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t 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 also mand the river to fold in and out at any point； making it easy for the farmers to irrigate and ensure bountiful harvests。 The crops that made up those harvests； he added； came from blessed seed that always bore fruit and repelled disease and insects。 I thought of our own hard…laboring farmers as we blew past unimaginably rich fields and orchards； I remembered with pain the ruinous flood and famine we had just suffered。 I prayed our journey might ease that labor； and rout suffering from our hearts。
We saw forests thick with game； hills laden with veins of malleable metal and valuable gems； and pastures bleating and lowing with fat herds and flocks。 We saw people of every variety： from farmer； to laborer； to merchant； to lord and lady。 They were a calm； graceful people given to easy laughter； which we heard floating across the water。 The men were handsome even to great age； and the women were pleasing to look upon； with time only touching thek features with wisdom and dignity。 Their children seemed the h