Robert Hughes - The Wizard in Waiting

Pelmen tiJted his head up. On a balcony that had gone completely unnoticed until this moment sat the Queen, still clothed in her nightgown. She was scarcely fourteen feet away. “Greetings, my Lady.”

He smiled woodenly.

“Why are you out there talking to yourself this morning?”

“I am rehearsing a part, my Lady,” he covered.

“Ah. For the play about me?”

“That is correct. I have little free time to rehearse, so I ”

“Very responsible of you. Come, join us on this balcony for breakfast,” she invited. Then she added, “Now,” turning it into a command.

“How do I get to it?”

“Come to the door of my apartments. They’ll let you in. Ah, here’s Rosha already!” she gushed, turning away. She popped her head over the balcony once again before she went on into her room and ordered him, “Get up here.” Then she was gone, back inside.

How much had she heard? Probably made little difference, he reassured himself, since she only heard one side of the conversation.

Nevertheless, he reviewed his words as he made his way down out of the gardens and into the hallway, then back up the stairs towards Ligne’s multileveled suite. He met Yona Parmi on a stair-landing.

“Good morning, Fallomar. What’s the matter?” Yona quickly added as he saw the expression on Pelmen’s face.

“Nothing. Ligne’s taking me to the dungeon, that’s all.” Yona’s face turned nearly as white as Pelmen’s, and that made the power shaper chuckle. “Relax I don’t believe it’s intended to be permanent.

Besides, I’ve found us a powerful ally within these walls, one that I think can get us all out of this place. Is Gerrig still anxious to leave?”

“I don’t know how he feels about that this morning. He met another young lady last night ”

“So I heard,” Pelmen interrupted. “I have to hurry, but listen. During rehearsal today, arrange some signal to gather the troupe quickly in one place. It may be necessary to move fast.”

“Are you finally going to involve us in your plans?” Parmi smiled.

“I’m afraid you’re already involved because of your connection to me. I hadn’t intended to become so well-known to the Queen. Since I did, if I disappear with Rosha, she’s certain to take her vengeance out on you.”

“So we go out with you.” Parmi nodded. “Through the infirmary?” he added, then smiled at Pehnen’s surprise.

“How do you know about that?”

“Give me credit for some power of observation,” Yona snapped.

Pelmen nodded. “I do, Yona. I just wanted to keep you out of any danger.”

“Worry about yourself, not us. Maythorm announced to us last night that he knew who you were.” Pelmen’s eyes widened. “Rosha took care of it for you. He broke the man’s neck.”

Pelmen heaved a relieved sigh” That sounds like his father. Yona, please try to help him hold his temper just a few more days.” Then he charged up the stairs toward Ligne’s apartments. As he walked, he asked the House, “Why didn’t you tell me Ligne was listening to me in the garden?”

Was that part of the bargain?

“If it wasn’t, it should be from now on.”

She didn’t hear a great deal. However, the woman is acting curiously today. Perhaps you had better take care.

Pelmen nodded. He had at last reached the Queen’s door, and he knocked on it.

“What kept you, clown?” Ligne asked sharply as he was escorted onto the balcony.

“Your palace is so vast, my Lady I lost my way.”

Ligne raised a disbelieving eyebrow. “I had thought you got around quite well perhaps too well. Unfortunately, you seem to have missed breakfast while you wandered the halls. Joss and Rosha have just finished the last crumbs.”

Pelmen glanced now at the two men who sat flanking her. To one side was Rosha, looking more distressed than usual. Had Ligne discovered then- relationship? On her other side sat General Joss, who studied Pelmen’s face with patient, emotionless suspicion. Pelmen ignored his own discomfort and smiled brightly. “No matter. Are you ready for me to take you slumming below?”

“I had rather thought I was taking you,” Ligne replied.

“Whether I take you or you take me, what difference? We’re all sure to be taken by someone, eventually.”

“Maybe not, clown.”

“And yet maybe. The possibility of being taken is more threatening than the certainty of it.” Pelmen pointed toward her door with a flourish and shouted, “To the dungeon with you!”

Ligne’s face suddenly grew hard. “You overstep yourself, fool,” she murmured dangerously.

“Again?” Fallomar responded. “I’m forever doing that. Perhaps that explains why I so frequently fall on my face?”

“Come along,” Ligne snapped as she stood up and stalked past him. She stopped when she got to the balcony door, and looked back at Joss. “General,” she said,

“you will see that Rosha is moved to his new quarters?”

“I will, my Lady.”

“Bye-bye, Rosha. See you after your rehearsal,” she sang, and Rosha managed a shallow smile. Pelmen took comfort that he was at least still trying. “Come, clown,” Ligne snapped, and she left the room with Pelmen striding swiftly along behind her.

Throughout their descent to the lower levels, Pelmen talked and joked, earnestly gauging Ligne’s responses for some change in her attitude toward him. As they descended to that final level, the lower dungeon where Scr-phi mera was housed, he grew quiet

“What?” Ligne asked him. “No quick-witted remark for this level?”

“To be forthright, my Lady, this hall is so drafty that the chill bumps have extended to the tip of my tongue. You see?” he said, thrusting it out at her.

“Put your disgusting tongue back in your mouth! Your impudence begins to gall me.”

“Such cold makes my tongue thick and slow to wag.”

“Stick it out again and I’ll have it extracted! It certainly won’t bother you then.”

“Missing it might…”

“Stay here.” She pointed her finger at the floor and the jester made a show of rooting himself in that precise spot. Ligne ignored him and walked down the corridor to Scr-phi mera door. Pelmen hoped his loud remarks had altered the Priestess to his presence. He was confident he could maintain the pretense of not knowing her. He felt no such assurance, however, that Serphimera could do the same. He strained to hear their conversation.

“Priestess!” Ligne called through the bars, and Serphimera uncurled herself quickly from her bed and padded across the floor to face her.

“My Lady. I’d not expected you to return so soon.”

“Then perhaps I’ve been too predictable in the past. Come come, any news for me?”

“News, my lady?” Serphimera said guardedly.

“Visions! Predictions! What may I expect?”

“You can expect me to freeze if we stay down here much longer!” Pelmen interrupted, leaving his spot to come toward her.

“I told you to say there!” Ligne ordered, pointing her finger at him.

“Do you want me to leave you behind?”

The fool didn’t slow his pace. “Why, look!” he shouted as he turned to peer into the Priestess’ cell and feigned surprise at seeing Serphimera. “Here’s a captive to remain behind for! Such radiance is like a light in this darkened world! Tell me, my Lady, who is she?”

“You don’t know her?” Ligne asked, keeping her eyes fixed on Serphimera’s face to judge the woman’s reactions.

“Know her?” Peimen gushed. “Why, if I did, I’d have quit this costume long ago and followed her, hat in hand!”

“You are taken with her, then?”

“As I said, we all must at last be taken or forfeit our humanity. I’m taken, indeed! Do you pen her here because her beauty is the only rival to your own?”