"But I must round up Forthred and prepare for our journey—"
"Tomorrow's as good as today, and I can run your errands for you. I regret that you'll miss the beheading. "
"I have seen heads fall," growled Eudoric, "and find the sight no very pleasing spectacle."
"Oh, Eudoric, be not angry with me again! Forgive my hasty temper! 'Tis vile of me so to carp at him who saved my life. You're an excellent man, and it's my great good fortune that the Three True Gods sent you my way. Come, sweet!"
Eudoric let himself be bullied and cajoled back into bed. For the next three days, he had to admit that no one could have been a kinder and more assiduous nurse than this formidable female.
The throne room, as Eudoric entered, appeared the same as before, save that the heads staring sightlessly from the rack on the wall had been replaced by six new faces. These, Eudoric supposed, had belonged to the Triunitarian rioters caught by King Gwennon's troopers.
"Is your tisic better, Sir Eudoric?" wheezed King Gwennon.
"My thanks, Your Majesty. A few days' rest sufficed."
"We warned against wet feet—"
"Where is your lady fair?" interrupted Corentin the jester.
"Resting. She must store up strength for the journey; and she begs Your Majesty, and you, Sir Jester, to excuse her from the fare-thee-wells."
"That female stalwart!" muttered Corentin. "Sick or well, she could tie knots in any man."
"We regret her absence," said the King. "Albeit old, we still enjoy the sight of a well-formed woman-even though the sight be all, these days." The King sighed nostalgically.
As Forthred and a couple of scullions, under Eudoric's direction, were loading the beasts, Eudoric approached his bride. "Yolanda, my animals can bear but a fraction of your baggage. You'll have to discard most of it."
"What!" she cried. "Dost expect me, a royal princess, to travel about in my shift, as when I was chained to the Rock?"
"The beasts cannot carry so much. I've long worked with horses and mules and know whereof I speak."
"Then purchase more beasts!"
"What with? We've barely enough money, eating black bread and sleeping in our tent, to take us back to Letitia."
"Fear not on that score." From beneath her cloak she produced a large wallet, which jingled encouragingly when she shook it.
Eudoric wagged his head. "I still cannot do it, my dear. We must needs cross the lands of the hostile Duke Sigibert of Dorelia. A train of beasts, with extra grooms to manage them, would arouse unwelcome attention."
"But as things stand, I am reduced to rags and tatters! When they arrested me, diey took my baggage into custody. Whilst it was in their charge, base varlets stole a half at least."
"Can't be helped," said Eudoric firmly. "Six chests would slow our progress, and speed is of the essence. Yonder lie your six chests and sacks; choose two! Your magical gear will fit one, and the other will furnish a change of clothing."
"Have I wedded a blind beggar? Should I join him in the streets with a begging bowl for alms?"
The argument raged until Eudoric barked: "Either you make your choice, or I'll make it for you! Or tarry in Armoria, if you prefer!"
"Low-born domestic tyrant!" Yolanda muttered, setting herself to opening the six containers and choosing her most valued articles. "That I, a princess of the blood, should submit to rude bullying ..."
"Why need you that green vase?" asked Eudoric. "It is heavy and bulky, and you can surely find another like it in Letitia."
" 'Tis part of my magical armory. Rejoice that I have resisted using it on you!" Then she seized him in a bone-cracking embrace. "Oh, dearest Eudoric, there I go again! I swear to mend my cantankerous ways."
XII – The Crypt of a King
When Ysness faded into Armorian mists behind them, Eudoric said: "Yolanda, whence gat you that money you showed me? Did the Armorians give you back that which you brought from Franconia?"
Yolanda rode astride with her skirt hiked up to reveal peasant trews. She laughed. "Nay! I took it myself, whilst you were bidding farewell to the King and his jester."
"How did you accomplish that?"
"I told you, I still have the tube and powder for the Lesser Immobility. I went to the treasure room, uttered the cantrip, blew the powder into the guard's face, and helped myself to King Gwennon's treasury."
"Mean you the guard still stand statuelike—unless he have recovered from your spell?"
"So I ween. He may be regaining the use of his members about now."
"Good gods, woman, and you took time to argue over which clothes and hair ornaments to take, knowing that this fellow might revive any moment and sound the alarm? You're out of what little mind you have!"
"Eudoric, I will not be spoken to thus! I am a royal princess—"
"Forthred!" shouted Eudoric. "Gallop!"
The three fled down the narrow road, splashing through mud puddles until all were well spattered.
A few hours later they were walking the horses to breathe them as they climbed a slope in the rolling countryside. At the crest, Eudoric halted to twist in his saddle and stare back. Surveying the distance, where the grassy green waves of the meadowlands merged with the misty gray of the sky, he said:
"Curse this foggy air! Forthred, your sight's as keen as any. See you aught on the road behind?"
Forthred squinted. "My lord, methinks I see some black specks, where the road doth meet the sky ... The sun doth twinkle betimes, as on a bit of steel."
"I see them now," growled Eudoric. " 'Tis time we galloped again."
"Our beasts need more rest," said Forthred in plaintive tones. "Ye'll founder them!"
"If those knaves catch us, we may rest for all eternity. Come on!"
At the next breather, Forthred looked back and said: "Sir, methinks our pursuers be closer upon us."
"You're right," said Eudoric. He studied the terrain about them. "If I mistake not, yonder hill bears King Balan's tomb, which we passed on our way hither. The Armorians fear to enter there; but I had rather chance their rumored bogles than King Gwennon's soldiery. Come on!"
They dismounted and led their animals to the top of the hill, where they studied the entrance to the tomb. This portal was framed by three huge, mossy stone slabs, two uprights topped by a lintel across them. Earth, carpeted with lush green grass, covered the burial vault, hiding all of its megalithic structure except the entrance.
"What of the beasts?" asked Forthred.
"Bring them in with us. The doorway is high enough, if we pull their heads down."
When Eudoric tried to lead his palfrey into the tomb, however, the animal snorted, reared, and nearly tore the reins out of his powerful grasp. Tugging from the front and stinging its hindquarters with a quirt failed to induce the animal to enter. It became more and more excited, rolling its eyes in terror.
"Careful, sir," said Forthred. "She'll break loose and run away."
Experiment showed that all the other animals were equally recalcitrant. At last Eudoric said: "It's no use here. We must hide them in that grove behind the hill. Let's first unload food, drink, and candles; for we know not how long our sojourn here will be."
A half-hour later saw the four horses and the mule securely tethered well inside the grove, and the three travelers huddled at the entrance to the tomb. Eudoric grunted:
"Let's pray that the beasts don't set up a racket when our pursuers go by. Come on in! Nay, no candles yet; the light might give us away. Feel your way, and watch your steps for traps or holes."
For several fathoms, the entrance passage ran straight back. Then it opened out into a circular chamber some three or four fathoms across, albeit it was hard to judge dimensions in the dark. Eudoric said: "Make yourselves comfortable whilst I watch the road."