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…such as they are…will not stay our hand； I promise you。〃 Maeen clanged sword against shield to punctuate the remarks。 The soldiers did the same； and the ringing of war metal against war metal made the crew cowards。 They crept back in silence。
〃The wind will e； when the wind will e；〃 Janos said。 〃We have plenty of food and drink and only the heat to bear。 Te…Date will bless us soon。 He is obviously busy now with the distress of others who are in real danger。 But he will e to us by and by。 Has he not been called by a great Orissan Evocator？ Te…Date would never ignore such a blessed one。 Now； go about your business and leave us be。〃
〃You heard 'im； you whoresons；〃 L'ur bellowed。 〃There's plenty to do to bide the time。 And if you can't find work； I'll find somethin' for you。〃
The sailors dispersed； and L'ur set some of them on the buckets； heaving hi seawater and flooding the decks to cool us off。 I looked for the crop…eared man who'd accused me； but didn't see him。 Janos jumped down from the keg and went to Cassini； with me just behind him。 The Evocator's face was white； and his eyes shifted warily as we approached。
〃What did you do； man？〃 Janos growled anger； dropping all customary respect for an Evocator。 〃I gave you good money and plenty of it。 I even directed you to the best place to buy wind spirits。 Why did you ignore my words？'
Cassini shook his head。 He had no answer。
〃I'll tell you what you did；〃 Janos said。 〃You thought you'd buy cheap and pocket what was left over。 You thought you had talent enough to sniff out the good among the cheap。 Am I right？〃
Still Cassini did not answer。 I saw from his look that Janos' remarks had struck truth。 I also saw a flush at his throat and knew guilt struggled with anger。 This would not do。 Cheat or not； fool or not； we needed Cassini。 Orissan law and the power of the Council of Evocators had put him in our pany； and there he must stay until we were home。
〃I am sure it was only an error； Janos；〃 I said。 〃Perhaps he took a wrong turn in seeking the address。〃
Cassini grabbed at it。 〃That's it；〃 he said。 〃I was sure I went to the right place。 And I paid full price。 I am sorry for my error。〃
〃Don't think too hard on it；〃 I said。 〃All of us will make errors on this journey。 And please forgive Captain Greycloak for his temper。 The weather is trying on us all。〃
Janos saw what I was about and quickly changed tack。 〃You are right；〃 he said。 He turned to Cassini。 〃Please forgive my rudeness 。。。 and stupid accusations。 My blood was up。〃
〃There is nothing to forgive；〃 Cassini said。 〃All is forgotten。〃 The three of us smiled and went to choke down a little food。 But I knew from the tightness in Cassini's smile that Janos' intemperate words would not be forgotten。
The winds Janos promised did not e； and the days passed in stifling misery。 While the Kittiwake drifted； its sail slatting limp and lifeless； we lay in whatever shade we could find； panting like dogs。 One day as I sat under an awning； sharing a jug of well…watered wine with Janos； my mind turned to that first night we had met； when Leego and his dogs trapped me at the tavern。
〃Consider this； Janos；〃 I said。 〃Perhaps my hair is lucky。 Through it I fell into Melina's clutches； which is ill fortune on the surface。 But the gods are wondrous indeed in their workings； for without that ill fortune I would never have met you and set out on this journey。 And the meeting itself was of the greatest luck imaginable。 For if you had not sought an alley to relieve yourself； Leego would certainly have killed me。〃
I meant this as a bit of a tired jest； but Janos did not favor it with a smile。 Instead； he frowned； struggling for a moment with some inner turmoil。 I was astonished at what he finally said。 〃I'm ashamed to say that meeting was no accident；〃 was his reply。 〃I think it is time I confessed what really happened。〃 He took a long pull of the wine。 Then； 〃Maeen came to get me after you refused his safe pany。 He said there was a young man of noble birth who seemed intent on daring trouble。 My honest response to this was laughter。 For what do I care about rich men's sons？〃
He looked at me； but I made no reaction； for I was confused at this belated confession。 〃But then I thought； perhaps here is opportunity；〃 he continued。 〃As you know I was seeking support for an expedition since I arrived in Orissa。 I did not know if you could be the man to help； but I thought it wise to gamble。〃
〃So you were waiting outside the whole time？〃 I asked。
Janos nodded。 〃I should have e out of duty or honor； at Maeen's first word； but I'm ashamed to admit I did it for selfish motives。〃
I was charmed by this admission。 It made Janos seem more human。 I didn't doubt for a moment that after this time our friendship bloomed from honest ground。 Otherwise； why would he confess？ It did him no good to shine an ill light on his own deeds。 I have learned since my youthful reasoning powers were poor protection； for men and women do many things for many motives。 And although I now believe Janos was my Mend； he could not help but play on my weakness。 For he was a creature of his obsession。
I poured more wine； new interest making me forget the heat。 〃Thank you for that；〃 I said。 〃It takes a strong man to admit a failing。〃
Janos laughed ruefully。 〃I have more failings than strengths； my friend；〃 he said。 〃But I appreciate your words just the same。〃
〃You are a most curious person；〃 I said。 〃My sister called you mad； bad； and dangerous to know。 And my sister is not often wrong。 Tell me about yourself； if you would。 All I know are the rumors of the marketplace and the few hints you've dropped。 How is it you find yourself here with me？ Awaiting the winds from a lazy god。〃
Janos's face darkened。 At first I thought I had offended him by prying。 His next words shook me。 〃Damn all the gods；〃 he said； voice hoarse。 〃They never e when they're wanted。 And arrive only when disaster is plete。 Do not depend on the gods； Amalric。 For they are as cunning and mean as any demon。〃
I was too amazed at this blasphemy to speak。 Janos rushed on。 〃Let me tell you what happens to those who trust in the gods； instead of setting their own course。 As you know； my mother was the daughter of an Orissan noble； and my father was a prince of Kostroma when they were joined。 When he returned to his homeland with his bride； his father had died and the populace was waiting to anoint him king。 This was a heavy responsibility and there were brothers who could have taken the load； but the people wanted him 。。。 and with great reluctance； he accepted。〃
〃Why would one be reluctant to be a king？〃 I wondered。
〃For many reasons； as you shall see if you live long enough。 But in Kostroma a king's lot was especially difficult。 For a king of Kostroma was responsible for the city's luck。 It was the law when calamity struck； and all hope was lost； it was the king who was required to lay down his life for the kingdom as the ultimate sacrifice。 My mother's family was partly correct in viewing Kostroma as a land of barbarians。 But my family was much more civilized than their imaginings； of course； and in the few years I was given with my parents I had all sorts of skille