〃Perhaps you are right；〃 I said。 〃Although I think you have much too rosy a view。 Still； the Evocators are a powerful force。 And they cannot be ignored； or in the end we may lose much more than a second expedition。〃
It was Rali who proved my fears； although well…founded； were exaggerated。 I was relaxing in the public bath when I got the news。 It was one of those rare days when I was able to flee the pressures of business and politics for a good workout at the gymnasium； and now I was easing weary muscles in the steam room。 It was late in the day； and besides the slave who tended the hot rocks； there were only a few men about。 As my tensions eased； and I was considering more personal matters； such as slipping home for a tumble with Deoce； I heard the bath keeper voice loud protest。
〃You can't go in there！〃
〃Get out of my way； you flea；〃 came a booming reply。 The boom was unmistakably Rali's。
〃e back tomorrow；〃 the flea responded。 'Tomorrow is Ladies' Day。 Today is for men only。〃
〃Oh； don't be such a bother。 There's nothing in there I haven't seen before。〃
There was a scuffle； a yelp of pain； and Rali made her entrance。 She saw me through the steam and walked over； ignoring horrified looks from the other men。 I patted the spot beside me on the stone bench； enjoying their disfort as my sister once again turned custom on its head。 〃I've been searching for you all morning； Amalric；〃 she said。 She glanced around the room； the men looked quickly away。 None of them knew what to do。 They believed themselves humbled whether they stayed or fled。
〃In fact； I'm so weary from looking；〃 she finally said； 〃I think I'll join you。〃
With that； she kicked off her sandals； shed her tunic； and in a wink she was naked and plumping her lovely haunches down on the bench。 〃More steam；〃 she shouted to the attendant。 He quickly plied。 Just as quickly； all but two or three of the men fled。
Rali sprawled out； legs splayed wide。 One of the remaining men dared to ogle her。 Instead of clapping her legs together and covering her breasts； Rali stared back at him； hard。 〃It would eat you alive； little man；〃 she snarled。 He ran； and before another drop of sweat could fall from my brow； the others had followed him。 I laughed until my sides ached。
〃Good；〃 Rali snorted。 〃I need privacy for the tale I have e to tell。 But first。。。 some wine； brother dear； to slake my thirst。〃
I poured wine and she drank it down。 Then she lifted a big jug of cold water and drenched herself。 The water ran over the floor and into the rock pit； sending up a mighty blast of steam。
〃Now； what is the news； sister； that puts you into such a state you relish bullying these poor men？〃
〃Oh； balls； Amalric。 It'll give them something to talk about。 Spice up their dull lives。 If their women are fortunate； I'll have aroused their men so； they'll speed home to prove they are men； after all。〃
〃Quit being clever； please；〃 I said。 〃The news； if you will。 The news。〃 I refilled her goblet； and she plunged into the story without further prompting。
〃There is a young woman in my troop；〃 she said； 〃whose mother has served for many years as a floor scrubber to the Evocators。 She has cleaned their halls for so long； they have ceased to notice her。 Since this woman was wise enough to see her daughter ought to be steered into our pany； instead of joining another generation of stone scourers； I think you will agree the Evocators' attitude was not good thinking。 In fact； she so resents it； she has bee my willing ear to many of their discussions。〃
I straightened on the bench； this was indeed good fortune。 The Maranon Guard was sworn to remain neutral in all affairs of the city； therefore it was necessary for them to have many 〃ears；〃 as my sister put it； to avoid any hint of playing favorites。 'Tell me more； oh wise and beautiful sister；〃 I said。
Rali laughed； gave my arm a numbing clout； and resumed her story。 〃There was a meeting of the Council of Elders yesterday noon。 Cassini was there； as was his mentor； Jeneander。 Our floor scrubber found a nice； dirty spot just outside and listened。 She said it was plain from the voices…they got quite angry； apparently…the nature of the meeting was a debate； and the subject of this debate was the Far Kingdoms。〃
〃So things are ing to a head；〃 I said； grimly。 〃They are marshaling their forces against us。〃
〃Far from it〃 was my sister's surprising answer。 〃It might be difficult to believe； but the Evocators are as divided as the rest of Orissa。 To the public； they are supportive of Cassini。 But only because he is one of their own and many feel they must stand by him。 In private； however； the issue has broken into several warring camps。 At the moment； those siding with Cassini hold sway； but； from what our brave floor scrubber says； their grip is slippery。 For the loudest proponent of all for the expedition and Janos is Gamelan himself。〃
I nearly fell to the floor。 〃But 。。。 he's the oldest of them。 And surely the most hidebound and the most bent on protecting the Evocators' sphere。〃
〃So； I would have guessed as well；〃 Rali said。 〃However； from his remarks； just the opposite is true 。。。 except for the age part； for there is no denying Gamelan is old。 Anyway； he apparently gave an impassioned speech； saying Orissa is threatened by stagnation from within and fierce enemies from without。 Not only should a second expedition be launched as soon as possible； but Janos should lead it because its success is so important。〃
〃What about Cassini？〃 I was nearly sputtering in amazement。
〃Gamelan apparently has no use for him。 He declared quite openly Cassini has not only humiliated the Evocators； but also undermined the people's faith in them。〃
I couldn't help but laugh。 〃Faith？ Why； it's more fear than faith。〃
〃Well 。。。 yes。 However； the point is Gamelan is on our side。 I never thought I'd live to see the day when an Evocator supported the Anteros。〃
〃Nor did I；〃 I said。 〃What was the oute of the debate？〃
〃Gamelan lost； of course。 Cassini is still their man。 However； our hard…working spy said the victory was so narrow it could change at a moment's notice。 So it seems to me； all we have to do is find a way to quietly assist that change。〃 I had no quarrel with her reasoning。 It was only the how that escaped me。 My head whirled； seeking openings we could exploit。 〃One other thing；〃 my sister said。 〃There seems to be one very small group that is ahead of the others。 Our spy says there has been much mysterious ings and goings in the basement of the hall。 Much spell casting and odd noises and smells for even a wizard's lair。 It is a very secretive group； and others don't seem to know what they are about。〃
〃What does our friend the floor scrubber think？〃
Rali shrugged。 〃She doesn't know。 She doesn't even have a guess。 She told me if she did have one； and it was close； then Gamelan and the others would have figured it out as well。〃
Despite the fact that all things now suggested a swift resolution； the matter stalled for some weeks。 Janos took in Rali's information and continued picking away at his opponents bit by bit。
As for myself； I had my family and business to see to。 An idea had e shortly after our return to Orissa。 It was an idea whose seed had begun to germinate after Eanes' death。 I thought I was a fool to harbor such a plan at first； but the more I saw how the folk of the streets reacted to the Far Kingdoms； considering it a possession； a birthright； the more the notion took root。 I first broached the subject with Deoce。
〃We have been together for only a short time； my love；〃 I began。 〃But in that time I have found you to be not only a loving wife； a solid friend； but the best counsel among all my advisers。〃
〃Thank you for saying that； my husband；〃 she replied。 〃But your preamble is entirely unnecessary。 For the day you cease asking； and accepting； my advice； is the day I book passage for Salcae； where there is no need for a sweet balsam before a woman is asked her opinion。〃
I blushed； and Deoce laughed and gave me a hug。 〃Never fear； dear Amalric。 If it were even possible for you to treat me as other Orissan men treat their wives； I would have seen it long before。 And I would never have slept with