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sort of thing a father might carve for his son。 No child will ever abandon a plaything unless it is ruined…or unless he is dragged away from it。 I felt soldiers had e to this hamlet and taken away everything of value； including its people。 No one had time to flee； unlike our friends of the Rift。 The Disputed Lands； if we had indeed entered them； were well named。
We slept not far beyond the village that night； and were wakened by the sound of horses' hooves。 We shrank down against the ground； hoping we were invisible。 From the sound； there would have been many riders…Janos flashed the fingers of one hand three times。 I thought I saw plumed helmets against the night； less man a spearcast away； but was probably deluding myself。 The next morning； when we cautiously investigated； there were no droppings or prints where the riders had passed。
〃Now the Watchers ride in groups； like half…pany patrols；〃 Janos said。 〃We are close。〃
An hour or so later； we entered a thick forest whose trees climbed far overhead； long uncut。 We lost sight of the sun and depended on our pass for direction。 By nightfall we were still in the depths of the wilderness。 We slept uneasily。 Not only were there strange sounds from unknown creatures hunting or being hunted in the blackness； but I felt closed in by this； the first real jungle I'd been in。 Once I heard wing beats as some huge night bird flew overhead。 The next morning we ate hastily and hurried on； forcing our way through the vines and thick brush。
Quite suddenly the forest came to an end。 We stood on the outskirts of a great plain； a rugged plain now turning brown as the Month of Smokes drew near； but whose grasses earlier would have been as yellow as mustard in bloom。 There was the green of forests； and the silver of running waters。
Beyond was the mountain range。 There were four peaks in the range； and a fifth that twisted like a huge thumb。 We had reached the plain that stretched to the Fist of the Gods。 It was yet too early for snow； and we appeared closer than in my vision； so I could tell there were striations in the peaks beyond just black volcanic rock。 But by all that is holy； I thought； we had found the Fist of the Gods。 Beyond lay the Far Kingdoms。
I turned to Janos as he looked at me。 Both of us went a little mad for the next few moments： mazed shock； imbecile gape； then both babbling； neither hearing the other。
Silence。
〃We found it；〃 I said。
〃We did。〃
〃Did you really believe we would？〃
Neither of us met the other's gaze or made an answer…perhaps there had been too much sorcery and danger and disappointment on this Finding for us both really to maintain self…confidence。 Then the solemnity was broken and we were looning around like a pair of prize fools。 Eventually we collected ourselves。
〃Damnation and ice；〃 I said。 〃I should have found space in my pack for a flagon to celebrate。〃
〃We do not need it； Amalric；〃 Janos said。 〃That stream up ahead will taste better than any vintage。 We can make camp there； and I estimate we are no more than three or four honest days' travel to the foot of the pass。〃
'Three days in the mountains beyond that； perhaps；〃 I murmured； 〃through the pass； and 。。。〃
〃And the Far Kingdoms will lie beneath us；〃 Janos finished。
We shouldered our gear and started toward that stream。 I could have flown or floated the distance。 No longer did I feel where the wilderness's thorns had snagged my skin or my stubbed toes and worn soles。 We had done it。 We had gone where no Orissan or Lycanthian had ever gone。 I knew in that moment not just that we had made history； but we had changed all history to e。 Once we saw the Far Kingdoms on the far side of that pass； and if we returned safely…which I was certain we would…nothing would ever be the same again。
I noted a pair of Watchers far distant to the side； away from the direction we would travel in； but paid little heed。
We were less than a dozen yards beyond the treeline when the trumpet blast sounded。 From a copse a few spearcasts away rode three horsemen。 Then from around its side rode another twenty。 These were not Watchers…we could hear the calloo of their shouts…shouts exactly like Orissan hunters yelp when the boar breaks cover and they couch their spears and go after it。 Nor were these cavalrymen dressed in the immaculate parade…ground armor of the Watchers； but instead in the practical； steel…reinforced leather of earthly soldiers。 I saw men rise up in their stirrups； drawing bows。 Three arrows thudded into the ground just yards in front of us； and we turned and were running。 We darted back into that wilderness； and I have never been so glad to see brambles； tangles； vines； and strangling bushes as in that moment。
I needed no guidance from Janos now to think like a startled hare； ground squirrel； hedgepig； or badger being run by hounds or hunters。 Behind us； as we tore our way through the brush； vines trying to hold us back as if we were in a small child's nightmare； we heard horses crashing into the forest fringes； shouts； orders； and mands。 Now they would lose time； dismounting and following us afoot； or perhaps going back out and riding around the forest to lay an ambush。 Neither course mattered…the two of us could hide in these thickets for years； until they brought up entire armies to b for us。 And we could outwait them here in these woodlands； which were now as precious to me as my own bedchamber had been when winter's storms roared。
My spirit soared and sang。 We had seen the Fist of the Gods。 Now all that we needed to do was lose our pursuers； return to the Rift； and then； moving with great cleverness； reassay the journey。 Our men would have recovered by now； and Sergeant Maeen and our soldiers were more than able to stand off any cavalry patrol we were unable to elude。
There was nothing that could stop us。 We would enter the Far Kingdoms before winter。
Or so I thought。 But when we returned to the Rift； we found only Deoce and Sergeant Maeen waiting。 The others had abandoned us。 Janos and I had traversed the foothills and the rolling country without real incident。 There had been patrols on the land looking for us。 All of them were posed of very material； very real soldiery。 They were petent； Janos assessed。 But using his woodcraft skills； we were able to slip past them easily。 Plus； Janos supposed； they were seeking a much larger party…we would be taken as the party's outriders or scouts。 We refrained from using the talisman for a back plot； instead using my carefully drawn map that Janos had muttered at as a waste of time。
Then； safely in the Rift； I felt my world totter； seeing the wreckage that bastard Evocator had wrought。 No one said anything while I raged。 Janos stalked off； black faced； toward the lake。
I found control and asked what had happened。 Just two days after Janos and I had left； Sergeant Maeen had fallen ill。 Cassini must have seen that as his chance。 That night； strange smokes and colors had e from his hut。
The next dawn he had announced； somberly； that evil had struck Janos and myself。 We had fallen into the hands of an enemy。 He was not even sure we still lived。
I cursed Cassini with all the foul oaths I could think of。 Then