Лайон Спрэг Де Камп Array: The Incomplete Enchanter

«So Cambina’s a psychologist too! Why does he need his mind calmed?»

«Why, sir, he’s the chief justiciar of all Faerie. Without a calm mind, how shall he hold the balance even? Let us go thither and lay this matter before him. Certes, we two cannot lay so many rogues by the heels alone.»

Two hours of walking brought Shea to the yawning stage. The moon had set. Under the black trees, even the surefooted Belphebe found the going hard. She was ready to listen to suggestions for a nap.

«Sleep is still far from me now,» she said. «If you wish, I will keep watch for the first hour — which should be till the stars of the Bear sink to the top of that tree.» She pointed. Shea, too drowsy to notice, composed himself to rest.

The next thing he knew, he was being shaken awake in a brightening world.

«Hey, young lady,» he said through his first yawn, «I thought you were going to wake me up after the first hour?»

«And so thought I. But you were so in comfort that I wanted the heart to rouse you. I need but little sleep.»

«Naughty. What about my masculine pride?»

She made a face at him. «I forgot that. Men are such foolish carls about it. But come.» She danced a step or two. «Tirra-lirra, a brave day! Let’s forth and seek our breakfast.»

As they walked along, Belphebe peering towards thickets for an edible target, and Shea a bit woozy from lack of sleep, he asked: «D’you suppose Cambina will have calmed Artegall down so he’ll listen to my explanations before he starts carving?»

«A thing to think on! Will you hide whilst I speak him fair?»

«Guess I’ll take a chance on his temper.» Shea wasn’t going to have his dream-girl suspect him of timidity at this stage. He was sure he could outrun the bulky justiciar if necessary.

«Marry, I would not have you answer otherwise!» She smiled at him, and he felt rewarded. She went on, scrutinizing him: «Many knights, squires, and yeomen have I kenned, Master Harold, but never a wight like you. You speak fair, yet half the time with words I wot not of. You promised to explain the meanings of those wherewith you put the Blatant Beast to rout.»

Shea replied: «Curiosity killed a cat.»

« Miauw! Yet of this cat’s allotted nine, I have several left to draw upon.»

«I really can’t, Belphebe. Magical reasons.»

«Oh. Well then, tell me the meaning of the strange thing you called the Lady Cambina even now.»

«Psychologist?»

«Aye.»

Shea gave an account in words of one syllable of the science of psychology, and of his own experiences in its practice. Under the girl’s admiring curiosity he expanded. Before he knew it he was practically telling her the story of his life. As soon as he realized this, he cut his autobiography off short, not wanting to leave her with nothing to be curious about.

Belphebe said: «A strange tale, Squire. Gin you speak truth, this homeland of yours were worth the seeing.» She sighed a little. «The wilds of Faerie I know like my own palm. And since I will not tarry at Gloriana’s tedious court, there’s nothing left for me but to hunt the Losels and such vile — Sst! » She broke off, moved slowly a couple of steps, and loosed an arrow. It knocked over a rabbit.

While they dressed and cooked their breakfast, Shea thought. He finally ventured: «Look here, kid, someday Doc and I will be going back, I suppose. Why don’t you plan to come with us?»

Belphebe raised her eyebrows. «’Tis a thought audacious. But stay — could I live among the woods-paths as I do here?»

«Unh.» Shea imagined the horrible complications that would ensue if Belphebe tried to lead her present life in Ohio’s close-fenced farmland. «I’m afraid that wouldn’t be practical. But there’s plenty else to do.»

«What then? How should I live in one of your great towns?»

That problem had not occurred to Shea. He revised his estimate of Belphebe. The girl might look like something out of a medieval romance, but she had a core of hard common sense. The only job he could think of for her was giving bow-and-arrow lessons, and he hardly supposed the demand for professional archers to be large.

He said vaguely: «Oh, we’ll figure something out. Doc and I would see to it that you were — uh — uh.»

«Harold!» she said sharply, «What are you proposing? Think not that because I lead a free roving life, I —»

«No, no, I didn’t mean — uh.»

«What then?»

He thought again. One obvious solution was staring him in the face; yet to bring it up so early might spoil everything. Still, nothing ventured

He drew a deep breath and plunged: «You could marry me.»

Belphebe’s mouth fell open. It was some seconds before she answered: «You jest, good Squire!»

«Not at all. People do it in my country, you know, just like here.»

«But — knew you not that lam affianced to Squire Timias?»

It was Shea’s turn to stare blankly

Belphebe said: «Nay, good friend, take it not so to heart. I had thought it known to the world, else I should have told you. The fault was mine.»

«No I mean. it wasn’t let’s skip it.»

«Skip it?» said Belphebe wonderingly. Shea bent over his rabbit-haunch, muttering something about the meat’s being good.

Belphebe said: «Be not angry, Harold. Not willingly would I hurt you, for I like you well. And had I know you sooner. But my word is given.»

«I suppose so,» said Shea sombrely. «What sort of man is your friend Timias?» He wondered whether the question had a useful purpose, or whether he was showing a slight touch of masochism in keeping the painful subject alive.

Belphebe’s face softened. «A most sweet boy; shrinking and sensitive, not like these brawling knightly ruffians.»

«What are his positive qualities?» asked Shea.

«Why — ah — he can sing a madrigal better than most.»

«Is that all?» said Shea with a touch of sarcasm.

Belphebe bridled. «I know not what you mean. ’Tis even the core of the matter that he’s no bold confident venturer like yourself.»

«Doesn’t sound to me like much of a reason for marrying anybody. I came across a lot of cases like that in my psych work; usually the woman lived to regret it.»

Belphebe jumped up angrily. «So, Squire, you inquire of my privy affairs that you may sting me with your adder’s tongue? Fie on you! It regards not you whom I marry, or why.»

Shea grinned offensively. «I was just making general remarks. If you want to take them personally, that’s your lookout. I still say a woman is taking a lousy chance to marry a human rabbit in the hope of making a lion out of him.»

«A murrain on your general remarks!» cried Belphebe passionately. «An you would company me, I’ll thank you to keep your long tongue in its proper groove! Better rabbit than fox with pretence of marriage —»

«What do you mean, pretence?» barked Shea. «I meant that when I said it! Though now I see that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea —»

«Oh, you do? You change your mind quickly! I’ll warrant me you’d have done so in any case!»

Shea got himself under control, and said: «Let’s not go any farther with this, Belphebe. I’m sorry I made those cracks about your boy-friend. I won’t mention him again. Let’s be friends.»

Belphebe’s anger wilted. «And right sorry am I that I threw your proposal in your face, Squire Harold; ’twas a sad discourtesy.» Shea was surprised to see a trace of moisture in her eye. She blinked rapidly and smiled. «So, we are friends, and our breakfast done. Let us be on.»

The new sun was a patch of flecks of orange fire through the foliage. They found a sluggish little stream and had to squeeze through the thickets on its banks.