ter； a tall； imposing man wearing rich robes came toward us。 His skin gleamed in the firelight； as black as the night。 Flanking him were two sword…bearing guards； both fair skinned； as was the mountain who'd stopped us。
〃This；〃 Janos said quietly； 〃will be their Ham'u。 Chief。 The Ifora believe that the darker a man's skin； the more blessed by the gods he is。 Since they are predominantly light plected； a black man is automatically considered noble。 If he or she can lead； that man or woman will be destined to rule the tribe。 The belief es from long ago； when the Ifora were what they call barbaric。 Their slaves revolted and took over； showing them how to conquer the desert。 That was the beginning of their greatness。〃 I blinked； the jeopardy forgotten for a moment。 None of this had been told me by my father； nor had I heard any of it in the grotesque tales from other merchants of their encounters with the tribesmen。
The black man greeted Janos； who bowed。 I took the hint and did the same。 Janos drew his sword； touched it to his forehead； and gave it to the chief…the Ham'u。 The black man repeated the motion and returned it。 Janos spoke once more； indicating me。 The Ham'u took my rapier from the guard； did as he'd done with Janos' blade； and gave it back。 We bowed once more； and the Ham'u stepped aside； beckoning us into the camp。
〃We are now the honored guests of the Ifora。 From now until dawn three days hence we are their blood kin。 During that time they will offer us their best and； if we have been pursued by enemies； they will ravage them as if one of their own had been wronged。〃
〃What happens if we're still here after the three days？〃
〃Eh；〃 Janos said； moving his hand from side to side in the universal signal for 'perhaps this； perhaps that。' 〃We would have to talk some more。 And at least they would give us a running start。〃
We were led into the center of the camp； where the fire roared。 The ground was paved with rugs； and pillows were high…piled for seats and backrests。 Behind them large barrel…vaulted tents stood； made of some red…dyed animal skin。 There were fifty or sixty men and women lying around the fire。 I was presented to a man； who bowed as if he had just met the king of the world and found me a seat。 He waved his hand； and a maid a few years younger than myself came out of the shadows。 They spoke； she giggled and bowed to me。 Then she went into one of the tents and came out with a wide…mouthed bowl。 I took it； and looked to Janos for guidance。 He was already sprawled on a pillow nearby； a pair of young women nestled beside him。
〃Drink it。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Just drink。 I'll tell you afterward。 Drink deeply； or you will offend。〃 I obeyed； and the back of my head exploded。 The world shimmered around me。 My stomach rose up； protesting。 But somehow the drink stayed down and spread warmth； warmth being fire； fire being a hot rainbow； and I thought it best if I sat down。 Rapidly。 The girl took the bowl from me as I collapsed。
〃The drink is depsh'；〃 Janos said。 〃Fermented milk from their mares； fermented blood from their cattle。 This is then bined with certain shrub blossoms their Ham'u takes to ensure the clarity of his vision。 You might think they know distillation； given the impact。 But instead the Ham'u recites an incantation over the mixture； and it takes on its present form。 I have as yet been unable to persuade one of them to teach me the chant；〃 he said。 〃If I could learn that； I would have no need of an army； a sword； or someone to sponsor me in the travels I want to make。〃
One of the two women next to him held out an identical bowl to Janos。 He drained it and cast it over his shoulder。 〃One of the great modities the Ifora have is their daughters。 Even though they despise the weaklings of the watered lands…as they call everyone but another Ifora…they think it a great blessing for their young women to bee courtesans for a time。 They return laden with silver； which is used to purchase goats or horses； and they marry； greatly honored。 How rich a marriage they make depends on their success in their previous profession。 This is a young woman's destiny； unless the auspices read when she is a year old indicate she will… be either a chief or a councillor； which is a supreme blessing； or a woman of the camp； which they consider somewhat of a disappointment。 The woman beside you is； by the way； the daughter of the man who the Ham'u chose as worthy of the honor of being your host。 Her name is Tepon。〃
It may have been the depsh'； or perhaps I was being acclimatized to unsettling events here； beyond Orissa's walls； but instead of frowning at what most Orissans would consider the deepest depravity； I turned and smiled at the girl； who； encouraged； moved closer； allowed a bit of her robe to slip open。 I smelled roses and musk。
Tepon smiled。 Her lips were rouged； her breath sweet； and her teeth were filed into pretty needle points that added exotic spice to her looks。 I took another drink of depsh'。 The girl spoke to me； her voice soft and musical。 I shook my head。 I didn't understand。
〃She thinks the color of your hair is beautiful。 Like a desert sunrise；〃 Janos translated。
I made some inane response。 Then the reality of the situation struck。 〃Janos； my friend。 I assume that the Ifora are human？〃
〃Indeed。〃
〃Then this guesting must have a price。 Unless they are entranced by my hair and your vocabulary。〃
〃There is a price；〃 Janos started； and then a man stood； tapping on an elaborately carved clapper。 A flute piped； then another。 Thumb…cymbals tinkled。 A great drum boomed rhythmically。 〃Ah；〃 Janos said。 〃I know this one。 The price is low。〃
He stood； unpeeling one of the girls who'd bee curious about what was under his tunic； and drew his short sword。 He cast it up； spinning； and caught it by the handle。 〃No；〃 he said； 〃I need a real sword； not an ornament；〃 and he threw the blade； burying it to its hilt in the ground。 He shouted in Ifora； and from out of the darkness a great curved scimitar was pitched to him。 Janos cast； caught； cast again； the blade spinning； catching firelight； sending sparkles into my eyes。 The Ham'u rose and began a rhythmic chant。 It may have been the herbs in the drink； or it may have been my imagining； but I understood； most clearly； the story Janos was enacting as he danced； slowly； then faster； and now he was wearing only the kilt。 It was the story of a great warrior who was defeated by evil and sorcery； forced to flee from his tents into the depths of the desert； where not even the bones of the wild ass could be found。 He wandered for a time。 There were evil beings of the dry salt marsh who attempted to slay him…and here Janos's blade flashed in a series of arabesques… but he defeated them。 He was lost； abandoned； staggering； about to die； and the god of the desert wind took pity。 The two maidens who'd been with Janos were beside him； their bodies moving； firelight and silk； next to him； touching him。 He gained strength and the tale went on： And the spirit of the wind fed him and nourished him and bore him back across the trackless sands to the tents of his enemy。 Suddenly Janos danced alone； his sword a blur； as if he were fighting an invisible foe。 Finally； the warrior triumphed； and his opponent lay dead before him。 All the riches of the man belonged to him now。 But instead； the warrior chose another path。 He chose to return to the desert。 And to the embrace of the desert wind。
Janos stopped as the chant ended。 There was nothing but the crackle of the flames。 Then a thumb…cymbal tinkled once； twice； three times。 A sudden wind gusted through the camp。 Janos bowed。 To the Ifora？ To the wind？ To the dance？ I knew not。 The two women approached him and took him by the hand。 They led him away into one of the tents。
A bowl touched my lips。 I drank deeply。 I lay back； against Tepon's body； her fingers moving tenderly over me。 For some reason； this felt to be the time。
〃Janos！〃 My voice was not loud。
〃I hear。〃
〃Will you acpany me？ To the Far Kingdoms？〃
Laughter boomed from nowhere。 〃Of course！ Of course！ I thought you would never ask。〃
And there was nothing more except Tepon； the tent that suddenly blossomed around us； and we were alone； and he