he sea； as always； was the victor。 The harbor is the crater of that volcano； a volcano many Orissans wish would return to life； because Lycanth has been the cause of many deaths and sorrow for our city。 The crater is steeply cliffed； and there is but one way down from the peninsula to the harbor…a gently shelving passage that might be a lava slide that solidified。 The passage has been smoothed by man and time until it is as regular as a sculpted ramp。 Around the harbor and down the peninsula's neck； the men who became known as Lycanthians built their city。
The peninsula is narrow； so where we built Orissa as a sprawl across rolling hills； the Lycanthians built upward； and tall buildings stretched toward the sky…buildings that looked to have been carved from a single stone by a dark giant The sun would shine for only a few moments each day in the streets below the buildings。 Janos had told me these buildings were warrens； crowded with apartments and workplaces。 The higher the floor； the more expensive the dwelling。 But the eye barely noted these stone towers at first。 It was drawn to the brooding sea castle at the tip of the peninsula。 From here the two Priest…Kings of Lycanth； the Archons； ruled…together with their council of sorcerers。 In that castle were their treasure vaults and； far below； Lycanth's dripping dungeons and torture chambers。
The castle appeared impregnable。 But it had been taken once； a battle that began in treachery and at night； and ended in fire and sword。 It had fallen to Orissa twenty years before I was born in the final battle of the Second War of the Cities； when we regained our freedom from the occupiers whose heavy heel had been at our throats for five generations。 Once the victory was in hand； however； instead of obliterating Lycanth and all Lycanthians from this world； we made an honorable peace。 Our Magistrates reasoned that were there no Lycanth； another power could well rise up； one just as likely to be hostile。 Or else； if unoccupied； the cursed land could provide a footing for anarchy。 We were also unwilling to hold Lycanth as a vassal state…there is little profit in a garrisoned and hostile land。 That was why the sea castle still loomed on its promontory。 If the city was to be allowed to stand； mon humanity and dignity before the gods required Lycanth to be able to defend itself against the pirates that swarmed the Narrow Sea。 All we required was reparations for the damage done to Orissa； sacrifices to the ghosts of those killed during the two wars； and death gifts made to their survivors。 There was one other requirement： a permanent reminder of their error in considering Orissa a city of fat merchants and powerless gods。 So we ordered the destruction of the immense wall they'd built across the neck of the peninsula。 We forced the secrets of the wall's protective spells from the sorcerers； and our mightiest Evocators bined powers in a massive enchantment of dissolution and decay。 Their purification before undertaking the ritual filled more than a year； and the Spell Saying itself occupied a month。 Three Evocators died in the enchanting； and even when it was finished； legions of Lycanthian war prisoners were required to clear the rubble； and in some cases topple still…standing stones。
As we drew closer to Lycanth； Eanes beckoned to me。 I cantered back to him。 Eanes； along with Sergeant Maeen and the ten guardsmen who'd volunteered to acpany Janos on my Finding； rode in a great ox…drawn charabanc； together with our baggage and the chests that contained our gold and silver。 Janos； Cassini； and I were on horseback。
〃Why；〃 Eanes wondered； pointing at the still…blasted barrens where the wall had stood； 〃don't the Lycanthians build out here； now that their great battlement's been turned into anchor weights？ Or are they afraid of forest spirits？〃
〃A good question； my friend；〃 Janos said。 〃And there is a reason。 Lycanth thinks it is shameful that their wall was torn down； and I have heard men growl that one day the wall will rise once more。 So the statute limitations go no farther than this barrenness and no Lycanthian will build beyond； for fear he might be thought to approve of their defeat。〃
〃We should have sold their men to the Ifora；〃 Cassini said； 〃taken their women for our pleasure； turned the city stone from stone； and sowed the ground with salt。 My skills do not extend far into prognostication as yet； but I feel in my bones； that we shall be troubled by Lycanth again。〃
〃Harsh words；〃 Janos said。 〃I am not sure I agree with you as to whether Lycanth should have been blotted out。 Across the Narrow Sea； in Valaroi； what you suggest is the way wars are fought； and I have seen the results。 But you are correct that Lycanth wishes to regain her old powers。 When I was in their service I heard such talk constantly。 And if they do； once again they will strike at Orissa。 The Lycanthians have long memories for anything they consider a wrong。 I found it necessary to guard my tongue closely…just as we must from this point forward。 All of us may be Orissan； or in Orissan service； but stressing those facts will make us few new friends。 Not here in Lycanth； nor； most likely； across the Narrow Sea in Valaroi。 I do not know how long a reach Lycanth has in those parts； although I helped garrison many of those watchtowers we've seen for the last two days。 We shall travel as anonymous traders； appearing to owe no allegiance to anyone。 It is far safer。〃
He stopped himself and grinned； a bit shamefaced。 〃My apologies； Lord Amalric；〃 he said； quite formal。 〃I meant； of course； that I would remend such an appearance of neutrality to you 。。。 but the decision is certainly yours。〃
I laughed； taking no offense。 Cassini might disapprove； but I refused to ran my Finding as if it were as rank…bedazzled as any army。 〃Any one of us who thinks he knows a better way had better speak up； or else we stand no chance of reaching the Far Kingdoms。 We will travel without banners or bugles； as you advise。〃 Janos nodded； still looking a bit shamefaced。
Eanes chuckled and said very quietly； for my ears only； 〃I have heard that no lion eats carrion happily。〃
WE HAD MADE a quick； if cautious journey。 The caution was especially necessary because of the amount of coinage I was required to carry。 If my Finding had been a monplace one； we would have had need for little cash； and whatever was necessary for trading and expenses could be drawn from local banks on my father's letter of credit。 But since our voyage was to begin in Lycanth； this was not possible。 The city was not only a longtime military foe； but a bitter trading rival as well。 My father's most hated enemy； a clan named Symeon…now headed by its youngest； and my father swore most evil； son； Nisou…was Lycanthian。 They had not only betrayed us in private third…party trading agreements； but； he was sure； used their knowledge of our trading practices to hire local raiders and ambush several of our caravans。 He'd advised me to be most cautious when we were in Lycanth。
The journey had been without incident…except for the witch。 The road had been narrow and rutted； running under huge； gnarled…branch trees。 We were all nervous； since this would be a perfect place to be raided。 Suddenly there was a woman in the middle of the road； blocking the way。
She was naked； but no man would feel lust stir his loins； not without a potion distilled ten times beyond the one I'd given Melina。 I thought she was fairly young； but I was not sure； since she was filthy； as if her last bath had been the fluid in her mother's womb。 Her blond hair scraggled around her face。 Before the drivers could pull at their reins； she lifted one hand； palm toward us； and the oxen stopped as if they'd been slammed between the eyes with the butcher's hammer。 I could hear the whispers from the soldiers； silenced by a mutter from Sergeant Maeen。 She lifted her other hand： from it dangled a bit of rope。 〃A tribute 。。。 a love gift；〃 she chanted。
〃We pay no one； mother；〃 the driver said。
She waved the rope。 'Tribute 。。。 or this rope 。。。 this string 。。。 this yarn 。。。 dangling loose； dangling limp 。。。 brave soldiers 。。。 dangling limp； dangling loose； and none of you will be able to honor your wo