按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
but I convinced her that at least one Antero must remain behind； if for no reason than to make sure Orissa did not revert to its old evil ways in our absence。 She grudgingly agreed。 The twenty volunteers we accepted were wildly varied： two had seen service with the Frontier Scouts； for example； one had been a forester； two brothers had； I suspected； been poachers； and so forth。 There was even a rather effete teacher of music whose avocation was climbing castle walls without rope or spikes。 The final member of our party was Lione。 A message was brought to us by his warder。 Evidently the man had not improved his ability to live with other people； and was now in a condemned cell。 Humorless he may have been； and unpleasant he certainly was； but bravery and toughness counted much in this undertaking。 I paid his blood…fine； and he became the twentieth。
On the first day the twenty were assembled at one of my remote country estates； Janos told us we were to behave as if all men's hands were turned against us。 He said we must think of ourselves as if we were a band of irregular soldiers or bandits； and all of us must be supremely fit。 That was taken care of during the drear winter； as Maeen； who I now realized was a demon in human guise； ran us over rough country until we pleaded for mercy。 At that point he would make us do individual exercises； climb trees； or scale cliffs。 We also played games…games intended to develop our eye for cover and the country。 Hare and Hounds sounds childish； until the rules are changed so that the hare； if captured； is thrown into a millpond。 In the dead of winter that penalty is not laughable。 When pletely fatigued； Maeen would have us draw maps or solve intricate puzzles。 Little by little we formed ourselves into a team。 The nightmare of the unknown caverns came back to haunt me； but I was so exhausted from Maeen's exercises； it did not trouble me more than twice。
Now； moving through the lands beyond the Pepper Coast； we became skilled in the arts of banditry。 We spent long hours in cover； observing open land before we crossed it； especially paying attention to the behavior of the animals and birds。 It was another ominous note that we encountered few game animals； and heard bird songs but seldom； as if the land had been hunted out。 Or； I thought； as if the animals had sense to flee from a storm gathering to threaten their land。 The few villages we'd seen on my Finding were also abandoned； and we never saw any of the hunters or scouts who'd peered at us through cover。
We traveled to the headwaters of the river without incident； although all of us could feel foreboding presences around。 But there was one relief…we were not troubled by the minor curses we had been on my Finding。 Perhaps； I wondered； our enemies sensed we were beyond such harassment and would prefer to obliterate us cleanly with some Great Spell in the future。 We saw Watchers several times； and hid。 Since we did not know whether they boded good or evil； we thought it wisest to simply be invisible。
We never moved in a manner that might be expected。 Thus； if the easiest route would lie along a valley floor； or on that old； long…abandoned road we had used on my Finding； we never approached it。 Nor did we ever use the peaks of the hills for our course。 Not only were hillcrests the province of the Watchers； but we could be easily seen from below。 We zigged and zagged as we traveled； always keeping within range of the areas we knew from our earlier travels； but never repeating a former route。 This expedition was also no endurance contest： we typically traveled for two turns of the glass； then rested for half a turn。 Exhaustion； Janos kept telling us； was as deadly an enemy as any ambusher； a tired man； for instance； might stumble up a hill into a trap because his eyes were sweat blinded and his mind intent on his tortured； wheezing lungs。 As before； we cooked only at midday； and that with sheltered fires of dry wood。 Frequently we did not cook at all and contented ourselves with grain mashed into water and spiced。 Twice we netted fish from the river and filleted them； 〃cooking〃 them in the sour juice of a fruit native to the region。 Despite all the caution； we reached the flatlands in shorter time than my Finding had taken； and in less than half the days it took the massive second expedition to mark the same point。 Then we moved with even greater caution； since there was little cover but the copses of trees and occasional folds in the ground。
Four days after passing where I'd arbitrarily decided grasslands had bee desert； we encountered the slavers。 As before； their outriders appeared and flanked our course。 Janos called a halt and drew me aside。 〃We have a choice；〃 he said。 〃We can either wait until they attack us； either magically or in person； and then deal with the situation 。。。 or we strike first。 It is my mind to do the latter。 I have had quite enough of these skulking nomads。 In future days； they or their brothers will harry caravans and travelers to the east； and be a continual plague。 I believe we should set a terrible example now； so that in days to e no one will dare trouble travelers from Orissa。〃
I hesitated； thinking surely there must be a way to avoid such slaughter： we might lose them or find some other means to trick them。 Then I bitterly recalled how kindly we had been treated on the Finding； and how even more charitable the slavers would have been if we had surrendered rather than attacked。 Then I thought of Deoce： rage rose red； not entirely directed at these nomads。 〃Do what you will；〃 I snapped； and to this day I am sometimes troubled by that decision。
〃Good。 We shall annihilate these hyenas；〃 he said。 〃But not solely by force of arms。 We shall use other； more convincing tools。〃 We changed course； now traveling toward the slavers' outriders； but indirectly； not wishing to give even a hint of our intent。 Before dusk they galloped off into the distance。 But we could see where they were headed…toward another oasis where the remainder of their party would be encamped； waiting。
〃We will take them as they sleep；〃 Janos said。 He ordered us to give him our daggers。 In the sand he drew a V that was pointed toward the oasis。 A second； shallower V closed the open end of his figure； so that it now looked like a spear… or arrowhead。 There was no pretense that Janos was not spell casting； or that he was not serving as an Evocator； even though such acts were still forbidden to all Orissans who were not Evocators。 He drew a large circle below the spearhead and placed all of our daggers in it… points toward the center。 Next； he took practice arrowheads from our quivers and laid them in the circle in the same manner； their small heads touching the dagger tips。 He took a pack from one of the asses； a pack that contained some of the supplies he'd acquired in his travels。 At the three tips of the spearheads in the sand； he imbedded tiny wooden wedges。 He spoke words； and the three wedges smoked and flamed； without ever being consumed。 Then he carefully lifted a vial from the pack and unsnapped the two catches holding its lid in place。 Ten feet away； the smell from that vial hit us； and I almost retched。 The stink was long…rotten meat； from what creature I did not care to guess。 Janos laid a bit of this corruption at the center of the dagger ring； then quickly covered the vial and walked back to us。 The reek seemed not to bother him。
He considered his work thoughtfully。
〃A bit of blood would help；〃 he mused。 〃But not from one of us。 That would give a wrong indicator。 Perhaps 。 。 。 yes。 You。 Lione。 Take this measure〃…and he handed the swordsman a minuscule gold cup from the pack of sorcerous implements…〃and bleed one of the asses。 Take no more than is required to fill it。〃 I saw Lione's hand shake as he took the cup。 But he obeyed orders without question and soon the ass's blood was sprinkled across the dagger blades。 Janos stood behind the circle and began his incantation。 As usual； it consisted of unknown words…names of gods； perhaps； or just a foreign； wizardly tongue？… interspersed with phrases I could make out。 〃This is 。。。 gift 。。。 beyond life 。。。 death 。。。 worm corrupts 。。。 And dies itself 。。。 gift。。。 The White Peace 。。。 beyond 。。。 Until the jackals e。〃 The small tapers flared 。。。 then went out。
Janos turned back to us。 〃The spell is plete。 Each of you take your blades； and the men who carry bows divide these arrows among you。 Under no circumstances； until I cast a counterspell； use either arrows or blades for any purpose； and make very sure…as you value your life…not to cut yourself。 We will watch until their camp fires burn down。 Then we shall close on them。 If they have sentries； I promise you they will not see us as we approach。 We will take position on this side of their camp。 Each archer is to select a target； and then； on my signal； hit the man with your dart。 Then we attack。 Do not use any weapon other than your daggers unless you must。 You will need but to touch an enemy for him to be destroyed。 I will indicate one person in their camp。 I will be responsible for him。 Do not harm that man； or you shall face my wrath later。 Now。 We shall eat and rest。〃
Late that night we crept out from our camp toward the oasi