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I learned Deoce was a princess； as I suspected。 Her mother was the chieftain of a small but wealthy principality named Salcae。 In her clan； Deoce said； men； being better with details and smaller things； controlled the tents and the hearth； except in time of war； when everyone fought。 The women were the scouts； the leaders； the war captains。 For political reasons her mother had betrothed Deoce to a nobleman from another clan。 She was on her way to be married when her party was ambushed by the slavers。
At first I was greatly upset when told of the impending wedding。 But Deoce quickly put my mind at rest when she explained that the 〃nobleman〃 was a boy of less than six years； and since she had been in the pany of strange men for so long without proper chaperoning； there was no chance she would be considered suitable marriage material。 However； myself。。。 … concern turned to anguish for her when I heard this。
Deoce chuckled when she learned the reason for my dismay。 〃It only means now I won't have to marry a little boy；〃 she said。 〃In my own clan it is not so important to be a virgin。 It is only important to 。。。 other people。 People like〃…she shuddered…〃the slavers。 They were going to sell me as a harvest sacrifice。〃 She gave me a grim smile。 〃If I were not a virgin； at least I would have had a better chance of staying alive。〃
She looked at me； thoughtful。 I wondered what was going on in her mind。 Then she sighed。 〃In some ways；〃 she said； 〃it was easier when our 。。。 words 。。。 were fewer。〃
〃In what way？〃 I asked。 But she just shook her head and said； 〃Never mind。〃 Despite my question； I knew her meaning。 If anything； I had bee an overly courtly suitor since that day on the embankment when I tested her with a kiss。 Our newfound ease in speech drew me much closer to her than mere lust would have。 As we sat chatting； I realized we had bee fast friends。 We became even faster friends a bit later； when she quizzed me about my journey and I felt enough trust to tell her the nature of my mission。
〃The Far Kingdoms？〃 she cried when I named our goal。 〃Do you really mean to find them？〃 Her eyes were so full of enthusiasm and awe； I was gladder than ever I had chosen such a course。
〃The gods willing；〃 I said。
〃I am sure they must be；〃 she said； 〃or you would not have e so far already。 Among the Salcae it is said that once our people； and the people of the rest of the world； are joined to the Far Kingdoms； all violence will end。 No more banditry； or war。〃
〃No more war？〃 I laughed。 〃Now that is a pretty thought。 But； I fear； my lovely Deoce； war is a permanent affliction； and has nothing to do with the dark forces that are said to be battling the enlightened folk of the Far Kingdoms。 Sorcery it may be。 Evil sorcery； at that。 But killing is the nature of all things。 It does not need help from the forces of the dark。〃
Her answer was a wave of a hand to the spring that bubbled up from the roots of a large tree。 Beneath that tree； a hyena fled； howling mock fear before the onslaught of a fat young monkey。 〃It is not so here；〃 she said。 I had no rebuttal。
Then； out of nowhere； she said； 〃I must see this for myself。 I will go with you。〃
〃That is not possible；〃 I said； alarmed。
〃What do you propose to do with me？〃 Deoce asked。 It was a sensible question I had avoided for some time。 〃You cannot send me back to Salcae。 You cannot turn back…not when you are so close； so there is no way I can join a trading caravan； for there is no such thing in this desolate land。 You can only go forward。 It seems reasonable； then； that you supply me with weapons…I am a skilled warrior； as all women are in Salcae…and let me travel with you as a panion； rather than another burdensome bit of baggage。〃
Once again I was left without rebuttal。 I laughed； and she started to take offense； until I explained she reminded me of my own sister； Rali； who had a soldier's way of striking at the plain truth of the matter。 〃You would like my sister；〃 I said。
〃I am sure I will；〃 I thought I heard her say； but she spoke so low； I wasn't certain。 〃Pardon？〃 I said。
She opened her mouth to answer； then shook her head。 〃Oh； Amalric；〃 she said； 〃are the men of Orissa all like you？〃
〃I don't know what you mean。〃
〃Enough；〃 she cried。 〃What does a woman have to do to collect that kiss you promised？〃
With that she flung herself on me。 She was small； but her weight carried me back to the ground； and her mouth crushed against mine。 I was momentarily startled； but only momentarily； as eager female flesh squirmed against my own； and the fire I had kept damped so long exploded。 We dragged at each other's clothing until there was nothing between us。 I rolled on top of her； her legs splayed wide； hips thrusting to meet me； and I plunged into her like a wild man。 I felt resistance； heard her groan in what I thought was pain； and I tried to pull back。 But her hands gripped my buttocks and pulled me into her harder。 The resistance gave way； and madness overtook me again； and I rode her on and on； our hips slamming together； our mouths and hands going at one another like a fury。
We made love all that night。 In the morning we bathed； devoured a quick breakfast； then crept far away from our panions； where we made love until exhaustion overtook us。 As the days went by our passion only intensified； as did our love。 And there was no longer a question that she would acpany us on our journey。 I tell you now； if I were a Master Evocator I would cast a spell so powerful it would take me back to those days with Deoce in the peaceful wilderness of that mysterious crater。 I would live there with her until the end of our appointed time in this world。
I don't know how many more days we lingered； for I was too bemused with Deoce to keep count。 But when it ended； something precious was lost that I have never been able to find in all my long life。
It was just after the hunting period； when all the creatures reverted to their normal natures and ate。 We had scrupulously kept our part of the bargain during our stay in the crater。 That day we had taken two antelope and a few fish。 We roasted and ate with gusto and set the remaining meat out on drying racks。 Janos and I were sprawled on a bank； basking in the last sunlight； contented after our meal。 Cassini was restringing his bow。 One of the antelope had fallen to his arrow； to his enormous satisfaction。 It was odd that an Evocator should take such delight in the things mon men must do to win their daily sustenance； but Cassini strutted after a kill as if he were the most manly of hunters。
I heard Deoce give a delighted cry and raised myself up on my elbow。 She was standing beneath a sprawling fruit tree pointing up into its branches。 〃Look at the monkey；〃 she called。 〃It's marvelous。〃
I strained for a glimpse and spotted it perched on a branch； gnawing on ripe fruit and scolding Deoce。 It had an amazing coat： the creature's fur was a blaze of many colors…green and red and blue and gold； all swirling about in the most remarkable pattern。 〃I've never seen its like；〃 Janos said。 We rose to take a closer look。
Out of the corner of my eye； I saw Cassini rise as well； his bow clutched in his hand； but I thought not