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elf occupied a month。 Three Evocators died in the enchanting； and even when it was finished； legions of Lycanthian war prisoners were required to clear the rubble； and in some cases topple still…standing stones。
As we drew closer to Lycanth； Eanes beckoned to me。 I cantered back to him。 Eanes； along with Sergeant Maeen and the ten guardsmen who'd volunteered to acpany Janos on my Finding； rode in a great ox…drawn charabanc； together with our baggage and the chests that contained our gold and silver。 Janos； Cassini； and I were on horseback。
〃Why；〃 Eanes wondered； pointing at the still…blasted barrens where the wall had stood； 〃don't the Lycanthians build out here； now that their great battlement's been turned into anchor weights？ Or are they afraid of forest spirits？〃
〃A good question； my friend；〃 Janos said。 〃And there is a reason。 Lycanth thinks it is shameful that their wall was torn down； and I have heard men growl that one day the wall will rise once more。 So the statute limitations go no farther than this barrenness and no Lycanthian will build beyond； for fear he might be thought to approve of their defeat。〃
〃We should have sold their men to the Ifora；〃 Cassini said； 〃taken their women for our pleasure； turned the city stone from stone； and sowed the ground with salt。 My skills do not extend far into prognostication as yet； but I feel in my bones； that we shall be troubled by Lycanth again。〃
〃Harsh words；〃 Janos said。 〃I am not sure I agree with you as to whether Lycanth should have been blotted out。 Across the Narrow Sea； in Valaroi； what you suggest is the way wars are fought； and I have seen the results。 But you are correct that Lycanth wishes to regain her old powers。 When I was in their service I heard such talk constantly。 And if they do； once again they will strike at Orissa。 The Lycanthians have long memories for anything they consider a wrong。 I found it necessary to guard my tongue closely…just as we must from this point forward。 All of us may be Orissan； or in Orissan service； but stressing those facts will make us few new friends。 Not here in Lycanth； nor； most likely； across the Narrow Sea in Valaroi。 I do not know how long a reach Lycanth has in those parts； although I helped garrison many of those watchtowers we've seen for the last two days。 We shall travel as anonymous traders； appearing to owe no allegiance to anyone。 It is far safer。〃
He stopped himself and grinned； a bit shamefaced。 〃My apologies； Lord Amalric；〃 he said； quite formal。 〃I meant； of course； that I would remend such an appearance of neutrality to you 。。。 but the decision is certainly yours。〃
I laughed； taking no offense。 Cassini might disapprove； but I refused to ran my Finding as if it were as rank…bedazzled as any army。 〃Any one of us who thinks he knows a better way had better speak up； or else we stand no chance of reaching the Far Kingdoms。 We will travel without banners or bugles； as you advise。〃 Janos nodded； still looking a bit shamefaced。
Eanes chuckled and said very quietly； for my ears only； 〃I have heard that no lion eats carrion happily。〃
WE HAD MADE a quick； if cautious journey。 The caution was especially necessary because of the amount of coinage I was required to carry。 If my Finding had been a monplace one； we would have had need for little cash； and whatever was necessary for trading and expenses could be drawn from local banks on my father's letter of credit。 But since our voyage was to begin in Lycanth； this was not possible。 The city was not only a longtime military foe； but a bitter trading rival as well。 My father's most hated enemy； a clan named Symeon…now headed by its youngest； and my father swore most evil； son； Nisou…was Lycanthian。 They had not only betrayed us in private third…party trading agreements； but； he was sure； used their knowledge of our trading practices to hire local raiders and ambush several of our caravans。 He'd advised me to be most cautious when we were in Lycanth。
The journey had been without incident…except for the witch。 The road had been narrow and rutted； running under huge； gnarled…branch trees。 We were all nervous； since this would be a perfect place to be raided。 Suddenly there was a woman in the middle of the road； blocking the way。
She was naked； but no man would feel lust stir his loins； not without a potion distilled ten times beyond the one I'd given Melina。 I thought she was fairly young； but I was not sure； since she was filthy； as if her last bath had been the fluid in her mother's womb。 Her blond hair scraggled around her face。 Before the drivers could pull at their reins； she lifted one hand； palm toward us； and the oxen stopped as if they'd been slammed between the eyes with the butcher's hammer。 I could hear the whispers from the soldiers； silenced by a mutter from Sergeant Maeen。 She lifted her other hand： from it dangled a bit of rope。 〃A tribute 。。。 a love gift；〃 she chanted。
〃We pay no one； mother；〃 the driver said。
She waved the rope。 'Tribute 。。。 or this rope 。。。 this string 。。。 this yarn 。。。 dangling loose； dangling limp 。。。 brave soldiers 。。。 dangling limp； dangling loose； and none of you will be able to honor your women 。。。 dangling loose 。。。 dangling limp 。。。〃 The soldiers stirred and their protests were audible； in spite of a barked mand from Maeen。
Cassini slid from his horse and walked forward。 He glanced up 。at where the sun shone through branches 。。。 then； smiling gently 。。。 at the witch； 〃Ah woman； ah woman； you see that tree 。。。 you see that shadow 。。。 the shadow of that tree is that tree 。。。 that tree's roots reach deep； deep into the soil 。。。〃 he chanted。 〃Like that tree you shall stand； you will stand； stand you must。。。 and you will not be seen by any traveler 。。。 and the next by shall be an axe to that tree； as an axe to your tree。〃
The woman was a stark statue。 I could see her lips try to move。
Cassini made a cruel laugh and said； 〃You may speak； you may speak； you have my blessing； oh tree。〃
〃Your pardon； your pardon；〃 the words came。 〃I knew not that there was one with Power among you。 I beg forgiveness。〃
〃Not from me； oh tree；〃 Cassini said。 〃Beg pardon from these men you called brave soldiers。〃
〃Men of iron； men of iron； you are like iron when you love； the rope is gone； the string is gone； the yarn is gone； it was never woven 。。。 you are iron； you are steel。〃
〃We thank you； woman；〃 Cassini said。 He walked back to his horse and remounted。 〃Amalric；〃 he asked； 〃is there a reason we cannot leave her to her fate？〃 A wail keened from her lips。
〃You are tree； oh tree；〃 the Evocator snapped； and there was silence。 I looked at the petrified woman。 No。 There was no reason。 I took three gold coins from my purse and dropped them in the road。
〃She can go free；〃 I said。
〃You have heard； oh tree；〃 Cassini said； reluctant。 〃You shall be free； but you shall stand； you will stand； stand you must； until the shadow of that tree you became no longer touches you。〃
I nodded to the drivers； and they tapped reins against the backs of the oxen。 They guided the charabanc around the witch； and we continued on。 I turned as we rounded a bend and looked for the last time back at the woman； standing in th