im…promising a fat ewe as a sacrifice when we returned… and put him away in my chest of tragedies； along with Halab and my mother。
It is mon for every voyager heading for new lands to pay small attention to his fellow travelers in the beginning。 Each sight is so new and different； the ways and doings of his panions are overshadowed； so I cannot say with accuracy what the other members of the party spent their days doing。 I remember Cassini being permanently sick。 I remember the grumbling seamen； although I believed the grumbling minor。 I don't remember much of our soldiers； except that Sergeant Maeen separated them from the seamen and kept them busy with small tasks and training。 I remember Janos keeping mostly to himself； poring over charts and mysterious scraps of documents。
In the beginning I saw other ships…all from a distance； since L'ur was a properly wary captain who never tempted a pirate。 But I wondered at them； as all lubbers wonder； guessing from whence they came and where they were bound。 It came to me they could be seeking no landfall as wondrous as the country I sought； and laughed at their puny expectations。 Once we were well out into the open sea； we saw no ships； for few dared this journey； and those who did traveled as cautiously as we did。
The seas were alive with all manner of creatures。 There were fish that flew out of the water； turtles with backs broad enough to carry several men； insects with bodies as big as a man's head and long； spindly legs that carried them swiftly on the hunt from kelp bed to kelp bed。 I saw a creature twice as long as our craft that spewed water from a hole set in the top of its head。 It fled our approach。 Later I saw two immense birds； or things that looked like birds； with vast； leathery wings and long； sharp beaks。 They alighted on a dark shape drifting in the waves； crying out in delight and tearing at its flesh。 As we drew closer； I saw it was the corpse of one of the spouting beasts I'd seen。 There were several spears in its side。
On another day a sea lizard broke surface。 It was huge and old with long trails of barnacles streaming from its side。 At first the men said this was lucky。 But it followed us； and they grew wary； casting dark looks back。 It trailed us for a long time； and the looks became curses before the sea lizard disappeared。 But the men did not forget。
Just after that the seas changed color and shape as we entered a region of great depths。 The sailors whispered that there was no bottom here and an angry god dwelt in the vast reaches…a god whose name no man had heard and lived。 The captain laughed at the talk； mocked it as superstitious blathering； unworthy of a true sailor。 But I caught a hollowness in the mockery and saw him finger his talisman。 He did nothing to stop the whispers。
Despite the fears of the seamen； nothing in particular occurred during our voyage across the deep。 But I understood their nervousness。 In the time we traveled in those waters； we saw never a living thing…no fish； or sea lizards； or even a wayward bird。 It was as if we had e upon a watery desert。 So when a seaman spotted another sail one day and gave the cry； we rushed to the bulwarks rather than hastily preparing to take； flight。 L'ur made the excuse of checking his position and buying fresh food and steered for the stranger； with the two…hands…clasped flag of friendship flying from our mast。 The ship was lateen rigged like our own； but with three sails。 It stayed its course as we closed； making no attempt to tack nearer or to flee。 We cried out that we were friends。 No one answered。 As we came within a spearcast of the ship and could see its decks clearly； we realized there was no one to answer。 The ship's sails drew taut and the snap and crack they gave in the wind echoed eerily。 We saw with a jolt that the rudder had been shipped。 Who was steering； and how？ 〃Wizardry；〃 I heard a seaman hiss。
L'ur barked orders to pull away； but it was too late to prevent us from skimming closer to the strange ship's side。 The deck was spattered with a terrible gore； fresh gore…with red blood pocking the deck and more blood dripping down the mainmast。 But there was not a corpse to be seen； much less the sobs of wounded men。 We fled in terror； L'ur screaming and the seamen dashing about to do his bidding as if the Dark Seeker had loosed his hounds。 The Kittiwake leaped away from the ghost ship； and when we had sailed a great distance； L'ur hove to for consultation。
Some of the men said it was the work of an evil wizard。 Others said it was men。 The men they imagined were half pirate； half demon； who crept up on innocent seamen to make a meal of their flesh or to carry them away to eating pens。 At Janos' urging； Cassini stilled his quaking guts enough to give a little speech about kinder gods and gentler men。 There was little passion to his talk； so it was unconvincing； less from Cassini's illness than his own fear。 He seemed to be trying to e to terms as to what manner of things he would encounter； and be expected to overe； as the expedition continued。 He could see how little his words meant； so he called for a sacrifice to the gods of this region。 This started a quarrel。 Some said we should sacrifice to our own gods as well； so as not to make them jealous。 Some said we should make sacrifice only to our own； or they would abandon us permanently。 There was only a small pig to kill…the ship's mascot。 Cassini wisely stayed with his first judgment； placating the near rather than the far。 The pig squealed as he cut its throat； and he bled it into a copper bowl engraved with arcane symbols。
〃That'll do no good；〃 I heard a man say。
〃We'll need a better gift than that；〃 another said。
〃It's just our poor pig；〃 someone said quite near。
〃That's all our luck he's killin'；〃 came a grumble。
I heard someone say； 〃It's the redhead who's to blame。 Every…one knows red hair's bad luck on a ship。〃 Janos' hand gripped my elbow； and I gave no indication I had heard。 As he pulled me away I heard a final ment。 〃It oughta be him； 'stead of the pig。 That'd change our luck。〃
〃I see what you meant about my red hair；〃 I groaned。 〃It's always been a curse to me。〃
〃It's foolish to mourn a thing you were born with；〃 Janos soothed。 〃I wouldn't be surprised if there are kingdoms with nothing but redheaded people； and it is the poor black…haired fellow who's cursed。〃
〃What should I do？〃 I asked。
〃Don't trouble yourself。 We're only a few days out of Redond。 Why stir a pot to boil； when a simmer does no harm？ Besides； we have our own men； good； loyal Orissan soldiers the seamen would not dare challenge。〃 He eyed me； grim despite his words。 〃But keep your knife ready。 In case someone es at you in the night。〃
Cassini pleted the sacrifice； pouring the blood and a mixture of sorcerous ingredients on the seas； and calling to the gods in a loud voice that we were peaceful men who would soon be quit of their kingdom。 We set sail again； and the spirits of the men seemed somewhat eased。 The muttering ceased； although my hair still drew looks。 The crew became almost cheery as we entered a region everyone said was always blessed with steady winds。 L'ur changed course to make a straight run for Redond； speeding over the waves like the fish with wings。 That afternoon the wind died。
L'ur told his men not to worry； it was only a temporary lull； and reassured them about the well…known reliability of the winds in these parts。 We remained becalmed all that night。 In the morning we leaped up； ready for the fresh winds of the new day。 They never arrived。 The late afternoon winds failed as well。 Nor did the night breezes bless us with their kiss。 The following morning the sun dawned close and hot。 Our heads ached as the still day wore on。 The seamen's horny feet blistered and stuck to the deck； skin ing off if they pulled too hard。 There was not a cloud in that blazing sky to give us hope of fresh winds rushing in over the horizon。
L'ur came to me in the late afternoon。 〃It's time you got your Evocator to get out the wind spirits；〃 he said。 〃I've never had need of 'em in these parts； and would have advised we keep 'em for a nasty bit just off Redond。〃 He looked up at the cloudless skies and shook his he