Matt marveled at the tale—then frowned at an inconsistency. "But weren't there ever any boys?"
"Aye, but they became restless, as boys will, and went out into the world to seek their fortunes—and their wives. A few wed happily, some never came back—but most lived the lonely life of the alien, for they were silkies and, as such, made rather ugly men, though they were very handsome seals. Some found seal wives, of course, and their daughters were silkie women, and their sons silkies still—but those who sought human women to wive were seldom happy with such matches and left their mates for their own kind."
"Their own kind?" Matt frowned. "You mean humans?"
"Nay—other silkies. There were some few others, and my grandsons heard word of them. They roamed the world, like seeking like—and found their silkie mates. Some came back to rear their families here, near my protection; some stayed with the folk they had found. Yet even of them, as often as not their children would seek me out when they came of age—and wed with my great-grandchildren. This isle above is peopled with several thousand of my descendants living all around the isle, though you will not see them—they hide in caves and rocks, for fear of the sorcerer-king and his hunters, who chase them with powerful spells to ward off mine. Here on the rock, he cannot touch them—but we do not wish to tempt him more than we must."
"They hide very well." Matt frowned. "I didn't see any of them—coming in. Of course, it was kind of dark..."
"And so are they. A few of them come down to visit with me, now and again—so I dwell here, in the midst of thousands of my descendants. I count myself richly rewarded for having led a blameless life."
A prickle kneaded Matt's back. He glanced sidelong at the courtiers. "Then all these lords and ladies..."
"Are my great-daughters and their mortal husbands, become exceeding long-lived here in Ys." The king nodded. "Aye, Lord Wizard, 'tis so. My youngest, though, has not yet found a landsman to her liking."
Matt glanced at her apprehensively, but before he could ask, the current demoiselle laughed like the clear chime of a running brook. "Nay, Lord Wizard, I am not enamored of you. In truth, by the reckoning of mine own people, I am yet too young to seek a husband. Be of peaceful mind; I have not yet met my one true love. I will own that romance does fascinate me, though, and I am intrigued by a man who would risk life itself to win his lady's hand."
Matt's mouth tightened with chagrin; then he forced it to smile. "Well, then, look your fill, lady, for I doubt you'll ever see such a fool again."
"Ah, but I will," she said, "whenever I look on the sons and daughters of men. You are rare, Lord Wizard, in that you will admit to your folly."
Matt frowned. "I have a notion you've just said something very profound, if I could understand it—but the fact of the matter is, I have sworn to oust the king of Ibile or die trying, and I have to figure out a way."
"Why," the king said, "take his castle."
Matt looked up at him, brooding. "Easily said, Majesty—but I've only two hundred fighters, and his castle is stout. We've figured out that the only way to make it is to get a sally party inside his walls and have them open the gate—but we're still trying to figure out how to get a few of our men inside."
"Why," the king of Ys said, "you may go through my domain."
Matt stared.
"I, too, wish this foul king gone," the king explained, "for the detritus of his noisome magics and his tortures fouls my waters, and his hunters slay my descendants. Nay, Lord Wizard, I am with you in this."
"I...I thank your Majesty..."
"Do not. You are the first in centuries to dare to challenge him. I honor you, milord."
"I thank you again." Matt ducked his head. "But how would going through Ys get us into Gordogrosso's castle?"
"I have told you that my people may go up to the land at will," the king explained. "That, too, was a part of my 'bargain' with the Sea King—that he would grant me a way to travel to the surface on the island, and a way to come up to land upon the mainland."
Matt lifted his head, feeling like a hunter when the fox has just come into sight. "And, uh...just where on the mainland did this passage come out?"
"Within an outcrop of rock atop a hill, that its entrance might be easily disguised; yet 'twas hidden too easily, for after a space of some thousand years, a king chose that hill for the building of his fortress, that it might ward the harbor mouth; and some two centuries agone, the sorcerer-king did hale down that king's descendants, to establish his ill rule there."
"You mean...you have a tunnel to the surface that comes out in Gord—uh, the king's cellar?"
"Even so."
Matt caught his breath. "I...don't suppose I could interest you in letting me bring..."
"Your army? Nay." The king smiled sadly. "That would, I think, strain the Sea King's bounty over much. This outlet for my people he did grant me, when he truly had no need to; and I am loathe to overstrain his kindness. He would, I think, be much wroth if you did bring an army through my domain and his cleared ways."
"Well, actually—I was thinking of a sally party. Say—twenty?"
"A score?" The king frowned, thinking it over, then shook his head. "Too many, I fear. Mayhap a dozen."
"Twelve it will be!" Matt fairly shouted. "I thank you, your Majesty! For the rest of my life, I'll thank you! For—"
"The rest of your life will be enough." The king smiled, amused. "I trust it will not be short. Godspeed, Lord Wizard. Gather your men."
CHAPTER 26
Passing Review
"People," he should have said—there was no way Maid Marian was going to be left behind. Matt would have liked to make it "beings," but he thought the king might draw the line at Stegoman and Narlh.
Of course, that meant he still had to explain it to them.
"You're opposite elements, you see," he said. "He's a king of water, and you're spirits of fire."
Stegoman exchanged a jaundiced glance with Narlh.
"Right, fire-breath," the dracogriff grunted. "He's making excuses."
"No, now, really! I mean, how would you feel if a water monster came into your nest and..."
"Lord Wizard." Sinelle touched his arm. "My great-father will not object to one of these beasts, if you truly wish it."
Matt stared.
"See, now?" Narlh grinned. "Should've asked, shouldn'cha?"
"Well...I just assumed..."
"Natheless,—'tis only the one of us," Stegoman snorted, "which I can comprehend readily enough. Nay, Wizard, say which it shall be."
Matt swallowed and turned back to look from monster to monster.
"I have more of fire in me," Stegoman allowed, "and am the stronger flier."
"Stronger?" Narlh yelped. "Look, lizard-brain—who's got the feathers here?"
The dragon turned, scowling. "Dost thou think to best a dragon in the far reaches of the air?"
"Hey, just because I don't enjoy it, doesn't mean..."
"Gentles, gentles!" Sinelle held up a hand, repressing a smile. "Did I not sense that the dragon did mean to be so gracious as to step aside and let the dracogriff have the place of honor?"