〃Be silent！ I mean no insult； but am obeying the mands of the Magistrates as to the manner of address。 I have here an order for the arrest of Lord Antero and； if Janos Greycloak is with him； for his apprehension as well。〃
〃On what charge？〃 I demanded。
〃The charge has yet to be made； but will be preferred at the proper time。〃
〃Who laid this open warrant？〃
〃Evocator Cassini； countersigned by Magistrate Sisshon。〃
〃How can such a warrant be served by the Coast Watch？ It is the duty of the Maranon Guard to keep the city safe。〃
〃The Guard has refused service； and been confined to its barracks！〃
I couldn't restrain astonishment。 What could have happened？ Was Rali safe？
〃I demand your immediate surrender；〃 the legate said loudly。 I looked at Janos。 He shrugged…we had no choice； and certainly； as law…abiding citizens of the city； nothing more to concern ourselves with than the annoyance of having to explain our innocence at the citadel of the Magistrates。 〃Very well；〃 I said。
〃Lay down your arms；〃 the legate ordered。 〃I am further ordered to take you to the palace of the Evocators； and give you into their keeping。〃
〃I will not！〃 Janos snapped。 〃Since when do the Evocators control the civil rules of Orissa？〃
〃Since it became necessary； after the rioting； to declare Emergency Law。 As part of that declaration； certain measures were put into effect as temporary measures。 This is one of them。〃
I gripped my spear more tightly。 No； I would not go into Cassini's tender care。 We had not escaped from two great wolf packs to be devoured by that jackal。 One of the archers lifted his bow。
〃Draw th' string； an' I'll split y'r chest like you wuz a sturgeon！〃 The shout came from a great barrel…chested woman standing atop a low building。 She was one of the river's fishermen； because she held； ready to cast； a long； barbed harpoon。 I looked around。 The street was packed with Orissans。 All of them were dressed shabbily…we were in a poor section of the city…and all of them were armed。 From a window menaced a lad with a sporting crossbow。 There was a knot of stave…wielding men behind us。 Others held clubs or cobbles they'd uprooted。 I saw the gleam of unsheathed daggers and kitchen cleavers； and even a few bared swords。
〃Ye'll not be takin' Janos t' th' Evocators； sonny；〃 the woman went on。 〃Nor yet Lord Antero。 Goddamned Evocators have ruined enough！〃 There was a growl of assent； and the crowd surged forward。 〃Y'll be th' ones t' lay down your arms；〃 she said。 〃An' there'll be some of us can use th' armor； matters keep heatin' up th' way they've been。〃
A stone smashed into one of the spearmen。 In spite of his breastplate； he shouted pain and went to his knees。 Then a shower of rocks and muck。 The crowd noise grew； and the soldiers were but an instant from death。
〃Stop！〃 It was Janos； his voice a parade…ground bellow。 Everyone froze； for just a moment。 〃Orissans；〃 he went on。 〃These men are Orissans as well。 Do you want their blood on your souls？〃
〃Wouldn't bother me none；〃 cried someone in the crowd。 Yells of agreement followed。
〃No！ Look at them！ I know this legate；〃 Janos said； and I knew he was lying。 〃I remember when he was sworn in； and I saw his mother and sister weeping for happiness。 Do you want to make them weep for another reason？〃 Mutterings。 〃Look at the others。 They are but soldiers。 Any of you might have chosen to wear the uniform at one time； yes？ Some of you did take up arms to serve your city。 That is what these men are doing。 Doing what they see as their duty。 Is it their fault they're misled？〃
〃Damn fools oughta know better；〃 a man shouted； and I thought it to be the same one who said he was not afraid to kill。 Janos made no reply for a moment； but then broke into laughter… that great boom of a sound。 The crowd puzzled； then snickered； then started laughing； unsure of what they'd found amusing。 Janos stopped laughing； and the mirth died。
〃I am delighted to hear from a man who Knows Better；〃 Janos said。 〃When this is over； and the proper order has been returned； e to me； man。 I will pay you well； in gold and wine； to make sure I always know better。〃 Now the crowd had something specific to chuckle about； but Janos did not wait for silence。 He turned back to the patrol。 〃You。 Legate。〃
The man may have been young； but he picked up on his lead as deftly as any member of a dance troupe。 〃Yes。 Sir。〃 And saluted。
'Take charge of your men； and return to your watch officer。 Report to him you were given direct orders by Captain Janos Greycloak； of the Magistrates' Own Guard。 He will give you further orders at that time。〃 Again the legate saluted； ordered his soldiers to attention； about…face； and marched them off。 They disappeared back down the side street； keeping in formation； even the injured spearman who had to be assisted by his fellows。 Janos waited until they were gone； then turned back to the crowd。
〃What is the name of this district？〃
General shouts； and the blast of 〃Cheapside〃 from someone with a set of bellows for lungs。
〃Cheapside 。。。 I thank you。 Lord Antero thanks you。 I think we owe you our lives。 You should be proud to be Orissans。 When this is over； Lord Antero and I have a debt to repay。 And we always honor our debts。〃
Shouts of happiness； agreement； disagreement； cries of it was their pleasure； and the crowd began dissipating。 Several of them； including that iron…lunged harpooness； wanted to speak to and touch him。 〃Now；〃 he said to me in a low tone after a spell。 〃We should have given that jackanapes and his beach watchers time enough to get away。〃 Little by little； through the well…wishers； we extricated ourselves。 Then； using back alleys and keeping well out of sight of any of the troops from various units who were patrolling the streets； we reached my villa。
It looked as if it had been readied for a siege。 All of the windows on the lower floors were blocked off with the solid oak deadlights my father's father had prepared； part of the gear we maintained and replaced or added to as needed； which was meant for the most extreme emergency。
Sergeant Maeen had taken charge； technically deserting from the army； although no one seemed to care about his action； especially since the Magistrates' Own Guard no longer existed。 Helping him keep order was a self…appointed foursome： J'an； the head stableman； Rake and Mose； my sauce chef and storekeeper； respectively； and Spoto； the youngest of the chambermaids。 I thought of the two who should have run the household in my absence； Eanes and Tegry； and said a prayer to the memory of them both； one a hero； one a fool。
Rali had managed to slip in from time to time； but no one knew how。 I did； but said nothing。 She'd managed to get word to my brothers at our estates beyond the city and told them to stay where they were。 In fact； the villa was ready to be blockaded。 Rali had ordered the storekeepers to lay in nonperishables for months； and had both our cellar wells given a sweetness blessing by a trustworthy Evocator。 She'd opened the armory and unlocked the weapons racks。 Maeen had spent hours teaching the use of them； and J'an； who'd been an eager witness to my early weapons training； assisted。 The quartet had paid off any of my staff who were afraid； worried； or felt there might be some merit to the libels against my family。 I was honored almost to the point of tears when Spoto said that only three had demanded their wages and gone。 Just as Cheapside would be rewarded when peace came； so； too； must I remember each man and woman in this household。
I was tired； hungry； and dirty； but somehow knew I must not waste any time。 I had my household leaders…I began calling them my captains…walk me through the house and grounds； telling me all they'd done。 By that time； Janos had refreshed himself； and I chanced a quick bath； a gobbled meal； and a glass of wine。 I looked longingly at that great feather bed in my chambers； but did not weaken。 I went belowstairs and found that Janos； experienced soldier that he was； had made some additions。 These included buckets full of either dirt or water placed around in case of an 〃unexplained〃 fire。 He set a watch on the roof； ordered to sound the alert if they saw or heard anything