The Letter for the King

by Tonke Dragt

  “I’ve never heard that story before,” said Tiuri.

  “Then it’s about time you did. And, whether you believe it or not, it’s true.”

  “Would you tell us more about the Kingdom of Unauwen?” asked Piak.

  Ardoc thought for a moment and then shook his head. “No,” he said. “I’m not going to do that. You have to look with your own eyes and discover things for yourselves. Come on, the sun’s climbing higher and we’re leaving the shadow of the mountains. Let’s pick up the pace.”

  They all urged on their horses, except for Piak, who still didn’t feel entirely safe. But his horse followed the others anyway and started to canter, with its rider clutching on to its mane. Piak managed to stay in the saddle, though, and before long he was smiling and looking proudly around.

  “I think I’m starting to get the hang of this,” he said.

  From Piak’s lookout tower in the mountains, Dangria had seemed like a dainty fairy-tale city. As they approached, however, it looked very different indeed. Its crenellated walls looked strong and impressive, with bastions built from huge blocks of stone. Towers jutted up above the walls, some thick and squat, others slim and pointed, with copper weathervanes on the roofs.

  “There’s the City of the East,” said Ardoc.

  “Is that really Dangria?” Piak asked. “I thought it would be… different.”

  “You seem disappointed,” said Tiuri.

  “I am. All those thick, high walls! Living there would be like being in prison. So do you think it’s beautiful?”

  “Hmm, beautiful,” said Tiuri. “I wouldn’t say that. But it does look like a real city.”

  “Is the City of Dagonaut the same, with walls all around?”

  “Yes, I told you about them. It’s different, and bigger, but it does look similar.”

  “You know the City of Dagonaut, do you?” Ardoc said to Tiuri.

  “Yes, I’ve been there,” he replied.

  “Does the City of Unauwen look like this too?” Piak asked Ardoc.

  “King Unauwen’s city is like no other city,” replied Ardoc.

  “How many cities are there in this land?”

  “Well, as you know, there’s Dangria, the City of the East, and then there’s the City of Unauwen, and two other cities besides: the City of the West, or the Harbour by the Sea; and the City of the South, between the great rivers, which is the seat of the crown prince.”

  They were approaching a large gate in the eastern city wall. Two pigeons flew over their heads, high above the wall, and landed on one of the towers.

  “They’ve no need to worry about feeling imprisoned,” said Piak.

  “There are lots of pigeons in Dangria,” said Ardoc. “Sometimes they bring news from far-off regions. That’s how the mayor keeps informed about events throughout the land.” He frowned and looked like he was about to add something, but then thought better of it.

  “Do you come to Dangria very often?” asked Tiuri.

  “Yes, often enough,” replied the farmer. “But it depends how much produce I have to sell.”

  The city gate stood open, but there was a barrier and a number of armed guards. When they saw Ardoc and his companions, they raised the barrier and the captain of the guards came over to greet them.

  “Good afternoon, Ardoc,” he said. “And who are your companions?”

  “Well, you know my man Dieric already,” Ardoc replied, “and these two young fellows have come down from the mountains.”

  “Greetings,” said the captain to Tiuri and Piak. “And what would your names be?”

  “Piak Piakson and Martin Martinson,” said Piak.

  “From the mountains, eh?” he said. “What brought you here?”

  “They want to see our land,” said Ardoc.

  “Excellent!” said the captain. “We don’t have many visitors from foreign parts. You must go and see the mayor. I’m sure he’ll give you a warm welcome and show you around.”

  “I think the mayor must have better things to do than show travellers around,” said Ardoc.

  “Oh, the mayor has time for everyone,” said the captain. “How long are you young men staying here?”

  “We don’t know yet,” replied Tiuri.

  “Well, take your time,” advised the captain. “Our city has a lot to offer.”

  He turned to Ardoc. “Where are you staying tonight?” he asked.

  “The White Swan,” Ardoc replied. “As usual.”

  “And how about these young men?”

  “You’d have to ask them that, my good man.”

  “We haven’t decided,” said Tiuri. “We don’t know our way around yet.”

  “Then go with Master Ardoc here; he knows where to find good food and drink. But I won’t hold you up any longer. Welcome to our city.”

  They headed through the gate and into the city. Piak couldn’t stop staring at all of the new sights: the rows of houses, the streets and the alleyways, the walls and the towers. He even forgot to hold anxiously on to his horse.

  “Well,” he said, “a city really is something special, after all.”

  When they reached the marketplace, they paused for a moment.

  “Good gracious!” Piak exclaimed. “It’s so big. And colourful!”

  The marketplace was full of coloured tents and stalls, and people wearing every hue of the rainbow, all busily buying and selling. The sun streamed down on the bright and noisy spectacle. Flocks of doves flew through the air, swooping down and then taking off again.

  “It really is very beautiful,” said Piak.

  But he couldn’t look for long, because there was work to do. Ardoc’s cart had to be unloaded and the horses unharnessed. Ardoc and Dieric left the horses in a nearby stable and turned the cart into a kind of stall, where they displayed the goods enticingly. Tiuri and Piak helped them and, when they were finished, Ardoc said, “Good. That’s done. Now you’re where you wanted to be and you’re free to do as you please.”

  Tiuri and Piak thanked Ardoc warmly for allowing them to travel with him.

  “No need to thank me,” said Ardoc. “It was no trouble. I have business to attend to now, so let’s say goodbye. You can find me this evening at the White Swan. I can reserve a bed for you there if you like.”

  “Thank you,” said Tiuri. “But we’re not sure of our plans yet.”

  Ardoc laughed. “Oh, it’s not too expensive if that’s what’s worrying you,” he said.

  “Thanks, but don’t book a bed for us,” said Tiuri. “We may come, but we’ll have to see.”

  They thanked Ardoc for his help and walked over to the fountain in the middle of the marketplace, where they sat down to eat.

  “What’s the plan?” asked Piak.

  “We can rest here for a short while,” said Tiuri, “but then we should travel on.”

  “So we’re not staying here tonight?”

  “No, there’s still plenty of daylight left,” said Tiuri. “The faster we travel, the better.”

  “That’s true,” said Piak. But then he added, “Can’t we just go for a walk around first? Then at least we’ll get to see something of the city.”

  “That’s fine by me,” said Tiuri, standing up.

  “I’m not in the mood for sitting anyway,” Piak said. “I can really tell that I’ve been sitting all morning… and then some! On a horse! Ardoc’s a nice fellow, don’t you think?”

  “Yes,” said Tiuri. “And he seems smart, too.”

  “You’re right,” Piak agreed. “He saw straight off that you’re a good rider. Do you think I’ll ever learn how to ride properly?”

  “Of course,” Tiuri replied. “If you do it often enough.”

  They wandered about the square, looking at the goods on sale.

  “You want to watch out,” said a voice behind them.

  Tiuri and Piak looked around to see a dishevelled old man. “You’re strangers here, I see,” he continued. “Take care! There are pickpockets about. Keep your hand on
your purse strings. Dangria’s not the city it used to be.” He spat disdainfully on the ground and disappeared into the crowd.

  “Well, that was odd!” exclaimed Piak.

  Along one side of the marketplace was a very grand building made of yellow stone. The side facing the square consisted of a crenellated wall and a tall tower rising up behind. The wall was smooth and plain, with just a few small windows, and a wide staircase of white marble led up to a large gate with a metal-studded door in it.

  Piak gazed open-mouthed at the impressive building. “Is that a castle?” he said.

  “That is the town hall, and the mayor’s residence,” said a voice behind them.

  It was the same old man who had warned them about pickpockets a few moments before. “The mayor,” he went on, “had the staircase built last year. It’s very beautiful – and it was very expensive too. But I wouldn’t like to set foot on those steps. No, not me!” He looked disapprovingly at the building, sniffed and spat on the ground again. “Oh no, not me!” he repeated. Then he turned around and walked away.

  “You know, that old man really is very strange,” said Piak.

  Tiuri didn’t reply but watched the old man walk away until he disappeared behind a stall. Then he laughed and said, “He certainly wasn’t keen on those stairs, was he?” But Tiuri was now sure that he didn’t want to stay in Dangria for much longer. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get going, shall we? There must be a gate to the west as well.”

  They headed across the marketplace and passed by Ardoc’s stall. The farmer himself wasn’t there, but Dieric seemed to be doing good business. When he saw them, he gave them a friendly wave, and they stopped to chat with him. Just as they were about to leave, a man in a helmet came over. They recognized him as one of the guards from the gate.

  “Ah, there you are,” he said. “I’ve been looking for the two of you. I thought I might find you here. The mayor would like a quick word with you.”

  “The mayor?” exclaimed Tiuri.

  “Yes, he was interested to hear that we had some foreign visitors, particularly young people like yourselves. And he’d like to invite you to be his guests for a short while.”

  “My, my,” said Dieric. “What an honour!”

  “Our mayor is most hospitable, as is his city,” said the guard. “And everyone knows how fond he is of young people. Would you come with me?” he asked Tiuri and Piak.

  “We will,” said Tiuri. “But I must tell you we have little time.”

  “As does the mayor,” said the guard, somewhat indignantly. “Less than you, I should think.”

  “My apologies,” said Tiuri. “We appreciate his kindness.” He really would have preferred not to go, as it would only mean another delay. But of course one cannot simply ignore a mayor’s request.

  So Tiuri and Piak followed the guard to the fine building they had so recently been admiring. He led them up the marble staircase and through the large gate.

  2 THE MAYOR

  The guard took Tiuri and Piak into a large hall, with a red-and-white tiled floor and painted pillars. At the other end of the room, a beautifully carved wooden staircase led up to another floor.

  Piak gasped in admiration as he looked around the hall.

  Shields and crossed swords hung from each of the pillars and there was a mosaic of coloured stones adorning the ceiling.

  Piak whispered to Tiuri, “This mayor must be really rich.”

  “If the young gentlemen would be so kind as to wait here,” said the guard. He walked across the tiled floor and headed up the magnificent staircase, passing a group of a dozen guards in armour, who came clanking down the steps. They raised their spears in greeting to Tiuri and Piak, and headed outside. Two more guards came in through a side door and one of them spoke to Tiuri, “Good afternoon. The mayor will be with you shortly.” The guards then headed upstairs, but stopped halfway, on the landing.

  “Just look at this place,” Piak whispered. “Is King Dagonaut’s castle this grand? Does he have a court full of knights and warriors?” He walked around, admiring the hall, stopping here and there to study the shields on the pillars.

  Tiuri wanted to follow Piak, but he stayed where he was, because he could see two more men coming downstairs and he suspected that the first of the two was the mayor. He was an imposing middle-aged man, dressed in long red robes with a fur trim and with a gold chain around his neck. Behind him came a pale young man, dressed in black.

  Tiuri whispered urgently, “Piak!” But Piak had disappeared behind the pillars on the far side of the hall and seemed not to have heard him.

  The man in the robes and chain came over to Tiuri with a broad smile. “Welcome to my fair city of Dangria!” he boomed.

  Tiuri bowed. “My thanks, my lord mayor.”

  The mayor shook Tiuri by the hand. “Yes, welcome, welcome, young man,” he said. “You must stay here! As my guest!”

  The mayor looked around the hall. “I was told I had two guests to greet,” he said.

  “Yes, my friend Piak’s here, too,” Tiuri replied. “He’s just admiring the hall. Shall I fetch him?”

  “Oh, let him look around,” smiled the mayor. “After all, that is one of the reasons I invited you both here. There are so many things I would like to show you.” He turned to the young man standing beside him. “My scribe,” he said, “will ensure that a good room is provided for the two of you, here at the town hall.”

  “That is most kind of you, my lord mayor,” said Tiuri. “And I appreciate this warm welcome. However, my friend and I are just simple travellers. We would dearly love to see more of your fine city, but sadly we are unable to remain here for long.”

  “Oh, I am sure you can spare us a couple of days.”

  “My regrets,” replied Tiuri. “Unfortunately, we cannot.”

  At that point, Piak returned. He looked rather agitated, but Tiuri only realized that later.

  “Aha, and here is your friend,” said the mayor. “Welcome, welcome. I hear you’ve been admiring our town hall.”

  Piak gave the mayor a clumsy bow. “Yes, my lord mayor. It’s very beautiful.”

  “You really should visit the rooms upstairs while you are here. I am sure you must have enough time for that. Come with me.”

  “But we have to meet Ardoc,” said Piak, taking a step backwards. “I… I’ve left some of my things with him.”

  “I shall have them fetched,” said the mayor. He raised his hand. It was a signal for the two guards to come downstairs from the landing.

  “We would be very happy to accept your kind offer,” said Tiuri. “But, as I have said, I am afraid we cannot stay for long.”

  “Why the hurry?” asked the mayor, who was now standing very close to Tiuri. “I really would be very interested to hear some news from the east.”

  Tiuri was starting to feel uneasy. “We are just boys from the mountains, my lord mayor,” he said. “We have no interesting stories to tell.”

  The mayor tapped Tiuri on the chest with a long finger. “Oh, but I am sure you must have some news from the east for me,” he said, almost whispering. “I really must insist that you spend a few days here with me.”

  “I am very sorry, but that is out of the question,” said Tiuri.

  “No, that just will not do. You must stay. There is a friend of mine… He is not here right now, but he is most keen to speak to you.”

  Tiuri’s vague feeling of alarm was rapidly becoming a strong suspicion. “A friend, you say? I am afraid I don’t understand. Who exactly is this friend?”

  The mayor smiled. “You will find out soon enough,” he said. “Now come along, young man.”

  The guards came to stand beside Tiuri. They, too, had smiles on their faces, but their hands were resting on the hilts of their swords. Tiuri was startled to see more armed men appearing between the pillars. He had no time to decide what to do, because then a yell from Piak rang through the hall. He had slipped away and was standing by the door, clutching his
hands up to his chest as if he were holding something important.

  “Hey, Tiuri!” Piak shouted. “Don’t worry! I’ve got it here! I’ll deliver it! I’ll deliver it!” And then he turned, pulled the door open and flew outside.

  After that, everything happened very quickly. The mayor’s welcoming smile became a snarl. “Stop that boy!” he roared. “Grab him! Stop him now!”

  The guards ran for the door and disappeared after Piak. The mayor followed them. He hesitated at the door and glared back at Tiuri, but then dashed outside. The door slammed behind him.

  Tiuri raced to the exit, but, as he opened the door, two spears came thrusting at him and angry voices ordered him to stay where he was. Then the door banged in his face. He could hear a commotion on the other side, but he had no idea what was happening.

  “Oh, Piak!” he sighed, his voice trembling.

  Piak had scented danger, so he had pretended he was carrying the letter. The trick had worked, but what was going to happen to him? Should Tiuri tell someone that he, not Piak, was the one who had the letter that the mayor seemed so interested in? No, he couldn’t do that. He could never reveal where the letter was. The fate of a kingdom might depend on it. He knew that he had to make use of the chance Piak had given him.

  Tiuri ran to the side door, but he could hear voices through that one too. He couldn’t go outside; the mayor was sure to have the building surrounded. So he ran through the hall and raced up the staircase, two steps at a time, nearly knocking over the mayor’s scribe as he went. He ended up in a large room with doors on both sides, and chose one at random. He found himself running through more rooms and corridors. Behind him, he heard footsteps, and a voice shouted, “Stop that boy! Do not allow him to leave the building!”