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〃I think 。。。 both；〃 Cassini said slowly。 〃Sorcery is what I feel most strongly； echoing from these hills。 Who brought it？ I do not know。 Where did it e from？ I do not know that； either。〃
Then he returned fully to normal。 〃Enough；〃 he said。 〃I do not do Seeings as if I were some witch putting unwashed peasants to awe at a Planting Time fest。 You。 Soldier。 Bring me some wine。 And check the ties on my boot when you return。 I fear I am developing a blister。〃 Cassini was a cold man； even for an Evocator。
An hour later one of the asses brayed and reared； his pack spilling across the ground。 The pack was small； but quite heavy； since it contained the thick canvas bag with half of our gold。 The pack thudded to the ground and ripped； coins rolling away into the greensward。 Maeen shouted at the animal's master； but he shook his head…vowing he'd done nothing to spook the creature…and pointing out that he had been nowhere near the animal when the pack fell。 The other Shore People chimed in that he was telling the truth。
〃Then you are doubly to blame；〃 Maeen roared。 〃For you tied your hitches so poorly this morning when you packed the animal that the rope must have worn and broken。 You are doubly an ass； and your animal should be leading you； rather than the opposite。〃 The Shore Man stammered that the rope must have been old； but Maeen would have none of that。
I walked to where the pack and its cargo were scattered and picked up the rope。 It was quite new 。。。 L'ur had taken it from the wreck of the Kittiwake to make up our pack frames。 I examined the end of the rope： it had been cut； cut cleanly； in fact； as if a very strong man with a very big； very sharp knife； had slashed it。 I took the rope to Janos； who also showed it to Cassini。 Janos told Sergeant Maeen that was enough。 Have the ass repacked and continue the march。 None of us said anything； but our thoughts were clear。 I was remembering that tiny golden scythe that Janos had secured back in Lycanth； which now rode in his pack。 I knew it could be used not only in the cutting and preparation of magical herbs and such； but to work spells from afar。 Certainly there were other golden scythes like it； and wizards to wield them。 I thought again of the Choosing in Lycanth； and how close that creature had e to me。 Then I thought of the Archons tempest； that thought made me look back over my shoulder； and although I saw nothing to warrant it； I shivered。
Minor annoyances increased as we traveled： we were attacked by swarms of black mites whose bites stung like fire； an increase in minor accidents made it seem that all of us were suddenly in the throes of boyhood gangliness； and at dusk； the mysterious fits of sneezing returned。
The problems came to the fore the night we found the ruins。 A low pass had made it easier for us to follow close along the river。 The river suddenly shallowed and spread out for two spearcasts over visible shoals。 It did not seem logical； since I could see in the distance that the river returned to its normal； gently flowing character。 As a child of a river city； I thought I knew what I might find； and sharpened my gaze。 I surmised that aeons ago this river had been channeled。 I called for a halt while I wandered through the brush looking for more evidence。 Without much trouble； I found what I was looking for： the river 〃banks〃 were carefully mortared stone walls； and those walls were nearly thirty feet apart。 Janos was beside me； evidently puzzling at the U…shaped construct
〃Built by man；〃 he said。 〃But for what end？〃
〃A set of locks；〃 I explained。 〃At each end there would have been wooden gates…allowing a boat to enter and either rise up； or be lowered to a new level to continue its course。 Over there〃… and I pointed to the shallows…〃would most likely have been the overrun when the locks were not in use。 When it was abandoned； time would have passed； and the river； impatient with its bonds； would have burst through the overrun to find a new bed。〃
All of us were silent； imagining these locks filled with boats laden with trade goods； waiting for passage along the river。 The width of the lock showed that the country had once been fully as prosperous as Cassini's vision had told us。
Janos had Maeen send out scouts； and they returned quickly with more signs of civilization。 Further up the river； one man found a winding path。 It would have been a tow path； I guessed； so boats heading upriver were not dependent on muscle； wind； or the energy…draining spells necessary to move heavy…laden craft。 A few feet away； hidden by a screen of vines； was a building with thick stone walls and narrow…slitted windows。 The great beams that held the roof were still in place； though black with age。 In front of the building was a smaller； circular structure。
Now it was Janos' turn to be the expert。 〃A barracks；〃 he said。 〃The small building would have been for customs and the on…watch guards。 We can take shelter here；〃 he said。 〃The canvas from the packs will stretch over the old beams for our ceiling。〃 He ordered a halt for the night； even though it was two hours before dusk； and detailed two of the Shore People who'd claimed great experience with nets； poisons； and piscatorial spells to catch something fresh for dinner。
I stood in the middle of the bustle； lost in thought。 I was not then； and certainly am not now； one of those fools who believe man has a right to throw up his houses and businesses wherever he pleases； but I recognized then； and have felt the same since； that there is something sad and frightening about ruins。 Here man was once； and then he vanished： by choice or by threat； who could know？
Then another； even stranger thought struck。 I mentioned this quietly to Janos。 〃In which direction do you think the soldiers were guarding？ Were their enemies ahead of us； to the east？ Or was this to prevent some threat from behind？〃 Janos shrugged and did not bother to guess。
We heard a cry of pain； then angry voices； and the sudden clang of a sword against a shield。 We ran into the center of the ruins。 A scattered fire 。。。 an overturned cookpot。。。 two soldiers with swords ready。 Janos shouted； but the two men circling each other； eyes probing for an opening； paid no heed。 His hand blurred in that violently quick motion I remembered from outside the tavern in Orissa； and his broadsword flashed； knocking away both blades of the soldiers。 They came back to their senses； and there was a babble of 〃。。。 bastard knocked over 。。。〃 〃。。。 laughed 。。。〃 〃。。。 clumsy ape 。。。〃 and a bellow for silence。
〃Enough！〃 Janos roared。 〃Drop the swords； both of you！〃 Steel clattered to stone。 〃Lifting arms against a brother！ How dare you？ You know the penalty。 Banishment if there is no harm； death if there is an injury！ This is…〃
A calm voice interrupted。 〃This is sorcery； Captain。〃 We turned。 It was Cassini。
〃We are cursed；〃 he said； in his customarily abrupt way； and he did not pay attention to the reaction to his statement。 〃Small curses；〃 he went on； 〃have been dogging us for some days。 The sneezing 。。。 those mites that appear at the least convenient times 。。。 how all of us have been too quick to anger without provocation。〃
〃Who cursed us？〃 a soldier growled in spite of Maeen's glower。 〃Th' damned Shore People？〃 And scowls were turned against our small panions。
〃I think not；〃 Cassini said。 〃But there must be a casting； and a counterspell。 Now； this night。 Each of these curses are small； such as an Evocator can cast from a distance； and easily maintain without a drain on his strengths。〃
〃But they can kill；〃 Janos said quietly。 〃Lione； if that first sword slash had landed； we might well be saying the words for Cherfas as well。〃
Now it was my turn。 I felt a slight flicker of pride as the orders came easily。 〃Well spoken； Evocator。 Again； we have realized how lucky we are that you chose to acpany us and be our shield against evil。〃 My pliment was not truly felt； of course。 But I knew the men would need maximum trust in Cassini for a ceremony to work smoothly。 〃Captain Greycloak；〃 I went on； formally。 〃Send a man 。。。 two men 。。。 to the river and fetch back our fisherman。 We shall not chance anyone outside the camp this night。 Also； post sentries in the correct manner。 Evocator Cassini； all of our resources are yours to cast this counterspell。〃
Cassini preened just long enough to put my teeth on edge； then began ordering people here and there as he made his preparations。 An hour later； as night fell； the surprisingly simple ceremony was performed。 Cassini had two soldiers bring a cloakful of clay from the riverbank。 We were formed in line； and each of us was manded to take a handful of the clay and； while Cassini prayed in an unknown tongue； to shape the clay into a figurine。 After that he told us to cut a bit from a garment or trapping and work it into the figurine。 He cautioned us to not use spittle； fingernails； or anything that was a true part of our bodies。 He led us out of the barracks into the brush； where a low fire of greenwood had been prepared。 He drew a circle around the fire and told us to put our dolls inside that circle。 We then formed a second ring； with the orders to focus all of our attention on our doll and to try not to think of anything but the figurine and how it looked exactly like us。 Perhaps one or another of the soldiers might have jested about the less than artistic sculptures we laid down； but all of us were frightened…both of these spells and magic itself。 I fancied I could feel forces of the night curl around us as Cassini lighted the fire and began chanting as the smoke rose。
〃Smoke shall build
〃Smoke shall climb
〃Choke the eyes
〃Choke the mind 。。。〃
He softly cautioned us not to break our concentration until 。。。 until he clapped his hands three times； and as ordered； we spun； turning our backs on the dolls and the fire。 Without looking back； we then walked back toward our campsite。 I heard Cassini continuing his chant from behind us。
〃Now we sleep
〃Now we stay
〃Now you seek
〃Now you find。
〃Circle shall hold
〃Circle shall reach
〃Circle shall gather
〃Circle shall hold 。。。〃
An hour later he rejoined us and told us that we should eat and then sleep。 It would do no harm to go out in the bushes for natural calls； but none of us should go down to where the remnants of the fire smoked。 We should make as little noise as possible； but we should relax and not worry。 The counterspell was cast； and all of those annoying spells should be drawn toward those figurines。
The soldiers and the Shore People seemed relieved； and they； having put their trust in Cassini and his sorcery； felt these problems were over。 I took Cassini aside； and Janos joined us。 I promised the Evocator a bonus for this night's actions when we returned to Orissa。 I asked bun if these curses were indeed tied to those dolls out in the night。 He said he was sure…since none of them were particularly cast to be lethal； none required much of a counterspell to fool。 It was better； he felt； to divert the spells and allow them to run on rather than to break them pletely。 〃This will； I hope； keep our enemies happy believing that we are still plagued by their spells and do not require more stringent attention。〃
〃Our enemies；〃 Janos asked。 〃From where？〃
Cassini looked unsure of himself。 〃At first； I thought these incantations came from Lycanth； where we know we have enemies； from the Symeon clan to 。。。 to others。
〃Indeed； I did feel emanations from this direction。 But I also felt something else。 Something 。。。 neither of you are Evocators； so I cannot use the terms of my craft 。。。 something like a great rolling wave； a flood perhaps。 ing from the east。〃
Janos and I were jolted。 〃But 。。。 none of us have been beyond this point； that I am aware of；〃 I said。 〃Except perhaps one or another of the Shore People。〃
〃It makes little sense；〃 Cassini agreed。 〃And what I found more puzzling was 。。。 this flood； this presence； perhaps； I did not feel to be evil。 At least； I felt no especial threat to any of us。 It was 。。。〃 and he fumbled for words； 〃。。。 as if there were some great； invisible force above us； a force that 。。。 that 。。。 ah； I do not have the words；〃 he said。 〃Think of a great fish in a lake； knowing of the tiny perch around h