Geoffrey nodded, eyes glowing. "They believe they use him—but he truly seeks to use them, taking support from each, yet plotting in private to cut out both, root and branch, as soon as he doth have power!"
"The very thing!" Cordelia concurred. "He could quite eas-ily deceive those who seek chaos, for he doth seem to be only one more ambitious fool, seeking to gain land by battle—and his ambitions are so great that he could equally deceive those who seek to rule all the land, and with an iron fist!"
"Yet in truth," Magnus agreed, "he doth seek to gain the throne, not mere rule, and to beget kings—and this by deceit and craft, as much as by force of arms."
Alain was trembling. "Of such stuff are kings made, I fear —though very evil kings."
"This one shall not be a king," Geoffrey avowed. "Not of any sort."
Gregory chirped, "Have we found our Great Nasty?"
Chapter 16
"We should take the left fork."
Magnus halted, and Cordelia's unicorn who had appeared just as Cordelia needed her, stopped, unwilling to come too close to one of the boys. Fess stepped up behind Magnus, who frowned down at the younger boy. "Wherefore, Alain?"
Alain scowled up at him, then shrugged. "It matters not. I am a prince, and I say it; therefore we should take the left."
"Yet it may not be the wisest thing," Gregory demurred.
"Hush, nutkin!" Alain said impatiently. "If a prince saith it, 'tis wise."
"Mayhap we should discover where each goes," Cordelia suggested.
"What need? I am a prince!"
Geoffrey Had had enough. "Directly and to make no ado, your Highness—thou dost not yet command, nor need we yet obey."
Alain rounded on him, furious. "Thou wilt head the Blood Royal!"
"Heed it, aye. Obey it, nay."
Alain drew back a fist, but Magnus caught it. "Be still, the pair of ye! Alain, when thou art grown, I will take thy commands, and gladly—but for now, I am eldest, and age is of greater import than rank."
"But I am a prince!"
"And I am the Puck!" boomed the resident elf. "The High Warlock and his wife have set me to govern their bairns in their absence, and I will—so an thou dost wish to accompany us, thou art welcome; but thou must needs mind thine elders!"
Alain scuffed at the ground with a toe.
"Even Robin will not bid us choose, when he knows not what lies at the end of each road," Cordelia said gently.
Alain looked up at her with gratitude, and for a moment, his face softened, almost to the point of idiocy.
Geoffrey saw, and smiled a cynical smile. "What! Wouldst thou heed a woman?"
Alain turned on him, fists clenching and face thunderous.
"So long as thou dost not heed my brother," Magnus murmured.
Alain looked up at him, startled, then smiled, his eyes glowing. "Thou hast ever the truth of the matter, Magnus!"
Geoffrey glared, but just then Summer and Fall popped up from the left-hand fork, shaking their heads. "There's naught down that road save a woodcutter's cot."
Puck queried. "How far didst thou pursue it?"
"To its end—mayhap a league."
Puck shrugged. "Let us hope Kelly hath found summat."
Leaves rustled, and a green top hat popped up with Kelly under it.
"Well come!" Puck cried. "What moves?"
"Naught but an army or three," Kelly said with nonchalance.
"At last!" Magnus sighed, but Puck demanded, "Whose?"
"The Shire-Reeve's." Kelly grinned. "At the least, I think it be he, for his arms have no crest, and his soldiers, no livery. Nay, it must needs be he, for his horses are great, rangy beasts, straight from the plow, not fit for a knight."
"What other armies are there?" Geoffrey asked.
"The King's, but 'tis on the far side of the hill, and be-tween them lies a field of wheat."
" 'Tis destined to become a field of battle," Geoffrey mut-tered.
"And at his back lies a river—yet there are two fords for the crossing of it, and five counts' armies beyond. None have more than a half-dozen knights and a few hundred men-at-arms—yet together, they're a force to be reckoned with."
"An they can fight in unity," Geoffrey added.
"'Tis even so." Puck turned to Alain. "Well enough—we have found the enemy. From this time forth, matters may become exceedingly dangerous—and we cannot risk the heir apparent. Thou wilt go home!" He transferred his glare to Kelly. "And thou shalt accompany the Prince, to ward him!"
"Nay!" cried Alain, and, "Niver, ye scoundrel! What! Would ye make a nanny of me?" howled Kelly.
"I am not a baby," Alain said, glowering.
"Nay, thou art nine now, and fully come into childhood. Yet thou art the heir!"
"Yet I've a smaller brother at home!"
" 'Tis for thy father to place thee at risk, not for me!"
"But he'll never do so!"
"Nay, he will—when he doth believe thou art a strong enough fighter. Yet that waits till thou art sixteen, lad, or older."
"That is seven years!" Alain wailed.
"Enjoy them whilst thou may," Puck advised him, "and I shall see thou art alive to do so. Now go to safety!"
"Wherefore do they stay?" Alain pointed at the Gallow-glasses.
"For that they are in my care, and must stay where I do— and for that they've no parents to be sent home to. Fear not—I'll keep them as safe as thou wilt be."
"Oh, nay!" Geoffrey protested, but Alain bawled, "'Tis not fair!"
"Nay, but 'tis merciful. Go now to thy mother!"
"I'll not take him!" Kelly declared. "My place is here, with the witch-children!"
"Thy place is wheresoe'er the Hobgoblin doth send thee. What, elf! Wilt thou question the King of Elves?"
"He is not here," Kelly snapped.
"Nay, but he hath given this brood into my care—and wilt command as I do: that the Heir have guard to his parent!"
"'Tis thou dost say it, not he," Kelly grumbled; but he seemed wary now.
"Shall I ask it of him, then? Nay, thou canst reach to him as quickly as I! Shall we go? 'Tis but a matter of minutes, for elves."
Kelly glowered at him, but didn't speak.
Puck held his gaze level, fists on hips, waiting.
Finally, Kelly snapped, "Well enough, then! It shall be as thou dost say!"
Puck smiled. "Brave elf!" He turned back to Alain. "And wilt thou, too, be as worthy?"
"Where is the worth in retreat?" Alain burst out. "Wouldst thou have me flee from danger?"
"Aye, till thou art grown. What! Must I summon His Elfin Majesty to command thee, too?"
"He may not! I am Prince of Gramarye!"
"And he is a king, who may by right command a prince— yet his power's within himself, not his army, and can be wielded on the moment. Wilt thou go to thy home for safety,
or wilt thou be kept on a lily pad?"
"Thou canst not afright me thus!" Alain declared, but he looked less certain than he sounded. "Attempt it, then—and answer to my father for what thou hast done to the Royal Heir!"
Puck reddened, and his voice fell to a deadly quiet. "Wilt thou go, or must I send word to the Queen?"
"Mummy is fifty miles distant!" Alain wailed.
"Aye, yet thy father's but half a league onward—and so is his belt."
Alain glared at Puck for a moment longer, but finally could not hold it. He collapsed with a sigh. "Even so, then. I shall go."
Puck nodded, but showed no sign of victory. He turned to Kelly and said, "Guide him, elf. And see thou he doth come to his parent ere morn!"
When darkness enveloped the forest glade, Puck moved silently among the sleeping children, shaking them and murmuring, "Wake. The moon is up, as thou must be, also."