And there was nothing more except Tepon； the tent that suddenly blossomed around us； and we were alone； and her body； and firelight。
I woke some time after dawn。 I was naked except for my cloak wrapped around my waist。 There was an inquisitive goat staring at me from less than a foot away。 I lay on rocky ground in the flaring sunlight。 Tepon's head was pillowed on my stomach。 The great drum of the night before was now in my head。
And I was destined for the Far Kingdoms。
CHAPTER FIVE
The Evocators
MY SISTER TRAMPED in from the exercise yard； undid her cuirass； and dumped it on the floor。 〃If you love me； brother； dear；〃 Rali groaned； 〃fetch a drink before I perish。〃 I hastened to the fireside where I had set a strong； spiced punch to brew。 I lifted the iron jug from the ashes with tongs and poured out a steaming； aromatic goblet。 It was my sister's favorite drink。 She grinned as I handed it to her。 〃Such a devoted brother；〃 she said。 〃Unselfish； as well。 Anticipating his sister's smallest whim； with no thought of any reward。〃 She took a long drink。
〃Don't tease me； Rali；〃 I begged。 〃I've barely slept since our talk last week。〃
〃Oh； please don't plain to me about your sleeping habits；〃 she said with a laugh。 〃You've probably slipped another love potion to some doxy and she's been ferreting about your bed all this time。〃 My sister crossed the room on those fine； long legs of hers； kicked off her sandals； and settled on the couch。 〃e rub my feet；〃 she manded； 〃and by and by； I shall tell all。〃
I rushed to do her bidding； anxious to learn on which side of the ledger my sister was going to write her name。 If she was opposed； there was little chance my father would agree to Janos' scheme to seek the Far Kingdoms。 If her vote was yes； and she further agreed to smooth the way with our father； there was a small chance he might bless the plan and fund my maiden expedition。
Rali sighed as I coaxed the knots from her tired feet； and took another drink。 〃This soft life will be the death of me；〃 she said。 〃Every day is the same。 Up at daybreak to drill and train my women。 Administrative work until dusk； and then I share a drink and a roasted joint or two with Otara。 By day's end I'm so weary with boredom； it's a small miracle if I have energy enough to give Otara a tumble。 A situation she has been quick to deplore of late。〃
Otara was her lover of many years。 She was a small； motherly woman of delicate beauty who doted on my sister and would fight to the death to keep her from harm。 Not that Rali was likely to require help。 She was tall； with long； cabled muscles and narrow hips。 Rah' was some ten years my senior and in her fighting prime。 Swift as a direwolf in an attack and twice as deadly。 She was equally skilled with sword； javelin； and her strong； ram's horn bow。 But no one would ever mistake her for a man； nor did she ape men in her manners。 Rali had a pleasing form and was willowy and delicate in her movements； although soldier plain in her talk。 When I was small and still allowed in her bathchamber； I remember how struck I was at the smooth； milky color of her skin where the drill…field sun did not touch。 Where my hair was fiery red； hers was the color of pale straw； and her eyes were as clear and blue as the seas。
〃What I need is a good fight to get the blood up；〃 Rali continued； as I rubbed at her sore feet 〃Or at least a hard march with some purpose； other than training。 An enemy to cow。 A city to besiege。〃 She raised the cup to her full lips and drank more。 〃But I haven't much hope such a thing will soon e to pass；〃 she said。 〃The Magistrates are fearful of letting us march very far from Orissa。 I think they believe a barbarian horde would be conjured up to ravage the city in our absence。〃
Rali was a captain in the Maranon Guard。 In those times it was posed of five hundred warrior women； women who had taken a vow to Maranonia； the favored female deity of war。 They forswore marriage； motherhood； or any of the 〃normal〃 functions of women in our culture。 The guardswomen were highly trained and devoted to the defense of Orissa。 Few were man haters； although all preferred other women as sexual partners。
〃May I fetch you another cup of punch？〃 I asked。 〃Or something to eat？ I could tote your bathwater； if you wish。 Or any other errand suitable for a brother bent on groveling for his sister's favor。 A sister as beautiful as she is wise。 As soldierly as she is tender。 As…〃
〃Stop before I throw up；〃 my sister laughed。 〃All right； Amalric。 You win。〃
I changed my foot rubbing into a light stroke。 〃Oh； speak to me； sibyl；〃 I intoned。 〃Tell me what is in thy heart。〃 Rali was stricken by a fit of giggles。 Not from my cleverness so much as my skilled tickling of her feet。 I had found her weak place when I was a small child and she was a green recruit。
My sister was one of the few people I had ever felt pletely at ease with。 There was no secret I would not confess to her； no sin she would not forgive。 But she never took advantage of this trust by prying。 I valued her advice above all others。 It was for this reason； I suppose； I had stayed away from her during those months I was afflicted with Melina。 I was too much in rut to want to hear good sense。 But when I had finally e to her； Rali's words were similar to Janos'。 She told me to tote the incident up to experience。 〃I'm not saying to go forth and sin no more；〃 she'd said。 〃But I am saying； next time you might try sinning less expensively 。。。 and publicly。〃 Then she'd fixed me with those clear blue eyes and asked what I intended to do next。 〃It is time I sought my Finding；〃 I had answered； 〃and join our father in the business。〃
〃Noble words； dear brother；〃 she'd responded。 〃But I wonder if that is really what you want to do。 I've suspected for some time your recent behavior might have a deeper cause than youthful folly。 Perhaps you don't view the prospect of a trader's life with joy。〃 I realized once again how perceptive my soldier sister was。 Perhaps I was fighting a stodgy future； to be forced into the pany of men who cared only for money。
〃You see it exactly；〃 I had cried。 〃If I am to be a merchantman like our father； I want to do much more than just take over the family business。 I want to make my own mark and be more than the son of a rich man； living off our father's youthful deeds。〃
〃How do you plan to acplish this？ Or； have you given this thought？〃 she'd asked。
I told her about the Far Kingdoms and my desire to make them the object of my Finding。 And I told her of Janos。 She'd listened closely； offering no opinion until I was done。 Then she'd said； 〃I won't say nay。 And I won't say yea。 In fact； I will offer no view at all at this time。 However 。。。 What I will do is to ask about。 And when I have learned more； especially more of your new friend； Janos Greycloak； I will give you my decision。〃
Now it was time for the decision she'd promised。 Although I joked and tickled； I awaited the oute in agony。 My sister pulled her feet away and sat straighter in the couch。 〃Fetch me another drink； please；〃 she said； 〃and I will tell you what I have learned。〃 In a moment she had her wish； and I sat there； barely able to breathe。
〃You will forgive me； dear Amalric；〃 she said； 〃for I went at this in an unkindly fashion。 Rather than investigating the worthiness of your Finding to start with； I first sought evidence your Mend is a scoundrel。〃 A raised hand stopped my protest。 〃You must admit； your pany of late has been questionable young men as well as women。 For all I knew； Janos Greycloak was just a new； best friend。〃 I bowed my head； admitting the truth。
〃To begin with；〃 she said； 〃I had a few quiet words with some of my acquaintances in the Magistrates' Own Guard。 My conclusion is Janos is not only an excellent soldier； but a skilled leader and organizer。〃 My breath whooshed in relief。 〃Don't be so quick；〃 Rali warned。 〃All is not lightness。 Captain Greycloak； it seems； is also a man who has earned his share of enemies during his short time in the Guard。 But I think most of it is because of jealousy。 Also his confident manner would anger many of those rich whoresons who lead their soldiery from a favorite tavern。〃
I broke in。 〃There