Neal Barrett Jr - Treachery of Kings

“You know how he looked at me, dear, you heard what he said. And he is the Prince. I suppose he can do whatever comes into his head. At any rate, I recalled Miz Hammiter-Prin? The lady on Rattlebone Street who runs the little shop, the Doorstop Exchange? I knew she had a cousin who'd married a trader in Thistles and Weeds, and he sent goods by balloon all the time… “

“… And he just happened to know an old coot who carried cargo to Heldessia,” Finn added, “and, luckily, was leaving at dawn, with the rest of the merchant fleet. What a remarkable coincidence, Letitia. Not only to recall Miz Hammiter-Prin's relations, but to meet such a kindly, good-natured fellow as Devius Lux, who'd be most pleased to carry a lovely Mycer girl and a lizard in his balloon.”

“Well, it wasn't exactly like that, I don't suppose,” Letitia said, glancing off at the darkened sky.

“Not exactly.”

“No. Very close, though.”

“How close, indeed?”

“Not as close as that, I have to say. You know, of course, from his somewhat violent reaction that I failed to mention Julia was stowed safely in my satchel during the trip.”

“One might gather that. And the rest of it, love?”

“The rest is simply that I, ah-slipped away a moment after we returned from the palace, and began my arrangements then.”

“I see.”

“Yes, I feel you do.”

“You didn't waste a lot of time.”

“I didn't have a lot of time, dear Finn. And it was, truly, only good fortune and the hand of Fate that I was able to bring it all about.

“Oh, don't you see? I simply couldn't let you go on such a perilous voyage alone. I had to be with you. I had a most terrible feeling that if I didn't follow on your heels, I'd never see you again.”

Finn, though still not appeased by Letitia's tale, could not resist the tenderness, the caring in her voice, the very real concern in her dark and iridescent eyes.

“You could have been killed yourself. I could have lost you, Letitia. You must have witnessed the same tragedy and horror I did.”

“I did, yes.”

“I don't know what to say. Of course I'm glad you're with me, but I fear for your safety here.”

“Don't, love. Nothing will happen to me. We have shared adversity before. If need be, we shall share it in this far land as well.”

“Yes, well. I suppose we will.”

Letitia gave a grateful sigh and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “I must tell you, I thought I had taken this voyage in vain, when our airship fell dizzily into the street. Devius Lux did get me out before the thing caught fire, do give him credit for that.

“Then, when we heard someone approaching, we thought it was those terrible Bowsers, and the old fellow made me retreat into the alley, so he could fight them off. When I heard your voice-”

Letitia could say no more. Finn held her close, and had no desire to let her go…

Bucerius and Devius Lux stood beneath the high stone arch of a house a mere hundred paces from the entry to King Llowenkeef-Grymm's palace-a great, looming structure that betrayed no more light than the rest of this city in the small hours of the night.

It was Devius who had guided them the long way around the palace walls, avoiding the Bridge Gate, the Royal Gate, and a number of lesser gates, as well. And, finally, to a stout wooden door that sat within the base of a sentry wall.

It was not through any concern that he had done this deed, but his great desire to hold his precious weapons again. Bucerius had sworn he would grind them to dust beneath his boots if the old man couldn't think of some way to redeem himself.

Now, the two waited, without exchanging a word, while a guardsman went to wake a friend who had done a bit of business with Devius before. What sort of business, the oldster wasn't prepared to say.

At least, Finn thought, standing with Letitia some distance away, it was easier to see, now, why his love had shown less concern than he'd hoped for as they'd parted back in Ulster-East. Why, she could hardly say she'd miss him greatly, could she, when she knew she would be riding the very same Easterly winds across the swamp of Bleak Demise to Heldessia Land.

The thought brought a moment of relief, followed quickly by a pang of shame at his selfish need, when Letitia had shown her love in a clear, uncluttered manner by risking her very life to be at his side.

And, more shameful still, a thought he hurriedly banished from his mind, he wondered how many gold and silver coins Letitia had given the fellow to take her aboard.

I'm damned if I'll ask, he thought to himself, and it's better for future bliss I never know…

It seemed a small eternity before the stout door opened again. Finally, a nondescript fellow, a man of no certain weight or height, appeared and thrust a lamp into the dark. It was hard to guess his age, for his features were most ordinary, neither flushed with youth nor withered by the years.

It looked, to Finn, as if some being wore the costume of a man, dressed for a festive event. From this very first glance, Finn felt wary, on edge, plainly discontent. Letitia, at his side, grew suddenly tense as well. No surprise to Finn, for the Mycer folk had a far keener insight into things unseen than humankind.

“Well, what is it?” the man of no distinction said. He spotted Devius then and turned the fellow's way.

“Do we have business, Lux? I don't recall we do. And these others, are they with you?”

“They are, sir. And I have nothing to show you at this time, though I am expecting some very fine items, which should arrive from the Venomous Coast in a fortnight or so. There is one article, said to be used in ancient times to curl a maiden's hair-”

“Then we shall talk about that at the time,” the man said, raising a hand to halt Lux.

“I am Dostagio, First Servant to His Majesty, King Llowenkeef-Grymm,” he said, looking vaguely at Finn, glancing past Letitia and the giant at her side. “What do you want of me?”

“I am Finn of Fyxedia, sir. And this is my-house servant, Mistress Letitia Louise. This fellow is Master Bucerius, Trader and Balloonist, who guided us here.”

“You know me, Dostagio,” Bucerius said, “though I doubt you'd recall. I been to your court on business before.”

“Yes, well, I'm sure,” Dostagio said, paying the Bullie no heed at all. “You. Finn, is it? Must I ask you again? What are you doing here?”

“I came on the orders of Prince Aghen Aghenfleck of Fyxedia. I bring a gift from my Prince to your King.”

“From the Prince? I don't expect His Grace will want it, but you may leave it here.”

“No, sir, with all respect, I cannot.”

“You cannot?”

“I cannot. I have express orders from the Prince to deliver the package you see here into the hands of the King himself.”

“Yes, well. Come back in the morning. Go to the main gate in front. Leave your name with the Chamberlain Fourth Class. It will be added to a list. The list will be forwarded to an official in the palace, as it is every morning at nine.”

“And may I ask which official is that?”

“That would be me. I will look at the list, scratch off all the names, and send it back to the gate again.”

Finn looked greatly alarmed. “What, then, is the point in getting on the list, if you scratch everyone off?”

“I couldn't say. I believe it was your idea to come here, not mine.

“Devius Lux, when you have an item of particular interest, do come and see me then. Please, all of you, step away from the door, and go back wherever you belong.”

“Wait. I'm not finished!”

“Yes, sir, you are.”

The drab fellow stepped back. The guard appeared again and began to close the great door. Bucerius pushed Finn away and thrust his enormous foot inside.