Finally, the two friends passed through the gate and entered the City of Unauwen. Slither was led away and was soon out of their sight. Then, escorted by two guards, Tiuri and Piak were on their way to the palace.
Tiuri noticed hardly anything about the houses, the streets and the people around him. He sat up straight on his horse, his eyes fixed on the guard who was riding ahead of them, and he could think only about the message. Soon he would have completed his task and kept his word. When he glanced over at Piak, he saw that the expression on his friend’s face was a serious one, too.
Tiuri started to pay more attention to his surroundings as they reached the White River, which flowed through the middle of the city; it was beautiful, with clear, silvery water, but it was not as wide as the Rainbow River. King Unauwen’s palace stood on a hill on the opposite bank. It was built of grey and white stone with low walls around it, and terraced gardens running down to the water’s edge.
They rode over a wooden bridge, went through one gate and stopped at a second, where some soldiers stood guard. The men accompanying Tiuri and Piak asked to be let through.
“Who goes there?” asked the leader of the guards.
“Two messengers for King Unauwen.”
“You may pass,” came the reply.
At the next gate, they had to dismount. There were guards there too, who opened the gate for them after a brief exchange with their escorts, who then took their leave of the boys and rode back to their post.
“We’ll look after your horses,” said one of the palace guards. “Go inside and report to the captain of the guard.”
Tiuri and Piak entered a large, bustling courtyard. A wide staircase led up into the palace. A young knight with a white shield approached them and introduced himself as the captain of the guard. “What is your request?” he asked.
“We would like an audience with King Unauwen,” said Tiuri.
The knight studied them with a somewhat puzzled expression. “Why?” he asked. “Who are you?”
“Our names are Piak and Tiuri. We have brought a message for King Unauwen. A message of great importance.”
“Sir Edwinem of Forèstèrra.”
The young knight seemed surprised, but all he said was, “Follow me.” He led them up the stairs and into a large hall. “Wait here,” he said, “and I shall announce your arrival to the king. What is the message?”
“I can tell that only to the king himself,” replied Tiuri. “And I need to do so as soon as possible. Right away!”
“I see,” said the knight. “I shall inform the king. But first you must tell me…”
Tiuri pulled out the cord from around his neck and showed him the ring. “Here is the proof that I was sent by Sir Edwinem,” he said, interrupting the knight. “Now please let us see the king immediately!”
For a moment, the knight stared at him wide-eyed. “Fine,” he said. “Come with me.”
They walked through a series of rooms and finally the knight stopped at a door. He knocked and went in. He soon reappeared and said, “King Unauwen bids you enter.”
Tiuri was about to enter, but saw that Piak wasn’t following him. He stopped in the doorway and whispered, “Come on, Piak!”
Piak shook his head.
“Now!” said Tiuri.
“No,” said Piak.
“You have to be there!” said Tiuri impatiently.
“No,” repeated Piak. “You should go alone. Really, it’s better that way.”
“King Unauwen bids you enter,” the knight repeated.
“Go on!” whispered Piak. “You can’t keep the king waiting!”
Tiuri had no choice but to go in alone, but he was disappointed that Piak didn’t want to come with him. As he stepped through the doorway, he realized his legs were shaking. The door quietly closed behind him.
The room was not a large one. Tiuri had enough time to notice that it was white and blue with a row of columns on either side – and then he was standing before King Unauwen.
The king rose from his seat and looked at Tiuri. He was an old man with a silvery-white beard and hair. His long robe was also white and he wore no adornments except a slim band of gold on his head. But no one could have doubted that he was a king: his posture was regal and his face was noble and wise. He reminded Tiuri very much of Menaures; his eyes in particular were like those of the hermit.
“Step closer, messenger,” said the king. His voice, too, was the voice of a king. Tiuri walked over to the king and knelt, as he had often done before King Dagonaut. For a moment, his voice failed him. Then he said, “Your Majesty, I bring you a message from Sir Edwinem with the White Shield. But first I must tell you that Sir Edwinem is dead. Before he died, he gave me a letter to deliver to you, and his ring… Here it is.”
King Unauwen took the ring. “Rise,” he said.
Tiuri obeyed.
The king stared silently at the ring. Then, slowly, he said, “You bring sad tidings, messenger. How did my knight die?”
“He was murdered, sire,” replied Tiuri. “By Red Riders from Eviellan.”
“Sir Edwinem… murdered… by riders from Eviellan!” repeated the king. “And I fear there is more bad news to come. Give me the letter, messenger.”
“Sire, I no longer have it,” said Tiuri. “Sir Edwinem ordered me to destroy it if I feared it might be taken from me. And I had to do just that. But I have learnt the message by heart.”
The king looked at him intently and then he asked an unexpected question. “Who exactly are you, messenger?”
“My name is Tiuri, sire.”
“Well then, Tiuri, tell me your message. I am listening.”
Tiuri opened his mouth but then, to his horror, he realized that he did not know what to say. He couldn’t remember a word! Not one single word of the message he had repeated to himself so often… But that was impossible. If he kept calm and thought about it, it would surely come back to him. Tiuri closed his eyes and thought frantically. But his mind seemed to be empty. A shiver ran through his whole body. Tiuri had forgotten the message!
He opened his eyes again and looked at the king. Did the king seem impatient? Tiuri hung his head and felt his face flush with shame. He had to remember… He had to!
Then he thought of something. Piak knew the message too! He had even written a tune for it. The tune… Tiuri began to hum it, and the words immediately came back to him. He raised his head and saw King Unauwen looking at him with a puzzled expression.
He wanted to explain that his friend Piak had written a tune to go with the words. But first the message! He took a deep breath and then spoke the mysterious words, slowly, but clearly and without any hesitation.
Tiuri could see the impact of what he said on the king. He thought he saw shock in his eyes, and horror, then grief, finally followed by fury. When Tiuri stopped speaking, the king turned away. He suddenly looked much older. For a brief moment, the room was very silent.
“Repeat what you just said,” the king ordered. Tiuri did so. King Unauwen listened to his words, still with his face turned away. Then he stood motionlessly for a while, with his head bowed, as though lost in thought.
Tiuri didn’t dare to say anything. He didn’t even dare to look at the king. The silence seemed to go on forever. He started to wonder if the king had forgotten about him. Should he leave? But at that moment, the king raised his head, as if he had come to a decision. He looked at Tiuri and said, “Forgive me, Tiuri. I had to allow this news to sink in. The message you have brought me is a grave one, and of great importance for this land and its people. Are you able to write down the words, too, as they were in the letter?”
“Yes, sire,” said Tiuri. “I… I don’t know what they mean, but I learnt them by heart, including the spelling.”
“Good,” said the king. “Now tell me how Sir Edwinem came to charge you with the task of delivering this message. Come.” He laid his hand on Tiuri’s shoulder and led him to a corner of the room, where there were some chairs and a table. He sat down and asked Tiuri to join him. “Now tell me,” he repeated.
So Tiuri told him. He told him about the old man who had knocked on the door of the chapel at night, and how his request for help had led to the dying Sir Edwinem giving him the mission.
“And so then you set off,” said King Unauwen, “across the Kingdom of Dagonaut, and over the mountains, through this land, all the way to my city. That was a long journey, and a dangerous one too, I should warrant. The enemies that killed Sir Edwinem must have pursued you as well.”
Tiuri nodded.
The king smiled at him, a kind, heart-warming smile. He shook Tiuri’s hand and said, “Thank you, Tiuri.”
Tiuri felt a wave of happiness and gratitude wash over him. He had completed his mission! Then he remembered Piak.
“Sire,” he said. “Would you perhaps thank my friend Piak too? He has done just as much as I. Without him, you would never have heard the message. He is, he has…”
He fell silent as the king banged a gong that was beside the table. At this signal, the young knight entered the room. He bowed and said, “What does my king wish?”
“The other boy,” said the king. “Send him in.”
A moment later, Piak appeared, looking very timid. The young knight left the room. King Unauwen stood up, walked over to Piak and held out his hand. But the boy knelt and said, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
The king smiled again. “Stand up, Piak,” he said, “so that I may thank you for what you have done.”
Piak did as he was told; the king’s words seemed to have touched him. Tiuri also felt quite emotional and could hardly believe his task was now completed.
The king invited Piak to sit with them, and asked the two boys some questions. He wanted to know how long it had been since Tiuri had started out on his journey and asked him to tell him everything he knew about what had happened to Sir Edwinem. He also wanted to hear why the letter had to be destroyed. The two friends answered his questions as well as they could and then Tiuri wrote down the contents of the letter.
When Tiuri had finished writing, the king said, “Later I will want to hear more about your adventures, Tiuri and Piak. But now there are matters that must take priority. I have a great deal to do.”
He banged the gong again and said to the young knight, “Sir Ivan, soon all those who carry the White Shield, the councillors and the lords and dignitaries will come together in the great hall to hear the news that has been brought from the east. Have the senior councillor and my friend Tirillo sent to me immediately. As for these two young men, they are my honoured guests. Will you take them to Lady Mirian and tell her to look after them? And then return to me.”
The knight bowed and Tiuri and Piak did the same. King Unauwen stood upright; he seemed great and stately now, strong and invincible.
“Until we meet again,” he said.
The two friends followed the young knight.
Piak whispered to Tiuri. “Don’t you think King Unauwen looks like Menaures?”
“Yes,” said Tiuri. “I thought the same.”
“Finally our job is done,” said Piak with a sigh.
But Tiuri realized that he still didn’t know what was in the message he’d delivered.