ion was made； but then they began to squabble about who would deliver it to the angry citizens of Orissa。 The crowd laughed at their plight； pressing toward the stage again。 Then a Magistrate gave Jeneander a hard shove； and he stumbled forward； his image cast large by the magnification spell。 He stood quaking next to Janos。
〃I silenced our friends； and gave Jeneander my best smile of greeting；〃 Janos said。 〃I put my arm around him as if he were my brother； and I said loudly； so all could hear； 'No matter what your choice； my friend； all here know that you worthy gentlemen have labored long to arrive at your wise decision。' 〃
Janos laughed and took another gulp of wine to ease his throat。 〃Then poor Jeneander began to speak；〃 he continued。 〃His first words came out a sort of a squeaky quack； as if a mouse had mated with a duck。 But he finally got it out； his knees quaking as if we were standing in a wintry breeze。 He said； still in that high voice； 'We declare that the leader of the second expedition will be 。。。 Captain Janos Greycloak。'
〃Well； you couldn't hear a thing after that from all the shouting。 But no matter； for no sooner had the good Evocator said his piece； he and the others bolted from the stage as if they were rabbits who'd just had a great vision of a bubbling stew pot。〃 I laughed at the scene he painted until tears flowed。 I refilled our glasses； and we drank a toast to Te…Date； who had so confounded our enemies。
Then Janos turned serious。 〃I want you to know；〃 he said； 〃that no matter what follows in our lives； you could never accumulate enough deeds from me to repay the debt I owe you。〃 I made humbled； nonsense noises； but my heart was full of joy。 I heard Emilie cry somewhere in the house； and then the nursemaid's voice lifted in soft song to soothe her。 It had been a most remarkable day。
Janos heard that cry as well； and he smiled。 〃I know it is not possible for you to e with me this time；〃 he said。 〃You have too many burdens now。 But you should know I will sorely miss you。〃
〃That is kind of you to say；〃 I replied。 〃But； I know that last time I was so green that I was little real help to you。 And now you will have a great army； with many experienced； professional men to advise you。〃
Janos gave his head a hard shake。 〃Your one real flaw； my friend；〃 he said； 〃is you do not realize your own worth。 You will be a dangerous man when you do； for you have a natural talent as an adventurer。 More important； you have the strength of a firm heart and steady vision。 Don't bother denying it； I know you well； perhaps in some things better than you know yourself。 We are much alike； Amalric Antero。 As alike as if we were twins。 But you don't have my dark side； thank the gods。〃
He peered at me； and I saw from the redness in his eyes he was a little drunk。 〃I swear to you； Amalric；〃 he said； 〃when I stand in the Far Kingdoms； I will make sacrifice in your honor。 And I shall tell the masters of that place that I bring greetings from my good friend； and twin 。。。〃 His voice stopped in midsentence； and I saw his head had fallen。 I plucked the tumbler of wine from his hand before it spilled； and as I crept out of the room I heard his first； weary snore。
One month later the expedition set forth。 Every craft that could be spared had been pressed into service to carry that mighty group to the sea。 The whole city turned out to see them off。 I stood on a hill near the bend as they passed； and am not ashamed to admit I felt a little regret I was not going with them。 But when the last ship had gone； and I turned toward home； I thought of Deoce and Emilie； and my step was suddenly very light。
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The Dark Seeker
WHAT I WRITE next is difficult。 I would pay almost any price if I could scrape this time from the scrolls of my life。 Orissa had been blessed by the gods for years。 Our sacrifices had been rewarded many times over： the harvest bountiful； the river quiescent； soldiers victorious； health excellent； and our children obedient。 Then the gods called in the debt。
For a short time after Janos left； my life was nothing but joy。 I spent every moment of free time…and robbed my business for more…with Deoce and Emilie。 My wife was all things to me： lover； partner； adviser； and friend。 She had a head for business and was beginning to e to the docks with me to help organize the trade to the lands Janos and I had opened up。 At home she was the delight of the servants…a much cheerier group now that they had been freed…for she relished diving into the work at hand； fearing no dark corners where cobwebs gather deep。 And sometimes she would surprise me at my desk and lure me away to a quiet； leafy bower where we made love as we had in the days of the valley of paradise。
Emilie proved to be as delightful a child as Deoce had predicted。 She was a merry little girl with plump cheeks； fair skin； and eyes alive with curiosity。 My heart ached when I heard her laugh； and the moment she came into my sight； she would cry out with delight and hug me with her chubby arms； and my senses would fill up to the overflowing as her laughter and milky perfume overwhelmed me。
〃You are clay in her hands；〃 Deoce would tease。 〃If there was ever a child who was her father's little girl； our Emilie is that toddler。 You had best be wary； my dear； or she will bee insufferably spoiled。〃
Of course； all was not blossoms under a spring sun。 There were problems： Deoce suffered a sprain； Emilie the colic； and a small cargo ship from the Northern Lands was lost。 Also when Janos set out； he left our enemies behind。 For a time； however； they were too fearful to do more than whisper foul charges。
There were things； however； that might have given us warning of what was about to e； but most of us had been lulled into sweet dreamings of the treasures that would soon pour forth from the Far Kingdoms。 The Kissing of the Stones had gone badly that season。 The criminal the Evocators crushed to bless the harvest was a starveling turned thief； who produced only a slender trickle of blood when he was ground between the two ancient stones。 Then we had many days of lightning storms that rent the air with their hot breath and set the dogs and lizards howling。 Afterward the dawning sun lighted the skies a fierce red； and thick black clouds swirled about making ghastly images。 The rumors also heated up。 There were stories that the second expedition had lost its way several times； that Janos was quarreling with his officers； and there was much immoral practicing of black magic whose only purpose was sexual。 And if the tales told on Janos weren't enough； we received travelers' reports that the Lycanthians were all astir； drilling their troops and talking of rebuilding the great wall we had torn down when we defeated them。 Still； except for idle tavern talk； we paid little mind； but just added it all to the general gossip； such as the odd lights and burning odors emanating from the citadel of the Evocators。 I did ask Rali about this； but her spy could only report that the Evocators were still feuding； except they were keeping their quarrel locked behind thick doors where even her presence would be suspect。
Then the first members of Janos' expedition returned home and put voice and person to the rumors attacking him。 They charged that he had bee a temperamental leader； who took no counsel other than his own and publicly humiliated those who opposed him。 They said not only had the expedition bee lost several times； but was still wandering about the countryside； losing baggage and treasure and victims to marauding tribes。 Most of this was believed to be nonsense； for the people who had returned were notorious sloths and cowards whom we all believed had only gone on the expedition to win easy glory。
Cassini； however； immediately seized this chance； and began making appearances again； berating Janos and doing his best to harm his reputation。 His supporters trickled out from under their rocks； and soon he became bold enough to participate in public rites。 In fact； he assisted Jeneander in the yearly rain ceremony； tinkling the silver bells that chimed like raindrops； as Jeneander cut the throat of a fat bullock。
The rain came on schedule…but