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was not even sure we still lived。
I cursed Cassini with all the foul oaths I could think of。 Then I said； 〃Deoce； what did you do？ I am sorry he brought you false grief。〃
Deoce shook her head。 〃I did not grieve； Amalric。 I knew you were alive and unharmed。〃
〃How？〃
〃Believe me 。。。 when 。。。 if you ever pass beyond 。。。 I will know。 I will know。〃
I did not ask further。 〃So after Cassini announced his lies？〃
Deoce had tried to argue； had asked Morning Fog to cast bones to confirm her own feelings。 Morning Fog had found no indication we had e to harm。 But neither had he found signs of our well…being。 So； Cassini said； the party must immediately retreat… back to the Pepper Coast 。。。 and then Orissa。
At this point I thought Sergeant Maeen； who was nearly recovered from his bout with the sickness； would burst into tears。 〃I trained them；〃 he said brokenly。 〃I thought I knew those bastards。 I thought 。。。 I thought they would stand firm。〃
They did not； especially when Cassini announced that his spell indicated that we had left signs 。。。 signs that would leave a trail back to the Rift for our enemies。 No matter that the Rift leaders had said this could not happen。 Panic set in…within a day they had gathered supplies； packed the animals； gone up the stairs and out of the Rift； heading west。
〃I cursed them；〃 Deoce said。 〃But I am not an Evocator。 I asked Dawnhope to curse； too； but she said her people could not。 That would kill the big spell； and they would be as naked as we were； out in that waste。〃
〃P'raps th' bastards'll die in the desert；〃 Maeen growled。 〃Or be eaten by th' pit creatures。〃
〃No。〃 It was Janos。 He had e back and appeared to be quite under control。 〃No； that will not happen。 I have my own prediction。 Anyone fleeing the Far Kingdoms has little to fear； beyond the normal treacheries of this land。 Somehow I feel Cassini will make it all the way to Orissa。〃
〃Then we shall deal with him there；〃 I said grimly。
〃If we are able。 But that is not of great concern；〃 Janos said； and I saw his eyes shining like they did when he first told me of his grand dream。 I knew his meaning。 We had failed； true。 But this was only the first time。 There would be another； and another； and yet another if needed。 I extended my hand； and Janos clasped it。
We would return； by the gods…and the Far Kingdoms would be ours。
The Second Voyage
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Heroes and Liars
WE SPED INTO Orissa's main harbor two months later； a stiff； late morning breeze at our backs。 Despite the hour； there was no one around to admire L'ur's skillful handling of the Kittiwake Two as he came about in a feisty wind and brought us to dock。 I scanned the riverfront for familiar faces； but there was only a derelict or two to return my gaze； and an old fisherman repairing a net。
〃I see you have only slightly exaggerated the grandeur of Orissa； Amalric my love；〃 Deoce said dryly。 〃The teeming harbor； the broad avenues； the hustle bustle of the marketplace。〃 She glanced about the empty riverfront again； then turned to Janos。 〃Tell me； Janos； is it always this crowded； or did I only arrive on a particularly busy day？〃 Janos shook his head； as puzzled as I。
〃I don't understand；〃 I said。 〃Normally we'd barely be able to hear one another over the babble。〃
Deoce laughed。 'There he goes again； trying to turn the head of the pretty barbarian girl。〃 She deepened her voice to mock a man's。 〃Yes； my dear； I am a great man in my own country。 A rich man。 With a fine villa and many servants。 Now； if you'll only tarry in my tent a moment or two longer 。。。〃 She pinched me for the frown I wore on my brow。 〃There； there。 Even if you are poor； I'll love you just the same。〃
〃Believe me； Deoce；〃 Janos said； enjoying her joke； 〃our friend is not poor。 Take my word for it。〃
〃Oh； I will； Janos。 I will；〃 Deoce said。 〃But in future； please spare me descriptions of…she flung out her hand to take in the empty riverfront… 〃teeming harbors。〃
I leaped from the ship and strode over to the old fisherman。 〃Where is everyone； grandfather？〃 I asked。
He peered up with rheumy eyes； his gnarled fingers tying knots in the net as he considered me； my costume； and my two panions。 〃You're in bad luck if you're set on unloadin' today；〃 he said； nodding at the Kittiwake Two。 〃Fact； you'da been in bad luck yesterday； and the day afore yesterday； and the day afore that as well。〃 He shook his head at our imagined misfortune； loving every moment of it。 〃And mark my words； tomorrow it'll be just the same。 Maybe after that； things'll be back t' normal。 Although there's lots of folks bound to be in line ahead of ya。 Lots of 'em。〃
〃We'll be fine； grandfather；〃 I said； 〃although I thank you for your concern。 I only want to know what has happened？ Where did everyone go？〃
〃You look Orissan；〃 the old man said； 〃so I guess you musta been away a long time if you don't know。〃 He eyed Deoce； letting his beady gaze linger a moment。 〃She ain't Orissan；〃 he said。 His gaze jerked away just as Deoce's temper began to boil； and came to the coin I held out。 He whisked it away and resumed his knot tying。 〃Thankee for that；〃 he said。 〃I got a powerful thirst that needs tendin'。 Now； for your question； young lord。 'N my answer。 There's big doin's。 Been big doin's； four； maybe five days； now。 Most folks've got sick heads from all the celebratin'。 Only reason I ain't got a sick head； is I run outa coin。 Drank my purse flat empty； I did。〃
〃And what are these big doings in celebration of； my friend？〃 Janos asked。
〃You boys musta been gone for a spell；〃 the old man said。 〃Didn'tcha know we went and found the Far Kingdoms？〃
I exchanged glances with Janos and Deoce。 〃That is amazing news；〃 I said。
The old man wheezed laughter。 〃Not by half； it ain't；〃 he said。 〃Why； us Orissans're on top all the way now； for sure。 And the Lycanthians'll be swallowin' our wake。 'Course； we didn't actually set foot in 'em； but it's close as dammit； I tell you。 Close as dammit。〃
〃And who is the hero who came so close？〃 I asked； barely keeping an edge out of my tone。
〃A young Evocator；〃 the old man said； 〃Fella wasn't worth much before； I hear tell。 But he sure is worth somethin' in folks' eyes now。 His name's Cassini。 Maybe you heard of him？〃
〃Yes。 I have；〃 was my only reply。
〃Well； Cassini is probably the biggest hero Orissa's ever had；〃 the old man continued。 〃He got back a few months ago。 The powers that be kept a lid on it for a while； till they'd heard the whole story。 But it weren't no use。 Whole city was buzzin' with it。 I mean； we all thought the Far Kingdoms was just a suckling's story； right？ But now we know it's true。 Pretty soon we're gonna go back； and we'll be shakin' hands with the folks in the Far Kingdoms。 Then there won't be nothin' to stop us。 Yessir； there's glory days ahead for Orissa。 And I'm just glad I lived long enough to see it。 From here on out； we're all gonna be rollin' in gold and pleasures。〃
The old man grinned； displaying blue gums。 〃Anyway； they decided to make a big announcement。 Which they done。 And the Evocators and Magistrates declared a whole week of feastin'。 Which we're almost at the end of right now。 This aft'noon； in fact； every