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As for myself； I had my family and business to see to。 An idea had e shortly after our return to Orissa。 It was an idea whose seed had begun to germinate after Eanes' death。 I thought I was a fool to harbor such a plan at first； but the more I saw how the folk of the streets reacted to the Far Kingdoms； considering it a possession； a birthright； the more the notion took root。 I first broached the subject with Deoce。
〃We have been together for only a short time； my love；〃 I began。 〃But in that time I have found you to be not only a loving wife； a solid friend； but the best counsel among all my advisers。〃
〃Thank you for saying that； my husband；〃 she replied。 〃But your preamble is entirely unnecessary。 For the day you cease asking； and accepting； my advice； is the day I book passage for Salcae； where there is no need for a sweet balsam before a woman is asked her opinion。〃
I blushed； and Deoce laughed and gave me a hug。 〃Never fear； dear Amalric。 If it were even possible for you to treat me as other Orissan men treat their wives； I would have seen it long before。 And I would never have slept with you in the first place。〃
She shifted in her pillows； seeking fort； then patted her belly； swollen large now with our daughter； Emilie； whom the midwives said would be with us very soon。 〃Listen well； little one；〃 Deoce said to the swelling。 〃Your father is about to speak。〃
I smiled and then said； 〃I believe I have found the cause for the unease that afflicts Orissa。 And it is also the reason why the Far Kingdoms have so captured everyone's imagination。 You； yourself； have touched on this ailment； and disease I think it is； many times。〃
〃The status； or lack of it of women； you mean？〃 she asked。
〃That's very much part of it。 Women are only one factor； however。 In Orissa； everyone is frozen in their roles at birth。 A woman can only attempt a few； approved things。 The same is true of all the classes in this city。 With rare exception； once a craftsman； always a craftsman； a stall keeper will remain a stall keeper； a laborer will continue to toil； and so on。 Halab encountered the ultimate barrier when he tried to bee an Evocator。〃
〃It is a very difficult city for someone with dreams；〃 Deoce agreed。
〃You hit it square；〃 I said。 〃Dreams are not forbidden in Orissa； but they are certainly not encouraged。 Oh； we fool ourselves。 We delight in the saucy talk and sassing the mon folk give us lords and ladies。 But let that sass bee more than a charming eccentricity； and that man or woman is done。〃
〃What do you propose to do about it？〃 she asked。
〃I would start with the lowest of the low；〃 I said。 〃I would free the slaves。 Remove that barrier and the flood will start。 Then all the dams will give way as each class thunders downriver to e against the next； until 。。。 Well； who knows。 Perhaps someday even a slave could bee a lord or lady。〃
Deoce delighted me with a glowing smile of approval that gave me as much pleasure as any feeling I have had in my life。 She said； 〃Speaking as a woman who was almost a slave； and as a woman in Orissa I am all but a slave in every place except this house； I heartily agree。 Our bold friend； Janos Greycloak； is an example of what a slave can achieve。〃
〃Freeing our own would be a small start；〃 I said。 〃We would have to be quiet about it at the start； for I fear a loud public announcement would raise so many passions that it would jeopardize the plan。〃
〃That is wise；〃 she said。 〃If we let it be known to a few at a time； and let that news go from trickle to torrent； it will have a greater effect。〃
〃The only trouble is my brothers；〃 I said。 〃For the Anteros must free all their slaves to make the point。 There will be a great family fight。〃
〃Good。 It will get their blood going。 Your brothers need a shaking up。 They've lived off your father's and now your boldness far too long。〃
My brothers did not take it well。 The Antero family owned perhaps one hundred and fifty souls； most of whom were either very expensive household slaves； skilled dockside or farm laborers； or educated clerks and managers。 By freeing them we would reduce the value of our family's wealth by one fifth。 My oldest brother； Porcemus； was the most opposed。 He was twice my age and of all of us most closely resembled my father； but with weaker features。 〃Your plan is insane；〃 he said。 〃You will beggar us。 Who will take the slaves' places？ Think of the wages； man！ We simply cannot afford it。〃
I said； 〃Money is not the question here。 If a thing is right； then it should be done whatever the expense。 However； if you insist 。。。〃 I took a ledger from the stack before me。 〃Review the figures I have collected and you will see it is cheaper to employ a man than to enslave him。 A free man pays for his own keep。And he works harder； because he can improve his lot； whereas a slave will always be a slave； so why should he trouble himself？〃 I opened the document and tapped a column of figures。 〃See； here； Porcemus。 Your orchard production has remained at nearly the same level for fifteen years。 Only once did it change； and that season showed an increase。〃 He looked at the figures； frowning。 〃This was the year when the fever laid all your slaves low；〃 I continued。 〃We had to hire free men and women to do their work。 And the harvest was greater； wasn't it？ There was also less spoil； because they worked faster and harder to earn more money。〃
There were murmurs of surprise among my brothers。 Porcemus； however； was stubborn as only a small…minded man can be。 〃You can't make such a judgment examining only one season；〃 he said。
〃I didn't。〃 I pushed the stack of ledgers over for him to study if he wished。 〃I found many other instances where similar parisons can be drawn。 Over the years our profits are always greater when we pay a fair wage； instead of using a slave。 To be fair； I did not include the trade our ships carry； although that is the bulk of our earnings。 As you know； we rarely use slaves in the trading business 。。。 for the reasons I just gave。 Even the least skilled trader knows there is no greater motive than profit。〃
〃I still say a demon has invaded you；〃 Porcemus said。 〃Why； if everyone freed their slaves； we would immediately double the number of citizens。 Most of our people are already an ignorant and filthy lot。 Now； we would have nearly thirty thousand more。 Anarchy would reign。 It would be the end of Orissa as we know it。〃 He angrily shoved the books back at me。 〃Hasn't our family suffered enough？ First； Halab 。 。。 and now 。。。 you。〃
I had expected an attack on myself； I was prepared for it and planned to be calm and reasonable。 It was not strange that my brothers would be jealous that one so young as myself had been handed over the leadership of our family。 The attack on Halab caught me by surprise； and I acted foolishly； slamming up from the table； the chair crashing to the floor。 〃If you were not of my blood；〃 I said； 〃I would kill you where you sit。〃
Porcemus turned a ghastly white。 My other brothers tried to calm me。 But it was not their words that soothed me； it was the sight of Porcemus' frightened face。 I was strong in my anger； and I could feel the easy play of my muscles； which had been tempered