。。。〃 He lifted his goblet。 'To the Far Kingdoms！〃
'To the Far Kingdoms；〃 we echoed。 As we drank I looked across my goblet at Janos。 He was smiling； but the smile seemed uncertain。 At least I wasn't the only one worrying about the Council of Evocators。
IN THE DAYS of my Finding the budgeting of an expedition was done by what we merchantmen called the Rule of Three。 One part of the cost went to equipment； the second to the men of the party； and the third for the gods。 Profits of a successful expedition were divided by me Rule of Four： two parts for the merchant and backers； one part for the members of the expedition or their survivors at home； and the final part was once again for the gods。 The Evocators collected the gods' coin； and it was the joke at the time that the eldest Evocator threw all the coins into the air。 Whatever stayed up remained with the gods。 Whatever fell to the floor was for the Evocators。
Unfortunately for the purposes of true accounting； neither rule was pletely accurate。 The cost of just securing an appointment before the Council could add up to a small river of silver as the merchant slipped 〃gifts〃 to Evocator clerks and priestly aides。 An even more princely 〃gift〃 would have to be given to one of the members of the Council to champion the merchantman's cause before his colleagues。 There was no getting around this； although it was rumored many had tried； been caught； and then banned from all trade for life…assuming the Evocators had been kind enough to leave the errant trader a life to suffer。
Next came lengthy and expensive purification rites； and then a Casting of the Bones by one of the supplicants。 A good omen was not necessarily assured； even if that small river of coin were a flood。 For sometimes an ill omen was so powerful it was impossible to deny。 But a bad omen was guaranteed if the merchantman was niggardly in distributing the 〃gifts。〃 As 〃for the four rules of profit division； a wise merchant sweetened the part collected by the Evocators with more handfuls of silver…privately disbursed。 This was to get past another Orissan law； which stated that every object borne by the returning expedition must be tested for spiritual purity。 It was also a given； and no amount of 〃gifting〃 could circumvent this； that anything that advanced sorcerous knowledge automatically belonged to the Evocators。 Any book； talisman； powder； or potion that met this definition had to be immediately turned over to the Council。 The penalty for breaking this law was death。
Since my Finding was for the explicit purpose of mapping a route through the mysterious and deadly barriers…some physical； some sorcerous…that so narrowed our world at that time； a great deal of attention would be paid to this law。 The Council of Evocators would require brassbound guarantees if it was to permit our expedition to the legendary Far Kingdoms。
But my father was an experienced and masterful hand in such things。 In the art of wooing the Evocators； Paphos Karima Antero had few masters。 Despite his unpopularity with the Council； he was so knowledgeable in negotiating the crooks and alcoves of its administrative maze； he rarely failed to win his way and at a better price than most。 A stroke of a quill in a ledger book or its absence can sometimes have powerful results。 So as I worried over my future from the perspective of a youth looking up at an enormous mountain that must be mastered； my father went to work… dropping a word here； a purse there； and cashing in old favors owed。
Finally the day came。 It was early summer； a time of morning mists and warm afternoon suns。 The scent of orange and budding rosemary pleasured the air。 The sunlight seemed exceptionally bright。 We waited in the gardens behind the Evocators' Palace。 We wore the pure white robes of supplicants and were freshly scrubbed and anointed with purification oils。 Our innards were growling with emptiness from the three…day fast and purging required for the rites。 My tension was heightened by my father's last words as we left the house。 〃Be on your guard；〃 he'd warned。 〃Do exactly as you are told 。。。 and nothing more。 The destination you chose for your Finding has aroused the interests of our enemies。 They will be watching and listening closely。〃
Janos was unusually silent as well。 I glanced over the head of the small clerk whose charge we were in and saw him nervously fingering his beard。 He saw me； and the frown on his face turned to a quick grin。 〃Nothing to worry about；〃 he said。 〃The worst they can do is tell us no。〃 I thought of Halab and did not answer。
A slave came running down the steps。 〃They are ready for you； masters；〃 he said。 The clerk tugged at my sleeve。 〃Put this on； sir〃 he said； handing me a long bit of red cloth。 〃Tie it tight and do not remove it until you are granted permission。〃 As he handed a second blindfold to Janos； I breathed a prayer to our hearthgod and wrapped the cloth about my eyes until there was no more light。 The clerk led us stumbling up broad stone steps and into the palace。
The place was a whirl of scents and odd noises： a mixture of perfumes and sulphur； jangling chimes and tap tap tapping of hollow wood on stone。 As we moved from room to room the air grew cold； then warm； then suddenly cold again。 There were constant whispers； dark sibilants hissing from every corner。 There came a whoosh of dry air as a large door opened； and we entered a room that smelled of shed lizard skin。 A tug on my sleeve halted me。
〃You may remove the cloths； gentle sirs；〃 said a harsh voice。 It was not the clerk's。 I untied the blindfold and entered a world of gray stone and dirty yellow light。 A robed figure stood before us。 It was the Evocator Janos and I had encountered in the streets some time before。
〃I bid you wele； gentle sirs；〃 he said。 〃My name is Jeneander。 I am to be your guide on this reckoning day。〃
I stood mute for a moment； then felt Janos' elbow in my ribs。 〃Praise the gods you are to be our light；〃 I intoned； and quickly took a purse from my robe and pressed it into Jeneander's eager hands。 It disappeared as quickly as a sea lizard plucks a gull from the air。
Jeneander leaned closer and whispered； 〃I will leave for a few moments。 Refresh yourselves with this in my absence。〃 He passed us a small； oilcloth…wrapped bundle。 〃I am pleased to announce one of our most promising young Evocators has found favor with your proposed expedition；〃 he said loudly。 〃He will be here presently to join in the Casting。 You may know of him。 His name is Cassini。〃
I buried a groan。 〃Good fortune continues to smile on us；〃 I managed to reply。 We exchanged bows with Jeneander； and he slipped away to prepare for the ceremony。 I hastily unwrapped the bundle and found several large hunks of black bread drenched in wine。 〃But what of our fast？〃 I whispered to Janos。 〃I thought all food was forbidden？〃
Janos chuckled and snagged a chunk of bread。 〃I have learned； my dear Amalric； there are as many shadings to that word as there are coins in a rich man's strong room。〃 He wolfed down the bread。 〃Eat up。 I believe our new friend was more worried about our food…starved wits than a minor bit of blasphemy。〃 I ate； gobbling down the bread with gusto。 Immediately my mood shifted； and I began to see things in a clearer light。
〃Who is this Cassini？〃 Janos asked。 〃I thought we had a choice of the Evocator the Council will require to acpany our expedition。〃
〃Sometimes；〃 I said。 〃Sometimes not。〃
Janos eyed me。 〃From your expression…artfully guarded； I hasten to add…I got the impression you know of this Cassini。〃
〃Dear me；〃 said a voice； 〃it's only midday and already I hear my name being bandied about。〃 We both turned to greet the speaker。 He was a tall man…about my age…with not much flesh on his bones； and a soft； spoiled mouth。 The Evocator's robes he wore were richly embroidered for one so young； indicating his family's wealth。
〃Ah； there you are； Cassini；〃 I replied。 〃I was just about to describe your charming personage to my panion 。。。 Captain Janos Greycloak。〃
At my introduction； they bowed to one another。 〃Cassini and I were once rades of the athletic field and tavern；〃 I explained to Janos。 〃There were many who mourned the