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fist。 There were four squat peaks in the range； with a curved fifth that made the clenched thumb。 The peaks were of black volcanic rock； dusted with snow。 Snow drifts picked out each digit of the fist。 The valley between the thumb and forefinger rose smoothly upward…passage through that black range。
A passage to 。。。 my thought was pleted by Janos' whisper of awe 。。。〃。。。 the Far Kingdoms。〃 I was uplifted by that truth。 I was light as a kite and yearned to fly to that distant land and see for myself。 A land no one in the known world had walked before。
A shriek rent the image； and it was gone。 I gaped as I saw the demon rise； unblemished and strong as before。 Across from it stood the naked man。 He stamped his booming challenge； the demon roared its return； and they charged across the circle at one another。 But before the batants could meet； they vanished。 The golden circle was empty。
I blinked as the black gloom was swept away。 I turned to look at Janos。 His face was bloodless above the beard； but his eyes were alive with inner fire。 He looked at me as if to speak； then shook his head。 Cassini stirred beside me。 I turned and our eyes met。 His were as alive as Janos'； but it was greed and ambition that fired them。 I'm not sure I realized that then。 Perhaps I am coloring my memory。 I do remember I felt joy 。。。 and uneasiness。
〃Praise be Te…Date；〃 Gamelan said； from across the chamber； 〃protector of the weary traveler。〃
〃Praise be Te…Date；〃 we all murmured in return。
〃The omen is clear；〃 Gamelan said。 〃Your expedition has equal chance of success or failure。〃
〃But at least we know the goal is worthy； holy one；〃 Cassini said。 It was his right as our Evocator to reply。 〃The omen portended the Far Kingdoms lie just beyond the black mountains that look like a fist。〃
〃Do not let your wishes cloud your reasoning powers； young brother；〃 Gamelan admonished。 〃The vision was of mountains… not of what lies beyond。〃 Cassini hesitated and I feared in that pause our chance might be lost。 The omen said neither yea nor nay。 The final decision still rested with the Council of Evocators。
〃May I speak； lords？〃 Janos asked。 Gamelan nodded； giving him permission。 〃You say there is grave danger ahead； with the oute of the expedition in doubt？〃
〃So speaks the omen；〃 Gamelan agreed。
〃But was there any danger for Orissa？ Will anyone be threatened； or suffer if we fail？〃
〃Only your families；〃 Gamelan said。 〃For failure will mean certain death。 In that； the omen was plain。〃
〃Every man here is willing to risk it； my lords；〃 I broke in。 〃In our hearts we all know great glory can e of this。 Glory for our dear Orissa…flower of all the civilized world。〃
The Evocators considered at length； then exchanged a few whispers。 Finally； Gamelan turned to us。 〃Permission is granted；〃 he said。 〃All praise Te…Date。〃
〃All praise Te…Date。〃 Our reply was a shout。 In my mind the image rose of the fisted mountains and the snowy passage that led through them。 And for a moment I thought I saw a glimmer。 Just a flash of golden light where the thumb and forefinger met。 A flash where the Far Kingdoms awaited。
CHAPTER SIX
Lycanth
THE GODS SHOULD have set the scene more carefully： the day was sunny； the cloudless sky a soft blue； and a gentle breeze； tangy with salt； blew off the sea below us。 Against this gentle backdrop rose Lycanth； a most inappropriate city to see on such a day。 The weather should have been dark； with storm clouds scudding across the sky。 An icy wind should have keened like lost souls； and the sea should have been a gray and white maelstrom。 This was the nightmare panoply that Lycanth deserved。
It has changed much since then； so let me describe it thoroughly。 Lycanth was built at the end of a peninsula； a peninsula whose tip hooks like a crooked finger。 In that crook is one of the greatest deep…water harbors known。 I heard a sage say the peninsula once had a volcano at its end； when it erupted； aeons before man broke his chains and escaped from Godhome to settle the earth； fire fought with water； but the sea； as always； was the victor。 The harbor is the crater of that volcano； a volcano many Orissans wish would return to life； because Lycanth has been the cause of many deaths and sorrow for our city。 The crater is steeply cliffed； and there is but one way down from the peninsula to the harbor…a gently shelving passage that might be a lava slide that solidified。 The passage has been smoothed by man and time until it is as regular as a sculpted ramp。 Around the harbor and down the peninsula's neck； the men who became known as Lycanthians built their city。
The peninsula is narrow； so where we built Orissa as a sprawl across rolling hills； the Lycanthians built upward； and tall buildings stretched toward the sky…buildings that looked to have been carved from a single stone by a dark giant The sun would shine for only a few moments each day in the streets below the buildings。 Janos had told me these buildings were warrens； crowded with apartments and workplaces。 The higher the floor； the more expensive the dwelling。 But the eye barely noted these stone towers at first。 It was drawn to the brooding sea castle at the tip of the peninsula。 From here the two Priest…Kings of Lycanth； the Archons； ruled…together with their council of sorcerers。 In that castle were their treasure vaults and； far below； Lycanth's dripping dungeons and torture chambers。
The castle appeared impregnable。 But it had been taken once； a battle that began in treachery and at night； and ended in fire and sword。 It had fallen to Orissa twenty years before I was born in the final battle of the Second War of the Cities； when we regained our freedom from the occupiers whose heavy heel had been at our throats for five generations。 Once the victory was in hand； however； instead of obliterating Lycanth and all Lycanthians from this world； we made an honorable peace。 Our Magistrates reasoned that were there no Lycanth； another power could well rise up； one just as likely to be hostile。 Or else； if unoccupied； the cursed land could provide a footing for anarchy。 We were also unwilling to hold Lycanth as a vassal state…there is little profit in a garrisoned and hostile land。 That was why the sea castle still loomed on its promontory。 If the city was to be allowed to stand； mon humanity and dignity before the gods required Lycanth to be able to defend itself against the pirates that swarmed the Narrow Sea。 All we required was reparations for the damage done to Orissa； sacrifices to the ghosts of those killed during the two wars； and death gifts made to their survivors。 There was one other requirement： a permanent reminder of their error in considering Orissa a city of fat merchants and powerless gods。 So we ordered the destruction of the immense wall they'd built across the neck of the peninsula。 We forced the secrets of the wall's protective spells from the sorcerers； and our mightiest Evocators bined powers in a massive enchantment of dissolution and decay。 Their purification before undertaking the ritual filled more than a year； and the Spell Saying itself occupied a month。 Three Evocators died in the enchanting； and even when it was finished； legions