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fish from the river and filleted them； 〃cooking〃 them in the sour juice of a fruit native to the region。 Despite all the caution； we reached the flatlands in shorter time than my Finding had taken； and in less than half the days it took the massive second expedition to mark the same point。 Then we moved with even greater caution； since there was little cover but the copses of trees and occasional folds in the ground。
Four days after passing where I'd arbitrarily decided grasslands had bee desert； we encountered the slavers。 As before； their outriders appeared and flanked our course。 Janos called a halt and drew me aside。 〃We have a choice；〃 he said。 〃We can either wait until they attack us； either magically or in person； and then deal with the situation 。。。 or we strike first。 It is my mind to do the latter。 I have had quite enough of these skulking nomads。 In future days； they or their brothers will harry caravans and travelers to the east； and be a continual plague。 I believe we should set a terrible example now； so that in days to e no one will dare trouble travelers from Orissa。〃
I hesitated； thinking surely there must be a way to avoid such slaughter： we might lose them or find some other means to trick them。 Then I bitterly recalled how kindly we had been treated on the Finding； and how even more charitable the slavers would have been if we had surrendered rather than attacked。 Then I thought of Deoce： rage rose red； not entirely directed at these nomads。 〃Do what you will；〃 I snapped； and to this day I am sometimes troubled by that decision。
〃Good。 We shall annihilate these hyenas；〃 he said。 〃But not solely by force of arms。 We shall use other； more convincing tools。〃 We changed course； now traveling toward the slavers' outriders； but indirectly； not wishing to give even a hint of our intent。 Before dusk they galloped off into the distance。 But we could see where they were headed…toward another oasis where the remainder of their party would be encamped； waiting。
〃We will take them as they sleep；〃 Janos said。 He ordered us to give him our daggers。 In the sand he drew a V that was pointed toward the oasis。 A second； shallower V closed the open end of his figure； so that it now looked like a spear… or arrowhead。 There was no pretense that Janos was not spell casting； or that he was not serving as an Evocator； even though such acts were still forbidden to all Orissans who were not Evocators。 He drew a large circle below the spearhead and placed all of our daggers in it… points toward the center。 Next； he took practice arrowheads from our quivers and laid them in the circle in the same manner； their small heads touching the dagger tips。 He took a pack from one of the asses； a pack that contained some of the supplies he'd acquired in his travels。 At the three tips of the spearheads in the sand； he imbedded tiny wooden wedges。 He spoke words； and the three wedges smoked and flamed； without ever being consumed。 Then he carefully lifted a vial from the pack and unsnapped the two catches holding its lid in place。 Ten feet away； the smell from that vial hit us； and I almost retched。 The stink was long…rotten meat； from what creature I did not care to guess。 Janos laid a bit of this corruption at the center of the dagger ring； then quickly covered the vial and walked back to us。 The reek seemed not to bother him。
He considered his work thoughtfully。
〃A bit of blood would help；〃 he mused。 〃But not from one of us。 That would give a wrong indicator。 Perhaps 。 。 。 yes。 You。 Lione。 Take this measure〃…and he handed the swordsman a minuscule gold cup from the pack of sorcerous implements…〃and bleed one of the asses。 Take no more than is required to fill it。〃 I saw Lione's hand shake as he took the cup。 But he obeyed orders without question and soon the ass's blood was sprinkled across the dagger blades。 Janos stood behind the circle and began his incantation。 As usual； it consisted of unknown words…names of gods； perhaps； or just a foreign； wizardly tongue？… interspersed with phrases I could make out。 〃This is 。。。 gift 。。。 beyond life 。。。 death 。。。 worm corrupts 。。。 And dies itself 。。。 gift。。。 The White Peace 。。。 beyond 。。。 Until the jackals e。〃 The small tapers flared 。。。 then went out。
Janos turned back to us。 〃The spell is plete。 Each of you take your blades； and the men who carry bows divide these arrows among you。 Under no circumstances； until I cast a counterspell； use either arrows or blades for any purpose； and make very sure…as you value your life…not to cut yourself。 We will watch until their camp fires burn down。 Then we shall close on them。 If they have sentries； I promise you they will not see us as we approach。 We will take position on this side of their camp。 Each archer is to select a target； and then； on my signal； hit the man with your dart。 Then we attack。 Do not use any weapon other than your daggers unless you must。 You will need but to touch an enemy for him to be destroyed。 I will indicate one person in their camp。 I will be responsible for him。 Do not harm that man； or you shall face my wrath later。 Now。 We shall eat and rest。〃
Late that night we crept out from our camp toward the oasis。 Again； I thought of Deoce； and my eyes blurred。 The boil of anger caught me； and I became nothing but a long knife and a silent shadow。 Whether by caution or by a spell； the two sentries indeed did not see us。 Janos indicated one to Lione； and he took the other。 Both sentinels went down without a sound。 We moved on to the camp。 There were no tents pitched； and the fifteen or so nomads slept peacefully； using their saddles for pillows。 One man snored some distance from the others； and this man Janos indicated for himself。 The bowmen readied themselves 。。。 and Janos' hand flashed down。 The arrows； little more than toys； arced out。 We shouted once and charged。 A half…fuddled man arose in front of me； trying to fight free of his blankets； and my blade sank home…body forgetting Janos' orders to but touch an enemy。 Another nomad stumbled across my path； shouting… pain from a gashed arm。 I prepared to finish him 。。。 and before my eyes he collapsed。 Dead 。。。 and I saw him putrefy。 In an eye blink； what should have taken days or weeks to occur happened…the body swelled； bloated； burst； blackened； and then the flesh withered； until there was nothing but a skeleton lying on the sand。 This； then； was what Janos' spell had called the White Peace。
I recovered； looked for another enemy； and saw a slaver bounding toward the darkness beyond。 An arrow whispered past and touched but his arm before ricocheting away。 That man； too； shrieked； died； and rotted。 Then there was only one man left alive among all those foul corpses： their chief； on his knees and writhing in terror in front of Janos。
Janos ordered him tied to a nearby palm。 〃You speak the trader's language？〃 he asked。 The man nodded。 〃Look well； then。 This is the fate of those who are my enemies。 This 。。。 or worse。 You are permitted a chance to live。 Not because I would not love to see your bones gleaming like the rest of your pack； but because I wish the tale to be told to all your people of what happens to those who stand against Orissa。 I am the first。。。 but the