 15 Queen Presmyra How the Lady Presmyra discovered to Lord Groh what she would have brought about for demon land, in which should also appear her Lord's yet more greatness and advancement, and how her two lords speaking of her purpose, was the occasion whereby the Lord Carinius was to learn the sweetness of bliss deferred. On that same 26th night of May, when Lord Jus and Lord Branlock Dahar beheld from earth's loftiest pinnacle the land of Zimeambia and Kostra-Beloin, Groh walked with the Lady Presmyra on the western terrace in Carcy, who wanted yet two hours of midnight. The air was warm, the sky a bower of moon-beam and star-beam. Now and then a faint breeze stirred as if night turned in her sleep. The walls of the palace and the iron tower cut off the terrace from the direct moonlight, and flamboyous spreading their wobbling light made alternating regions of brightness and gloom. Galloping strains of music and the noise of revelry came from within the palace. Groh spoke, If thy question, or queen, overlier wish to have me gone, I am as lightning to obey thee, how so ere it grieves me. It was an idle wonder o'er me, she said, stay and it like thee. It is but a native part of wisdom, said he, to follow the light. When there was departed from the hole, me thought all the bright lights were bedimmed. He looked at her side long as they passed into the radiance of a flamboy, studying her countenance that seemed clouded with grievous thought. Fair of all fairs, she seemed, stately and splendid, crowned with a golden crown set about with dark amethysts. A figure of a crubfish topped it above the brow, curiously wrought in silver, and bearing in eye the claw a ball of chrysalite, the bigness of a thrush's egg. Lord Groh said, This too was part of my mind, to behold those stars in heaven that men call baronese's hair, and know if they can outshine in glory thine hair, or queen. They passed on in silence. Then, These phrases of forced gallantry, she said, sought ill with our friendship, my Lord Groh. If I be not angry, think it is because I father them on the deep health thou hast caroused unto our Lord the King on this night of nights, when the returning year bringeth back the debt of his sending, and our vengeance upon demon-land. Madam, he said, I would but have thee give over this melancholy. Seemeth it to thee a little thing that the King hath pleased so singularly to honour, quarrelled thy husband, as give him a King's style and dignity, and all implant a hold in fee. All took notice of it how un- cheerfully thou didst receive this royal crown, when the King gave it thee to-night, in honour of thy great Lord, to wear in his stead till he come home to claim it. This and the great praise spoke by the King of Corinth, which me thinks should bring the warmth of pride to thy cheeks. Yet are all these things of as little avail against thy frozen scornful melancholy, as the weak winter sun availeth against congealed pools in a black frost. Crowns are cheap trash to-day, said Prismira, when as the King, with twenty kings to be his lackeys, raises up now his lackeys to be kings of the earth. Canst wonder if my joints in this crown were dashed some little, when I looked on that other given by the King to laxus. Madam, so grow, thou must forgive laxus in his own particular, for knowest he set not so much as a foot in pixiland, and if now he must be called King thereof, that should rather please thee, being in despite of Carinius, that carried war there, and by whatsoever means of skill or fortune overcame thy noble brother, and draith him into exile. Carinius, she answered, testeth in that mist, that bain or ill-happ, which ideally prayer all there may groan, and who would fatten by my mother's ruin. Then should Carinius' grief lift up thy joy, said Gro, yet certain it is, fate is a blind puppy. Build not on her next turn. I'm not I a queen, said Prismira? Is not this witch-land? Have we not strength to make curses strong, if fate be blind indeed? They halted at the head of a flight of steps leading down to the inner ward. The lady Prismira leaned a while on the black-marvel balustrade, gazing seaward over the level marshes rough with moonlight. What care I for laxes, she said at last? What care I for Carinius? A cast of hawks flown by the king against a quarry that in dear worthiness and nobility outshineth unhundred such as there? Nor I will not suffer mine indignation, so to wit wanton with fair justice, as persuade me to put the white on witch-land. It is most true the prince my brother practised with our enemies, the down-throw of our fortunes. Breaking open, had he but known it, the gate of destruction for himself and us. That night, when our banquet was turned by him to a battle, and our whiny mirths to bloody rages, she was silent for a time, then said, both breakers, a most odious name, flat against all humanity, two faces in one hood, all that earth would start up and strike the sins that tread on her. I see, though, lookest west over sea, said grove. There's somewhat thou canst see, then, my lord grove, I I will light, said Prismira. Thou didst tell me at the time, he said, with what compliments in vows and strange well-studied promises of friendship, the lord just took leave of thee, that there escaping out of Carci. Yet art thou to blame, O Queen, if thou take in too ill part the breaking of such promises given in extremity, which prove common in like fish, new, stale, and stinking in three days. Chew it is a small matter, said she, that my brother should cast aside all ties of interest and alliance to save these great ones from an evil death, and there, being delivered, should toss him a light grimercy, and go their ways, leaving him to be exterminated out of his own country, and for all they know are wrecked to lose his life. May the great devil of hell torture their souls. Madam, said lord grove, I would have thee view the matter soberly, and leave these bitter flashes. The demons did serve thy brother once in Lida Nanguna, and his delivering of them out of the hand of our lord the king was but just payment, therefore. The scales hung equal. She answered, do not defile mine ears with their excuses. They have shamefully abused us, and the guilt of their black deed planteth them day by day more firmly in my deeper settled hate. Art thou so deeply read in nature and her large philosophy, and I am yet to teach thee that deadliest hellebore or the vomit of a toad are qualified poison to the malice of a darkness of a great cloud-bank spreading from the south, swallowed up the moonlight. Presmyra turned to resume her slow pacing down the terrace. The yellow fairy sparkles in her eyes glinted in the flamboy's flare. She looked dangerous as a lioness, and delicate and graceful like an antelope. Grove walked beside her, saying, did not Corrin drive them forth in winter onto the marooner, and can there continue there in life alone amid so many devouring perils? Oh, my lord, she cried, say these good tidings to the kitchen wenches, not to me. Why, thyself didst enter in past years the very heart of the marooner, and yet came us off, else art thou the greatest liar. This only canker frets my soul. The days go by, and months, and which land beateth down all peoples under him, and yet he suffereth the crown of pride, these rebels of demon-land, to go yet untrodden undefeat. Doth he deem it the better part to spare a foe and spoil a friend? That were an unhappy and unnatural conclusion. Or is he fair, even as was Garai's the eleventh? Heaven foreshield it, yet as ill an end may be chance him, and utter ruin come on all of us, if he will withhold his scourge from demon-land until Jus and Brandoc de Har come home again to meet with him. Madam, said Lord Grove, in these few words thou hast given me the picture of my own mind in small, and forgive me that I bespake thee wearily at the first, for these are matters of heavy moment, and ere I opened my mind to thee, I would know that it agreed with thine. Let the king smite now, in the happy absence of their greatest champions, so shall we be in strength against them if they return again, and perchance goldery with them. She smiled, and it seemed as if all the sultry nights, freshened and sweetened, that that lady smiled. Thou art a dear companion to me, she said. Thou melancholy is to me as some shady wood in summer, where I might dance, if I will, and that is often, or be sad, if I will, and that is in these days oftener than I would, and never thou crossest my mood. Save but now thou didst so, to plague me with thy precious flattering jargon, till I had thought thee skin changed with laxus or young carinius, seeking such lures as galants spread their wings to, to stoop in lady's bosoms. For I would shake thee from this late received sadness, said Grove. And he said, thou art to commend me, too, since I spake naught but truth. Oh, hath done, my lord, she cried, or I'll dismiss thee hence. And as they walked, fris me reassigned softly. Nor he that cannot choose but love, and strives against it still, never shall my fancy move, for he loves against his will. Nor he which is all his own, and cannot pleasure choose, when I am caught he can be gone, and when he lists refuse. Nor he that loves none but fair, for such by all are sought. Nor he that can for foul ones care, for his judgment then is naught. Nor he—she broke off suddenly, saying, Come, I have shook off the ill-disposition, the sight of laxus bred in me, and of his toldry crown. Let's think on action. And first I will tell thee a thing. This we spoke of hath been in my mind these two or three moons, ever since Carinius is campaigning in Pixelon. So when word came of my lord's destroying of the demon-host, and his driving of Jusson-Bundock to Har, like runaway thralls on the marooner, I sent him a letter by the hand of Viglas, that bear him from our lord the king, the king's name in Implund. Therein I expressed how that crown of demon-land should be a braver crown for us than this of Implund, how so air it sparkle. Praying him urge upon the king, his sending of an armament to demon-land, and my lord the leader thereof, or if he could not has then come home to ask it, then I entreated him make me, his ambassador, to lay this council before the king and crave the enterprise of Corund. Is not his answer in those letters I brought thee, said Grope? I, said she, and a very scurvy, beggarly licks-bittle answer for a great lord to send to such a matter as I propounded. I, like it, puffs away all my wifely duty but to speak on't, and makes me real like a gangrel woman. I'll walk apart, madame, said Grope, if thou wouldst have privateness to deliver thy mind. Prismira laughed. It is not all so bad, she said, and yet it makes me angry. The enterprise he commends up to the hilt, and I have his leaf to brooch it to the king as his mouth-piece, and press it with him out of all hall. But for the leading on't he will not have it, he. Courses must have it, or Carinius. Still, let me read it out. And standing near one of the lights she took a parchment from her bosom. Poo! It is too farmed. I will not share my lord to read it, even to thee. Well, said Grope, were I the king, Corrin should be my journal to put down demon-land? Courses, he may sound, for he hath done great work in his day, but in my own judgment I like him not for such an errand. Carinius he hath not yet forgiven for his fault at the banquet a year ago. Carinius, said Presmira, so his butchery of mine own dear land goeth not only without reward, but hath not so much as brought him back to favour, thou thinkest. I think not, said Lord Grope. Besides, he is mad wroth to a pluck that prickly fruit but for another's eating. He bears himself so presumptuous ill in the hall to-night, gleaking and galling at laxus, slapping of his sword, and with so many more shameless braves and wanton fashions, and worst of all, his most openly seeking to toy with Sreva, if this first month of her betrothal unto laxus, it will be a wonder it blood be not spilled betwixt them ere the nab be done. He thinks he is not in the mood to take the field again without some sure reward, and he thinks the king, guessing his mind, would not offer him a new enterprise, and so give him the glory of refusing it. There stood near the arched gateway that opened on the terrace from the inner court. Music still sounded from the great banquet hall of Garassi Eleventh. Under the archway and in the shadows of the huge buttresses of the walls, it was as though the elements of gloom, expelled from the bright circles round the flamboyce, huddled with sister glooms to make a double darkness. "'Well, my lord,' said Prismira, doth thy wisdom bless my resolve? What ere it be? Yes, because it is thine, O Queen.' "'What ere it be?' she cried. "'Dost hang in doubt, aunt? What else but seek audience with the king as my first care in the morning? Have I not my lord's bidding so far?' "'And if thy zeal outrun his bidding in one particular?' said Gro. "'Oh, I just,' said she. "'And if I bring thee not word ere to-morrow's noon that order is given for demon-land, and my lord Corrin, named for his general for that sailing, I, and let his seal for his straight recall from Orpish?' "'Hist,' said Gro, steps of the court.' They turned towards the archway. Prismira singing under her breath. "'Nor he that still his mistress pairs, for she is thralled therefore. Nor he that pairs not, for he says within she's worth no more. "'Is there, then, no kind of men whom I may freely prove? I will vent that humour, then, in my norm self-love.'" Corinius met them in the gateway, coming from the banquet-house. He halted full in their path to peer closely through the darkness of Prismira, so that she felt the heat of his breath, heavy with wine. It was too dark to know faces, but he knew her by her stature and bearing. "'Cry thee mercy, madam,' he said. He thought an instant was—' "'But no matter, you're best of rest.'" So saying he made way for her with the deep obeisance, jostling roughly against Gro with the same motion. Gro, little-minded for a quarrel, gave him the wall, and followed Prismira into the inner court. The Lord Corinius sat him down on the nearest of the benches, leaned his stalwart back luxuriously upon the cushions, and there rested, thripping his fingers and singing to himself. "'What an ass is he, waits a woman's leisure, for a woman in its pleasure, and perhaps may be, gold at last and looser, what an ass is he? What need I to care for a woman's favour, if another have her, why should I despair, when for golden labour I can have my share? If I chance to see one that's brown I love her, till I see another browner is than she, for I am a lover of my liberty.'" A rustle behind him on his left made him turn his head. A figure stole out of the deep shadows of the buttress nearest the archway. He leapt up and was first in the gate, blocking it with open arms. "'Ah!' he cried, saw Titmice roosted the shed, ha! What ransom shall I have of thee, for making me keep empty trist last night? I, and was creeping hence to make me a fool once more the night long, and I had not caught thee?' The lady laughed. "'Last night my father kept me by him, and tonight, my Lord, wouldst thou not have been fitly served for thy shameless ditty? Is that a sweet serenade, for lady's ears? Bring it again to thy liberty, and show thyself an ass!' "'Thou art very bold to provoke me, madame, with not even a star to be thy witness if I quite thee for it. These flamboy's are old roisterers, grown grain, scenes of riot. Ther shall not blub!' "'Nay, if thou speakest in wine, I am gone, my Lord, and as he took a step towards her, and I return not, here or otherwise, but fling thee off for ever,' she said. "'I will not be entreated like a serving-maid. I have borne too long with thy forced soldier-fashions.'" Carinius caught his arms about her, lifting her against his broad chest so that her toes scarce kept footing on the ground. "'All striver,' he said thickly, bending his face to hers, "'dost think to light so great a fire, and after walk through it and not be scorched there at?' Her arms were close pinion'd at her sides in that strong embrace. She seemed to swoon as a lily swooning in the flaming noonday. Carinius bent down his face and kissed her fiercely, saying, "'By all the sweets that ever darkness tested, thou art mine to-night.'" "'Tomorrow,' she said, as it stifled. "'But Carinius said, my dearest happiness, to-night.'" "'My dear Lord,' said the Lady Sreve, softly, "'sit thou has made such a conquest of my love. Be not a harsh and forward conqueror. I swear to thee, by all the dreadful powers that clip the earth about, there's matter in it I should to my father this night. Near more, now, on the instant. "'Twas this only made me avoid thee but now. This and no light can seek to vex thee.' "'He can attend our pleasure,' said Carinius. "'Tis an old man, and oft sitteth late at his book.' "'How?' "'And thou leftest him carousing,' said she. "'There's that I must impart to him, ere the wine quite o'erfloor his wits. Even this delay, how sweet's o'er to us, is dangerous.' "'But Carinius said, I will not let thee go.' "'Well,' said she, "'be a beast, then. "'But no, I'll cry on a rescue, shall make old cars he run to finders. And my brothers, I and Laxus, if he be a man, shall deal thee bitter payment for thy violence toward me. But if thou wilt be thy noble self, and respect my love with friendship, let me go. And if thou come secretly to my chamber door an hour past midnight, I think thou'll find no bolt to it.' "'Ha! Thou swearest it?' he said.' "'She answered, else may a steep destruction swallow me quick.' "'An hour past midnight. "'And until then, tis a year in my desires,' said he.' "'There spoke my noble lover,' said Sreever, giving him her mouth once more. Swiftly she fared through the shadowy archway, and across the court, to wear in the north gallery her father Corsus had his chamber. The Lord Carinius went back to his seat, and there reclined for a space in slothful ease, humming to an old tune. "'My mistress is a shittle cock, composed of cork and feather. Which battle-door sets on her dock, and bumps her on the leather. But cast her off which way you will. She will recoil to another still. Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la.' He stretched his arms and yawned. "'Well, laxus, my chub-fist meacock, this medicine has eased powerfully my discontent. Tis but fair, sith I must miss my crown, that I should have thy mistress. And to say true, seeing how base little an ordinary a kingdom is this a pixie-land, and what a delectable sweet wag-tail this Sreva, and besides I have these two years past near looked on but my mouth watered, why I may hold me part-paired for the nonce, until I weary of her. Love is all my life, for it keeps me doing, yet my love and wooing is not for a wife. And hour-past midnight, ha! What wine's best for lovers? I'll go drink a stoop, and sort a dice with some of these lads to pass away the time till then.' CHAPTER XVI Fy cried Zenambria, how thou startled me! Falsome what into a slower speech, my girl! With such wild sudden talk I know not what thou meanest, know what's the matter! But Sreva answered, matter of state. Thou ghost not? Good, then I fetch him. Thou shalt hear all and on, mother, and so turn towards the door. Nor might all her mothers crying out upon the scandal of their soul returning to the banquet long past the hour of the women's withdrawal turn her from this. So that the ladies in Ambria, seeing her so willful, thought it less evil to go herself, and so went, and in a while returned with Corsus. Corsus sat in his great chair over against his lady-wife, while his daughter told her tale. "'Twice and thrice,' said she, they passed me by, as near as I stand to thee, O my father, she leaning most familiarly on the arm of her curled philosopher. It was plain they had never a thought that any was by to overhear them. She said so and so. And therewith Sreva told all that was spoke by the lady-presmira as to an expedition to demon-land, and as to her purposed speaking with the king, and as to her design that Corrin should be his general for that sailing, and letters sealed on the morrow for his straight recall from Orpish. The Duke listened unmoved, breathing heavily, leaning heavily forward, his elbows on his knees, one great fat hand twisting and pushing back the sparse gray growth of his mustachios. His eyes shifted with sullen glance about the chamber, and his blabber cheeks, scarlet from the feast, flushed to a deeper hue. Zenambria said, Alas! and did I not tell thee long ago, my Lord, that Corrin did ill to wed with a young wife? And then scumeth now that shame that was but to be looked for. It is pity indeed, o' so goodly a man! Now past his prime age, she should so play at fast and loose with his honour, and he at the far end of the world. Indeed and indeed I hope he will revenge it on her it is coming home. For sure I am, Corrin is too high-minded to buy advancements at so shameful a price. Thy talk, wife, said Corsus, showeth long hair and a short wit. In brief thou art a fool. He was silent for a space. Then raised his gaze to Sreva, where she rested, her back to the massive table, half standing, half sitting, a dented, jewel-bespargled hand planted on the table's edge at her either side, her arms like delicate white pillars supporting that fair frame. Somewhat his dull eye brightened, resting on her. Come hither, he said, on my knee. So when she was seated, it is a brave gown, said he, thou wearest to-night, my pretty pug, red for a sanguine humour. His great arm gave her a back, and his hand huge as a platter, there like a booklet beneath her breast. Thou smelt'st passing sweet. It is Malabarthrum in the leaf, answered she. I'm glad it likes thee, my lord, said Zenambria. My woman still protesteth that such, being boiled with wine, yieldeth a perfume that passeth all other. Courses still looked on Sreva. After a while he asked, what made us, though, on the terrace of the dark, huh? She looked down, saying, it was lax as bread me meet him there. Hum! said Courses. It is strange, then, he should await thee this hour gone by in the paved alley of the Privy Court. He did mistake me, said Sreva, and well is he served to such neglect. So. And thou turnest politician to-night, my little puscat, said Courses. And thou smellest an expedition to demon-land? It is like he now. For me thinks the king will send Carinius. Carinius, said Sreva. It is not thought so. It is current must have it, if thou push not the matter to a decision with the king to-night, O my father, and my lady fox be private with him to-morrow. Bah! said Courses. Thou art but a girl, and no snort. She hath not the full blood, nor the resolution to carry it thus. No. It is not Coran stands in the light. It is Carinius. It is therefore the king withheld him from Pixiland, which was his Jew, and tossed to the bobble to Laxus. Why, it is a monstrous thing, said Zenabria, if Carinius shall have demon-land, which surely much surpasseth this crown of Pixiland. Shall this novice have all the meat, and thou, because thou art old, have nought but the bones and the pairings? Hold thy tongue, mistress, said Courses, looking upon her as one looketh on a sour mixture. Why hath's not the wit to angle for him for thy daughter? Truly, husband, I am sorry for it, said Zenabria. The Lady Sreba laughed, placing her arm about her father's bullock-mech and playing with his whiskers. Content thee, she said, my lady mother, I have my choice, and that is very certain, of these and of all other in carcy. And now I bethink thee on the Lord Carinius. Why, there is a proper man indeed, where hath the shaven lit, too, which his experienced opinion shall tell thee, for exceedeth your nasty mustachios. Well, said Courses, kissing her. How ere it shape, I'll till the King to-night to move my matter with him. Meanwhile, madden, he said to Zenabria, I'll have thee take thy chamber straight, bolt well the door, and for more safety I will lock it myself for the outer side. There's much mirth toward to-night, and I'd not have these staggering drunken swads offend thee, as full well might be fall, whilst I am on mine errand of state. Zenabria bed him good-night, and would have taken her daughter with her, but Courses said near to this, saying, I'll see her self-bestowed. When they were alone, and the lady Zenabria locked away in her chamber, Courses took forth from an oaken cupboard a great silver flagon, and two chast goblets. These he brimmed with a sparkling yellow wine from the flagon, and made Sareeva drink with him, not once on her, but twice, emptying each time her goblet. Then he drew up his chair, and, sinking heavily into it, yielded his arms upon the table, and buried his head upon them. Sareeva passed back and forth, impatient at her father's strange posture and silence. Surely the wine-lighted riot in her veins! Surely in that silent room came back to her Corinius' kisses hot upon her mouth, the strength of his arms like bands of bronze holding her embraced. Midnight told. Her bones seemed to melt within her, as she be thought of her promise, due in an hour. Father, said she at last, midnight hath stricken. Would thou not go, ere it be too late? The duke raised his face, and looked at her. He answered, No. No, he said again, Where's the prophet? Thy wax-old my daughter, and must wither. The world is to the young, to Corinius, to Laxus, to thee. For most of all to Corund, who if are be old, yet hath his mess of sons, and mightiest of all his wife, to be his ladder to climb thrones with all. But thou saidst, but now, saidst, Riva, I, when thy mammy was by. She cometh to her second childhood before her time, so as to a child I speak to her. Corund did ill to wed with a young wife. Ha! Foot! Is not this the very bulwark and rampire of his fortune? Didst ever see a fellow so spurted up in a moment? My secretary, when I managed the old wars against the ghouls, and now climbed clean over me, that I'm yet nine years elder, called king forsooth, and like to be tarned soon under the king, for dominus fact totum throughout all the land, if I play this woman as I should. Will not the king, for such payment as she intends, give demon land upon imp land, and all the world beside? Hell's dignity that would I, and to her offered me. He stood up, reaching unsteadily for the wine-jug. Fertively he watched his daughter, shifting his gears ever as her I met his. Corund, said he, pouring out some wine, would split his sides for laughter to hear thy mother's prim mouth to brabble. He that hath then joined upon his wife, there's an error doubt on't, this very errand, and if he visited on her at his coming home, to a but be with hot love and gratitude, for that she wins him in our despite. Trust me, it is not every lady of quality shall find favour with a king. The casement stood open, and while there stood without speech, sounds of a lute trembled upward from the court below, and a man's voice, soft and deep, singing this song. Homes to the bolt, hooves to the steed, to little hairs, light feet for speed, and unto lions she giveth teeth, a gaping dangerously. Fishes to swim, and birds to fly, and men to judge and reason why. She teaches, yet for womankind none of these things hath she. For women beauty she hath made, their only shield, their only bled, or saw it on fire their triumph still, so there but beauty as be. The Lady Sreben, who it was laxus singing to her chamber window. Her blood beat wildly, the spirit of enterprise winging her imagination not toward him, nor yet Carinias, but into paths strangely and perilously inviting, undreamed of until now. The duke her father came towards her, thrusting the chairs from his wear, and saying, Corrand and his mess of hands, Corrand and his young queen, if he conjure with the white rose, why not thou and I with the red? It hath us fairer look, the devil dam me else, and serve hereth as excellent sweet perfume. She stared at him big-eyed, with blushing cheeks. He took her hands in his. Shall this outland woman, he said, and her sallow-cheeked glance still ruffle it over us? Long beards, whether they be white or black, are too huge a blemish in our eye, me thinks. The thing seemeth not supportable, that this precise madden with her foreign fashions dost fear to stand in the field against her. Sreva put her forehead on his shoulder, and said, scarce to be heard, and to come to that I'll show thee. It must be now, said Courses. Presmyra, thou hast told me, seeketh audiance betimes at the morning. Women are best at night, time, too. If Lexus should hear thee, she said. He answered, tush, he need never blame thee. Then if he knew on't, and we can manage that. Thy silly mother, praited but now of honour. It is but a school name, and if to her other, tell me when springeth the fact of honour, if not from the king of kings. If he received thee, then art thou honoured, and all there that have to do with thee. I am yet to learn dishonour at lyeth on that man or woman whom the king doth honour. She laughed, turning from him toward the window, her hands still held in his. For thou hast given me a strong portion, and I think that's wayeth me more than thy many arguments, o'er my father, wish to say a truth I cannot well remember, because I did not much believe. Duke Courses took her by the shoulders. His face overlooked her by a little, for she was not taller build. By the gods, he said, it is a stronger sweet scent of the red rose to make a great man drunk with all than of the white, though that be a bigger flower. And he said, why not for a game, for a madcap jest, a mantel and hood, a mask if thou wilt, and my ring to prove thee my ambassador. I'll attend thee through the courtyard to the foot of the stairs. She said nothing, smiling at him, as she turned for him to put the great velvet mantel about her shoulders. Ha! said he. It is well seen her daughter is worth ten sons. In the meanwhile, Garice the king sat in his private chamber, writing at a parchment spread before him on the table of polished marmalite. A silver lamp burned at his left elbow. The window stood open to the night. The king had laid aside his crown that sparkled darkly in the shadow below the lamp. He put down his pen and read again what he had written, in manner following. From me, Garice the twelfth, great king of witch-land, and of imp-land, and of demon-land, and of all kingdoms the sun doth spread his beams over, unto Corsus my servant. This is to signify to thee that thou shalt, with all convenient speed, repair with the sufficient strength of men and ships to demon-land, because that untoward and traitorly cattle that do there inhabit, ought to feel by thee the sharpness of my correction. I will thee as holding the place of my general there, that thou enter forcibly into the said country, and do with all diligence spoil, ravish, and depopulate that land, enslaving or pressing and putting to the death, as thou shalt think most servishable all them that shall fall into thy power, and in particular putting down and ruinating all their strong holds or castles, as Gaeling, Drepaby, Crothering, Owlswick, and other. This enterprise in head is one of the greatest that ever was, since it is to trump down demon-land, and once and for all to cut their combs, whose crests may donge us, and thou art to understand that without extraordinary experience of thy former merits, I would not commit to thee so great a charge, and especially in such a time. And since all great enterprises ought to be suddenly and resolutely prosecuted, therefore this ought to be done and executed at furthest in harvest next. Therefore it is my commandment that thou courses take order for the instant furnishing of ships, seamen, soldiers, horsemen, officiers, and particular persons, weapons, munitions, and all of the necessaries, which is thought to be needful for the army and host which shall be levied for the said enterprise, for which this letter shall be thy sufficient warrant under my hand. Then under my signeth of Oroboros, in my palace of Carsey, this 19th day of May, being the 7th day of my year the second. The king took wax and a taper from the great gold inkstand, and sealed the warrant with the ruby head of the worm Oroboros, saying, the ruby, most comfortable to the heart, brain, vigor, and memory of man. So it is confirmed. In that instant, when the wax was yet soft of the king's seal, sealing that commission for courses, one tapped gently at the chamber door. The king bade enter, and there came the captain of his bodyguard, and stood before the king, with word that one waited without praying instant audience, and showed me for a token o' my Lord the king, a bull's head with fiery nostrils, graven in a black opal in the bezel of a ring, which I knew for the signet of my Lord courses, that his lordship beareth all way on his left thumb. And was this o' king that only persuaded me to deliver the message unto your majesty in this unseasonable hour, which if it be a fault in me, I do humbly hope your majesty will pardon? No was thou the man, said the king. He answered, I might not know him, dread-lord, for the mask and great hooded cloak he weareth. It is a little man, and speaketh a husky whisper. Admit him, said King Garas. And when Sreva was come in, masked and hooded and holding forth the ring, he said, thou luckest questionable, albeit this token opened away for thee, put off these trappings and let me know thee. But she, speaking still in a husky whisper, prayed that they might be private ere she disclosed herself. So the king bade leave them private. Dread-lord, said the soldier, is it your will that I stand ready without the door? No, said the king, void the antechamber, set the guard and let none disturb me. And to Sreva, he said, if thine errand prove not more honester than thy looks, this is an ill night's journey for thee. But the lifting of my finger I am able to met up more forst thee to a man-dreck, if indeed thou beest ought else already. When there were alone the lady Sreva doffed her mask, and put back her hood, uncovering her head that was crowned with two heavy trammels of her dark-brown hair, bound up and into woven above her brow and ears, and pinned with silver pins, headed with garnets coloured like burning coals. The king beheld her from under the great shadow of his brows, darkly, not by so much as the moving of an eyelid or a liniment of his lean visage, betraying oughts that passed in his mind at this disclosing. She trembled and said, Oh, my lord the king, I hope you will indulge and pardon in me this trespass. Truly I marvel at my own boldness how I dourst come to you. With the gesture of his hand the king bade her be seated in a chair on his right beside the table. Don't you just not be afraid, madam? he said, That I admit thee, let it make thee assured of welcome. Let me know thine errand. The fire of her father's wine shuddered down within her like a low-lit flame in a gust of wind, as she sat there alone with King Garice XII in the circle of the lamp-light. She took a deep breath to still her heart's fluttering and said, Oh, king, I was much afraid to come, and it was to ask you a boon, a little thing for you to give, Lord, and yet to me that I am the least of your handmaids a great thing to receive. But now I am come indeed, I dourst not ask it. The glitter of his eyes, looking out from their eaves of darkness, dismayed her, and little comfort had she of the iron crown at his elbow, bright with gems and fierce with uplifted claws, or of the copper serpent's interlaced that made the arms of his chair, or of the bright image of the lamp reflected in the tabletop, where were red streaks like streaks of blood, and black streaks like edges of swords streaking the green shining surface of the stone. Yet she took heart to say, Were I a great Lord had done your Majesty service as my father hath, or these others you did honor tonight, oh king, it had been otherwise. He said nothing, and still, gathering courage, she said, I too would serve you, oh king, and I came to ask you how. The king smiled, I am much beholden to thee, madame. Do as thou hast done, and thou shalt please me well. Feast and be merry, and charge not thine head with these midnight questionings, lest too much carefulness make thee grow lean. Grow I saw, oh king, you shall judge. So speaking the Lady Sreva rose up and stood before him in the lamp-light. Slowly she opened her arms upwards right and left, putting back her velvet cloak from her shoulders, until the dark cloak hanging in folds from either uplifted hand, was like the wings of a bird lifted up for flight. Dazzling fair shone her bare shoulders and bare arms, and throat and bosom. One great hyacinth stone, hanging by a gold chain about her neck, rested above the hollow of her breasts. It flashed and slept with her breathing's alternate fall and swell. She said to me, Lord, but now, she said, to transmute me to a mandrake. Would you might change me to a man? She could read nothing in the crag-like darkness of his countenance. The iron lip. The eyes that were like pulsing fire-light out of hollow caves. I should serve you better, sir, Lord, than my poor beauty, may. Were I a man, I had come to you to-night, and said, oh king, let us not suffer any longer of that hound just. Give me your sword, oh king, and I will put down demon-land for you, and tread them under feet. She sank softly into her chair again, suffering her velvet cloak to fall over its back. The king ran his finger thoughtfully along the upstanding claws of the crown beside him on the table. Is this the boon thou askest me, he said at length, an expedition to demon-land? She answered it was. Must there sail to-night, said the king, still watching her? She smiled foolishly. Only, he said, I would know what gadfly of urgency is stung thee on to come so strangely and suddenly and after midnight. She paused a minute. Then someon encouraged. Lest another should first come to you, oh king, she answered. Believe me, I know of preparations, and one that shall come to you in the morning praying this thing for another. What intelligence so-ever some hath, I am sure of that to be true that I have. Another, said the king. Sriva answered, Lord, I'll say no names. Would there be some, oh king, be dangerous sweet suppliance, hanging their hopes be like on other strings than we may tune? She had bent her head above the polished table, looking curiously down into its depths. Her corsage and gown of scarlet silk brocade were like the chalice of a great flower, her white arms and shoulders like the petals of the flower above it. At length she looked up. Thou smilest my lady, Sriva, said the king. I smiled at my own thought, she said. You'll laugh to hear it, oh my lord the king, being so different from what we spoke on. But sure of women's thoughts is no more sure as to no rest than is an aven that turneth at all winds. Let me hear it, said the king, bending forward, his lean hairy hand flung idly across the table's edge. Why thus it was, Lord, said she, there came me in mind of a sudden that saying of the Lady Presmira, when first she was wed to Korund and dwelt here in Karsi. She said all the right part of her body was of witch-land, but the left, pixie, whereupon our people that were by, rejoiced much that she had given the right part of her body to witch-land, whereupon she said, but her heart was on the left side. And where, whereas thou thine, asked the king? She does not look at him, and so so not the comic light go like summer lightning across his dark countenance as she spoke Presmira's name. His hand had dropped from the table-edge. Sriva felt it touch her knee. He trembled like a full sail that suddenly for an instant the wind leaves. Very still, she sat, saying in a low voice, there's a word, my Lord, the king, if you'd but speak it, should beam a light to show you my answer. But he leaned closer, saying, dost think I'll chaff him with thee. I'll know the answer first in the dark. Lord, she whispered, I would not have come to you in this deep and dead time of the night, but that I knew you noble, and the great king, and no amorous servitor that should deal false with me. Her body breathed spices, soft warm scents to make the senses real, perfume of Malabathrum bruised in wine, essences of sulphur-coloured lilies planted in Aphrodite's garden. The king drew her to him. She cast her arms about his neck, saying close to his ear, Lord, I may not sleep till you tell me they must sail, and courses must be their captain. The king held her gathered up like a child in his embrace. He kissed her on the mouth, a long, deep kiss. Then he sprang to his feet, set her down like a doll before him upon the table by the lamp, and so sat back in his own chair again, and sat regarding her with a strange and disturbing smile. On a sudden his brow darkened, and thrusting his face towards hers, his thick black square-cut beard jutting beneath the curl of his shaven upper lip. Girl, he said, who sent thee of this errand? He rolled his eye upon her with such a gorgon look that her blood ran back with a great leap towards her heart, and she answered, scarce to be heard. Truly, O king, my father sent me! Was he drunk when he sent thee, asked the king? Truly, Lord, I think he was, said she. That cup that he was drunken with all, said King Gerais, let him prize and cherish it all his life natural, for if in his sober senses he should make no more estimation of me than think to bribe my favours with a boner robber. By my soul, in his evil health he had sought to do it, for it should cost him nothing but his life. Sreever began to weep, saying, O king, you're gentle pardon. But the king pierced the room like a prowling lion. Did he fear I should supply Corland in his place, said he? This was a cocksure aware to make me do it, if indeed his practice had might to move me at all. Let him learn to come to me with his own mouth, if he hoped to get good of me. Other else out of carcy let him go, and avoid my sight, that all the great masters of hell may conduct him thither. The king posed at length beside Sreever, that was perched still upon the table, showing the kind of sweetness in tears, sobbing very pitifully, her face hidden in her two hands. So for a time he beheld her, then lifted her down, and while he sat in his great chair, holding her on his knee with one hand, with the other drew hers gently from before her face. Come, he said, I blame it not on thee. Give over all thy weeping. Reach me that writing from the table. She turned in his arms and stretched a hand out for the parchment. There no was my signet, said the king. She nodded, I. Read, said he, letting her go. She stood by the lamp and read. The king was behind her. He took her beneath the arms, bending to speak hot breathed in her ear. Thou seest, I had already chose, my general. Therefore I let thee know it, because I mean not to let thee go till morning, and I would not have thee think thy loveliness, how air it please me, move with such deep commanding spells as to swear my policy. She lay back against his breast, limp and strengthless, while he kissed her neck and eyes and throat. Then her lips met his in a long voluptuous kiss. Finally the king's hands upon her were like live coles. Be thinking her of Carinius, fuming at an open door and an empty chamber. The Lady Sreva was yet content. CHAPTER XVII THE KING FLYES IS HAGGARD How the Lady Presmira came to the king on an errand of state, and how she prospered therein. Wherein is also seen why the king would send the Duke Corsus into demon-land, and how on the fifteenth day of July these lords, Corsus, Laxus, Gro, and Galandus sailed with a fleet from Tenebos. On the morning came the Lady Presmira to pray audience of the king, and being admitted to his private chamber stood before him in great beauty and splendour, saying, Lord, I came to thank you, as occasion served not for me fitly so to do last night at the banquet-hole. Sure it is no easy task, since when I thank you as I should, I must seem too unmindful of Coran's deserving who hath won this kingdom. But if I speak too large of that, I shall seem to diminish your bounty, O king, and in gratitude is a vice abhorred. Madam, said the king, thou needest not to thank me, and to mine ear's great deeds have their own trumpets. So now she told him of her letters received from Coran out of Impland. It is well seen, Lord, said she, how in these days you do beep down all peoples under you, and do set up new tributary kings to add to your great prayers in Carcy. O king, how long must this ill-weed of demon-land defenders, going still untrodden on defeat? The king answered her not a word. Only his lips shud a gleam of teeth, as of a tiger's trouble at his meal. But Prezmira said with great hardiness, Lord, be not angry with me. Me thinks it is the part of a faithful servant, honoured by his master, to seek new service. And where lieth likely a service Coran should do you, than west overseas, to lead presently an army-naval thither, and make an end of them, have their greatness stand up again from the blow, wherewith last may you distract them. Madam, said the king, this charge is mine. I'll tell thee when I need thy counsel, which is not now. And standing up as if to end them at it, he said, I do intend some sport to-day. They tell me thou hast a falcon gentle, tower of so well she passeth the best Carinius hath. It is clear calm weather. We'll better take her out to-day, and show us the mountier to Heron. She answered joyfully, O king. Yet I beseech you, add this favour to all your form of goodness, to hear me yet one word. Something persuades me you have already determined of this enterprise, and by your putting of me off, I do fear your majesty Mimoth not Coran shall undertake it but some other. Dark and immovable as his own dark fortress facing the bright morning, g'rice the king stood and beheld her. Then shined streaming through the eastern casement, lighted red-gold, smouldering splendours in the heavy coils of that lady's hair, and flew back in dazzling showers from the diamonds fastened among those coils. After a sparse he said, Suppose I am a gardener. I go not to the butterfly for counsel. Let her be glad that there be rose-trees there, and red stone-crops for her delight, which, if any be lacking, I'll give her more for the asking, as I'll give thee more masks and revels and all brave pleasures in carcy. War and policy is not for women. You have forgot, O King, said the Lady Presmira. Coran'd made me his ambassador. But seeing a blackness fall upon the king's cantoness, she said in haste, But not in all, O King. I will be open as day to you. The expedition he strongly urged, but not for himself the leading aunt. The king looked evilly upon her. I am glad to hear it, he said. Then, his brow clearing, Nor thou it for thy good, madam, is ten for this already. O winter night's return again, demon-lun shall be my footstool. Therefore right to thy lord I gave him his wish before hand. Presmira's eyes dance triumph. O, the glad day, she cried. Mine also, O King. If thine be his, said the King. Ah, said she, you know mine out-gallops it. Then school-vine, madam, said the King, to run in harness. Why, thanks to thou, I sent Coran'd into Impland, thought that I knew he had excellent wit and noble courage to govern a great kingdom, wouldst have me a willful child snatch Impland from him like a sampler half-stitched. Then, taking leave of her with more gracious courtesy, we shall look to see thee, then, madam, of the third hour before noon, he said, and smote on a gong, summoning the captain of his guard. Soldier, he said, conduct the queen of Impland, and bid the Duke Corsus straight attend me. The third hour before noon the Lord Gromet with Presmira, in the gate of the inner court. She had a riding-habit of dark green Tiffany, and a narrow ruff edged with marjorie pearls. She said, thou comest with us, my Lord? Surely I am beholden to thee. I know thou lovest not the sport, yet to save me from Corinius I must have thee. He plagued me much this morning with strange courtesies, though why, thus on a sudden, I cannot tell. In this, said Lord Gromet, as in greater matters I am thy servant, O Queen. It is yet time enough, though. This half-hour the King will not be ready. I left implosited with Corsus, that set us presently about his arming against the demons. Thou hast heard? Am I deaf, said Presmira, to a bell clangor through all carcy? Alas, said Groff, that we worked too long last night, and lay too long a bed in the morning. Presmira answered, that did not I, and yet I am angry with myself now that I did not so. How? Thou saw us the King before the Council? She bent her head for yes, and he near said thee. With infinite patience, said she, but most irrevocably. My Lord must hold by implant till it be well brought to the saddle, and truly when I think on't, there's reason in that. Groff said, Thou takest it, madam, with that clear brow of nobleness and reason I had looked for in thee. She laughed. I have the maid of my desire, if demon-land shall be put down. Nevertheless, it maketh a great wonder the King picketh for this work so rude a bludgeon, when so many goodly blades lie ready to his hand. Behold but his armoury! For, stunning in the gateway at the head of the steep centre of the river, there beheld where the lords of Witchland were met beyond the bridge-gate, to ride forth to the Hawking. And Presmira said, Is it not brave, my Lord, Groff, to dwell in carcy? Is it not passing brave to be in carcy, that lordeth it over all the earth? Now came they down, and by the bridge to the Way of Kings, to meet with them on the open mead on the left bank of Rwima. Presmira said to Lexus that wrought on a black gilding full of silver hairs. I see thou hast thy goss-hawks forth to-day, my Lord. I, madam, said he, there is not a stronger hawk than these, with all they are very fierce and crabbed, and I must keep them private lest they slay all other sort. Sreba, that was by, put forth a hand to stroke them. Truly, she said, I love them well, thy goss-hawks. They be stout and kingly. And she laughed, and said, Truly to-day I look not lower than on a king. Thou must look on me, then, said Lexus, albeit I burn up my crown in the field. It is therefore I'll mark thee not, said she. Lexus said to Presmira, will thou not praise my hawks, or queen? I praise them, and said she, circumspectly. For me thinks they fit thy temper better than mine. These be good hawks, my Lord, for flying at the bush. I am for the high-mounty. Her steps unhemming, black-browed and sullen-eyed, laughed in his throat, knowing she mocked and thought on demon-land. Meanwhile, Carinius, mounted on a great-wide leard like silver, with black ear-tips, mane and tail, and all four feet black as coal, drew up to the Lady Sreba, and spoke with her apart, saying secretly so that none but she might hear. Next time thou shalt not carry it so, but I will have thee when and where I would. Thou must gull the devil with thy perfidiousness, but not me a second time, thou lying, cosening vixen. She answered softly, beastly man. I did perform the very article of mine oath, and left thee an open door last night. If thou didst look to find me within, that were beyond all thy promised. And know for that I'll seek a greater than thou, and a nicer to my liking, one less ready to swap each kitchen-slut on the lips. I know thou practised my Lord and thy conditions. His face flamed red. Were that my custom, I'd now amend it. Thou art so true, a runt of their same litter, they shall all be lovely to me, as thou art lovely. Mew, said she, wittily spoky-faith, and right in the manner of a common horse-boy, which indeed thou art. Carinius struck spurs into his horse so that it bounded aloft, then cried out and said to Presmyra, Incomparable lady, I shall show thee my new horse, what rounds, what bounds, what stop he makes, in the full course of the gallop-galliard. And therewith, trotting up to her, made his horse fetch a very close turn in a flying manner upon one foot, and saw away, rising to a racking pace, an amble, and thence after some double turns, returning at the gallop and coming to a full stop by Presmyra. It is very pretty, my Lord, said she, yet I would not be thy horse. So, madam, he cried, thy reason. Why, said she, were I the most temperate, strongest, and of the gentlest nature in the world, of the heat of the ginger, most swift to all high culverts and caprioles, I'd fear my crest should fall at the end, tired with thy spur-galling. Where at the Lady Sreba fell a laughing? No came garage the king among them, with his ostringers and falconers, and his huntsmen with setters and spanules, and great fierce boar-hounds drawn in a string. He rode upon a black mare with eyes fire-red, saw tall a tall man's head scarce topped her withers. He wore a leather gauntlet on his right hand, on the wrist thereof an eagle sat, hooded and motionless, gripping with her claws. He said, it is met, cause us go not with us. I fly him at hire-game. His sons attend him, losing not an hour in preparation for this journey. The rest take pleasure in the chest. So they praised the king, and rode forth with him east away. The Lady Sreba whispered Carinius in the ear, Enchanter in my lord, ruleth in carcy, and this it must be, bringeth it about, that none may see nor touch me, tweaks midnight hour and cock-crawl, save he that must be king in demon-land. But Carinius made us not to hear her, turning toward the Lady Presmyra, that turned thence toward growl. Sreba laughed. Merry of heart she seemed that day, eager as the small Merlin sitting on her fist, unwilling at every turn to have speech with kinger eyes. But the king heeded her not at all, and gave her not a look nor a word. So rode there while, jesting and discoursing, toward the pixie-land border, rousing herons by the way where art none made better sport than Presmyra's falcons, flown from her fist at many hundred paces as the quarry rolls, and mounting with it to the clouds, in corkscrew flights, ring upon ring, up and up till the fowl was but a speck in the upper sky, and her falcon's two lesser specks beside it. But when they were come to the higher ground, and the scrub and underwood, then the king whistled his eagle off his fist. She flew from him as if she would never have turned head again, yet presently upon his shout came in. Then soaring aloft, waited on above his head, till the hounds started a wolf out of the break. Thereon she swooped sudden as a thunderbolt, and the king lighted down and helped her with his hunting-knife, and so again thrice and four times till four wolves were slain. And that was the greatest sport. The king made much of his eagle, giving her the last wolf's lights and liver to gorge herself with all. And he gave her over to his falconer, and said, We now into the flats of Arminy, for I will fly my haggard. My haggard eagle caught this march in the hills of Lagos. Many a good night's rest hath she cost me, to wake her and man her, and teach her to know my call, and be obedient. I will fly her now at the big black bore of Lagos, that afflicteth the farmers hereabouts these two years past, and bringeth them death and loss. So shall we see good sport, if she be not too coy and wild? So the king's falconer brought the haggard, and the king took her on his fist. A black eagle she was, red-beaked and glorious to look on. Her jesses were of red leather, with little silver varvels, whereon the crab of witch-land was engraved in small. Her hood was of red leather tassled with silver. First she bated from the fist of the king, screaming and flapping her wings, but soon was quiet. And the king rode forth, sending his great brindled hounds before him to put up the bore, and all his company followed after. In no long time they roused at the bore, that turned red-eyed and moody mad on the king's hounds, and charged among them, ripping up the foremost so that her bowels gushed out. The king unhuddied his eagle, and flew her off his fist. But she, wild and un-gentle, fastened not up on the bore, but on a hound that held him by the ear. She fixed her cruel claws in the hound's neck, and picked his eyes out ere a man might speak two curses on her. Grawl that was by the king muttered, Oh, I like not that, it is ominous. But I then was the king ridden up, and thrust the bore through with his spear, piercing him above and a little behind the shoulder, so that the blade went through the heart of him, and he sank down dying in his blood. Then the king smote his eagle in his wroth with the butt of his spear-shaft, but smote her lightly and with a glancing blow, and away she flew and was lost to sight. And the king was angry, for all that the bore was slain, for the loss of his hound and his haggard, and for her ill behavior. So he made his huntsman skin the bore, and bring home his skin to be a trophy, and saw toned homeward. After a while the king called to him the lord Grawl to ride forward a little with him, and out of earshot of the rest. The king said to him, thou hast a discontented look. Is it that I send not Corund into demon-land to crown the work he began at Eshgroi Ogol, though babblest besides of Ormans? Grawl answered, my lord the king, pardon my fears. For Ormans, indeed, it is oft as the soul saith, as the fool thinketh, so the bell blinketh. I spake in haste. Who shall weep fate from her determined purpose? But since you did name Corund's name. I named him, said the king, because I am still ringing in the ears with women's talk. Where too also I don't not thou art privy? Only so much answered he, that this is my thought. He were our best, O king. Happily so, said the king, but wouldst have me therefore hold my stroke in the air, while occasion knocketh at the gate. I'll tell thee, I am potent in the art magical, but scarce may I stare times wing the while I fetch Corund out of Implund and pack him west away. Graw held his peace. Well, said the king, I will hear more from thee. Lord, he answered, I like not Corsus. The king gave him a frump to his face. Graw held his peace again a while. But seeing the king would have more, he said, since it likes your majesty to demand my counsel, I will speak. You know, lord, of all your men in Corsi, Corinius is least my friend, and if I back him you will be little apt to think me moved by interest. In mightly adjudgment, if Corund be barred from this journey, as reason is I freely embrace it he must bide in Implund, both to harvest there his victories and to deny the road to Jusson brandock to Ha, if happily they return from the maruna, and besides, time, as you must justly say, O king, calleth for speedy action. If he be barred, you have no better than Corinius. A complete soldier, a tried captain, young, fierce and resolute, and one that sitteth not down again when once he standeth up, till that he's will be accomplished. Send him to Demonland. No, said the king, I will not send Corinius. Hast thou not seen hawks that be in their prime and full pride for beauty and goodness, but must be tamed ere they be flown at the quarry? Such and one is he, and I will tame him with harshness and duress till I be certain of him. Also I have sworn and told him, last year when in his drunkenness he betrayed my counsel and overset all our plans, broke me from Pixiland and set my prisoners free, that Corund and Corsus and Laxus should be preferred and advanced before him, until by quiet service he shall purchase my goodwill again. Give then the glory to Corsus, but to Corinius the rude work-hunt for retiring. Send him as Corsus his secretary, and your work shall be better performed, O king. But the king said, No, thou art a fool to think he would receive it, that being in disgrace could not humble himself but look bigger than before. And certainly I will not ask him, and so give him the glory to refuse it. My Lord the king said, Gro, when I said unto you I like not Corsus, you did scoff. Yet his no-simple niceness made me say it, but because I do fear he shall prove a false cloth. He will shrink in the wetting, and can abide no trial. By the blight of Sathanas, said the king, what crazy talk is this? Has forgot the ghouls twelve years ago. True thou was not here, and yet what skills it? When the fame hath gone back and forth through all the world of their great spill, when which land stood in the greatest strait that ever she stood, and more than any other, Corsus was to praise for our delivering. And since then, five years later, when he held Harquem against Goldry Bluscoe, I made him at last to give over the siege, and go home most ingloriously, and else had all the Cybrian coast been the demon's appanage, not ours. Gro bowed his head, having naught to say. The king was silent a while, and bared his teeth. When I would burn mine in his house, he said, I choose me a good brand, full of pitch and rosin, apt to sputter well in the fire and fry them. Such unworn is Corsus, since he fared to Goblinland ten years ago, on that ill-faring which had I been king I never had agreed to. When Brandoc de Haar took him prisoner on Lormarun Field, and despitefully used him, stripped him stark naked, shaved him all of one side smooth as a tennis ball, and painted him yellow, and sent him home with Mickelsham to which land. Held evower me, but I think his heart is in this enterprise. I think they'll see brave doings in Demonland when he comes thither. Still Gro was silent, and the king said after a while, I have given thee reasons ye now, I think, why I send Corsus into Demonland. There is yet this other, that by itself, why if not one doight, yet with the others beareth down the balance if more thou lookest for, unto mine other servants great tasks have I given, and great rewards. To Corrand, Impland, and the king's crown, therefore, to laxus the like in Pixiland, to thee by anticipation Goblinland, for so I do intend. But this old hunting-dog of mine siteth yet in his kennel, with nearer bone to busy his teeth with all. That is not well, and shall no longer be neither, since there's no reason for it. Lord, said Gro, in all argument and wise pre-vision, you have quite or set me. Yet my heart misgives me. You would ride to Gaeling. You have turned on horse, therefore, with never a star in his forehead. Instead I see there is a cloud in his face, and such prove commonly furious, dogged, full of mischief and misfortune. They came down now upon the way of kings. Westward before them lay the marshes, with the great bulk of carcy, eight or ten miles distant, their chiefest landmark, and the towers of Tenemos breaking the level horizon-line beyond it. The king, after a long silence, looked down on Gro. His lean rugged countenance was outlined darkly against the sky, terrible and proud. Thou, too, said he, shalt be in this fairing to demon-land. Laxus shall have sway afloat, since that is his element of water. Galandus shall be secretary to Corsus, and thou shalt be with them in their councils. But the main command, as I have decreed, lieeth in Corsus. I'll not crop his authority, nor not buy Anhaire's bread. Sith just hath called the man, I will go hazard with Corsus. If I throw out with him, he'll rot him for a false die. But his not such a cast shall cast away all my fortune. I have a languid in my purse shall cross by it for me in the end, and win me all, as aware the demons cog against me. So ended that day's sporting. And that day, and the next, and near a month thereafter, was the Duke Corsus, visit, up and down the land, preparing his great armament. And on the fifteenth day of July was the fleet busked and bound in Tenemos roads, and that great army of five thousand men at arms, with horses and all insurances of war, marched from their camp without carcy down to the sea. First of them went laxus with his guard of mariners, he wearing the crown of Pixiland, and there loudly atlaming him as king, and the rice of witch-land as his overlord. A gallant man he seemed, ready looking and hard, well armed, with open countenance and bright seamen's eyes, and brown, crisp curly beard and hair. Next came the main foot-army, heavy armed with axe and spear, and the short witch-land hangar, yeoman and farmers from the lowlands about carcy, or from the southern vineyards, or the hill-country against Pixiland. Burley, swashing fellows, rough as bears, hardy as wild oxen, agile as an ape. Four thousand fighting men, chose out by Corsus, up and down the land as best for this great conquest. The sons of Corsus, decalages and glorious, rode a breast before them, with twenty pipers piping a battle-song. Surely the tramp of that great army on the Pervil Way was like the tramp of fate moving from the east. G'rice the king, sitting in state on the battle-mounds above the water-gate, sniffed with his nostrils as a lion at the scent of blood. It was early morn, and the wind hung southerly, and the great banners blue and green and purple and gold, each with an iron crab displayed above it, flaunted in the sun. Now came four or five companies of horse, four hundred or more in all, with brazen armour and bucklers and glancing spears, and last of all, Corsus himself, with his picked legion of five hundred veterans to bring up the rear, fierce soldiers of the coastlands that followed him of old to the eastern man and goblin land, and had stood beside him in the great days when he smote the ghouls in which land. On Corsus's left and right, a little behind him, rode Gro and Galandus. Ruddy of Countenance was Galandus, gay of carriage and likely-looking, long of limb, with long brown mustachios and large, kind eyes like a dog. Corsus stood beside the king, and with her the ladies Xenambria and Sreva, watching the long column marching toward the sea, hemming the sun of Corumne, leaned on the battlements. Beside him stood Carinius, scornful licked, with folded arms, most glorious in holiday attire, a wreath of dweil about his brows, and wearing on his mighty breast the gold badge of the king's captain general in Carcy. Corsus, as he rode by beneath them, planted on the point of his sword his great helm of bronze, plumed with green-dyed estrange-plumes, and raised it high above his head in homage to the king. The sparse gray locks of his hair lifted in the breeze, and pride flamed on the heavy face of him like a November sunset. He rode a dark bear, heavily built like a bear, that stepped ponderously as weighed down by his rider's bulk, and the great weight of gear and battle-harness. His veterans marching at his heel lifted their helms on spear and sword and bill, singing their old marching song in time to the clank of their milled feet marching down the way of kings. When Corsus dwelt at Teno-Mos beside the sea in Teno-Mos, Tira-lira-lay, the ghouls came down to Teno-Mos, they brent his house in Teno-Mos, down-derry, down-day. But Corsus carved the ghouls, the Corsus meat they air-de-deeped, he made him garters with their bowels, when he came home to Teno-Mos, came home again to Teno-Mos, with a rounder-lay. The king held aloft his staff-royal, returning Corsus his salute, and all Corsus shouted from the walls, in such wise rolled the Lord Corsus down to the ships with his great army that should bring Bale and Wall to demon-land. CHAPTER XVIII. THE MURDER OF GOLANDUS by Corsus. Of the uprising of the wars of King Gerais XII in demon-land, wherein is seen how, in an old man of war, stiff-neckedness and tyranny may overlive good-general-ship, and how a great king's displeasure dureth only so long as it agreeeth with his policy. Not befell to tell of, after sailing of the fleet from Teno-Mos, till August was nigh spent. Then came a ship of witch-land from the west, and sailed up the river to Carsey, and moored by the water-gate. Her skipper went straight a-land and up into the royal palace in Carsey, and the new banquet-hole, where as was King Gerais XII eating and drinking with his folk, and the skipper gave letters into the hands of the king. By then was night fallen, and all the bright lights kindled in the hole. The feast was three parts done, and thralls poured forth unto the king, and unto them that sat at meet with him, dark wines that crowned the banquet. And they set before the feast is sweet-meats, wondrous fare, bulls and pigs and griffons and other, made all of sugar-paste, some wines and spigots in their bellies to taste, of every one with his silver fork. First and pleasure was that night in the great hall in Carsey, but now were all fallen silent, looking on the king's countenance while he read his letters. But none might read the countenance of the king, that was inscrutable as the high-blind walls of Carsey brooding on the fen. So in that waiting silence, sitting in his great high seat, he read his letters, which were sent by Corsus, and writ in manner following. Renowned king, and most high prince and lord, Gerais XII of Witchland, and of Demonland, and of all kingdoms the sun doth spread his beams over. Corsus, your servant, doth prostrate myself before your greatness, even before the face of the earth. The gods grunt unto you, most noble lord, health and continuance, and saffety many years. After that I had received my dispatch and leave from your majesty, whereby you did of your royal goodness, given grunt unto me to be chief commander of all the war-like forces furnished and sent by you into Demonland, it may please your majesty I did with haste carry mine army and all weapons, munitions, vituals, and other provisions, accordingly toward those parts of Demonland that lie costed against the eastern seas. Here with twenty-seven ships, and the more part of my peep-hell, I sailing up into the frith-mickle-frith did find ten or eleven demon-ships assailing, whereof Vol had the commandment without the herbera of looking-haven, and by and by did Max sink all ships of the said Vol without exception, and it slay the most part of them that were with him, and his a ship-board. Now I let you understand, O my lord the king, that o' ever we made the landfall, I severing my army into two troops had dispatched Galandus with thirteen ships northabout to land with fifteen hundred men at Eccanoes, with command that he should thence away fair up into the hills through Celia-laund, and so seize the pass called the style, because none should come over from the west, for that is a good fighting-stead, as a man might very convenably hold against great numbers if he be not an ass. So having rid me well of Vol, and by my hope and secret intelligence these were their entire fleet that was now all sunken and put to destruction by me, and truly it was a paltry-work and light, so few they were against my force against them, I did come a land at the place height grunder by the north part of the frith, where the water out of Breakingdale falleth into the sea. Here I made make my camp with the rampires thereof reaching to the shore of the Salt Sea, both before and behind of me, and drew in supplies, and Brent and Slaw, and sent forth horsemen to bring me in intelligence, and on the fourth day had notice of a great power and strength coming at me from south out of Owlswick, to assail me in grunder, and did fight against them, and did fling them back, being four or five thousand soldiers, who returning next day toward Owlswick I did follow after, and so took them phasing me in a place called Crosby Outsikes, where they did make shift to keep the fords and passages of Ethry River very strong. Here was before an unhorrible great murdering battle, where thy servant did oppress and overthrow with rich dexterity those demons, making of them so bloody and cruel a slaughter, as hath not been seen of four, not once nor twice in man's memory, and blightly I tell you of Viz, their chief captain killed, and dead of strips taken at Crosby Fowld. So have I now in the hollow of my hand by this victory, the conquest and possession of all this land of demon land, and do now purpose to deal with their castles, villages, riches, cattle, houses, and people, in my way, on all this estrange seaboard, within fifty miles compass, with rapes and murders, and burnings, and all harsh discipline according to your majesty's will. And do stand with mine army before Owlswick, bloody Spitfire's notable great castle and fortress, that alone yet liveth in this land of your dangerous, grievous, and malicious arch enemies, and the same Spitfire being at my coming, fled into the mountains, all do submit and become your majesty's vassals. But I will not conclude nor determine of peace, no, not with man, weoman, nor child of them, but kill them all, having always before my mind the satisfaction of your princely pleasure. Lest I be too large, I leave here to tell you of many rare and remarkable occurrence, and observations, which nevertheless I lay by in my mind, to acquaint you with, against my coming home, or by further writing. Laxus bearing a king's name, do puff himself up, alleging he won the sea-fight, but I shall satisfy your majesty to the contrary. Grow, follow what the war is in as good sort as his lean spare body will well bear. Of Galandus I need must say he do meddle too much in my councils, still desiring me do thus and thus, but I will not. Here too for, in the like, unrespective manner, he hath now and then used me, which I have swallowed, but will not no more. Who if he go about to calumniate me in anything, I pray you, Lord, let me know it, though I despise bath him and all such. And in acknowledgment of your high favours unto me would you kiss your majesty's hand. Most humbly and reverently unto my lord the king, under my seal, Corsus. The king put up the writing in his bosom. Bring me Corsus's cup, said he. They did so, and the king said, fill it with Thramnian wine. Drop me an emerald in it, to spawn luck in the cup, and drink him fortune and wisdom in victory. Presmyra, that had watched the king till now as a mother watches her child in the crisis of a fever, rose up radiant in her seat, crying, Victory! And all there fell are shouting and smiting on the boards till the roof-beams shook with their great shouting, while the king drank first and passed on the cup, that all might drink in turn. But Gerais the king sat dark among them, as a cliff of serpentine that frowns above dancing surges of a spring-tide summer sea. When the women left the banquet-hole, the lady Presmyra came to the king and said, Your brow is too dark, lord, if indeed this news is all good that lights your heart and mind from within it. The king answered and said, Madam, it is very good news. Yet remember that hard it is to lift a full cup without spilling. Down was summer worn, and harvest brought in, and on the twenty-seventh day after these tidings afore it, came another ship of witch-land out of the west, sailing over the teeming deep, and rode on a full tide up Draweema and through the Orgasbian Mere, and so anchored below Carsey an hour before supper-time. That was a calm, clear sunshine evening, and King Gerais rode home from his hunting at that instant when the ship made fast by the water-gate. And there was the Lord Grawl aboard of her, and the face of him as he came up out of the ship, and stood to greet the king, was the colour of quick-lamour slaking. The king looked narrowly at him, then greeting him with much outward shore of carelessness and pleasure, made him go with him to the king's own lodgings. There the king made Grawl drink a great stoop of red wine, and said to him, I am all of a muck-swet from the hunting. Go in with me to my baths, and tell me all while I bathe me before supper. Princes of all men being greatest danger, for that men dare not acquaint them with their own peril. Thou looks prodigious. Nor that shouldst thou proclaim to me all my fleet and army in demon-land brought to sheer destruction. That should not dull my stomach for the feast tonight. Which land is not so poor I might not pay back such a loss thrice and four times, and yet have money in my purse. So speaking the king was come with Grawl into his great bath-chamber, walled and floored with green serpentine, with dolphins carved in the same stone to belch water into the baths, but lined with white marble and sunken in the floor, both wide and deep, the hot bath on the left and the cold bath, many times better, on the right as they entered the chamber. The king dismissed all his attendants, and made Grawl sit on a bench piled with cushions above the hot bath, and drink more wine, and the king stripped off his jerking of black cow-hide, and his hauls and his shirt of white vegetarian wool, and went down into the steaming bath. Grawl looked with wonder on the mighty limbs of Garice the king, so lean and yet so strong to behold, as if he were built all of iron, and a great marvel it was how the king, when he had put off his raiment and royal apparel, and went down stark naked into the bath, yet seemed to have put off not one witt of his kingliness, and the majesty and dread which belonged to him. So when he had plunged a while in the swirling waters of the bath, and soaked himself from head to foot, and plunged again, the king lay back luxuriously in the water, and said to Grawl, tell me of Corusus and his sons, and of Laxis and Galandus, and of all my men west overseas, as though should us tell of those whose life or death in our conceit importeth as much as that of a scarab fly. Speak and fear not, keeping nothing back nor glowsing over nothing. Only that should make me dreadful to thee if thou shalt practice to deceive me. Grawl spake and said, My Lord the king, you have letters, I think, from Corusus, that have told you how we came to Demonland, and how we got a victory over Vol in the sea-fight, and landed at Grunder, and fought two battles against Viz and overthrew him in the last, and he is dead. Didst thou see these letters, asked the king? Grawl answered, I. Is it a true tale, they tell me? Grawl answered, mainly true, o'er king, though somewhat now and then he windeth truth to his turn, swelling over much his own achievement, as at Grunder, where he maketh too great the demon's army, that by a just computation were fewer than us, and the battle was not ours nor theirs, for while our left held them by the sea, they stormed our camp on the right. And well, I think, tossed to enveiglers into country that should be likelier to his purpose, that Viz fell back toward Owlswick in the night. But as touching the battle of Crosby Outsikes, Corusus Braggath not too much, that was greatly fought and greatly devised by him, who also slew Viz with his own hands in the thick of the battle, and made a great victory over them, and scattered all their strength, coming upon them at unawares, and taking them upon advantage. So saying, Grawl stretched forth his delicate white fingers to the goblet at his side, and drunk. And now, all king said he, leaning forward over his knees and running his fingers through the black perfumed curls above his ears, I am to tell you of the uprising of those discontents that infected all our fortunes, and confounded us all. Now came Galandus with some few men down from Brakingdale, leaving his main force of fourteen hundred men or so to hold the style, as was agreed upon a foretime. Now Galandus had advertisement of Spitfire come out of the west country, where he was sojourning when we came into Demonland, disporting himself in the mountains with hunting of the bears that do their inhabit, but now come hotfoot eastward, and a gathering of men at Galang. And on Galandus's urgent asking was held the council of war three days after Crosby Outsacks, wherein Galandus set forth his council that we should fair north to Galang and disperse them. All thought well of this council save Corsus, but he took it mighty ill, being stubborn set to carry out his predetermined purpose, which was to follow up this victory of Crosby Outsacks by so many cruel murders, rapes and burnings, up and down the countryside in upper and lower Tiberanderdale, and down by Onward Live and the Southern Seaboard, as should show these vermin he was their master whom they did require, and the scourge in your hand, O King, that must scourge them to the bare bone. To which Galandus, making answer that the preparations at Gaeling did argue something to be done, and not afar off, and that this were a pretty matter, if owls were chondreperby shall be able to enforce us cast our eyes over our shoulders, while those before us, meaning in Gaeling, strike us in the brains. Corsus, answereth most unhansomely, I will not satisfy myself with this intelligence, until I find it more soundly seconded. Nor would he listen, but said that this was his mind, and all we should abide by it, or an ill thing should else befall us, that this south-eastern corner of the land, being gained with great terror and cruelty, the neck of the wars in demon-land should then be broken, and all the others, whether in Gaeling or other where, could not choose but die-like dogs, that was pure folly because of the hardness and naughty ways of the country to set upon Gaeling, and that he would quickly show Galandus he was lord there. So was the council broke up in great discontent, and Galandus had bowed before Owlswick, which, as they know us, O King, is a mighty strong place, seated on an arm of the land that runeth out into the sea beside the harbor, and a perven ware-goath there too, that is covered with the sea, serve at low tide of the spring tide. And we drew great store of provisions thither against a siege, if such should befall us. But Corsus, with his main forces, went south about the country, murdering and ravishing, on his way to the new house of Goldry Blusko at Drepeby, giving out that from henceforth should folk speak no more of Drepeby Meyer and Drepeby Combust that the ghouls did burn, but both should shortly be burnt alike as two cinders. I said the King, coming out of the bath, and did he burn it so? Grohan said he did, O King. The King lifted his arms above his head, and plunged head foremost into the great cold swimming-bath. Coming forth and on, he took a towel to dry himself, and holding an end of it in either hand, came and stood by Grohan, the towel rushing back and forth behind his shoulders, and said, Proceed, tell me more. Lord said, Grohan, so it was that they in Owlswick gave up the place at last unto Galandus, and Corsus came back from the burning of Drepeby Meyer. All the folk in that part of demon-land had he brought to misery in her most sharp condition, but now was he defined by sour experience what that neglect had bred him, when he went not north to Galandus as Galandus had cancelled him to do, for now was word of Spitfire marching out from Galand with an hundred-and-ten-score foot and two hundred-and-fifty horse. Upon which tidings we placed ourselves in very war-like fashion, and moved north to meet them, and on the last morn of August fell in with their army in a place called the Rapes of Bremer, in the open parts of Lower Tipper-Underdale. All we were blithe at heart, for we held them at an advantage both in numbers, for we were more than three-thousand four-hundred fighting men, whereof were four-hundred a horseback, and in the goodness of our fighting stead, being perched on the edge of a little valley, looking down on Spitfire and his folk. There we abode for a time, watching what he would do, till Corsus grew weary of this, and said, We are more than there, I will march north, and then east across the head of the valley and so cut them off, that they escaped and not north again to Gaelin after the battle, when they all were worsted by us. Now, Galandus ne'er said this strongly, willing him to stand and abide their onset. For being mountaineers they must certainly choose at length, if we kept quiet, to attack us up the slope, and that were mightily to our advantage. But Corsus, that still grew from day to day more hard to deal with, would not hear him, and at last sticked not to accuse him before them all, which was most false, that he de-practiced again the command for himself, and had caused Corsus to be set upon to have him and his sons murdered, as they went from his lodging the night before. And Corsus gave order for the march across their front, as I have told it you, O King, which indeed was the council of a madman, for Spitfire, when he saw our column crossing the Dalehead on his right, gave order for the charge, took us in the flank, cut us in two, and in two hours had our army smashed like an egg that is dropped from a watch-tower on a pavement of hard granite. Never so I saw evil a destruction wrought on a great army. Hardly, and in evil case, we won back to Owlswick, but seventeen hundred men, and of them some hundreds wounded soar. And if two hundred fell at the other side, it is a wonder and past expectation, so great was Spitfire's victory upon us at the rapes of Bremer. And now was our war worsened by fugitives coming from the north, telling how Zig had fallen upon the small force that was left to hold the style, and clean or overwhelmed them. So were we now shut up in Owlswick, and close besieged by Spitfire and his army, who but for the devilish folly of Corsus had never made head against us. An ill night was that, O my Lord the King, in Owlswick by the sea. Corsus was drunk, and both his sons, guzzling down goblet upon goblet of the wine from Spitfire's cellars in Owlswick, till at last he was fallen spewing on the floor betwixt the tables, and Galandus, standing amongst us all, galled to the quick after the shame and ruin of our fortunes, cried out and said, Soldiers of which land, I am a weary of this Corsus! A rioter, a letcher, a surfeiter, a brawler, a spiller of armies, our own, not our enemies, who must bring us all to hell, and we take not order to prevent him. And he said, I will go home again to which land, and have no more share and no part in this shame. But all there cried, to the devil with Corsus, be thou our general! Grow was silent a minute. O King, he said at last, if so it be that the malice of the gods and mine unfortunate have brought me to that case that I am part guilty of that which came about, blame me not over much. Little I thought any word of mine should help Corsus and the going forward of his bad enterprise. When all there called still upon Galandus, saying, Ha, Ha, Galandus, weed out the weeds, lest the best corn fester, be thou our general! He took me aside to speak with him, because he said he would take further judgment of me before he would consent in so great a matter. And I, seeing deadly danger in these disorders, and thinking that there only lay our safety, if he should have command, who was both a soldier, and his mind was bent to high attempts and noble enterprises, did egg him forward to accept it. So that he, albeit unwilling, said year to them at last, which all applauded, and Corsus said not against it, being too sleepy sodden as we thought, with drunkenness to speak or move. So for that night we went to bed. But in the mooring, O King, was a great clamor be towns in the main court in Avilswick, and I, running forth in my shirt in the misty gray of dawn, beheld Corsus standing forth in the gallery, before Galandus's lodgings that were in an upper chamber. He was naked to the west, his hairy breast and arms to the armpits, plotted and adrift with blood, and in his hands two bloody daggers. He cried in a great voice, treason in the camp, but I have scotched it. He that will have Galandus to his general, come up and I shall mix his blood with his, and make them familiar. By then had the King drawn on his silken hauls, and a clean silken shirt, and was about lacing his black doublet, trimmed with diamonds. Though tellest me, said he, two faults committed by Corsus, that first he lost me a battle, and nigh half his men, and next did murder Galandus in a spleen against him, when he would have amended this. Killing Galandus in his sleep, said Groll, and sending him from the shed into the house of darkness. Well, said the King, there be two days in every month when whatever is begun will never reach completion, and I think it was on such a day he did execute his purpose upon Galandus. The whole count, said Lord Groll, is up in a mutiny against him, being marvelously offended at the murder of so worthy a man in arms, yet dost they not openly go against him, for his veterans guard his person, and he hath let's slice the guts out of some dozen or more that were foremost in murmuring at him, so that the rest are feared to make open rebellion. I tell you, O King, your army of demon land is in great danger and peril. Spitfire siteth down before Owlswick in Mickel's strength, and there is no expectation that we shall hold out long without supply of men. There is danger too lest Corsus do some desperate act. I see not how, with so mutinous an army as is, you can dare to attempt anything at all, yet hath he his ears filled with the continual sound of reputation, and the contempt which will be spread to the disgrace of him, if he repair not soon his fault on the rapes and bremer. It is thought that the demons have no ships, and laxus commandeth the sea, yet odd it is to make any going betwixt the fleet and Owlswick, and there be many goodly harbours and places for building of ships in demon land. If they can stop our relieving of Corsus, and prevent laxus with a fleet at spring, maybe we shall be driven to a great calamity. "'How camest thou off?' said the king.' "'O king!' answered Lord Gro, after this murder in Owlswick I did daily fear a fig or a knife. So for my own health and witch-lands devised all the ways I could to come away, and got at last to the fleet by stealth, and there took Reed with laxus, who is most hot upon Corsus for this ill deed of his, whereby all our hopes may end in smoke, and prayed me come to you, for him was for myself, and for all true hearts of witch-lander that do seek your greatness, O king, and not decay, that you might send them succour ere all be shent. For surely in Corsus some wild distraction hath overturned his old condition, and spilt the goodness you once did know in him. His look hath gone from him, and he is now one that would fall on his back and break his nose. I pray you strike ere fate strike first, and strike us into the hazard.' "'Tush,' said the king, "'do not lift me before I fall. It is supper time. Send me to the banquet.' By now was Garas the king in full festival attire, with his doublet of black tiffin is slashed with black velvet, and broided oar with diamonds. Black velvet hulls cross-gartered with silver-spangled bands of silk, and a great black bearskin mantle, and collar of ponderous gold. The iron crown was on his head. He took down from his chamber wall as they went by, a sword hafted of blue steel, with a pommel of bloodstone carved like a dead man's skull. Once he bare-naked in his hand, and they came into the banquet-hole. There that were there rose to their feet in silence, gazing expectant on the king, where he stood between the pillars of the door, with that sharp sword held on high, and the jewelled crab of witch-lander blaze above his brow. But most there marked his eyes. Surely the light in the eyes of the king under his beetle brows was like a light from the undisguised shed upward from the pit of hell. He said no word, but with a gesture beckoned at Carinius. Carinius stood up and came to the king, slowly, as a night-walker, obedient to that dread gaze. His cloak of sky-blue silk was flung back from his shoulders. His chest, broad as a bull's, swelled beneath the shining silver scales of his bernie, that was short-sleeved, leaving his strong arms bare to view, with golden rings about the wrists. Proudly he stood before the king, his head firm planted above his mighty-throated neck. His proud, luxurious mouth, made for wine-cups and for ladies' lips, firm-set above the square-shaven chin and jaw. The thick fair curls of his hair bound with black briny, the insolence that dwelt in his dark-blue eyes tamed for a while in face of that green bell-light that rose and fell in the steadfast gaze of the king. When they had so stood silent, while men might count twenty breaths, the king spake, saying, Carinius, receive the name of the kingdom of demon-land, which thy lord and king give thee, and make homage to me thereof. The breath of amazement went about the whole. Carinius kneeled. The king gave him that sword which he held in his hand, bare for the slaughter, saying, With this sword, or Carinius, thou shalt wear out this blemish and blot, that until now rested upon thee in mine eye. Corsus hath proved haggard. He hath made mist in demon-land. His sottish folly hath shut him up in Owlswick, and lost me half his force. His jealousy, too maliciously and bloodily bent against my friend's stead of man-enemies, hath lost me a good captain. The wonderful disorder and distresses of his army must, if thou amend it not, swing all our fortune at one chop from blister bail. If this be rightly handled by thee, one great stroke shall change every deal. Go thou and prove thy demerits. The lord Carinius stood up, holding the sword point downward in his hand. His face flamed red as an autumn sky, when leaden clouds break apart on the southern westward, and the sun looks out between. My lord the king said he, Give me where I may sit down, I will make where I may lie down. ere another moon shall wax again to the fall, I will set forth from Tennamos. If I do not shortly remedy for you our fortunes, which this bloody fool hath laboured to ruin it, spit in my face, or king, withhold from me the light of your countenance, and put spells upon me shall destroy and blast me for ever. CHAPTER XIX Of the lord Spitfire's besieging of the witches in his own castle of Owlswick, and how he did battle against Carinius under Thremney's Hurk, and the men of Witchland won the dare. Lord Spitfire sat in his pavilion before Owlswick in Mickel discontent. A brazier of hot coals made a pleasant warmth with him, and lights filled the rich tent with splendour. From without came the noise of rain steadily falling in the dark autumn night, splashing in the puddles, pattering on the silken roof. Zig sat by Spitfire on the bed, his hawk-like countenance shadowed with an unwanted look of care. His sword stood between his knees, point downward on the floor. He tipped it gently with either hand, now to the left, now to the right, watching with pensive gaze the warm light shift and gleam in the ball of ballast ruby that made the pommel of the sword. "'Fell it out, sore, accursedly,' said Spitfire. "'All ten, thou saidst, on Rammarick's strands?' Zig nodded ascent. "'Where was he that he saved the knot?' said Spitfire. "'Oh, it was violently miscarried!' Zig answered, "'Twas a swift and secret landing in the dark, from my least of the harbour. Thou must not blame him unheard.' "'What more remain to us?' said Spitfire. "'Content. I'll hear him. What ships remain to us is more to the purpose. Three by North Sun's airs, below Elmestead, five on Thrawwater, two by Lichness, two more at Orwath, six by my direction on Stropford and Firth, seven here on the beach. "'Besides four at the Firth Head in Westmark,' said Zig, and order is turned for more in the aisles. "'Twenty and nine,' said Spitfire, and those in the aisles beside, and not one afloat, nor can be airspring. If laxers smell them out and take them as lightly as these he burned under Vol's nose on Rammarick's strands, we do but plow the desert building them.' He rose to pierce the tent. "'Thou must raise me new forces for to break into Owl's wick. For heaven,' he said, "'this vexes me to the guts, to sit at my own gate, full two months like a beggar, while Corsus and those two cubs his sons drink themselves drunk within, and play at cockshies with my treasures.' "'On the wrong side of the wall,' said Zig, the master-builder made sure to the excellence of his own building.' Spitfire stood by the brazier, spreading his strong hands above the glow. "'After a time,' he spake more soberly, "'it is not these few ships burnt in the North shall trouble me, and indeed laxers hath not five hundred men to man his whole fleet with all. But he holdeth the sea, and ever since his putting out into the deep with thirty sail from looking heaven, I do expect fresh suckers out of which land. "'Tis that,' maketh me champ still on the bit, till this hold be won again. "'But then, where we free at least to meet thy landing, but where must unfit at this time of the year to carry on a siege in low and watery grounds, the enemy's army being on foot and unengaged. "'Wherefore this is my mind, O my friend, that thou go with haste over the style, and fetch me supply of men. "'Leave forced to ward our ships of building, wheresoever there be, and a good force in crothering them thereabout, for I will not be found a false steward of his lady's sister's safety. "'And in thine own house make sure. "'But these things being provided, shear up the war-arrow, and bring me out of the west fifteen or eighteen hundred men at arms. "'For I do think that by me and thee, and such a head of men of demon-land as we shall then command, Owl's wick gates may be brassed open, and courses plucked out of Owl's wick like a wilk out of his shell.' Zigg answered him, "'I'll be gone at point of dare.' Now they rose up and took their weapons, and muffled themselves in their great campaigning-cloaks, and went forth with torch-bearers to walk through the lines, as every night ere he went to rest it was Spitfire's want to do, visiting his captains and setting the guard. The rain fell gentlier. The night was without a star. The wet sands gleamed with the lights of Owl's wick castle, and from the castle came by Fitz the sound of feasting, heard above the wash-and-mourn of the sullen sleepless sea. When they had made all shewer, and were come nigh again to Spitfire's tent, and Zigg was upon saying good-night, there rose up out of the shadow of the tent an ancient man, and came betwixt them into the glare of the torches. Shriveled and wrinkled and bowed, he singed, as with extreme edge. His hair and his beard hung down in elf-locks a drip with the rain. His mouth was toothless, his eyes like a dead fish's eyes. He touched Spitfire's cloak with his skinny hand, saying in a voice like the Night Revan's, Spitfire, beware of Thremney as her. Spitfire said, What have we here, and which way the devil came he into my camp? But that edged man still held him by the cloak, saying, Spitfire, is not this thine house of Owl's wick, and is it not the most strong and fair place that ever man saw in this country? Filth unhand me, said Spitfire, else shall I presently thrust thee through with my sword, and send thee to the torturous of Hell, where I doubt not the devil's there too long await thee. But that edged man said again, Hot stirring heads are too easily entrapped. Hold fast, Spitfire, to that which is thine, and beware of Thremney as her. Now was Lord Spitfire would angry, and because the old carl still held him by the cloak and would not let him go, plucked forth his sword, thinking to have stricken him about the head with the flat of his sword. But with that stroke went a gust of wind about them, so that the torch-flames were nigh blown out, and that was strange of a still windless night, and in that gust was the old man vanished away, like a cloud passing in the night. Zig spake. The thin habit of spirits is beyond the force of weapons. Fish, said Spitfire, was this a spirit? I hold it rather a simulacrum, or illusion, prepared for us by witch-lands cunning to darken our council and shake our resolution. On the morrow, while yet sunrise was red, Lord Zig went down to the seashore to bathe in the great rock-pools that first southward across the little bay of Owlswick. The salt air was fresh after the rain, the wind that had veered to the east, blue in cold and pinching gusts. In a rift between slate-blue clouds, the low sun flamed blood-red. Far to the south-east, where the waters of Mickelforth open on the main, the low cliffs of looking-heaven nests loomed shadowy as a bank of cloud. Zig laid down his sword and spear, and looked south-east across the furth, and behold a ship in full sail rounding the nests, and steering northward on the larbid tack. And when he had put off his kirtle, he looked again, and behold, two more ships are steering round the nests, sailing hard in the wake of the first. So he donned his kirtle again, and took his weapons, and by then were fifteen sailors steering up the furth in line ahead, dragons of war. So he fed hastily to Spitfire's tent, and found him yet a bed, for sweet sleep yet nursed in her bosom in petuous Spitfire. His head was thrown back on the broided pillow, displaying his strong-shaven throat and chin. His fierce mouth beneath his bristling firm stashioes was relaxed in slumber, and his fierce eyes closed in slumber beneath their yellow-bristling eyebrows. Zig took him by the foot, and waked him, and told him all the matter. Fifteen ships, and every ship, as I might plainly see as they drew nigh, as full of men as there be eggs in a herring's row. So cometh our expectation to the berth. And so, said Spitfire, leaping from the couch, cometh laxus again to demon-land, with fresh meat to glut our swords with all. He caught up his weapons, and ran to a little knoll that stood above the beach over against Owlswick Castle. And all the horse ran to behold those dragons of war sail up the furth at dawn of day. They doused sail, said Spitfire, and put him for scurramsy. It is not for nothing I told these witch-landers on the rapes of Breamer. Laxus, since he witnessed that down-throw of their army, now accounted the islands more wholesome than the man-land, well knowing we have no sails nor wings to strike across the furth at him. Yet scarcely by skulking in the islands shall he break up the siege of Owlswick. Laxus said, I would know where be his fifteen other ships. In fifteen ships, said Spitfire, it is not possible he beareth more than sixteen hundred or seventeen hundred men of war. Against so many I am strong enough to dare, should they adventure a landing, to throw them into the sea, and still contend courses if you make a sally. If more be added I am the less secure, therefore occasion calleth but the louder, for thou had purposed faring to the west. So the Lord Zig called him out a dozen men at arms, and went a horse-back. By then were all the ships rowed ashore under the southern spit of Scaramsey, whereas good anchorage for ships. There were there hidden from view, all save their masts that showed over the spit, so that the demons might observe nought of their disembarking. Spitfire rowed with Zig three miles or four, as far as the brow of the descent to the foids of Ethrywater, and there bade him farewell. "'Lightning shall be slow to my hasting,' said Zig, till I be back again. Meantime I would have thee be not too scornfully unmindful of that old man.' "'Churking of sparrows,' said Spitfire, "'I have forgot his bravel.' Nevertheless his glance shifted southward beyond Owlswick, to the great bluff of tree-hung precipice that stands like a sentinel above the meadows of Lower Tivirandadale, leaving but a narrow way betwixt its lowest crags on the sea. He laughed. "'Oh, my friend, I am yet a boy in thine eyes, it seemeth. Albeit I am well nigh twenty-nine years old.' "'Laugh at me and thou wilt,' said Zig. "'Without this word said I could not leave thee.' "'Well,' said Spitfire, "'to lull thy fears, I'll not go a-bird-nesting on Thremniers hurk till thou come back again. Now, for a week or more was nought to tell of,' said that Spitfire's army sat before Owlswick, and they on the island sent ever and again three or four ships to land suddenly about looking-haven, or at the head of the Firth, or south-away beyond Drepabit, as far as the coast lands under the Riman Armand, harrying and burning. And as oft as force was gathered against them, they fared aboard and sailed back to Scaramsey. And those days came vol from the west, with an hundred men and joined him with Spitfire. The eighth day of November, the weather worsened, and clouds gathered from the west and south, till all the sky was a welter of huge, watery, leaden clouds, separated one from another by oily streaks of white. The wind grew fitful as the day wore. The sea was dark like dull iron. Rain began to fall in big drops. The mountains showed monstrous and shadowy, some dark inky blue, others in the west like walls and bastions of clotted mist against the hueless mist of heaven behind them. Evening closed with thunder and rain, and lightning-torn banks of vapor, all night long the thunder roared in sullen intermission, and all night long new banks of thunderclouds swung together, and parted, and swung together again. The light of the moon was abated, and no light seen saved the leaven-brand, and the campfires before Owlswick, and the light of reverie within. So that the demons camped before the castle were not where of those fifteen ships that put out from Skaramsey on that wild sea, and landed two or three miles to the southward by the great bluff on Tremney as Hurch. Nor were they where at all of them that landed from the ships, fifteen or sixteen hundred men at arms, with hemming of which land, and his younger brother Cargo for their leaders. And the ships rode back to Skaramsey through the loud storm and fury of the weather, all save one that founded in Bothry Sound. But on the mooring, when the tempest was abated, might all behold the putting forth of fourteen ships of war from Skaramsey, every ship of them laden with men at arms. There had passaged swiftly over the Firth, and came a land two miles south of Owlswick, and the ships stood off again from the land, but the army marshalled for battle on the meads above Mingon Hope. Now Lord Spitfire let draw up his men, and moved out southward from the lines before Owlswick. When they were come within some half-miles' distance of the witchland army, so that they might see clearly their russet-curtles, and their shields, and body-armour of bronze, and the dull glint of their sword-blades, and the heads of their spears, vol that rode by Spitfire, spake, and said, Markest thou him, O Spitfire, that rideth back and forth before their battle, marshalling them? So ever rode Carinius, and well mayest thou know him, even afar off by his showiness and jaunting carriage. Yet see a great wonder now, for whoever heard tell of this young Hotspur giving back from the fight, and now, or ever we be gotten within spearshot, By the bright eye of day, cried Spitfire, Tis so! Will he bulk me quite of a battle? I'll loose a handful of horse upon them to delay their haste, ere they be florn beyond sight and finding. Therewith he gave command to his horsemen to ride forth upon the enemy, and they rode forth with Astar of Retray, that was brother-in-law to Lord Zig, for their leader. But the Witchland horse met them by the shallows of Aron Pau, and held them in the shallows, while Carinius, with his main army, won across the river. And when the main body of the demons were come up, and the passage forced, the Witchlanders were gotten clean away across the water-medals, to the past betwixt the shore and the steeps of Thremnius Hurch. Then said Spitfire, they stay not to form, even in the narrow way, twixt the sea and the Hurch. And that were their safety, if they had but the heart to turn and stand us. And he shouted with a great shout upon his men to charge the enemy, and suffer not a witch to overlive that slaughter. So the footmen caught hold of the stirrup-leathers of the horsemen, and running and riding they poured into the narrow pass, and ever was Spitfire foremost among his men, hewing to left and right among the press, riding on that whelming battle-tide that seemed to bear him on to triumph. But now on a sudden was he, who with but twelve hundred men had so hotly followed fifteen hundred into the straight passage of Thremnius Hurch, made where too late that he must have to do with three thousand, Carinius rallying his folk and turning like a wolf in the pass, while Coran's sons, that had landed as a foreset in the storm in the merc of night, swept down with their battalions from the wooded slopes behind the Hurch, in such wise that Spitfire whisked not sooner of any foreshadowing of disaster than of disaster's self, the thunder of the blow in flank and front and rear. Then befell great manslaying between the sea-cliffs and the sea. The demons, taken at that advantage, were like a man tripped in mid-stride by a rope across the way. By the sore onset of the witches they were driven down into the shallows of the sea, and the spume of the sea was red with blood. And the Lord Carinius, now that he had done with feigned retreat, fared through the battle like a stream of unquenchable wildfire, that none might sustain his strokes that were about him. Now was Spitfire's horse slain under him with a spear-thrust, as riding fetlock deep in the yielding sand he rallied his men to fling back hemming. But Bremery of Shawls brought him another horse, and so mightily went he forth against the witches that the sons of Corrand were feigned to give back before his onslaught, and that wing of the witchland army was pressed back against the broken ground below the herd. Yet was that of little avail, for Carinius break through from the north, thrusting the demons with great slaughter back from the sea so that they were penned between him and hemming. Therewith Spitfire turned with some picked companies against Carinius, and while it seemed for a while that the great force of the witches must be whelmed or drowned in the salt-waves, and Carinius himself stood now in great peril of his life, for his horse was bogged in the soft sands, and might not win free for all his plunging. In that nick of time came Spitfire through the steward, with a band of demons about him, slaying as he came. He shouted with a terrible voice, O Carinius, hateful to me and mine as are the gates of hell, now will I kill thee, and thy dead carcass shall fatten the sweet meads of Owl's wick. Carinius answered him, bloody Spitfire, last of three whelps, for thy brothers are by now dead and rotten, I shall give thee a chock-pair. Therewith Spitfire shot a twirl-spear at him. It missed the man but smote the great horse in the shoulder, so that he plunged and fell in a heap, hurt to the death. But the Lord Carinius, lighting nimbly on his feet, caught Spitfire's horse by the bridal rain, and smote it on the muzzle, even as he rode at him, so that the horse reared up and swerved. Spitfire made a great blow at him with an axe, but it came slant-wise on the helmet-ring and blented aside in air. Then Carinius thrust up under Spitfire's shield with his sword, and the point entered the big muscle of the arm near the armpit, and glancing against the bone tore up through the muscles of the shoulder, and that was a great wound. Nevertheless Spitfire slacked not from the fight, but smote at him again, thinking to have hewn off his arm the hand-wear-off still clutched to the bridal rain. Carinius caught the axe on his shield, but his fingers loosed the rain, and almost he fell to earth under that mighty stroke, and the good bronze shield was dented and battered in. Now with the loosing of the rains was Spitfire's horse plunged forward, carrying him past Carinius toward the sea. But he turned and held him, crying, Get thee an horse, for I count it unworthy to fight with thee bearing this advantage over thee, I a horse back and thou on foot. Carinius cried out and answered, Come down from thine horse then, and meet me foot to foot, and know it, my pretty throttle-cock, that I am king in demon-land, which dignity I hold of the king of kings, garrison of witch-land, mine only overlord. Meet it is that I show thee in combat singular, that vauntest thyself greatest among the rebels yet alive in this my kingdom, how much greater is my might than thine. These be great and thumping words said Spitfire, I shall thrust them down thy throat again. Therewith he made as if to light down from his horse, but as he strove to light down a mist went before his eyes, and he reeled in his saddle. His men rushed in betwixt him and Carinius, and the captain of his bodyguard bear him up, saying, You are hurt, my lord, you must not fight no more with Carinius, for your highness is unmeat for fighting, and may not stand alone. So there that were about him bear up great Spitfire, and the melee that was stared while those lords dealt together in single combat, break forth afresh in that place. But all the while had furious war swung and ravened below Thremnius Hurch, and wondrous was the valor of the demons, for many a hundred were slain or wounded to the death, and but a small force were there that yet remained to bear up the battle against the witches. Now those that were with Spitfire departed with him in the secretest manner that they could out of the fight, wrapping about him a watchet-colored cloak to hide his shining armor. They stanched the blood that ran from the great wound in his shoulder, and bound it up carefully, and carried him a horse-back by Vol's command into Tremiddale by secret mountain paths up to a desolate quarry east of Sterry Gap under the great scree-shoots that flanked the precipices of the south summit of Dina. A long time he lay there senseless, like to one dead, for many Hurts had he taken in the unequal fight, and greatly was he bruised and battered, but worst of all was the sore Hurch Corinius gave him, ere their party betwitched the limits of land and sea. And when night was fallen, and all the ways were darkened, came the Lord Vol with a few companions, utterly wear it to that lonely quarry. The night was still and cloudless, and the maiden moon walked high heaven, blackening the shadows of the great peaks that were like sharks' teeth against the night. Spitfire lay on a bed of lingam cloaks in the lee of a great boulder. Gasly pearl was his face in the silver moonlight. Vol leaned upon his spear, looking earnestly upon him. They asked him tidings, and Vol answered, all lost, and still looked upon Spitfire. They said, My Lord, we have stanched the blood and bound up the wound, but his lordship abideth yet senseless, and greatly we fear for his lie, lest this great hurt yet prove his bansore. Vol kneeled beside him on the cold sharp stones, and tended him as a mother might her sick child, applying to the wound leaves of black whorehound and millfoil, and other healing symbols, and giving him to drink out of a flask of precious wine of Arshelmar, ripened for an age in the deep cellars below crothering. So that in a while Spitfire opened his eyes and said, Draw back the curtains of the bed, put as many a day since I woke up in Owlswick. Or is it night, indeed? How went the fight, then? His eyes stared at the naked rocks and the naked sky beyond them. Then with a great groan he lifted himself on his right elbow. Vol put a strong arm about him, saying, Drink the good wine, and have patience. There be great reward. Spitfire stared round him a while, then said violently, Shall we be foxes and fugitive men to dwell in halls of the hollow mountainside? So the bright day is done, ha? Then off with these trammels! And he fell a-tearing at the bandage on his wounds. But Vol prevented him with strong hands, saying, Bethink, though, on how thee alone, oh glorious Spitfire, and on thy wise heart and valiant soul, that delighteth in furious war, resteth all our hope to ward off from our lady wives and dear children, and all our good land and fee, the fury of the men of which land, and to serve alive the great name of demon-land, let not thy proud heart be capable of despair. But Spitfire groaned and said, Certain it was that war and evil hap must beat a demon-land until my kinsmen be gotten home again, and that day I think shall never dawn. And he cried, Boasted he not that he is king in demon-land? And yet had I not my sword in his umbels? And thou thinkest I? Therewith all he strove again to tear off the bandages, but Vol prevented him. And he raved and said, Who was it forced me from the battle? It is pity of his life to have abused me, so better dead than run from Carinius like a beaten puppy. Let me go, false traitors, I will amend this, I will die fighting. Let me go back. Vol said, Lift up thine eyes, and the wide fields of heaven, and the glory of the stars of heaven, which in their multitudes attend her. And as little as earthly mists and storms do dim her, but though she be hid a while, yet when the tempest is abetted, and the sky swept bare of clouds, there she appeareth again, in her steadfast course, mistress of tides and seasons, and swayer of the fates of mortal men. Even such is the glory of sea-girt demon-land, and the glory of thine avail to remove these everlasting mountains, so little avail of disastrous war, though it be a great fight lost, as was today, to shake down our greatness, that are mightiest with the spear from of old, and able to make all earth bow to our glory. So said Vol. And the Lord Spitfire looked out across the mist-choked sleeping valley, to the great rock-faces dim in the moonlight, and the lean peaks grand and silent beneath the moon. He spake not, nor has charmed to silence by the mighty influences of night in the mountain solitudes, and by Vol's voice, speaking deep and quiet in his ear, like the voice of night herself calming earth-born tumults and despairs. After a time, Vol spake once more. Thy brethren shall come home again. Doubt it not. But till then art thou our strength. Therefore have patience, heal thy wounds, and raise forces again. But shouldst thou in desperate madness thy life, then we were shent indeed. End of chapter 19