〃On your feet；〃 Janos ordered。 〃We will be moving； and moving fast。 Sergeant Maeen； detail two men to each ass to make certain they do not bolt if we are attacked again。 And have the dead ass's pack broken up among the other animals。 We will say the words for our rade when our Evocator finishes his protective spell。〃
Cassini had evidently pleted his work。 Janos walked over to him as he repacked his gear。 〃My apologies； Evocator；〃 he began。 〃I did not recognize you were already making your plans。〃
Cassini stared at him coldly。 〃You said once you had an interest in sorcery；〃 he said。 〃Quite an interest indeed； to be familiar with a brother…speaks…to…brother incantation。 Such a familiarity in Orissa might require an explanation to the Council。〃
〃Freely offered here；〃 Janos said； trying to sound light。 〃I recollected that once； when I served Lycanth； such a spell was cast by my regiment's own sorcerer； when we were occupying a foreign city and being stalked by assassins from the rooftops。〃
I waited to see how much of a fool Cassini was。 The Evocator eyed Janos。 〃Your memory；〃 he said coldly； 〃works most expeditiously in moments of danger。〃
〃So I have been told。 May I give you a hand relashing your equipment？ We must travel fast。〃
After the death ceremony over the dead soldier； I asked Janos what； exactly； were our plans。 〃Assuming；〃 he said； 〃that this part of the route is like the others； we should strike a source of water； whether a well or an oasis； within two days at the most。 I would propose if we have not been able to lose the nomads by then； we keep them from the water until they are forced by thirst to retreat。〃
〃You do not think they'll have been discouraged by Cassini's magic and just give up？〃
〃Not a hope；〃 Janos answered。 〃All that showed was we are travelers with power； which means that we have something worth taking。 No。 The battle has only begun。〃 I prayed Janos was wrong。
We moved all night； following the stars and the track。 At dawn I thought my prayers might have been answered； since there was no sign of our followers。 Janos； however； looked even more worried； but refused to tell me why。 Two hours later we saw； ahead of us on the horizon； a shimmering green that was not a mirage； it was an oasis。 We reached it an hour before dusk。 It was beautiful； blue ponds reflecting through low brush and shade…beckoning trees。 Our eyes ached for this place； for color beyond the browns we were stumbling through。
We were only two spearcasts from entering it when the ululation began。 The nomads had beaten us to the oasis。 An arrow shower； launched by muscle and not sorcery； arced out of the brush and landed a few yards from us。
Janos barked orders。 〃You men。 Move the asses into that hollow。 Sergeant Maeen； take charge of them。 Cassini 。。 。 Amalric 。。。 hold here with me。 They will almost certainly be sending out an emissary。〃
I wondered how Janos could make such an assessment from a few arrows that buried themselves far short of our party。 〃Sheath your weapons； until I tell you otherwise；〃 Greycloak went on； before I could ask。 〃When they e out； look proud； and defiant； not beaten。 Our enemies want us alive。〃
Cassini asked how Janos could know this。 〃The arrow launch was meant to intimidate； not harm。 So those nomads wish us either for slaves or for sacrifice。 Most likely the former； since no desert dweller wastes real substance on invisible gods unless forced。〃
Three men came out of the brush that ringed the oasis。 They were dressed approximately the same： baggy knee breeches and tunics； with flowing hooded cloaks。 Curving swords were sheathed at their waists。 Two of them carried reversed spears； with a white cloth tied between them。 The other spread his hands out； palm open。 They approached。 I prepared to make the same symbol of peacefulness。 Janos shook his head。 〃No。〃
He raised his voice。 〃Stop！〃 The three did。 〃How can you proclaim peace；〃 he demanded； in Trader's Tongue； 〃when you have already killed one of us； and send arrows against us when we have shown you no enmity？ Do you think us fools？〃
The man in front laughed sharply and answered in the same tongue； although brokenly； as if he spoke it but seldom。 〃I do not see you as fools； no。 I see you as 。。。 perhaps lambs。 Lambs who have lost their flock； and are wandering through this wasteland； in danger from wolves and eagles。 I。。。 I am the shepherd； who offers safety and shelter。〃
〃No doubt purely from the goodness of your soul；〃 Janos said。
The man lifted his shoulders slightly。 〃No one does anything pletely from benevolence；〃 the man said。 〃Else he would be a god。 The shepherd offers the lamb safety； and the lamb provides its wool and； in the end； its flesh so the shepherd may protect yet another generation。 It is the way。〃
〃How kind of you；〃 Janos said。 〃But。。。 perhaps there is something wrong with my vision。 You speak of being a shepherd 。。。 and I see nothing but three cackling carrion crows； stinking of dung while they prate of honey。〃 He pretended not to notice the hiss of anger as he continued。 〃Nor are we lambs。〃 Then his sword whipped out…and the slaver jumped back； his own hand going to his blade。 〃Lambs do not have fangs like this；〃 Janos said。 〃Perhaps the desert sun has addled your senses； and you do not see you are challenging wolves。〃 Janos turned to me。 〃Do you wish to accept this jackal's offer； and wear chains？〃 he asked； still in the trading tongue。
I did not need to answer。 〃Nor I；〃 Janos went on。 〃Never again。〃 Cassini seemed to hesitate。 〃Evocator；〃 Janos said； 〃you will not be included in his kind offer； but rather sacrificed to add to their shaman's power。〃
Cassini covered his hesitation。 〃I stand with you； of course。〃
〃And I can speak for the soldiers；〃 Janos finished。 〃You must take us with the sword； corpse eater；〃 he said to the slaver。 〃And in the taking you will bring sorrow to the tents of your people。〃
The nomad held up his hands in acceptance。 〃You have spoken bravely。 Perhaps tomorrow 。。。 or the next day 。。。 you will croak differently when your water is gone。 Or perhaps my lions of the desert will not allow me to be merciful and wait until you have e to your senses。〃 The three backed to the oasis and disappeared。
〃Cassini；〃 Janos snapped； 〃a few words of the protective spell。 Immediately！〃 Cassini had barely begun a mutter when an arrow shot from cover； aimed directly at Janos。 I could see； as if we were all in amber； the arrow wobble as our Evocator's spell caught it。 Then Janos stepped to one side and his free hand shot out； a blur； and then he held the arrow。 He broke it； cast it aside； and turned； stalking back to the hollow。 We followed。
Janos gathered the men and explained what had happened。 One or two of the soldiers looked as if they might have reached a different decision if consulted； but hid their looks as quickly as Cassini had。 Then the three of us withdrew to make plans。
Janos said； 'They might wait until we all collapse before they make their move。 But it is unlikely they would have that much patience。 More probable is they will let us bake our brains for two or three days； and then attack。 They certainly will not strike now； when we are fully alert。 Warfare bees more bloody the greater the number of soldiers on the field。 When few fight； and many die； all lose in the long run。 That is why nomads fight from ambush or with a sudden； unexpected raid。〃
Cassini furrowed his brow。 〃If that is true； Captain 。。。 then isn't it likely that when they do attack； if we can stand them off and hurt them； they might give up？〃
〃Exactly；〃 Janos said。 〃Which is why we will pretend to be running out of water before dusk； and bee increasingly feeble hour by hour。 We shall drink only after dark； and all of us will husband our strength。 If necessary； if they try to wait on us； we can kill the asses and drink their blood and stomach fluids。〃
It was not an idea； nor quite a vision that struck me then。 But a certainty。 〃The slavers think；〃 I began slowly； then more rapidly as my thoughts coalesced； 〃we are city dwellers or maybe farmers； correct？ If they have sold us short； can't we use that arrogance against them？ Sort of 。。。 sort of like no one takes a runner seriousl