ure： the painting was warranted not only to be accurate； but a simulacrum； its pigments made from Halab's most valued possessions； and the creator vowed all the rites had been followed and the painting was sympathetic to Halab's shade。 I sprinkled the sand； wondering： was this enough？ There had been no corpse to be found； not even a shard of bone； when the Trial ended。 Did this sand give Halab's ghost peace？ Or was he still going to and fro in this world； never to find surcease？ Again； I shivered： I hoped when I died…and hoped that would not be for eons…I would not be unshriven； un…buried； unrevenged if my death was not natural。
Eanes was waiting near the inner gate。 He saw my expression and recognized it： Halab 。。。 his death 。。。 what should have been 。。。 and what was never to be 。。。 still hung heavy over all of us。 I was very glad to feel the warmth of the spring sunlight。
〃You planning on enlisting； Lord Amalric；〃 Eanes inquired； sounding honestly worried。 〃I know it is traditional for young men who have been worried in affairs of the heart to consider such drastic measures； but I must counsel against it。 Imprimus； my health would not stand up to campaigning； even the gentle games of war our army has been fighting of late。 So your armor would be unpolished all too often and you would be forced to eat cold rations。 Secundus； the two men I met who did join over a woman swore they could not remember the frail's name once they recovered from their mustering drunk。 Tertius； they also swore they were branded fools； since everyone else had agreed to wear the helm either to escape debt or vengeance； or else to eat more often than once a day。 Quat…〃
〃Four；〃 I said； 〃I am not joining； I am selling you for catapult fodder。 Seal your lip。 We are here on business。〃 The two sentries at the barracks gate saw my dress and realized they were being approached by a nobleman。 They saluted； crashing their pike butts against the cobbles。
〃I am seeking Captain Janos Greycloak； of the Magistrates' Own Guards；〃 I said。
One of them frowned； then remembered。 〃Oh。 The Lycanthian。 He's with Second Cohort； sir。〃 He glanced up at the sun。 〃Most likely they'll still be at the butts。 He works his men hard。〃
The soldier gave me instructions。 As we went through the maze of barracks； I puzzled over what the soldier had said。 A Lycanthian？ In Orissa's service？ Especially serving in the elite unit responsible for the safety of the Magistrates？ Thinking back； although I had paid little mind the night before； I did recall a trace of an accent on his tongue； but it was quite unlike what I'd heard from the few Lycanthian traders I'd encountered。
I saw the boil of dust and the swirl of arms from the end of the parade field。 There were thick logs buried vertically in the ground that could be used for targets or practice enemies。 There were two such butts behind my family's villa； where the weapons teachers hired by my father had taught me。 There came a bellow of 〃Stand；〃 and the dust settled； revealing perhaps fifty paired…off soldiers。 They carried bucklers； wore leather jerkins with high necks； leather greaves； and leather helmets。 In time of war the leather would be reinforced with iron or steel plating in strategic places and； if the battle was to be intense； chain…mail corselets； as well。 One man of each pair held a short stabbing spear； the other a sword。 The spear blade was covered with a guard； and the swords were clipped into their sheaths。 To one side was Janos Greycloak。 Unlike the others； he wore a full…face helmet with nosepiece； and an unusual leather jerkin that had a full…length sleeve on the left； and that sleeve was armored with close…set steel plates； with a partial breastplate/shoulder guard on the same side。 In his right hand； Janos carried the long； slender sword I'd seen him use so effectively； and； like his soldiers； he held a buckler in his left。 The man who'd shouted at the soldiers I also recognized…the older sergeant who'd advised me on the brandy the night before。
Janos saw me and nodded； but did not greet us。 He walked forward into the center。 〃That was smartly done；〃 he said； but there was little real praise in his voice。 〃Fit for any parade soldier。 Sergeant Maeen？〃
〃Sir！〃
〃If you will step out and； as if you were mired in honey； strike at me with your spear。〃
The heavy man did as he was told。 He'd barely begun a lunge when Janos ordered a stop。
〃A parade ground is a parade ground；〃 he said； in a conversational tone。 〃War is something different。 I shall teach you many ways besides the ones you learned as mewling recruits。 None of them are wrong； if you survive the encounter； and none of them are right if the spear thrust casts your ghost to the winds。 Here are some things that may be done。〃 As he spoke he moved slowly； like a man under water。 〃Take the spear thrust on your shield； turn the shield aside； and strike。 Or strike the spear itself behind the haft with your sword 。。。 and perhaps you may break it。 Yet another device； if your enemy oversteps his balance…thank you sergeant； just so…is to sidestep him； and then strike directly over or under his armor。 But as you do so； do not forget your enemy has someone beside him； and if you bee too intent on your target it will be your death that is harvested。 A good trick…and this is one which will never be taught to young gentlemen…is to carry a handful of dust in your fist and cast that in your opponent's face before he can attack。 If you are quick enough you may be able to duck low and hamstring him with a slice； although that is a very risky undertaking。 Another undertaking of risk； less so if you are very strong； is to parry the spear with a sword slash； then thrust with your buckler as if it were a weapon。 I have seen men blinded by the boss on a shield who were then cut down at leisure。 The most important thing you will learn is to never watch the shield； never watch the sword； but watch the eyes of the man you are fighting。 They will always betray his next move。〃
Janos stepped back。 〃Now； Sergeant Maeen will have you perform the same evolution。 But this time without the one…two…three…and this time there is no required parry or attack。 Sergeant！〃 His order triggered new roars from the sergeant； and dust cycloned once more。 I determined not to mention either of the two duels I'd fought； sure that Captain Greycloak would think them nothing but the formal； pecking challenges of young cocks in the farmyard。 Hamstringing 。。。 throwing sand 。。。 blinding 。。。 no。 Even though I'd taken them most seriously at the time； as I assumed had my opponents； those two affairs of honor which had been settled with the first dribble of blood had not been real battles。
Janos watched the drill without ment or expression； then walked over。 〃Good morning； my friend；〃 he said。 〃You see。 I am already subverting these fine soldiers from being mannequins。 How is your head this morning？〃
〃That's the first thing everyone's asked me；〃 I said。 〃I didn't think I was that drunk。〃
〃We never do；〃 Janos said。 〃How may I be of service？〃
I took the purse from Eanes and handed it to him。 〃Please accept this poor repense for my unbroken bones…and reputation。〃
Janos hefted the purse； then handed it back。 〃Thank you； but there's no reward required for booting a hyena away from a sleeping victim。〃
〃I…I wish you would take this；〃 I said carefully。 〃In all seriousness； the shadow of my debt to you is overlong。〃
Janos nodded thoughtfully and took the purse； then he turned back to the mock fray。 〃Stand。〃 His roar made the sergeant's appear to be a mousesqueak。 'This gentleman；〃 he said； without preamble； 〃has for some unknown reason decided to favor you。〃 Janos tossed the purse to Maeen。 'The cohort will have meat for even…meal tonight；〃 he announced。 〃And one skin of wine to be shared between two。〃
There was a ragged cheer； then silence slammed down like a curtain as Janos' face bee ice。 〃I did not；〃 he said； in a calm voice； 〃give any of you leave to speak。 By all rights I should be shamed； and return this money to your patrician admirer。 But I shall not。 You appear to have great wind in you。 That is very good。 Sergeant； ran them to the top of Mount Aephens。 You remain at the bas