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To celebrate midwinter's eve； the city people announced a feast。 It was in a great hall； with long tables； rare foods； and a woman seated beside each man。 Servants ran back and forth with platters and pitchers while musicians played and perfume floated through the air from scented tapers。 〃I do not know why I came armed；〃 Maeen said。 〃But I did； slipping a fighting dagger into the sleeve of my robe…violating all that I know of hospitality。 And the gods be thanked for my discourtesy。〃
He did not see any signal； but the woman across from him suddenly plunged a dagger into the back of her panion。 The hall went mad in a screaming welter of blood and slaughter as swords and knives cut down the Orissans。 〃My blade slashed before the one beside me could free her own。 She fell； then the captain was on his feet； smashing them； using a great candelabra as a club。 I knew we were dead men； but it was as if the people were entranced by the blood they'd spilled。〃 He shivered。 〃I saw a woman； fair and blond； on her knees ripping at General Versred's throat like she was a lioness。 And then she 。。。 and the rest of them 。。。 fed。〃
The men and women of the city ravened into the corpses； but seemed to have no interest or concern for those Orissans yet alive。 And while this spell lasted； the survivors of the shattered expedition fled； grabbing what weapons and supplies they could； racing out into the storm and the night and the winter。 Eerily； they were not pursued by the loathsome people who inhabited the city they called Wahumwa。 〃Perhaps they had all they needed；〃 Maeen said。 I thought just so； and that human flesh was not their real objective； but kept it to myself。
There were perhaps two or three hundred Orissans who lived through the massacre。 The ranking officer was Janos； of the officers； only two legates survived。 The long retreat began。 Now the scythe swung hourly as men dropped from exhaustion； from thirst； or were captured or slain by the desert tribesmen。
〃At last there were but thirty or so of us； and Janos the only officer。 We had no means of navigation but the sun and the stars； and wandered from our intended course。 Finally we struck the sea； but west of the Shore People's land； on a deserted coast。 Two of the men had grown up on the water； and knew how to build rafts。 We lashed together a crude craft； made a small sail from what garments we could do without； and put our fate in the hands of the gods； hoping the current would carry us to Redond。〃
They never reached the trading city。 Instead； they were captured by a raiding galley。 〃They claimed to be pirates； but all of them behaved like well…trained sailors。 Lycanthian navy； I guessed。 Eight more of us fell in that battle。 The rest of us were chained in the forepeak of the ship； and the ship sailed for Lycanth。
〃Captain Greycloak and I made a plan； and when we were brought on deck just outside that cursed bay of Lycanth； we put it in motion。 The idea was for Janos to start a fight； and hope the others would join in。 Since I was a great swimmer as a boy； I was to leap into the water； and strike for land。 If the captain could break free…he would go after me。〃 Maeen shook his head； shamefacedly； as if somehow he had failed。 〃But the last I saw was the captain being borne down by guards。 Then there were arrows falling all around me； and I had to swim underwater for a space。〃
Maeen made his way to shore in time to see the galley pass over the great chain that guarded the entrance to Lycanth's harbor。 There was nothing he could do for Janos or the others； except carry the tale to Orissa。 He told of this final feat most matter…of…factly； as if the wild creatures and the roving Lycanthian patrols were not worth the notice。 I guessed； after such a long and gruel…ing journey； they might not have been。
Maeen was finished。 I poured him another brandy； and bethought myself as to what should be done next。 But matters were taken out of my hands within two hours。 Someone…a guard at the gates； someone in the streets； perhaps even one of my household…had spread the word。 Orissa wept and rent its garments。 There had been catastrophe in the city before。 But never before had there been such a disaster。 No survivors of the two thousand； except for Maeen。 All of them either dead； lost in the wilderness； or made slaves： three Magistrates； young but highly respected； General Versred and his staff； other officers； all known for their bravery； all of the Magistrates' Own Guard except the skeleton headquarters staff and one cohort； and heaping over all of it； the hundreds of corpses of mon soldiers； some of the bravest； most adventurous young men of Orissa。
Maeen was summoned before the Magistrates and told his story。 I had suggested certain omissions； such as any criticism of the late General Versred； the deadly slow pace of the expedition； or of Janos himself。 Not that it would have mattered； I realized； as I listened to the anger and wails of mourning。 Maeen was ordered to repeat his tale at a city gathering at the Great Amphitheater； and again the frenzy roared up。 Orissa was hysterical： rumors； charges； and accusations clamored across the city like flames in dry brush as to what had really happened。 The flames were fed by the Evocators； with Cassini in their forefront。 Not only should the expedition have been made solely by sorcerous means； the Evocators casting their presence through spells； but it was foredoomed； being led into a trap by Janos Greycloak。 He was a traitor； a double agent in the pay of the Archons。 He was worse； a fiend from beyond； not even human。 Who； after all； had ever gone deep into the interior； beyond Redond； and found this province of Kostroma？ It was Janos who was keeping Orissa from its sacred mission to join up with the Far Kingdoms。 Janos' supporters would hear none of this； but their arguments that this tragedy was caused by the Evocators； who wished to preempt the glory of the Far Kingdoms for themselves and sustain their miserable theocracy； were not listened to。 Even Gamelan found it politically expedient to withdraw to his retreat beyond the city； there to immerse himself in the wisdom of the Other Worlds before making a statement on the terrible events。
Once again the libels against the Antero family surfaced。 We； too； were not really true to Orissa； but gave fealty only to gold coins and silver bars。 One night a bravo even chanced； within my hearing； that the noble Evocators had sensed corruption within my brother Halab； which was why he died。 I drove the man's teeth down his throat with the butt of my dagger and would have butchered him like a hog if Rali had not dragged me away。 She and Maeen were now the only fort in my life。 But even that brawl was one of the few bright colors I remember。 It was as if all the world was cast in a gray mist； and that a veil hung between me and life。 Deoce and Emilie were more in my thoughts than any of this shrilling and screaming。
It was about this time that the dream returned to me； the nightmare of being a tortured prisoner led by a being I now saw as Greif the Lycanthian through strange caverns to my destruction； a fate part of me weled in the dream。
I caught myself glooming at the river near da