nding and drew six closed ellipses next to them。 〃It is hardly revolutionary to realize anything once part of a whole may bee that whole itself。 And if the gods smile on my efforts； I shall add a spell of renewal to this casting。〃
He put a bit of wood into each ellipse and began his spell。 I knew what would e next and should have found Janos' skills monplace by now。 But such was not the case。 I gave orders to break the animals' packs down into six equal packs； each to contain the same items as much as possible to lessen the catastrophe should a canoe capsize； then returned to the landing to gape like a gossoon。 The casting took only a few minutes； then the air shimmered； became hard to look at； and there were six canoes on the dock。 But instead of being exact replicas of the gray； waterlogged wreck we'd pulled from the river； these were shiny and new； as if each had just been shaped； sanded； pegged together； and oiled。
This bit of magic； which Janos had dubbed 〃simple；〃 seemed to awe the soldiers more than other spells had。 Janos smiled at this。 〃Now you see why Evocators perform much of their work in darkness and secrecy。 Each witness to my canoe building； once he recovers from seeing the mystic bee physical； will wonder why such an event； or others like it； should not be monplace。 Why should his wife； for instance； have to pay a tinsmith to hammer out a new pot when the neighborhood sage could reshape the old one； or even a fragment thereof； with a few words for a copper or two？〃
〃An excellent question；〃 I said。 〃Why not； indeed？〃
〃If you made your living as a tinsmith； or a miner； or a smelter； or a boat builder in this instance； you would certainly know the answer。 This might be the conundrum our age may pose…at what point could sorcery； freely available to all； bee a force for ill instead of good？〃
〃Easy answer； sir；〃 Sergeant Maeen said； having approached us quietly。 〃When we all have magical mansions and live like we're in the Far Kingdoms； we can sit back； order our sprites to open another hogshead of wine； and then debate the matter at length。〃 〃At that time；〃 Janos said； amused； 〃it will be too late。〃
〃Well； sir； then we'll have the answer； won't we？ Meantime； we have the loads ready； if you two philosophers are ready to travel。〃
The canoes were launched； loaded； and we made up crews… making certain someone with water experience was on each craft。 The hardest thing was leaving our faithful animals behind。 There was provenance enough； and one of the drovers said many of the plants around favored mild weather； so he doubted winter would turn the valley into a frozen wasteland。 We had seen no predators that might batten off the animals； and I knew few hunting beasts are stupid or hungry enough to attack the wily ass。 Our journey had brought our asses nothing but exhaustion； thirst； pain； and even death。 Here； they could grow fat and breed and even bray； as Janos lifted the spell of silence they had been burdened with。 But still； when we cast off； and four of the beasts stood on the dockside； gray liquid eyes sorrowing after us； and we heard one great bleat as we floated out of sight； we were silent with guilt
The river grew mightily； as other streams foamed down from their own birthplaces and joined it。 Our boats flew downstream； tossing and pitching； spray cascading until sometimes we could not make out our proper course。 Again； our speed was both fast and slow。 We hurtled down cascades； desperately fending the boats away from knife…deep boulders with our paddles； or sliding down league…long chutes like otters down mud slides。 Twice boats capsized； and we spent hours fishing packs and men from the churning waters。 By Te…Date's grace； no one drowned。
Sometimes we were forced to beach our craft and laboriously portage them and the packs around rapids or falls too dangerous to chance。 Three or four times we had to leave the river entirely； and use ropes to haul our craft up and down cliffs to navigable waters。 Despite these difficulties； we not only suffered no new injuries； but our wounded men were being as good as new。 Then； slowly； as the river grew broader and deeper； it became calmer。 Strangely； we still saw no sign of life…not even abandoned villages。 Here and there were granite docks such as the one we'd begun this part of our journey from； but the stone roads leading away from these landings were overgrown and forgotten。 The country was green and appeared fertile。 We could not understand why men had abandoned this land。 Then we found both man and a suggested reason for the desolation。
Our ears made the first discovery： first came great booms； as of low thunder。 Then crashes； as if we were about to e on a great foundry。 Finally； we heard shouts and screams。 We rounded a bend 。。。 and the river turned to blood。 A causeway stretched from one bank of the river to a small islet about three quarters of the way across。 From the islet a wide bridge arched to the shore。 The current quickened； pulling us to that shore； in moments we would be swept under that bridge。
But that was not what we noticed first。 First came the bodies。 We had happened on the final moments of a battle…a battle that was being waged without any of its batants taking notice of our six tiny canoes。 There were bodies all along the causeway； stacked on the islet； and then high…piled on the bridge itself。 Bloody war had been waged across this river。 On the far shore； backs against a cliff； the last defenders…or attackers； as they may have begun…were going down into death。 I saw a banner so bloody I could not make out its device。 There were warriors in a death stand around it。 I saw a huge man hewing with a two…handed sword。 He had lost his helm or scorned its use； and I could see the white gold of his hair and beard gleam in the sun。 A king？ A nobleman？ Around him were what I imagined the last of his housecarls； and their attackers swept against them again and again； like storm waves on a shore。 Then the blond man fell； and his banner swayed and went down； and there were shouts of victory。
Men in my boat were gaping； swearing； groaning； and one or two puking。 The water around us was dark； and crimson stained the stonework before us。 〃Eyes in the boat and on your paddling；〃 I ordered。 〃Pay heed； or we'll be swept into the abutments。 Those with gods； pray we remain unnoticed。〃
Janos' boat swept up beside mine as the current raced us under the bridge。 Above me a man dangled over the parapet； and I saw his eyes stare beyond and his spirit leave just in my single glance。 Then we were past。 I thought I heard shouts from the bridge； and someone said later that an arrow had been sent after us； but the river slipped around yet another bend； and trees reached up on its banks； and we were safely away。
We sailed on until nearly dark before beaching our craft on a small island in midstream； dragging the canoes well into the brush and out of sight。 All of us were fearful and wondering…to see no living sign for so long and then e on such a savage scene。
〃Savages is right；〃 Lione put in。 〃P'raps y' din't see； but there was squads of them； goin' right a'ter th' soldiers； workin' wi' long daggers t' make sure none a th' wounded might want doctorin'。 Movin' from one t' another； like they'd been dutied off for th' job。〃
〃Soldiers loot；〃 Maeen said。
〃They weren't lootin'；〃 Lione said stubbornly。 〃Just killin'。〃
〃The end of a feud；〃 I suggested。
〃Or maybe；〃 Janos said darkly； 〃these Disputed Lands are well and truly named； if the only victory which counts is that of the worm。〃
〃At any rate；〃 I said； trying to put as cheery a note on the day as I could； 〃now we know why the Far Kingdoms have not sent out emissaries or traders； if they must travel through lands ruled by butchers like those。〃
Men brightened at this。
〃And now we are reaching some form of civilization； barbaric though it appears；〃 I went on。 〃The mouth of this river； and the Far Kingdoms themselves； must be very close。〃 I was； of course； guessing at this last。
But a day and a half later； we did find civilization。 Or rather； civilization found us。 Four long war galleys swept out from an inlet。 I counted twenty oars on each side of the green craft； and on t