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be our friend is not among the present winners。〃
〃But there must be something more than a simple power struggle；〃 I said。 〃Jeneander is a fool； and Cassini a liar。 But they are skilled Evocators。 Why can't they help us？ I don't think it is a conspiracy； mind you； for they would be damaging themselves as much as us。〃
〃I know of no facts；〃 Ecco said； 〃and I hesitate in participating in the spread of rumor。〃
〃Hesitate no more； sir；〃 I replied。 〃Not if rumor suggests explanation。〃
〃You have heard； or witnessed the strange doings at the palace of the Evocators？〃 he asked。 I said I had。 〃Well； this rumor arises from those odd lights and odors and such。 It is said by some that Cassini and his fellows are engaged in wicked magic。 For what purpose； the rumors do not indicate。 However； what is said； is that the practice of that black sorcery has drained the city of its natural magical energy。 And this is why all the spells cast in our behalf have failed； or are so weak that they might as well be failures。〃
〃Do you believe these tales？〃 I asked。
Ecco gave another sigh； long and weary。 〃No。 I suppose I don't。 But it certainly is tempting； for it would explain much。〃
〃And it would also relieve Orissa of any guilt that we have somehow offended the gods；〃 I said。
〃There is that。 However； there is no way of finding out； so it is pointless to speculate。〃
Ecco drained the brandy I had given him and rose to go。 〃If you hear from Captain Greycloak 。。。〃
〃I will inform you immediately；〃 I said。 And he was gone… leaving a long trail of unanswered questions。
There was nothing that could be done but hope。 But hope was a mother with withered dugs that year； for the bad times continued without relief。 Just before the first frost came the worst blow of all。
It was on one of those idyllic； early winter evenings in Orissa； when it is just cold enough to enjoy a fire； with perhaps a small storm outside to give the windows a gentle rattle and send you to a warm bath and early bed。 Deoce and I made sleepy love in the big feather bed； afterward…feeling not a care in the world…I arose to add more fuel to the fire and to fix us both a hot brandy drink。 I noticed her face was flushed when I handed her the drink； but thought it was from our lovemaking。 As I turned to get my own； she gave a gasp； and the tumbler crashed to the floor。
I whirled back； full of concern。 〃What is wrong； dear？〃 She gave no answer； but gripped her head； her face was twisted in pain。 〃You are sick；〃 I said in alarm。 〃I'll fetch a healer in a moment。〃
Her reply was weak。 〃No； Amalric。 Please； there's a storm and you'll get cold and wet。〃
〃Nonsense。〃 I hurried to put on my clothes。 She tried to get up to protest again； but then another wave of pain struck her； and she gave such an awful moan that I shouted for young Spoto； the chambermaid； to e and watch her while I rode for help。
The storm had worsened； it had a sharp chill to it； and bits of hail nibbled at my face as I thundered down the road。 It was quite dark by the time I reached the healer's house； but I could make out the glowing symbol of his Evocator's license。 He was eating a late supper； but came without plaint； and before long we were riding back down that road。 This time the storm was driving straight into our teeth； and we had to fight the horses through the hail and sleet。 But soon we arrived at the villa； and I rushed the healer to my lady's chamber。
Deoce lay groaning in the big feather bed。 I knew the pain must be fierce； for she was not one who plained； preferred； in fact； to ignore her ailments away。 She opened her eyes when we came in； they lay large and unnaturally bright in her head。 The healer got out his things； and I went to the bed and kissed her； her fever was so hot the kiss burned my lips。
〃It's just a winter chill；〃 Deoce said； trying to reassure me。 She made a weak smile and reached to pat my hand； but she gave a low cry of pain and let the hand fall。 〃By the gods of the Salcae； I feel awful；〃 she said。 〃I ache in every bone and there is a great hammering in my head。〃
I forced a cheery smile。 〃There you are； then。 A winter's chill； exactly。 You will be up in no time； my love； dandling Emilie on your knee。〃
Deoce looked alarmed when I mentioned our daughter。 〃Emilie？ How is she？ Have you checked her？〃
〃She is well； Lady Antero；〃 Spoto said。 〃I've just e from the nursery； and A'leen says your daughter is sleeping peacefully。〃
Deoce sighed relief； then gave herself up to the healer； who had laid out his charms and mixed up a potion for the pain。 First he checked her： prodding here and there for tenderness； sniffing her breath； directing candlelight into her eyes。 Then my heart leaped as I saw him hesitate 。。。 as if puzzling。 He gave a barely perceptible shake of his head。 Then he smiled； and I imagined it as forced as my own； for I was grinning like an idiot to maintain a cheery appearance。
〃A winter's chill； as we said…isn't that so； my good sir？〃 I asked。
Again the hesitation； then； 〃Uh 。。。 Yes 。。。 Yes！ Just so。 A winter's chill。 Now； if you will relax yourself； Lady Antero； and drink this potion。 I've put a dollop of honey in it to lessen the bitterness； but you'll still not like its taste。 But if you will humor me； please； and drink it all in one gulp 。。。〃 She did as he said； emptying the tumbler as quickly as she could。 〃Now you may close your eyes； if you will； my lady； and you will soon be asleep。 I'll cast my spells； and we'll drive those little demons out。 Then； as your good husband prophesied； you shall be well by morning when you awake。〃
I sat beside her as she closed her eyes； taking her hand to give her fort。 The hand was fiery with the fever； and her finger joints seemed swollen large。 Suddenly her eyes opened。 〃You'll watch Emilie closely tonight？〃 she asked。
〃Of course I will；〃 I said。 〃And I'll post Spoto by her bed all the night through。 And we have a healer with us； so you needn't worry on Emilie's account； if she should catch the chill as well。〃 I kissed her； and her eyes closed again。
〃I love you； Amalric；〃 she murmured。 I said I loved her； too。 〃You have been a good husband to me。 And a good father to Emilie。〃 I answered by stroking the hot hand I held。 She yawned…the potion was taking effect。 〃You know 。。。 I think Emilie looks 。。。 just 。。。 like 。。 。 you。〃 And she fell asleep。
The healer motioned me back； and I sat in a chair in the corner； while he lighted the incense pots and sprinkled in the ingredients to cure a winter chill。 He chanted an ornate set of fire beads to life； then broke them apart and scattered them around her bed。 He tossed in more of the special dust； and the dots of lights became a glowing circle。 Then he lifted his hands and began to swiftly murmur the spell。 But the lights suddenly dimmed； and Deoce cried out； but did not awaken。 The healer seemed startled by what had happened。 He shook his head； then fetched a box with some other powder and sprinkled the dust into the pots。 The beads brightened； and the healer sighed in relief； but his relief was frightening to me； for I was forcing myself to believe all was very usual； very routine。 As he started his chant again I waited； tense for anoth