapside。
〃It is the decision of this Council；〃 Ecco went on； 〃after full consideration and consultation with the proper spiritual forces； that the city of Orissa proclaim a Great Finding； a journey intended to unite the men and women of this city with the fabled beings of that land monly known as the Far Kingdoms。 To this end； we direct all citizens of Orissa； and all residents of lands under their protection； provide Lord Antero and Sir Greycloak with anything they need to successfully plete their task。 We now proclaim a crusade； a crusade of peace that will open a new and golden age。
〃Lord Antero 。。。 Sir Greycloak； go forth now。 And seek the Far Kingdoms。〃
The Last Voyage
CHAPTER NINETEEN
City of Ghosts
THERE WERE BUT twenty of us； and we were all hard； fit； and young。 We had but one goal： the Far Kingdoms； and one rule： never do the expected。 It was good that we thought of this expedition as if we were going to war； because from the time we left Orissa following the last winter storm； through our landing on the Pepper Coast； to our journey to the river's headwaters； nothing was either peaceful or normal。
When we embarked secretly at the mouth of Orissa's river on one of my newly built twin…hull fast traders； which was captained by L'ur； all of us could feel strangeness gathering…like fog wraiths collecting around an autumn fire。 We made a fast crossing of the Narrow Sea； our intended landing a few leagues below the Shore People。 Janos and I planned to visit Black Shark； inform him of our presence in his land； obtain what few supplies we needed； and request neither he nor his people boot our presence about。 We unloaded our cargo on a beach and began assembling our equipment as L'ur took his ship swiftly back out to sea； leaving no sign of our arrival。 There were two asses for each man； each one ensorcelled so he was voiceless。 On them we carried our armory； dried foodstuffs； certain weapons； and rich gifts intended for use when we reached the Far Kingdoms。 We intended to treat the animals as if they were treasures themselves： in our pany were two hostlers with excellent reputations for knowledge and dedication。
Leaving the unloading in the capable hands of Maeen； Janos and I headed for Black Shark's village。 Fortunately dawn broke before we reached it； because we might have passed through its center without noticing…the village and all its people had gone。
The huts had been torn down and burned； but other than that； there was no sign of violence。 We searched the shore and the riv…erbanks； none of their boats remained but one； and that was an old four…man canoe that had sunk unnoticed next to where their dock had been。 I asked Janos what he thought had happened。 He shook his head； not knowing。 Greycloak waded into the river and asked me to help him drag the wrecked canoe out。 Puzzled； I did as he asked。 He drew his dagger； hacked splinters from the craft； and put them into his belt pouch。 We rode back to our party and marched off。
We were moving both fast and slowly； which seems a contradiction； but is not。 Janos and I had spent much time discussing this expedition before even soliciting volunteers。 Once we had defined our expedition； we put out the word that men were needed。 Despite the disaster of the second voyage； half of Orissa volunteered。 We took only the young； the fit； the patient； and those with senses of humor as hearty as their muscles。 Rali tried to enlist； but I conv