Gene Wolfe - The Wizard

He said, “Excellent, My Lord. I’ve never had better.”

“Noble. We’ve toast here,” he uncovered a dish, “and I believe this is cod, a favorite of mine. May I give you some of both?”

Wistan nodded eagerly. “With pleasure, My Lord.”

“Your master must be served first, Squire, even when the server is a peer of the realm.” The Earl Marshal heaped my plate with four sorts of smoked fish and added slices of bread that had been impaled on a fork and toasted before a fire, that being the custom of Thortower.

“Now then,” he said, when we had both been served. “We must strike a bargain, you and I, Sir Able. When you first came to me, I offered you good advice, for which I made no charge. In addition I’ve twice mentioned you to the king, speaking of your knowledge of recent events—incredible events, some of them—in the north. I did these things because I like you, and because I thought them my duty.”

I started to speak, but he stopped me with an upraised hand. “You think me angling for a bribe. So I am. But not gold. You have Redhall, one of the best manors in the north. I have four as good or better, and knights to serve me for them, and a castle. I say this not to boast, but to let you know that I am not much poorer than your Duke Marder. I may well be richer. You understand?”

I nodded. “Yes, My Lord.”

“It’s knowledge I seek. It’s information.” His voice fell. “I serve His Majesty, Sir Able. It’s no easy service, yet I do it to the best of my ability, year after year. I couldn’t stand against you with the sword.”

I did not contract him.

“Or even against your squire here, if you’ve trained him well. It is by thought that I serve my king. By the habit of reflection, and by knowledge.” He sipped wine. “You have knowledge I envy. I’ll have it from you. Do you understand? Leaving me richer, but you no poorer. I plan extraordinary steps tomorrow, steps that will bring you before the king without fail. Will you, in payment for this special favor I do you at the risk of my life, answer a few questions for me? Answering truly, upon your honor?”

He had not said that he would proffer no more help to me if I would not; yet it was in the air. I said, “There are a great many questions I can’t answer, My Lord.”

“Those you can. Upon your honor.”

“Yes, My Lord. As much as I know.”

“Noble.” He leaned back in his chair, smiling, and ate a slice of smoked pike on a slice of toast. Taking our cue from him, Wistan and I ate as well. Both the bread and the fish were very good.

“My first question, Sir Able. How many times have you visited Aelfrice?”

I tried to recall, counting the instances on my fingers. “Five, I think, My Lord. No, six.”

His eyes had grown wide while I counted. “Often enough to lose the reckoning?”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Time runs more slowly there?”

“It does, My Lord.”

“Do you know the rule of it?” Seeing that I had not understood him, he added, “Suppose we went to Aelfrice for a day. There are days there?”

“Indeed, My Lord.”

“How many would have elapsed when we returned here?”

“I can’t say, My Lord. There is no fixed rule. A week, perhaps. Possibly a year.”

“I see.” He caressed his jowls. “I would not run too swift for reason, Sir Able. But I would run. If your honor does not forbid: is His Majesty’s sister known there?”

“I have no certain information, My Lord, but I believe she must be.”

“You never encountered her there.”

I fear I hesitated. “No, My Lord.”

“You did not?”

“No, My Lord.”

“Yet you came near it, I think. Isn’t that so?”

“I’m still a boy, My Lord. Only a boy, whatever you may think. You are a man of mature years and wisdom.”

“Tell me.”

I spoke then of Grengarm, without mentioning Eterne.

“The Aelf you speak of were bringing her from Aelfrice?”

“So it seemed, My Lord. I have no reason to doubt it.”

“You saved her? The dragon would have devoured her?”

“I believe so, My Lord.”

“Harrumph!” One fleshy hand wiped his face. “If she’s not your friend after that, she’s a most ungrateful jade.”

“I’ve no reason to think that, My Lord, and some to think otherwise.”

Wistan added, “We talked to her yesterday, My Lord, and she tried to help us. She’s—I’m afraid of her. I don’t like to say it, My Lord, but I am.”

A smile tugged at the Earl Marshal’s lips. “I believe you.”

“Even if she’s our friend. Sir Able’s friend, and my friend, too, because he’s my master. If she were our enemy, I’d be scared to death.”

“I can’t blame you, Squire. Let us retain her regard, all three of us. Our king loves and fears her, which alone would be reason enough.” The Earl Marshal turned back to me. “You do not know what message you bear, Sir Able?”

“As I have told you, My Lord.”

“So you did, and thought it unwise to reveal the sender. I ask now. That question and two more, and I’ll be satisfied for the present. Have you sworn secrecy on that point?”

“No, My Lord. I didn’t think you would believe me. You credited Grengarm—it was true, of course. All of it. You know something of the other worlds.”

“I do.” The Earl Marshal shifted his bulk in his chair and selected another piece of pike. “I have never visited them. As you have, I realize. I have spoken with the Aelf, however, more than once. I’ve done small favors and received small favors in return. Did Queen Disiri send you?”

My surprise must surely have been apparent.

“When we met,” the Earl Marshal explained, “this young man suggested Queen Idnn as the sender. You flinched at queen, then relaxed. Queens are not so common as cabbages.”

“No, My Lord.”

“I thought it likely our queen was the sender. She would not have required the dragon, however.” He took a bite of toast, chewed, and swallowed. “The Aelf are of many clans—nearly all ruled by kings. The Dryads, or Moss Aelf, are the sole exception. Possibly you know of others?”

I admitted I did not.

He spread his hands. “In that case, your message is from Queen Disiri. You see how simple it is.”

I must have nodded, no doubt slowly and reluctantly.

“This is well. If you’re asked, you can quite honestly declare that you did not reveal the identity of the sender to me. It may not be of importance, but if it is you have it.”

“I appreciate that, My Lord.”

“Then appreciate also—harrumph!—that you did not answer my question. You will answer the other two, I hope.”

“If I can, My Lord. What are they?”

“The first. Why did Queen Gaynor give you her favor to wear in the lists?”

“I don’t know, My Lord.” I sipped my wine.

“You mean that she did not confide it. You entered the archery. Both events.”

“Yes, My Lord. I disappointed myself, if I may say it.”

“You will find that toast quite passable now, I think. But not if you let it grow cold.”

“I will not, My Lord.” I tore off a bit.

“You finished fourth, I think it was, in foot archery. You shot two golds in mounted archery. Your bowstring broke as you rode for the final shot. I was watching, like nearly everyone. Afterward, Her Majesty gave you her favor.”

“Right, My Lord.” I had eaten toast while he spoke.

“You didn’t question Her Majesty. This boy might have. I wouldn’t put it past him. But you? No more than I. One does not subject royalty to an interrogation.”

Wistan said, “I didn’t ask her anything, My Lord.”

The Earl Marshal raised an eyebrow. “Still, you must have speculated. A dullard would not have, perhaps. You’re no dullard. You have not visited Aelfrice with your master?”