The Letter for the King

by Tonke Dragt

  “But I didn’t come here to tell you that,” said the jester. “I have three things to say. The first is that the king would like to see you later.”

  Tiuri was pleasantly surprised. He and Piak had seen King Unauwen only briefly that morning in the cathedral. So he had not forgotten them.

  “And I am to greet you on behalf of Warmin, a guard from the toll fortress at the Rainbow River,” Tirillo continued.

  “Warmin?” said the two friends.

  “Yes, he arrived here last night, with some long and complicated tale about a messenger who told lies to Sir Ivan in the Hills of the Moon. I’m sure you’ll hear all about it. He would have liked to speak to you himself, but the king sent him back with a message for the toll master this morning before dawn.”

  “That’s right,” said Piak. “Why did that messenger tell us Slither had been captured when we found him waiting here for us?”

  “Slither!” said Tirillo. “That’s the third thing I had to tell you. You’re to report to the sheriff and tell him exactly what you know about Slither. You’ll have to make a statement and… You don’t look too keen,” he continued, after one look at Tiuri’s face, “but it has to be done. And right away.”

  “We shall do as you ask,” said Tiuri.

  “Excellent,” said the jester. “You know, I think I’ll take you there. The sheriff’s court and the prison are on the other side of the river, on the main square. It’ll give you a chance to see more of the city.”

  The streets were rather busy and people kept stopping them to talk. Everyone seemed to want a word with Tirillo, and he certainly stood out in his rainbow-coloured costume and his white cap with bells on.

  “The king’s jester!” people cried. “Do you have news for us, Tirillo? But it surely cannot be good!”

  “And why not?” said the jester. “Look around and tell me: isn’t the city beautiful today? In fact, you’ll notice it’s more beautiful than usual. That’s because you feel it may be in danger. It’s only when something’s threatened that you realize just how much you love it.”

  “Is it true, Tirillo, that there’s a war coming?” someone asked.

  “You’ll hear what you need to hear when the time comes,” the jester replied. “It’s true that we have an enemy, but I don’t want to name that enemy as yet.”

  “Eviellan,” came the whispers.

  “Have faith in our king,” said the jester.

  “Go on, Tirillo, sing something for us,” cried one of the crowd. “Our hearts are heavy. Give us some cheer!”

  “I cannot take away that sadness,” said the jester. “Sometimes you need to be sad so that you can appreciate joy all the more. Just as rain must fall between sunny spells. Farewell.”

  He led Tiuri and Piak to a large building on a beautiful square. “Go inside,” he said. “I shall wait for you.”

  Tiuri and Piak did as they were told and were immediately admitted to the sheriff, who proved to be one of Unauwen’s knights. He was expecting them and he already knew all that they’d told the king. He asked what else they knew about Slither. Tiuri and Piak answered his questions and when that was done, the sheriff said, “I thank you. This Slither refuses to say a word. But perhaps he will speak when he sees you. I shall send for him.”

  Slither was brought in. He was not chained or tied up, but he was accompanied by two armed guards. He no longer looked anything like the old beggar; his grey locks were gone and he had short, light-brown hair. But his eyes still gave him away. When he saw the two friends, his face twisted into a snarl.

  “Pah!” he spat. “Isn’t it enough for you that I’m a prisoner? Do you have to come and gloat at the sight of a vanquished enemy?” He looked at Tiuri. “Oh, I bet you feel like quite the man,” he said. “Oh, oh, such a valiant knight, successfully completing such a perilous quest! And what exactly was your task? Taking a letter to King Unauwen! Travelling many miles, risking your life… and for what? What is in that letter that is so important? Something King Unauwen didn’t already know? Well, good for you! Messengers come to him every day, a whole procession marching in and out, and they all think they’re bringing a special message. It’s hilarious. Ha, ha!” And he laughed his mean and spiteful laugh.

  Tiuri was taken aback and didn’t know how to respond. Worst of all, there seemed to be some truth in Slither’s words. Because Tiuri still had no clue what was in the letter…

  “You’re just a bad loser!” shouted Piak. “Of course that letter was important. Why else did you chase after us all that time and try so hard to stop us?”

  Slither stopped laughing and gaped at him. Tiuri could have thrown his arms around Piak. He was right! And besides… he remembered what Tirillo had said: the letter itself had not been the most important thing for Tiuri, but keeping his promise to Sir Edwinem.

  Then Slither found his vicious tongue again. “Oh yes,” he said. “Oh yes, you’re not wrong! I too had a job to do, a task for my master, the Black Knight with the Red Shield.”

  At that point, the sheriff interrupted him. “And who,” he asked, “is the Black Knight with the Red Shield?”

  Slither sneered. “Who is he?” he said. “I don’t know. And if I did know, I wouldn’t tell you. But you’ll get to meet him soon enough when he comes with his knights with their red and black shields to conquer this land.”

  “Your words are foolish and spoken in anger,” declared the sheriff.

  “Not foolish,” replied Slither. “But they are indeed angry. I am angry!”

  He turned to Tiuri and Piak. “I did not accomplish my mission,” he said. “But I should have succeeded, because I am stronger and better than you! Yes, it’s true. Who are the two of you? A squire who neglects his duty and runs away when he should be keeping his vigil on the eve of his knighting ceremony. A shepherd boy who has done nothing in his life but climb up and down mountains. I don’t know how you managed to shake off Jaro; it was obviously him who betrayed my name to you. The devil take him! I suspected he wouldn’t manage to stop you, Tiuri. He is weak, even though he thinks himself better than me. That’s why I took the First Great Road over the mountains and sent carrier pigeons to my friend and ally, the mayor of Dangria. He was to hold you prisoner until I arrived. But when I got there, you and that friend of yours had fled and Dangria was in turmoil. That’s what happens when you rely on other people! But I did the rest by myself. I saw you captured by the toll master’s men when I was on the bridge over the Rainbow River. And yes, I went after the wrong man, but he is no great loss!”

  Tiuri and Piak glowered at him.

  “I should have had you!” Slither continued, rattling away faster and faster. “I was more intelligent than all of you! I was the shepherd who said he’d ridden away on the murderer’s horse; I was the messenger who told Sir Ivan the murderer had been caught! And I did what I set out to do: your escort, those stupid servants of the toll master, abandoned you and headed home. That was what I wanted: you were to be alone and unprotected. I followed you, but everything conspired against me, blast it! There were people in the fields and I preferred not to kill you in broad daylight. And at night you slept at a farmer’s house, and he bolted his doors and his dog barked at me. Not that I let that deter me. I rode on and I was ahead of you, and I was waiting for you in the guise of an old beggar. It should have worked. I’m so much stronger than you. You felt sorry for a poor old beggar, didn’t you? Well, that was weakness! Pah!” He spat on the floor before finishing his speech, “So, now you know everything you wanted to know. But I’m warning you. Don’t feel too high and mighty, too good, too strong! That could prove your downfall. And one last word to you, Tiuri, son of Tiuri! Do you know what you have done by running off and throwing away your chance to become a knight? Do you think perhaps that King Unauwen will make you a knight? Well, that’s folly. This is not your country, and he is not your king. I hope King Dagonaut treats you as you deserve, and that you never carry a sword and a shield!”

  “Silence!” c
ried the sheriff. “That is enough!” He ordered the guards to take Slither away. “He will get the punishment that is coming to him,” he said to Tiuri and Piak. “Don’t waste any more thoughts on him. You are free to leave. And many thanks for your help.”

  When they were back outside, Tiuri heaved a sigh of relief.

  “Phew!” said Piak. “What a villain! The sheriff’s right. I certainly won’t waste any more thoughts on him!”

  But Tiuri doubted he would ever forget Slither’s snarling face and vicious words.

  8 SWORDS AND RINGS

  It took Tiuri and Piak some time to find Tirillo. He was standing in the middle of the square, with a crowd of people around him. As he sang for them, he moved his head and hands so that the bells on his cap and gloves formed a jingling accompaniment to his song. When he saw Tiuri and Piak, he stopped singing and came over to them.

  “Don’t go, Tirillo!” the crowd called. “Please, sing another song for us!”

  “Not now,” said the jester. “I must take these young people to the palace and the king is expecting me.”

  Everyone turned to look at Tiuri and Piak. “Who are they?” someone asked.

  “They come from the land of King Dagonaut,” said Tirillo, “and they could tell you a great deal. But they shall not do so, as they are coming with me.” He linked arms with Tiuri and Piak and walked back to the palace with them. “I just sang for them a little,” he whispered. “One of the few things I can do to help.”

  When they were back at the palace, he took them to the king, who was not alone this time. Sir Marwen was with him. King Unauwen introduced Tiuri and Piak to the knight and kindly invited them to sit. Tirillo poured five glasses of wine and joined them, sitting at the king’s feet. Tiuri saw that Sir Marwen was wearing a ring like Sir Edwinem’s and realized that he too must be one of the king’s most faithful paladins.

  “I sent for you,” said Unauwen, “so that I could talk to you once again and hear more about your adventures. Do not be shy. Please speak freely.”

  And the two friends told their tale, first in brief, but then in greater detail. The king listened attentively and asked plenty of questions. He heard more of their story than they would later tell anyone else. They also talked about the old man who had called Tiuri out of the chapel. It had, of course, been Vokia, Sir Edwinem’s squire.

  King Unauwen asked Tiuri to try to find Vokia once he was back in the Kingdom of Dagonaut. “Be sure that Vokia receives everything he might wish for,” he said. “I hope he will be capable of travelling back here or to Forèstèrra. But I fear that his age and his grief at his master’s death will have weakened him.”

  Then he said, “I thank you once again, Tiuri and Piak. I would like to reward you for what you have done, but there is no suitable gift I could give you.”

  “Oh, but that is not necessary, sire,” said Tiuri.

  The king smiled. “I am aware of that,” he replied. “But I intend to give you a token as a reminder, although I am sure you will never forget your experiences. Sir Marwen, would you pass me the swords?”

  The knight handed two very fine swords to the king.

  “One for each of you,” said the king. “These swords have been in my family for many centuries.”

  “They are over a thousand years old,” said Sir Marwen, “but they are still just as sharp as the day they were made.”

  The king presented the swords to the friends. “Use them only for a righteous cause,” he said. “And here is a ring for each of you… just a small, simple ring. Not the kind of ring my trusty paladins wear; you are still too young for that. I give these rings to all my men after they have been knighted and even though you are not my knights, you too shall receive one.”

  Tiuri and Piak thanked him.

  “One more thing,” said the king. “You told me, Tiuri, that Ardanwen has accepted you as his master. So from now on he shall be your horse.”

  “Thank you, sire,” said Tiuri, delighted.

  “You need not thank me for that,” said the king. “I cannot give Ardanwen away. That horse chooses his own master. Is that not so, Sir Marwen?”

  “Yes, sire,” he replied. “Just like Idanwen, the Dawn Wind, my own horse and Ardanwen’s brother.” He gave Tiuri a friendly nod.

  King Unauwen stood up. Tiuri realized the conversation was over and he also rose to his feet. Piak followed his example.

  “Is there anything you would like to ask me?” said the king, looking at Tiuri.

  How did he know? Tiuri thought.

  And then, somewhat hesitantly, he said, “Y… Yes, sire.”

  “What is it?”

  “Sire, what was in the letter I brought to you?” asked Tiuri. He immediately regretted his words. It felt disrespectful to ask about something that was clearly a secret.

  But the king did not seem angry. “I do not wish to talk about that as yet,” he said in a most serious tone. “But you shall know soon enough. Perhaps even tomorrow.”

  “A sword!” said Piak, gazing at it in awe. “A real sword! And what a sword!”

  “It’s magnificent,” said Tiuri. “Look, it has figures engraved on it, and the name of King Unauwen.”

  “To be honest, I think it’s a bit of a creepy thing to have,” said Piak. “I don’t know if I like the idea of going around with a sword myself. It seems more like something I might hang above the bed and look at every now and then. But I shall always wear the ring.”

  They were sitting together on the edge of the fountain in the small courtyard.

  “What do you really think of all this?” Piak asked Tiuri.

  “Why don’t you tell me what you think, Piak?”

  “Oh, it’s wonderful, beautiful, but still I don’t feel entirely at home here. Maybe it’s all just too much for me. All those knights with their white shields and sparkling rings. And then there’s the king himself! What do you think of him?”

  “He is a great king,” said Tiuri slowly. “He is old, and yet he is strong and valiant, a powerful ruler but still with a ready smile, a man who inspires awe, and yet who is not at all proud or arrogant.”

  “He still reminds me so much of Menaures,” said Piak. “That’s why he doesn’t make me feel shy. Otherwise I’m sure I would have been.”

  “Yes,” said Tiuri. “The hermit certainly looks a lot like him, or he looks like the hermit.”

  “Is King Dagonaut like King Unauwen, too?” asked Piak.

  “No,” Tiuri replied. “King Dagonaut’s younger. He is a warrior and he is stern, but just. He is, I think, perhaps not as… not as wise as King Unauwen. But it is hard to judge such men. Dagonaut is my king, my country’s king. I love him, I respect him, and I wish to serve as his knight.”

  “Well, you’ll be able to do that soon, won’t you?” said Piak.

  Tiuri thought back to what Slither had said, but he kept quiet.

  “Would you like to be a knight of Unauwen,” asked Piak, “and carry a white shield?”

  “Yes,” replied Tiuri, “I would. But if I become a knight, I would have to be a knight of Dagonaut; his kingdom is my home.”

  “I don’t know if I would want to be a knight,” said Piak, thinking aloud. “I’m just an ordinary boy. I feel so clumsy in chainmail and I look ridiculous with a sword in my hand. But perhaps, as Warmin said, you get used to it.”

  At that point, they spotted Tirillo coming towards them.

  “I have come to take you out,” he said. “Something different from this palace full of knights and lords for a change.” He gave Piak a wink.

  Tiuri wondered if Tirillo was a mind reader or if he had heard their conversation.

  “I can read minds,” said the jester. “You should watch out; I am a dangerous man. So do you want to come? Then take your swords to your room. You may wear them tomorrow. That is when King Unauwen is planning to address his priests and his paladins, his knights and his councillors. The two of you are also expected to attend.”

  “Where do y
ou want to go?” asked Piak.

  “Out on the river for a while.”

  Piak frowned.

  “Oh, the White River’s nothing like the Rainbow River!” Tirillo laughed. “And my boat doesn’t leak. Come with me. The sun’s shining and there’s a fresh wind from the west, a sea breeze. I asked the kitchen to make a lunch for us; we can eat it on the water.”

  A short time later, the friends stepped into Tirillo’s boat. It was a beautiful boat, painted in bright colours.

  “I shall row downstream,” said Tirillo. “You can row back upstream later. You’re sturdy young lads, strong and muscular, and I am just a puny jester.”

  He pulled off his gloves and started rowing. Tiuri held the rudder. The jester told Piak he didn’t need to do anything until he got over his fear.

  “I’m not scared at all!” said Piak indignantly. “I think it’s wonderful.”

  And it was wonderful. The water gleamed in the sunshine and the wind blew through their hair. Tiuri felt light and happy, far from all responsibility and duties.

  The river looped around the palace and to the west. They saw another bridge ahead, with a gate beyond it.

  “The White River flows through that gate and out of the city,” Tirillo told them, “and then onwards to the sea.”

  “To the sea…” murmured Piak. “I’ve never seen the sea. What does it look like?”

  “Water,” said Tirillo. “Salty water. Waves as far as you can see, and beyond, until the end of the world. If you floated along with the current, you’d end up at the sea. But it’d take you a couple of days.”

  Tiuri thought that he would rather like to do that. He had never seen the sea before either. Sir Edwinem’s castle, Forèstèrra, was by the sea…

  He looked at Tirillo and suddenly noticed something: a ring on his left hand. The stone sparkled as he moved the oars. Surprised, Tiuri leant closer and said, “You have one of those rings… the kind that Sir Marwen and the toll master wear, and Sir Edwinem!”