The expedition had avoided the crater； Sergeant Maeen continued； although he had thought of using it for a resupply base。 I found my teeth on edge； imagining what this horde of soldiery would have done to the paradise Deoce and I had found。 Then I nearly wept as I realized once more； as if for the first time…as I did every hour of every day…that my love had gone beyond forever。 But I showed no expression on my face except interest in Maeen's tale。 Janos had changed his mind not from any romantic concerns； but because he feared the crater's spell was too strong； and if death visited that paradise again； it was likely the expedition would suffer awful casualties in repayment。 Besides； they had enough provisions and water。 There had been no thought of seeking the Rift…there was no way the valley could have supported the expedition； even though there were now no more than fifteen hundred in the party。
The wasteland was a drear nightmare； but it did not bother Maeen since he knew eventually there was an ending to the barren。 They'd followed Janos' and my path through the foothills； but now the problem was the season was growing late…autumn had already e on。 Perhaps； Maeen wondered； this was where the worst of their troubles were sown。 Janos seemed to wake from his lethargy the closer they drew to the pass and behaved as if he were a drover； wanting to physically lash the expedition on to greater and greater speed。 Maeen shook his head at that。 〃I understood what the captain wanted 。。。 but there wasn't any way to put grease under the ways。 Maybe if we'd been a smaller party； carried less baggage； been better trained 。。。〃 He let his voice trail off。 〃I had the feeling； meaning no criticism of the captain and his ways； he wasn't being listened to any more； that the general and the other officers thought he was ranting like a fishwife。 You can only kick a beast that size so much； you know。〃 Janos； General Versred； and his staff had determined to force the pass before the first snowfall。 Once on the other side； they could seek winter quarters。
〃But it never came to that；〃 Maeen said。 〃We went on； and came to a city； just at the foot of the pass。〃
I remembered the place。 〃That must have been where the cavalry came from that attacked us。〃
Maeen nodded。 〃That's what the city leaders said； and apologized。 All of them spoke the trading language。 Said they had terrible enemies beyond； and the mander of the unit had been too hasty。 They apologized； as the captain would put it； most profusely。〃 Maeen looked as if he wanted to spit； but recollected his surroundings。 〃From that day； our doom closed on us；〃 he said。
The city was beautiful； as were its people。 〃They told the general and Captain Greycloak how much they weled our ing。〃 This would mark the dawn of a new day； the city fathers had said； a day when they would make alliance with Orissa； and no longer fear the warriors of the Disputed Lands。 They were especially pleased when they learned the expedition's goal。 e spring some of the city's young soldiers might wish to join the party； and march on east； to the Far Kingdoms。 The city； which was named Wahumwa； had been； aeons earlier； firm friends with the peaceful savants of the Far Kingdoms。
The sergeant stopped； pulled a tattered roll of cloth from his tunic； and handed it to me。 〃As proof；〃 he said； 〃those lying bastards gave the captain this。〃
I unrolled the cloth and gaped at what had been revealed。 It was a banner； suitable for cavalry； and so old the linen was a dirty gray。 But the markings were quite clear： set against a jagged sunburst was a great coiled serpent。 I remembered the symbol well。 My mind quickly flew to the Pepper Coast and the warrior in amber whose ghost we had soothed。 The serpent and sunburst had been carved into the leather pouch the dead warrior wore。
Sergeant Maeen said； 〃They told us that banner had been carried by the soldiers of the Far Kingdoms。 And was left behind the last time they came to help them fight。〃
〃What did Janos think？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； he said it was from the Far Kingdoms； all right。 And that it must be the crest of the rulers there。〃
〃He was that certain；〃 I pressed。 I remembered we both thought the crest might signify something like that。
〃As certain when they gave it to him；〃 Maeen answered； 〃as the day he gave it me to hand over to you…if I lived to see you。〃
I rolled the cloth back up and put it in my writing desk。 It sits there to this day。 Then I gently prodded the sergeant to take up where he left off。 〃So； the people of the city claimed friendship with the Far Kingdoms？〃
〃Yes； sir。 That is what those liars told us；〃 Maeen said bitterly。 〃They told us the city had fought several wars with the barbarians of the Disputed Lands； and had lost contact with the Far Kingdoms。 Because of these wars there were vacant apartments enough for all of us and to spare。 We need not pitch our tents or sleep on the ground。 And as for panionship from the city's many widows or unattached women 。。。 that too was for the asking。〃 Maeen touched the herbal drink to his lips； then set it down and asked if he might have brandy。
I poured him a goblet； and he went on。 〃So we moved in； and little by little； what had been a military force crumbled； as the winter storms began。 Why need we drill； or even make formation； if we could build our strength beside a fire； with a doxy and mulled wine？ I did not like those days。 I felt as if I were the butt of a private joke； as if all of us were being made fools； like these people were jesting behind our backs。〃
I puzzled： surely； when Janos and I had been there； we would have seen smoke from the city's fires by day； or the fire dance reflected against the mountains by night。 But perhaps not； perhaps the city had been hidden by a fold in the ground。 Maeen told me Janos had attempted to reconnoiter the pass itself； but each time had been driven back by the weather。 Finally he resigned himself to being mired in the luxurious trap until the snow melted； and once more returned to his private studies。 〃Although little good they did him…or us…in the end； I fear。〃
To celebrate midwinter's eve； the city people announced a feast。 It was in a great hall； with long tables； rare foods； and a woman seated beside each man。 Servants ran back and forth with platters and pitchers while musicians played and perfume floated through the air from scented tapers。 〃I do not know why I came armed；〃 Maeen said。 〃But I did； slipping a fighting dagger into the sleeve of my robe…violating all that I know of hospitality。 And the gods be thanked for my discourtesy。〃
He did not see any signal； but the woman across from him suddenly plunged a dagger into the back of her panion。 The hall went mad in a screaming welter of blood and slaughter as swords and knives cut down the Orissans。 〃My blade slashed before the one beside me could free her own。 She fell； then the captain was on his feet； smashing them； using a great candelabra as a club。 I knew we were dead men； but it was as if the people were entranced by the blood they'd spilled。〃 He shivered。 〃I saw a woman； fair and blond； on her knees ripping at General Versred's throat like she was a lioness。 And then she 。。。 and the rest of them 。。。 fed。〃
The men and women of the city ravened into the corpses； but seemed to have no interest or concern for those Orissans yet alive。 And while this spell lasted； the survivors of the shattered expedition fled； grabbing what weapons and supplies they could； racing out into the storm and the night and the winter。 Eerily； they were not pursued by the loathsome people who inhabited the city they called Wahumwa。 〃Perhaps they had all they needed；〃 Maeen said。 I thought just so； and that human flesh was not their real objective； but kept it to myself。
There were perhaps two or three hundred Orissans who lived through the massacre。 The ranking officer was Janos； of the officers； only two legates survived。 The long retreat began。 Now the scythe swung hourly as men dropped from exhaustion； from thirst； or were captured or slain by the desert tribesmen。
〃At last there were but thirty or so of us； and Janos the only officer。 We had no means of navigation but the sun and the stars； a