Chapter 17 - King Pomidor’s Anger

Mailliw opened his eyes. The room looked foggy and everything was dim and quiet.

‘Hi!’ said a familiar voice.

Mailliw moved his head in the direction of the voice.

‘Drabder? Is that you?’ he croaked and then swallowed. His throat was like sandpaper and his head throbbed. ‘Where am I? What happened?’ he whispered.

‘You’re in King Pomidor’s palace in a private room. A doctor says you will recover in a day or so… well King Pomidor hopes so, because he wants us out of here. I don’t know all of what happened, but I do know that you were escorted back by the King’s army on a sleigh with the Princess and a small old man.’

‘Where’s Frija?’

‘She’s recovering in her own chamber.’

Mailliw leaned forward and tried to lift the bedcovers, ‘Must go and see if she’s okay, must try…’ he said, then fell back against the pillow, moaned, and put his hands to his head. The throbbing was unbearable.

‘It’s probably best not to anger the King any more than you’ve already done. His face has been like thunder every time he’s come in to see if you were awake,’ Drabder said and stopped talking when he heard the door creak open. An ice pixie nurse came in and examined Mailliw.

‘I’ll let his Majesty know you’re awake,’ she said when she finished, and left the room.

Drabder leaned on the bed and said, ‘So, can you remember anything?’

Mailliw nodded but didn’t want to discuss the horrors of the Scribb just yet so he said, ‘Can I tell you later? It was horrifying. I honestly thought I was going to die. I’d rather know how you got here.’

‘Okay,’ said Drabder and gathered his thoughts, ‘I remember panicking when I let go of your fingers and being swallowed by the blue light, but I don’t remember anything else until I woke up with a strange woman looking after me. She told me what had happened. It was a relief to understand it had only been the gateway that we had been searching for, and she said you’d saved me by offering the diamonds in exchange for the crystal water. She also explained she was the Mystic of the Ice Cavern and it was her job to heal people. At first it sounded incredible, but she said her singing helped people to think about something important, and this in turn, made them better. In my case, it was Gypsy and her puppy, Max. Then some soldiers came and marched us to the palace. The King questioned the Mystic. She confirmed everything you told him and you weren’t a spy. I explained about needing a golden moonbeam and the King ordered your release. He was going to organise a golden moonbeam search, but when he discovered you had escaped and the Princess was also missing, he was furious. He summoned his army and they left in the early hours of the morning.’

Drabder finished, but even through his throbbing head, Mailliw was aware of a significant change in his friend. He was coherent and speaking clearly.

Mailliw shifted position in the bed and stifled a groan. His right thigh was tender and bruised. The door opened again. This time King Pomidor entered and his face still looked like thunder. The man with black slicked hair and hawk eyes followed the King.

‘I understand you’re feeling better,’ King Pomidor said but the acidic tone was unmistakable.

‘Yes, thank you,’ said Mailliw quietly.

The King glowered at him and Mailliw saw him swallowing hard as if he had difficulty containing his anger. He was right. King Pomidor was finding it difficult. This boy had endangered his daughter, the only heir to the throne, and he was not in a forgiving mood.

‘Do you understand how close you came to being killed?’ he questioned, his eyes piercing into Mailliw. ‘If we had been seconds later, it would have been all over for you and for my daughter. I had to make the decision to bombard the area with charges to confuse the Scribb, so they didn’t know where to spear through the ice. I had to make this decision, knowing I might kill all of you in the rescue attempt. Have you any idea what it was like? Giving a command where I could kill my own child! You…’ King Pomidor paused and stifled a sob, ‘you are a corrupting influence, a liability and a danger to this court. I will not have you subjecting the Princess to any further peril. Once you are well, you and your friend will return to the Guardian of the Winter Mountains and you are both forbidden to return to this country. You are banished! If you disobey this ruling, you will be locked up and the key will be thrown away!’

A silence followed and a couple of tears rolled down the King’s cheek. Slymus, standing at the King’s right shoulder, leered at Mailliw, and Mailliw had never known such an intense dislike for anyone like this before.

‘Your Highness,’ Mailliw said, his voice not much more than a whisper, ‘I fully understand your ruling and I give my sincerest apologies for having been the cause of so much grief. I also thank you for saving our lives under such terrible circumstances. I came here to save my sister who has silver moonbeam sickness and instead have caused more trouble than I could have possibly imagined. It was not my intention to disrupt your lives and cause you so much pain. We will leave as soon as you permit us.’

Mailliw stopped speaking and then remembered his promise to Frija. He slid out of the bed and fell towards to a chair where his clothes were laid out. From a trouser pocket, he pulled out the black diamond. Then he knelt down before the King and held out the diamond in his hands.

‘I promised the Princess to give you this before I left.’

King Pomidor took the black diamond without looking at it, turned and left the room. When Mailliw glanced up, he saw a flicker in Slymus’s eyes. Here was someone who knew exactly what the King held in his hands. Slymus followed the King, but before he closed the door, he looked back and said smoothly, ‘I hope you both understand you’ll be returning to the Guardian of the Winter Mountains without the golden moonbeam.’ Then the door closed with a click. The sound cut through the silence and was like the sound of death stealing Forthright away.

Drabder exhaled deeply and asked, ‘What is a Scribb?’

Mailliw crawled back into bed, briefly explained and watched Drabder’s eyes grow wider and wider.

‘They sound completely terrifying,’ he said.

‘They are, especially when there are so many of them you can feel them jostling for space under the ice.’ Mailliw gave a shudder and lay back against the pillows, ‘I can’t believe it’s all been for nothing. We’ll be going home with nothing, Drabder… I can’t believe I saw it, helped to bring it back for Forthright and now… nothing… nothing at all to save her…’ he fell quiet, unable to speak. Disappointment stuck in his throat like a poisoned arrow.

Drabder picked at the sheets. He remained unsure how to help Mailliw feel better. It was almost impossible to believe he had seen and retrieved a golden moonbeam and been so close to success. After all the struggles, this final failure had knocked everything out of Mailliw.

Mailliw closed his eyes. His head throbbed even more and he felt as helpless as a newborn baby.

Drabder tiptoed from the room. He had never seen Mailliw like this before. He seemed defeated, no fight left. Mailliw, who had always looked out for him, protected him, been strong and helped him so many times, he had lost count. Drabder decided he was not going to stand by and do nothing.

He saw the King disappearing down the corridor and pursued him. The King and Slymus swept into the throne room and King Pomidor took his place on the throne. The smaller silver throne was empty. King Pomidor looked at it and he clasped his hands over his chest for a few moments, before giving his attention to the bowed courtiers. Drabder advanced into the room and sped down the red carpet towards the throne. Courtiers whispered as they moved their bowed heads to follow Drabder’s progress. He stopped and knelt before the King.

‘Remove him from my sight!’ growled King Pomidor. Slymus signalled for the guards. Drabder started to panic. Now! He had to speak now! He had to speak for Mailliw!

‘Please your Majesty, my friend is devastated by having caused so much trouble…’ he said, the words tumbled out of his mouth, but the guards heaved Drabder to his feet and dragged him backwards.

‘Your Royal Highness… please listen,’ Drabder begged, but King Pomidor wasn’t even looking at him.

The guards reached the door and were just about to throw him out when a voice said, ‘Release him!’

Frija stood in the doorway. The guards held Drabder by the scruff of the neck and looked to King Pomidor for guidance.

‘Father, please tell the guards to release this boy!’

‘Give me one good reason,’ replied the King sharply.

‘I can give you several reasons,’ she said, ‘but the main one is because you have accused the wrong person in this matter!’

The courtiers raised their heads and murmurings went around the room. Their eyes shifted backwards and forwards between the Princess and the King. Slymus was frowning.

‘Explain!’ said the King who stood up from the throne and raised himself to his full height. Frija contemplated her father. She was apprehensive, because what she was going to say next was going to grieve him deeply.

‘I planned and executed the locating of the golden moonbeam. I told Mailliw I wanted it done my way, not yours. He only did as I commanded. He didn’t like doing what I told him, but I gave him no choice.’

King Pomidor stared at his daughter. Her words were unbelievable and yet he was hearing them. His chest tightened as if someone was crushing the life out of it. His one and only child had betrayed his trust. He did not understand.

Frija read the agony in her father’s eyes but continued, ‘Not only that, but when you had to rescue us, Mailliw saved my life. He protected me with his own body from the explosions and he became injured as a result. I owe him a debt of gratitude and I can’t remain silent, knowing there is a miscarriage of justice taking place.’

The King stumbled to his throne, sat down and covered his face with his hands. Frija heard a strangled moan as her father struggled to control his grief.

When he finally removed his hands, he whispered, ‘Why?’

Frija gulped. Her own throat ached with unhappiness, but she had to answer him.

‘I discovered Mailliw had something of value. Something you had been searching for all your life, so I saw an opportunity of securing it for you by exchanging it for a golden moonbeam. I wanted to give you something so precious, you would regard it as a measure of my love for you… but it all went horribly wrong,’ she explained, trying to fight off the desire to burst into tears in front of the courtiers.

Frija stepped up to King Pomidor and took his hands, ‘I made Mailliw promise to give it to you before he left.’

‘He has given it to me,’ replied the King flatly and dropped her hands. Frija’s ears drooped towards her shoulders at this rejection.

Then, the King withdrew the black diamond from his cloak and held it up for Frija and the court to see. The courtiers drew in their breath with amazement.

‘And you think this…’ he said, giving the black diamond a twirl so it sparkled in the light, ‘is worth more to me than your life?’

The courtiers stopped breathing while they waited for her answer. It was deathly quiet.

‘No father,’ she mumbled and looked at the floor, ‘but if you have accepted the gift,’ she continued, barely audible, ‘then I ask most humbly for my part of the bargain to be honoured, so Mailliw can take the golden moonbeam to save his sister’s life.’

Slymus interrupted, ‘Your Majesty, I must protest…’

‘Be quiet Slymus,’ ordered the King.

Underneath her serious face, Frija felt a small spark of relief at hearing Slymus being told to shut up, but she kept looking at the floor.

‘And, as for you madam,’ King Pomidor said coldly, ‘I need time to think about this. Leave the court until further notice.’

Frija was devastated by this dismissal. It was the first time in her life the King had spoken to her like this. She glanced at Slymus. He was observing her and they both knew neither was in a position to influence the King either for or against Mailliw. Frija curtsied and took Drabder’s arm as she left.

‘What will the King do?’ asked Drabder.

Frija could barely speak, ‘I really don’t know. This is the first time I’ve broken his trust.’

She led Drabder back to Mailliw’s room and knocked on the door. There was no reply.

‘I think he needs to be alone right now,’ said Drabder, ‘I’ve never known him like this before. Mailliw is not used to failing.’

***

Mailliw had a fitful rest. Images of Forthright being no more than a ghost tormented him. When he heard the knocking at the door, he chose to ignore it. The pain in his head still pounded. Aunt Foggerty had jars of chamomile with crushed willow bark in her store cupboard and he wondered why nobody here had offered him something similar to ease the pain.

When a second knock occurred, Mailliw had no idea how long it had been since the previous one. When he opened his eyes, his head had ceased throbbing. He sat up and said, ‘Come in.’

Frija and Drabder entered, followed by King Pomidor, Slymus and a number of other courtiers. When they were all in the room, the King looked around and spoke.

‘We all know the circumstances of this unfortunate business, so I’ll refrain from repeating them here,’ he said and glowered at Mailliw, ‘however, you do not know my daughter has confessed to being the perpetrator. I admit to being bitterly disappointed in the Princess in her lack of judgement and trustworthiness.’

Mailliw watched Frija hang her head.

‘I have given this matter a great deal of thought, and have decided to honour the Princess’ word and allow you to return home with the golden moonbeam. The black diamond given as a gift in exchange, is a fair one and more than worthy of the diamonds you offered to the crystal lake to save your friend. A special place will be built to house the black diamond, so my people can come and see such a rarity for themselves. From today, your gift shall be known as The Black Icicle. I believe this decision is an honourable one considering what has happened. Even so, I do not withdraw my previous decision… quite simply, you are forbidden to return. This is my daughter’s punishment for her actions, and she will have to live with the knowledge that you are the ones to suffer as a result,’ the King said and frowned at his daughter, ‘this is not negotiable. Frija, do you understand?’

Frija looked up. She was crying and sniffed loudly as she accepted her father’s ruling. King Pomidor’s voice had been cold and aloof throughout and this distancing from her was hard to bear.

‘This evening is your last visit Frija, before they return home tomorrow morning. I give you grace to say your farewells after I leave the room, but afterwards you are not permitted to see either boy again,’ King Pomidor said and signalled to Slymus and his courtiers to follow him out. He did not wait for any thanks or acknowledgement from Mailliw or Frija.

Mailliw, Drabder and Frija remained silent for a short while. Frija couldn’t speak for crying, Mailliw because he was astounded at the sudden turn of events and Drabder because he could not think of anything appropriate to say.

Then Mailliw held out his hand to Frija and said, ‘I don’t know how to thank you for giving me this opportunity to save my sister.’

She rubbed away the tears with the palms of her hands and said, ‘There’s nothing to thank me for. I only told him the truth. Mailliw… in the short time you’ve been here, you have been the best friend I’ve ever had and now I’ll never see you again. Between that and knowing how much I’ve disappointed my father, my life is going to be pretty miserable.’

‘Difficult isn’t it,’ said Drabder, ‘knowing how to say goodbye when you’ve been commanded to do it. Anyway, I’ll go first if you like.’

Drabder bowed deeply before Frija, took her hand and kissed it, ‘Goodbye your Highness,’ he said quietly and when he reached the door, he looked back, ‘just need to fix your face into my memory,’ he said, smiled and left the room.

Mailliw glanced at Frija, ‘Very considerate of him to allow us to say our goodbyes in private.’

‘You’re very lucky having a friend like Drabder and he’s very lucky having a friend like you,’ said Frija, ‘I’ve never known that kind of friendship and probably never will.’

‘I wish I had something to give you to remember our friendship by,’ said Mailliw.

‘You can give me something,’ said Frija. She saw the unsure expression on Mailliw’s face, ‘Tell me all about your life back home, who your friends are, what your sister’s like, your parents, your school, your home… I want to see, in my mind, the images you tell me. If you do, it will be the most wonderful gift… and nobody else will know about it, nobody will be able to take it away and whenever I feel lonely, I’ll imagine I’m there with you, seeing your family and friends.’

‘This is going to make it a very long goodbye,’ said Mailliw and noticed a weak smile returning to Frija’s face.

She said, ‘I don’t remember my father telling me it had to be a short goodbye, do you?’