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he demon vanished； and there was no one standing on the Archons' podium。
We turned and stumbled out。 There was nothing in the square； lit by the dying torches； except the sprawled body of something that had once been very beautiful。
〃THAT is THE custom in Lycanth；〃 Janos told me later； when I was able to talk about it。 〃When the Archons or their diviners descry a doom or an evil descending on the city； sacrifice is made。〃
〃No doubt it is always an outsider。〃
〃Not always；〃 he said。 〃I have seen natives of the city； even a young Evocator once； choose themselves。 Those who offer themselves to save Lycanth are mostly young。 Mostly handsome。 Sometimes those who make the choice have spoken out against Lycanth。 Or are hereditary enemies of the city。 Or merely stand out。 That was why I asked you to wear the cap。 Perhaps those reasons are why the 。。。 the creature who must not be named 。。。 stopped by our party。 But perhaps not。 Perhaps the woman barbored greater secrets and greater feelings than any of us。 And that 。。。 that was not the worst death I have seen the Chosen One find。〃
I hesitated； about to ask him how he knew to write the counterspell； but decided against it。 It was not a question to be asked aloud in Lycanth。
It was time to go； our ship and crew were provisioned and ready。 We would leave in two or three days； on a leap tide。 Evidently Janos had found all he needed from the black market； since I did no longer see Greif about。
Janos； Cassini； and I were in one of the city's weapons shops； choosing suitable instruments for the journey； weapons that would not shriek of our origin。 I eyed a beautiful rapier of watered steel； which had a jeweled and golden guard and pommel and a gold…mreaded grip。 Next to it lay a matched dagger。 The smith murmured that an Evocator had cast a spell of invincibility on both weapons。 I asked the smith if I might handle them。 Both seemed to float in my grasp。 But not being an experienced warrior； I turned to Janos to see what he wanted me to carry。 He himself already had his weapons…the same he'd carried the day I met him on the drill field in Orissa。
〃Carry what you wish；〃 he said。 〃No man should have his individual weapons dictated before he goes into battle； unless the mander has specific reasons。 But those two； handsome as they are； would not be my personal choices。 First is that it is not advisable； particularly in a small party； for officers to be easily recognizable。 Hence you do not wear a long crest； gold workings on your armor 。。。 nor jewel…like curlicues on your blade。 There is nothing that makes a soldier lose heart so fast as seeing his mander fall。 I also have known waterfront toughs to assassinate a man solely because they lusted for his sword。 As for those enchantments 。。。 can you imagine any man heading for battle； whether he's a peasant armed with nothing but a brass…bound club or a great lord； whose weapons have not been blessed by someone？ An Evocator； a witch； a local sorcerer or 。。。 or an Archon？ Plus the field of battle itself swirls with spell and counterspell； even more thickly than the dust raised in the struggle。 I have always felt that battle spells and weapon talismans tend to counteract and hence negate each other。 But that's just my feeling； or maybe cynicism。 Lastly； the rapier may be well built； but consider this broadsword； instead。〃
He indicated…and the smith was quick to hand it to him another sword。 It was built like a claymore； but shorter and its grip intended for but one hand。 〃Sturdy。 Double edged。 Also of obdurate construction。 You could probably do what I'm about to show you with either blade…but the more slender one could take a cast。〃 He took the blade tip in one hand； the grip in the other； and bent the blade into an arc； his muscles bulging。 I knew the steel must snap…but instead； it curved into a near semicircle。 Janos let it ease back and nodded to the smith。 〃No magicking here； Master Kanadis。 Just the finest of metallurgy。〃
〃You have found me out。〃 The smith grinned。 〃I share your skepticism about sorcery's place on the battleground； although I would be the last to deny an Evocator's blessing before the fight。 I have； however； hired an Evocator to place a charm against rusting on this…and all my other watered…steel blades…so they may be used aboard ship； for instance； without the owner having to spend all his waking hours cursing and scrubbing with an oil…soaked rag。〃
〃A sturdy sword；〃 Janos continued。 〃Better than the rapier for travel； since you will find yourself using that sword for everything from a tent stake to a brush cutter to a spit； although I will speak most harshly to you in the event I see you thus distempering the metal。 And these simple； straight quillons will serve to stop an enemy's slash； yet not bind as 。。。 as some other weapons I can think of might do。〃 I reddened a bit。 I thought Janos had forgotten my performance as less than a master of the duello down at the riverfront in Orissa。
〃Here is a knife to match；〃 Janos said； passing me a rather modestly worked scramasax … a single…edged knife with a fairly long and broad blade grooved on both sides。 〃This will be your copse； carcass； or thief cutter； which you will keep always beside you。 The sword you will find unfortable； and tend to leave by a campfire； or tied to your saddle； especially just before you need it。 And this dagger can be your salvation。 All else you'll need is a small knife for cutting your meat； which you may pick out over at the cutlery section。
〃Do you agree； Master Kanadis？〃
〃I do。〃
〃Two men who know better than I have spoken；〃 I said。 〃Although sometimes I feel less the master of this expedition than its sponsor； as if I were an old dodderer infatuated with a vapid sim…perer。〃
〃And all of us whores appreciate you；〃 Janos said； with a laugh。
〃One more thing；〃 he said。 〃While we're on the subject of； er； ostentation。 Your hair。 I've known great chieftains who are proud of their locks； and dare an enemy to shear them。 I have admired them。 From afar。 Especially during a battle。 We will be traveling through regions whose peoples think it blessed by the gods to hunt down a flame…headed man and pitch him off the nearest cliff to ensure a beneficial harvest or perhaps just better weather the next day。〃
I considered。 Janos had a smile on his lips； but it went no higher。 I remembered the castle courtyard and the hound。 〃When we return to the inn； I shall have Eanes shear me like a young lamb；〃 I promised； and reached for my purse to pay the smith。
Cassini； who had listened but said nothing during our exchange； bought the exotic rapier and its panion。
〃DO NOT HAND me the mirror；〃 I begged Eanes。 〃Just tell me what I appear to be。〃 My hand stroked at the emptiness where my hair had curled in waves to my shoulders。
〃Perhaps；〃 Eanes said thoughtfully； 〃a galleyslave。〃
〃Or a thief intended for the Kissing of the Stones；〃 Janos put in helpfully； peering around the corner。
〃A criminal；〃 I moaned。 〃A condemned man。〃
〃You're too harsh； my master。 You could also pass for a holy man who's taken a vow of celibacy。〃
〃Definitely that；〃 Janos said。 〃Possibly even a castrato。〃
〃I think；〃 I said； 〃I shall go