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lake； knowing of the tiny perch around him。 He is not hungry at present； but sees those little fish。 And perhaps； in an hour or a week； when he is hungry； he might look at them more closely。〃 Cassini shook his head。 〃That is the best parison my mind allows。〃
We agreed to set a careful watch that night； less concerned with intruders than that one of our men might bee curious； investigate the scene of Cassini's casting； and spoil all of the work。 Janos； Cassini； Sergeant Maeen； and I would be the guardians。 Cassini took first watch； which started at once。 Janos told me later that he chose the Evocator because everyone would still be awake； and Janos would not have to worry about the sorcerer's petency。 Maeen followed； then I was to stand guard； and then Janos would take the final watch in the always hazardous predawn hours。
I was sleeping soundly when Maeen tapped me awake for my watch。 I took my weapons and found a station just inside the barracks door where I could look out into the starlit night without being seen。 Periodically I left the building and walked around it； to ensure no one was creeping up on us。 It was very peaceful and very still。 The sound of the river was soothing。 I felt refreshed by my sleep； and as if a weight had been lifted by Cassini's art。 I realized I had been as nibbled by those minor sorceries as any of my men。 I looked back at the pass； perhaps a sixth of a league behind us。 My eye was drawn to a rock formation on the hillcrest。 Then the rock moved and became two men。 Two men on horseback。
I should not have been able to see that distance with the degree of clarity my mind told me I was。 But I swear now I could see they were both wearing plate armor； strange for such a poverty…crushed land； and helmets with high crests。 My mind heard Janos' hushed description from that sunny afternoon under an Orissan wineshop's arbor。 〃Even their mounts seemed protected； since I saw another moonflash from one steed's head。 The position they took was exactly the one I would order now； if I were leading a patrol into unfriendly territory； overlooking the pass 。。。〃
I started to shout the alarm； then stopped myself。 The day had ended with enchantments； and everyone was frighted。 I had heard stories from old soldiers who were friends of my father about young sentries who swore a bush became an attacking enemy and men changed back to a bush when the watch mander was alerted or a spear was thrown。 Then I noticed there was nothing on the hilltop； the horsemen were gone； obviously it had been an illusion of the night。 Still； when I woke Janos for the last guard； I waited until he was fully alert and told him about my mirage。
Janos tugged thoughtfully at his beard。 〃So；〃 he said after a while； 〃Cassini's great fish may have several senses。 We could； if we wished； go to the hilltop after the sun rises。 The best that could happen is we would find actual horse droppings and hoof…prints； to prove someone human is watching us in this country。 But if we do not find such signs 。。。 well； either you imagined it； or 。。。〃 Janos snorted。 〃I think we should not say anything； or do anything at all； my friend。 If there were Watchers atop that bluff 。。。 are we even sure they are aware of us？ Assume yes。 Are they necessarily our enemies？ No one in Kostroma ever reported these ghostly guardsmen to do them physical harm。 And 。。。 even if they are aware of us； and assume they know all from their leaders' great wizardry； is it not unlikely they intend us no evil？ We did； after all； provide last rites as best we could for one of then…fellows。 Soldiers of any race 。。。 or even ones who were never birthed by human loins must certainly appreciate honors such as that。 Even considering that we did remove that talisman。〃
I found a smile at that one。 〃Friend Janos； you are now starting to sound like one of a pair of dullards playing odds and even。 If I had one stone in my fist last time； should I have the same number this time； and should I say I have one； two； or none。 Perhaps I should do the same thing； but no； my friend will know I did the same； and three casts ago； that was my plan； so this time I should 。。。〃 I let my voice trail off。 Janos was chuckling。
〃Thank you。 I was making myself as confused as a room of scholars wondering whether the mirror is the reflection or the reality。 Whether these Watchers mean us good or evil； or if they are as little concerned about our existence as that satiated great fish will no doubt make itself clear in time。〃
〃Should we consult Cassini？〃
〃I 。。。 propose we do not。 Let us see how the situation develops。〃 I thought that Janos Greycloak was more worried about this new unknown than he let on； but then； he was the one who had seen them once before as a boy。
Two nights later； higher up the river as it began to shallow and narrow into tributaries leading off into the hills； the Watchers were seen again。 This time by three men…Sergeant Maeen； a soldier； and one of the Shore People。 Again； they did nothing but sit their horses and then vanish。 Cassini insisted on casting an interrogatory spell； trying to find out who these Watchers were and whether their presence presaged good or evil for us。
〃Cast a spell in their direction；〃 Janos muttered。 〃How intelligent。 If they were not aware of us before； they certainly are now。〃
Cassini's spell produced nothing。 From his wizardry； these Watchers could be nothing else but a natural illusion…an unusual sort of mirage。 Janos also had a thought on this…that the Watchers might well have armor beyond what could be seen with the eye。 Cassini followed his bit of possible imprudence with something I knew to be dangerously arrogant。 The next day； he found the highest hilltop in sight； and； carrying a flaming torch to its top； 〃claimed〃 the land for Orissa。 By this I do not mean he professed physical rights to the land for himself or for our city…even in those days none of us； not even an Evocator； possessed such insolence。 The ceremony； which consisted of prayers and then the planting of seeds brought from our city； was intended to tell the beings physical and invisible of Orissa and its people。 The ceremony went on to request； although I thought it sounded more like a demand； that just as all beings from and of this land were entitled to respect and honor and protection under the real and Evocatorial laws of Orissa； so our party 〃requested〃 equal justice and consideration。
I did not think such a ceremony wise at any time； and am grateful I have succeeded today in banning it from use when Orissans travel abroad。 I certainly did not think it apt in this strange country； with its sorcerous 〃waves；〃 its unknown people and customs； and most of all those spectral Watchers。 But neither Janos nor I could say anything。 If I ordered Cassini not to perform the ceremony here or elsewhere； he would unquestionably report me to the Council of Evocators when he returned。 And they would； without a doubt； put the most selfish and even treasonous interpretation on what an Antero meant by such a mand。 Since this was yet another problem I could not solve； I tried to put it from my mind。
Cassini's conceit； in spite of his performance with the counterspell； was annoying eve