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“Thank you, Julia, I should have taken a care.”

There was little Finn despised more than admitting Julia was right, and he couldn't resist the chance to take a little back.

“It might be, however, they have simply never seen a lizard before. I'm sure I wouldn't know what to make of you if I hadn't thought you up in my head. I expect I'd be appalled at the sight.”

“More likely awed, amazed, I should say. Stunned, astonished at such a marvel before your eyes. Rapt, totally overwhelmed-”

“Dostagio didn't seem impressed at all,” Letitia added, reaching across to fork a puffball or two. She wouldn't touch the carp, for Mycer folk did not eat things that had once been alive.

“Though that surprises me not at all,” she added, “for whatever the First Servant might be, he and the others of his kind, he is not like any human I've come across before. It's not a Newlie behind that somber face, I'll tell you that.”

“Julia?” Letitia set down her fork and gave the lizard a thoughtful look. “With all your extraordinary senses-”

“Extraordinary, indeed, Letitia, in nearly every way. But I don't sense anything in the fellow. I can't get past that somber mien. I've tried, but I cannot.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothing. It is much like trying to penetrate a stone.”

“Damned peculiar, I'd say,” Finn said.

Letitia sighed. “I don't know if you can use such a word in a place like this. Odd, and unusual, seem quite ordinary here.”

“I'm not sorry I got the chance to see this marvelous sight,” Finn said, “but I won't be sorry to finish what we came for, and get out of here. The peace and serenity of Garpenny Street are more to my liking, I don't have to tell either of you that.

“And, incidentally, Julia, I have been having some exciting ideas in the area of utilizing your enhanced senses to make incredibly small mechanical devices. Devices, that in turn, could produce even smaller devices still.

“We have discussed this often before, and I believe we can move along with it now. As soon as we can head for home, of course. I don't feel there's much use in exchanging scientific thoughts here-”

As if in answer, as if real life were a playlet or a mime, a familiar actor appeared to speak his lines.

“Ah, Master Finn, Miss, and lizard as well,” Dostagio said, standing alarmingly close to the edge of the dining pad, “I have spoken with Eighth Tallest Chancellor Heffik-Lor, who has carried my message to Fifth Heaviest Councilor Cletz, who “Well, to the point, sir, which is that your presence, your mission, has reached the ears of the King, and His Grace wishes to say he does not desire your gift, and he would like you out of his presence at once.”

“What? What's that?” Finn found it hard to comprehend what the fellow had to say.

“Not immediately, sir, for there is quite a storm rushing at us from the south, and His Grace is a kindly man, in his way. It will not be possible to launch any craft of the aerial persuasion, and he would not be responsible for your demise, your, ah-death, as it were. Not that there's anything wrong with that, you understand…”

TWENTY-FOUR

"What it is,”Finn said, feeling as if steam might rise from his collar, might, indeed, whistle from his ears, “what it is is plain arrogance, scorn, outright contempt. That's a royal for you, no sense of decency, no feeling for anyone except their own bloody selves!”

“I suppose that's so,” Letitia said, glancing about, laying a restraining hand on his. “But I believe this is what you were asking for, only moments ago. Just leave that infernal clock on the table, in the hall, anywhere, and let's be gone from here.”

“Of course, that's exactly what I'll do. Goes without saying. That doesn't excuse the fellow's bad manners, though. There's no way he can make up for that.”

“Most likely, he won't even try,” Julia said. “He's a king, you know.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“She was just clearing her throat, dear. Getting the rust out. Are you going to finish your parsley pie?” “Yes, if you don't mind?”

“What you do about this mess is your concern, love, but don't you take it out on us, you understand? Julia's of the mechanical persuasion, and I'm just a Newlie. We are not responsible for big mental decisions, we are only here to serve humankind-”

“If I have said something to offend…”

“Why, whatever made you think so, dear?”

“If I may interrupt,” said Julia Jessica Slagg, making her way up Finn's back, iron claws digging at his cape, “those men are looking at us again.”

“I can't be responsible for that. They can look if they like.”

Finn squeezed the arms of his chair. His feet had gone to sleep, and he wanted to stomp.

“I don't see anyone leaving. Do you suppose we all have to sit here till the King's finished his lunch? Maybe he'll toss more fruit at the common folk to let us know.”

“Finn…Those two men, they aren't looking at us. They're looking at him.”

Finn twisted halfway around. The stranger was coming toward them over the fragile bridge that linked their dining pad to the outer wall. The bridge swung perilously as the fellow crossed, until the wooden slats began to clatter and roll in dizzy oscillation, like waves upon a beach.

The being coming at them clearly didn't care. He was a short, stumpy creature, but every muscle, every limb, spoke of great power and strength. His body, clothed beneath a dark green robe and chain mail, was totally at ease.

It looked as if he paid little heed to the busy world about, yet anyone but a fool knew a Badgie was ever alert, that any rude encounter with this sleepy-eyed fellow would be over and done, scarcely before it had begun.

As Letitia had guessed, this stout creature, one of the Newlie Nine, was the reason the villains across the way had grown cautious and aware.

“Forgive the disturbance,” the newcomer said, in a voice somewhere between a hiss and a growl, “I would simply like a word, if you will. My name is Koodigern, colonel/sergeant of the King's Third Sentient Guards.”

“A pleasure,” Finn said. “It's nice to run into someone of the sentient bent around here. Most everyone seems to be dead.”

If the Badgie saw a jest in this, he didn't let it show. His dark, bearded lips didn't move. His eyes seemed nearly as black and fluid as Letitia's, but any resemblance ended there.

There was kindness and love in Letitia's eyes, while those of Colonel/Sergeant Koodigern absorbed, swallowed, every beam of light that came their way. Everything went in, and nothing came out.

“I mean no offense of a personal nature, you understand. But I have been informed by Dostagio that His Grace commands that you leave Heldessia as soon as conditions allow. He is, in spite of the fact that he springs from humankind, prone to an indulgent nature from time to time.”

“Tales of his compassion are legend,” Finn said, “and we will be pleased to follow his desires. I expect Dostagio has told you that as well. Have you some idea when this great storm will arrive, and when it might pass?”

“I am not a student of weather, myself. I would have no knowledge of that. I should add, in case it's not clear, that you are to take this gift you speak of when you leave.”

The Badgie looked curiously at Julia Jessica Slagg. “Is that it? Your present to the King?”

“No, it is not, I am not anyone's gift, sir, have no doubt of that.” Julia shook her claws and snapped her silver snout, motions that startled even the wily Badgie himself.

“Amazing. I imagine that's the pizzard Dostagio's been talking about. I have never seen one before.”

“Lizard,” Finn corrected, “and I cannot imagine why everyone has such trouble with the name.”

Still, he was pleased to be off the subject of the damnable present, which lay in its bundle at his feet, an object he was determined to leave behind, in spite of what anyone said.