Quest for the King (33 page)

Wesley drew in a breath. "Wow! That was something!"

"I thank the Emperor that you remembered the words of power," Captain Integredad said. "I never thought of them."

"Nor did I!" Alleophaz said.

"I-I tried to memorize them," Wesley said. "They just came out
when they were needed, I guess."

Captain Integredad spoke solemnly. "It is not men like that I fear
most, but the dark powers we face. Make no mistake, gentlemen. The
danger from those men was small. The danger ahead of us is great.
And," he hesitated, "I still think it has something to do with the
weather."

But the excitement of what had happened drove danger from their
minds. Kurt said, "I thought we'd had it when Mr. Gerachti was trying
not to laugh."

"I nearly gave the game away," Gerachti chuckled. "You see, I was
furious when he started to address us as though we were peasants.
Why it should have aroused my wrath I hardly know. My pride, I
suppose. I was taught to believe pride was good, that it was necessary
if we were in positions of authority to intimidate others. Pride helped,
therefore it was good. I am less sure about that now."

For a moment nobody spoke. Then, as Wesley picked up his trout,
Alleophaz said, "I think we owe Captain Integredad a vote of thanks
too. Let us not forget that it was he who remembered that we all came
from Piggul!"

Wesley laughed, turning to them all. "Did you all see their leader's
face when he said that?"

Kurt resumed his work on the fire.

"What shall it be for supper?" Captain Integredad asked. "Trout or
venison?"

Wesley, ever the worry-wart, suddenly looked uncertain. Rules were
important to him. "Don't we have to keep everything? I mean, we're
trying to pretend we're peasants hunting for our families."

"Even peasants have to eat!" Captain Integredad said, laughing. "There will be plenty left over!"

There is nothing like fresh trout cooked in the hot ashes of a wood
fire, especially when you're hungry. Soon they were eating heartily,
burning their fingers even as they relished the incomparable flavor.
Trout and soft dry bread make a wonderful combination.

Then they rested a little and resumed their way through the forest.

Lord Nasa made his way along the corridor of the only inn in
Karsch. The day had been hot and rainless, and the night was oppressive. He was thirsty and sought a drink from the pump in the courtyard, which lay behind the main room in the inn.

Their party had arrived just before midnight. After a hasty meal,
Lady Roelane, Lisa, Mary and Belak had all fallen asleep. They still
wore their peasant clothes, curled up on crude bunk beds lining the
walls of their room. But Lord Nasa had been restless, tormented by
nightmares he could not remember on waking. Now within the corridor, he saw that the door to the principal room of the inn was open.
It was a large room serving as bar, lounge and dining room all rolled
into one. A candle from inside the room sent a thin shaft of light into
the corridor.

As he approached the door, he heard a pounding on the front door
that led to the street. At that hour the front door was barred by a beam,
resting in strong iron slots. From within the candlelit room a man
muttered curses to himself. Lord Nasa stopped and listened. "Who or
what could it be at this hour?" he wondered. "It must be two hours
past midnight."

Then came the sound of a man's voice. Lord Nasa recognized it as
the landlord's. "This is not an hour to open doors. Honest people are
abed long since. And if you are travelers, we are already full. Who are
you? What is it you want?"

From the darkness beyond the door came the sound of a man's
voice. "Have no fear. I am alone and unarmed. I would have words
with you, landlord-and will pay you well for your attention."

There was a long pause as the landlord weighed his choices. Finally he called, "Be good enough to wait a moment, please." There
was a further sound of footsteps, as though he were moving about the
room.

Lord Nasa thought, "There are windows from which he can scan
the front of both wings of the inn." He tried to picture the scene
outside. "There is also a full moon, so he will know if it is safe to open
the door. If the man is really alone, as he claims, he may well admit
him."

He was right. The bolts scraped back and the door creaked open. "Come in!" The landlord's voice sounded muffled as though he had
poked his head through the door.

"Aha!" he continued. "I recognize you. You came to Karsch-let me
see-two-no, three days ago."

"Four days ago."

"Hm! What can I do for you?"

"I see you have some new guests. Where did they come from?"

There was a long pause. Then, speaking slowly, the landlord replied, "You ask many questions. If you are a trader in silks, why are
you so interested in our wretched guests?"

Lord Nasa moved a little closer to the door at the end of the
corridor. "Aha!" he thought. "This must be one of the king's spies."

The stranger's voice was low, but the words were clear enough. "I
will pay well. Perhaps it would be better if I were to lodge here."

The landlord ignored the hint. "And if the information fails to be
what you sought?"

"I pay for the time you listen. There will be a bonus if the information is about the people I seek."

"I doubt they will be. They are ordinary enough."

"Nevertheless, I will pay you for your eyes and your ears."

Again there was a moment's silence before any response. "Tell me,
sir, where are you from?" The landlord sounded suspicious.

"We hail from Bamah."

"Your accent is from Playsion. You could be of the king's party."

"I did not think we would fool you. Nor am I trying. But my wife
and family are in Bamah now."

In the silence that followed Lord Nasa thought rapidly. "Hopefully
our peasant dress will have served us well. We were alone as we ate,
and we were careful about what we said. Nevertheless, it may not be
safe to wait till morning to leave."

The landlord's voice continued. "Whom do you seek?"

"We are interested in every stranger passing through. But some of
the people we look for are from distant lands and of noble birth. Rumor has it that children from other worlds are in their care. We
would rather arrest and question innocent people than let dangerous
people escape."

The landlord snorted. "There are no likely candidates here!"

"I have watched the comings and goings with great care. But a
group arrived tonight, unless I am mistaken."

"So! You have been observing my latest guests also! Yes, indeed. They have taken the last chamber. Peasants from Piggul! No, there
is no danger there!" He laughed. "I made sure they paid me in advance! And their money was good. Piggul!" He laughed again. "Tell
me, are you in the king's employ?"

Pauses seemed to be a part of the conversation. Lord Nasa could
imagine the two men staring at each other, weighing each other carefully. At last the visitor spoke again.

"Let us say that my master, whoever he may be, pays well for information to anyone who can be discreet-who can, in a word, guard
the door of his lips. As for your Piggul visitors, watch them carefully.
No one travels these days whom I will easily trust. Watch them as they
eat their breakfast, and listen to every word they utter. I shall come
here the moment the sun is risen."

"Why is your master so anxious to know the movement of
strangers?"

"Let us just say that he has his reasons."

"Very well. But let me ask you, By what name do you choose to go
here in Karsch?"

"You may call me Perfido."

Lord Nasa forgot his thirst. He turned quietly and made his way
back to the others. He had learned enough, and knew that he would
have much to do to if they were to creep away unobserved.

To facilitate their getaway, Lord Nasa quietly oiled the bolts and
hinges of the front door. Silently, hardly daring to breathe, they crept
outside. The moon had set, so it was dark as pitch when they emerged
into the street.

The air felt and tasted fresh, and even a little damp. "Yet it is more
than damp the land needs," Lord Nasa thought. "We will be in trouble
unless the rains come soon." Yet he kept such worries to himself.

To the others he breathed softly, "Good. So far we have done well.
It will look suspicious, I know. But the risk of being questioned more
closely, even by the landlord, is great. It would be difficult not to give
ourselves away."

They hastily packed the animals in the courtyard and eased out
onto the road.

"Where now?" Lady Roelane breathed.

"Oh, oh! Just look!" Mary's hoarse whisper was full of excitement.

"Where?" Lisa asked.

"Aha! I see the column," Belak murmured quietly, "along the road,
uphill. It looks so lovely! Now that we have not had it for several days
it is exciting to be able to see it-especially now that I can see it."

"Oh, glory!" breathed Lord Nasa. "It is back!"

It was like, and yet different from, greeting an old friend. The blue
glow kindled a warm glow somewhere deep inside them all. Filled
with unexpected joy, they turned and made their way after it without
speaking.

By the time their eyes became adjusted to the darkness, Karsch was
far behind them and they felt it was safe to talk.

Lisa rode beside Mary. "So you can see it!"

In the darkness, Mary smiled. "I sure can."

"I think that means Gaal's forgiven you, Mary!"

"You really think so?"

"Sure! It's obvious! I'm sure he forgave you long ago."

Mary drew in a long breath. "I hope so. Oh, I do hope so!"

"Oh-and Mary?"

"Uh-huh?"

"I'm sorry I've-well, I've not been very kind. I mean over the past
few months in Winnipeg."

Mary felt her cheeks burning and was grateful for the darkness. "It's
O.K., Lisa."

"Well, I didn't realize all that was involved in your joining the
witches' club at school. I've known for some time now that it was more
than being peeved at Uncle John's wedding."

Mary drew in a breath. "Yeah, but-I know what you mean, an' I'm
grateful. Y'know, even though my mother was a witch," she said, slowly and cautiously, "an' even though I could feel a pull to that sort of
thing, it was my own fault. I chose it. I did what I wanted. But thanks."

For a few minutes Lisa did not speak. Then, choosing her words
with obvious care, much in the same way that Mary had a few minutes
before, she said, "Mary?"

"Uh-huh?"

Lisa lowered her voice. "You know what Captain Integredad said
about the great Lord of the Shadows?"

"What?"

"Well, that these invisible powers are actually in control-in control
of the king's mind, for example."

"Uh-hm. "

"Well I gather you feel as though you can't quite get out of being
on the Shadow's side."

Mary nodded. "I do, but..."

Taking her courage in both hands,11sa said with a whispered rush,
"I believe myself that Gaal has already accepted you. I'm sure he
never was mad at you, but I know you are not sure. In any case,
perhaps it's like you have to resign from one team when you join
another, at least it's like that with some teams. Or it's like becoming
a citizen of another country. It's different in Canada, but in the U.S. you're not supposed to have more than one passport unless you were
born in another country."

Mary nodded but said nothing. She was listening intently.

"Well," continued Lisa, "couldn't you renounce your connection
with the powers of the Shadows?"

"But how?" Mary whispered.

`By saying it out loud. By saying, `I hereby declare I no longer
belong to Lord Lunacy, the Lord of Shadows or any of the lords the
priests worship.' "

Mary frowned and said, "I'm not sure. But I wonder if we could drift
a little behind the others. I'm sure no one is listening to us, but I'd
feel safer if we were a little ways ahead or behind. Then we won't
need to whisper."