Lady Lara slept very little the night before the Hunt of Death. She rose early in the morning, tired and depressed, and noticed that her maid had deep circles under her eyes.
“You didn’t sleep, Sarah, did you?”
“No. Nor did you.”
Lady Lara usually was very careful about her dress, but today when Sarah asked what she wished to wear, she said, “It doesn’t matter.”
She sat down and motioned Sarah to do the same. For a time, the princess and her maid just looked at each other. Then Lara said, “I have decided to ride beside my father in the Hunt. I have not been able to persuade him to call it off.”
Immediately Sarah sat up straight. “My lady, then would it be possible for me to ride beside you? As your attendant?”
“Why, I suppose so—although Bettis would never ask such a thing. Why? Why would you want to do that?”
“I really don’t know, my lady. It’s just that I am interested in my friend, and I think I need to be there. And I wish Josh could go as well. Would that be possible?”
“I suppose that would be possible. He could help with the dogs.”
Sarah brightened. She said quickly, “We Sleepers have been in situations like this before when all looked hopeless. But it is never hopeless, my lady.”
“It seems so to me,” Lara said sadly. “If my father would only listen . . .”
“Go to him again, my lady. Perhaps he will.”
Lady Lara stood, her mind made up. “Help me to dress!” she said firmly. “I shall order horses to be made ready for us in case they are needed. But then I will try to change my father’s mind.”
Reb Jackson was tramping through the forest with a sack over his shoulder. It was heavy with the squirrels he had killed for supper. He was still not as good with a bow as Sarah was, and he had trapped them with snares.
Suddenly a figure was standing in his path, and Reb’s eyes flew open. “Goél!” he cried
“You are surprised to see me, my son.”
“I’m glad to see you. So will everyone else be. Have you got something for us to do to help our friends?”
“Indeed I have. But first we must arouse the others.”
Fifteen minutes later, the Sleepers, Goodman, and Bentain were all anxiously surrounding Goél.
“This waiting has been difficult for you,” Goél said, “but now the time has come for action.”
“Give me a command, master,” Goodman cried eagerly.
“I will. Call all of your men together. Have them come fully armed and meet here as quickly as you can gather them.”
“I go at once, sire.”
As soon as Goodman was gone, Bentain stepped forward. He was old and bent, and his hair was white, but his eyes were bright. “Is it a battle then, Goél?”
“Most battles that are important are battles of the spirit, as you well know, my friend. But this time, at least for now, there will be a physical battle to fight.”
Bentain smiled. “And I will go with the warriors into battle.”
“Your courage has never been doubted, Bentain,” Goél said in a kindly fashion. “But perhaps it would be well to leave this to the younger men. Do you not think so?”
For once Bentain argued with Goél’s suggestion. “No, sire. I am old, and if I can fight one more battle for you, I will die happy. I will serve Goél until I die.”
A cheer went around, and Goél put his arm across the old man’s shoulder. “Very well, then, my friend. I would that all of my servants were as eager to follow me as you are. Now—” he looked about at the group “—all of you get ready for battle.”
The king heard a knock at the door of his private chambers. He looked up with surprise as his daughter entered. Her face wore a troubled look.
“Lara, what is it?” he asked.
“I must speak with you, Father.” She glanced over her shoulder and said, “Wait in the hall, Sarah.” Then she closed the door.
“What is it, my child?” The king motioned her to a chair, but she stood facing him. He studied her face and realized that she was troubled indeed. “Are you ill?”
“I must talk with you, Father, and you must forgive me because I have to say some hard things.”
The king remained silent. He knew that his daughter had been somehow changing recently and had wondered at the change. “Speak on, daughter. Have I failed you in some way?”
“I think you have failed yourself, Father.”
“Failed myself! What can you mean?”
“I mean that for many years now you have grieved for my mother. That everyone understands. But it has been unmanly grief for you to ignore the kingdom and your people’s needs.”
The king dropped his gaze. He well knew that there was truth in his daughter’s words. “When your mother died, I was like a madman,” he muttered. “I could not find my way out of my grief.”
“I know that, Father. I know that. You loved her greatly. You’ve told me so often, but in losing yourself in your grief, the kingdom has fallen on evil times.”
“But Lord Zarak—”
“Lord Zarak is a cruel, wicked man who has somehow managed to cloud your mind!” Lara said firmly. “You must do something about him. He is no fit man to have authority in this kingdom! How could you let such a man rule in your place, Father? You are the king! You should have seen to your subjects!”
“But when Zarak counsels with me, he gives me some relief from my sorrow,” King Falmor protested. “When we meet together, he has an incense that he burns. And he talks soothingly to me, and it numbs my sorrows . . .”
“He has also numbed your kingly aspects, Father. I do believe he has cast a spell over you. Can you not see that?”
“Well . . . perhaps . . . perhaps so,” the king said uncertainly. “Very well. I will meet with him no more. Does that please you?”
“And remove him from his place of authority. And, Father, call off the Hunt of Death! It is the cruelest thing Lord Zarak has brought about.”
“It is true that the Hunt was Lord Zarak’s doing . . .” Then he said, “Still, you are right. I am the king. I should not have listened to him.”
“Then stop this Hunt today!” Lady Lara cried. “Now! Do not let it take place.”
“Perhaps so. Perhaps so . . .” He looked at her curiously. “This slave—Roland. You seem especially interested in him.”
Lara flushed. “He is a human being, and he has fine qualities, and we have treated him shamefully.”
“I see,” the king said, and he thought he did. Then he drew himself up to his full height. “Very well, I will give orders to stop the Hunt.”
He strode to the window and looked down to where Zarak and the lords sat on their horses, waiting. The dogs were yapping eagerly. Over to one side he could see the captive, Roland. Even the serfs who worked in the garden were leaning on their tools and wheelbarrows, waiting for the Hunt to begin.
“Lord Zarak!” the king called down to his counselor.
Zarak looked up with surprise. “We await Your Majesty’s presence. It is time for the Hunt of Death to begin!”
“There will be no Hunt of Death!” the king replied. “Take the prisoner back to his cell. And, Lord Zarak, come to my chambers at once. We have things to talk about.” King Falmor turned from the window. “Why, I believe I am myself again, daughter.” He took a deep breath. “Somehow I’ve known for years that I have not been acting like a king, but I will do so now.”
Down in the courtyard, Lord Zarak’s face was pale with anger. He gritted his teeth, then shouted, “Loose the prisoner! Start the Hunt!”
“But, my lord,” Sheriff Cranmore said nervously, “the king said—”
“The king is ill. He knows not what he says. I will deal with him when we get back.” He rode over to where Roland stood, and he lifted his spear. “Run, you vermin, or I will kill you even now!”
Roland knew death when he saw it, and he saw it in Zarak’s eyes. He fled across the courtyard, across the drawbridge, and down the road that circled the castle.
Sarah stood waiting in the hall, as Lady Lara had instructed her.
Then the chamber door opened, and the king himself started out into the corridor. However, he immediately stopped in the doorway and seemed to be listening. “What is that noise? I canceled the Hunt,” he said, sounding puzzled. He hurried back into the room.
Quickly Sarah moved to where she could see him. He was at the window, leaning out.
“What is going on down there?”
From below one of the soldiers, probably, called up to him, “Lord Zarak has commanded that the Hunt begin, Your Majesty.”
King Falmor turned back from the window. Astonishment, then anger, darkened his face. “So. Now I see what Zarak is! He is a traitor himself, and I will deal with him.”
The king hurried past Sarah, down the corridor and down the stairs. Lady Lara and Sarah followed close behind.
“Bring my horse over here!” Falmor ordered.
As he swung into the saddle, Lady Lara reached for the bridle of her waiting mare. “I’m coming with you, Father.”
“Come, then!” And he spurred his mount forward.
Sarah leaped into the saddle of the horse that had been readied for her. Quickly she reined him past the garden. “Come on, Josh! We’re going, too.”
Without hesitating, Josh sprang up behind her. “What’s happening? What’s with the king?” he asked as they pounded over the drawbridge.
“I don’t know. But one thing is clear—he’s not Lord Zarak’s man anymore.”