heir own。 The kingdom had made a pact with them long ago； trading magic goods they needed for whatever information required to guard Vacaan of unwanted visitors。 Then he said； 〃You must know； that until I received orders to retrieve you； all visitors have been considered unwele。 To the best of my knowledge； you and your men will be the first outsiders to visit our land since we raised it out of the ruins of the Old Ones。 I cannot say why our king has had a change of heart； but as a free and loyal subject； I can assure you without fear of contradiction his intentions are honorable； and once you have spoken to him； no one will bar you from returning safely home。 Although I was not told his reasons； I can guess them。 It is no great court secret King Domas has been pondering that perhaps we have begun to grow stale after all these years of shunning contact with the outside。 And I believe your thirst for knowledge and single…minded pursuit has further sparked his thinking。〃
The captain said we would have plete freedom of the ship until we arrived in Vacaan。 We could ask anything of anyone and go anywhere we chose。 The only exception； he said； was that we would be required to remain in our quarters when he took sight…ings。 He apologized most profusely for this and said he was forbidden to let us see his charts or instruments； nodding at the locked cabinet； because their nature was a closely guarded secret。 He said； however； once we met the king； he suspected many of those secrets would be revealed。
Utorian refilled our mugs； and the three of us toasted the promise of a bright future for our peoples。 But I could tell by his manner he believed that if change was to e； it would be Orissa that would benefit most。 This was a belief shared with nearly all the people we met in the Far Kingdoms。 They had little curiosity about the world we hailed from。 The only thing that stoked excitement was the journey we undertook to reach them； and they were always pressing us for details of our adventures。 But then their curiosity stopped。 The reason became obvious： Vacaan was a land of more marvels than I have linen pages to number。 The people were blessed with bountiful harvests； there were few ills their Evocators could not cure； they had a seemingly endless variety of pleasures and possessions。 In fact； they considered themselves so superior to all other people； it was impossible for them to imagine those people had anything of value to offer。 If I remarked on a feat； original thought； or artistic acplishment that was a source of pride to Orissa； they hastened to mention something from their own land they believed made ours pale by parison。 I thought it minor at the time； a small irritation； or source of amusement。 Later I could see it was a more serious flaw than I had imagined。 Having said that； I cannot deny that as we sailed upriver； the wonders I witnessed outshone nearly all I had ever encountered。 One of the wonders was the river itself。 I have pared it to a great serpent； and that description is apt； since that is what the snake signified on the Far Kingdoms' crest； while the sunburst stood for the sorcerous wisdom that guarded the land。
Imagine that serpent； with its lustrous blue coils close together…not quite touching…with only the head and neck extending from the twists。 Now make that serpent a river again； its head the mountain we traveled toward； and you will see that although the distance was great for the ship； a bird would make short work of it。 But I would not have bargained our sails for speedy wings； because as we tacked first in one direction； then doubled back to the other； the river let us see close up nearly all the marvels of the Far Kingdoms。
The river rose tamely through Vacaan。 When we moved to a new height there was no lock to pel the difference。 There was only a shimmer in our path； then we moved on serene waters to the higher level。 Utorian said their wizards had mastered the river long before and bent it to mon purpose。 He showed us the amazing absence of flood marks on the banks and said they had mastered the weather as well； requiring the storms to replenish the river； but no more。 They could also mand the river to fold in and out at any point； making it easy for the farmers to irrigate and ensure bountiful harvests。 The crops that made up those harvests； he added； came from blessed seed that always bore fruit and repelled disease and insects。 I thought of our own hard…laboring farmers as we blew past unimaginably rich fields and orchards； I remembered with pain the ruinous flood and famine we had just suffered。 I prayed our journey might ease that labor； and rout suffering from our hearts。
We saw forests thick with game； hills laden with veins of malleable metal and valuable gems； and pastures bleating and lowing with fat herds and flocks。 We saw people of every variety： from farmer； to laborer； to merchant； to lord and lady。 They were a calm； graceful people given to easy laughter； which we heard floating across the water。 The men were handsome even to great age； and the women were pleasing to look upon； with time only touching thek features with wisdom and dignity。 Their children seemed the happiest of all： they appeared to run and roam at will； and it was their shrill laughter we heard most frequently。
Utorian said all their children had some schooling； and the ones with the best minds or talents were picked out for special attention。 No avenue was closed to them after that； they could rise to nearly any level of society。 When he said it； I thought of Halab and mourned that he hadn't been born in such a land。
We gazed on the many cities that nestled against the river。 All of them were a marvel to behold。 Some delighted the eye with variety； such as the port we sailed by on the first day of the river voyage。 Some were all of a kind： made of carved white marble； or richly painted timbers； or of strong； gleaming metal。 Their design ranged from low…built structures blending with the forests that framed them； to swooping towers connected by delicate spans； to cozy domiciles； with high…peaked roofs； and cheery fires glowing through the windows at night。 Each city we viewed dazzled us in some way； and just as we thought there could be nothing more to amaze us； a new marvel would be revealed as we rounded the bend。 Then at last we came to Irayas： it was the most glorious city of all。
We came upon it without warning。 The channel spilled east… away from the mountain for the final time…and suddenly flared； the banks retreated before our eyes into distant ribbons of greens。
The river made a lake； and out of the lake floated Irayas。 Our senses quivered in the spell it cast； willing strings under the hands of a master harpist。 Irayas was a place of light and water。 The setting sun was at its back； and the city was ablaze in full glory。 Color shimmered through crystal towers and leaped off golden domes。 The river flowed beneath； a molten mirror in the sun's dying light。 The air was musical with chimes and bird song； scented with dusk's blooms。 Small boats wisped through that beauty； timid supplicants of a goddess queen。
Visions such as this make a wanderer's wine： once he has tasted it； there is little he will not suffer to drink from that vine once more。 We sipped until we were drunk； then night fell； and we were left groaning in darkness。 But Irayas had a trick for that thief； and we gasped in renewed amazement as light sprang up over the city。 The glass towers became bright fountains； the gold domes glowed from within。 The canals that served as thoroughfares were illuminated by long strings of small； lighted globes。 The sounds of a busy city continued； and I realized the Evocators of Irayas had extended productive hours long past the close of day。
We slept aboard the ship that night。 My thoughts were so fired； I believed rest would be impossible； but exhaustion took all of us early。 I was awakened once by wild music and tavern shouts。 Isn't it a wonder； I mused； that wherever there is a waterfront； no matter how grand the city it services； you can always find a place for strong drink and raucous play？ Then I fell back into dreamless sleep。
The next day Utorian took us to meet the king。 His pala