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blow as Maeen struck him。 We were formed into lines by Lycanthian soldiers。 There were perhaps three or four hundred of us in the square。 Dressed or half…dressed； none of us wore the garb of Lycanth。 Men and women； nobles and slaves； children and ancients。 Some of us were crying； some of us were drunk and trying to appear brave。
Then another creature appeared between the two Archons。 I heard a voice； from nowhere； from everywhere。
〃There is evil； there is evil； there is evil abroad this night
Evil for me； evil for Lycanth； evil that must be ended
The vision is clear； the vision is clear
This is the hour
This is the hour
Seek； our messenger； our inquisitor； our lover。〃
The third creature…I now saw it was the ghastly messenger that had summoned us here； a being created by the blackest of spells…leaped down from the sand。 It bounded toward us； and somehow I knew what its new role would be： finder。 I could hear sniffing as it came。 I knew this was the time。
I am mirror
I am unseen 。。。
The creature moved down our ranks； slowly。 As it approached me； one of our soldiers fainted。 I heard his body thud against the flagstones。
。。。 Feel nothing
Think nothing 。。。
The demon was in front of me。 I dared not look down。 I felt its loathsome muzzle touch my bare leg and barely kept from writhing。
What you see is what you are 。。。
I did not fall。 The hound was gone。 I heard a puzzled whine from down the row； but did not chance a look。 The beast sounded exactly like one of my own dogs； knowing that what he sought was close； but still somehow hidden。 There came the scratch of claws 。。。 ing back toward me。
What you see is what we are 。。。
Again； the beast passed on。 This time it broke from our ranks and trotted to an open space between us and the Archons。 It sat on its haunches and then howled at the setting moon。 Once。 Twice。 A third time。 Someone came out from the crowd toward the seeker； summoned by the baying。
It was a young woman。 Even now I can remember how ely she was。 She was very young…perhaps she was even a virgin。 She wore only nightclothes。 At another time； someone might have felt the stirrings of lust。 But not now。 Not here。 Lycanth had chosen its victim。 She walked to the beast。 It was as if her feet wanted to run； to flee。 But the spell would not let her。 Her lovely face was contorted in horror。 There came a shimmer in the air in front of her； a shimmer like that hanging around the Archons。 The shimmer became a dagger…not large and with a slightly curving blade。 The maiden herself might have used one like it in her kitchen if she were a moner； or one of her slaves would have sliced her morning fruit with it if she were noble。
Very slowly the woman took the blade。 She turned the blade toward her。 Then she made the first cut。 The spell she was under allowed her to scream。 None of us could run； could even turn our eyes。 She cut again。 And again。 To this day； her screams still hang hi my mind。 It was near dawn before she could not scream anymore； and they let her die。 The demon vanished； and there was no one standing on the Archons' podium。
We turned and stumbled out。 There was nothing in the square； lit by the dying torches； except the sprawled body of something that had once been very beautiful。
〃THAT is THE custom in Lycanth；〃 Janos told me later； when I was able to talk about it。 〃When the Archons or their diviners descry a doom or an evil descending on the city； sacrifice is made。〃
〃No doubt it is always an outsider。〃
〃Not always；〃 he said。 〃I have seen natives of the city； even a young Evocator once； choose themselves。 Those who offer themselves to save Lycanth are mostly young。 Mostly handsome。 Sometimes those who make the choice have spoken out against Lycanth。 Or are hereditary enemies of the city。 Or merely stand out。 That was why I asked you to wear the cap。 Perhaps those reasons are why the 。。。 the creature who must not be named 。。。 stopped by our party。 But perhaps not。 Perhaps the woman barbored greater secrets and greater feelings than any of us。 And that 。。。 that was not the worst death I have seen the Chosen One find。〃
I hesitated； about to ask him how he knew to write the counterspell； but decided against it。 It was not a question to be asked aloud in Lycanth。
It was time to go； our ship and crew were provisioned and ready。 We would leave in two or three days； on a leap tide。 Evidently Janos had found all he needed from the black market； since I did no longer see Greif about。
Janos； Cassini； and I were in one of the city's weapons shops； choosing suitable instruments for the journey； weapons that would not shriek of our origin。 I eyed a beautiful rapier of watered steel； which had a jeweled and golden guard and pommel and a gold…mreaded grip。 Next to it lay a matched dagger。 The smith murmured that an Evocator had cast a spell of invincibility on both weapons。 I asked the smith if I might handle them。 Both seemed to float in my grasp。 But not being an experienced warrior； I turned to Janos to see what he wanted me to carry。 He himself already had his weapons…the same he'd carried the day I met him on the drill field in Orissa。
〃Carry what you wish；〃 he said。 〃No man should have his individual weapons dictated before he goes into battle； unless the mander has specific reasons。 But those two； handsome as they are； would not be my personal choices。 First is that it is not advisable； particularly in a small party； for officers to be easily recognizable。 Hence you do not wear a long crest； gold workings on your armor 。。。 nor jewel…like curlicues on your blade。 There is nothing that makes a soldier lose heart so fast as seeing his mander fall。 I also have known waterfront toughs to assassinate a man solely because they lusted for his sword。 As for those enchantments 。。。 can you imagine any man heading for battle； whether he's a peasant armed with nothing but a brass…bound club or a great lord； whose weapons have not been blessed by someone？ An Evocator； a witch； a local sorcerer or 。。。 or an Archon？ Plus the field of battle itself swirls with spell and counterspell； even more thickly than the dust raised in the struggle。 I have always felt that battle spells and weapon talismans tend to counteract and hence negate each other。 But that's just my feeling； or maybe cynicism。 Lastly； the rapier may be well built； but consider this broadsword； instead。〃
He indicated…and the smith was quick to hand it to him another sword。 It was built like a claymore； but shorter and its grip intended for but one hand。 〃Sturdy。 Double edged。 Also of obdurate construction。 You could probably do what I'm about to show you with either blade…but the more slender one could take a cast。〃 He took the blade tip in one hand； the grip in the other； and bent the blade into an arc； his muscles bulging。 I knew the steel must snap…but instead； it curved into a near semicircle。 Janos let it ease back and nodded to the smith。 〃No magicking here； Master Kanadis。 Just the finest of metallurgy。〃
〃You have found me out。〃 The smith grinned。 〃I share your skepticism about sorcery's place on the battleground； although I would be the last to deny an Evocator's blessing before the fight。 I have； however； hired an Evocator to place a charm against rusting on this…and all my other watered…steel blades…so they may be used aboard ship； for instance； without the owner having to spend all his waking hours cursing and scrubbing with an oil…soaked rag。〃
〃A sturdy sword；〃 Janos continued。 〃Better than the rapier for travel； since you will find yourself using that sword for everything from a tent stake to a brush cutter to a spit； although I will speak most harshly to you in the event I see you thus distempering the metal。 And these simple； straight quillons will serve to stop an enemy's slash； yet not bind as 。。。 as some other weapons I can think of might do。〃 I reddened a bit。 I thought Janos had forgotten my performance as less than a master of the duello down at the riverfront in Orissa。
〃Here is a knife to match；〃 Janos said； passing me a rather modestly worked scramasax … a single…edged knife with a fairly long and broad blade grooved on both sides。 〃This will be your copse； carcass； or thief cutter； which you will keep always beside you。 The sword you will find unfortable； and tend to leave by a campfire； or tied to your saddle； especially just before you need it。 And this dagger can be your salvation。 All else you'll need is a small knife for cutting your meat； which you may pick out over at the cutlery section。
〃Do you agree； Master Kanadis？〃
〃I do。〃
〃Two men who know better than I have spoken；〃 I said。 〃Although sometimes I feel less the master of this expedition than its sponsor； as if I were an old dodderer infatuated with a vapid sim…perer。〃
〃And all of us whores appreciate you；〃 Janos said； with a laugh。
〃One more thing；〃 he said。 〃While we're on the subject of； er； ostentation。 Your hair。 I've known great chieftains who are proud of their locks； and dare an enemy to shear them。 I have admired them。 From afar。 Especially during a battle。 We will be traveling through regions whose peoples think it blessed by the gods to hunt down a flame…headed man and pitch him off the nearest cliff to ensure a beneficial harvest or perhaps just better weather the next day。〃
I considered。 Janos had a smile on his lips； but it went no higher。 I remembered the castle courtyard and the hound。 〃When we return to the inn； I shall have Eanes shear me like a young lamb；〃 I promised； and reached for my purse to pay the smith。
Cassini； who had listened but said nothing during our exchange； bought the exotic rapier and its panion。
〃DO NOT HAND me the mirror；〃 I begged Eanes。 〃Just tell me what I appear to be。〃 My hand stroked at the emptiness where my hair had curled in waves to my shoulders。
〃Perhaps；〃 Eanes said thoughtfully； 〃a galleyslave。〃
〃Or a thief intended for the Kissing of the Stones；〃 Janos put in helpfully； peering around the corner。
〃A criminal；〃 I moaned。 〃A condemned man。〃
〃You're too harsh； my master。 You could also pass for a holy man who's taken a vow of celibacy。〃
〃Definitely that；〃 Janos said。 〃Possibly even a castrato。〃
〃I think；〃 I said； 〃I shall go next door to Evocator Cassini's chambers； and ask him if he could prepare a small spell that delves into the arena of baldness。〃
'Too late for me；〃 Eanes said； patting himself on his shiny pate。 〃But beware it doesn't turn back on its caster； as so many incantations do。〃
〃I am starting to believe；〃 I said； 〃that being thrown from a high cliff is better than listening to either of you。 Janos； this was your idea。 You may buy me a brandy 。。。 no； several brandies 。。。 below stairs。〃
I rose and picked up my new sword。 I was still getting used to its heft； more than a bit heavier than the rapiers or short swords I carried in Orissa。 Eanes carefully gathered up the cloths he'd laid around my chair before he began his bartering。 He shook them into a leather bag。
〃You were clever enough to not let any of his locks fall on the carpet？〃 Janos asked； most serious。
〃I was； Captain。 Just as I have been since I was named his bodyslave； back when he was a mewling infant。 Careful with hair； careful with the trimmings from his nails； careful with the down from what he wishes will be a beard one of these years； even careful when he was a disgusting pup and vomiting in all directions like a fountain。 Although there have been times I would have gladly sold a bit of my master to some evil witch； provided she would include civility and mon sense in whatever spell she planned to cast over him。〃
〃Good；〃 Janos said； still serious。 〃But do not dump the cuttings down the Jakes； please。 Carry them out to the main sewage ditch； where you may be sure the water flow is constant。〃
Eanes' smile evaporated； and he became as serious as Janos。 〃I shall do as you say；〃 he said。 〃And I know not whether you've any premonition； but just being in this city of dead stones and cursed souls makes me constantly think all our doom is just around a corner。〃
All of us crossed fingers。 Eanes gave a heavy sigh。 〃It is so bad；〃 he said； 〃I am even looking forward to the ocean； where I will be forced to hold Lord Amahic's head over the side