hurled down from Serannian’s rim!—which you must know. And knowing it, still you admitted your guilt. I suppose it could be argued that failing to do so would have been to condemn yourselves, for of course I know you are guilty of many of the charges. Still, I note that none of your accusers call you liars. You bend the truth occasionally, perhaps often, but you do not seem to lie harmfully. Not that I have been able to discover.
“Furthermore, you are daring. To attempt to steal from the Museum—that was to be daring to the point of reckless! I would hate to think that your daring springs from sheer foolishness …” He stopped pacing, faced them squarely, frowned, and finally nodded; and they saw that he had made up his mind about something.
“The choice shall be yours,” Kuranes said at last. “To be transported back to Celephais and there remain for five years in one of Leewas Nith’s dungeons … Or—”
“Or?” urged Hero, when the pause grew so long as to be unbearable. “You were about to say, your Majesty?”
“You have qualities—should we call them skills?—which I can use,” said Kuranes. “As my agents you would have my protection, access to the means at my disposal—eventually my pardon.”
“Your agents?” said Hero, frowning.
Kuranes nodded. “There’s a quest I would have you undertake,” he said.
“A quest!” cried Eldin. “Why, we’re your men, Sir—for there never were questers like Eldin the Wanderer and Hero of Dreams!”
“The dangers may well be terrific,” warned Kuranes.
“We laugh at danger.” Eldin assumed what he supposed to be a rakish pose.
“There will be no reward other than a pardon for your past crimes,” said the King.
“What more could we wish for than to do the King’s work?” asked Hero, wide-eyed and innocent.
“The quest will set you against powers which could destroy your immortal souls, let alone your subconscious minds. There’s black wizardry involved, demonic horror, nightmares which only a madman could dream, and—”
“Whoa!” cried Eldin. “Er, excuse me, Lord, but are you trying to enlist us or unman us? Damn me, five years in old Leewas Nith’s dungeons are beginning to sound like a veritable holiday!”
Kuranes nodded. “Well they might,” he agreed, “but as I said before, the choice is yours.”
“Can’t you tell us more about this quest of yours?” asked Hero. “Before we make up our minds?”
Kuranes shook his head. “You make your decision now,” he answered.
“Then we have no option,” Eldin growled. “We accept.”
Hero nodded. “Aye,” he said, “we’re your men. We’ll go questing for you, Lord Kuranes.”
Now Kuranes sighed a great sigh and it was as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “Very well. Now come, sit down. Have you eaten? No matter, you could manage a leg of chicken, I’m sure. And a glass of wine? Good!” He clapped his hands and the butlers, who had approached as the three took their seats at the great desk, bowed and left the room through a door in a curtained alcove.
In a few moments they were back with a tray of chicken joints, a bottle of wine and three glasses. When they had served the King and his guests, they retired to the ends of the huge desk where they remained, motionless, like guardsmen at the gates of a palace. Kuranes’ appetite was good as he tucked into his evening repast; but the two adventurers, already well fed, merely picked at their meat and sipped a little wine as they waited for him to have done.
Finally, dabbing at his lips with a handkerchief, he sat back and gazed afresh at the pair. “Let me first tell you,” he began, “what is likely to happen if your work for me is not successful. Can you picture Serannian, the entire sky-island, sinking into the Cerenerian Sea, picking up speed, breaking into pieces as it crashes to the world below? And all those thousands of people, screaming as they tumble through space, crushed
“Furthermore, you are daring. To attempt to steal from the Museum—that was to be daring to the point of reckless! I would hate to think that your daring springs from sheer foolishness …” He stopped pacing, faced them squarely, frowned, and finally nodded; and they saw that he had made up his mind about something.
“The choice shall be yours,” Kuranes said at last. “To be transported back to Celephais and there remain for five years in one of Leewas Nith’s dungeons … Or—”
“Or?” urged Hero, when the pause grew so long as to be unbearable. “You were about to say, your Majesty?”
“You have qualities—should we call them skills?—which I can use,” said Kuranes. “As my agents you would have my protection, access to the means at my disposal—eventually my pardon.”
“Your agents?” said Hero, frowning.
Kuranes nodded. “There’s a quest I would have you undertake,” he said.
“A quest!” cried Eldin. “Why, we’re your men, Sir—for there never were questers like Eldin the Wanderer and Hero of Dreams!”
“The dangers may well be terrific,” warned Kuranes.
“We laugh at danger.” Eldin assumed what he supposed to be a rakish pose.
“There will be no reward other than a pardon for your past crimes,” said the King.
“What more could we wish for than to do the King’s work?” asked Hero, wide-eyed and innocent.
“The quest will set you against powers which could destroy your immortal souls, let alone your subconscious minds. There’s black wizardry involved, demonic horror, nightmares which only a madman could dream, and—”
“Whoa!” cried Eldin. “Er, excuse me, Lord, but are you trying to enlist us or unman us? Damn me, five years in old Leewas Nith’s dungeons are beginning to sound like a veritable holiday!”
Kuranes nodded. “Well they might,” he agreed, “but as I said before, the choice is yours.”
“Can’t you tell us more about this quest of yours?” asked Hero. “Before we make up our minds?”
Kuranes shook his head. “You make your decision now,” he answered.
“Then we have no option,” Eldin growled. “We accept.”
Hero nodded. “Aye,” he said, “we’re your men. We’ll go questing for you, Lord Kuranes.”
Now Kuranes sighed a great sigh and it was as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “Very well. Now come, sit down. Have you eaten? No matter, you could manage a leg of chicken, I’m sure. And a glass of wine? Good!” He clapped his hands and the butlers, who had approached as the three took their seats at the great desk, bowed and left the room through a door in a curtained alcove.
In a few moments they were back with a tray of chicken joints, a bottle of wine and three glasses. When they had served the King and his guests, they retired to the ends of the huge desk where they remained, motionless, like guardsmen at the gates of a palace. Kuranes’ appetite was good as he tucked into his evening repast; but the two adventurers, already well fed, merely picked at their meat and sipped a little wine as they waited for him to have done.
Finally, dabbing at his lips with a handkerchief, he sat back and gazed afresh at the pair. “Let me first tell you,” he began, “what is likely to happen if your work for me is not successful. Can you picture Serannian, the entire sky-island, sinking into the Cerenerian Sea, picking up speed, breaking into pieces as it crashes to the world below? And all those thousands of people, screaming as they tumble through space, crushed
Similar Books
