the rain poured out of the heavens； we jammed our gear into our packs； quicklashed them to the asses； and fled。
Deoce and I stopped at the top of the crater。 We turned for one last look at the place where our love had blossomed。 But there was nothing to be seen in the storm's fury。 Janos came up behind us。 He put a hand on each of us； a hand of fort。 The three of us stood there for a long moment； the rain beating down on our forlorn figures。
Then he said； 〃It is time to go； my friends。 e。〃 The three of us turned and stumbled out of paradise。
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The Wasteland
WE FLED THE valley into a wasteland： for leagues the land stretched； flat and studded with rocks and flint and shale。 The only plants we saw were gray； twisted trees that reached low along the ground like old men's fingers。 We saw no wildlife； and the only water we found was brackish and so deep； we had to dig for hours before the slightest moisture trickled out。
We were forced to wear our tattered footwear once more； and all too soon their soles were cut through。 We wrapped rags around our feet and cut canvas socks to ease the burden of the poor beasts who bore our goods。 Cassini must now have rued his insistence on having boots made before we entered the valley： his last pair wore through in less than a day； and there was nothing to make new ones from。 Not that anyone would have made them for him anyway…no one was speaking to the Evocator beyond the necessities of duty。 Our anger grew as he found it increasingly hard to cast his spells around the relict； and we depended more and more on navigating by the sun and taking star readings after nightfall for the next day's navigation。
We spoke to one another less and less； and then through sun…cracked lips； as if all of us were growing to hate each other。 At least there was no conflict between Deoce and myself； although we had so little energy； we rarely made love。 There were mutter…ings from some of the men； especially Lione； about the privileges of the rich； and how I was doing less work than any of them。 They chose not to notice that I had made myself the expedition's cook…not because of any particular talent or feeling for the art； but simply because I knew the truth of what my father had told me as a boy。 〃If you carve yourself the largest piece of the pie； you must also have done； and be seen to have done； more of that day's labor than anyone else。〃 Not that cooking was an onerous chore； requiring nothing more than putting water； some smashed corn； and dried vegetables and spices in a pot and shredding a bit of dried meat into the 〃soup。〃 No one … yet … mentioned killing the asses for food。
Another great absence we noted was the Watchers'。 I did not know whether to be relieved； fearful； or concerned that we had lost our way。 Even though we did not know whether their purpose was maleficent or benevolent； we had grown used to seeing the speck on the horizon or mesa top。
Then one night we made a dry camp； mechanically chewed what dinner we could stomach； and tried to sleep； each man curled into a hip hollow he'd dug。 I lay on my back； with my hand outstretched to touch Deoce。 It was not hot； not cold； the sky was very clear and very dark； and the stars seemed especially close。 Then I thought it grew hazy； as if a sandstorm was rising； but I did not move。 I was asleep； and I dreamed。
My dreams must have lasted all night； because when I woke； I felt sore in every muscle； as if I had not slept at all。 Deoce seemed just as tired： there were dark circles under her eyes。 I was foolish enough to mention her haggardness； and she snapped at me； then apologized。 Everyone in the party looked as wrung out as we did。 Wordlessly； we all began reassembling our packs for the day's journey。 Janos broke our stupor suddenly and ordered us all to assemble around him。
Without preamble； he began； 〃Cassini； I dreamed last night。〃 I expected a sarcastic retort from the Evocator； but Cassini just nodded； as if he knew just what Janos was talking about。
〃I think；〃 Greycloak went on； 〃that all of us did。 Am I correct？〃 Surprised nods； grunts； agreement from all of us。 〃I could tell you my dream exactly； but we cannot waste too much time on details。 In short； my dream told me that this region we are marching through； this blasted heath； es not from the gods； but from something else。 I dreamed that this was once a fallow； peaceful land； with cities and towns； even greater than what Cassini's vision told him of the river and the land beyond the Shore People's borders。 This land was shattered； and destroyed。 Destroyed in but one week。 The people were killed or driven away； I do not remember that well。 The water sank far beneath the ground； and even the hills and mountains were crushed； as we might crush an anthill beneath a boot。 Yes？ Is my dream your dream？ I shall let our Evocator finish； then。 What caused this destruction？〃
Cassini's face was even more haunted than anyone's。 〃A spell；〃 he whispered。 〃A spell or a web of spells； cast by Evocators with powers far beyond those I could even dream of； far beyond the sorcery that tore down Lycanth's great wall or the Archons' tempest we barely survived。 Not only was this land obliterated between the setting and the rising of the sun； but enough of the spell's power lingered on； so that this land shall never again be fruitful。〃
Janos asked； 〃Can you tell us where this spell came from？〃
Cassini shook his head。 〃Only that your dream was right； and it was cast by men 。。。 or by creatures who once were men； and not gods。〃
〃From th' Far Kingdoms；〃 one of the men muttered。 His name was Sylv。 〃An' we're walkin' down their throats like roebuck follyin' th' net trail into th' killing ring。〃
〃No；〃 Cassini said flatly。 〃I sensed then； and still do； great magic from the east…from where our talisman shows the Far Kingdoms to be。 But this is not from that direction 。。。 but from everywhere 。。。 and nowhere。〃
Janos came to his feet。 〃So if this spell yet lingers on 。。。 and to use your own words about the killing floor； Sylv； we had best move ourselves beyond spear reach； even if that spear might be a sorcerous one。〃
Quickly spoken by both of them； and we did pack quickly and continue moving。 But the men's fears were not assuaged。 We began seeing more and more dark looks； looks of anger and fear and guilt； looks that broke away when one of the four expedition leaders noticed them。 Janos began marching close to the two asses containing our water supply； and Maeen stayed close to the ones with our treasure。 I asked Janos if there could be a mutiny； and he told me no。 〃Not yet；〃 he said。 〃They are too tired； no one has died； and； most importantly； none of them see a place to flee to。 The most likely would be the five we rescued from the slavers； since their homes would be closer。 But they are still beaten down from their capture。 No。 No one will murder us in our sleep。 Yet。〃
The next day； Cassini lost his magic。 His shouts woke me just at dawn； and I ran to him； thinking that perhaps a desert serpent had sought him for warmth。 Cassini was sitting with the cloak he used for his bedding； his face as blank and terrified as an infant who's had his first nightmare and wakes knowing nothing but terror。
〃I 。。。 I do not have my spells；〃 he said。 〃I 。。。 my mind is wiped clean！〃 He could barely talk； and it took some time to find out just what he meant。 He'd awakened and determined to cast a simple spell that might wipe out the fleas that were living in the lining of his cloak。 〃But I could not。。。 cannot。。。 remember the gods to use in the incantation； or the incantations themselves； or even what symbols might be drawn 。。。 I cannot； in fact； remember any symbol except the circle； and the lowliest dolt knows that to be magical。〃
〃Then we are naked；〃 Maeen said； before he caught himself。 I do not think that anyone else heard him； but they did not need to。 If Cassini had lost his powers； that would mean all the little spells； from those that meant a leak in our waterskins would seal itself to whatever protective words he'd cast to shield us from outside sorcery； were gone。 We were naked。 Even worse was that； without the words； the Watcher's relict； our map； was useless。