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〃I love you； Amalric；〃 she murmured。 I said I loved her； too。 〃You have been a good husband to me。 And a good father to Emilie。〃 I answered by stroking the hot hand I held。 She yawned…the potion was taking effect。 〃You know 。。。 I think Emilie looks 。。。 just 。。。 like 。。 。 you。〃 And she fell asleep。
The healer motioned me back； and I sat in a chair in the corner； while he lighted the incense pots and sprinkled in the ingredients to cure a winter chill。 He chanted an ornate set of fire beads to life； then broke them apart and scattered them around her bed。 He tossed in more of the special dust； and the dots of lights became a glowing circle。 Then he lifted his hands and began to swiftly murmur the spell。 But the lights suddenly dimmed； and Deoce cried out； but did not awaken。 The healer seemed startled by what had happened。 He shook his head； then fetched a box with some other powder and sprinkled the dust into the pots。 The beads brightened； and the healer sighed in relief； but his relief was frightening to me； for I was forcing myself to believe all was very usual； very routine。 As he started his chant again I waited； tense for another cry of pain。 None came； instead； Deoce's features relaxed； and I imagined her lips were curling into a smile…a sweet dream； I prayed。 The healer droned on and on； and the incense pots filled the room with a heady perfume。 Soon he was done； and he got out his little stool； unfolded it； and sat by the bed。 He lowered his head in concentration and began to weave another protective spell。 I'd seen it many times； even had it performed on me。 Yes； it was all quite routine； the usual cure for a mon malady。 I fell asleep。
It was not an easy sleep； nor was it one I had sought。 It was as if a pillow had suddenly filled my head； and I drifted away。 The nightmare raged； and I visited with the boatman again 。。。 the ghastly man with the gaping eye socket。 Again I climbed those steps and heard the howling and confronted the fate the nightmare carried me to each time it captured me。
When I awoke； the Dark Seeker had e and gone。
Deoce was dead。
I will not desecrate her memory with mewling descriptions of my feelings。 I can only write that I have known such desolation； such pain； only one other time in my life。 It did not scar me； for a scar does not have a lingering memory to it； it was a ghostly presence； as if your heart were a limb and you could amputate it； but still live。
I do not remember much of what happened next。 The healer wept for his failure； but his tears fell on the cold plain of my hate for him。 Rah' came to give fort and to see that Deoce's body was properly tended and a preserving spell cast so she would stay fresh until the funeral。 I recall my sister telling me others were ill and that all who had fallen ill had died。 Her words had no meaning to me； did not penetrate my numbness。 It seemed like years passed； but it was not much more than two days。 I spent the whole time with Emilie。 We played in the garden…she could walk now； in a toddler's fashion； and she could say 〃Da〃 and 〃Mama。〃 I said Mama had gone on a long journey and would not be with us for many a day。 Instead of crying； she clung to me more； not for her own fort； I think； but for my own。 Finally I roused myself。 There were things to be done； a funeral to plan。 But it was like ing up from a second sleep。 In the first； Deoce had died； in the second； I awakened to find the Dark Seeker and his minions raging all over Orissa。
It was a plague like no other that had touched our shores。 It ravaged through the city； unchecked by any spell the Evocators could conjure up。 Rich and poor alike were felled。 There was no logic to it。 Whole neighborhoods were devastated； but in some； no one was harmed。 In others； a single family might fall ill and die； while their neighbors huddled in their homes in terror； but in good health。 Sometimes only one member of a household might be stricken； while the others were untouched by anything but grief。 The sickness did not produce horrible pustules and sores； but struck out with awful pain and fever。 Some lingered 。。。 some died at the first stroke。
The city was crippled by fear。 All shops and businesses were closed； the river empty of traffic。 The Evocators gathered in emergency session and bed the scrolls for some clue to turn back the plague's wrath。 But it raged on without relief。 There were no public funerals； for all were too fearful to e out into the open。 I buried Deoce on our grounds and made a small ceremony with Rali and the villa's staff。
As the days passed； I kept waiting for the Dark Seeker to return…anxiously peeping into the eyes of Emilie and my servants。 Outside； the fever burned on； but still we were spared further grief。 I don't know how many died during this time； perhaps two thousand； perhaps more。
On the night of the first snow； Emilie awakened； shrieking with pain。 I rushed to her； pushing aside Spoto and A'leen。 Emilie cried louder when she saw me； and I pulled her into my arms and held her tightly…trying mightily to force away the pain with my own will。 She clutched back； crying； saying； 〃Da 。。。 Da 。。。 Da。〃 I gave her a potion to make her sleep； and I bathed her slumbering little body in icy water to lessen the fever。 It did no good。 I held her all the night； rocking back and forth； humming her favorite child songs。 I knew it was pointless to fetch a healer； but I was frantic to do something； anything。
Then I remembered Halab's cure when he brought me and my pet ferret to life。 I rushed out into the snow； found the home of a vendor of pets； and hammered on the door like a man possessed。 I gave him a fistful of coin for a small animal in a cage and rode hard for home。 I searched in my chamber and found the ferret…tooth necklace Janos had given me for protection during our journey。 I took it； the cage； and Emilie to Halab's altar； where I made a bed for her on the floor。 I draped the necklace over her and prostrated myself before the altar。
〃Dear brother；〃 I said； 〃you have helped me before； and I beg you to help me now。 Emilie is dying。 She is your niece； and you would be proud to see what a brave little Antero she is。 Oh； e to me； Halab。 Cure her of her pain。 Send the Dark Seeker from my door。〃
Halab's face peered down from the painting。 I imagined I saw a great sadness in that face； as if he had been touched by my plea。 I took heart and got the ferret from its cage。 It was wriggling with life； and its eyes were small beads of curiosity。 I placed it in Emilie's sleeping hands。
I looked at Halab's image。 〃e to us； brother。 e to us； I beseech thee。〃
Suddenly the room grew dark。 I felt a shadow pass。 Emilie moaned； but the ferret stayed quite still； only its whiskers twitching to show it was not a stuffed toy。
A voice came to my ear。 〃Amalric。〃 I knew it was Halab； and my heart leaped with hope。 A light shone from nowhere and settled over Emilie。 I smelled an odor of heavy incense。
Halab's voice came again； a whisper。 〃Emilie 。。。 Emilie。〃
Emilie stirred。 She opened her eyes and smiled when she saw me。 The ferret moved； and Emilie looked down and saw it。 She giggled。 〃Da；〃 she said。 〃Da。〃
I wept with relief。 〃Yes； dear；〃 I said。 〃It is for you。 A ferret； like I had when I was a boy。 Ferret。 Can you say it？ Ferret。〃
〃Ferret；〃 she responded； quite clear； as she added a new word to her small book。 Then she closed her eyes and gave a great sigh。 Her hand fell open； and the ferret scampered away。 One more long sigh 。。。 and she died。
I roared with grief and pain。 I threw myself on her small body； pleading that it wasn't so； couldn't be so。 I wanted to die myself； for what reason could there be to go on？ All I cared for； all that gave me purpose； had been torn from me。
Then I felt the presence hovering near； and Halab's voice calling； 〃Amalric。〃 I looked through streaming eyes and saw his form bending over me： cold smoke； wavering； but firm in its shape。 The ghost's lips opened to speak。 He whispered； but with great effort； 〃Sorry 。。。 So sorry。〃 His hand floated forward and touched my face。 There was no substance to the touch： it was not cold； it was not warm； it was just there； a forting breath on my cheek。
The whisper came again。 〃You must not 。。。 stop。 You cannot 。。。 surrender。〃
I wanted to cry out； what was the use？ What was the point？ The wisp of his touch stroked my face。 〃Heal； brother；〃 he whispered。 Then； 〃Sleep； Amalric 。。。 Sleep。〃
I slept。 It was the sleep of the dead； for no one could rouse me。
The servants carried me to my room and put me to bed。 They tended poor Emilie； burying her in the garden beside my wife。 Six days later； I awoke。 The grief was a knot of numbness in my chest。 I wanted to cut it out with a knife； but when such dark thoughts came to me； I remembered Halab's plea。 I obeyed； but with great difficulty。 I ate。 I drank。 I crept through my sorrow day by day。
Outside in the city there was joy to be mixed with all our sorrows。 The plague was gone。 The Dark Seeker had fed； and fed well； now he was satiated； and Orissa was safe。 But it didn't matter to me； one way or the other。 Dead or alive； sick or well； I did not care what fate awaited us。
Then； late one night there came a knocking at our gate。 Everyone was asleep； worn out from caring for me and my family； so I went to see who it was myself。 I flung open the gate and gave a start。 A ragged； injured man sagged against the gatepost。 It was Sergeant Maeen。
〃Sergeant；〃 I gasped in surprise。 〃Where have you e from？ What has happened？〃
Maeen answered； his voice a harsh rusk。 〃It's all gone to ruin； my lord。 To ruin。〃
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Sergeant's Tale
〃WHAT HAPPENED；〃 i demanded。 〃Where is he？〃
〃In 。。。 in Lycanth；〃 Sergeant Maeen managed。 〃In their dungeons。 Or； worse 。。。〃 He stopped abruptly； and I turned and saw my servants gathering around； gaping。 I quickly led Maeen into the house。 I gave orders for food and wine and for no one to repeat anything they'd heard； knowing the last order was in vain。 Maeen tried to continue； but I told him to be quiet…unless his story would require action within the hour。 Maeen was grim。 〃Not an hour； Lord Antero 。。。 nor a day。 Perhaps not ever。〃
I half carried Maeen to a guest chamber where food and drink was already being set out。 I had three of my most trusted men keep close attendance on him while he ate like a starveling； drank down a flagon of wine； and then collapsed。 Grinding my teeth； trying to be patient； I let the man sleep for four hours； knowing there was nothing to be gained by shaking him awake。 I ordered his tattered clothing burned。 I also noted he had arrived weaponless and knew something terrible must have happened to separate this soldier from his tools。 When Maeen awoke he was bathed； massaged； and brought to my study。 I poured him a restorative herbal drink； sat down behind the desk； and bade him tell his story in any manner he saw fit。 I expected a barely coherent babble； but I should have thought better of the good sergeant…and of the training he'd received from Janos。
Exhausted； seemingly in shock； Sergeant Maeen reported most succinctly。 〃Lord Antero； the second expedition to the Far Kingdoms has been destroyed。 We were annihilated by sorcery from without。。。 and by inpetency from within。 The sole surviving officer； to the best of my knowledge； is Captain Janos Greycloak。
He is currently being held in Lycanth as a prisoner。 I do not know where or under what charge…he gave me an opportunity to make my escape when we were arrested； and therefore I cannot be more specific。〃
〃But Janos lives？〃
〃Unless the Lycanthians have executed him； or tortured him to death； I would think； yes。 Their soldiery took great pains when they captured us to avoid harming the captain。〃
Now I told him to begin from the beginning； and tell me everything； no matter how damaging。 He did so。 Maeen was no bard； who would have begun the tale of the expedition with a doleful statement of purpose； of how the gods turned their faces away before the first sail was set。 He did not need to make the point so obvious as he talked about how； from that first day； things had gone wrong。 The ships had been overloaded； and once they reached the river mouth and sailed onto the Narrow Sea； it was clear they were of