3.

 

 

 

THE NIGHT PASSED WITHOUT ALARM OR INCIDENT. The sun rose tangerine red in the east, and the day began. Madouc awoke early and lay for a few moments in her bed thinking. Then, abruptly, she jumped to the floor, summoned her maid, bathed in the pink porphyry tub, and dressed in a frock of soft blue linen with a white collar. The maid brushed her hair until the copper ringlets became disciplined and hung in shining curls, and were tied with a blue ribbon.

A knock sounded at the door. Madouc cocked her head to listen, then gave quick instructions to the maid. The knock sounded again, sharp and peremptory. The maid opened the door a slit, to find two black eyes gleaming at her from a sallow long-nosed face. The maid called out: “Have you no respect for Her Highness? The princess receives no one so early! Go away!” She closed the door upon muffled expostulations: “It is I, Damsel Kylas! I am a person of rank! Open the door that I may enter!”

Receiving no response, Kylas marched off to her own chambers, where she tried the door giving into Madouc’s parlor, only to discover that the door was locked.

Kylas knocked, and called out: “Open, if you please! It is I, Kylas!”

Instead of opening, Madouc was away: out the door, to the end of the garden courtyard, into the east gallery and out of sight.

Kylas knocked again. “Open at once! I bring a message from Queen Sollace!”

The maid at last unlatched the door; Kylas stormed into the parlor. “Madouc? Princess Madouc!” She went into the bedchamber, looking right and left, then into the dressing room. Finding no trace of her quarry, she called toward the bathroom: “Princess Madouc! Are you within? Her Majesty insists that you attend on her at once, that she may instruct you for the day! Princess Madouc?” Kylas looked into the bathroom, then turned angrily upon the maid. “Where is the princess?”

“She has already gone out, Your Ladyship.”

“I can see that for myself. But where?”

“As to that, I cannot say.”

Kylas gave a croak of annoyance and rushed away.

Madouc had taken herself to the Morning Saloon, as recommended the night before by Prince Jaswyn. This was a large room, pleasant and airy, with sunlight streaming through tall glass windows. A buffet, running the length of the room, supported a hundred dishes, platters, bowls and trenchers, offering foods of many sorts.

Madouc found King Audry and Prince Jaswyn already on hand, taking their breakfast together. Prince Jaswyn gallantly leapt to his feet and escorted Madouc to a place at his table.

“Breakfast is informal,” said King Audry. “You may serve yourself or command the stewards, as you wish. I would not overlook either the ortolans or the woodcock; both are prime. I had an order out for hare and boar, but my huntsmen were unlucky, and today we must do without, nor will we eat venison, which, after all, is somewhat rich for breakfast, especially in a ragoût. Please do not think the worse of me for my paltry board; I am sure you are fed more adequately at Haidion.”

“I usually find enough to eat, one way or another,” said Madouc. “I am not likely to make complaints, unless the porridge is burned.”

“The last cook to burn the porridge was flogged,” said King Audry. “Since then, we have had no more difficulties.”

Madouc walked along the buffet, and served herself four plump ortolans, an omelet of morels and parsley, scones with butter and a bowl of strawberries and cream.

“What? No fish?” cried King Audry aghast. “It is our fame and our pride! Steward! Bring the Princess some salmon in wine sauce with new peas, and also a good taste of the lobster in saffron cream; also—why not?—a dozen each of the cockles and winkles, and do not spare the garlic butter.”

Madouc looked dubiously at the plates set in front of her. “I fear that I would grow very fat indeed were I to dine with you regularly!”

“It is a delightful risk to take,” said King Audry. He turned at the approach of an official. “Well then, Evian: what is your news?”

“The Flor Velas has been sighted in the Cambermouth, Your Majesty. King Aillas will be on hand shortly, unless he is set aback by an offshore wind.”

“How blows the wind at this time?”

“It veers, Your Majesty, from north to northwesterly, with a gust now and then from the west. The weathercocks are faithless.”

“That is not a favoring wind,” said King Audry. “Still we must start our colloquy by the schedule; timely starts make for happy voyages. Am I not right, Princess?”

“That is my own opinion, Your Majesty. The ortolans are delicious.”

“Clever girl! Ah well, I had hoped that King Aillas would be present at the opening ceremonies, but we shall not delay, and he will miss nothing of substance, since we must proceed through a round or two of encomiums, salutes, noble breast-beating, laudatory allusions and the like. Until King Aillas arrives, Prince Dhrun shall listen with the ears of Troicinet, and speak the official Troice eulogies. He is over-young for such service, but it will be good training for him.”

Dhrun, with his three companions, came into the Morning Saloon. They approached King Audry’s table. “Good morning, Your Highness,” said Dhrun. “Good morning to you, Prince Jaswyn, and to you as well, Princess.”

“No less to you,” said King Audry. “Your father’s ship has been sighted in the Cambermouth and he will be on hand shortly—certainly before the day is out.”

“That is good news.”

“Meanwhile, the colloquy begins on schedule! Until King Aillas arrives, you must act in his stead. Make ready, therefore, to deliver a resonant and inspirational oration!”

“That is bad news!”

King Audry chuckled. “The acts of kingship are not all equally pleasurable.”

“I suspect this already, Your Highness, from observing my father.”

“Jaswyn has surely arrived at the same conclusion,” said King Audry. “Am I right, Jaswyn?”

“Absolutely, sir.”

King Audry gave a placid nod and returned to Dhrun. “I keep you from your breakfast. Fortify yourself well!”

Madouc called out: “King Audry recommends the ortolans and the woodcock. He also insisted that I eat cockles and winkles by the dozen.”

“I will heed your advice, as always,” said Dhrun. He and his comrades went off to the buffet. A moment later Prince Cassander entered the refectory, with his friend Sir Camrols. Cassander halted and surveyed the room, then, approaching King Audry, paid his respects. “King Casmir and Queen Sollace are taking breakfast in their chambers; they will appear at the Hall of Heroes at the appointed time.”

“The time is not far off,” said King Audry. “The morning has gone apace!”

Cassander turned to Madouc. “Queen Sollace wishes you to present yourself before her at once. I will warn you that she is not pleased with your flighty conduct, which verges upon rank insubordination.”

“The queen must postpone her censure, or—even better—put it aside altogether,” said Madouc. “I am now taking breakfast with King Audry and Prince Jaswyn; it would be an act of unutterable rudeness if I were to jump up and depart. Further, Cassander, your own manners leave much to be desired. In the first place—”

Cassander, noting King Audry’s amusement, became angry. “Enough; in fact, more than enough! In regard to manners, it is you, not I, who will be sent packing back to Haidion before the hour is out.”

“Impossible!” said Madouc. “King Audry has insisted that I be present at the colloquy, for my better education! I dare not disobey him!”

“Naturally not,” said King Audry in a genial voice. “Come now, Prince Cassander, be gentle and easy, I beg of you! The world is not coming to an end because of Madouc’s merry nature! Let her enjoy herself without reproach.”

Cassander bowed, coldly urbane. “It shall be as Your Majesty wishes.” Cassander and Sir Camrols turned away and served themselves from the buffet.

Half an hour passed. Sir Tramador, High Chamberlain at Falu Ffail, appeared and spoke quietly to King Audry, who sighed and rose to his feet. “In truth, I far prefer the Morning Saloon to the Hall of Heroes and, by the same token, the buffet to the Cairbra an Meadhan!”

Madouc suggested: “Why not hold the colloquy here instead of there? Whoever became bored with the speeches could devour an ortolan for diversion.”

“The concept is not inherently bad,” said King Audry. “However, the schedule is firmly cast, and cannot be altered without extreme confusion. Prince Dhrun, are you coming?”

“I am ready, Your Majesty.”

In the corridor Dhrun waited for Madouc. “I have become a person of importance—at least until my father arrives. I may be called upon to address the company. No one will listen, of course, which is just as well, since I have nothing to say.”

“It is simple. You must wish everyone a long reign and hope that the Goths invade elsewhere.”

“That should suffice. Also, it is possible my father will arrive before I am required to speak, whereupon I shall gratefully relinquish my place at the table.”

Madouc stopped short. Dhrun looked at her in wonder. “What disturbs you now?”

“Last night, so you told me, you sat at the Round Table.”

“So I did.”

“But in all likelihood you did not sit in what will today be your ‘rightful place’! The prophecy is not yet satisfied! I will make sure that King Casmir is aware of this!”

Dhrun thought a moment. “It makes no great difference, since I am now about to take this ‘rightful place’.”

“But you must not! It is as much as your life is worth!”

Dhrun spoke in a hollow voice: “I cannot refuse with honour!”

King Audry looked over his shoulder. “Come along the two of you! There is no time for secrets! The colloquy is about to begin!”

“Yes, Your Highness,” said Dhrun. Madouc said nothing.

The two entered the Hall of Heroes, now illuminated by four iron candelabra suspended by iron chains over the Round Table. At each place a silver plate overlaid the ancient bronze plaque inlaid into the wood.

Around the Hall of Heroes stood the kings and queens of the Elder Isles, a fair number of princes and princesses and notables of high degree. King Audry mounted the low dais on which rested the throne Evandig. He addressed the company:

“At last we are here, in full force: the sovereigns of all the Elder Isles! We are come perhaps for many reasons, that we may explain our dearest hopes and aspirations; also, that each may extend to the others the fruits of his particular wisdom! It is truly a notable occasion: one which long will be memorialized by the historians! Reflect, each and every one! It has been many a long year since our land has known so full a convocation! Each realm is represented, save only Skaghane, where the folk still hold aloof from association. I point out as well that King Aillas is not yet on hand, but Prince Dhrun will speak with the voice of Troicinet, until such time as his father the king arrives.

“In regard to this colloquy and its happy portents, we must acknowledge the initiative of King Casmir! It is he who put forward the concept, asserting the need for broad and easy contact between the rulers of the separate states. I agree in all respects! The time is ripe for frank discussions, that we may define without hesitation our points at difference, and each, when necessary, make the compromises and adjustments decreed by simple fairness and justice.

“With so much said—and with so much more to be said—let us seat ourselves at the Cairbra an Meadhan. Heralds will conduct each to his place, which is marked by a silver plate indited in good round characters. Other persons will sit upon the couches arranged around the wall.”

King Audry stepped down from the dais and went to the Round Table, as did the other sovereigns and their counsellors. Heralds in gray and green livery guided the dignitaries to their places, as indicated by the silver plate. One of the heralds came so to conduct Dhrun, but could not find the proper silver plate. He circled the table reading the names, but found none properly inscribed.

At one seat the silver plate was missing, and only the ancient bronze plaque inset into the black wood remained. The herald stopped at this place, where no one sat, read the bronze plaque, leaned forward incredulously and read again. He went to summon King Audry and led him to the empty place.

King Audry read, then read again. By this time the attention of everyone in the chamber was fixed upon him. Slowly he straightened, and spoke to the room at large. “Sirs and ladies, the Cairbra an Meadhan is imbued with magic, and it has been at work. There is now no plate of silver at this place; it has disappeared. The bronze which over the centuries marked this place now reads: ‘HERE IS THE PLACE OF DHRUN, WHERE IN HIS GOOD AND FULL TIME HE SHALL SIT’.”

Silence held the hall. King Audry spoke on. “I cannot guess the meaning of this magic, nor the exact thrust of the words. A single point is clear: the table recognizes the presence of Prince Dhrun and has indicated his proper place! Prince Dhrun, you may sit.”

Dhrun came forward, step by reluctant step. Behind the chair he halted and spoke to King Audry: “Sire, today I prefer not to sit! I will stand, if I may.”

King Audry spoke in exasperation: “You must sit! We are all waiting for you to take your rightful place.”

“Sire, I am not prepared to join your august deliberations at this time. It is more proper that I stand, pending the arrival of my father.”

King Casmir spoke in a voice which he tried to hold even but which grated with harshness. “Come! Let us not waste any more time! Sit, Prince Dhrun! This is what we expect of you!”

“Quite so,” said King Audry. “We do not wish to deliberate while staring at an empty seat. You must sit.”

Madouc could no longer restrain herself. She called out: “Dhrun, do not sit! Today I will sit in your stead, and be your deputy!” She ran forward, and slipped into the place marked in Dhrun’s name by the bronze plaque.

Dhrun stood close behind the chair. He spoke to King Audry: “Your Majesty, so it shall be, by my choosing! Today Princess Madouc shall be my deputy and sit in my place, and, if necessary, speak with my voice. The formalities are thereby served, and the colloquy may properly begin.”

King Audry stood bewildered. “This is strange conduct! I fail to understand what is going on!”

King Casmir roared: “It is absurd! Madouc, get yourself hence, and quickly, or know my full and awful displeasure!”

“No, Your Majesty. I will sit here. Today is not the proper time for Dhrun to occupy his rightful place at Cairbra an Meadhan.”

King Casmir turned in a cold fury to King Audry: “Your Majesty, I urge that you bring your footmen and remove this foolish maiden from the chair, so that Prince Dhrun may take his place! Otherwise, the colloquy cannot proceed with dignity!”

King Audry spoke in a troubled voice: “Madouc, is this one of your famous caprices?”

“Your Majesty, I assure you to the contrary! I sit here only so that Prince Dhrun need not occupy this place today!”

“But Madouc! Notice the bronze plaque! It states that here is Dhrun’s place!”

“ ‘In his full and good time’! But not today!”

King Audry threw his arms out in a gesture of defeat. “I see no great harm in the situation. The princess sits in the place by the will of Prince Dhrun.”

King Casmir spoke again. “Madouc, once more I bid you depart the place of Prince Dhrun, that he may be seated.”

King Audry looked around the Round Table. Some faces were drawn into lines of displeasure, others were amused, others seemed to care little one way or another. He turned to King Casmir: “Your Majesty, I tend to the opinion that no harm can be done by allowing the Princess Madouc to sit as she wishes.”

King Casmir said: “With your permission, I will deal with the matter myself. Cassander, be good enough to escort Madouc to her chambers. If necessary, ask Sir Camrols for assistance.”

With a limpid gaze Madouc watched the approach of Cassander and the stalwart Sir Camrols of Corton Banwald. She made a small gesture and a hissing sound; Sir Camrols leapt high into the air, where he seemed to hang suspended a moment, his feet twisting rapidly one about the other. He alighted on his hands and knees, where he remained, staring at Madouc in bewilderment. Madouc looked at Cassander, and hissed again, as softly as before. Cassander performed a strange double-jointed jump, as if in two directions at once, and fell sprawling, to roll over and over.

Dhrun said: “Prince Cassander and Sir Camrols have chosen to entertain us with their gymnastic feats, rather than molest the princess; I applaud their good judgment and we should let the matter end here.”

“I am of this opinion,” said King Audry. “The princess evidently has good reason for her apparent caprice. Perhaps it will ultimately be made known to us; am I right, Princess?”

“It is certainly possible, Your Majesty.”

King Casmir spoke again: “It is a farce! Here we sit dawdling, the sovereigns of important realms, while this insolent tippet monopolizes our attention!”

“It need not be,” said Dhrun reasonably. “Let the business of the colloquy proceed!”

King Casmir pounded the table with his fist. “I am offended and outraged! I will not participate in the business until Prince Dhrun takes his rightful place!”

Madouc said in a clear voice: “I see that I must explain my action and the reasons for King Casmir’s outrage. Perhaps it is better, after all, that the facts be known. Listen then and I will tell you the information which came to me from my mother.

“Long ago King Casmir heard a prophecy from Persilian the Magic Mirror. He was told that the first-born son of Princess Suldrun would sit his rightful place at Cairbra an Meadhan and rule from the throne Evandig before his death. If this were so, King Casmir would never fulfil his yearning to conquer far and wide, and to rule the Elder Isles!

“King Casmir never knew the name of Suldrun’s first and only son, and he lived in a state of anxiety. Only recently the priest Umphred revealed the truth to King Casmir and put the name ‘Dhrun’ to Suldrun’s son. Ever since Casmir has been scheming for a means to void the prophecy.

“For this reason he called for a colloquy here at Falu Ffail. He cares nothing for amity or peace; he intended only that Dhrun should fulfill the prophecy, so that Dhrun might then be murdered.

“Last night Prince Cassander persuaded Dhrun to sit on the throne Evandig and utter an order. Today Dhrun need only take his place at the Round Table to satisfy the terms of the prophecy; then he might safely be murdered, perhaps this very night. An arrow from the hedge or a knife from the shadows, and Dhrun is dead! Who would do the deed? There were four who rode north with us; I dare not call them villains and murderers for fear that I might do them a wrong, but they were neither knights nor soldiers.

“Now everyone knows what I know and my reasons for denying Dhrun his place. Judge for yourselves if they are caprice; then let the colloquy proceed.”

Silence held the Hall of Heroes.

At last King Audry said uneasily: “The colloquy is both shocked and somewhat addled by your revelations. We have heard a most unusual set of charges, which regretfully ring with the clear tone of authenticity. Still, King Casmir perhaps can refute these charges. What, then, do you say, Casmir of Lyonesse?”

“I say that this sly little whelp lies from her teeth, inward and outward, in all directions, with a vile contempt for truth, and an even viler relish for the taste of pure turpitude! Upon our return to Lyonesse Town, she will be instructed at length in the virtues of veracity.”

Madouc gave a jeering laugh. “Do you think me insane? I am not returning to Lyonesse Town!”

“I think you insane indeed,” said Casmir carefully. “Your tales are the ravings of lunacy! I know nothing of Persilian the Magic Mirror, nor yet his prophecy!”

A new voice spoke. “Casmir, you lie, and you are the liar!” King Aillas came slowly into the Hall of Heroes. “I myself, with my own hands, took Persilian the Magic Mirror from your secret place and buried it under the lime tree in Suldrun’s garden. My only new knowledge is that concerning the priest Umphred, who had already caused Suldrun untold woe. Someday there shall be an accounting with Umphred the priest.”

King Casmir sat in silence, face flushed. King Audry said: “I had hoped that this colloquy would induce a new sense of fellowship among the kings of the Elder Isles, and perhaps a reconciliation of all our old grievances, so that we could reduce our armies and abandon our forts and send our yeomen home, to till the soil for the greater prosperity of all. Perhaps I am idealistic in this hope.”

“Not altogether,” said Aillas. “I will frankly admit that I despise Casmir the man. I can never forget nor forgive his acts of cruelty. Still, I must deal with King Casmir of Lyonesse, and I will do so politely if it will further my policy. I will reiterate it here and now, since it is simple and all should understand it. We will not allow a strong aggressive country to attack a passive peaceful country. Explicitly, should Dahaut marshall a great force and attack Lyonesse, we would fight instantly on the side of Lyonesse. If Lyonesse foolishly chose to invade Dahaut, our forces would instantly march against Lyonesse. So long as peace reigns, we will uphold the peace. That is our national policy.”

King Kestrel of Pomperol said skeptically: “All very well! Still, you took South Ulfland and then North Ulfland by conquest!”

“Not so! I am rightful King of South Ulfland through the laws of descent. The kingship of North Ulfland was fixed upon me by King Gax, as he lay dying, that I might repel the Ska. This I did, and the Ulflands are now free of their ancient fears!”

King Audry said dubiously: “You hold lands in my western marches, and refuse to render them to me!”

“I conquered the fortress Poëlitetz from the Ska, which you could not do, and I hold it now because it forms the natural boundary between our countries. Poëlitetz indirectly serves to guard Dahaut itself.”

“Hmf,” said King Audry. “I will not argue the point here; it is more or less a trivial concern. Let us work around the table, taking the opinions of each participant in turn.”

Each notable at the table had his say, for the most part pronouncing cautious amicability. At last it came to the place of Dhrun. Madouc cried out: “Since I sit as the proxy of Prince Dhrun, I will in his name endorse the policies of King Aillas. Speaking for myself, Princess Madouc of Lyonesse, I decry the—”

King Casmir roared in sudden fury: “Madouc, be silent! From this moment henceforth you are no longer princess at Haidion, or anywhere else! You are the nameless whelp of some prurient halfling and a hedgerow vagabond, without pedigree or known parentage! As such, you have no personal voice at this table of notables; be silent!”

King Audry cleared his throat. “The point raised by King Casmir is well taken, even though his terms were immoderate. I rule that the maiden Madouc may no longer speak in her own voice at this colloquy, no matter how entertaining her observations.”

“Very well, Your Highness!” said Madouc. “I will say no more.”

King Casmir spoke in a heavy voice: “I see no point in prolonging this discussion, certainly not under conditions as they now exist.”

King Audry said unhappily: “Today we have heard some divergent points of view, and indeed not a few sparks of contention! But perhaps these sores can be soothed and our differences reconciled at a later session—perhaps at the end of the afternoon, or even tomorrow. At this time, we shall have ordered our dispositions and resolved on the concessions which we all will choose to make, for the general weal.”

“ ‘Concessions’?” demanded burly King Dartweg of Godelia. “I have no concessions to make: to the contrary! I want Audry to chastise his Wardens of the March! We have no goodly forests in Godelia, and when our huntsmen venture into Dahaut to track down a fine stag, they are set upon by the damnable Daut patrols! There must be a cessation to this boorish practice!”

“That is quite unreasonable,” said King Audry coldly. “I make a far more urgent complaint against you: to wit, your support of the Wysrod rebels, who give us no surcease!”

“They are good Celts,” declared King Dartweg. “They are deserving of land, and Wysrod is their choice. Every honest man should lend his hand to help them. It is shameful that you, King Audry, bring this case out into the open!”

King Audry spoke angrily: “My attempt to bring wise men together for a feast of logic and a banquet of reason has lured a number of lackwits and mooncalfs into our august presence, though protocol forbids me the naming of names! I have lost hope, faith and patience and I hereby declare the colloquy terminated.”