rewarded by the King for your actions. Here are two gold coins for your kindness.”
“Most kind of you, my lord,” he replied with a half-bow.
They trotted their horses and did not dare talk until a good mile or two away. The, they dissolved into helpless laughter.
“Did you see his face when I recited that title,” howled Edward. “I thought he would choke, Groundfirm, when you put the pressure on him!”
Groundfirm smiled, “I dinna think I’d have to be an actor too.”
“You both were magnificent,” exclaimed Heather.
The gnome and Edward complimented her on her ladylike behavior. It was true too. As they approached the city, Heather became more and more ladylike and less and less tomboyish. She was growing up.
They found a nice stand of trees and camped. Once again, it was cold dinner, but they were too exhausted from the day’s adventures to complain. Out came the gnome cloaks and soon they were all asleep. They awoke to bright sunlight and they had their first good look at the valley on the other side of the mountain. It was not pleasant. The landscape was barren and dotted with an occasional cottage or two. It looked dry, down, and infertile.
“What a pity ta see it like this. It used ta be like a garden when I were a wee gnome,” commented Groundfirm mournfully.
They traveled on. The road became more traveled and they saw increasing numbers of people. They often got a curious glance or two. The people looked desperately poor and the closer they got to the city the meaner the surroundings became.
“This looks almost like pictures of Europe after the ‘Great War,’” commented Edward. “Except there are no signs of bombs and the like.”
That night, they were forced to spend a miserable evening near a broken down cottage. The farmer charged them dearly for inferior fodder for the horses. They, themselves had to settle again for a cold dinner from the farmer’s wife. The bread was dry and stale, and the meat stringy. Finally, after much tossing and turning they drifted off to sleep. The new day dawned clear and bright.
“At last we come to the city of Sanctua,” exclaimed Edward.
“Dinna be so glad,” retorted Groundfirm. “It be a stinking place in the summer, since Lipophrenia and his crowd took over.”
“Ooh, but we shall have hot baths and hot food,” sighed Heather.
“Aye, and a lot more we don’t want, I’ll be wagerin’,” replied Groundfirm thoughtfully.
The gnome said the city was only about four hours away by horse and that they must hurry to catch the market crowds so as to slip in unobtrusively. After they entered the city, they would wind their way to the palace to be announced and meet the King. Once there, in the palace, they had to find the Prince and release him. They trotted off and the crowds grew denser as they went. The travelers ignored them for the most part. Occasionally someone would jostle them or try to pass them. The sun grew hot but finally they saw the city and its main gates. It must have been a lovely city once, situated along the river, as it was. But now, the city only looked drab, hot, and baking in the forenoon glare. It was maddeningly slow to enter the large city gates. Numerous guards checked each load and examined each entrant. They were next in the long line.
“Who are you and what is your business?” asked the bored looking guard.
“We are the Lady Heather, Lord Edward, and Squire Groundfirm of His Royal Highness across the water, the Most High King of the Western Lands, and Guardian of the U-Knighted-States,” answered Edward.
The guard’s face lost some of its bored look and his tone became more respectful, “Are you here, my lord, to visit His Majesty King Lipophrenia?”
“Aye, good sir, and we most humbly beg your indulgence to admit us straight way that we may honor him with our gifts from our master in yon saddlebags,” replied Edward.
“You may enter, my lords and lady. Merely continue up this fairway until you come to the outer courtyard of the palace. There, send word to the Grand Vizier and he will decide whether you may gain audience with the King.”
“Thank you for your kindness, good sir. Here is a gold sovereign for your trouble. Use it to entertain your men or please your wife,” offered Edward.
“Thank you my lord!” exclaimed the guard as he pocketed the coin. “May Pantheos be with you!” (Pantheos was the pagan god worshipped now in the country, since the old ways had been forgotten and suppressed by Lipophrenia)
The three walked their horses up the rough cobblestone of the street and drank in the surroundings. There were stone buildings that looked grey now but had once been white. They were mostly three or four stories high and had ornate stonework and intricate patterns. There were wrought iron gates in many of them covered now with rust and the buildings often had cracks in the stone. Everywhere there was filth and garbage with a sort of splendid shabbiness. The noise was deafening with the crowds, beggars, merchants, and urchins all babbling in loud and often strange tongues.
Groundfirm was misty eyed and spoke, “It is all so sad, me friends. This street was once the pride of the city. The town had clean streets and orderly, polite people. Now ye canna walk the streets at night for fear of murderin’”.
They walked the horses in silence and became more oppressed as they went. Finally, after about a mile of much jostling, cursing, and delaying they found themselves at an outer courtyard. It had a stone wall of some eight feet and a low entrance, guarded by three somewhat unkempt soldiers.
Edward addressed them, “Fair knights, we are ambassadors of His Royal Highness across the Water, the Most High King of the Western Lands and the Guardian of the U-Knighted-States. We seek an audience with His Majesty King Lipophrenia and Queen Leipeinphren.”
The guards eyed the children and gnome with an appraising eye.
“Ye’ll need to speak to the Grand Vizier first about it,” said the sergeant of the guard. “I’ll send a message to him. What is your business?”
Groundfirm broke in, “It be to seek an audience to see for your own eyes your good wise King we have heard so much about. Also, we bring him tokens of our sovereign’s great respect in our saddlebags.”
The guard grinned hugely and winked, “Oh, aye, we’ll tell the Grand Vizier of your, er, ‘gifts’”.
“Greedy swine,” breathed Groundfirm.
So, they waited, holding their horses for about a half hour in the sun. It was a very hot day and Heather soon became hot and a little cross.
“I do wish he would hurry and let us in,” grumbled Heather.
Finally, the guard returned and said the Grand Vizier would see them. They entered the gate and were immediately in a cool courtyard with delicate flowers, fountains, and a cool, tree shaded path.
“You can put your horses in the stable over there and the grooms boy will see to them.”
They led their steeds over and gave the boy a half-sovereign of gold for their horses’ care. Then they hurried with the guard to see the Grand Vizier. They went along a colonnade porch, through huge wooden doors, down a long passageway, and finally into a cool entryway. They passed through a second set of massive wooden doors and into a carpeted and paneled hall. On the hall’s walls were old armour, old paintings of past kings, battles, and one empty space.
“I wonder what was in the empty space?” thought Edward.
They stopped at the second door to the left and the guard knocked. In they stepped and what they saw momentarily stunned them. There, in a room full of equisite treasures, sat a small, wizened, old man on a small ornately carved, dark wooden chair. He was flanked by huge gold candelabra and a massive crystal chandelier with hundreds of candles shining over him. The ceiling was almost twenty feet high and a fire burned in a grate to his right. Everywhere were beautiful items of gold and silver. Rich tapestries hung on the walls and pictures adorned the fireplace mantle. The most overwhelming part of the room was its icy coldness. It felt like a cold meat locker does in the hot summer. The old man spoke to the guar
d in a high, thin voice, dismissing him.
“You may advance and be recognized,” the Grand Vizier said. “Who you are I know, but what is your business with His Majesty?”
Edward found his tongue and stammered, “W-w-we come bearing gifts for His Majesty the King from our master and King. They come as tokens of his friendship and esteem.”
“And what may these ‘tokens’ be?” inquired the old man.
“Here they are in our saddlebags,” replied Edward.
He opened one of the eight saddlebags. The glint of the gold and jewels shone into the Grand Vizier’s eyes, eyes of grey-green with the coldness of death in them. Edward caught this coldness and shuddered.
The Grand Vizier’s eyes narrowed slightly and greedily, “A modest gift at best, but perhaps adequate,” lied the Grand Vizier licking his lips. “What else does your sovereign desire?”
“We have heard of your King’s great wisdom and power. We seek to talk to him of trade relations and discover how he has learned to govern his subjects so well,” answered Edward.
“Well, then perhaps we can gain you an audience on the morrow. If you will accept our poor hospitality this night, my servants will show you to your quarters. They are humble at best, but it is the time of the Great Summer Festivals. My chamberlain will meet your every need.”
TREACHERY FROM WITHOUT
VII
The children and gnome soon found themselves escorted down numerous halls