se rich whoresons who lead their soldiery from a favorite tavern。〃
I broke in。 〃There is also his ancestry； and the time he spent in the service of the Lycanthians。〃
〃I realize that；〃 my sister answered。 〃But in an odd fashion； these facts end up speaking well for him。 Janos' mother was an Orissan； a member of the Kether family。 She had a reputation as a hotheaded maid with a stubbornly romantic streak。 Janos' father was a prince from Kostroma； who paid a rare trading visit to Orissa； where he met the young Kether woman。 They fell in love。 It was quite a scandal at the time。 Especially since Janos' mother defied the wishes of her family and ran off with the dashing young prince。 I believe they are both dead now。 Although no one knows the circumstance。〃
This partly explained Janos' reluctance to tell me much about his parents。 〃How he came to serve the Lycanthians；〃 my sister continued； 〃I do not know。 Although I suspect he needed some means of earning his way after his father and mother died。〃
〃He is quite poor；〃 I said。 〃It was my impression he is using all of whatever savings he has to maintain himself in the Guard。〃
〃Exactly so；〃 my sister said。 〃He obviously viewed it as an investment。 So he could meet the right people to further his career。〃
〃And I am that right person？〃 I asked； worried once more。 Had I been played for the fool again？
My sister patted my hand。 〃Don't be so quick to judge where I'm going；〃 she said。 〃He may be poor； but I do not think money is his goal。〃
〃He said that himself；〃 I said； a bit hotly； sorry I hadn't defended him a moment ago。
〃It seems the Kether family…or what is left of it…stewed for quite some time when Janos showed up in Orissa。 They believed he would soon pay a visit； and make blood demands for assistance。 They would have refused him； of course。 Their view was he had no call； since his mother's direct line no longer exists。 Her father； it is said； died of a broken heart after his daughter shamed him by taking up with a barbarian prince。〃
〃But he didn't go； did he？〃 I said with satisfaction。
〃Actually； he did。 After a time； he called on his uncle。 But to that great skinflint's relief； Captain Greycloak was not only respectful； but made sure his uncle understood he had no intentions of attempting to cash in on family connections。〃
〃Well； good for Janos；〃 I said。
〃Yes。 It does tend to show his intentions are honest。 Unfortunately； it did nothing to stem the flow of coin from his purse。〃 Rali finished her drink and set the goblet on a table。 'To make sure of my impressions；〃 she continued； 〃I went to visit him myself。〃
I was startled。 I sat mere； tense； waiting。 〃Well？〃 I prodded。
My sister laughed。 〃I mink your friend is mad； bad； and dangerous to know。〃 I frowned； puzzled at her ments and laughter。 〃Especially for women；〃 she said。 〃He knows how to speak with a woman； to pliment her mind rather than her appearance。 And he looks you straight in the eye； weighing your every word； as if each were a treasure。 We had a lovely talk。 Near the end he made it known…in a subtle； gentlemanly way…he would have loved nothing more than to bed me！〃
〃What？〃 I almost shouted this； angry at Janos for insulting my sister。
Rali only laughed harder。 〃Oh； you should see your face。 Together with your hair； you could light an arena at the dark of the moon。 Don't be so protective。 Especially when it isn't necessary。 As I said； he was very gentlemanly about it； only hinting。 Quite flattering； actually。 As a matter of fact； if I were ever to consider bedding a man…disgusting thought that it is…your friend would be an early choice。 He is most attractive。 If it weren't for that scar； he would be almost too handsome。〃
I was soothed； happy。 〃Then you approve of Janos？〃
〃I do； indeed。 He is a good soldier。 A practical soldier。 And I believe he would do all he could to make sure you returned safely from your Finding。〃
〃What of the venture itself？〃 I asked。 〃My plan to seek the Far Kingdoms。〃
〃I think it is insane；〃 my sister announced； being serious。〃But I think you would regret it the rest of your life if you did not go。〃
She leaned forward； intent on what she was going to say。 〃In a way； I'm jealous of you； Amalric。 A jealousy that makes me angry at all men。 When I was a girl； I dreamed of such adventure。 But I quickly learned my sex doomed me at birth。 I could marry and bear children for some pig of a husband who would mand every moment of my time。 I could be a concubine； which considering my tastes； would be an equal hell。 Although even that would have been denied me； since I am the daughter of a noble family。 Thank the gods I was born with the Antero gift for athletics and a loving father and mother understanding enough to allow me to enter the Maranon Guard。 Believe me； I prefer this boredom to any other offered to my sisters in this city。〃
〃So you will press my cause with our father？〃 I asked。
〃I will。 But for a reason much deeper than satisfying a youthful wanderlust。 If you are successful； you will strike a blow for the entire Antero family。 And we can end these whispers about us that emanate from the Council of Evocators。 Halab will not be revenged。 But at least our poor brother will sleep in peace。〃
〃I thought I saw his ghost the other night at a tavern；〃 I said。 〃The night I met Janos。 He smiled at me。 And raised his thumb in encouragement。〃
〃An excellent omen；〃 my sister said。 〃Halab's ghost must have suspected what was going to happen。〃
A long silence fell。 It was always thus when Halab's name was mentioned。 It had been his bad luck to lead the family into the path of the Evocators。 It was his worse luck to be born with an Evocator's talent。 As a child； he was seer enough to frighten the maids with predictions of unwanted pregnancies that proved true。 Rali confessed once that Halab had known in advance our mother was to die； and spent six months in silent mourning before that event came about。
I remember only a few boy's tricks he played to amuse or soothe me。 I had had a pet ferret I carried everywhere。 It lived and dined in my pocket and slept by my pillow at night。 My pet sickened and died。 This was shortly after my mother's death； so the loss was an awful blow for one so young。 I mourned so deeply I grew ill myself and almost died of a fever。 But Halab dug the ferret up from the garden grave I'd buried it in。 I remember wakening to his chants。 He was sitting on the floor by my bed； dangling the withered corpse of the tiny beast over a blue flame licking up from a copper bowl。 I smelled the odor of putrid flesh burning。
Halab sprinkled a powder into the flame； continuing his chant； and suddenly the awful odor became wondrously sweet Then he breathed on the dead animal； twirling it about by its tail。
He placed it on my chest and put my hand on top of the cold body。 〃Breathe on it； Amalric；〃 he said； his voice so gentle I can hear it across time。 I breathed。 And I felt the cold turn to warmth。 Then a stirring。 Then a squeak。 And my pet's nose poked out between my fingers。 I gave a loud cry of joy as its masked face appeared next； little eyes bright with life。 They say my fever broke an hour later。 Within a week I was jumping about as pesky as ever； my little ferret in my pocket。
To this day； when I think of that time； I don't know whether to smile or weep。 We all loved my brother and were in awe of his gifts。 I realize now that for my father； the awe was tempered by trepidation。 My brother was intent on being an Evocator。 He wanted the knowledge only they could teach。 But his desire for these powers went at cross purposes to the politics of the times。 My brother was an idealist； a romantic who saw his gifts being used to benefit the people of Orissa。 He dreamed of curing the ill and easing the plight of the poor and enslaved。
The Council of Evocators； however； was intent on maintaining its influence over Orissa。 No Magistrate； regardless of the importance or antiquity of his family； could act without its blessing。 No merchant； craftsman； shopkeeper； or courtesan could ply his or her trade without paying the mandated tithe。 My brother was honest and open in his ambition。 It was only with great reluctance that the Evocato