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afternoon when he had a few moments to spare。 〃Whether bread rises best when the tides are high or low and if horses with heavy haunches are haulers or runners。 A fisherman asked if it was best to lay the nets at the dark of the moon。 And a woman； by Butala； even asked if I thought her daughter fair and then pressed me to try her out to see if she would make a good lover。〃 His grin flashed through his dark beard； and he stroked his moustache。 〃Fortunately； it was no test of my veracity to answer yea to both of those questions。〃
If Janos was bemused by this idolatry； he did not let it affect him。 He threw himself into this madness with a single purpose： when he emerged； he would lead the next and； he swore； final expedition to the Far Kingdoms。 〃I am not a politician；〃 he said。 〃I have no desire to be Magistrate； or king…if that were this city's custom。 Riches are for rich men； let them enjoy their greed if they can。 An idea is the only thing of value in this life； and I am beginning to suspect it is the same in the next。〃
It might seem Janos was the obvious choice to head the second expedition。 In fact； it was so obvious for a time it looked very much as if it would be denied him。 In our naivete； we also were surprised that the main voice of opposition was Cassini。
Heroism； or at any rate the public recognition thereof； is an odd human trait。 A person does not emerge from a great trial with a hero's mark on his or her brow。 Heroism must be conferred； others must decree it； still more must accept the declaration and willingly bow in the streets when the hero passes。 Once someone has been acclaimed a hero； it is not so easy； we learned； for that mantle to be ripped away。 Cassini's supporters； and they were many； were certain he was the victim of injustice。 The lies he told were garbled in the passions that followed。 Some conveniently forgot the lies； some said his words were deliberately twisted； some said Janos and I had faked our deaths for an unstated； dark purpose。 Many of his supporters were only honest fools： if you have shaken the hand of a hero and praised his name at hearth and tavern； it is difficult to suddenly think ill of him； since his heroism reflects on you。 Cassini's most powerful supporters； however； had more plex reasons。 Influence； and therefore fortune； had been staked on Cassini。 To admit his villainy would be to suffer humiliation； and in the corridors of power where battles are won or lost on an errant word； humiliation cannot be countenanced。
There was one other thing in Janos' way： there were a quiet but mighty few who had no desire to investigate the Far Kingdoms。 They were content with the way things were。 Their coffers were full； their slaves pliant； and they saw only danger to their forts if there was any change whatsoever。
Malaren； a friend and fellow trader； summed it up well one day。 He was my age； and although a bit of a fop； was a hardheaded thinker who masked his talents with an airy； devil…may…care attitude。 〃Oh； you don't have to convince me； my dear Amalric；〃 he said。 〃I find it all quite exciting。 Quite。 But； everyone knows I believe Orissa has bee a dreary old hag with a scraggly beard。 It is my father； and my father's ilk； you must sway。 He thinks Orissa is still a fine beauty。 And well he should。 He does not have to lift a finger； and gold pours off his ships。 He does not care a whit when I tell him his sons and daughters will not have it so easy； and it will be harder still for his grandchildren。〃
〃But he must see that in a single stroke we can vastly increase our city's influence；〃 I argued。 〃And it isn't just profit and influence at stake。 Why； think of all the knowledge to be gained； man！ By all accounts the people of the Far Kingdoms have much to offer us。 Their very existence amid so much adversity shows that in many things they must be our superiors。〃
〃That is exactly what frightens him the most；〃 Malaren replied。 〃At the nonce； my father is a large serpent in shallow waters。 He feeds at will with no effort。 But how will he measure up when he meets his counterparts in the Far Kingdoms？ What if they are twice his size 。。。 or more？〃
〃But it isn't just up to us；〃 I said。 〃We cannot make the Far Kingdoms disappear into legend again by merely turning away。 Lycanth； I assure you； will be quick to step into that gap if we do。 And then I can guarantee his shallow kingdom will be quickly overe。 His profits； nay his very life； will be threatened。 Believe me； the Lycanthians won't be patient enough to allow him to die in dignity and then confront his children。〃
Malaren mused a bit； then nodded。 〃Your final argument；〃 he said； 〃has not been stressed enough。 Let me take it to him。 Then we'll see。〃
Shortly after that； Cassini's friends staged an elaborate but very private banquet to honor him。 No one knew what transpired； so secretive were the proceedings； but the following week； all sorts of rumors attacking Janos sprang up。 It was charged that he was in the pay of Lycanth。 In fact； he was the son of one of the Archons； and practiced black magic to confound the good people of Orissa。
Janos seemed unconcerned by these attacks。 When I urged him to fight back； to reply to these slanders； he refused。 〃Cassini is behind it all； as everyone knows；〃 he said。 〃All I can do is repeat what we have already charged： that he is a cowardly； self…serving liar。 Unfortunately； I think the more I repeat it； the more chance I have that same charge will be tied to me。〃
〃Then what do you propose to do？〃
〃Stay the course；〃 Janos replied。 〃Every day that passes sees another group swayed to our side。 Moreover； I have been so overwhelmed by requests to volunteer for the next expedition； I was going to ask you for funds to set up some means to handle them all。 I am a soldier； not clerk； but by whatever bloodless god who favors clerks； I swear I shall never malign their breed again。 My quarters are overflowing with all sorts of scrolls and documents and whereases and wherefores。〃
〃Consider it done；〃 I said。 〃I can loan you someone； plus space at one of our offices。 However； aren't you a little ahead of yourself？ The second expedition hasn't even been officially approved； much less a man to lead it。〃
〃I know that；〃 Janos said。 〃But I plan to go on as if this could never be in question。 Too many people believe in this thing。 There's no sense in giving our opponents an opening。〃
〃That is an excellent attitude to take；〃 I said。 〃However； when you speak of all the people who are opposing your quest； there is one group who are small in number but wield vast influence。 And that is the Evocators。 They are plainly behind Cassini。 I suppose they don't have any choice； since to condemn him would be to risk condemnation of themselves。 However； no matter how many in Orissa agree with us； in the end the Evocators can block us pletely。〃
〃Do you really think so？〃 Janos asked； and I could tell he doubted it。 〃Why； in not much more time； if the great Te…Date himself stood in the way of the mon folk； I fear they would rip him apart to get to the Far Kingdoms。〃
〃Perhaps you are right；〃 I said。 〃Although I think you have much too rosy a view。 Still； the Evocators are a powerful force。 And t