e gleam of plate and spears。 High…roached helms。 Even their mounts seemed protected； since I saw another moonflash from one steed's head。 The position they took was exactly the one I would order now…if I were leading a patrol into unfriendly territory…overlooking the pass so my main force would not be ambushed。 The hoof thunder grew louder； and passed。 As the sound cleared the pass the two outriders galloped down to rejoin the others。 The sound of their passage died away then。 They were riding to the east…where legend tells us the Far Kingdoms lie。 I fled back to the castle； and to my bed； as if I were pursued。〃
〃And next morning； when you returned？〃
〃Nothing was there。 No hoofprints in the soft ground on the hilltop； no markings in the pass。 No sign that a scouting band； riding far beyond their frontiers； had passed。〃
〃A dream；〃 I said； disappointed that Janos' tale hadn't included a bloody skull； a disappeared peasant； or a flock that stampeded over a cliff in panic。
〃No doubt；〃 Janos agreed。 He glanced at the sundial just outside the arbor。 〃And my new dream is that I am watch officer this night； and I have barely time to return to the barracks and bolt on all the finery I must wear to clank around my post。
〃I have enjoyed this day； my friend；〃 he said； taking silver from his belt pouch against my objections。 〃And you have convinced me there can be no such thing as the Far Kingdoms。 Perhaps we can meet again another day？ Perhaps I can help you plan your Finding； since I have made some minor travels to the west。〃 And he was gone。
I stayed on； ordering another pitcher of wine…partially because I was curious as to which one of us the barmaid had been smiling at； partially to muse on what he'd told me。 Because somehow； in spite of what Janos had said about his being converted to logic； I felt； somewhere out there； far to the east； the brooding darkness and gold that was the legendary Far Kingdoms。
I SAW JANOS several times over the next few weeks when he was off duty。 Freed of Melina's entrancement； I was readying myself for my Finding； talking to older traders and collecting tales from travelers and seamen at the docks； just as I had when I was a boy。 But this time I knew what I was looking for。 My father seemed to note my new earnestness with some degree of approval； since I found myself subjected to his ironic criticisms less and less。 I was also gathering all the tales of the Far Kingdoms； attempting to make sense of them。 There was none to be made： for every story that the Far Kingdoms had enchantments that bade horses to fly； were others saying their Evocators had spells so powerful that no dray animals at all were needed： objects and men flew through the air of their own accord。
Some of these tales I related to Janos。 He listened politely； but skeptically。 It was almost as if he were not that interested。 In fact； he was behaving just as I do today when I am offering a parsimonious tailor a shipment of brocade that's priced somewhat beyond what he was prepared to pay。 〃I agree； sir； that perhaps this cloth； no matter how rare and fine； is highly priced。 It took me two weeks of the most bloodcurdling bargaining before I myself could afford it。〃 Or： 〃Of course； this material requires care in its working； and is intended for the most discriminating of wearers。〃 And so on and so forth； until the poor wight would contemplate murder if I refused to make him the sale。
One evening Janos asked me to dine at an open mess with his fellow officers。 I was honored： the Magistrates' Own regarded themselves as among Orissa's social elite and invitations were much prized。 Besides； there was something I was almost certain I wanted to tell Janos； and something I wished to ask。 All that remained was how to present the matter。 Janos acpanied me back to my father's villa； where I washed and changed into matching black velvet breeches and vest； a red silk shirt with a wide lace…edged collar； knee boots； and a full…length hooded cloak。 I told Eanes he need not acpany me…there would be more than enough servitors present。
As we walked through the twilight streets toward the barracks； I chanced asking Janos why； if he was so intent on seeing new worlds； he was serving in the Magistrates' Own Guard？ Certainly it was an honor； but its duties kept it for the most part watchguarding the Magistrates； Evocators； and the great public buildings of Orissa； which was hardly adventurous。 Janos agreed： it was a dubious honor； but he'd had no choice。 When he had shown up at the barracks wanting to enlist； the minute they'd heard his mother's name； he was doomed。
〃They would never consider dishonoring the Kether family； no matter how tenuous my claim to the name； by making one of them serve in a unit like the Frontier Scouts； which actually might have to smell blood or wave a sword in anger。 Which was my initial request。 Instead； I'm a captain with the Magistrates' Own。 An intellectually stimulating post if ever there was one。 Did you know that it's against the social graces to discuss war； the unit's policies； religion； or women at mess？ Horses； dogs； and hunting； around and around； around and around。 If I hear one more tale of how someone's pack of hounds exhibits almost oracular abilities at finding game； I may be forced to tell the tale of how I once lived on dog for a month when I was manning a watchtower for the Lycanthians in the South。 Not bad； actually； larded with bacon and baked with yams；〃 he said meditatively。 〃Oh well。 There's never been a soldier who didn't cry woe and doom at every opportunity。 It's his right； issued with his practice sword and brass…polishing cloth。〃
The Magistrates' Own mess was splendorous： the plates were silver； as was the service； the goblets were crystal； and each table was covered with fine linen。 In the center of the tables were the regimental trophies； and the honors of war hung from the high rafters and lined the walls。 Janos excused himself； then returned in full dress…short； soft； leather boots； shoulder cloak； and brocaded skirt and tunic。 Over it he wore a sleeveless jerkin； padded and worked to look as if it were armor。 Instead of his usual sword； slung over his shoulder； Janos wore a belt with a shoulder harness。 A conventional short sword and dagger hung from it。 He carried a highly polished open…face helmet with a great； waving plume atop it。 The other officers wore similar garb。
Stewards with wineglass…laden trays passed through the crowd。 One of them stopped in front of Janos。 He hesitated； then shook his head。 〃I'll have water with my meal。〃
I heard a low； knowing laugh。 I puzzled 。。。 Janos was hardly an ascetic。 Then I recollected something my father had told me when I was in the depths of adolescent despair； vowing to cut myself off without a coin and join the army。 He'd chuckled kindly and asked what unit I would be joining。 Perhaps the Magistrates' Own？ At that time； enamored of their dash and splendor； I'd sulked out a 〃possibly。〃 He'd told me what it cost to be in the regiment： a young subaltern's wages would barely suffice to cover his mess bill…his wine； his brandy； and the levies for special dinners。 The Magistrates' Own was only for the wealthy； it took； by some estimates； as much as ten thousand silver pieces a year to maintain the proper standing； when one considered the dozen or more different styles of uniforms required； the half a dozen chargers； the personal servants even beyond those allocated； and so forth。 I remembered that Janos had mentioned poverty twice today。
I understood his plight： once I had joined a boys' fencing team； made up of other merchants'； Evocators'； and Magistrates' sons。 No one thought of coins； but there was one boy； a year younger than myself； whose father had made some bad investments； so the young man's tunic was not new at every occasion； and he had but one foil； and that one secondhand。 It was embarrassing； although I don't remember either my friends or myself saying anything。 The boy was petent； I remembered； and then tried to think what had happened to him？ I couldn't recall…one day he'd just not been there。
Janos could not afford wine。 Very well。 I called the steward over and made certain there would be no offense