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ero； Janos Greycloak。 You； and my brother。〃
〃The question；〃 Janos said； 〃is how to reply。 To tell the truth； I don't much care for the hero's mantle。 It is too heavy； gives more disfort than ease； and is too easily ripped away。〃
〃But they are preparing for the next expedition as we speak；〃 I said。 〃And it is a hero they want to lead it。 Right now； that hero is Cassini。〃
〃He's a liar；〃 Deoce said。 〃Challenge him for the harm his lies have done。 Then kill him。 This is how we women of Salcae would deal with such a man。〃
Rah' laughed； and it was a joy to hear again after all the time that had passed。 〃I like her； Amalric。 She's much too good for you。〃 Then； to Deoce； 〃We are not so different in Orissa； my dear Deoce。 However； Cassini is an Evocator。 You cannot challenge an Evocator to a duel。 An unpleasant death would be the smallest penalty you'd face。〃
Deoce made a face。 〃Now I know for certain men rule here；〃 she said。 〃No woman of character would allow such a law to stand。〃
Janos slammed down a heavy fist； rocking the table。 〃As should no man；〃 he said。 〃But it would be too easy to kill him； and then be cheated out of what I desire the most。 The Far Kingdoms will be mine； dammit。 And no other's。〃
〃Then let us confront him；〃 I said。 〃The people will gather soon to do him honor。 Let us go there and show them we not only live； but that it was no thanks to that lying coward who abandoned us and urged others to abandon us as well。〃
And that is what we did。 I convinced Rali and Deoce to guard the villa in case all did not go well。 I ordered horses saddled； and； still dressed in the rough clothing of our journey； we rode for the Great Amphitheater。 Now the streets were more crowded； and I realized that although the old fisherman hadn't believed me； he must have told others about the young fool claiming to be Amalric Antero。 People looked up to see the men riding past； and some of them recognized us。 〃Isn't that Greycloak？〃 I heard people ask。 〃And isn't that Lord Antero； himself； beside him？ It's true； then。 They are alive！〃
Someone called out； 〃Where are you bound； Captain Greycloak？〃
Janos shouted back； 〃We're off to confound a great liar。〃 His words and the news that our presence was no rumor spread； and a large crowd gathered in our wake； shouting encouragement and cursing Cassini for a liar。 Soon we came to the Great Amphitheater。 A strong guard rushed to bar our way； alerted by the noise of the crowd。 The captain of the guard raised his spear and shouted for us to stop。
〃How dare you say such a thing to a citizen of Orissa；〃 I shouted back。 But my protest wasn't necessary。 As soon as the man saw Janos； he lowered his spear in amazement 〃By Te…Date； it is Janos Greycloak；〃 he called。 〃Alive as the day his mother birthed him。〃 He strode up to Janos。 〃I knew no Evocator could have acplished such deeds。〃 To his men； 〃Didn't I say that； lads？ Didn't I say only a soldier could have done what he said he'd done？〃 The other soldiers cheered。 The guard captain clapped Janos on the leg。 〃Get in there； man；〃 he roared。 〃The Far Kingdoms are for all of us。 Soldier and citizen； and not for the damned Evocators。〃 We dismounted； tossed the reins to the guardsman； and went through the gates； the crowd poured after us。
It was not pleasant to be Cassini that day。 I imagine him； now； moments before our entry。 Every space in the Great Amphitheater was taken。 The heat would have been intense from all those thousands gathered to cheer his triumph。 But it was unlikely Cassini would have felt the heat。 He would have been well rehearsed for the honors ceremony and would have labored many nights over the humble hero's speech he planned to deliver。 As he waited patiently through the many introductory speeches； he would' have basked in all the admiration。 This was the culmination； the highest point in his life…a life that； he recently feared； would be unappreciated。 He would already have begun to dream of the triumphs that would soon follow。 He would lead the next expedition to the very portals of the Far Kingdoms and would return with even greater glory。 Yes； for a short while； Cassini knew what it was like to be the man of the hour。 Then we appeared； and the last of the sand ran out。
Jeneander； that old fraud； was poised to introduce his protege when we entered。 He stood on the broad center stage of the amphitheater； his voice and image magnified many times by the special spell that was cast by 112 Evocators when the first stone was set in place。 Clustered about him were dignitaries from all walks of Orissan life。 In the two most favored seats were Gamelan； oldest of the Evocator Elders； and Sisshon； his counterpart with the Magistrates。 In the center； on the hero's throne and with a hero's garland on his brow； was Cassini。
Jeneander was in mid…delivery when the crowd that had followed us in roared our names； and all heads in the Great Amphitheater turned。 Then the whole place became madness。 There were shouts and screams and sudden； wild brawls。 I heard my name being chanted； but； mostly I heard them cry out for Janos。 Janos。 Janos。 I saw Cassini； standing dumbfounded next to Jeneander； fear a raw wound on his face。 He was frozen in his humiliation； but the men about him were ing to life。 Some escaped association by fleeing the stage。 Others began to berate him； although I could not hear what they said over the noise of the crowd。 Gamelan was the first Evocator to find his senses。 He hurried to Jeneander and Cassini； threw his arms about them； lifted his head to the heavens； and cast a spell。 Smoke and fire billowed； and they were gone。
Then a thousand arms lifted us； and a thousand more passed us across the arena floor to the center stage。 I was the first to be set on his feet。 I had just time to catch my bearings； and then Janos was beside me。 He looked around； a little bewildered； a soldier uneasy in the presence of so many civilians focusing on him。 I pushed him forward； guessing the point on the stage where our images would be cast up like giants。 From the sudden silence of the crowd； I knew I had guessed right。
〃People of Orissa；〃 I said。 I heard the words explode out and wash back； rocking me by the sheer force of their sound。 〃You all know me； for I am one of your own。〃
The crowd chanted my name。 〃Amalric。 Amalric。 Amalric。〃
They grew quiet when I raised my hand。 〃If you do not know； I am sure you have all heard of my friend； here。〃
There was wild cheering as I presented Janos。 I pushed him forward； sensing the people felt a close kinship to Janos。 I whispered to him； 〃Speak to them。 They want to hear you。〃
Janos' eyes were glazed。 〃What should I say？〃
I prodded him again。 〃Just tell them the truth。〃
It was the last time Janos ever suffered the malady of actors。 His form suddenly straightened； and all fear and confusion dropped away。 He stepped forward； confident； as if born to the role。
〃People of Orissa；〃 he boomed。 〃I bring you news of the Far Kingdoms 。。。〃
The speech he gave that day was praised for many weeks。 It wouldn't have mattered if it had been fashioned of nonsense words； for Orissa had never known such a hero as Janos Greycloak。 Here was a man of noble family； but exotic birth。 He was also a fighting man； a soldier who knew what it was like to suffer。 Not only that； but it was rumored he was a former slave； so they were certain he was no stranger to the burdens and toil of mon men and women。 He'd also made a fool and a liar out of an Evocator； and isn't it true to this day that the most amiable of sorcerers may be respected； but will never be liked？ Most of all； he brought them the gift of pride。 An ordinary man had achieved what had been considered impossible a few months before。 Now he promised to better that achievement； to set foot in a magical land that offered promise aplenty for every heart。
As for myself； there were honors and banquets and many people clamoring for my time。 Lest false modesty brand me a liar； I will say that I was a hero as well。 After all； it had been my Finding that sparked the whole thing； and I walked every step Janos had walked and suffered what he had suffered。 But as intent as I had been on instantly gathering up an expedition and retracing our footsteps； now that I was home； my heart did not yearn so deeply for the Far Kingdoms。 With my father ill； and considering the mild nature of my brothers； it was up to me to shoulder the burdens of the Antero family fortunes。 My brothers had no grounds for quarrel when he made known that I was his choice to head the family。 The acclaim I had won for my Finding had removed much of the stain from the Antero name； or at least made it unwise to attack us。
Oh； yes； there was one other thing 。。。 Deoce。 She delighted my father； and he was always making excuses to call her into his pany。 Although his health continued to fail； you would have thought he was young again when she came into his room。 No wonder； for she joked and flirted with him mercilessly。 To this day I am certain her attentions added to what little time he had remaining。 She also held Rali in her thrall…bursting onto the practice field at a moment's notice； asking to learn new tricks of arms； and giving more than a few of her own。
〃There isn't a woman in my Guard who wouldn't fight you for her；〃 Rali told me。 〃The only thing holding them back is that the dear woman is so obviously headlong in love with you。〃
Our wedding was by necessity a small affair。 My new fame would have made any kind of guest list a recipe for insult if it went beyond immediate family。 So we planned a simple ceremony at the villa； overseen by our hearthgod。 At first； I was concerned Deoce would feel slighted。
〃Why should I feel insult？〃 She shrugged when I asked。 〃Among Salcae； the marriage is more important than the wedding itself。 The truly big feast is held after the couple has survived one plete harvest cycle； every harvest after that； the celebrations get even larger。 I think the reverse is so in Orissa because women have little say in your city。 So； the wedding ceremony is a poor bone to throw to the girl when she faces a life of servitude。 It is practically the only moment in her life when she is the center of everyone's attention； important above all others。〃 I couldn't quarrel； for hadn't I heard…Rali bitterly plain about similar injustices？
Deoce took my hand and laid it gently on her belly； which was slightly swollen with our child。 We knew it was going to be a girl； because Rali asked the witch who tended her troop's minor troubles to case a divining spell。 I laughed when I felt her kick。
〃What shall we name her？〃 I asked。
〃We should honor your mother； and mine as well；〃 Deoce answered。 〃We should call her Emilie； after your mother's clan。 And Ireena after my mother。〃
〃Consider her named； then。 Emilie Ireena Antero 。。。 I like that。〃
〃I want you to promise me something； Amalric；〃 my bride…to…be asked。
〃Anything。〃
〃I don't want our daughter to be raised thinking women must behave as they do in Orissa。 You can feel from her kick she is going to be a strong…willed child。 And at night； when all is very quiet； I can hear her little heart beating。 It is a sensitive heart； Amalric； and please believe me when I tell you I know this； although she and I have yet to meet。〃
〃I will hire the best tutors；〃 I said。 〃And we have Rah' to teach by example； as well as training。〃
〃That isn't enough；〃 Deoce answered。 〃Emilie will see other women shuffle about； ducking their heads in men's pany； feeling less worthy because they do not have a cock and set of balls； suffering instead with a function so lowly as only to be the source of all human life。〃
〃What promise can I make to prevent this？〃 I asked。
〃I want my mother to help raise her〃 was her answer。 I was alarmed； for what father would wish to have his child removed from his sight？ She saw this and gripped my hand hard。 〃Please； you must do this for me。 If you say no； I will accept it； not as a dutiful Orissan wife； for this I can never be； but because I love you； my Amalric。 No child can ever be more important than that love。 I don't mean she should be sent away； for I could not bear that any more than you。 I mean； in three years' time…before bad influences can alter her； Emilie Ireena must vis