Sylvanus left Terence and Dinadan at the cave of the oracle. One moment he was there, chuckling and bidding them an excellent morning, and the next he was gone, and the wall of the cave was again sheer and impenetrable rock. Dinadan felt the surface, then turned and looked around them. It was early morning, and birds whistled and chirped among the tiny buds that were beginning to show on the trees.
"Terence? You've traveled between worlds before," Dinadan began. "Does it always feel so discouraging to return?"
"Discouraging?"
"Coming back to this world—it's so flat and colorless."
Terence frowned. "Dinadan, we've just come out of a cave into the open air. How can you say that it's colorless?" In fact, Terence had just been noting that Delphi had much more color than when they had left. Surely the trees had not been budding then?
"I didn't mean that kind of color," Dinadan said. "But does it always feel strange to return?"
Terence nodded, deciding not to explain in any more detail until his suspicions were confirmed. "Come on. Let's find old Acoriondes."
As Sylvanus had promised, Acoriondes was still asleep, in exactly the same position in which they had left him. The only difference was in his beard. Usually closely trimmed, Acoriondes's beard hung in wild, grizzled tangles, almost to the ground. A month, maybe? Terence thought, considering the whiskers. Six weeks?
"Terence? Look at the fire," Dinadan said. Where they had made their fire the night before, there were only one or two slightly blackened sticks to show it had ever been there. In its place grew several inches of new spring grass, poking out of cracks in the ancient stone. Dinadan looked intently at him. "Terence?"
"Sometimes," Terence explained, "when you visit another world, you come back to find that time has been moving on without you in this one."
"How much time?"
"Once Gawain and I were gone for a few months and came back seven years later. That was before you got to court. But I don't think it's so bad this time. It's obviously spring, but it's the same year. We should build a fire and make some breakfast. When Acorion-des wakes up, he'll be hungry.
Dinadan built the fire and fetched water while Terence scouted the area for food. The dried food that had been in their packs was long gone, foraged by small animals and birds, so he took his bow and arrows and was able to kill a wild goat that he found among the rocks. On his way back to camp, passing by the now closed door of the oracle, he found a thick vine covered with ripe grapes and gathered an armload to bring along. By the time Acoriondes began to stir and stretch, the meat was nearly cooked. "I must have been very tired, the counselor said. "I slept soundly.
Neither Terence nor Dinadan replied. Together they breakfasted on roast meat and grapes. Acoriondes examined the grapes without comment, but ate ravenously. At last he said, "What happened to our bread?
"I think some animals got into it, Terence said. "It's all gone."
"Hmm."
Dinadan glanced at Terence and with one raised eyebrow indicated clearly that he thought Terence ought to say something.
"And fresh grapes, too, Acoriondes mused. "Odd, in late winter, don't you think?"
Terence nodded.
"Except that it doesn't seem to be winter any longer, does it?
Terence took a breath. "You yourself said that this place had been considered uncanny. It does appear that, by some mysterious power, what felt like one night to us has lasted for several weeks.
Acoriondes pondered this. "And the grapes?
"That I can't explain," Terence said. "If I were one of the ancient Greeks, who believed in the pagan gods, I would say that we had been given a gift by the god of wine.
"God is such a limiting word," Dinadan murmured.
For another few minutes, they ate in silence. At last Acoriondes said, "It would seem that you are correct and that several weeks are past. Forgive me, but would you be angry if I cut short our traveling? I find that I am anxious about the regent and the court in Athens.
"No, indeed, Terence replied promptly. "I feel the same way about Arthur and England. I will return with you to Athens to get my horse, but will leave at once for my own land. He glanced at Dinadan inquiringly.
"Not unless you need me, Dinadan said. "I still want to learn Greek, and there are new lands and languages to visit from here.
Terence nodded. He would have been glad of the company on the return, but in other ways he was relieved. Terence had not told Dinadan what he had learned from Tieresias and wasn't sure he would be able to, at least in its full significance. Like Arthur, Gawain, Lancelot, and Kai, Terence had promised not to reveal that Mordred was Arthur's son. Without that knowledge, the information that Mordred was also the son of Arthur's greatest enemy carried less meaning. As much as Terence had learned to appreciate Dinadan on this journey, he would be glad to finish his travels alone.
By inquiring obliquely in villages along the way, the three friends determined that just over a month had passed since they had separated from the imperial party. Twice, in small taverns, Acoriondes overheard snatches of gloomy conversation about the "upset at the court, and once he heard someone talking about the Caliph's army. Acoriondes explained that the Caliph was the ruler of the Seljuk Empire, a powerful realm east of Constantinople, but he forebore to ask for further information from the townspeople. "By the time the story gets to the taverns, he explained, "it has probably been distorted beyond recognition. All we can be certain of is that matters are unsettled, both at court and on the frontiers.
They were able to obtain more direct information soon. On the outskirts of Athens, they came upon a wide field where a courtier was hunting with a falcon. When they drew near, the falconer looked up, then cried joyously, "Kyrie!" and ran with outstretched arms toward them. It was Bernard. For nearly an hour, Acoriondes and his squire sat beside the road and spoke quickly and urgently in their own language. Watching them, Terence could tell only that startling events had taken place. Acoriondes's sharp questions often bore a note of alarm, occasionally incredulity. Dinadan, too, blinked with surprise several times, and Terence guessed that he was understanding much of Bernard's speech.
At last Bernard finished his recital and answered all his master's questions. Acoriondes stood, "Come! We must go.
"You want to tell me what's going on? Terence asked. "Is it Cligés and Fenice still?"
"Cligés and Fenice are dead," Acoriondes said.
Now it was Terence's turn to blink with surprise. "But how?
"Fenice grew ill shortly after arriving in Athens. Nothing could help her.
"Not even her nurse? Thessala? Terence asked.
"Not even she. Bernard says that a famous doctor of Salerno happened to arrive shortly after she took ill, but he, too, failed to cure her.
Dinadan cleared his throat. "That was one of the bits I had trouble with, actually, he said. "I must be getting similar words confused, but it sounded to me as if Bernard said that Cligés threw the doctor into the sea."
"You understood that?" Acoriondes demanded.
"If that's really what he said, Dinadan replied. "But why—?
"Bernard isn't certain himself. It seems that the doctor told Alis that he knew exactly what was wrong with Fenice and could cure her, if he would only be allowed to treat her alone. So Alis banished everyone from the room, and sure enough the doctor had her back on her feet within an hour. But then, it appears, Fenice told Thessala that the doctor had tortured her cruelly while they were alone. When Cligés heard that, he went to the doctor in a rage and threw him from a window, at a spot where the palace goes up to the edge of a cliff. They never found the doctor's remains. The next day, Fenice took ill again.
"Did she, now? Terence said softly.
"Two days later, she died. Bernard says that Alis is inconsolable, has not eaten or drunk enough to keep a dog alive, and goes every day to weep for an hour outside her tomb. He cares neither for himself nor for the empire, but seems only to long for death.
Bernard pointed away to the north, where a white marble tower jutted above the level of the low trees, and said something. Acoriondes examined the marble turret for a moment, then interpreted. "Bernard says that is the top of Fenice's tomb. It was built as a summer home for a wealthy merchant, but Fenice had seen and admired it. On her deathbed, she asked that Alis buy that home, leave her body there, and wall it up without doors or windows for eternity.
"And he did? Dinadan asked.
"At great expense to the imperial treasury, Acoriondes added.
"But wait, Terence said suddenly. "You said that Cligés was dead, too.
"Yes, would you explain that? added Dinadan. "That's another part I didn't get.
"I didn't at first, either," Acoriondes said. He drew a deep breath, then said, "Once Fenice was gone, Cligés made no effort to hide his love for her.
"I hadn't noticed any particular effort before, Dinadan said.
"Nor I, but it grew worse. He wailed and moaned and tore his clothes and outmourned his uncle. Then, on the day of the funeral, when Fenice's coffin was carried to the tomb and walled up inside, Cligés was nowhere to be found.
"Eugh! Dinadan said. "You mean he was hiding inside the tomb?
"Not in the tomb, Acoriondes said. "Thessala and Alis both insisted that every corner of the old house and garden be searched before the gates in the walls were sealed. No one was there.
"Then where—?" Terence began.
"Two weeks later, a note was found in Cligés's room, hidden so that it would not be discovered right away, Acoriondes went on. "In the note, Cligés told what he was going to do. Apparently the night before the funeral he sealed himself inside the coffin with Fenice."
There was a long silence. "Now, that's ugly, Dinadan said at last.
Acoriondes wore his expressionless face. "He said he wanted to spend eternity with his love," he finished tonelessly.
"And what if the blithering ass changed his mind after he was sealed in? Dinadan wondered aloud.
"I believe it is best not to think about it, Acorion-des said.
"Oh, right. I'll just think happy thoughts instead," Dinadan replied. "Do you think they wore matching outfits? That would be adorable!"
"Shut up, Dinadan," said Terence. "Bernard?"
"Yes, Squire Terence?" Bernard replied, in halting English.
"Do you think that you could show me Fenice's tomb?
Bernard glanced at Acoriondes, who translated for him. "But yes, Squire Terence. When?
"At once, Terence replied. He looked up at Acoriondes and said, "You go to the regent. He needs you. But if you could spare Bernard for a while, I would like to see this tomb.
"How will you understand each other?
"Bernard has some English. Dinadan has some Greek. We'll join you shortly.
"As you wish, Acoriondes replied. He struck off down the road toward the palace, while Bernard led the others through the thinly forested area to the north. Perhaps because of the language differences, they made the trip in complete silence but for the sound of Bernard's and Dinadan's footsteps. Less than half an hour later, they stood outside Fenice's tomb.
It was a pleasant, rather ornate country villa built on a hill so as to catch the sea breezes, away from the dirt and heat of the city in summer. High stone walls rose from the forest floor, enclosing and concealing a wide area. At one end of the hidden area, a majestic marble tower jutted up, and on the other side a few trees showed above the wall. Terence pointed at the trees and said to Bernard, "Is there a garden on that side?
Bernard hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, yes. A garden and a...pege."
"A spring, Dinadan translated. "Shame to close up fresh water inside a tomb.
Bernard took a quick breath, and his eyes lit up as a covey of quail, or some similar bird, rose with a loud drumming of wings from within the garden. Bernard's right hand stole toward his left arm, on which he still carried his hooded falcon. Terence caught his hand. "Another time, Terence said. "We are not here for hunting.
"Why are we here?" asked Dinadan.
"I was just curious, Terence said vaguely. "Let's walk around the walls.
It took them several minutes to complete the circuit—the enclosure was larger than it looked. They found the two former gates in the wall, now securely sealed with cut stone and mortar. They also found, by one of the closed gates, a wilting bouquet of flowers. Dinadan asked Bernard a question in hesitant Greek, listened to the reply, then said to Terence, "Alis. Bernard says he brings fresh flowers every day."
Terence nodded.
"Curious thing, Dinadan added. "Bernard says that the old nurse, Thessala, comes up every day as well.
"Why is that strange? Terence asked. "Fenice had been her charge since she was born.
"Only one bunch of flowers," Dinadan pointed out.
Terence nodded again, and looking into Dinadan's eyes saw a reflection of his own suspicions. He glanced at Bernard and said, "Let's go now."
Terence and Dinadan spoke only of incidentals on the road to Athens, neither being sure how much English Bernard understood, but even after they arrived at the imperial palace they had no chance to talk privately. Acoriondes met them at the doorway and took them aside at once. His face was lined with deep anxiety.
"Alis is ill? Terence asked.
"Alis is an idiot, Acoriondes replied shortly. "He has no thought for anything but his own grief. He says he will never leave Athens, never leave Fenice's tomb, never return to Constantinople.
Dinadan pursed his lips. "I suppose an emperor who never visits his capital isn't ideal."
"Especially when the Caliph is preparing for war in the east, Acoriondes said bitterly. "It seems that messengers from the eastern borders have been sending alarming messages for weeks now. Spies tell us of new military exercises, new weapons, and now even a new army brought in from Africa. The courtier hesitated, then said, "At least, we fear it is an army. A large caravan has arrived, anyway. The spies were not certain that all were soldiers, but the caravan was led by the most famous of all the Moorish warriors, a fierce knight named Palomides.
Dinadan was silent, but Terence said, "I've heard that name.
"Everyone has heard of him. He fought against your own knights in Jerusalem. We fear that he has been brought in to lead a sneak attack, breaking the treaty between our empires.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, Dinadan said calmly.
Acoriondes gave Dinadan an irritated look. "How can you say—?
"I know Palomides. We rode together in England a while back.
Both Acoriondes and Terence stared at him. Terence said, "In England? But—
"He never made it to Camelot."
"Why should we not fear Palomides? Acoriondes demanded.
"If you go up against him in battle, you should jolly well fear him all you can. But if you're worried about sneak attacks and broken promises, you're wasting your time. Think of the most honorable man you've ever known. Now color his skin darker. That's Palomides.
Acoriondes looked hard at Dinadan for a moment, then relaxed visibly. "I have learned to trust your judgment, my friend. But we still must send a delegation to the Caliph to reaffirm the treaty, making sure that all is well. Alis can't be bothered, though. He has no thought for anything but picking flowers to take to that irritating girl's tomb."
"So send a delegation without Alis's permission," Dinadan said. Then he smiled. "I'd be glad of the company."
"Only the emperor can send a diplomatic mission. I cannot presume to—Acoriondes began. Then he broke off and returned Dinadan's smile. "Ah, I see. You wish to visit your friend Palomides.
"Of course, Dinadan said. "And if you choose to send some trustworthy men with me—to show me the way, you understand—why, that would be most kind of you.
Acoriondes nodded. "And if, while they were at the Caliph's court, they took our greetings and some presents, that would be only good manners. How soon could you leave?
"As soon as possible, Dinadan said. "I've missed my friend.
"I know just the men to send with you, Acoriondes said. "Good men. They don't speak English, I'm afraid, but they speak the language of Araby. Dinadan nodded. His smile had not faded. Acoriondes turned toward Terence. "And you will be leaving tomorrow as well, will you not?
"Soon, anyway, Terence agreed. "But before I leave, I'd like to speak with Fenice's old nurse, Thessala.
"I wondered if that's what you were thinking," Dinadan said. "It seems mad, doesn't it?"
"It's no less likely for all that," Terence said. "Remember, this is Cligés and Fenice."
"What are you talking about? demanded Acoriondes.
"I don't think they're dead, Terence said bluntly. "I think they faked Fenice's death—doubtless with the same sort of potion that they used back in Mainz to fake Cligés's illness—and now are living together behind the walls of her tomb.
"But how would they survive?
"There must be a secret entrance, Terence said.
"Not for them to go out, Dinadan supplied. "For Thessala to go in—bringing food and whatever else they need. Bernard says she visits them every day.
"You have proof of this?
"No, Terence replied. "But there was certainly something moving in the garden behind the walls, something that flushed out a flock of birds."
"A squirrel, another bird; it could have been anything, Acoriondes said.
"Yes.
Acoriondes frowned in silence. "But it does explain it all, Acoriondes admitted grudgingly. "How Cligés could seal himself into the coffin with Fenice, for instance: he knew she was alive. The nurse could open the coffin later. This means that the heir to the throne is still alive. His expression lightened somewhat.
Terence knew what he was thinking: Cligés may not have been much of a prize as an emperor, but anything must have seemed better to Acoriondes than the doddering, lovesick Alis. He hated to crush this faint hope, but he had to. "My theory also explains why Cligés threw the doctor over the cliff.
The three friends were silent for a long moment.
"I hadn't thought of that," Dinadan said. "The doctor realized Fenice wasn't really dying, and he had to be silenced." He shook his head slowly. "You know, I even know where they got this sickly idea—from the story of Tristram and Iseult. They ran away from Iseult's husband, too, and went off to live in what they called the Love Grotto."
"I remember the tale, Acoriondes said grimly. "A minstrel sang it in Champagne when we were on our way to England. I remember thinking that such an idea was too stupid to be believed.
"And so it is, Dinadan said. "But like most of the stupidest ideas, it actually happened. Tristram and Iseult also attempted murder to hide their secret.
"Murder," Acoriondes repeated wearily. "So what do you suggest, Terence?"
"Good or bad, Terence said, "it is better to know the truth. In the morning, let's go look for ourselves."
Terence and Acoriondes weren't able to slip away from Athens until late morning, though. They waited to see off the delegation to the Caliph. The austere diplomats that Acoriondes had chosen for the journey looked somber, clearly conscious of the gravity of their mission, but Dinadan was in a rollicking good humor and eager to be on his way. Alis did not appear; his personal manservant said that he had spent a sleepless night and had only fallen asleep at dawn.
Shortly before noon, as they neared Fenice's tomb—or Cligés and Fenice's hideaway, if Terence's suspicions were correct—the stillness of the forest was shattered by a scream of terror, followed by an angry shout and a cry of anguish. Terence and Acoriondes spurred their horses forward, and outside the tomb's garden wall they came upon Cligés himself, clad only in a thin shift but holding a sword high above his head, about to bring it down on a prone form at his feet.
"Cligés!" rapped Acoriondes furiously, urging his horse to greater speed. Cligés looked up, and in that moment of hesitation Acoriondes's mount hit him with a shoulder and sent him sprawling in the underbrush. Terence threw himself from his own horse and raced to the person on the ground. It was Bernard, and he was horribly wounded. There were deep cuts on both his forearms, as if he had been warding off attack, but the worst wound was in his left leg, just below the knee. Terence had been in enough battles to know there would be no saving that leg. The bone was broken, and the skin nearly cut through. Bernard was screaming in agony and trying to reach down to his bloody leg. Terence had no time for gentle methods; drawing his dagger he first reversed it and with a wellplaced blow with the hilt knocked Bernard senseless. Then he whipped his own belt from his waist and tied it roughly but tightly around Bernard's leg, slowing the bleeding. Gritting his teeth, Terence took up his dagger again and cut away the rest of the loose and dangling leg. Then he rose to his feet, his hands and legs dripping with Bernard's blood, and his eyes full of fury.
"Tell me why I should not kill you right now! he said softly to Cligés, who was just then scrambling dazedly to his feet. Perhaps something in the very quietness of Terence's tone sank into Cligés's conciousness as shouting would not have. He took an involuntary step backwards.
"You have but a knife! Cligés stammered. "I have a sword.
"It's more than Bernard had, Terence said. "Why? Why did you attack an unarmed squire? What had he done to you?
"He ... he climbed the wall, calling for his falcon. Andhesawmeand ... he saw me in the garden.
"He saw you and Fenice, Terence said. "And so he had to be silenced."
"He would have ruined everything!"
Terence took a step forward, and Acoriondes intervened. "Will Bernard live?" he demanded.
"Maybe, I don't know, Terence said. "Longer than this vermin, anyway. Terence was vaguely aware of tears running down his face, and Cligés seemed clouded in a mist of red. Terence didn't remember ever feeling such rage.
"Why did he have to go hunting here? Cligés moaned. "He could have taken his birds anywhere!
"And what will you do now? Acoriondes snapped at Cligés. "Will you kill us as well?
"I am sorry, Acoriondes, but yes, I must! Cligés said wildly.
"Try, then! Terence said softly. Acoriondes drew his own short sword.
Cligés stepped forward resolutely but hesitated as a wail came from the woods, and then Fenice appeared, also barely clothed. Even in his fury, Terence was able to register that the secret entrance to the tomb must be a tunnel that came out among the trees. Fenice ran in front of Cligés and screamed, "No! You must not kill him! I will without him die!
"You're already dead, Terence said.
"I love him! Fenice screamed. "I love him! From the moment I see him, I love him! I have never another and will never another love!
Time seemed to stop as Cligés and Fenice stared defiantly at Acoriondes and Terence. Terence saw no way out of the impasse and was acutely aware that Bernard's chance to live was bleeding away behind him. Something had to break the frozen moment.
And then something did. Bushes rustled at Terence's left, and the portly figure of Alis, regent of Constantinople, emerged from the forest. He stopped abruptly, staring at Fenice, then dropped the posy of flowers he had been holding and walked slowly toward her.
"Phoenixa?" he whispered. No one would ever know how much Alis figured out during that brief walk, but he at least understood that Fenice had played him for a fool from the beginning. Alis's face grew still and empty, then hard, and as he stepped up beside his wife, he reached out and took her throat in his hands.
"No! cried Cligés. Acoriondes and Terence leaped forward to pull Alis away, but Cligés was quicker. He thrust his sword into Alis's breast.
Acoriondes brought the hilt of his weapon down on Cligés's head, dropping him like a stone, while Terence struggled to pry Alis's death grip from Fenice's neck. At last, he succeeded, and stepped back from the three prostrate forms.
Neither Terence nor Acoriondes spoke for a long time. At last Acoriondes said, "Sophocles. It is like the final scene in a play by Sophocles."
"Does this Sophocles write about fools? Terence asked bitterly.
"No, Acoriondes said. "But he does write about lies.
Without another word, Terence went back to finish his rough care of Bernard's wounds, while Acoriondes trussed Cligés and Fenice with ropes. The two lovers looked pathetically small, lying there together. And so they were, Terence thought.