“Yes, well, we'll get you another bag quite soon.”
He looked about the room, though he couldn't guess why. He had nothing himself except Koodigern's dagger, and the clothes he had on, which seemed to be smelling rather stale.
He supposed he should be grateful for that. Letitia's senses weren't as keen as Julia's, but good enough to catch a hint of candles, say, or scents from across the Misty Sea.
The hallway was empty, as it ever seemed to be. And, as ever, the faint, slightly chill odor of the underworld was in the air.
Letitia had suggested they wait for Dostagio or Maddigern to help them find the proper way out. Finn said a definite “no” to that. He'd had enough of them both, especially the bad-tempered Badgie. They could find their own way, even if it took a little time.
And, once they did, he would find a proper breakfast at an inn and purchase a bath as well. That, and some new, fresh clothing would have their spirits up again.
“I believe we turn left here,” Letitia said. “I recall this corner quite well.”
“I have to disagree. We go straight ahead for some time.”
“We go left,” Julia said.
“Absolutely not.”
“Who has the compass in their belly, you or me, Finn?”
“I don't feel your senses are working right.”
“They were working right last night.”
“What?” Letitia looked puzzled. “What's all this about?”
“I haven't the slightest idea,” Finn said. “Julia says whatever comes into her head.”
“I don't think she always does, Finn.”
“All right, most of the time. Which has nothing to do with whether we should-”
Finn stopped. He saw them, from the corner of his eye, both of them, coming from the corridor ahead.
Dostagio and-to Finn's great chagrin-the odious Maddigern himself. He wondered, again, how the kindly Koodigern could be so totally different from his Badgie brother. Still, families were ever at odds, among Newlies and human folk alike.
“How nice of you to take your precious time to see us out,” Finn spoke to Maddigern. “Did you fear we'd try to stay, that we might miss your ever-cheerful ways?”
“I would be pleased to gut you right here,” the Badgie said, with a wary glance at Julia, perched on Finn's shoulder, watching with her bright ruby eyes. “If that'd be convenient, Master Finn.”
“It would be my pleasure, a fine way to start this lovely day.”
“Finn-!” Letitia's look was dark enough to bring rain.
“Maiming and such will not be possible,” Dostagio said, “as you are well aware, Captain/Major Maddigern. Plans have been altered, modified, changed, as it were, by the wishes of His Grace, King Llowenkeef-Grymm. He would have your presence, sir and Miss, in the Great Hall of Tedious Favors and Petitions, which is in endless session right now.”
Finn shook his head. “I'm sure there's some mistake. We're supposed to be out of here. I doubt if the King has changed his mind about that.”
Finn hesitated, turning on the Badgie with a curious eye.
“This is some doing of yours, isn't it, Maddigern? It has nothing to do with the King.”
“I assure you it does, sir,” Dostagio said. “We must not dawdle any longer. The King is most frugal about his time.”
“As I understand it, the Afterworld has its own sense of time. One should be in tune with the Eternal Hour, not the illusion of time as we find reflected here.”
Maddigern, ever in control of his rigid, sullen appearance, was clearly aghast. Even Dostagio's sober mask appeared to twitch.
“He quoted scripture,” Maddigern said. “I heard him. He said it aloud.”
“I'm afraid he did.”
“We're not supposed to hear this. Damn the fellow, Dostagio, I have to kill us all.”
“Wait, hold it there,” Finn said.
“I suppose you do, Captain/Major, but I wonder if the rule applies if we have prior orders from the King. Might not such an order take precedence over Shameful Heresy and Disrespect for the Dead?”
“You have a point, First Servant.”
“Well, then. I suggest I take it up with the Forty-Third Elder and get back to you on this.”
“Good. That's that. Now, Master Finn and Miss, get on to the hall like you're told. And no more foul desecration or such as that. We're religious people here.”
“Why?” Finn asked. “You're not even allowed to join.”
“Of course we're not, sir. What kind of church do you think this is…?”
THIRTY-FOUR
If Finn expected the comfy surroundings of the King's private chamber, he had clearly forgotten the awesome Holy Place of Emperors, Tyrants and Kings, with its fossilized rulers of the past, or the grandeur of the Great Dining Hall, and its magnificent dome of leaded glass.
The Great Hall of Tedious Favors and Petitions followed the theme of Heldessian splendor in all respects. The floor was a sparkling mosaic picturing myth and legend from ancient times. The columns that lined the hall were as massive as the trees of northern climes, where the mighty Grizz sat about their fires.
The vaulted stone ceiling rose to dizzying heights, nearly beyond the reach of the hanging crystal lights.
“Better than Prince Aghen Aghenfleck's hall, I'll say that,” Finn whispered to Letitia Louise.
“Well, it's higher, all right. But Aghenfleck does have very nice balconies that let in the light.”
“Those balconies are there so he can stand and watch his cousins go under the Grapnel and the Snip,” Finn told her. “Or see how they fare beneath the Mush… “
“Hah! There you are, my boy. Good! Good! Nice of you to come!”
King Llowenkeef-Grymm suddenly burst forth through a small crowd of courtiers gathered at the far end of the hall. Finn noticed everyone was dressed in red today, instead of purple hues. There were counselors in madder, cherry and pink. Chamberlains in ruby, cardinal and wine. Lords, ladies, toadies and fools in every shade of rust, amber, coral and rose.
The King was again attired in pious tatters and rags of soot and gray, with a face of ghoulish white, and large black circles about his eyes.
“You haven't missed a thing,” the King said. “All the miserable wretches are gone, be thankful for that. Why is it the poor all want something? Is it that way in your country as well? I never grant more than three favors at a time, they know that, but they won't go away.
“Ah, lizard is with you as well. Fine, fine. And this is the charming Miss Letitia Louise. I'm sorry we haven't met. You're most welcome here. I have always said, if I were to take a female of the animal persuasion to my bed, it would be a Mycer girl. Oh, now, I hope I haven't embarrassed you in any way, my dear. You can say anything you like if you're the King, and sometimes I do.”
“Yes. Thank you, Your Grace…” Letitia was appalled, but no longer greatly surprised at what a human might say.
“I shall introduce you to the court,” the King told the two, “or as many as I can recall. First, though, I've prepared a little surprise. I hope you'll be impressed, Finn, it's all about you.”
“Me, sire? I can't imagine what you mean.”
Finn's throat went suddenly dry. He looked all about, to see if there was anything to drink.
“You're much too modest, boy, a quality I find abhorrent in a person. I do hope you'll work on that. Oh, we're starting. Just wait right here, if you will.”
The King trotted off, leaving a string, a tatter, a bit of his shroud here and there.
“I have a very bad feeling about this,” Finn said. “I can't imagine what the old fool is going to do. Maybe I'm to be fossilized and put on display somewhere.”
“Oh no, Finn. You're not a king or anything. They wouldn't do that.”
“It was a jest, Letitia. A poor one, I admit, but I'm not in the best of form today.”
“If it's anything fatal,” Julia said from her perch, “explain that Letitia and I had nothing to do with whatever it is. That's the least you can do.”
“I hope it's not that blasphemy thing,” Letitia said. “You likely should have kept that to yourself, dear.”