The next morning, in the city’s cathedral, a solemn service was dedicated to the memory of Sir Edwinem, the lord of Forèstèrra. Tiuri and Piak were both invited to attend.
They had breakfast afterwards in the palace with Lady Mirian, Tirillo and other members of the king’s court. Grief at the death of one of the king’s most valiant paladins filled the palace and mingled with the atmosphere of anxiety and unrest. Tiuri and Piak heard rumours about Eviellan’s deceit, but no one seemed to know the full story or to want to discuss the matter.
After breakfast, the two friends went for a walk around the palace. There were so many beautiful things to see; even King Dagonaut’s palace was not as impressive, Tiuri told Piak. Some rooms had ornate columns and blue ceilings with gold stars, while others had stained-glass windows and walls painted with images of heroes and saints. There were floors of coloured mosaics, and marble stairs, and statues of wood, bronze and stone. What was most astounding was that all of those exquisite things fitted together perfectly, and nowhere did the opulence seem excessive.
Sometimes one of the palace residents would come over to talk to them, but it was never for too long; everyone was so busy. People were still busily hurrying in and out of the palace: messengers, knights and men-at-arms.
After a while, the two friends headed into the garden and sat down on the wall where they had spent the previous evening with Tirillo. They looked out at the sloping garden terraces, with their trees and flowers, steps and fountains. They watched people riding over the bridge to the palace. There were lots of knights among their number, with their white shields and coloured suits of armour. Piak couldn’t stop staring at them.
“Look at that!” he cried out at one point, as a knight came riding up on a white horse that seemed almost too spirited to be ridden. Almost… because the knight had the horse under control and he flew over the bridge like a hurricane, bareheaded, with a white shield on his arm and his cloak like a rainbow streaming out behind him.
“His locks as red as the sun in the west, his eyes as blue as the sea,” came a voice from behind them. It was Tirillo.
“Who is that?” asked Piak, following the knight with his gaze until he leapt down from his horse and disappeared into the palace.
“Marwen of Iduna,” the jester replied. “His horse is called Idanwen, and it is one of the finest horses in this kingdom. Sir Edwinem rode a brother of that horse: Ardanwen, or Night Wind.”
Tiuri realized that Sir Edwinem must have seemed just as impressive when he rode through the City of Unauwen on Ardanwen. He actually looked nothing like Sir Marwen, and yet the two were somehow very similar.
“But I didn’t come here to tell you that,” said the jester. “I have three things to say. The first is that the king would like to see you later.”
Tiuri was pleasantly surprised. He and Piak had seen King Unauwen only briefly that morning in the cathedral. So he had not forgotten them.
“And I am to greet you on behalf of Warmin, a guard from the toll fortress at the Rainbow River,” Tirillo continued.
“Warmin?” said the two friends.
“Yes, he arrived here last night, with some long and complicated tale about a messenger who told lies to Sir Ivan in the Hills of the Moon. I’m sure you’ll hear all about it. He would have liked to speak to you himself, but the king sent him back with a message for the toll master this morning before dawn.”
“That’s right,” said Piak. “Why did that messenger tell us Slither had been captured when we found him waiting here for us?”
“Slither!” said Tirillo. “That’s the third thing I had to tell you. You’re to report to the sheriff and tell him exactly what you know about Slither. You’ll have to make a statement and… You don’t look too keen,” he continued, after one look at Tiuri’s face, “but it has to be done. And right away.”
“We shall do as you ask,” said Tiuri.
“Excellent,” said the jester. “You know, I think I’ll take you there. The sheriff’s court and the prison are on the other side of the river, on the main square. It’ll give you a chance to see more of the city.”
The streets were rather busy and people kept stopping them to talk. Everyone seemed to want a word with Tirillo, and he certainly stood out in his rainbow-coloured costume and his white cap with bells on.
“The king’s jester!” people cried. “Do you have news for us, Tirillo? But it surely cannot be good!”
“And why not?” said the jester. “Look around and tell me: isn’t the city beautiful today? In fact, you’ll notice it’s more beautiful than usual. That’s because you feel it may be in danger. It’s only when something’s threatened that you realize just how much you love it.”
“Is it true, Tirillo, that there’s a war coming?” someone asked.
“You’ll hear what you need to hear when the time comes,” the jester replied. “It’s true that we have an enemy, but I don’t want to name that enemy as yet.”
“Eviellan,” came the whispers.
“Have faith in our king,” said the jester.
“Go on, Tirillo, sing something for us,” cried one of the crowd. “Our hearts are heavy. Give us some cheer!”
“I cannot take away that sadness,” said the jester. “Sometimes you need to be sad so that you can appreciate joy all the more. Just as rain must fall between sunny spells. Farewell.”
He led Tiuri and Piak to a large building on a beautiful square. “Go inside,” he said. “I shall wait for you.”
Tiuri and Piak did as they were told and were immediately admitted to the sheriff, who proved to be one of Unauwen’s knights. He was expecting them and he already knew all that they’d told the king. He asked what else they knew about Slither. Tiuri and Piak answered his questions and when that was done, the sheriff said, “I thank you. This Slither refuses to say a word. But perhaps he will speak when he sees you. I shall send for him.”
Slither was brought in. He was not chained or tied up, but he was accompanied by two armed guards. He no longer looked anything like the old beggar; his grey locks were gone and he had short, light-brown hair. But his eyes still gave him away. When he saw the two friends, his face twisted into a snarl.
“Pah!” he spat. “Isn’t it enough for you that I’m a prisoner? Do you have to come and gloat at the sight of a vanquished enemy?” He looked at Tiuri. “Oh, I bet you feel like quite the man,” he said. “Oh, oh, such a valiant knight, successfully completing such a perilous quest! And what exactly was your task? Taking a letter to King Unauwen! Travelling many miles, risking your life… and for what? What is in that letter that is so important? Something King Unauwen didn’t already know? Well, good for you! Messengers come to him every day, a whole procession marching in and out, and they all think they’re bringing a special message. It’s hilarious. Ha, ha!” And he laughed his mean and spiteful laugh.
Tiuri was taken aback and didn’t know how to respond. Worst of all, there seemed to be some truth in Slither’s words. Because Tiuri still had no clue what was in the letter…
“You’re just a bad loser!” shouted Piak. “Of course that letter was important. Why else did you chase after us all that time and try so hard to stop us?”
Slither stopped laughing and gaped at him. Tiuri could have thrown his arms around Piak. He was right! And besides… he remembered what Tirillo had said: the letter itself had not been the most important thing for Tiuri, but keeping his promise to Sir Edwinem.
Then Slither found his vicious tongue again. “Oh yes,” he said. “Oh yes, you’re not wrong! I too had a job to do, a task for my master, the Black Knight with the Red Shield.”
At that point, the sheriff interrupted him. “And who,” he asked, “is the Black Knight with the Red Shield?”
Slither sneered. “Who is he?” he said. “I don’t know. And if I did know, I wouldn’t tell you. But you’ll get to meet him soon enough when he comes with his knights with their red and black shields to conquer this land.”
“Your words are foolish and spoken in anger,” declared the sheriff.
“Not foolish,” replied Slither. “But they are indeed angry. I am angry!”
He turned to Tiuri and Piak. “I did not accomplish my mission,” he said. “But I should have succeeded, because I am stronger and better than you! Yes, it’s true. Who are the two of you? A squire who neglects his duty and runs away when he should be keeping his vigil on the eve of his knighting ceremony. A shepherd boy who has done nothing in his life but climb up and down mountains. I don’t know how you managed to shake off Jaro; it was obviously him who betrayed my name to you. The devil take him! I suspected he wouldn’t manage to stop you, Tiuri. He is weak, even though he thinks himself better than me. That’s why I took the First Great Road over the mountains and sent carrier pigeons to my friend and ally, the mayor of Dangria. He was to hold you prisoner until I arrived. But when I got there, you and that friend of yours had fled and Dangria was in turmoil. That’s what happens when you rely on other people! But I did the rest by myself. I saw you captured by the toll master’s men when I was on the bridge over the Rainbow River. And yes, I went after the wrong man, but he is no great loss!”
Tiuri and Piak glowered at him.
“I should have had you!” Slither continued, rattling away faster and faster. “I was more intelligent than all of you! I was the shepherd who said he’d ridden away on the murderer’s horse; I was the messenger who told Sir Ivan the murderer had been caught! And I did what I set out to do: your escort, those stupid servants of the toll master, abandoned you and headed home. That was what I wanted: you were to be alone and unprotected. I followed you, but everything conspired against me, blast it! There were people in the fields and I preferred not to kill you in broad daylight. And at night you slept at a farmer’s house, and he bolted his doors and his dog barked at me. Not that I let that deter me. I rode on and I was ahead of you, and I was waiting for you in the guise of an old beggar. It should have worked. I’m so much stronger than you. You felt sorry for a poor old beggar, didn’t you? Well, that was weakness! Pah!” He spat on the floor before finishing his speech, “So, now you know everything you wanted to know. But I’m warning you. Don’t feel too high and mighty, too good, too strong! That could prove your downfall. And one last word to you, Tiuri, son of Tiuri! Do you know what you have done by running off and throwing away your chance to become a knight? Do you think perhaps that King Unauwen will make you a knight? Well, that’s folly. This is not your country, and he is not your king. I hope King Dagonaut treats you as you deserve, and that you never carry a sword and a shield!”
“Silence!” cried the sheriff. “That is enough!” He ordered the guards to take Slither away. “He will get the punishment that is coming to him,” he said to Tiuri and Piak. “Don’t waste any more thoughts on him. You are free to leave. And many thanks for your help.”
When they were back outside, Tiuri heaved a sigh of relief.
“Phew!” said Piak. “What a villain! The sheriff’s right. I certainly won’t waste any more thoughts on him!”
But Tiuri doubted he would ever forget Slither’s snarling face and vicious words.