Gene Wolfe - The Wizard

“I do, Your Highness. Better than you know.”

“You mean him no hurt?”

“I wish only to deliver the message of the one who sent me, Your Highness.”

“Who is...?”

“In Aelfrice, Your Highness.”

She sat in silence, her eyes upon my face. At last she said, “Will you deliver it in my hearing?”

“When His Majesty and I stand face-to-face, I know that message will fill my mind; and I’ll speak it whatever it may be. I don’t believe the presence of others—even yourself, Your Highness—will make a particle of difference.”

“In which case I must be present. I offer this, the only help I can give. If you wish it, I will ask a boon.”

I said, “I wish it, Your Highness.”

She shook her head. “Not that you be brought to him. Hear me out. I will ask to name one of our dinner guests tomorrow. I will do it in the queen’s presence, and if I know her she’ll ask to name a guest as well. If my brother has granted my boon, it will look ill for him to refuse hers. You wear her favor in the lists, so she’ll surely name you. My brother will have to receive you and speak graciously, though he will mean no word of it. Shall I do it?”

“I beg it, Your Highness. I’ll be forever indebted.”

“The odium will fall upon the queen.” Morcaine laughed. “You realize that?”

“I will divert it to myself, if that’s possible.”

I had three matches next day, and won them all. Wistan and I awaited an invitation to King Arnthor’s table after the third, but it never came. Long after sunset, I sent Wistan to the Earl Marshal to beg an interview. It was granted, and I told him I had spoken with Morcaine, and that Morcaine had promised to intercede for me with the king.

“I know.” The Earl Marshal made a tower of his fingers. “You understand, I hope, that his sister is no favorite.”

“I do, My Lord.”

“When first we spoke, you said you hesitated to presume upon Her Highness’s friendship. I thought it prudence.” He pinched his nose. “Harrumph! You still wish an audience?”

“Very much, My Lord.”

“You have distinguished yourself in the tournament as I advised, though apparently insufficiently.”

“I strive to do more, My Lord.”

“I wish you well in it. I’ve mentioned you twice to His Majesty. I believe I pledged myself to do it once? I have exceeded my pledge. He hasn’t asked that you be brought. Was it for your sake Her Highness asked the boon?”

“I think it likely, My Lord.”

The Earl Marshal sighed. “I’m keeping you standing, Sir Able, and you will be tired. I had hoped to finish this in a minute or two. Sit down. Would you like a little wine?”

I said I would, and motioned for Wistan to sit.

The Earl Marshal rang a handbell. “A boon was refused, Sir Able. Did you know it?”

I shook my head, feeling my heart sink.

“It’s the talk of the court. Her Highness, lightly but politely, begged a boon of her brother. It was assumed, by me and I believe by all who witnessed this sad affair, that it was to be some trivial license. It was refused, and she left the hall. I doubt she will tell you this. She was humiliated, you understand.”

“I do, My Lord.”

“He was shamed as well. Don’t imagine, Sir Able, that he doesn’t know it. Our queen—is Idnn really a queen now? You said so at our last meeting.” I began to explain but was interrupted by Payn.

“Wine,” the Earl Marshal told him. “Not that swill, our own from Brighthills. White or red, Sir Able?”

“As My Lord prefers.”

“White, then. Some hot smoked fish, I think. Sturgeon and whatever else you can find. Toast and herb butter. Your Queen Idnn is a friend of Her Majesty’s, Sir Able. Did you know it? Girls the same age, you know, both at court a good deal. These arms rocked Her Majesty in swaddling clothes, however much you may doubt it.”

The Earl Marshal’s voice fell. “One reason Lord Beel went, I think. The king sent him away to rob poor Gaynor of a friend, I’d say. I’d say it, but don’t you repeat it. And Beel took the job, in part, to get Idnn away from the king. It’s dangerous to be a friend of our queen’s these days. I should know, for I am one. Don’t repeat any of this.”

Wistan and I swore we would not.

“I’m the king’s as well, you understand. I’d bring them together, if I could. In time I will, never doubt it...”

“You’ve thought of something, My Lord?”

He shook his head, jowls wobbling. “A passing fancy, Sir Able. A mere fancy.”

He spoke to Wistan. “The great fault of intelligence, young man. Stupidity is at least as valuable. Intelligence causes us to overreach, much too often, and distracts us with—harrumph!—mere fanciful notions. Is Sir Able teaching you swordsmanship?

“Yes, My Lord. He says I have a knack for it, too.”

“That’s well—that’s very well. Strive to learn swordsmanship. But strive to learn stupidity in addition. The best knights are good swordsmen, but stupid men.”

“Including this one,” I declared, for I knew the Earl Marshal had hit on something but I had no idea what it was.

“Exactly. Exactly. You bear a message, but do not know it. A fine example. Why did the queen—?”

Payn returned at that moment, bearing a big silver tray laden with a carafe, cups, plates, and covered dishes.

“Noble! You’re putting up at an inn, Sir Able?”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Good food?”

Wistan answered, “Tolerable, My Lord.”

“We shall do something about that, I hope. Not tonight, but soon. After the tournament.” (Payn had set a plate, a cup, and a towel dampened with hot water in front of each of us; as his master spoke, he filled our cups.) “Wouldn’t you like to be a guest here at the castle? It could be arranged, though you’d be just as comfortable with a friend of mine in the city. Just as comfortable, and a good deal safer.”

I said I hoped to leave soon after speaking to the king.

“Then I hope it for you. It’s winter just the same, and plans change. Payn, I will speak with Her Majesty and Her Highness after breakfast if you can arrange it. Separately, you understand. You will present my humble request for an interview to each tonight. My visit will be brief, the matter is important, and that is all you know.”

“Yes, Your Lordship. Shall I go now?”

The Earl Marshal nodded. “At once. Come back when you’ve spoken to both. As early as possible, but not both together, understand? Now be off Taste this wine, will you, Sir Able? That we’ve had of late has been abominable to my own palate, though Payn thinks it not so bad as I say.”

I sipped. “Excellent, My Lord.”

“Have they better in Aelfrice?”

I sipped again. “It would seem impossible, My Lord.”

He laughed, his belly shaking. “Not to be caught so easily as that. Well, well. Do you bear a message from a queen, Sir Able? Ah, a hit!”

“I think it better not to speak of that, My Lord.”

“Your face spoke for you. The other day this boy said he thought your message came from Queen Idnn. I’ve been thinking on it, you see. What message Idnn might send the king so secret that the bearer was not to know it, and so on. A bearer who had clearly been to Aelfrice, and likely more than once from what the boy tells me. These women! Always sending messages and making trouble. You agree, I hope?”

“Why no, My Lord.”

“You will when you’re my age. Her Highness is drunk much of the time. Did you know it?”

“No, My Lord. I did not.”

“She’s very good at hiding it. Seriously now, what do you think of my wine?”

“Wistan is a better judge than I, My Lord.”