Read Online Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson - Free Book Online Page B

time, but we shall strive to show you hospitality. I think we have good hope of ultimate success.”
    “You are much too kind,” said Holger, overwhelmed.
    “Nay.” Alfric waved his hand. “You mortals know not how tedious undying life can become, and how gladly a challenge such as this is greeted. ’Tis I should thank you.”
    He rose, chuckling. “And now, methinks you’d fain return to the dance,” he said. “Good pleasance, my friend.”
    Holger returned in a haze of joy. He’d been too quick to judge this Middle World. No one could have been more kind or courteous than the Pharisees. He liked them!
    Meriven headed off several other ladies as he entered the ballroom. She pounced on his arm and said archly, “I know not why I do this, Sir Knight. Off you went, with never a word, and left me forsaken.”
    “I’ll try to make up for that,” he said.
    The elfin music surrounded him, entered him. He didn’t know the stately figure dances he saw, but Meriven caught on to the fox trot at once; he’d never had a better partner. He wasn’t sure how long the ball lasted. They slipped out into the garden, drank from a fountain of wine, laughed, and did not return. The rest of the night was as much fun as any he had ever spent, or rather more so.

8
    HERE THERE WAS no real morning or evening, day or dark; the dwellers seemed to live according to whim. Holger woke slowly and luxuriously, to find himself alone again. At exactly the right moment the door opened and a goblin entered with a breakfast tray. They must have used witchcraft to learn his personal tastes: no Continental nonsense, but a good American assemblage of ham and eggs, toast, buckwheat cakes, coffee, and orange juice. By the time he was up and dressed, Hugi came in, looking worried “Where were you?” asked Holger.
    “Ah, I slept in the garden. It seemed the richt thing to do when ye were, uh, busy.” The dwarf sat down on a footstool, an incongruous brown blot in this gold and scarlet and purple. He tugged at his beard. “I dinna like the air here. Summat ill is afoot.”
    “You’re prejudiced,” said Holger. Mostly he was thinking of a date he’d made to go hawking with Meriven.
    “Och, they can put on a bra show and bedazzle ye wi’ every manner o’ fine wines and loose lasses,” grumbled Hugi, “but there’s aye been scant friendship atwixt men and Faerie, least of all noo when Chaos gathers for war. As for me, I ken wha’ I ken. And this is what I spied as I lay in yon garden. Great flashes o’ lightning from the topmost tower, a demon figure departing in smoke, and the stench o’ warlockry so rank it nigh curdled ma banes. Later, from the west, another flying figure came in haste, landed on the tower and went inside. Methinks Duke Alfric ha’ summoned a weirdie to his aid. “
    “Why, of course,” said Holger. “He told me he would.”
    “Have yer fun,” muttered Hugi. “Be gay in the teeth o’ the wolf. But when yer dead body lies oot for ravens to tear, say no I didna warn ye.”
    A stubborn objectivity forced Holger to consider the dwarf’s words as he went downstairs. Indeed this might be a gimmick to keep him out of commission until too late... Too late for what? Surely, if they intended evil, they could stab or poison him. He’d stood off one of their champions—who had probably only attacked him because he bore the arms of the mysterious paladin of the hearts and lions—but he couldn’t beat a dozen. Could he? He dropped hand on the Faerie sword. It was a comforting thing to have.
    Meriven hadn’t set a definite hour, here where time hardly existed. Holger dawdled through the main reception hall. After a while he thought he might look up the Duke and ask if there was any news about his problem. On inquiry from a sullen kobold slave, Holger learned that the master’s rooms were in the north wing, second floor. He mounted a flight of stairs three at a bound, whistling cheerily.
    He came out on the landing just