by Jack Vance
Madouc said demurely: "Your Majesty has encouraged me to hope; I will not give way to despair!"
"It would be a pity if you did!" declared King Audry. "Let us move into the ballroom, where the dancing will soon begin. What, may I ask, are your favorite steps?"
"I have none, Your Highness! I have never troubled to learn and I do not know one from the other."
"Surely you can step the pavane?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"It is one of my own favorites, being at once grave, yet debonair, and susceptible to a thousand pretty intricacies, and that shall be the first of the dances."
Prince Jaswyn, standing by, bowed before Madouc. "May I have the honour of pacing the pavane with Your Highness?"
Madouc turned a quick sad glance toward Dhrun, then said: "I will be pleased, Prince Jaswyn."
The pavane came to an end. Prince Jaswyn conducted Madouc to the side of the room. She looked about for Dhrun; as before, he was not immediately visible, and Madouc clicked her tongue in exasperation. Why could he not remain in place? Did he not recognize the urgency of what she must tell him? Madouc looked in all directions, trying to see over the heads of the gallants and past the gowns of their ladies. At last she discovered Dhrun, in the company of Prince Cassander; the two were just entering the chamber. Madouc made hasty excuses to Prince Jaswyn. Marching across the room, she approached the two princes.
Cassander saw her come without pleasure. His greeting was lofty. "Well then, Madouc! I should think that you would be in your element! Now is your chance to mingle with the society of Avallon!"
"I have already done so."
"Then why are you not dancing, and gamboling about, and impressing the young folk with your wit?"
"I might ask the same of you."
Cassander responded curtly. "Tonight such entertainment fails to match my mood, nor that of Prince Dhrun. Such being the case-"
Madouc looked at Dhrun. "You too are satiated and world-weary?"
"Perhaps not to the level described by Prince Cassander," said Dhrun, grinning.
Cassander frowned. He told Madouc: "Yonder stands Prince Raven of Pomperol. Why do you not discuss your theories with him?"
"Not just now. I also feel somewhat blasé. Where did you two go to avoid the demands of society?"
Cassander said coldly: "We went elsewhere, to enjoy a few moments of quiet."
"Cassander, you are resourceful! In revelry of this scale, where does one find privacy?"
"Here, there, one place or another," said Cassander. "It is all beside the point."
"Still, I am curious."
Dhrun said: "Prince Cassander wished to visit the Hall of Heroes, so that he might honour an old tradition."
"So now: the truth emerges!" said Madouc. "Cassander is not so nonchalant as he pretends. What tradition did Cassander feel obliged to honour?"
Cassander spoke peevishly: "It is only a whim, no more! Princes of royal blood who sit even a moment on the throne Evandig are assured of a long life and a fortunate reign-such is the legend."
"That is a very obscure legend," said Madouc. "Dhrun, did you honour this tradition as well?"
Dhrun gave an uncomfortable laugh. "Prince Cassander insisted that I share these benefits with him."
"That was kind of Prince Cassander! And you sat at the Round Table as well?"
"For a moment or two."
Madouc heaved a sigh. "Well then, now that you have been soothed by the privacy, do you remember that you promised to dance with me?"
Dhrun looked puzzled for only an instant, then said: "So I did! Prince Cassander, my excuses."
Cassander gave his head a crisp nod. "Dance away!"
Madouc took Dhrun not to the dance floor but to the shadows at the side of the hall. "Think now," she said. "When you sat on the throne, did you speak?"
"Only to fulfill the terms of the tradition, as Cassander explained it to me. When he sat on the throne he uttered an order, that I should step forward a pace. I did the same in my turn."
Madouc gave a fateful nod. "So now you must fear for your life. You may die at any instant."
"How so?"
"I have been trying to tell you of Persilian's prophecy. It guides every hour of your life!"
"What is the prophecy?"
"It goes to the effect that the first-born son of the Princess Suldrun-that is to say, you-will take his rightful place at Cairbra an Meadhan and rule from the throne Evandig before his death. You have now fulfilled the prophecy! You have sat at the table and you have given an order while sitting on Evandig, and now Casmir will put his assassins to work. You may be killed this very night!"
Dhrun was silent for several moments. "I thought Cassander's conduct somewhat odd! Is he aware of the prophecy?"
"That is hard to guess. He is vain and foolish, but not altogether unkind. Still, he would obey King Casmir's orders, no matter where they led."
"Even to murder?"
"He would obey orders. But he need not do so, since King Casmir brought others with all the needful skills."
"It is a chilling thought! I will be on my guard! Three good knights of Troicinet are with me and they shall stay close by my side."
"When does your father arrive?"
"Tomorrow, or so I believe. I will be glad to see him!"
"I as well."
Dhrun looked down into Madouc's face. He bent his head and kissed her forehead. "You did your best to spare me this peril. I thank you, my dear Madouc! You are as clever as you are pretty!"
"This is a most successful gown," said Madouc. "The color is called Black Rose and by some freak it goes nicely with my hair. The style also seems to enhance what I suppose I must call my posture. I wonder, I wonder!"
"What do you wonder?"
"You remember King Throbius, of course."
"I remember him well. On the whole he was benign, if a trifle foolish."
"Just so. For certain reasons, he laid a glamour upon me, which caused a great excitement and, to tell the truth, frightened me with its awful power. To relieve myself of the force, I was instructed to pull at my right ear with fingers of my left hand. Now I wonder if I pulled hard enough!"
"Hmm," said Dhrun. "It is difficult to say."
"I could pull again, for the sake of honesty and reassurance. Still, if I instantly became a ragtag starveling with my beautiful gown hanging limp, I would feel distress-especially if you drew away from me and took back all your compliments."
"It might be best to let sleeping dogs lie," said Dhrun. "Still, I suspect that what we have here is you, in part and in full."
"Once and for all I will make sure. That is the honourable course~Are you watching?"
"Very carefully."
"Be prepared for the worst!" Madouc gave her right ear a tug with the fingers of her left hand. "Do you notice a change?"
"Not a whit."
"That is a relief. Let us go over yonder and sit on the couch and, if nothing else, I will tell you of my adventures in the Forest of Tantrevalles."
III
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 parlour, only to discover that the door was locked.
Kylas knocked, and called out: "Open, if you please! It is I, Kylas!"
Instead of complying, Madouc was away: out the other 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 parlour. "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 ragout. Please do not think the worse for 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.
"Whit? 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 na ture! 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! 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 overlay the ancient bronze plaque set 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.