THE PALACE

LARGE COPPER BATHTUB, ITS POLISHED SURFACE REDLY

reflecting the light of the settmg sun, soared above the
snow-clad peaks of the Lograms. It wove around the lof-
tiest summits and scraped over the lower ones, betimes
with but a few cubits to spare.

"Gorax!" yelled one of the two men in the tub "I have
commanded thee not to miss those peaks so straitlyi
Wbuldst stop my old heart from sheer fright2 Next time,
go around!"

"What's his answer7" asked the other man.

The first cocked his head as if listening. At last he
spoke. "He says he is fain to get this )oumey over with
He also begs that I suffer him to alight on one of these
mountams to rest, but I know better. Did I permit him,
his last labor for me were completed. Away the fiend would
flit to his native dimension, leaving us stranded on an icy
mountain top."

The speaker was a small, lean, brown-skinned man in
a coarse brown robe. The wind of the tub's motion nppled
the silky white hair that hung down beneath his bulbous

THE UNBEHEADED KING

white turban and fluttered his vast white beard. He was
Karadur, a seer and wizard from Mulvan.

The other tub-nder was a large man m late youth, with
a ruddy complexion further reddened by the mountain
winds, deep-set dark eyes and black hair and beard, and a
scar across his face that put a slight kink in his nose. This
was lonan of Ardarnai m Konoli, once King of Xylar and,
before and since, a poet, mercenary soldier, professional
taleteller, bookkeeper, clockmaker, and surveyor.

Continuing an argument that had begun before they
narrowly missed the mountain peak, Karadur said. "But,
my son' To rush unprepared into such an adventure were
a sure formula for disaster We should instruct Gorax to
set us down m some safe land, where we have fnends, and
plan our next move."

"By the time we've done planning," said (onan, "the
Xylanans will have gotten word of my flight from Penem-
bei. I know, because when I was King, the secret service
was on its toes. Then they will set traps for me, hoping
I'll try to rescue Estnidis. And then...."

Jonan brought the edge of his hand sharply against his
neck. He alluded to the bloody Xylanan custom of cutting
off the king's head every five years and throwing it up for
grabs, the catcher to be the next king. Karadur's magic
had enabled ]onan to escape his own beheading. Ever since,
Xylar bad sought to recapture its fugitive king, to drag him
back and resume their interrupted ceremony so that his
successor could be chosen in the time-honored way.

"Besides," Jonan continued, "so long as Gorax remains
your slave, we have this aenal vehicle to approach the
palace from aloft. You yourself said that, if you permit
him to alight, that were the end of his services. Any earth-
bound attempt were rendered that much harder. Why think
you I brought this along?" He pointed to the coil of rope
lying at one end of King Ishbahar's tub. "Could you magic
that rope as you did the one in Xylar7"

Karadur shook his head. "Alas, nay! It requires the cap-
ture of a spirit from the Second Plane, for which I have
no present facilities." Then Karadur tned another tack. In

THE UNBEHEADED KING

his high, nasal voice, he droned on "But Jonan dear' The
world harbors many attractive women. Why must you
remain fixated upon this one? She is a nice girl; but you
have enjoyed many women, both dunng your kingship and
since. So it is not as if she were the only possible
mate—"

"I've told you before," growled lonan, "she's the one I
chose myself Those other four wives were picked for me
by the Regency Council Nought wrong with them; but
'twas an arrangement political. What would an ascetic old
sage like you know of love?"

"You forget that I, too, was once young, difficult though
you may find that to believe."

"Well, if King Fusinian of Kortoh could risk his life to
rescue his beloved Thanuda from the troll Vuum, I were
a recreant knave not to make an effort "

"There are still those other women of whom you have
had carnal knowledge since your escape "

"You can't blame me about the high priestess- I had
little choice in that matter "

"Aye; but there were others—"

lorian snorted. "I try to be faithful to Estnidis, but I'm
not yet able, after long abstinence, calmly to dismiss un-
plumbed a fair lass who crawls into bed with me, begging
that I pleasure her. When I reach your age, perhaps my
self-control will be equal to the challenge "

Karadur said "How know you the Xylanans have not
bestowed your Estnidis upon another^'

"They hadn't when my brother Kenn was there, re-
pairing their clocks. I suspect they save her as bait for me.
Through Kenn, I got word to her to hold out."

"Suppose her affections prove less perdurable than
yours7 Suppose she, too, has found agreeable the company
of another of the opposite sex7"

"Ridiculous'" snapped )onan "She always told me I
was her true love, and I trust her as far as I trust any
mortal."

"Ah, but ofttimes Astis—the goddess whom we in
Mulvan call Laxan—afflicts the steadiest of mortals with

THE UNBEHEADED KING

a passion that overrides the weightiest resolves and the
most cogent reasonmgs Misprize not the havoc that fate
and the vagaries of human nature can make with our sob-
erest plans As said the wise Cidam, 'Blessed be he who
expecteth the worst, for venly he shall ne'er be disap-
pointed '"

Jonan scowled "You mean, let's suppose she has will-
ingly suffered some knave to mount her in my absence7
1 suppose it could happen Since I was the best swordsman
in Xylar, excepting Tartomo, the fencing master who taught
me, I should easily skewer the villain Some would say to
slay the woman, too, but I'm too chicken-hearted "

"You say you love her, nght7"

"Aye, desperately "

"Then you would fain not wantonly render her un-
happy, would you7"

"Of course not'"

"But suppose she really love this wight7 Then you had
broken her heart to no purpose- If by force or fraud you
compelled her to live with you thereafter, your domestic
scene were something less than heavenly "

Jonan shook his head "Curse it, old man, but you think
of some of the direst predicaments' Whatever I propose,
you are endlessly fertile in reasons why it were a folly, a
blunder, and a wicked knavery Betimes you have reason,
but if I barkened to all your cavils, I'd stand immobile
until I sprouted roots Methmks I must await the event
and guide my actions accordingly "

Karadur sighed "It is difficult for one so young to take
the long view of what is best for all concerned "

Jonan glanced up Overhead the stars were coming out
"Pray tell your demon to go slowly We would not run
into Mount Aravia in the dark "

"Mount Aravia7 I believe a colleague of mine, named
Shenderu, dwells there as a wise hermit Could we not
pay him a visit7" At Jonan's expression, Karadur sighed
again "Nay, I suppose not "

A scarlet-and-golden dawn found the flying bathtub still
over the Lograms, although the ndges became lower as

THE UNBEHEADED KING

the travelers flew northward Soon the mountains ended,
and for hours they soared above the vast Marshes of Mom
This dubious place was nominally part of Xylar In practice
it was a no-man's land, inhabited by a few desperate men,
by dwarf crocodiles, and, it was rumored, by descendants
of the dragons that the cannibal Paaluans once brought to
Novana Generations before, these sophisticated canni-
bals sent a foraging expedition to Ir on the west coast of
the broad Novanan peninsula

Curious about everything, Jonan peered over the side
of the tub He looked in vain for a Paaluan dragon among
the black pools and gray-green tussocks of this everglade,
whence the approach of winter had bleached most of the
color Karadur cautioned

"Lean not so far, my son' Gorax complains that you
rock the tub and might overset it, despite his endeavors
to fly it on an even keel "

"The tub has no keel," grinned Jonan "But I get his
point "

"Two gentlemen fleeing away
From warfare in doomed Penembel,

Their carriage capsized,

The marsh fertilized,
Their bones molder there to this day'"

"Not your best, my son," said Karadur "We know not
whether Penembel in tact be doomed If that fellow Chui-
vir, whom you nominated king, make good his claim, he
may prove a good to-middlmg monarch Besides, meth-
mks you require a conjunction at the beginning of that
last line "

"That would spoil the meter," said Jonan "The first
foot should always be an iamb, according to Doctor Gwid-
enus "

"Who?"

"The professor who taught me prosody at the Academy
of Othomae Well, how's this7"

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Two knaves in the royal washbasin
O'er Mom's dank marshes did hasten,

But leaning too far,

They fell with a iar,
And mud their presumption did chasten "

Karadur shook his head "That implies that I, too, am
leaning over the side As you can perceive, I am careful
to keep to the centerline "

"What a literal-minded gaffer you are' All right, let's
see you compose a better'"

"Alas, Jonan, I am no poet, nor is Novanan my native
tongue To compose a verse incorporating the thoughts of
yours in Mulvam, and obeying all sixty-three rules of Mul-
vanian versification, were a task requiring more comfort
and leisure than the gods see fit at the moment to accord
us"

By afternoon they had left the Marshes of Moru and
soared above the forests of southern Xylar By sunset the
forest was giving way to farmland

"Tell Gorax," said Jonan, "that we do not wish to arrive
at Xylar City before midnight "

"He says we shall be fortunate to arrive ere dawn," said
Karadur "He groans—mentally of course—with fatigue "

"Then have him speed up The last thing we wish is
to find the sun nsmg )ust as I am shmnying down that
rope "

"Just what do you intend, }onan2" Karadur's voice ex-
pressed a growing tremor of apprehension

"Simple Kenn told me they have Estnidis quartered in
the penthouse apartment on the roof They think that
putting her up there will make it harder for me to get
her—assuming that I shall approach the palace on the
ground " Jonan chuckled "So, when we reach the roof,
I'll belay the rope to the faucet, drop the other end over
the side, slide down, and carry off Estnidis before any
mouse knows I'm there 1 wish we had one of your en-
sorcelled ropes "

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"If we ever alight long enough for the sorcerous oper-
ation, I wilt prepare one "

"This faucet was King Ishbahar's pnde and |oy," said
Jonan "An engineer m the House of Learning invented
it The only trouble was that the king's servants had to
mix hot and cold water m a tank on the palace roof, and
they could never get the proportions right Poor Ishbahar
was ever being either chilled or boiled I proposed that he
install two faucets, one for hot water and one for cold, so
that he could ad)ust the mixture to suit himself But, what
with the siege of Iraz and the revolt of the racing factions,
he never got around to trying my idea "

Karadur shook his head "With all these new inventions
pouring out of the House of Learning, in a few centuries
our plane will be like the afterworld, where all is done by
buzzing, clattering machines and magic is of no account
I pray never to spend an incarnation in such a world "

Jonan shrugged "I try to make the best of things, be
they magical or mechanical. At least we can thank King
Ishbahar's monstrous fatness that we have so huge a tub,
wherein the twain of us can comfortably sleep Didst ever
hear how he came to have it made7"

"Nay, my son Tell me, pray "

"When Ishbahar acceded to the throne, he was already
vastly obese, eating having been his favorite pastime from
boyhood on Well, the night following his coronation, he
was, naturally, weary after a day of standing about and
making ceremonial motions and uttenng prescnbed re-
sponses to the high priests of the leading cults. So he
commanded his lackeys to prepare a bath for him, and told
his favorite wife to await him in the royal bed

"The royal bathtub, however, had been made for his
predecessor, Shashtai the Eighth, who was a small, spare
man Ishbahar tested the water with his finger and found
it )ust right With a sigh of happy anticipation, he mounted
the step that the lackeys had placed beside the tub and
lowered himself into the water But alas' As he sank down,
he found himself firmly wedged between the sides of the
tub He called out to a servant 'Ho, this won't do' We are

THE UNBEHEADED KING

squeezed to a }elly! Help us out, pray'' So the servitor
caught the king's arm and heaved, but without effect. Be-
tween the king's vast weight and the wedging effect of the
sloping sides of the tub, Ishbahar was stuck fast.

"They called more servants, and all together heaved on
the king's arms—to no avail. A guardsman was called, to
thrust the butt of his halberd over the edge of the tub and
under the royal arse, to pry him up. Ishbahar bore the pam
bravely except for a few groans, but still he remained stuck.
Then two flunkeys added their weight to that of the
guardsman on the head end of the halberd, but they only
succeeded in breaking the spear shaft.

"Then the king had the chief engineer of the School of
Matter in the House of Learning dragged out of bed. The
engineer looked over the problem and told the king: 'Your
Maiesty, I can get you out. All we need do is bore a hole
in the ceiling and install a hoist with compound pulleys-
By looping ropes under your armpits and thighs, we shall
have you out in a jiffy.'

'"How long will this take?' asked King Ishbahar.

"The engineer thought a moment and said: 'May it
please Your Maiesty, allowing time for drawing up a plan
and assembling materials, I am sure we can have you out
in a fortnight.'

"'And meanwhile we shall sit here soaking?' said Ish-
bahar. 'Come, come, my good fellow! Fetch us the head
of the School of Spirit.'

"So they brought in the head wizard of the School of
Spint, a bitter rival of the chief engineer in the House of
Learning. The enchanter said: 'Your Majesty, I have just
the thing! It is my newly developed levitation spell, which
can easily handle up to three talents avoirdupois. Let me
fetch my instruments, and all shall be well.'

"So, after midnight, the wizard ordered all the others
out of the bath chamber and began his spell. He burned
mysterious powders in a brazier, whence arose many-hued
smokes that wnthed and twined like ghostly serpents. He
chanted mystical phrases, and shadows chased each other
about the walls, albeit there was no solid body in the
chamber to cast them. The hangings rippled, and the can-

THE UNBEHEADED KING

die flames flickered, although there was no wind m the
chamber.

"At length the wizard cried three words of power, and
King Ishbahar rose—but the tub rose with him, still firmly
attached to the royal haunches. At length the wizard was
compelled by sheer fatigue to let the king and his tub settle
back to the floor. This tub, you understand, had no faucet
and no pipes to let water in and out, so it could be freely
moved.

"At length the favorite wife, named Haziran, came m
to see what was keeping her lord so long. She found the
king still in the tub, and the chief engineer and the chief
wizard and the servants all standing about, muttering dis-
consolately at their failure to get the king unstuck. They
were proposing desperate expedients, such as starving the
king until he shrank enough no longer to fit so snugly,
like a cork in a bottle.

"Haziran looked the situation over and said, 'You are
all a pack of fools! This is a ceramic tub, is it not? Well,
you lackeys, take the water out. Doctor Akraba—' That
was the chief engineer. '—fetch me a heavy hammer,
forthwith!'

"'Do as she says,' quoth Ishbahar. 'This damned tub is
cutting off our circulation.'

"By the time the sledge hammer was brought, the serv-
ants, with dippers and pails and sponges, had removed
nearly all the water. So Haziran smote the tub on the side
where it gripped Ishbahar's hips, and with a loud crash the
tub broke into several pieces. The king gave a yelp of pain
from the impact, but he recked that a bruised hip were a
small price for his freedom. He dried himself, embraced
Haziran, and led her off to the bedchamber. She was a
level-headed woman, and had she not died of a pox a few
years later, she might have saved the kingdom much gnef
by giving Ishbahar good advice.

"Anyway, the king ordered another bathtub. This time
he made sure it was large enough so that, no matter how
fat he got, he would be in no danger of being entrapped.
And in later years, when officials of the House of Learning
complained of the king's cutting their appropriations, Ish-

THE UNBEHEADED KING

bahar would say 'Ha' For all your pretended wisdom, you
geniuses could not even get us out of a bathtub'"'

"An edifying tale," said Karadur "But why did he have
it fabricated of copper2 It must have been much more
costly that way "

"That was a decision political His officials were em-
broiled in a quarrel with the potters' guild over taxes, and
ordering the tub from the coppersmiths' guild was ish-
bahar's way of reminding the potters who was boss "

"Now back to our own plans," said Karadur "How shall
you get your queen up the rope and into the tub again2
Mighty though you be, I misdoubt you could scale the
rope with one hand whilst grasping your sweetlmg with
the other "

Jonan frowned "You have a point I suppose the best
way were to have her grasp me round the neck from be-
hind, thus leaving my hands free "

"Do you ween you can hoist the weight of the twain
of you2"

"If not, I shall have to remain clinging to the rope until
you find us a safe place to alight "

"You cannot dangle until we are out of Xylar1 The ;our-
ney would require hours And if we alight ere departing
this land, Gorax will desert us, and we shall be forced to
flee afoot "

"Hmm " After a moment of silence, Jonan said "I know'
There's a ruined castle, said to be haunted, a dozen leagues
southeast of Xylar City A certain Baron Lore built it back
in feudal days Much of the main wall still stands. Gorax
can drop us on the wall and then bring the tub down to
the level of the parapet, so we can climb in Be sure to tell
him not to let the tub touch the wall, lest he deem himself
freed from his last labor "

Karadur muttered "I like it not Demons are tncky
beings, especially those we cannot see And what is this
about the castle's being haunted2"

"lust a rumor, a legend There's probably nought to it,
and if a malevolent spirit does abide there, 1 trust you to
protect us from it by magical means."

10

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Karadur dubiously wagged his beard "Why not bring
the tub to the edge of the palace roof, as you speak of doing
at Baron Lore's castle2"

"Because, save for a narrow walk around the penthouse
and a little terrace, the roof slopes down on both sides,
and there is nought to hang on to ere one reaches the eaves
By myself, I might chance sliding down the roof tiles and
leaping into the tub, but I cannot ask that of Estnidis "

"Curse it, boy, could you not take me across the border
into Othomae and leave me there71 would instruct Gorax
to obey you until his final dismissal "

"Oh, no indeed'" said Jonan "I need you to control this
aenal chariot whilst I am below fetching my darling Cheer
up, old man' We've gotten each other out of more parlous
plights "

"All very well for you, young master," grumbled Kar-
adur "You are constructed of steel springs and whalebone,
but I am old and fragile I know not how many more of
these exploits I can endure ere )ommg the ma]onty "

"Well, you can't complain that life in my company has
been dull, now can you7"

"Nay Betimes I lust for some nice, quiet, boresome
dullness "

The time was past midnight and a silvery half-moon
was nsing when (onan sighted a sprinkling of faint lights,
far off to their left. He said "Methmks that's Xylar City
yonder Tell our demon, hard to port' His deduced reck-
oning was off by half a league "

The tub changed course m obedience to the Mulvani-
an's mental command Soon the lights grew and multi-
plied Some came from the windows of houses, some from
the oil lamps that lonan, when king, had erected on posts
at ma)0r street crossings This was the city's first regular
street lighting, before, citizens, unless rich enough to hire
bodyguards and link boys, stayed home behind bolted doors
at night

"We must keep our voices down," whispered Jonan

By whispered commands to Karadur, who passed them
on mentally to Gorax, Jonan guided the tub to the royal

11

THE UNBEHEADED KING

palace. He circled the structure before coming close to the
penthouse.

"No guards on the roof; good!" he murmured.

He brought the tub to a halt six cubits above the small
square terrace at one end of the penthouse. While Karadur
placed the tub just where Jorian wanted it, Jorian knotted
one end of the rope around the faucet and dropped the rest
over the side. He prepared to climb down.

"No sword?" whispered Karadur.

"Nay. It would clank, or bang the furniture, and give
me away. If an alarum sound and the guards rush in, one
sword were of no avail against several."

"In the epics," mused Karadur, "heroes are ever slaying
a hundred fierce foes single-handed."

"Such tales are lies, as anyone who has done real sword
fighting knows. Take a legendary hero like Dauric—but
here 1 am talking when I should be acting."

"Your besetting weakness, my son. That runaway
tongue will yet be our doom."

"Perhaps; but there are worse vices than garrulity. The
reason I talk so much—"

"Jorian!" said Karadur with unusual vehemence. "Shut
up!"

Silenced at last, Jorian went over the side and down the
rope. The soles of his boots made scarcely a whisper as
they touched the tiles of the terrace.

He stole to the door of the penthouse, feeling in his
purse for his picklocks. He had learned to use these im-
plements during the year preceding his escape from Xylar.
A wise woman had prophesied that Jorian was best fitted
to be either king or a wandering adventurer- He had no
special desire to be either, since his real ambition was to
be a prosperous, respectable craftsman like his father, Evor
the Clockmaker. But circumstances conspired to thrust
him into these roles willy-nilly.

Jorian had become King of Xylar by unintentionally
catching the head of his predecessor when it was thrown
from the execution scaffold. Since it was plain that he
could not indefinitely continue as king in the face of the
Xylarian law of succession, he had determined to be the

12

THE UNBEHEADED KING

ablest adventurer he could. So he had trained himself for
the role as rationally and thoroughly as would any expert
in science, art, or law-
He studied languages, practiced martial arts, and hired
a group of rascals: a cutpurse, a swindler, a forger, a bandit,
a cult leader, a smuggler, a blackmailer, and two burglars,
to teach him their specialties. If the gods would not let
him play the part of an industrious, law-abiding bourgeois,
at least he would act the role they had forced upon him
competently.

As it turned out, he did not, on this occasion, need his
picklocks, since the door was not locked. Jorian turned
the knob, and the door opened with the faintest of squeals.

He well remembered the plan of the penthouse from
the days when he had dwelt there. Each night he had one
of his five wives sent to him. To allay jealousy, he
companied with them in rotation. But the system broke
down when one or more became ill or pregnant/ and
disputes arose over who should take the absent one's place.
Finally Jorian settled the argument by saying that he was
glad of a night or two off.

Now he found himself in the living room of the
apartment. Before him, doors opened to two bedrooms, a
bathroom, and the head of a stair leading down to the third
story of the palace. In the mild air of an autumnal warm
spell, the doors of the bedrooms stood open. One, )orian
supposed, contained Estrildis; the other her lady-in-waiting,
whoever she was.

No light burned in these rooms, and little moonlight
mitigated the darkness. Jorian wondered how to determine
which bedroom harbored which woman- It would not do
to awaken the lady-in-waiting by mistake. He must tiptoe
to the door of each room, peer in, and, if still in doubt,
approach the bed closely enough to settle the question.
While he did not know the lady-in-waiting, he hoped at
least that she was a brunet, making it easy to distinguish
her from the blond Estrildis.

He started toward the left-hand door and at once tripped
over an unseen obstacle. He had assumed, without thinking
much about the matter, that all the chairs and tables would

13

THE UNBEHEADED KING

be in the same places as when he bad fled from Xylar. He
had forgotten the womanly passion for rearranging the
furniture.

The invisible object fell over with an apocalyptic crash.
Jorian staggered and recovered, silently cursing a barked
shin.

Before Jorian could take a step nearer the left-hand door,
a terrific din of barks, growls, and snarls erupted from that
bedroom, Jorian had a glimpse of the moonlit, gleaming
eyes and bared fangs of some beast bounding toward him.

Swordless, Jorian snatched up the chair he had stumbled
over- He brought it up, legs pointing toward the charging
watchdog. The animal fetched up against the chair,
snapping at the legs, with a force that almost bowled Jorian
over. When it fell back to the floor, it tried to circle round
Jorian, who turned to keep the chair between himself and
the dog.

Women's voices came from the bedrooms: "Who's
there?" "Help!" "Who are you?" Then came the buzz of
a wheel-lock lighter and a spark of light from the left-hand
chamber.

A ghostly figure appeared at the door of the other
bedroom. A woman's voice, unfamiliar to Jorian, cried,
"Help! Help! Murder!" The woman rushed to the head of
the stairway and vanished.

Estrildis, small, stocky, and blond, appeared at the door
of the other bedroom, carrying a candle. Still holding off
the dog, lorian shouted: "Darling! It's Jorian! Call this
beast off!"

"Oh!" shrieked the little queen. "What—where—come,
Thoy! Come back! Come here, Thoy! Good dog! Come,
Thoy!"

The dog, which the candlelight revealed as a huge
Shvenic mastiff, backed off, growling. Seizing the dog's
collar, Estrildis cried: "What do you here, Jorian? I did not
expect—"

The cries of the lady-in-waiting came up the stair: "Help!
Robbers' Murder! Save the Queen!"

"Sweetheart!" cried Jorian. "I've come to take you away.
Come quickly, ere the guards arrive!"

14

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"But how—"

"Never mind! Put down that candle and tie up the dog!"

"But I must know—"

"Damn it, woman, if you don't come instanter—"

A clatter of arms on the stair interrupted Jorian's plea.
Men flooded into the living room, the candlelight striking
golden gleams from their steel. "Get him!" roared a
soldierly voice.

Jorian perceived three naked swords coming toward him,
with reinforcements following. He ran out the door to the
terrace. There he took three running steps and a flying
leap to catch the dangling end of the rope as high up as
he could.

"Karadur!" he shouted. "Take us up, fast!"

He began hoisting himself up the rope. The bathtub
rose. Before the rope's end had cleared the terrace, a
guardsman, putting his sword between his teeth, also
caught the rope and began to climb.

The ascent of the tub slowed. On the terrace, other
armed figures clustered. One caught the tip of the rope,
but the end slipped out of his grasp.

Jorian looked down into the upturned face of the
guardsman below him. He thought he recognized the
upcurled mustache.

"You're Duvian, are you not?" said Jorian. "I'm Jorian;

don't you know me?"

The guardsman, with the sword in his teeth, could only
grunt. From below came cries: "Who has a crossbow?"
"Well, fetch one, idiot!"

"You'd better let go," said Jorian. "If you are still there
when we leave, I'll kick you loose or cut the rope above
you. Then you will fall to your death."

The guardsman, holding the rope with his left hand and
with his legs clamped around it, took the sword in his
right hand and swung it at Jorian's legs, saying: "Tis my
painful duty, 0 King!"

Jorian kicked, and the sword spun out of the guardsman's
grasp. It struck the roof tiles, slid bumpily down the slope
of the roof, disappeared over the edge, and landed with a
crash on the paving below.

15

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Jonan lowered himself on the rope and aimed another
kick, at the guardsman's face The kick missed, but the
soldier relaxed his grip, slid down the rope to the end, and
fell a few cubits to the terrace He landed on one of his
comrades, so that the two rolled on the terrace with a
clashing of mail Shouts of funous argument arose from
the terrace, now dwindling beneath Jonan as the tub rose

The lamng snap of a crossbow came up, and a bolt
thrummed past Jonan hoisted himself as fast as he could
up to the tub and levered himself over the side Another
crossbow snapped, and a bolt hit the tub, making it ring
like a bell Jonan felt the side of the tub at the place
whence the sound had come His fingers found a bump
where the bolt had dented the copper

"Next thing," he panted, "they'll haul out a catapult
Tell Gorax to get us away with all demonic dispatch'"

"Whither?"

"To Othomae Tell him to head east As you said, we
do have friends there "

Another crossbow quarrel hummed past below, but the
tub was out of range With the half-moon on their starboard
bow, they flew eastward through the night Jonan was
silent, breathing deeply Then he said

"A plague, a muman, and a pox on the Xylanans' By
Imbal's brazen balls, I itch to burn their damned city down
on their heads What said your Mulvaman wiseacre about
expecting the worst; I had the damnedest run of bad luck,
Ehdora must have it in tor me 'Twas like one of Physo's
comedies First I tripped over a chair in the dark Then,
Estnidis has somewhere obtained a watchdog the size of
a lion, who knew me not Then—"

"My son," moaned Karadur, "I pray you to reserve the
tale till the morrow I must needs get some sleep betwixt
now and dawn I cannot forgo rest as I could when I was
your age "

The wizard curled up m his blanket and was soon
snoring When he calmed down, Jonan found he could
smile at himself He mentally composed a ungle

16

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"A hero who wanted his wife

To cany away without strife,
Fell over a chair,
With noise filled the air,

And soon had to flee for his life'"

With nobody to listen to his tale of the abortive rescue,
Jonan soon lomed his companion in slumber

17




^/^

VJORAX INSISTS HE CANNOT PERSEVERE MUCH LONGER,"

said Karadur, peering into the murk. After leaving Xylar
City, they had flown all day and crossed the Othomaean
border The overcast thickened, and rain began to fall.
Jonan and Karadur huddled in their cloaks. But the ram
fell more and more heavily, soaking them. Water sloshed
about the bottom of the tub.

"Have we nought to bail out our ship with^' quavered
Karadur. "Gorax complains of the additional weight of the
water."

"Now that you mention it/' said Jonan, "the tub has
an outlet drain with a plug. It should be under that rope."

He inched his way to the faucet end of the tub and
pushed aside the coil of rope. The plug was a large cork,
driven m so firmly that Jonan's powerful ringers could not
dislodge it. He pned the plug out with his dagger, and the
bilge water drained out. Night came on.

"I stated that Gorax nears his limit," said Karadur. "He
avers that, if not soon permitted to alight, he will collapse
and drop us from whatever height we be."

18

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Tell him to slow down," said Jonan "I know this
country well, but I cannot see my hand before my face,
let alone landmarks. Tis blacker than the inside of a cow.
By my reckoning, we should reach Othomae City m two
or three hours."

"At least," said Karadur, "we shall not frighten the
yokels below to death As we cannot see them, neither
can they perceive us "

Jonan laughed. "Remember that wagoner in Xylar, who
leaped from his wain, ran across a field, and burrowed into
a haystack to hide?"

"Aye. But your efficient secret service will hear thereof
and know we departed to eastward "

"True. But methmks we shall be safe in Othomae. The
Othomaeans are ever on bad terms with Xylar. 'Tis one
of those silly things where a nver changes course, leaving
behind a sandbar that belonged to one nation, and now is
claimed by another. The dispute had )ust ansen dunng my
last days as king, so I had no chance to compose it. At
any rate, I misdoubt the Othomaeans would extradite us."

"I hope you be nght. A lavish bribe oft ovemdes such
parochial passions."

"Then we must needs trust the Xylanan treasurer's
parsimony. In my time the post was held by Pnthio son
of Pellitus, as tight with his golden lions as a Mulvanian
nger with its prey." Jonan peered into the murk, trying
to discern some solid object "Tell Gorax to fly low but
slowly, so as not to collide with some tree or steeple. When
the moon rises, belike we can find a road or a nver to guide
us."

Hours later, the rain had slackened to a dnzzle. The
moon, in its last quarter, gave a faint pearly glow to the
clouds overhead. Time ground on.

Peenng over the side, jonan saw plowed fields and now
and then a village, a cluster of black rectangles in the
darkness. He failed to identify any landmark. Karadur said.

"Gorax avers he be fordone. He warns us to brace our-
selves, for he must descend whether we will or no "

There was a feeling of lightness as the tub dropped. The

19

THE UNBEHEADED KING

darkness deepened as trees arose about them. With a slight
)ar, the tub settled on soft ground.

"He bids us farewell," said Karadur. "Know you where
we be?"

"Somewhere in Othomae/' said Jonan, "unless Gorax
have flown us clear across the duchy into Vmdmm."

Jonan stood up, grunting at the stiffness of his limbs.
The ram had ceased, but aU around he heard the dnp of
water from branches.

He hoisted himself out of the tub. The ground seemed
a green sward in a small clearing or glade, surrounded by
huge trees. Jonan walked around the edges of the glade.
Returning, he said:

"I still know not where we are. At least, let us wring
the water from our clothes."

Standing in the tub, )onan removed his garments and
wrung them, holding them over the grass. He sneezed. "I
hope," he grumbled, "they dry ere we freeze to
death.... What's that?"

Something moved about the glade. Its footfalls were
practically noiseless; but Jonan could see a darker shadow
m the darkness and hear a faint hiss of breathing. Then
something sniffed, close to the tub. Two spots of feeble
luminosity, barely visible, appeared above the edge of the
tub. Jonan recognized an odor.

He was sitting on the coil of rope at the faucet end of
the tub. Suddenly he leaped up, waving his arms and ut-
tering an earsplittmg scream: "Ye-ee-ow!"

There was a spitting snarl and sounds of a body moving
swiftly away. "A leopard, I think," said Jorian. "Are you
all right. Father Karadur?"

The old wizard was gaspmg for breath. "Your screech
well-nigh arrested my old heart for all eternity."

"Sorry, but I had to surprise the cat to get rid of it. The
sky is lightening." Jorian felt his clothes; Karadur's were
draped along the opposite side of the tub. "They're not yet
dry, but we'd best do them on. The warmth of our bodies
will dry them. How about a fire?"

20

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"An excellent idea if feasible. With this all-pervading
wet, I have doubts."

Jonan took out his lighter. "Plague' My tinder's wet,
and 1 see not how to get dry tinder Would your magical
nre spell work, think you2"

"If you will fetch fuel, I will essay it "

Soon Jonan had collected fallen branches and twigs-
Standing in the tub, Karadur waved his wand, made mystic
passes, and uttered words of power A little blue flame
appeared among Jonan's pile of fuel. The flame danced
among the branches, now and then evoking a faint hiss,
but the fuel would not ignite.

"Alas!" said Karadur. "We can do nought until our wood
dries."

Jonan grunted. "1 always thought magic was something
one resorted to when material means failed, but wizardries
seem to fail quite as often."

Karadur sighed. "My son, I fear you have penetrated the
secret of secrets, the inmost arcanum."

"Meaning that all you spookers' professions of infinite
powers are but a bluff to cozen us laymen2"

"True, alas. We fail as often as do the engineers in the
House of Learning in Iraz. But I beseech you, reveal not
this dread secret to the vulgus. We wizards have a hard
enough time making a living "

Jonan grinned m the darkness. "Since you saved my
life, old man, I'll keep your secret." He looked around.
The light had grown strong enough to pick out twigs and
leaves on trees, although the deciduous trees had lost most
of their summer foliage. "By Astis's ivory breasts, what
are those2"

To three of the trees surrounding the glade, wooden
ladders had been affixed, reaching up until lost in the fo-
liage. Jonan said: "I never heard of trees that grew ladders
naturally. They must be the work of men."

"One can imagine erecting such ladders on fruit trees,
to facilitate harvesting," said Karadur. "But these are
nought but oaks, beeches, and lindens."

"There are beechnuts," said Jonan. "But two of the

21

THE UNBEHEADED KING

ladders 1 see go up oaks. Who would gather unripe acorns?"

"A breeder of swine, belike. But I am not convinced,
when it were so much easier to pick them from the ground.
Perchance the ladders lead to sentry posts, whence sen-
tinels look out over the land to espy invaders."

"I never heard of aught like that when I served in the
Grand Bastard's army," said Jorian. "But what other—oh-
oh, Karadur, look behind you!"

The wizard turned and started in alarm. "A unicorn!"
he breathed.

The head and forequarters of the animal appeared from
out the shrubbery on one side of the glade- The unicorn
of Jorian's world was no graceful pseudo-horse. Instead, it
was a large member of the rhinoceros tribe, covered with
golden-brown hair, with its single horn sprouting from its
forehead, above the eyes, instead of its nose.

"If we keep still," whispered Jorian, "maybe he'll go
away."          '

"I fear not," Karadur whispered back. "I detect ema-
nations of rising rage. Methinks we had best prepare to
make a dash for one of those ladders."

The unicorn gave an explosive snort, pawed the ground
with a triple-hooved foot, and stepped forward.

Jorian murmured: "Soonest begun, soonest done, as said
the wise Achaemo. Ready, set, go!"

He vaulted out of the tub and ran for a ladder across
the glade from the beast- Karadur followed but, because
of his age, fell behind. Jorian waited for him at the foot of
the tree, calling: "Faster! Here it comes!"

When the wizard, panting and staggering, reached the
tree, Jorian put his large hands around Karadur's waist and
boosted the slight oldster several steps up the ladder.

The unicorn made a thunderous charge, snorting like
a volcano- It rushed the tub, jerking its head as its horn
struck- With a loud bongg, the tub flew into the air, scat-
tering the belongings of the two travelers.

"Up! Hasten!" barked Jorian, for the winded Karadur
was climbing the ladder with difficulty. Below, Jonan was
still in range of the thick, curved horn.

The umcom lumbered back and forth about the glade,

22

THE UNBEHEADED KING

trampling the ob|ects scattered about. It got Jonan's blan-
ket caught on its horn and wheeled about, shaking its head
so that the blanket flapped like a flag. When the blanket
flew away, the unicorn charged the tub again, tossing it
end ovei end.

Then the animal turned its attention to the travelers
on the ladder. It trotted to the oak and tried by rearing up
against the trunk to reach Jonan, but he was now beyond
range of the horn.

Safely out of reach, Jorian and Karadur continued their
climb at a more leisurely pace. When they reached a thick
horizontal branch with many smaller boughs for hand-
holds, Jorian climbed out on the branch and sat. Karadur
nervously followed. Below, the unicorn cocked its head to
keep them in sight.

"Something tells me," said Jonan, "that fellow likes us
not. Anyway, I think I know where we are."

"Where?"

"When I served in the Grand Bastard's Foot Guards,
there was talk of a plan the Grand Duke cherished. This
was to unite his several hunting preserves south of Oth-
omae City into a national park to exhibit wild life. Grand
Duke Gwitlac was getting too old and fat to enjoy hunting;

and the Grand Bastard Daunas, his half-brother, preferred
the pursuit of women to that of deer and boar.

"In either case, they needed money to equip and train
their lobster-plated heavy cavalry. So they reckoned that,
by stocking the park with beasts both familiar and exotic,
they could make a neat income by charging the rabble
admission. Visitors would come from other lands to spend
their money and thereby be taxed. Our friend below is one
of the exotic beasts, since it is native to the northern
prames beyond the Ellornas. Those ladders must have been
emplaced for the purpose wherefor we used them, to es-
cape the charge of some beast that mishked gawking vis-
itors."

"All very well," said Karadur. "But how shall we per-
suade this dratted unicorn to begone?"

Jorian shrugged. "Sooner or later 'twill tire of watching

if

us.

23

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"If we weaken not from starvation and fall out of the
tree first," grumbled the seer

"Well, there was the method whereby King Fusiman
escaped the Boar of Chimoc "

Karadur settled himself "I thought I had heard all your
tales of Fusmian the Fox, but this one I know not "

"When Fusinian was King of Kortoli," began Jonan, "he
inherited a hunting preserve, like those of this Grand Duke
The preserve was called the Forest of Chimoc Now, when
Fusinian succeeded his father, the incompetent Filoman
the Well-meaning, he was kept too busy for several years,
what with the war with Aussar and the trouble with the
giants called the Teeth of Gnmnor, to have time for the
Forest of Chmioc

"After these events, Fusinian settled back to en]oy life,
as far as any conscientious ruler can en)oy it despite the
harassments of his position Some of his gentlemen urged
him to take up hunting m Chimoc, which, they said, was
overrun by wild beasts In particular, the forest harbored
a wild boar of preternatural size, strength, and ferocity
As they described it, it sounded like a buffalo with tusks
instead of horns, and the hangers-on filled Fusiman's ears
with tales of the glory he would earn by slaying the beast,
giving a feast with its flesh, and having its head stuffed
and mounted on the palace wall

"Fusinian did not much care for hunting, but he did
like fishing Moreover, he liked to get off by himself from
time to time to mull over the stream of proposals, and
bills, and acts, and requests, and treaties, and agreements,
and petitions, and memorials constantly urged upon him
For such purposes, the sport of fishing was useful

"So, one summer day, Fusinian set out with a body-
guard of four troopers and rode to the edge of the Forest
of Chmioc Here he left the troopers, commanding them
to remain there unless he should fail to return by an hour
before sunset, in which case they should come searching

"The guards protested, warning the king against the
bears, wolves, and leopards in the forest, not to mention

24

THE UNBEHEADED KING

the Boar of Chmioc But Fusmian brushed aside their ob-
jections and set out along a trail which, he knew, led to
a good trout stream He bore a pair of fishing rods and a
creel containing his luncheon, and he whistled gayly as
be plunged into the wold

"Ere he reached the stream, he heard a grunting, like
that engine in the House of Learning in Iraz, whereby one
of the servants hopes to get useful work by the power of
steam And then the Boar of Chmioc ambled out from
between the trees At the sight of Fusiman, the animal
grunted, pawed the earth, and lowered its head to charge

"The beast was not quite the size of a buffalo, but it
was certainly large enough The bnstles on its back came
up to the height of Fusmian's chin, and Fusinian had no
arms save a knife for cleaning fish

"As the monster bounded forward, the king dropped his
fishing rods and sprang for the nearest tree, a big beech
like that one yonder Although a small man, he was wiry
and active, and he scrambled up into the branches Below,
the boar reared up against the trunk, but it could not reach
Fusiman, now perched on a branch as we are

"Pusiman thought that, if he sat long enough, the boar
would lose interest and go away But hours passed, and
the boar stubbornly remained below Every time Fusmian
moved, the boar circled about, looking up and grunting
ferociously

"Fusinian began to worry about his guards and his wife
and his kingdom, and he decided that he must escape in
one way or another He tried shouting, hoping his guards
would hear, but they were too far away

"He thought of other expedients, such as whittling a
branch into a pole and tying his knife to it to make a spear
He actually cut one branch of about the right size for the
purpose, but found it too limber It would simply bend
and break ere it drove a blade through the boar's thick
hide

"Next, he thought to make a diversion He did off his
hat, )erkm, and hose and constructed a dummy, using his
fishhooks to pin these garments together and leafy branches

25

THE UNBEHEADED KING

for stuffing. Then he crept out along a branch and hung
the dummy by means of his spare fishing line at such a
height that the boar could not quite reach it-

"Creeping back, he shook the branch so that the dummy
bobbed up and down and swayed from side to side. The
boar, seeing what looked like Fusinian dancing in the air
above it, went into a paroxysm of rage, snorting like a
thunderstorm and leaping about beneath the dummy,
striving to reach and slash it.

"Meanwhile Fusinian climbed down the tree on the
side away from the boar and ran for his life. When he could
no longer hear the thrashing and grunting of the boar, he
stopped with the realization that he was lost.

"Steering by the sun, he headed back toward the edge
of the Forest of Chinioc. In mid-afternoon, he came to a
fence that marked the boundary. Continuing on, he found
himself in cultivated fields; but he realized that he must
be a long way from where he had entered the forest. The
first person he saw was a fanner hoeing weeds. Approach-
ing, he said: 'God den, goodman. May I—'

"At that, the farmer turned to shout toward his house:

'Inogen! Run to fetch the constable! Tis a madman we
have, running about the land naked!' For, indeed, Fusinian
was naked but for his boots, underwear not having been
in use in his time. Meanwhile the farmer ported his hoe
like a weapon, in case Fusinian should come closer.

"'My good man,' quoth Fusinian, 'you are mistaken—
a natural error, belike, but a mistake natheless. Know that
I am King Fusinian, your sovran lord. If you will be so
kind as to lend me some garments—' Whereupon the rus-
tic shouted louder than before: 'Inogen! Hasten! The mad-
man is proclaiming himself king!'

"The farmer's wife ran out of the house, mounted a
mule, and set out at a gallop. Fusinian tried to explain
how he had fallen into this curious plight; but the more
he talked, the more alarmed the rustic became, threat-
ening Fusinian with his hoe until the king had to leap
back to avoid being struck.

"Then came a clatter of hooves, and the farmer's wife
reappeared on her mule, accompanied by a constable on

26

THE UNBEHEADED KING

horseback. The latter swung down with a jingle of mail
and approached the king, saying: 'Easy, now, easy, fellow!
Come with me to the lazarette, where our learned phy-
sicians will cure you. Come along, poor fellow!'

"The constable approached Fusinian and made a snatch
at him, but the king leaped back and ran. The constable
ran after, clanking and jingling, and so did the farmer. The
fanner's two sons, just returning from school, joined the
chase. So did other yokels. Soon Fusinian found himself
pursued by a score of men and boys, some armed and all
shouting: 'Seize the madman, ere he slay someone in his
frenzy!'

"A swift runner, Fusinian long kept ahead of the pur-
suit. But, as one pursuer became winded and dropped back,
another joined the chase, so that in time the little king
faltered. Then men on horseback galloped up on either
side of him, one being the constable whom the farmer's
wife had summoned. So Fusinian stopped, holding up his
hands to show he was harmless. Between gasps, he tried
once more to explain, but none heeded his words.

"Instead, someone knotted a rope around his neck and
gave the other end to the constable, who said: 'Now, poor
fellow, ye shall come along whether ye will or no.' The
constable turned his horse away and tugged on the rope,
so that Fusinian was forced to trot along. And thus, at
sunset, they came to the nearest village, called Dimilis-

"They fetched the magistrate, who arrived at the jail-
house much put out by having to leave his dinner half-
eaten. When he had heard the stories of the first farmer
and the constable, he asked Fusinian: 'And what have ye
to say, my featherless fowl?'

"Fusinian said: 'Your Honor, it is true that I am King
Fusinian./

" 'Hah!' said the magistrate. "A likely story! Where are
your crown, your robes of state, your train of attendants?
Forsooth, we have here not merely insanity but also high
treason. Clap this knave in irons!'

'"Your Honor!' quoth Fusinian. 'To prove my veracity,
I can recite the coronation oath. I can list the ancestors
of the royal line for fifteen generations. Fetch someone

27

THE UNBEHEADED KING

who knows me' Send word to the court'' But no heed did
anyone pay.

"None knows how much further this farce would have
gone, but )ust then two of Fusmian's guardsmen appeared,
demanding news of their King When they saw Fusiman,
laden with chains, being led off to a cell, they dropped to
one knee, crying 'Your Ma)esty' What scoundrels have
entreated you thus7 Command us to slay them''

"A great silence fell amongst the folk gathered in the
iailhouse Each tried to look as if he had )ust happened by
on other business and knew nought of the dispute over
the naked man's identity Each tried to hide behind his
fellows, and some of those near the door tiptoed out and
ran for it, until one of the guardsmen blocked the door

"Fusiman smiled through the dirt wherewith he was
covered, saying 'Hail, Baldolf and Cumber' Am I glad to
see you' How came you so opportunely7'

"A guardsman spoke 'Your Ma)esty, when the sun stood
a hand's breadth from the horizon, we followed your trail
into the forest Soon we saw what we thought was Your
Majesty hanged from a branch of a tree, which gave us a
frightful shock, but we found this was merely Your Ma)-
esty's garments stuffed with brush Although we could
not imagine the reason for this, we agreed that two of us
should contmue to search the forest, whilst the other two
hastened to Dimilis and spread the alarum for our King's
disappearance '

" 'I will explain,' said Fusiman, but at that moment the
magistrate and all the other local folk fell on their knees
and groveled, crying 'Mercy, Great King' We- meant no
harm' We thought but to do our duty' We have wives and
children' Mercy, we beseech thee''

"'Get up'' said Fusinian sharply. 'To say I am pleased
by today's events were stretching the truth, but I do not
massacre my sub)ects, however idiotically they comport
themselves. Magistrate Colgnn' For your haste in passing
mdgment ere the evidence be in, I will levy a small fine
upon you You shall remove your jacket and trews and
give them to me, mstanter''

"So pleased was the magistrate to get away with his

28

THE UNBEHEADED KING

life that he stripped off the garments and handed them
over forthwith, leaving himself naked but for his shoes
and chain of office Fusiman donned the garments, which
fitted him ill since Colgnn was fat With his two guards,
the king strode out of the )ailhouse, mounted his horse—
which the guards had led with them—and galloped away
But thereafter Fusiman was more cautious about leaving
his guards and going off by himself "

Karadur said "An edifying tale, showing how our per-
ceptions of rank and authority are swayed by superficial
things But our unicorn shows no disposition to depart,
and I misdoubt we could distract it as your king did with
the boar "

Jfonan put a finger to his hps, whispering "I hear voices "
The voices waxed, and a swishing of branches told of the
movement of a large body The unicorn looked across the
glade and snorted

Out from the trees lumbered an elephant, a huge Mul-
vanian tusker with people on its back. As the animal came
closer, Jonan saw that a broad plank was secured length-
wise along its spine. Eight people sat on this plank m two
rows, back to back, with their feet resting on footboards
along the elephant's sides A turbaned Mulvaman sat astride
the elephant's neck and guided the beast

One rider was a man in an unfamiliar uniform, who
was lecturing the seven others on the plank In a stentorian
voice, this man said- "There you see a unicorn from the
steppes of Shven Its scientific name is Elasmothenum,
and the philosophers tell us it is related to the rhinoceros
of Beraoti Although a grass-eater, it is short-tempered and
dangerous if approached on foot   "

The unicorn turned and trotted away from the glade
Jonan quickly lost sight of it A young elephant-nder called
out "Master Ranger, what's that red thing yonder7" The
child pointed to the battered bathtub.

The ranger spoke to the mahout, who guided the ele-
phant toward the tub and the debris of Jonan's and Kar-
adur's belongings. The ranger said "By Zevatas's brazen
beard, what's this7 It looks as if some vagabonds had

29

THE UNBEHEADED KING

camped here and departed leaving their litter There is
punishment for littering But what's this object' It looks
like a large bathtub, but how could such a thing get here7"

The child spoke again "Master Ranger, there are your
vagabonds, sitting in that big tree'"

"Oho'" said the ranger He spoke to the mahout, who
brought the elephant to stand beneath the branches of
Jonan's tree "Fry my guts, but here we have a brace of
poachers, caught red-handed' But the game they flushed
proved larger than they expected "

"Excuse me, sir," said Jonan, "but you are misinformed
We are not poachers, merely a pair of travelers dropped
into your park by happenstance "

"A likely story'" The ranger turned to his sightseers
"Now you shall behold how we of the Ranger Corps dispose
of such knaves " He raised a bugle to his mouth and blew
a call The call was answered from afar

"How got you m2" the ranger asked "You did not come
in the gate and sign the register, or you would not be
wandering the park unescorted Your presence alone proves
your guilt '/

Jonan pointed to the bathtub, lying across the glade
"We came in yonder tub, upheld by sorcery When our
demon became exhausted, he dropped us into this glade
Since it was at night, we knew not where we were "

"Ha'" said the ranger "Try to convince the »udge of
that'"

"Good my sir," persisted Jonan, "we are quite
respectable folk, despite appearances I have served in the
Grand Bastard's Foot Guards and studied at the Academy
If you will ask Doctor Gwidenus—"

"You waste your breath, poacher," said the ranger "If
you shut not your gob, 'twill be the worse for you "

After a runher wait, three rangers on horses cantered
out from between the trees After talk between them and
the one on the elephant, the latter spoke to his mahout,
and the elephant started off into the forest Jonan could
hear the ranger's voice, fading with distance

" the umcom is an animal of solitary habits, keeping

30

THE UNBEHEADED KING

company with another of its kind only at the mating
season   "

Of the three newly arrived rangers, two bore crossbows
The third, who appeared to be in command, said "Come
down now, poachers But think not to run off through the
woods, unless you crave a bolt in the brisket "

"May we gather our belongings, pray7" said Jonan,
reaching the ground

"Aye, but be quick about it'"

Half an hour later, Jonan and Karadur arrived at the
park entrance Some of their belongings, such as Jonan's
set of small cooking utensils, had been smashed beyond
repair The rest were rolled up in blankets, which they
bore on their backs like refugees

Another elephant was being prepared for a sightseeing
tnp It lay on its belly, and the next batch of sightseers
was climbing a ladder placed against its side to take their
places on its back Several more of the animals were
tethered to stakes in a row, rhythmically swaying and
stuffing greenery into their mouths

The two travelers were surrounded by rangers, disarmed,
and hustled into a small detention room "Here you shall
wait, poachers," a ranger said, "until Ranger Ferrex returns
from his tour "

The door was slammed and bolted on the outside A
bench was the only furniture, the only light came from a
little window high up, about a handspan square

"Now I know how your King Fusmian felt when none
would listen to his rational explanation," said Karadur
"Could you open the door with your picklocks2"

"If it were closed by a proper lock, yea, but my little
teasers were useless against bolts "

During the wait, Jonan relieved his boredom by
composing a poem on their latest misadventure The first
stanza ran

"Two gallant adventurers, hardy and bold,
To Othomae endeavored to fly

31

THE UNBEHEADED KING

But their demon gave out o'er the Grand Ducal wold,
So now in the lockup they cry!"

Jorian had reached the fifth stanza when the door opened.
Ranger Ferrex beckoned. "Come, poachers!"

They were handcuffed together, taken to a wagon with
seats, and loaded aboard with their gear. Ranger Ferrex got
in and sat facing them- The driver whipped up the horses.
The wagon rattled over the dirt road for an hour, passing
fields and villages, until Othomae City appeared on the
horizon.

On the way, Jorian and Karadur conversed in Mulvan-
ian. This made Ferrex scowl, but he did not try to stop
them. They agreed that Jorian might as well give his true
name, since he wanted to get m touch with people he
knew.

At the jailhouse, the ranger told his story to the mag-
istrate, fudge Flollo, and Jorian repeated the tale he had
told the ranger. The magistrate said:

"I cannot let you out on bail, since as foreigners you
have no local ties to assure your appearance for trial. You
profess to have used sorcery to come hither; but if you be
sorcerers, you could summon another demon or work a
spell with your sorcerous implements and escape."

"But Your Honor!" protested Jorian. "If we be sorcerers,
then our tale is proven true. Hence we cannot be poach-
ers."

"Nought hinders a sorcerer from trying his hand at
poaching, if that be his bent." The magistrate hefted Jor-
ian's purse and poured out its load of coins. "A veritable
fortune! Whence got you this money? Have you robbed a
royal treasury?"

"Not robbed, Your Honor, It's a long story. As you see,
the coins are of the Kingdom of Penembei. where I was
employed to repair the clocks in the tower—"

"Never mind. The money shall be sequestered and re-
turned to you, minus the cost of your prison victuals,
when and if you are acquitted of the charge of poaching."

"But, Your Honor, if I be so well provided, I had no

32

THE UNBEHEADED KING

need to sit out in the rain all night in hope of snaring a
hare. Let me tell you how—"

"I cannot take time to hear your tale, prisoner; I have
many more cases to decide. Your presence unescorted in
the park is pruna facie evidence of wrongdoing; so whether
your story be true or false will be for the tnal fudge to
decide. Take them away, bailiff."

"Come, you two," said a heavy set, scar-faced man in a
shabby black uniform. Jorian and Karadur were led down
a corridor to another cell. This, Jonan found, had a single,
heavily barred window, high up. As the bailiff closed the
door, he said: "Did I hear you give your name as Jonan of
Ardamai?"

"Aye. What about it?"

"Do ye not recall a fellow soldier named Malgo?"

"Yea, now that you mention it." Jonan looked sharply
at the bailiff. "By Imbal's iron yard, methinks I see my
old comrade-in-arms!"

"Comrade, hell!" snorted Malgo. "Ye be the bastard
who gave me a beating- And now I have you where I want
you! Ye'll be sorry ye ever laid a finger on me!"

"But that was seven years ago—" began Jonan. Malgo
walked heavily away, paying no attention.

"What was all that?" asked Karadur.

"When Malgo and I were recruits in the Grand Bastard's
army, Malgo was the company bully. He made life espe-
cially hard for one lad who, whatever he was good for, was
not cut out for a soldier. He was a spindly little whelp and
awkward, forever stepping off on the wrong foot or drop-
ping his pike. So Malgo took delight in tormenting him.

"One day I found the lad backed into a corner, while
Malgo poked, pinched, and otherwise mistreated him, all
the while telling him how worthless he was. I suspected
that Malgo had made certain demands of the youth and
had been denied. Thinking it time for Malgo to receive a
dose of his own physic, I hauled him round and gave him
a drubbing. I got a bloody nose and a black eye, but you
should have seen him'"

"All very gallant," said Karadur, "but it redounds not
to our advantage now. Would we had used one of your

33

THE UNBEHEADED KING

pseudonyms, such as—what did you call yourself when
you first fled hither from Xylar?"

"Nikko of Kortoli You may be right, but it's too late
now "

During the following days. Bailiff Malgo, while careful
to keep out of Jonan's reach, found ingenious ways to
torment the prisoners. He made sure that their food ration
was but half that of the other prisoners, and consisted of
the least edible parts of the day's serving The food was
delivered by Malgo's assistant, a huge, half-witted youth
with a vacant smile.

When Jonan demanded to see the magistrate to com-
plain, Malgo said he would carry the message. Soon he
came back, saying that the magistrate refused. Jonan sus-
pected that the message had never been delivered.
. When Jonan asked for water, Malgo fetched a cup, then
poured it on the floor outside the cell, laughing.

Jonan asked for wntmg materials, to send a note to
Doctor Gwidenus and another to the wizardess Goama
Malgo furnished paper and pen When Jonan had wntten
the notes and handed them through the bars, Malgo tore
them up, laughing

Malgo refused to let his helper take out and empty the
commode, so that the cell came to stink. The stench at-
tracted swarms of flies Malgo sometimes stood in the hall
outside, laughing at the prisoners' efforts to slap the pests.
"Let's hope this lasts not till next summer's heat," grum-
bled Jonan.

At last Jonan said: "Holy Father, can't you work up a
spell to get us out of here?"

"Nay, my son. The little spells I could perform without
my paraphernalia would accomplish nought Besides, I
sense that a contraspell has already been laid about this
edifice, so that none of my spells would succeed. How
about your picklocks? The locks on these cells, meseems,
are of the sort for which they are suited."

"Aye, but my little ticklers are in my wallet, which is
in the magistrate's custody."

34

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"He also has my magical accessones in his charge."

"This is ndiculous!" growled Jonan. "Here we are, two
harmless travelers with local fnends of influence and re-
pute, locked up through a series of mischances, and we
cannot even communicate with anyone who could help
us'"

"If we shouted our message through yonder window,
belike we could persuade someone to carry a message."

Jonan clapped a hand to his forehead. "Why didn't I
think of this sooner? I'm a stupid clod. We've wasted a
quarter-moon m this stinking cell. If 1 stand on one of the
stools...."

The stool brought Jonan's face up to the window. He
found himself looking down from the second story of the
lailhouse on to the street below.

"Methmks we're on Amaethms Street," he told Kar-
adur. "There are a few passersby. Ho there, young man!
You with the red cap' Wouldst earn a golden royal of Pe-
nembel by beanng a message?"

The boy humed on Jonan tried again and again with
other pedestrians. At last he gave up. "They must be so
used to hearing cnes from pnsoners that they heed them
not."

A raucous laugh came from beyond the bars Malgo
stood there, saying. "Waste your breath if ye will, noble
Jonan! Know that there's a law against carrying messages
tor prisoners, and we keep an officer posted to see that
none flouts the rule-"

Jonan got down. When Maigo went away, Jonan said:

"Still, there must be something." He sat frowning m
thought and said at last: "Some have said that I have not
a bad singing voice, albeit untrained. If I gave the folk
below a little concert, at a regular hour each day, perch-
ance I could draw a crowd who would gather to hear.
Sooner or later the word would get out, and one of our
fnends would hear of it."

"I cannot see how it would hurt to try," said Karadur.

Jonan hoisted himself back on the stool and, m his
powerful bass, began singing one of his )ingles, to a tune

35

THE UNBEHEADED KING

from an operetta by Galliben and Silfero The first stanza
ran

"Oh, some like the steaming jungle hot,
Where serpents swarm and the sun shmes not,
And sweat runs off and your garments rot,
But I prefer a more temperate spot—
Novana, my Novana "

By the end of the third stanza, a cluster of pedestrians
had coagulated in the street below, stanng up Malgo ap-
peared outside the bars, roaring "Stop that hellish noise'"

Jonan grinned over his shoulder at the bailiff and con-
tinued on through the six stanzas he had previously com-
posed He added a new one

"Some take to the ice-clad arctic waste,
Where man by the snow bear herce is faced,
Or else by ravenous wolves is chased,
But as for me, I'd return in haste

To Novana, good Novana "

Malgo continued to bawl ob)ections, but he did not
enter the cell Jonan added several other songs, then stepped
down "It's a start," he said

He spent the rest of the day and much of the night
remembering the verses he had casually tossed off over
the years and trying to match them to tunes he remem-
bered The following afternoon, at about the same time,
he delivered another recital Malgo shouted "For this, I'll
see to it ye never go free' Ye shall rot here for ay'"

Jonan ignored the threat and continued his singing On
the sixth day after the first recital, the half-wit appeared
at the bars with keys To Jonan's astonishment, the youth
unlocked the cell door, saying- "Ye come, now "

They found Magistrate Flollo talking with Doctor
Gwidenus The professor beamed through his bushy gray
beard "Jonan1 My onetime pupil' When I heard those
songs with the quadruple-alpha rhyme scheme, I sus-
pected 'twas you, since that was your favorite form despite

36

THE UNBEHEADED KING

its difficulties You are free. and there are your effects
Who is your companion7"

Jonan introduced Karadur, adding "What—how—"

"I shall tell you later Have you a place to stay? I cannot
lodge you in my own house, because we have visiting
kinfolk"                                           °

Jonan shrugged "I suppose I'll stay at Rhuys's inn, the
Silver Dragon, as I did before " He turned to the magis-
trate "Sir, where is Master Malgo2"

"Oh, when Doctor Gwidenus brought the order for your
release, the bailiff was seized by sudden pains internal
Avouching that he suffered an affliction of the bowels, he
begged the rest of the day off So I let him go Why Master
Jonan?"

Jonan looked at the knuckles of his fist "Oh, 1 )ust
thought I should like to bid him a fond farewell " He
turned to Gwidenus "Where's the public bathhouse?"

37

III




JORIANSAID "GOOD MASTER RHUYS I TOO AM GLAD TO SEE

you again I trust the dinner will make a pleasant contrast
to those I've enjoyed as a guest of the Grand Duchy "

"I heard of your trouble with the park rangers," said
Rhuys The proprietor of the Silver Dragon was a small,
seedy-looking man with thinning, graying hair and pouched

eyes

Jonan, Karadur, and Doctor Gwidenus occupied a table
in Rhuys's common room, drinking wine and tellmg tales
while awaiting their repast Jonan had sent one of Rhuys's
pot boys with a message to the wizardess Goama, whom
he had met on his previous visit to Othomae He said to

Cwidenus

"But Doctor, you haven't explained how you got me

out so featly "

The learned man chuckled 'T have a cousin named
Rodaus, a usurer by trade. This cousin owed me a favor
for giving his mediocrity of a son a passmg grade in one
of my courses at the Academy The Grand Bastard seeks

38

THE UNBEHEADED KING

a loan from Rodaus, and they have disputed the rate of
interest "

"To finance his armored horse, belike7" said Jonan In
Othomae, the Grand Duke ran civil affairs, while the Grand
Bastard, the eldest illegitimate son of the previous Grand
Duke, commanded the army

"No doubt Anyway, I passed the word to Rodaus, as-
suring him that, knowing you from yore, I was sure your
release were no mmstice So Rodaus, in return for a prom-
ise to drop all charges, let the noble Daunus have his loan
for half a percentum point less than he had demanded "

Nodding toward Karadur, Jonan smiled "My dear old
preceptor insists that all decisions be made on a basis of
abstract, impersonal right and wrong But I note that in
sore straits, he lets expediency rule his course, even as we
common clods " He counted the money in his purse "By
Imbal's brazen arse, they forgot to deduct the cost of my
food m )ail'"

"They forgot not," said Gwidenus "Twas part of the
bargain "

Jonan was volubly thanking the savant when the door
opened, and in came the wizardess Goama, a tall, middle-
aged woman with graying hair After her came her body-
guard, a big, gross, porcine man Following him, a tall,
black-haired young woman m a grass-green gown came
in She was not beautiful, but striking-looking, with the
lines of a hard life graven on her irregular features She
bore a black eye

Jonan rose "Hail, Mistress Goama'" he called "Ah
there, Boso and Vanora' How wag your worlds2"

The stout man growled something in a surly tone The
young woman cned "Jonan' How good to see you again'"
She humed over to embrace Jonan, who showed no great
eagerness to respond. Two years before, >ust after his es-
cape from Xylar, he had engaged in a bnef and stormy love
affair with Vanora, who then became the companion of
the piggy-eyed Boso son of Tnis She and Boso sat down
by themselves at a small table across the common room

"Now, Jonan," said Coania Anstor's daughter, in the
tone of an aunt setting a wayward nephew to rights, "sit

39

THE UNBEHEADED KING

down and tell all. What's this wild tale of your rolling into
the ducal park in a tub on wheels, and there slaying the
Grand Duke's prize unicorn?"

Jorian laughed. "It wasn't like that, albeit what truly
befell us was quite as strange." He plunged into the story
of his escape from Iraz in the demon-borne tub, his failure
to abduct Estrildis, and his unwitting landing in the park.
When he told of his imprisonment, Cwiderius said:

"I am shocked, Jorian! Prison management was sup-
posed to have been reformed; I was on the committee to
make recommendations to the Grand Duke. But I see things
have slipped back into their usual rut. True, persons like
this bailiff are not always of highest character, but we
cannot permit such persecution of one who is not even
tried! I shall get word of this to His Grace."

Jorian thought a moment and said: "Thanks, but you
had better let the matter he, Doctor. If I meet Malgo alone,
I may take him on at fisticuffs; but meanwhile the less
I'm involved with the ducal court the better. Someone
might get the idea of selling me to the Xylarian Regency
for enough to equip another squadron of lancers."

Rhuys served their dinners. Later, Jorian said: "Let's
talk of how I shall get my darling Estrildis out of her gilded
cage. I cannot raise an army to besiege the city, and our
flying bathtub is out of service. What else can be had in

flying spells?"

"Well," said Karadur, "there is Sir Fendix's flying broom,
and Antonerius's tame wyvern, and Coel's spell, whereby
he changes himself into a vulture. But all have shortcom-
ings. Fendix has twice been nearly slain when his broom
went out of control; it is subject to something he terms
a 'tailspin.' The wyvern is but half domesticated and may
yet devour Antonerius at one gulp. And Coel is said to
have sold his soul into a thousand years' bondage on the
Third Plane in return tor his shape-changing power. Nay,
I see no good prospect for another aerial assault. Besides,
the Xylarians will have posted guards on the roof."

"Then we should need more than just me/' said Jorian.
"I wonder—"

Goania spoke up: "Meseems the Xylarians, fearing an-

40

THE UNBEHEADED KING

other raid from the air, would have moved your queen to
some less-exposed place."

Jorian grunted- "You make sense as usual, my dear aunt.
How shall we find out?"

"Leave it to me," said the wizardess. "Is this tabletop
clean? Good. I shall probe the Xylarian palace. You!" she
spoke to a pot boy. "Fetch me a clean towel, pray."

With the towel she wiped the inside of her empty wine
glass. Then she dropped a pinch of green powder into the
glass. She muttered an incantation, whereupon the powder
smoldered and sent up a thread of purple smoke.

"Break not one of Rhuys's best glasses!" said Jorian.

"Hush, boy!" She leaned over the glass and inhaled. For
some moments she sat with her eyes closed. Then she
muttered:

"It is dark... nay, there is a light, a yellow light... the
light of an oil lamp.... I am in an underground cham-
ber ... there is a door with iron bars. The walls are of rough
stone, as in a cell or dungeon... but there are hangings on
the walls and a carpet on the floor, as if the place had been
made more comfortable... I see a small, blond woman,
seated at what appears to be a dressing table... she seems
to be sewing. The scene blurs, as if some force were push-
ing my second sight away. All over!"

She took deep breaths and opened her eyes- Jorian said:

"Me-thinks I know where she is, in the largest cell of our
dungeon. But how shall I gain access thereto?"

"Has the palace no secret tunnels?" asked Gwiderius.
"Palaces and castles ofttimes possess them, to let the chief
man escape if the stronghold falls to a foe."

"Nay," said Jorian. "I investigated when I was king,
since such an exit would have let me flee their beheading
ceremony. But though I prowled the lower parts of the
palace, tapped the walls, and consulted the oldest plans
of the edifice, no trace of an escape tunnel could I find. It
had been futile to ask the Xylarians to dig me one, since
their efforts were devoted to thwarting my escape."

"Could one dig such a tunnel from the outside and bore
through the cell wall with miner's tools?" asked Goania.

"Conceivable but not likely. One would have either to

41

THE UNBEHEADED KING

start outside the city, or take a house inside and bore down
through the floor and then on a level until one reached
the palace. Such a task would take months, and I doubt
if 1 could remain undetected so long. For example, one
would have to dispose of the dirt dug from the tunnel
without arousing suspicion. Since Xylar City is built on
soft, alluvial soil, one must bring in timber to line one's
tunnel and shore it up, lest it collapse on one.

"Then how could one be sure of reaching the right un-
derground chamber? With but a slight error in deduced
reckoning, one might break into the armory or the treasury
instead of Estrildis's chamber. And wherever one broke
in, it would be a noisy process, which would alert the

guards -

"Finally, unless the Xylarian spy system have deteri-
orated since my day, any such doings would soon come
to the ears of the Regency Council. And then...." Jorian
brought the edge of his hand sharply against his neck.

"What then?" said Karadur.

"Since the Xylarians have blocked the avenues to direct
assault, 1 suppose we must resort to magic. What can our
professionals of the occult offer?"

Goania and Karadur exchanged glances. The wizardess
said: "Alas, I am more a seer than a thaumaturge or sor-
cerer. I have no means of getting your lass out of an un-
derground cell."

"Couldn't you," Jorian asked Karadur, "somehow recall
Gorax from the Fifth Plane?"

"Nay, my son. My sorcerous powers are straitly limited.
I obtained control of Gorax through a colleague, Doctor
Valdonius, whom you remember from Tarxia. I saved him
from a magical predicament, and in gratitude he trans-.
ferred Gorax, whom he had evoked, to me and imprisoned
the demon in this ring."

"How about other demons?"

Karadur shrugged. "Nay; 'tis not my specialty."

Jorian growled: "My two great magical experts seem to
have proven a rope of sand. Know you one whom you
would trust for such an operation?"

42

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Gwiderius spoke: "One of my fellow pedants at the
Academy, Doctor Abacarus, might help."

"What is his line of work?"

"He is professor of occult philosophy, and I believe he
performs sorcerous experiments on the side. If you wish,
I will present you to him."

"I do wish, thank you," said lorian. "The sooner the
better."

Karadur yawned. "Forgive me, gentles, for interrupting
this congenial evening; but an old man wearies fast. I shall
withdraw, leaving the rest to enjoy—"

"Karadur!" said Goania. "You shan't remain here to-
night. I would fain discuss a new method of astral protec-
tion with you; so you shall pass the night at my house."

Jorian spoke up: "Well, Mistress Goania, if you are tak-
ing Doctor Karadur—"

"I cannot also accommodate you, young sir," she said
sharply. "For one, there is not enough room; for two, the
doctor threatens not my repute, whereas a lusty, young
springald like you indubitably would. Come along, Kar-
adur. Come, Boso and Vanora. Good night all!"

She swept out, followed by the others. Gwiderius soon
excused himself also.

Jorian had just gotten his boots off when there came a
knock. "Who is it?" he asked.

"I, Vanora. Pray let me in!"

Jorian unbarred the door. She entered, saying: "Oh, Jor-
ian, how good it is to see you again! What a fool I was not
to have kept my grip on you when I had you!"

"Whence got you that black eye?" asked Jorian.

"Boso gave it. We had a dispute this morn."

"The bastard! Do you want me to give him one?"

"Nay. So long as I'm his leman, I must betimes endure
his fist."

"What caused it?"

"Forsooth, 'twas not wholly his fault, for I had sorely
provoked the lout."

Having received some of Vanora's provocations in the

43

THE UNBEHEADED KING

past, Jorian understood this. He even felt a twinge of sym-
pathy for Boso. "How did you get away?"

"Oh, Boso's asleep, and my mistress and your Mulvan-
ian spooker are so deep in magical converse that they never
noticed as I slipped out." She put on the pleading look
that Jorian had seen before. "Know you what night this

is?"

Jorian frowned. "It is the last day of the Bear, is it not?"

"Aye. But does it mean aught to you?"

Jorian looked puzzled. "Nought special. Should it?"

"It was just two years ago that we parted in Othomae,
when I took up with that brute Boso."

"So it is; but what of that?"

She moved closer. "Wilt not let a poor drabby correct
her error?" She grasped Jorian's hand and drew it inside
her gown, so that he grasped her right breast, while looking
up at him with slightly parted lips.

Jorian felt a familiar stirring in his tissues. But he said:

"My dear Vanora, that is over and done with." Although
his pulse quickened, he withdrew his hand. "I'll have no
more of those games until I get my own wife back."

"Now, forsooth! Since when have you become a holy
anchorite? You were lusty enough two years ago, and at
your age you cannot blame senility. Sit down!"

She gave him a sudden push, so that he sat down on
the edge of the bed. She undid a, clasp, dropped the emerald-
green gown around her feet, sat down in Jorian's lap, and
began to kiss and fondle him, murmuring: "Then you were
the most satisfying of all my lovers, stiff as a sword blade
and hardy as Mount Aravia. Oh, my true love, take me
back! For two years 1 have yearned for the feel of your
love, penetrating—"

"Get off!" he said sharply. In another moment, he knew,
he would cast good resolutions to the winds, although he
knew that Vanora would bring him nothing but trouble.
As Goania had told him once, Vanora had the unfortunate
talent of not only being chronically unhappy herself but
of making those around her unhappy as well. "If you get
not to your feet, I'll stand up and dump you on the floor!"

Pouting, she stood up but remained swaying nakedly

44

THE UNBEHEADED KING

before him. "What has changed, Jorian? Are you having
one of your sudden attacks of virtue? You know it will
pass."

Jorian looked up at her, secretly happy that he had not
been compelled to stand up- This would, under the cir-
cumstances, have been difficult. "Nay; I merely resolved
to do what I promised myself. Call it exercising my strength
of character, if you wish; like lifting weights to enlarge
one's thews."

"Why all that pain and trouble? Since the wizard Aello
discovered a really effective contraceptive spell, nobody—
well, hardy anybody—heeds all those old rules about who
may bed whom any more."

"A philosopher at the Academy told me that our present
promiscuity is but a fad that comes and goes, like fashions
in hats or cloaks. Anyway, I remember you as careless
with your contraceptive spells."

"Well, I've never gotten pregnant yet. Of course, were
you the father, I might not mind...."

lorian was of several minds: to lay her on the bed and
have at her; to push her out of the room and throw her
dress after her.... Each course had its perils. If he treated
her roughly, she might make trouble between him and
Goania; he did not underestimate her capacity for stirring
up quarrels. Or she might incite Boso to assault him. While
he did not fear Boso, he did not want either complication,
for such hostilities would interrupt his quest for Estrildis.

He fumbled for an excuse that would send her away
disappointed perhaps, but not bent on revenge. At last his
storytelling talent rescued him. He said:

"Sit on yonder chair, my dear, and I'll tell you what
has changed. You remember my adventure on Rennum
Kezymar, when I saved those twelve slave girls from the
retired executioners of Ax Castle?"

"Aye. That was a noble deed, worthy of my Jorian."

"Thank you; but I have not told you half the story. As
the Talaris sailed toward Janareth, the girls were naturally
grateful at not being used to demonstrate those fellows'
skills at flaying, blinding, beheading, and other quaint spe-
cialties of the executioner's art. The first night out from

45

THE UNBEHEADED KING

the island, one of the girls—I think her name was Wenna—
came to my berth to show her gratitude, and 1 did not deny

her.

"Next day, about noon, this Wenna was seized by hor-
rible pains and convulsions. Within an hour, for all that
Doctor Karadur could do, she was dead. We buried the
poor little thing at sea

"The following night, another girl came to me, and
again I sought to pleasure her. And again, the following
day, she was seized by cramps and convulsions and died.
We wept as her body was committed to the deep.

"These sad events aroused a lively suspicion that there
was a connection betwixt their carnal congress with me
and their untimely fates. So Doctor Karadur performed a
great con)uration. When he came out of his trance, he had
located the source of the trouble. The executioners, such
as were left after their free-for-all battle, were naturally
incensed when they found I had carried off the slaves wher-
eon they meant to monstrate their skills at the banquet.
The wife of one, Karadur discovered, was a witch. At her
husband's behest, she put a curse upon me, so that any
dame with whom I copulated would die within twelve

hours.

"Now, Vanora dear, it you wish to take a chance that
the curse have lost its potency, let's have at it. But say
not that I failed to warn you!"

She looked at him slantwise. "That flapping tongue of
yours was always fertile in expedients," she said. "I know
not whether to believe you. At Metouro you were ready
enough."

"I was a little drunk and had forgotten the curse. Be-
sides, your beauty had driven all other thoughts out of my
head."

"Hm; I see you're still as smooth-tongued a flatterer as
any courtier. Well, how about Estrildis? If the curse be
true, her demise will soon follow your reunion."

"Oh, I won't touch Estrildis, even if I can get her out
of Xylar, until the curse be lifted. Karadur is sure that he
and Goania can devise an effective counterspell."

"I still think you're lying your head off."

46

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"There's an easy way to find out," said Jorian, standing
up and unlacing his shirt. "If that is what you want...."
He pulled off his breeches.

"I see that not all of you has turned ascetic," she said.

"Who said it had? If you're fain to take a chance, he
down and spread out."

She hesitated, then stooped and picked up her dress.
"Nay, you're as hard to grasp as a greased eel. What befell
the remaining girls7"

"I sent them home from ^anareth. Well, wilt chance it
nor not? I cannot maintain this stance all night."

With a sigh she slipped on her dress. "Nay, I will not.
i I had but thought.... But never mind. Boso may be a brute,
; but all his members are in working order, without curses
save that of stupidity. Good night!"

Jonan watched her go with a wry smile and a mixture
of relief and regret. It took all his strength not to call her
back and confess that the story was a lie. Actually, he had
not carnally known any of the twelve slave girls until the
night before they parted m Trimandilam. Then Mnevis,
the leader, had insinuated herself into his bed without
encouragement from him.

He had not told Vanora of his passing off Mnevis and
the others at the court of Trimandilam as the Queen of
Algarth and her ladies-in-waiting. He was already on the
Mulvamans' grudge list for his theft of the Kist of Avien.
He did not wish to give Vanora information that she might,
in a fit of malevolence, use against him. Naturally a frank,
open, cheerful soul, with a tendency to talk too much and
indiscreetly, he was learning caution the hard way.

Doctor Abacarus proved a bald, fat, clean-shaven, red-
faced man with a high voice. He reminded lonan of the
eunuchs he had encountered in Iraz; but Gwidenus had
told Jorian that Abacarus had children of his own.

Sitting at a desk in the Academy, the philosopher made
a steeple of his fingers, saying: "You wish me to evoke a
demon and compel it to bring your wife forth from an
underground cell in Xylar?"

"Aye, sir. Canst do it?"

47

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"I believe so."

"What would that cost?"

Abacarus made notes on a waxed tablet with a stylus.
After calculating, he said: "I'll undertake the task for fif-
teen hundred Othomaean nobles. I cannot guarantee suc-
cess; I can only promise to do my best."

jorian suppressed a temptation to whistle. "Let me bor-
row your tablet, Doctor. Let's see; in Penembian royals
that would be...." He calculated and looked glumly at
Karadur. "Had I but known, I'd have fetched a whole tubful

of gold from Iraz."

"Gorax could not have borne the weight," Karadur pro-

tested-

"Can you pay?" asked Abacarus.
"Aye, though 'twill leave me nigh penniless. Why so

much?"

"The spell requires rare ingredients, which will take at
least a month to collect. Moreover, it is fraught with no
small risk. Fifth Plane demons are formidable bondser-
vants."

Jorian made a half-hearted effort to bargain Abacarus
down, but the philosopher-sorcerer was adamant. At last
Jorian said: "Shall we agree, half now and half when my
wife is delivered to me unharmed?"

"That seems fair," said Gwiderius.

Abacarus cast a sour look at his colleague but grunted
assent. lorian counted out the money. Back at the Silver
Dragon, he told Karadur:

"We'd better find ourselves livelihoods whilst waiting
for Abacarus. Else we shall run out and be cast into the
street. You can read palms or the like, whilst I seek work
I can do."

Three days later, lorian, having canvassed the city in
vain for jobs in clock making and surveying, reported to
Karadur that he had obtained a job in a windmill. Karadur
had a new tale of woe.

"I found a booth for rent and made ready to hang out
my sign," he said, "when a man of the local seers' guild
appeared, with three bully boys. He told me, politely, that

48

THE UNBEHEADED KING

I needs must join the guild, at twice the regular rate be-
cause of being a foreigner. Since his escort looked eager
for a pretext to set upon me with fists and feet, I forwent
argument, promising to pay ere I began practice."

"How much did they want?"

"Fifty nobles for the initiation fee, plus dues of one
noble a quarter."

"At that rate, we shan't be able to pay Abacarus his
second installment, unless the goddess Elidora suddenly
smile upon us."

"You could sell your sword. Whilst I know little of
weaponry, meseems it would fetch a substantial price."

"And then what should I do the next time a dragon or
a band of rogues assail me? I have a better thought. Let's
appeal to Goania. Surely she has influence with this seers'
guild."

The next day, while Karadur went to see Goania, ^orian
departed for his first day's work at the mill. The miller,
an elderly Othomaean named Lodegar, explained that he
was taking on lorian because hitherto he and his wife had
run the mill together. He trimmed the sails while the wife
sat at the spout from the millstones and caught the flour
in bags as it poured out. Now he was getting old for such
gymnastics. His son, a soldier, could not help; so he would
collect the flour while )orian manned the sails.

Jorian had a vague idea that running a windmill was
easy. One dumped the grain into the hopper, made a few
adjustments for wind speed and direction, and waited for
the flour to pour out.

The reality proved different. The wind was ever veering
and backing, so that the turret bearing the sails had to be
turned to face it. A circle of thick wooden pegs arose around
the circular top of the tower, and the circumference of the
turret bore a series of equally spaced holes on its inner
surface. By thrusting a crowbar between the pegs and into
one of the holes and heaving, one turned the turret a few
degrees.

Outside, the main shaft of the turret bore four booms,
crossing at the axis of the main shaft and thus providing

49

THE UNBEHEADED KING

spars to bear eight triangular sails, like a ship's jib. The
clew of each sail was tied by a rope to the end of the
adjacent boom. To shorten sail, one stopped the rotation
of the booms by snubbing with a rope, unhitched the sail,
wound it several times around its boom to lessen the area
exposed to the wind, and tied the clew again to the end
of the next boom in the circle. To spread sail, one reversed

the operation.

jorian was kept on the run all day. When the wind
shifted direction, he had to man the crowbar to turn the
turret. When it freshened, he scrambled down the ladder
to stop the booms' rotation and shorten several of the jibs,
lest the millstones, by spinning too fast, scorch the grain,
When the wind died, he had to go down again to fly more
sail, lest the machine grind to a halt. Between times, the
miller directed him to lubricate the wooden shafting and
gears with liquid soap, kept in a bucket and applied with

a large paint brush.

During the morning, lorian, bustling about in response
to Lodegar's commands, tripped on the bucket and knocked
it over. Liquid soap ran out over the floor and triclded
between the boards into the base of the mill. Lodegar ex-
ploded:

"Vaisus smite you with emerods, ye clumsy oaf! Ther-
ius stiffen your joints and soften your prick! Go now to
my house, get a bucket of water and some rags from my
wife, and clean up this mess, or 'twill be too slippery to

walk upon!"

The cleanup took hours, because Jorian had to leave it
every few minutes to shift the bearing of the turret, or to
descend the ladder to spread or shorten sail.

As night fell, Jorian returned to the Silver Dragon, barely
able to put one foot before the other. He slumped down
on a bench in the common room, too tired to climb the
stair to his and Karadur's room. "Beer, Master Rhuys!" he
croaked.

Karadur appeared. "Why lorian, you look fatigued! Was
the work at the mill exacting?"

"Nay; 'twas as light as tossing a feather from hand to
hand. How fared you?"

50

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Goania summoned Nennio, the chief of the seers' guild.
She persuaded him to agree that I pay my initiation fee in
installments over a year. Further he would not abate his
demands. She told me privily that the fifty nobles are
mainly a bribe to the officers of the guild. No more than
a tenth of the sum reaches the guild's coffers, the rest
disappearing into the purses of Master Nennio and his
henchmen."

"Why does not some disgruntled guild member bring
an action against these larceners?"

Karadur glanced about and lowered his voice. "Because,
she whispered, they turn over a portion to the Grand Duke,
who therefore protects them in their peculations. But say
it not aloud in Lord Gwitiac's demesne, an you value your
health."

Jorian sighed. "No wonder the romancers write tales of
imaginary commonwealths, where all are honest, indus-
trious, sober, and chaste, since such a thing seems not to
exist in the real world. Is the afterworld any more vir-
tuous?"

Karadur shrugged. "We shall doubtless ascertain soon
enough; or sooner yet, if you permit that restless tongue
to betray us."

"I guard my utterances. If such a land of universal virtue
existed, I fear 'twere somewhat dull to dwell in."

"We need not fear, lorian, that such a reign of tedium
will ever afflict us. Betimes some simple dullness were
welcome!"

51

rv

\ OR1AN BECAME HARDENED TO MILL WORK, SINCE HE WAS A

powerful man, albeit somewhat softened by his life in Iraz
To one who had repaired clocks for a living, the mecha-
nism was simple. Whenever the machine stopped, Jonan
located the trouble before Lodegar did. One of the wooden
gear teeth on the main shaft had come loose and )ammed
the gear, and Jonan quickly repaired it.

The month of the Eagle was well along when Abacarus
sent word that he was ready to call up a demon from the
Fifth Plane. The next evening, trudging through a light
dusting of snow, Jonan and Karadur gathered in Abacarus's
oratory This was a small, circular room in one of the
ornamental towers of the Philosophy Building of the Acad-
emy They found the sorcerer marking a pentacle with
chalk on the center of the floor, all the furniture having
been moved aside. Holding the other end of the measuring
stnng was Abacarus's apprentice, a weasel-like young man
named Octamon.

"Keep back'" said Abacarus "If you step on a line, you

52

THE UNBEHEADED KING

will break the pentacle and release the demon ere he have
accepted my commands That might be the end of all of
us"

They crowded back against the wall while the diagram
was completed The sorcerers inscribed a pentagram, or
five-pointed star in the pentacle, a small circle inside the
pentagram, and many symbols in the angles of these fig-
ures.

Octamon lit five thick black candles and placed them
at the points of the star, where they burned with a weird
green flame Then he extinguished the suspended lamp
that had illuminated the chamber He lit a thunbulum
and stood against the wall, swinging the vessel on its chain.
Pungent odors arose, which called to Jonan's mind, si-
multaneously, a flowery spring meadow, the fish market
at Vmdium, and the tannery at Xylar Glancing furtively
at his companions' faces, Jonan saw that all were tinged
green from the candle flames.

Abacarus began moving his hands while intoning, in a
deep voice unlike his normal high, thin tenor, words un-
known to Jonan. "Thomatos benesser fhanter, htan izer
osnas nanther, soutram i ubaismens rabiam' Siras etar
besanar, nodes suradis a . ." He went on and on until
Jonan uneasily shifted his weight.

The flames of the candles wavered, shrank to points,
and changed to an angry red. " . maniner o sader pros-
tas .. " droned Abacarus

In the near-darkness, Jonan felt movement of the air.
Something was flickering into view in the center of the
pentacle, something anthropomorphic but bulkier than a
human being. A heavy, musky odor pervaded the room
Abacarus finished his coniuration. ". mammes i enaim
peiantes TO sonastos1 What is your name?"

The answer came in a voice like bubbling swamp gas:

"If it be any of your business, I am called Ruakh What is
this outrage—"

"Hold your tongue!" said Abacarus. "I have called you
from the Fifth Plane to perform a service Until you swear
by the oath that binds you to perform this task featly, and
to harm no inhabitant of this plane whilst soioummg

53

THE UNBEHEADED KING

therein, and then to return forthwith to your own plane,
you shall remain prisoner in this pentacle."

The dim form moved as if it were trying to break through
an invisible barrier surrounding it. The barrier seemed to
be elastic, so that when the being threw itself against the
invisible wall, it rebounded. At last it ceased its struggles,

saying:

"This is most unjust of you! On my plane we have long
abolished slavery, yet you savages still keep up this bar-
barous custom. Some day we demons shall find a

way—"

"Never mind all that," growled Abacarus. "Will you do
as you are told, or must I leave you here to await the

coming of day?"

"You beast!" said the demon. "You know we Fifth Plan-
ers be allergic to the sun of your plane. If ever I get you

on my plane—"

"Vaisus damn it, will you stop arguing! I have never
faced so contentious a demon! It will avail you nought,
so you might as well get down to business."

"I have a right to remind you of what is right and wrong,
since you seem to have no conscience—"

"Shut up.'" screamed Abacarus.

"—and no manners, either," continued Ruakh. "Ah,
well, as you Prime Planers would say, you have me by the
balls, or would, if I had those repulsive organs of repro-
duction you creatures hide beneath your clothing. What
is this service?"

"First you must swear the oath!"

"I will swear nought until I know what service you
have in mind, lest you send me to find frog feathers or dry

water."

Abacarus said: "The large young man with the black
beard has a wife imprisoned in the dungeon of the royal
palace of Xylar. He wishes you to fetch her out of her cell
and bring her here."

"How far is Xylar?"

"Eighty leagues, more or less, east of here."

"How shall I accomplish this task? I can materialize in

54

THE UNBEHEADED KING

~ the lady's cell, but I cannot dematerialize her to carry her
through stone walls or an iron-barred door."

"If the door be locked, you must get the key from the
head jailer, or whoever has it. If you can find who has it,
you can easily frighten him into giving it up. Then you
can fly back hither with the lady. The time is not yet
midnight, so you should arrive here well before dawn. You
must not fly at such a height that lack of air will suffocate
her; and you should wrap her warmly, for the winter air
aloft will be far below the freezing point."

Ruakh grunted- "I like not the prospect; but as we say
on the Fifth Plane, mendicants cannot be optants. Can the
young man draw me a plan of the dungeon, lest I go astray
in the bowels of this building?"

"Nay, oath first! You hope he will break the circle and
loose you to wreak your vengeance upon us."

"I had no such thought in mind!" cried the demon in
its bubbly, thickly accented voice. "You Prime Planers are
the most suspicious lot in the multiple worlds. You as-
sume all others to be as evil and treacherous as you."

"Forget the rhetoric, my good Ruakh, and let us get to
the oath."

"Oh, very well," grumbled the demon.

There followed a long dialogue between the two, in a
language unknown to ]onan. At last Abacarus said: "That
is done, then. Octamon, you may light the lamp and break
the circle. You realize, Ruakh, what will befall you if you
violate the terms of our compact, do you not?"

"Aye, I realize; albeit it is a monstrous injustice. Forc-
ing me to do risky, unpaid labor, forsooth! When I get
home, I shall have somewhat to say to my fellow demons."

As the lamp flared up, Jorian had his first clear view of
Ruakh. The demon was a being of human size and shape,
but from its back grew a huge pair of batlike wings, now
folded. Its clawed feet resembled those of a huge bird of
prey. The whole creature was covered with what ar first
)orian took to be a skintight suit of scarlet silk. As the
demon moved, he saw that this was Ruakh's own skin.
As the being had said, it was innocent of visible sexual

55

THE UNBEHEADED KING

organs; the skin of its crotch was smooth.

"Pardon me, Master Ruakh," said Jorian, "but how do
your kind reproduce themselves?"

"It is a long story," began the demon. "At the proper

season, we grow—"

Abacarus interrupted. "Do not take time for such dis-
cussion, Master Jorian. Ruakh must get to Xylar and back
ere dawn. So here is a piece of chalk; pray indicate where
he shall find your lady."

Jorian squatted and drew a diagram of the dungeon of
Xylar. He was a little startled when Ruakh, leaning over
his shoulder to look at the drawing, placed a clawed hand
on Jorian's back to steady itself, Jorian pointed to the larg-
est rectangle in the diagram.

"I think she's in there," he said. "They seem to have
fixed the place up for her comfort, not like an ordinary
prison cell. She is small and light-haired."

The demon, peering, said: "Methinks I grasp the nub.
Stand back, all, so that I can dematerialize."

When the men had crowded back to the wall, the demon
began to spin round and round. Faster and faster it went,
until it became a blur. The blur became translucent, then
transparent, and then vanished with a whoosh of air.

"Open the doors, Octamon," said Abacarus, "to rid us

of this stench."

Cold winter air spilled into the oratory. "Now what?"

asked Jorian.

"It will be hours ere Ruakh can return," said Abacarus.
"It can hie to Xylar in its immaterial form in the blink of
an eye; it should arrive there any minute. But to return,
it must remain material. So its flight will consume hours,
swift of wing though it be- If you people wish to await its
return here, there are couches below,"

Jorian and Karadur remained in the Philosophy Build-
ing. As Abacarus was showing them to the lounge where
they would pass the rest of the night, Jorian asked:

"Pray tell me something. Doctor Abacarus. In Iraz, a
savant of the House of Learning explained that a flying
being the size of a man were impossible. Something about
the relation of is weight to the area of its wings and the

56

THE UNBEHEADED KING

power of its thews. How, then, can Ruakh fly in his ma-
terial form on this plane?"

Abacarus shrugged. "It has compensating advantages.
Its muscles are not made of the same stuff as ours. They
are stronger in proportion to their bulk."

"What's this/' said forian, "about the demons com-
plaining of being enslaved by us Prime Planers? I thought
the Novarian nations had agreed to end slavery."

Abacarus chuckled. "The Treaty of Metouro, which will
not become effective until all twelve governments sign it,
refers only to the enslavement of human beings- Demons,
from whatever other plane, are not human and hence do
not qualify, any more than would your horse."

"How about the ape-men of Komilakh? Will they count
as human beings?"

"That depends on which of the twelve nations you are
in. The courts of some have held them human; of others,
not- The Novarian nations should establish a supreme
court over all twelve systems to reconcile these discrep-
ancies. I belong to a society devoted to this ideal; I must
give you one of our broadsheets. But to return to the Treaty
of Metouro, only five of the nations have signed it, and
do not try to hold your breath whilst awaiting the sig-
natures of the rest."

"What about the demons' threat to organize against
exploitation by Prime Planers?"

"Never fear. They will make a start and then fall into
internal bickering as they always have. Now I am going
home. I shall return an hour before dawn. By then, if all
go well, our demon should be well on its way hither. Good
night!"

It seemed to Jorian that he had barely fallen asleep on
his couch, when he felt his shoulder shaken. "It is time,"
said Abacarus.

Jorian stood yawning in the oratory for half an hour.
Then, just as the east began to lighten, something moved
against the star-strewn western sky. Abacarus threw open
the doors that unfolded on the small balcony encircling
the tower, letting in a wave of frigid air. The flying object

57

THE UNBEHEADED KING

took shape, growing from the likeness of a bat to the de-
mon Ruakh with a bulky burden in its arms.

With a muffled thunder of wings, the demon settled
upon the railing of the balcony, grasping it with clawed
feet as a bird does a branch. Then, wings folded, it hopped
down to the balcony and walked into the oratory, bearing
a blanket-wrapped body. Octamon shut the door.

"Here you are!" growled the demon. The musky smell

returned.

"Had you trouble getting in?" asked Jorian.

"Nay. I materialized outside the dungeon, thinking to
get the keys. But I found the barred door at the head of
the stair open, and a guard sitting beside it. I frightened
him away, descended the stair, and found the cell whereof
you told me, also unlocked. So 1 discovered this woman
therein. When I approached her to explain my mission,
she fainted. I wrapped her as you see and bore her out.
The palace folk scattered shrieking before me, so I had no
difficulty in leaving the building and taking to the air."

"Well done!" said Abacarus. "You are dismissed. Mas-
ter Ruakh."

Ruakh gave a bubbling growl. "Ere I return to my own
plane, let me tell you Prime Planers, we demons will not
forever submit to being kidnapped and forced to run your
errands for you! We shall unite to end this injustice! We

shall overcome!"

"For now, be satisfied with your dismissal," said Aba-
carus. "Begone; we do not find your odor pleasing."

Standing in the center of the floor, Ruakh went into its
spin. The towering scarlet form whirled, blurred, and van-
ished with a rush of displaced air.

Jorian drew a long breath. "I confess that Ruakh's prox-
imity gave me some uneasy moments."

"It is all in knowing how to handle them," said Aba-
carus. "My last apprentice got himself slain by a demon
whom he improperly evoked."

"Jorian is forever deprecating himself," said Karadur.
"I have sought to break him of the habit, since modesty
is a poor weapon for making one's way in this sinful world;

but I fear I have not utterly succeeded."

58

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Jorian was kneeling by the blanket-wrapped form on
the floor. As he began unwrapping it, he was struck by
the horrible thought that his Estrildis might have perished
from mountain sickness at the altitude to which Ruakh
had bome her.

Then the form began to wriggle, and it threw off the
blanket and sat up.

"By Imbal's brazen balls!" cried Jorian. "You're not Es-
trildis!"

"Whoever said I was?" said the woman, rising. "I am
Queen Estrildis's lady-in-waiting, Lady Margalit of To-
tens. And you, an I mistake not, are the fugitive King
Jorian. Where am I, and why have I been brought on this
horrible journey?"

The woman was of about the same age as Estrildis; but
there the resemblance ended. Where Estrildis was short
and blond, Margalit of Totens was almost as tall as Jorian
and dark, with a mop of curly hair tumbling over her
forehead. Jorian would not quite have called her beautiful,
as he would have said of some of the five wives he had
enjoyed as king. But she was handsome in a bold, sharp-
featured way, and strongly built. She was fast recovering
from the shock of her experience.

Jorian bowed. "I am honored. Lady Margalit. You are
in Othomae City, and it was not intended that you be
brought hither. I sent Ruakh—that's the demon—to fetch
my wife, but he seems to have caught you by mistake.
How did it happen?"

"My Queen had gone up to the battlements to walk
and look at the heavens, leaving me in our dungeon apart-
ment."

"They don't keep her locked in that cell, then?"

"Nay, though they make sure she leaves not the palace.
She may issue from the cell when she pleases, but they
send an armed escort with her, lest you have another try
at abducting her."

"Was it you who gave the alarm, when I fell over that
chair and roused the watchdog?"

"Aye. How was I to know it was you?"

"Why told you not the demon who you were?"

59

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"How could I? I was tidying up the apartment in Es-
trildis's absence—as you doubtless know, neatness was
never her strong point—and the first thing I knew, there
was the demon in the doorway, crouching to get his wings
through, and mumbling something in that gargly voice
with its unintelligible accent. 'Twas then that 1 fainted
for the only time in my life. The next I knew, I was borne
aloft, wrapped in this blanket, notwithstanding which I
well-nigh froze to death. When I struggled, the demon
warned me to lie still, lest he drop me from a height. What
an experience!"

Jorian turned to Abacarus. "How could Ruakh have
made such a stupid mistake? I told him to look for a small,
blond woman."

The Sorcerer spread hi; hands. "By and large, demons
are not very intelligent. Belike it forgot your instructions,
or got them confused, and when it saw one woman alone
in the chamber reasoned that this must be she whom it
sought."

"Can you call Ruakh back to rectify his error?" asked
Jorian.

"Nay. A demon once dismissed is exempt for years
thereafter."

"Why did you dismiss him so hastily?"

"Because it stank, and you did not object."

"I had no time to object; but let's not start apportioning
blame. Could you invoke another demon in Ruakh's
place?"

Abacarus frowled. "Not for months. Imprimus, these
evocations are exhausting, and I must be able to meet my
classes. 1 also find the odor of Fifth Plane demons un-
bearable. Secundus, it would cost you an additional fifteen
hundred nobles. And tertius, you have not yet paid all you
owe me for evoking Ruakh."

"What!" cried Jorian. "I owe you not a copper penny!
We agreed that your demon should fetch my wife, Estrildis
the Kortolian; and that he has not done."

"Young man, you had better watch your tongue. I say
you owe me seven hundred and fifty. My expenses have
been just as heavy as if the demon had succeeded, and I

60

THE UNBEHEADED KING

warned you that I did not guarantee success."

"But you did agree to my paying the rest when and only
when you succeeded. I'll not pay for a bungled job!"

"You were as responsible for the bungle as anyone, and
you had better pay. I can take you to law, and I also have
other means of causing you trouble."

"Try it!" said Jorian. "Come on, Karadur. An I ever
resort to sorcery again, I'll try to find a sorcerer who is at
least both competent and honest."

"What of me?" cried Margalit. "Am I expected to walk
back to Xylar? By Zevatas's whiskers, my Lord Jorian, were
we both in Xylar, I'd sue you within a digit of your life."

"I beg your pardon, my lady. Come to our hostelry, and
we'll discuss your future."

Back at the Silver Dragon, Jorian engaged a private room
for Margalit, whose initial anger had cooled. He told her:

- "Certes, I am obligated to get you back to Xylar. But
you cannot travel thither alone, especially at this time of
year, when packs of wolves and bands of robbers are des-
perate for food. I cannot afford to hire a proper escort and
procure animals to carry you. And I cannot accompany
you into Xylar myself if I wish to keep my head attached
to the rest of me."

"I cannot blame you for that," she said. "Like my Queen,
I have turned against this custom, venerable though it be."

Jorian continued: "So I will pay your keep here as long
as my money holds out. When spring comes, some means
of conveying you, such as a diligencia or a merchants'
caravan, will surely turn up. Now you'd better get some
sleep."

"What next, Your Majesty?" said Margalit.

"I pray, do not call me that, even in sarcasm! I never
wanted to be king of your preposterous country, and ever
since my escape I've been trying to divest myself of the
honor. But to answer your question: I must away to my
job at the mill. Tonight at dinner, we'll consider what to
do. I'll summon the wizardess Goania, who has more sense
than most."

Margalit looked down at her gown. "I am no glass of

61

THE UNBEHEADED KING

fashion, but I shall really need at least one change of cloth-
ing Without washing, this garment will become as odo-
rous as your demon, and I cannot run about naked whilst
it is being cleansed "

"In winter, anyway," said Jonan "I suppose your ab-
ductor gave you no time to snatch up a purse?"
"You suppose rightly, Your M— Master Jonan "
Jonan sighed and took two pieces of gold from his purse
"I know nought of the cost of ladies' garments, but see
what you can do with this Get Karadur to go with you "

That evening, as they sat at table waiting for Goania,
Margalit said "You certainly seem determined, Master
Jonan You've vainly tned a direct attack, and then sor-
cery, in your efforts to obtain my Queen, but you still
have not given up "

"That's true love," said Jonan "I'm not ashamed of it
She's the one I chose for myself, not picked for me by the
Council to give the leading magnates a stake in my rule
And she's the one I want "

"When and if you recover her, what then^"

"Why, we'll find some safe place, whence the Xylanans
cannot snatch me, and settle down as a proper tradesman
and wife to earn a living "

"You may find her changed "

Jonan dismissed the idea with a wave "Were she old,
wrinkled, and gray, she would still be my true love "

Karadur chuckled "My boy is a sentimental romanti-
cist," he said, wagging his vast, white beard "Do not try
to change him, Lady Margalit, for it is one of his attractive
qualities Ah, here comes my eminent colleague'"

The wizardess Goania, followed by her bodyguard Boso,
entered fonan, relieved to see that Vanora was not with
them, made introductions Goania said

"Welcome, Lady Margalit When I saw you, I wondered
what magic could have changed you from a short blonde,
as Jonan has described his Estnkhs, into a tail brunette
What befell?"

When Jonan and Margalit had told their stones, Goama
said "Never underestimate the stupidity of demons Those

62

THE UNBEHEADED KING

from most of the other planes have powers that on this
plane appear preternatural Are you familiar with the the-
ory that every life form is descended from others, all going
back to some little blob of primordial slime7"

"Aye," said Jonan "When I studied here under Gwid-
enus, a professor was dismissed from the Academy for
such ungodly speculations "

"Well, this theory explains thfe stupidity of most de-
mons Having these powers, the stress of competition on
their own respective planes has not forced them to develop
their mental powers to the degree that we, who can neither
fly, nor make ourselves invisible, nor dematenahze, have
been forced to do

"I can give an example from my own experience When
I was a mere girl—stare not, Master Jonan, I was once
young and quite as pretty as your Estnidis "

"Very well, Aunt Goania I believe you "

"When I was, as I say, a maiden, I had a suitor named
Unano, who dabbled, unbeknownst to me, in sorcery This
was ere I myself decided to make occult pursuits my life's
work I expected to wed, keep house, and bear brats like
most women, and I was sore assotted with Unano, for he
was a handsome devil

"My father, a building contractor, had no use for Un-
ano, terming him a lecher, a wastrel, a dabbler, and gen
erally worthless Anon I learned that Unano was all those
things, but then my eyes, blinded by love, were closed to
them My sire barred my sweet swain from the house and
forbade me to have aught to do with him

"I wept, earned on, and made a great to-do, for I deemed
myself the victim of a monstrous injustice, inflicted by
one grown so old as to have forgotten the |oys of youthful
love and filled with blind pre)udice against the newer and
more enlightened views of the younger generation But
relent my father would not

"Unano, howsomever, discovered that, by skulking
through some shrubbery that grew nigh our house, he could
approach within twenty paces of the edifice unseen, on
the side of my bedchamber So we presently began com-
municating by his shooting headless arrows from a child's

63

THE UNBEHEADED KING

toy bow, with messages wrapped around them, through
my open window. I wrote replies, tied them to the arrows,
and threw them back.

"Then Unano proposed that we elope. I, foolish girl,
assumed he meant to hale me to the Temple of Therms
and make me his lawful wife- From what I heard later,
I'm sure he meant only to en^oy my body until he tired
of me and cast me adrift.

"On a certain night, he said, he would appear with a
ladder, down which I should descend into his arms, and
away we should fly. What he did not tell me was that, in
his sorcerous experiments, he had evoked a demon from
the Seventh Plane to help him. Seventh Plane demons are
fiery beings, particularly dangerous for a tyronic, unskilled
sorcerer to handle.

"On the appointed night, Uriano came with his ladder,
accompanied by his demon. He placed the ladder against
the wall and charged the demon to cover our retreat when,
as he thought, we should flee from the house together. He
posted the demon at the back door, with orders to incin-
erate with his fiery breath anyone who came through that
door ere we were out of sight of the house. Then the demon
should rejoin his master.

"All might have gone as planned but for two things.
Imprimus, so crazed with lust was Uriano from thinking
of his future leman that he could not wait until we left
the house to slake it. Instead of signaling and waiting for
me to descend the ladder, which I could easily have done,
he climbed the ladder himself to enter my bedchamber
through the window, hoping to take me featly then and
there before departure.

"Secundus, in emplacing the ladder, he did not set the
base far enough from the wall. So as he climbed from the
topmost rung through the window, he unwittingly kicked
the ladder over.

"When he heard the ladder strike the ground, all thought
of carnal congress fled his mind, unhoused by fears for his
own safety. He whispered: 'Be quiet, dear one, and I'll soon
set this picklement to rights.' Then he leaned out the
window and softly called: 'Vrix' 0 Vrix!'

64

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"'Aye, Master?' said the demon from below.

" 'Pick up that ladder and set it against the house, as it
was.'

"'Eh?' said the demon. 'What aayst?'

"Uriano repeated his command, but the demon could
not seem to understand this simple act. First it set the
ladder on edge along the ground. Then it raised the ladder
and set it on end, away from the house and unsupported.
When it released its hold, the ladder naturally fell over.

"After more blunders, Vnx finally seemed to under-
stand. But as I said, these demons are fiery beings. As it
came amgh the house with the ladder, the ladder caught
fire from the heat of the demon's grasp. As the demon set
it in place, it blazed up mernly, and Unano had to push
it over again to keep it from firing the house.

"'Gods!' quotha. 'That stupid oaf—but now we must
needs go out through the house. Does your sire sleep?'
- "'I think so,' I said. I opened my bedroom door and
looked down the hall, hearing nought. I beckoned Unano,
and together we tiptoed to the head of the stair-

"Just then the door of my parents' room opened, and
there stood my father in his nightshirt, blinking, with a
candle in one hand and a sword in the other 'What's all
this infernal noise—' he began. Then, recognizing Unano,
he rushed roaring at him.

"Unano let go my hand and bounded down the stairs
two at a time, with my sire after him. The speed of my
father's motion extinguished the candle, but there was
still enough moonlight to see one's way.

"Uriano dashed through the dining room into the
kitchen and out the back door. Vrix stood there, waiting
for someone to come out that door. When Unano appeared,
Vrix gave him a blast of fiery breath that washed over him
like a jet of water from a fountain in the Grand Duke's
gardens, for it had been straitly commanded to bum the
first person coming out. Uriano gave one shriek as his hair
and clothing blazed up, and then there was nought left of
him but a black, cindery mass on the garden path. Unano's
death released Vnx from servitude on this plane, and it
vanished. So now I hope you appreciate the limitations of

65

THE UNBEHEADED KING

employing demons to do your work for you."

"I realize the difficulty," said Jonan. "But what inter-
ests me most is the question of what would have hap-
pened, had your lover not knocked over the ladder?"

"Oft have I asked myself that question," said Goama.
"Things would in time have gone ill, I am certain " She
sighed, with a faraway look. "But I should have had one
interesting night to remember."

Jonan said "But still, can you think of a better way to
get my darling out of her luxurious lockup?"

"Not at the moment."

"Could you send your second sight to Xylar, to see what
they are doing there2"

"I could, if someone will clean this table and fetch me
a clean glass."

Goama repeated her previous trance, the one she had
employed after Jonan and Karadur had ]ust emerged from
(ail. When she spoke, she muttered.

"I cannot see inside the palace... there seems to be a
barrier .. .It is like a wall of glass, shutting me out.... I
see the palace dimly and wavering, as things appear to
npple when seen above a paved road on a hot day.... Nay,
I cannot get in."

After a while she opened her eyes and said- "The Xy-
lanans have thrown a magical bamer around their palace,
like a dome, which keeps out my occult vision. From what
I know of such things, I am sure it would also keep out
any demon who tned to enter in dematenahzed form."

"I suppose," said Jonan, "that after Ruakh's visit they
hired a spooker to set up this bamer against further in-
trusions. What shall I do now?"

"I would start looking for another wife, if you must
have one," said Goama.

"Aye," Karadur chimed in. "Relinquish this hopeless
quest, my son, ere you bnng destruction not only on your-
self but also on others, like me."

"You may go your way any time, "snapped Jonan. "You
are not my bondservant."

66

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Oh, my dear Jonan! I have become dependent upon
you, I am too old and creaky to get about much by myself.
Cast me not off like an old shoe! You take the place of
the son I never had."

"Very well then, you must needs put up with my va-
ganes. The single life may suit you and Goama, but it
pleases me not."

"If you must have a wife, then, follow Goama's rede.
Wed—let me see—why not take Lady Margalit here?"

"Come!" said Margaht sharply. "I am not a pnze to be
raffled off. Master Jonan may be a fine fellow in his
way—"

"But obstinate as a mule when he gets an idea m his
mazard," Karadur put in.

"—but there is nought like that betwixt us."

"Do you expect to wed someday?" Goama asked.

"Certes. That's why I took the post of lady-m-waitmg.
My family, though of good lineage, is poor, so by saving
up the allowance the Regency pays me, I hoped to gather
enough dowry to lure some reasonably whole, sane, and
solvent husband. But my peculum lies still in Estnidis's
dungeon apartment."

"Well, then—" said Karadur.

"I must know and like the fellow far better than I do
Jonan ere I'd consider such a thing. Besides, he is already
bespoken-"

"Good for you!" said Jonan. "But as the doctor says, I
can be very stubborn. You two spookers are ever talking
of the wisdom your years have brought you. So let's have
evidence, in the form of a plausible scheme for recovering
my wife!"

All four sat m silence. Rhuys brought their dinners. As
they were digging in, Karadur said.

"I once told you of a Mulvaman colleague, called
Greatsoul Shenderu or Shenderu the Wise. He dwells on
Mount Aravia m the Lograms, and such is his name for
wisdom that folk come hundreds of leagues to consult
him on their affairs. Belike you could seek him out, come
spring."

67

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"A splendid suggestion!" cried Jonan, his normal
enthusiasm returning "Why thought you not of that
sooner^ I'll set out forthwith'"

"Oh, Jonan'" said Goania "Rush not into needless peril,
or your Estnidis may have no husband to re;om. It's still
the month of the Eagle, and the snows he heavy on the
mountains."

"Methmks we've seen the last of the snow down here,"
said Jonan

"Down here is not up there There you'll find drifts as
deep as you are tall, with crevasses and precipices "

"I know, we flew over the Lograms coming from Iraz
But I'll chance that Doctor Karadur, how does this
Shenderu live?"

"People who come with questions are expected to
recompense him with the things he requires, food,
firewood, and betimes a garment or some knicknack such
as a cooking pot Since he is a vegetarian, his alimentary
requirements are bulky "

"I'll buy a mule and load it with firewood, bread, and
turnips," said Jonan. "I'll persuade Gwidenus to gain me
access to the Grand Ducal library, where they'll have maps
of the region I shall be off ere the month be out'"

As often happens, it took Jonan much longer to get his
expedition ready to go than he had thought. He had to buy
a horse and a pack mule with the remains of King Ishbahar's
pnvy purse He needed a load of gram for the animals,
since there would be little natural forage for them at that
season.

Then a minor epidemic swept Othomae City with
coughs, sneezes, and fevers All the people in the Silver
Dragon, including Jonan, were out of effective action for
a sennight

As the month of the Boar wore on, Lady Margalit became
impatient with idleness. One night over dinner, Jonan was
counting out his remaining corn

"At this rate," he said, "I shall be a pauper by summer.
It's only right that I should pay Margaht's room and board,

68

THE UNBEHEADED KING

since I brought her hither But with the pittance Lodegar
pays me, I cannot save, scrimp though I try "

Margalit said- "Jonan, it is good of you to pay my board,
but I should earn something on my own Could I not find
a paying place in Othomae until arrangements are made
for my return7"

Jonan raised his eyebrows "Lady Margalit' One of your
kind could hardly be a housemaid or a washerwoman."

"What mean you, my kind? I've known poverty, and
I'm not too proud to do what must be done. Besides, much
of what I did for Estnidis would elsewhere be housemaid's
work."

"I'll ask Goania," said Jonan.

When Lodegar fell sick of the same phthisic, Jonan
persuaded him to hire Margalit to take his place in the
null, bagging the flour as it came from the millstones A
few days later, as they returned to the Silver Dragon after
work, still patting flour from each other's garments, Goania
greeted them.

"I have a post for you, Lady Margalit," she said. "My
friend Aeda, wife of Councilor Arvirag, needs a maid-of-
all-work, hers having left. What say you?"

"I will certainly try it," said Margalit.

"Good girl'" said Jonan. "I admire anyone willing to
turn his hand to what needs doing. I hope we can find you
a position which shall make better use of that excellent
brain of yours Meanwhile, let's celebrate with a bottle of
Rhuys's best'"

They were halfway through the bottle, and Rhuys had
served their dinners, when a man entered the common
room and strode up to Jonan. The man, wearing a uniform
without a sword, said: "You are Jonan of Ardarnai, alias
Nikko of Kortoli7"

"Aye," said Jonan "What about it?"

"Here is a summons to appear before the examining
magistrate one hour after sunnse on the morrow."

"Eh? What7" said Jonan "What have I done?"

"You are the defendant m an action brought by Doctor
Abacarus of the Academy, for recovery of a debt."

69

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"That bastard!" muttered Jorian.

"Since you are a foreigner, you must either get a local
citizen and property owner to vouch for you, or you must
come with me to the )ail, to assure your appearance
tomorrow "

"I will vouch for him," said Coania.

"So? Then kindly sign here, Mistress Goama."

The process server departed, leaving the summons on
the table before Jonan. Goania said: "I trust you know,
Jorian, that if you lose your case, it's debtor's prison."

"Do they still have that here? When 1 was King of Xylar,
I got them to abolish it, on the ground that a man in )ail
cannot earn the wherewithal to satisfy his debt."

"It is a pity that you are not the Grand Duke here- But
you are not, so govern your acts accordingly."

The examining magistrate was the same Judge Flollo
who had incarcerated Jonan and Karadur. He said: "Master
Jorian, methinks that, having gotten out of trouble once,
you would have sense enough to stay out. But let me hear
your stories. You first, Doctor Abacarus."

Abacarus gave a long, voluble speech affirming his claim
that Jonan still owed him 750 nobles. Jonan explained
why he did not consider himself so obligated.

"Therefore/' he said, "I ask that this suit be dismissed
with prejudice. In fact, I ought to sue the learned doctor
for my first seven hundred and fifty, since his effort was
a complete failure."

"Nonsense!" said Abacarus. "I did not guarantee success,
and I warned this upstart...."

Both the doctor and Jorian began shouting, until the
magistrate banged his gavel and yelled: "Silence, you two,
on pain of imprisonment! This is a hard case, the more
so since neither of you has a wntten contract. One would
think that men of your age would have sense enough to
put such things m writing, with competent legal advice.

"Now, our calendar is crowded. The earliest tnal date
I can set is—let me see...." He ruffled through documents.
"Twill be the fourteenth of the Dragon."

70

THE UNBEHEADEU KING

"By Heryx's brazen balls, that's halt a year away!"
exclaimed Jonan.

Judge Flollo shrugged. "It is the best we can do. Time,
as the philosophers at the Academy are wont to say, is
incompressible- Of course, if you two should settle out of
court, no tnal would be needed. Master Jonan, Mistress
Goania's avouchment will suffice to leave you at liberty
pending the trial. But you must understand that, if you
fail to appear and we cannot catch you, the penalty will
fall upon her."

forian and Abacarus exchanged glares. The sorcerer said:

"My resources are not yet exhausted, Master Jonan."

"Nor mine," said Jorian-

Two nights later, Jonan had snuffed the candle in the
room he shared with Karadur and stretched himself out
beneath the blankets, when he became aware of something
else in the room. Out of the darkness a luminous form
was taking shape. At first it was so faint that he thought
it a mere photism—one of the lights one sees with one's
eyes closed. It wavered and shimmered with a faint bluish
radiance, resembling a cowled figure. Nothing but
blackness could be seen beneath the cowl where its face
should be. Then came a moaning voice "Pay your debts!
Pay your debts!"

"Karadur!" said jonan. "Wake up! Do you see what I
see?"

"Unh?" The aged Mulvanian sat up and yawned. "Oh,
ah, aye, I see it. This is termed a dunning specter, sent by
Abacarus to plague us. 'Tis patent that he is not fain to
wait till the month of the Dragon for the decision on his
case."

"Pay your debts! Pay your debts'" wailed the figure.

"What should I do about it?" asked Jonan.

"There is naught much that you can do, short of paying
Abacarus his claim."

"That 1 will not do. Even if I wished, I do not have
seven hundred and fifty nobles left. What about these
specters? What can they do?"

71

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"These entities inhabit the Second Plane. They are easy
to invoke and harmless, since they do not achieve
substantial materialization on this plane. Whilst not
intelligent, they are obedient to the sorcerer's commands,
like a well-trained dog- The thing is immaterial, so your
sword would pass through it without resistance. A project
at the House of Learning in Iraz was to ascertain how,
without forming solid vocal organs, these specters could
natheless agitate the air of this plane to form articulate
sounds—"

"Pay your debts! Pay your debts!"

"Well," said }orian, "'tis damned inconvenient. The
thing I most look forward to in the world is my first night
after Estrildis and I are again united. But imagine how it
would be if, just as she and I prepared to enjoy our mutual
passion, this thing appeared with its croak!"

"At least," said Karadur, "this entity will assist you to
adhere to the continence on which you have virtuously
resolved."

"Oh, bugger my continence! Will it go on like this all
night?"

"Pay your debts! Pay your debts!" groaned the specter.

"Nay," said Karadur. "After a few hours it will become
fatigued and fade away—until the next night."

"Pay your debts! Pay your debts!"

"You are a great bore, spook!" growled Jorian. "Now
shut your gob and go away!"

He pulled the covers over his head, but for the next
hour or two, moans and wails of "pay your debts!" kept
him awake.

The next day, since Lodegar's mill was idle for want of
grain, Jorian went to Goania. He said: "I am no light-
hearted manslayer, but I have punctured a few knaves in
my time- If I could get within a sword's length of
Abacarus—" He gripped his hilt, secured to the scabbard
by peace wires.

"Do not even think of it, boy!" snapped Goania.
Jorian smiled. "I like to think of you as my favorite

72

THE UNBEHEADED KING

aunt- And why should I not let some of the stuffing out
of this great child's doll?"

"Because the Grand Duke's police keep a sharp eye on
you, even if you are not aware thereof. You would only
end up on the headsman's block, not to mention the trouble
you would cause your friends."

"Well then, have you any sort of counter-sorcery against
him?"

She pondered. "Aye, I can call up a similar specter from
the Second Plane to harass Abacarus. But think twice!
First, 'twill cost you money, albeit I am willing to let that
debt ride until you can afford to pay. Secondly, Abacarus
is an able wizard. He can throw a protective shield about
his abode, like that which the Xylarians put up against
my second sight."

"Does it bother Abacarus to erect and maintain these
shields?"

"To some degree. They consume psychic energy."

"Then by all means send a dunning specter against him.
Tell it to say: 'Cease your extortions!'"

Goania promised. Next day she told Jorian: "As I said,
my specter had barely begun to harass Abacarus when he
threw a shield about his chambers in the Academy. When
he went home in the even, it followed him, intoning its
message; but when he reached his house, he soon erected
another shield against it."

"Can he make a private shield around himself, that
shall move with him?"

"Nay. These shields must needs be anchored in soil or
in a fixed abode."

"Well then, keep it after him when he goes betwixt his
home and his oratory."

The next evening, Jorian idled in the cold, crisp air,
along the path outside the Philosophy Building of the
Academy. Weird blue lights flickered in the windows of
Doctor Abacarus's tower, so Jorian knew the sorcerer was
Still at work. At length the lights went out, and soon
Abacarus issued from the building.

Behind a tree, Jorian watched as the wizard strode along

73

THE UNBEHEADED KING

the campus path, his vast belly bobbing. Presently a
dunning specter like that which harassed Jorian appeared
close behind Abacarus and began to howl: "Cease your
extortions! Cease your extortions!"

Abacarus turned. Jonan could not see his expression,
since the near-darkness was relieved only by starlight and
the feeble glow of an oil lamp on a bracket beside the main
door of the building- But the sorcerer made gestures, and
Jorian's own dunning specter appeared, wailing: "Pay your
debts!"

A clutch of undergraduates came along the path. They
halted, and Jonan heard one say: "Great Zevatas, here's a
duel of wizards' This should be fun to watchi"

"If they do not blow up the whole Academy in their
strife," said another.

"I fear no spooks'" said still another. "I'll show you!"
The youth picked up a stone and hurled it at Jorian's
phantom. The stone passed through the specter without
resistance and struck Jonan in the chest.

"Ho!" roared Jonan, grabbing his unusable sword. He
started toward the group, who scampered away and
disappeared. When Jonan turned back, Abacarus had also
vanished. Jonan set out for the Silver Dragon, with the
specter hovenng over his shoulder and moaning: "Pay your
debts!"

Dimng the next fortnight, Jorian contmued to be haunted
by Abacarus's sending, while Goama's dunning specter
harassed Abacarus as opportunity offered. The sorcerer,
Jorian learned, found it necessary to change his habits. A
night worker, he took to keeping fanner's hours, up with
the dawn and home ere sunset, so as not to be caught
abroad at night away from the protection of his shields.

Jonan found other resources in the campaign of mutual
harassment. He hired urchins to paint ABACARUS is AN
EXTORTIONIST on the walls of the Philosophy Building. He
hired a beggar to stroll about the campus bearing a sign
reading ABACARUS is AN EXTORTIONIST When the campus
police tried to anest the beggar, a gang of undergraduates

74

THE UNBEHEADED KING

took the oldster's side and started a small not, under cover
of which the beggar slipped away.

When Abacarus filed a suit for damages against Jorian
for harassment, Jonan filed a countersuit alleging the same
tort. Judge Flollo looked sourly at the two litigants, saying:

"We cannot schedule these trials until next year. Why
do not you two go to some barbarous land where dueling
is legal, or trial by combat, and have it out?"

As the month of the Bull came on. Doctor Gwidenus
told Jorian: "My colleague Abacarus wishes me to tell you
that he is willing to discuss a compromise."

So Jorian found himself again in Abacarus's office in
the Academy, facing the stout sorcerer across a huge desk.
Abacarus said:

"Come, my good Jorian, this is no way for mature men
to behave. Let us find a modus vivendi, ere the lawyers
suck us dry. Otherwise we shall spend more on legal and
court fees than the sum at issue."

"Well, sir?" said Jorian.

"Would you consider settling for half?"

"Never. Methinks it's plain, by all Novarian laws—the
which I have studied—that I owe you not a copper penny
more than I've paid. In fact, a clever lawyer could make
a good case for the return of the seven hundred fifty I paid
you erstwhile."

"If that idea pleases you not, have you a proposal to
offer?"

Jorian thought. "How about submitting our dispute to
an impartial arbitrator? Loser to pay the arbitrator's fee."

Abacarus pursed his lips and twiddled his fat fingers.
"Not bad. We have some retired judges in Othomae, who
could be counted upon to render a )ust verdict."

"Oh. no!" said Jorian. "An Othomaean )udge would be
prejudiced in your favor, since I am a foreigner. I should
prefer a Kortohan Judge; I am sure—"

"Rubbish! With our Othomaean judges, at least I have
some notion of their fairness. But I know nought of
Kortolian justice. For aught I know, any of your people
were willing and eager to take a bribe to find for you."

75

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Kortohan justice is every bit as )ust as yours!"

"Belike, but how shall you prove it? Must we fight it
out, as Flollo suggested? If you challenge me, I will naturally
choose magical spells as the weapons."

"How about this2" said lonan. "If I can hnd a )unst of
high repute from a third Novarian state, will you accept
him?"

"I would consider it with a favoring mind. I should have
to make inquiries ere deciding. And this time, let us put
our undertaking in writing!"

(orian rose- "I agree. Let's leave it at that. Meanwhile,
if you will banish your dunning specter, I will call off mine,
as well as my other partisans. Whilst I fear not your
phantom, it does make a good night's sleep hard to come
by!"

76

v

, OT TILL THE SECOND OF THE BULL WAS IORIAN READY TO

go. In the evening, he was packing his gear when a knock
announced Vanora.

"Jorian," she said, "you are a fool to undertake this
journey alone. You need at least one extra pair of eyes to
watch for dangers, and an extra pair of hands to pull you
out of quicksands and other traps."

"You may be right," said Jonan. "But, alas, I know no
one here suitable. Doctor Karadur is too old and feeble.
Your fnend Boso has barely brain enough to tie his own
shoe laces, besides which he loves me not."

"I could go," she said. "I'm strong, and as you well
know, I've roughed it ere this."

Jorian shook his head. "Nay, my dear; I've been all
through that. Your body may be up to the task, but I fear
that your temper be too stormy and uncertain for me. I
thank you for the offer."

"Be not a fool, Jorian! You need someone, and I'm the
only one to hand. Your tale of a curse on your pnck was

77

THE UNBEHEADED KING

but a farrago to frighten me; Goania says such a spell were
impossible."

"I am trying to tell you, I don't wish a female compan-
ion save my wife!"

"Oh, that little farm bitch! Forget her. When you win
to her, you'll find one of the local lads has been tupping
your prize ewe. After all, you and she have been apart now
for over two years—"

"You had better go back to Boso and let me get on with
my packing," growled Jorian.

"Look, Jorian darling, you need not bed me along the
way if you're not fain to do so—"

"Curse it, Vanora, get out! Will you go, or must I throw
you out?"

"You mangy scrowie!" she yelled. Jorian ducked as a
shoe came flying at his head. "I'll teach you to cast off an
honest woman!" A second shoe followed.

The door opened, and Boso's broad face looked in. "What
in the nine hells goes on here?"

"He tried to rape me!" screamed Vanora, looking about
for something more to throw.

"What!" roared Boso. "You lure my woman up here,
and when she won't go with you, you ravish her? I'll teach
you to steal honest men's women!"

"She lies!" shouted Jorian. "It was not—" Then he had
to defend himself against Boso's bull-like rush. In an in-
stant, they were floundering about, punching and kicking.
A chair went over with a crash.

Feet pounded on the stair, and Rhuys looked in. "Here,
here!" he said. "Stop that! If you're fain to fight, take your
quarrel outside!"

When they paid no heed, Rhuys vanished but soon reap-
peared, armed with a bung starter and followed by his two
sons and the stable boy. Boso had Jorian's head in the crook
of his arm and was striving to punch Jorian's face with his
free fist, while Jorian tried to block Boso's blows and to
kick his shins-

"Seize them!" cried Rhuys.

The four newcomers grabbed the combatants and tried
to pull them apart. They failed, because Jorian and Boso

78

THE UNBEHEADED KING

were both large, strong men. Suddenly Boso released (or-
ian's head and turned to throw a wild swing at the stable
boy. The blow hurled the youth back against the wall.
Rhuys and his sons pounced upon Boso. While the sons
clung to Boso's arms, Rhuys whacked him over the head
with the bung starter. Boso subsided. Jorian stood back,
breathing hard, with bruises on his face and blood running
from a cut lip.

"What befell?" asked Rhuys.

Sitting on the floor, Boso wagged his head and mum-
bled. Jorian began: "Mistress Vanora came up to have words
with me, and Boso thought—"

"He lies!" screeched Vanora. "Jorian tried to rape me,
and Boso came to my aid!"

"It was just the opposite!" shouted Jorian. "She besought
me—"

"Quiet, both of you!" said Rhuys. To one of the sons
he said: "Baltho, run and fetch Mistress Goania. She'll
soon find out by her arcane arts who's lying." To Vanora
he added: "I shan't be stonished if Master Jorian has the
right of it. We've had trouble with you two before."

"Come on, Boso," said Vanora, taking the stout man
by the arm. "They're all against us. Everyone hates us."
She hauled him to his feet, and the pair went unsteadily
out. As she left, she spat at Jorian: "1 hate you!"

"Come back, Baltho!" Rhuys called after his son. "The
wizardess will not be needed."

"There's your answer," said Jorian to Rhuys. "Now may
I get on with my packing? God den, Lady Margalit!"

The lady-in-waiting appeared in the doorway. "What's
all this direful noise?"

"Master Rhuys will explain," said Jorian. "As for me,
I must be off ere daylight; so pray excuse me." Rhuys and
his young men filed out.

Margalit shrugged. "I merely wished to ask if you would
mind my sending a letter to my Queen, telling her I am
well and will return when I can? A courier departs on the
morrow for Xylar, and I can send it by him."

"Hm," murmured Jorian. "I mind not your reassuring
her, but I crave not to have my present roost revealed.

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

Else we shall have a squad of Shvenic lariat men come to
drag me off for an over-close haircut "

"I couid say I wrote from Vmdium or Govanman "

"Ah, but if anyone question the courier, he'll tell whence
he brought the letter " Jonan frowned "I have it' Write
your letter, without saying whence it comes I'll inclose
it in a letter to my mother in Kortoh, wherein I shall ask
her to send the inclosed epistle to Xylar by the next cour-
ier "

Margaht sighed "At that rate, with postal service in
its present parlous plight, my letter will not be delivered
until summer By then my position may have gone to
another But I feel responsible to my Queen for you She'd
not thank me for getting her a headless husband "

"Neither should I," said Jonan "Not that a head ever
has much to say after it has been sundered from its body
The operation impairs clear thinking "

"If you are leaving early," said Margalit, "I must write
my letter forthwith "

Three days after leaving Othomae, Jonan amved at the
mn recommended to him, the Golden Ibex. This inn stood
on a secondary road in the foothills of the Lograms Over
the nearer hills could be seen the snowclad peak of Aravia

Jonan rode the horse he had bought This was a middle
aged gelding, useless for mounted combat or desperate
chases, but Jonan hoped he would not need a mount for
such purposes, and this animal had been for sale cheap
Jonan named the horse Fimbn, after a carpenter to whom
he had once been apprenticed He led the mule, which he
called Filoman, after a notably foolish former King of Kor-
toh

"The trail to Aravia leaves the road here," said the
tavemer, Turonus "I would not try to nde a horse up to
old Shenderu's cave, for the latter part of the pumey is
too steep and rocky, and the snow too deep If ye walk
leading your pack mule, ye should do all nght, an ye fear
not the ghost of Captain Oswic "

"What's that tale?"

"In my grandsire's time, they say, Oswic led a band of

80

THE UNBEHEADED KING

brigands in these parts, ten-onzing the land for leagues
around At last the Grand Bastard, that was then, sent a
company of soldiery against Oswic They trailed him and
his band up the slopes of Mount Aravia, until they reached
a level place overlooking a steep slope Here Oswic and
his men chose to make a stand, for they outnumbered the
soldiers Moreover, beyond that point the slope became
too steep for riding, and they would have had to abandon
their horses and struggle up the slope afoot, belike to be
picked off by archers in the open

"Oswic made a fiery speech, that 'twere better to die
on their feet than to live on their knees, and that whereas
death in battle was a possibility, it was a certainty if the
soldiers laid hands upon them Then he flourished his
sword and led a charge down upon the soldiers

"The banditti were well armed, and after the first shock
the soldiers began to give way But then Oswic raised his
sword on high m an inspinting gesture and began a shout
of victory So intent was he upon barkening on his men
that he failed to guard himself A soldier rode up behind
him and smote off Captain Oswic's head, which went
rolling down the slope, bumping the bases of trees and
rolling on Some of the soldiers swore that the severed
head continued to shout exhortations to the robbers, but
I misdoubt this Without lungs to blow air through the
vocal organs, how could a head cry out2

"So fell a fighter, howsomever, was Captain Oswic that
the headless body continued to wave its sword to en-
courage the brigands and to stnve to smite the troopers
But, lacking eyes to see, its blows went wild Some rob-
bers, seeing their leader in such parlous plight, turned
away and rode off into the forest, and no amount of frantic
gestures by the now headless body served to rally them
And presently, three troopers got the body amongst them
and hacked it to pieces, whilst all the robbers who had
not fled were likewise slam And the folk hereabouts claim
that at certain times, especially on nights of the full moon,
they see Oswic's headless body, still ndmg about on the
slopes of Aravia and brandishing a sword "

81

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Quite a story/' said Jonan. "Does Oswic's ghost nde
the ghost of his horse?"

Turonus chuckled. "None hitherto has brought up that
point."

"Do you tell this tale to all your guests?"

"Oh, aye, it makes a good one to pass a long even, and
primes some to tell me stones in their turn."

Jonan had been alerted by the tavemer's name, the same
as that of the Chancellor of Xylar at the time of Jonan's
aborted execution. Cautious questioning, however, indi-
cated that this Turonus had never even heard of his name-
sake, let alone admit to kinship. Still, Jorian thought it
prudent to go under one of his pseudonyms, Nikko of
Kortoli. He asked:

"Could one ride a horse up to the timberlrne, stake it
out there, and walk the rest of the way? I do not anticipate
being with Shenderu more than an hour or two."

Turonus frowned. "Ye could, but there's a tiger in these
forests, having wandered over from the Mulvanian side.
Leaving your steed tethered were a sure way of losing
him."

"Then could 1 board my horse with you until my re-
turn?"

"Certes; 'tis usual. Now, an ye would, I'll see ye have
needfuls for a call upon the Greatsoul. Many pilgrims,
coming to consult the wise one, pass through here in sum-
mer, but few at this time of year. And speaking of snow,
ye will need a pair of these."

Turonus stepped behind his bar and brought up two
oval wooden frames on which had been stretched a netting
of rawhide thongs.

"What are those?" asked Jorian.

"Snowshoes. I can rent you a pair for ten pence a day.
On the trail up Aravia, ye'U need them for certain."

Jorian chaffered the man down to five pence a day. He
did not altogether believe the story of the tiger, suspecting
his host of making it up in order to profit from boarding
the horse Fimbri. On the other hand, he could not be sure;

so, lacking time to investigate the matter, he acceded to
Turonus's recommendation. When Turonus also tried to

82

THE UNBEHEADED KING

sell him firewood, Jonan declined, saying: "I brought an
ax and a saw to cut my own."

"Well then, behke you'd like a guide. With snow on
the ground, the trail's easily lost, and ye could wander for
days amongst the peaks ere finding it again. My nephew
Kynoc's to be had, for he knows the lay of the land."

Further bargaining enlisted the services of Turonus's
nephew, a slender, smooth-faced, small-featured youth.
"How long to reach Shenderu?" asked Jonan.

"Ye must needs camp out one night, at least going up.
Methinks ye'd better camp below the snow line."

When time came to go, Kynoc saw the crossbow that
Jonan had strapped to the back of the pack mule. The
youth asked: "Plan ye to hunt on the way, Master Nikko?"

"Maybe," said Jonan. "You'd better bring one, too."

Actually, Jonan was not interested in hunting. He
wanted to get to Shenderu, resolve his problems, and hurry
back to Othomae. But, having been pursued before by Xy-
larians intent upon dragging him back to complete their
ceremony of royal succession, he thought it well to be
prepared. He wore sword and dagger and a vest of light
mesh mail beneath his )acket.

"Ho!" said Jorian sharply, halting. He was towing the
pack mule Filoman, while Kynoc trudged ahead up the
slope. The forest had begun to thin out with altitude. A
light snow covered the ground between the black boles of
the leafless trees. Here and there rose stands of evergreens,
dark green in the light and black m the shadow.

"Eh?" said Kynoc, turning.

"Look at that!" Jorian pointed to a large paw print in
the snow. "Is that the tiger your uncle spoke of?"

The youth bent down. "Aye, that's old Ardyman the
Terrible. Hold the mule straitly lest it bolt. We think Ar-
dyman has been chased from his former range by a younger
cat, and that with age he's like to turn man-eater. We've
tried to hunt him down m parties with hounds, but the
crafty villain gives us the slip."

The mule seemed to have caught a whiff of tiger, for it
jerked its head and rolled its eyes.

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

Since dark was falling, Jonan decided to camp here. He
tethered Filoman securely, put a nosebag over its head,
and got the ax and saw from his gear. He chopped down
and trimmed four small dead trees, while Kynoc sawed
them into billets. Jorian kept raising his head to peer into
the gathering darkness for signs of the tiger.

"Best we make a goodly fire," said Kynoc.

"No doubt; but let's not burn up all the wood we've
cut. We shall need some for Shenderu."

Jonan passed an uneasy night, alternately dozing and
waking to listen for the grunt of a hunting tiger. Once he
awoke to find Kynoc, whose turn it was to watch, asleep
with his back against a tree. He angrily shook the youth
awake.

"Be not so much atwitter, lowlander," drawled the
youth. "The tiger won't come nigh whilst the fire bums
bright; at least, not unless he starves."

"Well, for aught we know he may be starving," grum-
bled Jonan. "Come along; it's nearly dawn."

"Best do on your snowshoes," said Kynoc, strapping on
his own. "Deep snow begins soon."

Jonan found that walking with snowshoes took prac-
tice. If one tried to walk in the normal manner, one stepped
on one's own feet. Jorian did this once and sat down in
the snow. He got up cursing, to see Kynoc's face agrin.

"Ye must leam to waddle, like this," said the youth,
demonstrating a spraddle-legged gait.

When Jorian had mastered snowshoes, he found that
the mule had turned balky, either because of the weight
of the firewood, or the increasing steepness of the trail.
The rest of the journey v/as made with Jorian hauling on
the lead rope, while Kynoc beat Filoman's rump with a
switch that Jorian had cut from a branch-

"Master Nikko," said Kynoc, "ye come from the low-
lands and have seem more of the world than I. Tell me,
is it true that down there any woman will lie down for
you an ye but ask her?"

Jonan stared. His breath was becoming labored with
the climb, but the spindly mountaineer youth seemed to
mind the grade no more than a stroll on level ground.

84

THE UNBEHEADED KING

When he had taken a couple of deep breaths, Jonan an-
swered; "Some Not all by any means."

"Tell me more about it, pray. I have never done it or
seen it done. I do but hear tales from other lads, of their
adventures with women and sheep and other things. Many
stories I am sure are lies. So tell me: how do ye do it? How
long does it take?"

When Jonan paused for a breather, he gave Kynoc a
lecture on elementary sex. The youth hung on his words
with an intentness that Jonan found embarrassing.

"I thank you, sir," said Kynoc, with more respect than
he had hitherto shown. "My parents are dead, and my
uncle and his goodwife think it a subject not to be talked
on by decent folk."

The sun was well up when the two men and the mule
plodded up the path to Shenderu's cave. Below, the foot-
hills of the Lograms spread out, the taller peaks covered
with snow on which the bright morning sun glittered.

They found Shenderu, bundled in shapeless brown
woolens, sweeping snow from the terrace before his cave.
He proved a burly, dark-skinned man of middle age, with
a gray-streaked beard. Jorian said:

"Hail, reverend sir! I am Nikko of Kortoli, here on the
recommendation of your fnend Karadur."

"Ah, yes, dear old Karadur!" said Shenderu, in Novarian
with a strong Mulvani accent. "Is that load on the mule
for me?"

"Aye, save for our blankets and other personals. I seek
advice."

Shenderu sat down on the rocky surface of the space
he had cleared of snow "Say on, my son."

Jonan said: "Kynoc, unload and feed Filoman. Now,
Father Shenderu, my problem is this...."

The sun was halfway to noon when Jonan finished his
tale. He had let his bent for storytellmg run away with
him; but the wise man seemed amused. Jonan finished:

"... so you see, I have tried direct assault on the palace
to rescue my darling, and that failed. 1 tried sorcery, to no
avail. What recourse remains'"

85

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Shenderu remained sunk in thought with his eyes closed.
At last he looked up, saying- "Have you tried simple bnb-

;"

ery^"

Jonan clapped a hand to his forehead. "Good gods! I
never thought of that."

Shenderu smiled. "Every large enterprise, be it a mer-
chant company, an army, a ship, or a government, requires
a multiplicity of people, organized with lines of command
and a hierarchy of ranks. Wherever such a multiplicity
exists, there is at least one wight open to bribes."

"How can I find a suitable bnbee?"

"You have a brother who visits the palace, have you
not?"

Jorian started "Aye, but how knew you? You must
know who I really am."

"I have heard much about you, Jo— What said you your
nonce name was?"

"Nikko of Kortoli. For obvious reasons, neither my
brother nor I wishes to disclose his kinship to me."

"\ understand. Master Nikko. I know somewhat more
of you than you would think. Never fear, I wag not an
indiscreet tongue, as you have been known to do. My
livelihood depends upon my name for reticence. Is your
brother discreet?"

"Reasonably so."

"Very well. Set him to learning who is corruptible
amongst the clerks and flunkeys that infest the palace.
Inveterate gamblers make the best prospects, since they
are usually up to their eyebrows in debt. And now perch-
ance you'll join me in a light repast ere returning to the
mundane world."

As they ate, clouds drifted athwart the sun. Kynoc said:

"Master Nikko, methinks we'd best take our leave, an
we'd make our return journey without camping out. Be-
sides, it looks like rain or snow. Unless, that is, ye'd hefer
ask the Greatsoul for shelter."

Jonan shook his head. "I'm hot to get back to the Golden
Ibex. Let's forth! Thanks and farewell, Doctor Shenderu!"

Going down was much faster than going up. The mule
was readier to move without its load of food and firewood,

86

THE UNBEHEADED KING

or perhaps it visualized the comfort of Turonus's warm
stable.

While they were still above the timberline, ram began.
It grew swiftly heavier; the wind rose to a howl and blew'
the rain into their faces. Jonan tried backing down the
slope, but tripped on a rock and sat down again.

"I shall have a black-and-blue arse tomorrow," he
growled as he got up.

After an hour of plodding through slush and staggering
on slopes where ram made the snow slippery, they reached
the shelter of the trees, as much as these leafless trunks
could provide shelter. Then the ram gradually dwindled
to a drizzle and ceased. They removed their snowshoes.

Kynoc sneezed. "Master Nikko, methinks we'd best
halt long enough to eat a bite and dry out."

"Can we still reach the inn without an overnight stop?"

"I am sure of it, sir. By dark we shall be down to familiar
country, which I know like the palm of my hand."

"Very good. Tether Filoman whilst I cut firewood, if
my tinder hasn't gotten wet."

The tinder was dry, but the brushwood was not, so that
it took an hour for Jonan to get a brisk fire going. He and
Kynoc draped their outer clothing on nearby branches.
They also wrung out their sodden blankets and hung them
likewise.

Then they stood as close to the fire as they dared, turn-
ing slowly to heat all sides. The afternoon sun broke briefly
through the clouds, sending golden spears of light aslant
among the trees. All was quiet save for the crackle of the
fire and the drip of rainwater from branches.

"I am as dry as I am likely to get," said Jonan. "Kynoc,
in my bag on Filoman you will find an oil flask and a rag.
Pray fetch them and help me to oil this mail shirt, ere it
rust."

The youth was rubbing the mail with the oily rag when

Jorian cocked his head. He said: "Didst hear someone call?"
"Aye, but so faintly methought I was hearing things."
As Kynoc finished annointing the links, the call came

again, more clearly but still distant: "Oh, Jo-o-ona-a-an!"

87

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Halloo!" Jorian shouted, peering over the edge of the
fell-

"Where are you?" came the call.

"Right here."

"Is that your fire?" The voice, vaguely familiar, came
louder.

"Aye. Who are you?"

Movement among the tree trunks, down the slope, sorted
itself out into a human figure scrambling up the trail.
Jorian pulled on his trews, donned his damp jacket, and
got his crossbow and bolts from the mule's back.

As the figure came closer, it appeared to be that of a
youth in hunting gear, unarmed save for a sheath knife at
his belt.

Closer yet, the figure took on a maddening familiarity
that Jorian could not quite place. As it scrambled up over
the lip of the fell, Jorian said: "Great Zevatas, are you the
twin brother of a lady I know?"

The figure stood panting. When it got its breath, it spoke:

"Nay, I'm the lady herself." Margalit swept off her for-
ester's felt hat, so that her curly hair sprang out from her
head.

"Good gods! I'm glad to see you; but what brings you
hither, and in man's clothing?"

"I came to warn you. The Xylarians are on your track.
'Tis not unlikely they're already ascending the trail below

us."

"How—what—how learned you this?"

"I'll tell. 'Twas Goania's wench Vanora. I gather that
she besought you to take her on this journey as your Ie-
man, and you denied her?"

"Aye. So what befell?"

"The night after you left, I was dining with the old
Mulvanian and with Mistress Goania and her two do-
mestics. Vanora got drunk and had a rush of conscience.
With tears and sobs she told us that, the very mom you
departed, she gave a letter to the courier to Xylar, telling
the government there whither you had gone. At that time,
she said, so filled with hatred and rancor was she that she
looked forward with glee to attending your execution and

88

THE UNBEHEADED KING

cheering with the rest as the ax fell. Now she was shamed
and abashed. She wept and wailed and called on the gods
to chastise her; she bemoaned her thwart nature, which
forced her to do such horrid things."

"But you—how did you—"

"Someone had to warn you, and I was the only one
young and active enough of our little circle. So 1 borrowed
these garments from Rhuys's younger son, since my gowns
are unsuited to riding and mountain climbing. I also bor-
rowed Rhuys's best horse, without his knowledge I'm sorry
to say, and followed your track.

"Last night I stayed at the Golden Ibex. Being weary, I
retired early; but I was awakened by sounds of revelry
below. This mom I arose ere daybreak. At breakfast, Tu-
ronus's daughter told me that one Judge Grallon, a Xylar-
ian official, had come in with six attendants. These she
described as tall, light-haired men of wild, barbaric aspect.
That sounded like Shvenish lariat-men; so, tarrying no
longer, I set ou in search of you."

"Were the Shvenites abroad when you left?"

"Nay; the maid said they were all in drunken stupor.
But they'll have set forth by now, 1 ween."

Jorian bit his lip. "Kynoc!" he said. "Canst guide us
back to the inn by another route, one that would take iis
around these pursuers?"

"Not with the mule, sir. This trail's the only way down
for beasts, until ye come anigh the inn, where the ground's
flatter. I could take you by another where ye'd need but
to lower yourselves down banks by gripping the roots of
trees."

"Much as I hate to leave Filoman as booty, I mislike
the thought of Uthar's ax even more," said Jorian. "Put
out the fire, Kynoc- I'll take my saddlebags—"

"Too late!" cried Margalit.

Cries came from down the slope, and figures appeared
among the trees in the distance. Jorian recognized Judge
Grallon's voice, commanding; "There they are, where you
see the smoke of their fire! Spread out! Moruvikh, farther
over to the right! Ingund, to the left!"

"We cannot easily lose them in the forest," said Kynoc,

89

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"with the leaves off the trees. Would ye flee back up the
trail?" The youth shook with nervousness.

"Nay; they'd catch us more easily with their ropes and
nets in the open. Get your crossbow! This little fell's a
good place to make a stand. The squad does not usually
bear missile weapons. Watch our flanks whilst I defend
our front. Margalit, help Kynoc to watch for rogues steal-
ing upon us."

Jorian cocked his crossbow, lay prone in the leaf mold
at the edge of the fell, and sighted. The movements among
the trees resolved into three or four men—he could not
judge their exact number—plodding up the slope. As one
on the trail came into plain view, Jorian called: "Stand,
varlet!"

The man, a tall, light-haired Shvenite, paused. Judge
Grallon's voice boomed from back in the trees: "Go on,
faintheart! He cannot hurt you!"

Jorian waited until he got a clear view of the man. He
squinted along the groove of his crossbow, adjusted its
angle for distance, and allowed a hair for windage. Then
he squeezed the trigger.

The bow snapped; the quarrel thrummed away, rising
and falling, to strike home in the Shvenite's body. Kynoc
discharged his own weapon; but his bolt grazed a branch
and glanced off at an angle.

The man who had been struck cried out and folded up
on the ground. Grallon called: "Get down, all of you!"
Thereupon the other Shvenites dropped to hands and knees,
crawling forward. Most of the time they were out of sight
behind dead ground.

Kynoc started to rise to recock his weapon, but Jorian
barked: "Keep down!"

Plaintively Kynoc asked: "How then shall I reload?"
"Watch me," said Jorian. He rolled over on his back,
put his toe in the stirrup at the muzzle of the crossbow,
and pulled back on the string with both hands until it
caught on the sear. Then he rolled back on his belly and
put a bolt in the groove.

"1 never thought of that," said Kynoc.

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

"You're used to shooting at deer and hares, which do
not shoot back. Next time, shoot not until I tell you. We
have no bolts to waste."

"Go on! Go on!" called Grallon's voice. "Creep up and
surround them, then rush upon them from all sides. They
cannot number more than two or three."

Jorian bellowed: "Promus, take these javelins off that
way. See if you can spear one of these knaves. Clotharo,
take the spare bolts oft that way; try to hit one in the
flank. Nors, get the covers off our shields. Physo, did you
remember to sharpen our steel?"

Kynoc looked about in a bewildered way at hearing
these commands addressed to nonexistent warriors. Mar-
galit, catching on at once, lowered her voice to sound
mannish, calling: "Here you are, sir. Which sword do you
wish? Let me lace on your cuirass!"

The creeping Shvenites seemed to have halted their
advance. Jorian whispered: "Kynoc, steal off amongst the
trees on either side and tell me what you see."

"Go on!" came Judge Grallon's voice. "Keep advancing!
It is all a pretence, his having an army. Get in close and
rush them!"

A guttural voice spoke in the Shvenish language: "Why
does he not lead his grand charge himself ?" Jorian under-
stood the words but supposed that Grallon did not.

From the trees on one side came the thud of Kynoc's
arbalest, followed by a yell of pain. The young man came
loping back, grinning.

"I got one!" he chortled. "Methinks I did but wound
his leg; but he'll molest us no more."

"That will hold them up for a while," said Jorian. "But
in a couple of hours, darkness will fall, and we shan't be
able to hit the side of Mount Aravia."

"Belike we can then give them the slip," said Kynoc.

Jorian fidgeted, trying to get another clear shot. But the
Shvenites hugged the hollows in the earth, offering no
targets save an occasional glimpse of a buckskin-clad arse
as they wormed their way forward. Jorian shot at one such
target but missed.

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

At last Jorian, unwilling further to prolong the stale-
mate, crawled back from his edge. "Kynoc!" he said. "I'll
try a cavalry charge. Take off the rest of Filoman's load."
"How shall ye guide the beast without a bridle?"
"I'll make one." (orian began experimenting with the
lead rope, threading it through the mule's unwilling mouth
and twisting it around the animal's muzzle. The mule
jerked its head uneasily.

"Be it trained to riding?" asked Kynoc.

"We shall soon find out. There, that should serve to
guide the beast, if he does not chew the rope through. Wilt
give me a hand up?"

Since the mule had no saddle, Kynoc made a cradle of
his hands, into which Jorian put one booted foot, and then
he swung aboard the mule's bare back. Jorian had not
ridden bareback in years and hoped his riding muscles
were still hard enough to keep him on Filoman's back.

"Here goes'" he said, drawing his sword and thumping
the mule's ribs with his heels.

Filoman refused to move- When Jorian whacked its rump
with the flat of his sword, it shook its head and bucked.
Jorian caught its mane to avoid a fall.

"Get my spurs out of the baggage," said Jorian. Margalit,
again anticipating his needs, was already burrowing into
his gear. Soon she had strapped the spurs to his feet.

"Here goes again," said Jorian, digging in his spurs.

The mule snorted and bounded forward, almost
precipitating Jorian back over its rump. When he recovered
his seat, he tried to guide the animal by his improvised
bridle. But Filoman paid no heed to Jorian's rope. Instead,
it ran around in a circle, bowling over Kynoc. Then it
galloped off into the woods at random.

In front of it hung Jorian's blanket, which Jorian had
suspended from a convenient branch to dry. The mule
plunged ahead, ducking its head beneath the lower edge
of the blanket. Jorian ducked, too, so as not to be swept
off the mule's back by the branch. Hence he struck the
blanket squarely, so that it was whisked from the branch
and settled down over his head and body, completely

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

blinding him. He yelled: "Halt! Stop! Whoa!" and pulled
on the rope, to no effect.

From somewhere before him he heard a shout of terror
and, in Shvenic, cries of "Oswic's ghost!" "The headless
horseman!" "All is lost!" "Flee for your lives'"

Then came the sound of men running away. One tripped
and fell, got up cursing, and ran on. The mule continued
galloping, turning this way and that, trying to shake Jorian
off. Jorian dropped the rope, caught the mane, and clung
to the animal's back.

The mule stopped so suddenly that Jorian was thrown
forward over its head. He landed in a patch of brush, while
the blanket flew off over his head. Scratched and bruised,
he scrambled up and made a flying dive to seize the mule's
rope before the beast ran away.

Then he saw a curious sight. Gray-bearded Judge Grallon
was kneeling on the forest floor and praying with his eyes
closed. Of the Shvenish lariat-men there was no sight save
a glimpse of one buckskin-clad back receding in the
distance. The man limped, and Jorian guessed that he was
the one Kynoc had shot in the leg, left behind by his speedier
fellows- Up the trail, half a bowshot away, lay the body
of the man whom Jorian had shot.

Jorian gathered up his sword, which he had dropped,
and approached the justice, sword in one hand and lead
rope in the other. "Get up!" he said.

Grallon opened his eyes. "King Jorian!" he cried.
"Methought 'twas the true headless ghost whereof the
innkeeper told us. Being too old to flee with that squad of
superstitious cowards, I was confessing my sins to Imbal,
expecting each instant to be my last- What would you of
me? My life?"

"Not yet," said Jorian. "I need you as a hostage. Get
up, pick up that blanket, and walk ahead of me. At the
first untoward move, you shall be a headless ghost, too!"

Grallon grumbled: "But, Your Majesty, I do but my
duty. I wish you well in every way, so long as you in turn
perform your duty, which is to attend the ceremony of
succession."

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Never mind that. Pick up that blanket!"
Jorian saw that the judge was looking past him with an
expression of alarm. Quickly turning, Jorian saw a patch
of striped orange and black among the trees. The tiger
padded to where lay the Shvenite whom Jorian had shot.
The cat lowered its head to sniff at the corpse, then raised
it to stare at the two men on the path below. It blinked
its big yellow eyes, then lowered its head again. Silently,
it sank its fangs into the body.

The Shvenite gave a faint cry. But the tiger raised its
head, so that the wounded man's arms and legs dangled.
It walked calmly off into the forest, the man's limbs
flopping where they were dragged over roots. Grallon said:

"Your Mafesty is a villain, if you will excuse my saying
so. Odovald was the best man of the squad, and you slew
him. Were we in Xylar, you should answer for your crime!"

"Horse apples!" snorted Jorian. "1 warned him to let
me alone. When he would not. I defended myself. Besides,
I did not slay him; the tiger did. But enough legalistics;

march!"

Soon after dusk, Judge Grallon, his wrists tied by a strip
of cloth cut from forian's blanket, stumbled up to the front
door of the Golden Ibex. Behind him came Jorian, covering
him with a cocked crossbow; then Margalit and Kynoc,
the last leading the mule.

At Jorian's command, Kynoc went into the inn and
brought out his uncle Turonus, who whistled at the sight.

"What is this, Master Nikko? Some quarrel or feud? Not
in my inn—"

"Never mind your inn," said Jorian. "Your other guests
were after my head. Give me the reckoning, pray."

Turonus felt in the pocket of his apron and brought out
a stack of thin wooden tablets threaded on a thong. He

leafed through these until he came to Jorian's and presented
it-

"Hers, too," said Jorian. He handed Margalit his purse,
not wishing to have to juggle his weapon and the money
at the same time. While Margalit counted out the money,
the Shvenites appeared in the doorway.

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Your Honor!" cried one, starting to draw his sword.
"What betides?"

"Back inside!" said the judge. "Quickly, ere this
desperado puts a bolt through my brisket!"

Jorian smiled. "Now, your Honor, you shall come for
a ride. Kynoc, saddle the judge's horse and boost him up
on its back. Then saddle the lady's and mine."

Minutes later, Jorian and Margalit rode off on the road
to Othomae, Jorian led the mule. The judge, gripping the
mane with his bound hands, unhappily bounced on the
back of his own horse, like him old and fat.

"I am in your eternal debt, Lady Margalit," said Jorian.
"Why did you go to such effort and risk to save my
unworthy neck?"

"I told you, I felt responsible to Estrildis for you. As it
was, I did not truly save you, since the Shvenites were
close upon my trail. Your own valor did that."

Jorian chuckled. "If you but knew the horror with which
I felt myself borne along willy-nilly on that cursed mule,
blinded by the blanket—but there, Karadur is ever at me
not to let my modesty show. At least you gave me a few
moments' warning. You are a splendid person. When you
get a husband, you deserve the best. If I were not a devoted
family man...." Feeling that his unruly tongue was about
to run away with him, Jorian ceased talking and
concentrated on the road ahead.

95

VI

THE WATER WIFE

1 1 FTER RJDING THROUGH THE DARK FOR HOURS, TUDGE

Grallon called: "Your Majesty, how much farther wilt drag
me? 'Twill take all the morrow to get back/'

"You shan't get back," said Jorian. "I am taking you to
Othomae."

"By Imbal's iron pizzle, what for? Mean you to slay me
there?"

"Not at all/ your Honor. I have a task, wherefor you are
uniquely qualified/'

"Task? Art mad? What task could I possibly perform
for you?"

"Service as arbitrator in a dispute. You will receive the
standard fee and be sent back to Xylar no worse for wear."

"That is the strangest proposal 1 have ever heard'" ex-
claimed Crallon. "Why should you trust me to deliver a
just verdict, after you have treated me so wrongfully?"

"Because I knew you of old, when I was King. Will you

do it?"

Grallon hesitated. "Only if I can discharge my office
honorably, without prior conditions or constraint."

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

"That's my wish, too. I ask not that you incline to my
cause because of my connection with Xylar, and even less
that you incline against it because of the strong measures
I have taken to protect myself."

"Very well, then," said Grallon. "Meanwhile I am half
dead from bouncing on the back of this cursed beast. At
least unbind me. Do you mean to camp out?"

"Nay. We shall soon reach another inn."

"And who is this young person?"

"You shall know in good time."

"At least tell me whether it be male or female."

"Not just yet. Ah, methinks I see a light through the
trees! When we go in, I shall be Nikko of Kortoli, and you
Master Grallon. Think not to raise an outcry of kidnap-
ping, for we are now well within Othomaean territory -
You know the love between Othomaeans and Xylarians!
They'd say, give him an extra kick for me!"

At the inn, Jorian took a room for two. He offered no
explanation of Margalit in her young man's garb. If anyone
noticed the unmasculine bulges beneath her jacket, they
forebore to comment in the presence of one so formidable-
looking as Jorian.

Leaving the tavemer to warm up leftovers for their sup-
per, Jorian shepherded his two companions into the room.
As he set down their baggage, Margalit took off her for-
ester's hat, so that her curly hair sprang out.

"I know you now!" said Judge GralTon, "You are the
Queen's lady-in-waiting, Margalit of Totens. I heard of
your disappearance from the palace. What do you here?
What of these wild tales of a scarlet demon's snatching
you from the Queen's apartments?"

"Just a little sorcery gone awry," said Jorian.

"But—but that does not explain her being with you on
Mount Aravia! And in men's garb, forsooth! She evanished
from the palace in the month of the Eagle, and here it is
almost springtime! What have you twain been up to in
the meantime?"

"That's enough questions," said Jorian. "You forget you
are my prisoner and not the other way round."

The judge turned to Margalit. "But you, Lady Margalit?

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

What do you here? Are you in some plot with this runaway

king?"

Margalit began: "Why, as to that—" Then she saw that
Jorian, standing behind the judge, was making motions of
clapping his hand over his mouth. "You must needs ask
Master (orian," she said.

"Hah! Were this Xylar, you'd soon be behind bars as a
fautor of King Jorian's felonies'"
"Felonies?" said Jorian.

"Certes! For the king to escape the doom assigned him
by our divinely inspired laws were a heinous offense- Should
we ever win you back to complete your part in the blas-
phemously interrupted ceremony, you will be scourged,

ere you are beheaded, for your irreligious contumacious-
ness."

"Thanks for the warning/' said Jorian. "I'll take good
care not to be caught."

The judge clenched his fists, stamped his feet, and sput-
tered with righteous indignation; but so wrought up was
he that no words came forth. At last he dropped his arms
and dropped his shoulders, muttering: "Shameless!
Shameless! You are lost to all considerations of morality!"

"Lost or not/' said Jorian, "the innkeeper should have

something for us to eat. Belike a full belly will help you
bear my iniquities."

After supper, Jorian chivvied his companions back to
the room. "Margalit," he said, "the judge shall have the

bed, whilst you and I take turns sleeping beside him and
watching him."

Grallon groaned. "If the word gets out that I have passed
the night in bed with this young woman, my repute on

the bench will be ruined, not to mention what my wife
will say."

"When I said 'sleeping,' I meant just 'sleeping,'" said
Jorian. "Anyway, if you keep silent about it, we will do
likewise. Eh, Margalit?"

She laughed. "I have already been compromised to the
point where one more scandal matters not. I promise, your
Honor, to make no lascivious advances."

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Now," said Torian, "I'll trouble your Honor for your
shoes, knife, and purse."

"Aha, so Your Majesty has turned robber as well as
abductor?"

"Not at all- They shall be returned to you in due course.
I merely wish to make sure that, if the one of us on watch
fall asleep, you do not stab us in our sleep and flee. Mar-
galit, whilst you are on watch, sit on the judge's things."

The return to Othomae took Jorian half a day longer
than had his journey to the Golden Ibex. Two companions,
he found, inevitably slowed him down, the more so since
one was elderly and Jorian's own horse was showing fa-
tigue. They arrived on the afternoon of the fourth day out
of the Golden Ibex, too weary to take up Jorian's business
with Abacarus. Jorian did, however, hire one of Rhuys's
sons to carry messages to Abacarus and to Goania and
Karadur.

At dinner time, Goania and Karadur came to the Silver
Dragon. Boso bulked in and gave forian a surly greeting.
}orian asked: "Where is Vanora?"

Goania said: "I suppose Margalit has told you of her
confession. I served her notice that one more such buf-
foonery and she was through. She hung around for another
few days. But when, by my second sight, I told her that
you had escaped the lariat squad and were on your way
back to Othomae, she packed up her scanty gear and van-
ished. Belike she thought you would slay her on your re-
turn."

"I do not kill women," said Jorian. "But I might have
been tempted to stripe her backside."

Once convinced of ludge Crallon's identity, Doctor
Abacarus accepted the learned jurist as arbitrator. He and
Jorian drew up a stipulation of facts not in dispute and
handed the sheet to Grallon. Then each set forth his ar-
gument over the debt, and each had a chance to rebut the
other's statements.

When they had finished, Grallon retired to think. While

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

they waited, Abacarus and Jorian killed time with a game
of draughts, forian thought himself a competent player,
but the sorcerer beat him so easily that Jorian suspected
magical assistance.

Grallon returned, saying: "On due consideration, I must
find for Master Jorian. Doctor Abacarus, your arbitration
agreement states that I collect my fee from the loser. Ten
nobles, please."

Abacarus counted out the money with the expression
of one who has bitten into a lemon. "Not bad pay for a
morning's work," he grumbled.

"It is the going rate, sir. Your agreement also forbids
either party to attempt future harassments, by dunning
specters or otherwise, does it not?"

Abacarus nodded tight-lipped. Jonan saw the judge out.
He said: "The first diligencia of the season leaves for Xylar
on the morrow. I have reserved a place for you. Permit me
to thank you for your mst verdict."

"No thanks are due," grumped Grallon. "I did but call
the hit as I saw it. I will confess that I was not entirely
regardless of the fact that, if Abacarus clapped you in debt-
or's prison, our chances of getting you back to Xylar were
lessened. On the other hand, the rascal richly deserved to
lose. He whispered to me that, if I decided for him, he
would split his takings with me."

At the inn that evening, Jorian told Margalit of the
judge's impending departure. She said: "I suppose I ought
to return to Xylar with him."

"Better not," said Jorian. "Remember what he said about
your being an accessory to my crimes? If he got you to
Xylar, he'd denounce you to the law instanter.

"He is a fanatic in his way. When I was King, he made
a fine chief justice, absolutely incorruptible and fearless.
You saw how he stood up to me when I held his life in
my hand. But these virtues become awkward when one is
on the other side of the law from him, no matter how
absurd the law. And I like your head much better attached
to the rest of you."

Jonan told her of his interview with Shenderu, adding:

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Know you anyone around the court susceptible to a bribe?
Shenderu said gambling men were the easiest targets for
golden arrows."

She frowned. "Let me think. Aha' There's a proxenary
clerk, Thevatas, in charge of Estnidis's expenses- I do not
know of any defalcations by him, but he is addicted to
horse races. He would come to our apartment from one,
volubly praising the beauty and speed of the beast he had
wagered on if he had won, or berating the animal as bait
for crows when he had lost."

"If I know such gentry," said Jonan, "he will have
skimmed a little here and there off my darling's income
to make up for his losses. We'll see what can be done with
him."

"How?"

"Better that you know not. Suffice it to say that I shall
depart next month. Meanwhile I must find another means
of livelihood. The windmill is shut down until the spring
wheat begins to come in."

When he saw the Judge off, Jonan said: "Your Honor,
you had better warn the Regency Council not to send any
more squads of kidnappers after me. I have small influence
with the Grand Duke, and he assures me that he would
regard another such incursion as cause for instant war with
Xylar."

This was a bluff; Jonan had never met the Grand Duke.
He delayed his warning until he was sure that Judge Cral-
lon would not have time to make inquiries to confirm or
refute Jorian's story.

Grallon grunted: "I hear Your Majesty'" and climbed
into the coach, which rattled away on the road to Xylar.

Jorian would like to have left tor his native Ardarnai
right after seeing Grallon off to Xylar. But he had already
missed the first diligencia of the season to Vindium, and
the next would not depart for three sennights. He could
not fare on horseback/ because the horse Fimbn, which
he had ndden to Mount Aravia, had fallen ill of some
equine ailment of the lungs, rendenng it useless for hard
riding. Jorian was too soft-hearted to sell the beast to a

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

knacker, so he continued to maintain the animal until one
day he found it dead in its stall. The knacker got the
carcass at the bottom price.

Jorian decided against buying another horse for the time
being. A good one would cost more than he thought he
could afford- Besides, he had had enough rides over
hundreds of leagues, in all weathers, to last him a lifetime.

Jorian picked up a few nobles as assistant to Tremorin,
a fencing master in Othomae City. He even thought of
setting himself up as a fencing master on his own, but
inquiry convinced him that this was impractical. First,
the city's three fencing masters would combine to sup-
press competition, if need be by hiring thugs to assault or
kill him. Second, even if he became established, the Grand
Duke would levy not only the usual tax on his earnings
but also would add a surtax because he was a foreigner.

One day, Jorian saw, pinned to the bulletin board in the
square, a placard reading:

MERLQIS SON OF GAUS PRESENTS

his superlative, matchless, unexcelled theatrical troupe,
the Nonesuchers, performing two new plays by Pselles of
Aussar, THE INNOCENT VAMPIRE and THE WRONG BEDROOM,
as well as a revival of Physo's classic, THE TINSEL CROWN.

The placard bore further information about time, place,
and price of admission. Jorian learned that the sheet had
been tacked up by Merlois's advance man. This one told
him that Merlois and his troupe would arrive that after-
noon.

When Merlois lighted down from his carriage, he found
Jorian awaiting him. With a yell of joy, the elderly actor
and Jorian seized each other in bear hugs. Merlois whis-
pered: "What name go you by now?"

"Nikko of Kortoli," said Jorian. "So you have your own
troupe at last?"

"Aye. I wax a little old for leaping from balconies, slay-
ing dragons, and whacking a fellow actor with a wooden

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

sword, as my profession doth tyrannously demand. Oh, I
still take small parts; I shall be the good wizard in The
Innocent Vampire. You must attend, on pain of my august
displeasure! Let me give you these passes."

"Could I beg an extra set for a companion?" asked Jor-
ian.

"Oho, aha, so thither blows the wind! Certes, here you
be. Bring a whole harem if such be your desire."

"Nay; this is merely a brotherly friendship. My heart
still belongs to Estrildis, mewed up in durance vile in
Xylar. I take it The Innocent Vampire is a horror show?"

"Aye, verily! 'Twill freeze the blood in thy veins to the
consistency of cold tar, bring thy fluttersome heart to an
ominous halt, and make thine eyes protrude on stalks,
like unto those of the dilatory snail."

"And The Wrong Bedroom. I suppose, is a farce?"

"Doth the sun rise in the east? Doth the tiger devour
flesh? Doth water run downhill? Indeed, sirrah, 'tis the
cynosure, the acme, the epitome of farces! 'Twill shake
thy belly with mirth until thy very ribs do ache, as if thou
hadst been beaten by the roughhewn clubs of a regiment
of Elloroian savages. I shall warn persons with weak hearts
against attendance, lest they laugh themselves to death.
But one thing worries me."

"And that is?"

"It is a short play, in two acts. I need something where-
with to flesh it out, lest my fickle audience deem them-
selves cozened. We got some bad notices on this score in
Vindium."

"Hmm," said Jorian. "Since my escape from Xylar, I
have betimes eked out a living as a storyteller. Thanks to
the coaching you gave me in preparation for my flight, I
have, I flatter myself, a fair stage presence."

Merlois clapped Jorian on the back. "Just the thing!
Zevatas must have sent you in answer to my prayer, or
he would have if 1 had thought to pray to him- You shall
come on between the acts and tell one of your enthralling,
fascinating, spellbinding, gripping, absorbing tales. 1 recall
hearing some of them when I was teaching King Jorian to
act."

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Am I to be paid?"

"Oh, aye, the going rate, as set by the Actor's Guild,
minus your initiation fee into that cabal of graspers When
I was but a player, methought producers the world's worst
tyrants, oppressors, cheats, and skinflints Now that I am
a producer, meseems that actors are the most grasping,
vain, arrogant, capricious, unreasonable, untrustworthy,
dissolute, and generally worthless rogues in Zevatas's
world "

When the curtain fell at the end of the first act of The
Wrong Bedroom. )onan excused himself from Margalit
and went around to the stage entrance Presently Merlois
stepped out on the stage and introduced that "celebrated,
cultivated, renowned, charming, versatile, entertaining,
and altogether irresistible storyteller, Nikko of Kortoh "

lonan took a bow and said "I shall tell the tale of a
onetime king of Kortoh named Forboman, who loved a
mermaid Know that all the kings of Kortoli since the days
of Ardyman the Terrible have had names beginning with
'F ' This Forboman was a good to-middling king, not so
brilliant as Fusmian the Fox, but far superior to that ass
Fonmar the Aesthete Forboman went about amongst the
people, learning how they practiced their skills and be-
times taking a hand at the plow or the loom or the hammer
himself Thus he found himself in the fishing village of
Storum, helping the fishermen to haul in a net they had
cast

"The net seemed unwontedly heavy, and when with
many royal grunts and heaves it was hauled ashore, it
transpired that caught in its meshes was a veritable, palp-
able mermaid She was not at all pleased at being snatched
from her native element, and she screamed threats at the
fishermen m her own language, which none understood

"One old fisherman said 'Your Majesty, here's a pic-
klement Whilst I know not her speech, I had it from my
grandsire that mermaids threaten chose who capture them
with storms and shipwrecks, and that such calamities in
variably come to pass Let us, therefore, slay her and bury

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

her well inland, ere she return to the sea to raise her fishy
tribe against us '

'"That seems unduly drastic,' said the king 'I cannot
overmuch blame the sea-wench I should be wroth if the
mer-folk were to net me and draw me down into their
hquid element Let me bear her back to the palace I will
essay to turn her hostility to friendship by kind treatment '

"So Forboman whistled up his bodyguard They made
a litter of poles and lashed the mermaid to it, notwith-
standing that she struggled and gave one guardsman a nasty
bite with her needle-sharp, hsh-catching teeth Back at
Kortoli City, the king commanded the guards to drop the
mermaid into the royal swimming pool, which stood m a
small courtyard in the palace, open to the sky The return
to the water seemed to calm her, albeit she still muttered
threats and maledictions

"That very day, Forboman began to train the mermaid
His first task was to establish communication This he
did by offering her a reward of a small fish every time she
learned a new word of Novanan At the end of a fortnight,
the mermaid actually smiled when the hour of instruction
came round She said 'You good man, King I love you '

"Forboman spent more and more time with the mer
maid, to the neglect of his royal business Since none could
pronounce her name in her own tongue, Forbonian be
stowed upon her the name of Leila

"Let me say that real mermaids are not much like the
beings depicted by artists If you imagine the lower half
as the after end of a porpoise, and the upper half as a hybrid
of human being and seal, you will have an idea True, the
mermaid had arms much like those of a human being,
save for the webbing betwixt the fingers Her face was
more or less human, but the forehead and chin sloped
smoothly back When she swam, she cocked her head up
to swim nose first, like a seal, and her head, neck, and
body merged smoothly into one another Under water, her
nostrils closed tightly, like those of a seal or an otter

"Furthermore, real mermaids do not sit on bulging but-
tocks on the sea rocks, combing their long hair over pro-

105

THE UNBEHEADED KING

trusile breasts They have no buttocks, their breasts are
small and hardly break the piscine smoothness of their
shape, and their hair is but a patch of seal-like fur on their
scalps I do not think many of us would find such a crea-
ture surpassingly beautiful by human standards, although
they doubtless have their own kind of beauty, )ust as a
horse or a tiger may have

"Natheless, a mutual sympathy sprang up between Le-
lia and the king, so that his greatest pleasure came to be
the hours he spent beside her pool, instructing her He
took to stripping and swimming with her, claiming that
she was teaching him new strokes

"Now, King Forboman's queen was Dionota, the daugh-
ter of the Hereditary Usurper of Govanman Dionota was
a comely female but, alas, not a sweet or companionable
one Her voice had become permanently roughened from
screeching at the king, or anyone else within earshot, dur-
ing her frequent tantrums Now she became |ealous of
Leila, notwithstanding Forbonian's assurances that the
mermaid meant no more to him than a good horse or dog

"At length, one day when the king was elsewhere,
Dionota entered the courtyard of the pool and dumped a
bucket of lye into the water Either she mistakenly thought
that the lye would instantly slay Leha, or she did not
realize how fluent m Novanan the mermaid had become,
so that she would inevitably tell the king what had been
done to her

"Leila's shrieks brought the king running, to find his
mermaid writhing on the flags beside the pool, her skin
blistered and inflamed He fetched the royal physician,
who used several )ars of salve in coating Leha's injured
skin, and he had the pool drained and refilled

"Leila told Forboman about the bucket of lye—not that
she knew what lye was, but the cause and effect of her
distress were plain enough In a fury, the king went to
Dionota and said This is'the end, you stupid bitch' Pack
your gauds and get out I am dissolving our marriage and
sending you back to your father '

"And so it was done. A month later, Forboman got a

106

THE UNBEHEADED KING

letter from the Hereditary Usurper of Govannian, saying
'Curse it, I thought I had got rid of this peevish baggage
when I palmed her off on you, but no such luck I shall
have to wed her to the Tyrant of Boaktis, whose wife has
lately died '

"Forboman chuckled, for he knew there was bad blood
between the Usurper and the Tyrant In this way, in the
guise of cementing eternal friendship, the Usurper was
playing a scurvy trick on his enemy

"Now there was no one to come between the king and
his mermaid One day he told her 'Leha, I truly love you.
Will you marry me7'

"Leila said 'But Lord King, how can that be2 We are of
different kinds, you and I'

" 'Oh,' quoth Forboman, 'we shall manage What is the
use of being a king if one cannot put over things impossible
to common men2'

"Forboman went to the high priest of Zevatas to ask
him to sanctify the union, but the priest recoiled in horror
So did the priests of Heryx and the other gods At length
Forboman simply issued a royal decree, making Leha his
lawful wife

"Then arose the problem of consummating this uncon-
ventional marriage The doors of the courtyard had all been
shut, and the only light was that from the twilit sky over-
head and some candles that the king had caused to be set
on the flagstones about the pool Forboman said to his
bnde

"'Leha dearest, if you will hoist yourself out on the
stones, we will have at it' Leila did not much like being
out of water, claiming that the dry air made her skin itch
But she heaved herselt out

"Assured of his privacy, the king, a man of about my
size, doffed his garments and set to fondle and caress Leila
When he thought her properly receptive, he essayed to
mount her, but try as he would, he could not effect an
entry At last he said 'Devils take it, Leila, how do they
do it amongst your folk3'

"T am sorry,' she said, 'but my vent closes up tightly

107

THE UNBEHEADED KING

when I am out of water I cannot relax it even if I would,
besides which, I find it painful to be squashed between
your weight and the stones We mer-folk always copulate
in the water '

"'Then let us try it m the water,' said the king Both
slipped into the pool Leha explained 'We mer-folk
approach each other side by side We turn to face each
other and, when the juncture has been made, the pair
roll slowly from side to side, so that first one and then
the other has its nostrils out of water We are not fishes
with gills, you know, and must needs breathe even as you
do'

"During this explanation, the cold water had robbed
Forboman of his royal rigidity, but by embracing and
cosseting Leha, he managed to restore it When he
attempted to play the part of a mer bridegroom, however,
he found that he could not time his breathing with the
alternate surfacing and submersion, since Leila expected
him to stay under much longer than he could hold his
breath At every attempt, he would take a breath at the
wrong time and emerge coughing and gasping, all thoughts
of love banished by the urgent need to get the water out
of his lungs

"On his third try, after a long period of recuperation
from the last one, Forbonian did succeed in penetrating
his love Lelia was by now in a highly excited state In a
transport of amorous passion, she seized him in her finny
arms and dragged him beneath the surface To her it was
naught to submerge for a quarter-hour or more between
breaths, but the poor king had no such amphibious talent

"Soon Lelia realized that, instead of marching on to his
climax, Forbonian had gone limp all over In panic she
hauled him to the surface, boosted him out on the
flagstones, and heaved herself out, meanwhile shouting
for help

"The guardsmen burst in to find Leha leaning on the
prone and naked body of Forbonian, repeatedly pressing
his rib cage down and releasing it A couple of guards
seized her arms, while their officer shouted 'Drown our

108

THE UNBEHEADED KING

king, will you? Water witch, you shall beg for death ere
the headsman gives the final stroke'"

"Lelia tried to explain about artificial respiration, but
in her excitement she lost command of her Novanan and
Spoke the language of the mer-folk They were dragging
her away when the king groaned and raised himself on his
elbows, gasping 'What do you7'

"When they told him, between coughs he said 'Release
her' I risked my life by my own folly, and she saved it'

"Forbonian issued another decree, annulling the mer-
marnage He caused Lelia to be put back into the sea, and
shortly thereafter he wedded the daughter of a merchant
of Kortoh City and begat heirs But for years, they say, on
moonlit nights he would go down to the sea and climb
out on an old pier at Storum, and there converse with
someone or something in the water below The lesson, if
you wish me to point one out, is that marriage is a chancy
enough business without wantonly adding to its problems

"And now I think the scenery has been shifted, and my
old fnend Merlois is ready to announce his second act
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen "

Jonan's storytellmg proved so popular that Merlois kept
him as an adfunct to his shows as long as the troupe played
m Othomae He insisted on taking Jonan to a costumer's
shop to buy him an outfit more theatrical than his everyday
packet and trews The costumer, Henvin, cy-dinanly
furnished materials for the costume balls by which the
gentry and nobility amused themselves He clad Jonan in
a black )acket with spangled lapels, which glittered when
Jonan moved

"Were these any wider, I could fly with them," said
Jonan, looking doubtfully at the lapels

Merlois said "It makes you look like a proper hero of
romance How would you like a permanent post, to travel
with my troupe and take acting parts as well as tell tales
between acts2"

"I am flattered and grateful, but I cannot accept ]ust
now When I get my wife back, if you still feel thus, we

109

THE UNBEHEADED KING

shall see I am a good second-rater at several occupations,
including clock-maker, farmer, carpenter, accountant,
surveyor, soldier, sailor, fencing master, storyteller, poet,
and I daresay actor Which I shall finally settle into remains
to be seen "

Between his storytelhng for Merlois and his work at
Tremorm's salle d'armes. Jonan managed to save some
money Hearing that the registrar at the Academy had
died, he went to Doctor Gwidenus and persuaded him to
give Margalit a try at the )ob

"I never saw such confused records1" she told Jonan
after her first day "The old registrar must have long since
discarded his trump cards I will try to bring order out of
this chaos, but 'twill be a struggle "

"How do you get on with the faculty7" asked Jonan

"Not so different from other men Some take me for a
kind of monster, being the first woman to hold the post
As for the others—well, I can count on at least one
attempted seduction a day "

"That's not surprising You are a spectacularly attractive
person "

"Thank you, Jonan These solicitations are a
compliment of sorts, even though I re|ect them "

In the month of the Ram, Jonan boarded the dihgencia
tor Vindium, riding through a countryside lashed by spring
rains and soon ablaze with spring flowers At Vmdium he
took another coach to Kortoli After the death of his father
Evor, his brothers had moved the clock-making business
from tiny Ardarnai to Kortoli City His mother remained
in Ardarnai, living with his sister and her family

"Country practice is all very well, if you want to take
life easily and have little ambition," said his elder brother
Sillius when the greetings were over "It is costlier here,
of course, but the wealth of street trade more than makes
up for it "

A couple of Sillius's children were climbing over their
uncle, whom they had long heard of but never seen
"Kenn," said Jonan to his younger brother, "do you think

110

THE UNBEHEADED KING

you could get the Regency Council of Xylar to let you
clean and regulate their clocks again7"

"They are about due," said Kenn, who was not only
younger then Jonan but also slenderer and handsomer
"You surely provided a market for the clock-maker's skills
when you reigned there, gathenng all those clocks "

"It was my hobby Some day we must try to build a
clock like one I saw in the House of Learning in Iraz,
powered by descending weights instead of trickling water
The engineers had not gotten it to work, but the idea
looked promising "

Sillms sighed "There you go again, Jonan1 Always
pushing some goose-brained newfangled idea, even though
you were never able to master delicate clockwork "

"My hands may be clumsy, but it does not follow that
my brain is lame," retorted Jonan "I'll work with a large
model and, when it succeeds, let you copy it m a small
size, with gear wheels no larger than fish scales Kenn,
could you set out soon for Xylar, to solicit another contract
to clean and repair the clocks in the palace7 When I left
there were twenty-six of them "

"Aye I have bethought me of }ust such a venture "

"Then here is what I want you to do  "

When Jonan had explained his plans for Thevatas the
proxenary clerk, Sillius said "I wish you would not draw
Kenn into your wild schemes Some day it will come out
that he is your brother, and the Xylanans will take his
head in lieu of yours "

"Oh, rubbish'" said Kenn "I have no family, as you
have, and I know how to keep my mouth shut The feast
of Selmde comes up soon Why don't we all make a holiday
of it, go to Ardarnai, and surpnse our people there7 You
left seven years ago—or is it eight7—and you've never
even seen your niece and nephew there And Mother would
never forgive us   "

111

VII

A N THE MONTH OF THE LION, IORIAN RETURNED BY COACH

to Othomae. Since it was a holiday, the Feast of Narzes,
Goania invited Jorian and Margalit to her house for dinner.

"You must needs take your chances on the victuals,"
she said. "Since Vanora disappeared, I have been trying to
teach Boso to cook; but it is like teaching a horse to play
the lute."

Aside from the fact that the beef was overdone, the
repast did not turn out so badly as the wizardess had
warned. Jonan said: "That was splendid, Boso! I see a lu-
crative future for you as cook in one of the big city inns,
where the nobility come to eat, drink, dance, and ogle one
another."

Boso dropped his usual surliness to scuff his foot on the
floor- "Oh, I do try, Master Jonan," he simpered-

"But what of your plans for Estrildis?" said Goama.

"You go right to the point, my dear aunt," said Jonan.
"I spent hours in Ardarnai plotting with Kenn. He should
be in Xylar, tending the clocks in the palace. When I get

112

THE UNBEHEADED KING

a letter saying The fish is hooked,' I shall set out with
Karadur."

"Hai!" said Karadur. "You said not that you intended
to entrain me with you, my son. I am verily too aged and
fragile for another of these temerarious excursions—"

"Can't be helped," said Jonan. "Amongst other things,
I shall need your help to locate that cursed crown for the
bribe. It's been nearly three years since we buned it, and
I am not sure I could find it by memory alone."

"But I am not capable of another long ride, in all weath-
ers, on the back of some fractious quadruped!"

Jonan thought and said: "How if we went as a pair of
Mulvanian mountebanks? You've seen these little groups,
traveling about in wagons, telling fortunes and stealing
farmers' chickens. I could buy a cart, which we can dec
orate like one of those gaudy Mulvanian vehicles. You can
nde in it."

"Well, that would be—"

"Wait!" said Margalit. "I shall go, too."

"What?" cned Jorian. "This will be a rough, risky trip/
my lady. Much as I esteem you, why should you—"

"Because my first duty is to my Queen, and I should
be with you when you meet her again."

"I really see no good reason—"

"You will- The shock of seeing you may put her into
a state where she needs my care. Besides, if you are dis-
guised as a Mulvanian, she may not believe you to be her
husband. You will need me to vouch for you "

They argued some more. But Jonan, though he thought
Margalit's reasons flimsy, gave in. He was not really sorry
to have her as a fellow traveler. He liked her immensely
and admired her good sense and ability to cope with con-
tingencies.

"Three would crowd one of those little carts," he said.
"My sumpter mule can pull the cart, if I train him in But
I shall have to buy another horse." He looked worried. "I
know not if my remaining funds will stretch so far."

"Fear not," said Goama. "I can always lend you enough
to tide you over, provided you stop calling me aunt! I am
no km of yours."

113

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Very well, Au— Mistress Goania. It is good of you.
And now, what pans shall we play in Xylar? Father Kar-
adur can tell fortunes. I have some small skill at juggling
and the sort of games of chance they play in traveling
carnivals. That swindler Rudops, among the shady char-
acters I hired to teach me their skills when I was planning
escape, instructed me. And Margalit—why, 'tis plain you
shall be a Mulvanian dancer!"

"But I do not know Mulvanian dances—"

"No matter. I have seen them in Mulvan, and Karadur
and I can teach you."

"Think you not I am too tall to pass as a Mulvanian
woman?"

"Not really; at least in Xylar, whither few Mulvanians
go. The folk will have no standard of comparison."

"But stay! That is not all. A couple of years ago, a
traveling troupe of Mulvanian dancers and singers passed
through Xylar, and Estrildis and I attended a performance.
As you might guess, they surrounded us with palace guards
the whole time we were out of the palace. But the dancers,
male and female, all danced bare to the waist."

"That's how they do it in Mulvan," said Jorian. "Even
the dames of the highest caste go to parties thus, with
designs painted on their torsos."

"I will not slither around thus indecently exposed! There
was a to-do in Xylar; the priests of Imbal would have closed
the show, or at least compelled the dancers to cover them-
selves. They were still disputing the matter in the courts
when the troupe departed."

"My lady," said Jorian sternly, "you're the one who
wishes to accompany us on this journey. Either prepare
to dance with bare breasts or stay behind!"

She sighed. "If the priests of Imbal make trouble again,
'twill be on your head! But how shall we get skins as brown
as Karadur's?"

"There's a fellow in the city, Henvin the Costumer,
who sells wigs, dyes, and everything else to change one's
appearance. Merlois took me to him," Jorian answered.

"Must one paint one's skin over every time one washes
one's face?"

114

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Nay; I am told that these dyes do not begin to fade
for a fortnight."

"You, my son," said Karadur, "must needs leam to wind
a turban. Wait!" The Mulvanian shuffled out and returned
with a long strip of white cloth. "Hold still!"

Karadur dexterously wound the cloth round and round
so that Jorian's short-cut black hair was almost hidden'
Goania held up a mirror.

"I look quite the Mulvanian potentate," said Jorian.
"All I need is a brown skin."

"Now," said Karadur, "let me see you do it!"

Jorian spent the next hour learning to wind the turban.
The first few times, the headgear tell apart as soon as he
moved, slumping into loops and folds on his shoulders.
The others rolled in their seats with laughter. At last Jorian
wound a turban that stayed in place even when he shook
his head.

"You must also shave your countenance," said Karadur.

"What, again? But I like my whiskers!"

"In Mulvan, as you should know, only philosophers,
holy men, and men of the poorest caste wear them. More-
over, you will recall that at the time of your escape from
Xylar, you wore a large black mustache over a shaven chin;

so the Xylarians would recognize you with that adorn-
ment."

"But a full beard like mine—"

"Ah, but recently Judge Grallon saw you with your
present hirsute decoration, so it were unwise to appear
thus bedight. We might encounter the judge."

Jorian sighed. "Just when I think I have achieved the
acme of masculine beauty, you come along and spoil it.
Margalit, think you not we should be returning mnward?"
He rose.

Goania said: "Better not enter the Silver Dragon with
that thing on your head. We do not wish folk to know that
Jorian and that great Mulvanian mystic, Doctor Humbu-
gula, are one and the same."

"I'll do it off ere we go in- Ready, Margalit?"

115

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Jorian bid a ceremonious farewell, bowing and practic-
ing the gestures he had seen in Mulvan. Out they went.
The night was dark and foggy, and there were no public
street lamps near Goania's modest house. A lamp in the
wizardess's hands, as she stood in the open door, pushed
back the dark a little. When she closed the door, the dark-
ness rushed back.

"Hold my arm, Margalit," said Jorian. "One can easily
turn an ankle on these cobblestones. Damn, it's blacker
than the pits of the ninth Muivanian hell."

They felt their way slowly along. Jorian peered into the
murk, thinking that he would feel very silly if they got
lost on a simple walk of eight or ten blocks.

Then Jorian heard quick, soft footsteps behind him. As
he started to turn, a terrific blow struck his head. The
ground sprang up. Dimly he heard a shriek from Margalit.

Collecting his scattered wits, Jorian rolled over to bring
his attacker into view. Against the dark overcast, he made
out an even darker form swinging an ax in both hands. He
thought he saw the ax rise above the form's head.

He knew he should have instantly thrown himself to
the side to avoid the blow, But so weak and dazed was he
that he could only blink stupidly as the ax started down.

A second form—that of Margalit, from its silhouette—
gave the first one a push. He heard a low snarl of "Bitch!"
and saw the attacker turn toward the woman. She sprang
back to avoid a sweep of the ax, but slipped on the wet
cobblestones and fell. The attacker turned back to Jorian,
hoisting the ax for another blow.

Then another form loomed out of the dark. The in-
tended blow went awry. Jorian climbed shakily to his feet
to see two bulky bodies grappling, grunting, and cursing.
One combatant caught the other's arm and twisted. The
ax fell with a clang.

"I got him, Master Jorian!" panted Boso's grating voice.
"Kill the bastard!"

Jorian felt about and gathered up the ax. For an instant
he hovered about the struggling pair, peering to make sure
he should not strike the wrong man. Both v/ere stocky,

116

THE UNBEHEADED KING

burly men in rough, nondescript clothes, but in the fog-
shrouded darkness he could not discern faces.

"What are you waiting for?" rasped Boso.

The direction of the voice at last told Jorian which was
which- He brought the flat of the ax down hard on the
head of his assailant; at the third blow, the stranger col-
lapsed.

"Why'n't you slay him?" said Boso.

"I want to know who he is and what he's up to first,"
said )onan. He turned to see how Margalit tared, but she
had already regained her feet.

"Are you hurt?" )orian asked.

"Nay, save for a bruised fundament. Who is this foot-
pad?"

"That's what 1 mean to learn. Take one leg, Boso, and
I will take the other. How did you arrive so opportunely?"

"I heard the lady cry out and rushed into the street,"
said Boso.

Halfway down the block, a golden rectangle appeared
in the fog as Goania's door opened again and the wizardess
stood in it with a light. Jorian and Boso hauled the body
in and laid it out on Goania's floor, while she leaned over
it with a lamp. The man was heavyset, with a strip of
cloth covering his face below the eyes. Jorian set down
the ax, an ordinary workman's too!, and jerked off the
mask.

"Malgo the bailiff!" he exclaimed. "I owed him a few
knocks, but wherefore should he strive to murder me?"

Goania poured a dipper of cold water on the man's face-
Choking and coughing, Malgo returned to consciousness.

"We should tie him up," said Jorian. "He's a strong
rascal."

"I'll see to that," said Coania. She went out and re-
turned with a couple of lengths of rope. She spoke to these
and, like tame serpents, one of them wrapped itself around
Malgo's wrists and the other around his ankles.

"A couple of minor spirits, whom I have enlisted in my
service," she said.

Jorian peeled off the turban. The cloth was slit in several

117

THE UNBEHEADED KING

places, where the edge of the ax had penetrated, and stained
crimson, where blood had seeped from a scalp wound.

"My best turban cloth!" lamented Karadur.

"I'll get you another," said }orian. "Henvin the Cos-
turner probably carries them. I owe it to you, since those
layers of cloth saved my worthless life." He turned to
Malgo, now sitting on the floor with his back to the settee,
glaring. "Now then, you, speak!"

"Screw you!" snarled Malgo.

"Why did you try to kill me?"

"That's my affair."

"Oh, is it?" Jorian smiled unpleasantly. "Mistress
Goania, may I trouble you for assistance in opening up
this mangy scrowie? I am sure you have some ingenious
methods in your magical repertory."

"Let me think," she said. "There is a small Seventh
Plane demon who is madly in love with me and will do
aught I ask. Naturally I cannot accede to his wishes, not
wishing to be burnt to a crisp. But if I loose him on Master
Malgo, he will do some interesting things, beginning with
the man's private parts."

"Oh, I'll talk," growled Malgo with fear in his eyes. "I
wanted to slay you because you lost me my job."

"What?" said Jorian. 'T had naught to do with that! I
never even knew you had been dismissed."

"Well, I was, and I know you did it, by complaining to
the Grand Duke."

"You're dreaming! I have not seen the Grand Duke, nor
have I complained to his officers, though the gods know
I had cause to. Who told you this?"

"I won't tell."

"Goania, how about that fiery imp of yours?"

"Oh, I'll tell, I'll tell. Just let not that witch set her
spooks on me. Twas Doctor Abacarus at the Academy. I
paid him a pretty penny to divine the cause of my dis-
missal, and he named you."

"You wasted your money," said )orian. "Abacarus
merely sought revenge on me for besting him in a dispute
over a debt."

"I can tell you why Malgo was dismissed," said Goania.

118

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"I know the Grand Duchess Ninuis—we serve on the
same committee to succor the poor—and she is a great
gossip. She told me the examining magistrate caught Malgo
buggering a young prisoner in his cell. For some legal rea-
son they could not pin a criminal charge on Malgo, but
they could toss him out of his post."

"There you are," said Jorian. "Now, what shall we do
with this scum?"

"If it was me, I'd kill him," said Boso.

"A pious idea, but then we should have a body to dis-
pose of. And perhaps the swine has friends, who would
ask after him. I suppose he is an Othomaean citizen, but
I am not."

"I'd still kill him," said Boso. "If any man tried to slay
me—"

"I agree with your sentiments, friend Boso; but we must
be practical. Any other suggestions?"

"We could surrender him to the law," said Karadur.

"Nay," said Goania. "Jorian has the right of it. Malgo
has friends in high places, little though you might expect
it. There is a nest of his kind, headed by Lord — but I will
not name names. This lord has power, and doubtless his
intervention set Malgo free. If we have him arrested, the
legal mills will grind on forever whilst Master Malgo is
out on bail to make another try."

Margalit said: "We hear a lot about the corruption in
high places of Vindium; but from what I hear, 'tis just as
rife here."

"True," said Goania. "The difference is that the Grand
Duchy has more effective means of covering its corruption
in high places."

jorian asked: "What's the source of Lord Nameless's
power? Is Gwitlac the Fat one of Malgo's brother-
hood—"

"Hush!" hissed Goania, looking nervously around. "Do
not say things like that within the bourne of the Grand
Duchy, unless you would destroy us all! But to answer
your question: nay, the Grand Duke is normal in that
respect. It is purely political; this lord is one of his strong-
est supporters. Ninuis loathes the man, but she has not

119

THE UNBEHEADED KING

been able to turn Gwitlac against him "

"We'll forget arresting Malgo, then," said Jonan "It
were more to the point to set the law on Abacarus, Malgo
is but his tool "

"Aye, but the same obfections apply Abacarus would
deny the whole thing, and what were Malgo's word against
his?"

Margaht asked "Could you feed Malgo a love potion
or something, so that he would do whatever Jonan corn
manded7"

"I fear," said Goama, "that Malgo would not make a
satisfactory servant, no matter what geases we put upon
him He might be made to obey Jonan, but that would
not stop him from stealing Jonan's possessions, or holding
a sodomitical orgy in Jonan's room in his master's ab-
sence If we compelled him to love Jonan, his manner of
expressing his love might not meet with Jonan's ap-
proval "

"You ought to make him suffer somehow," said Boso
"It's only right If it was me, I wouldn't be a man if I let
him off free "

"True," Jonan said. "But I am less interested in revenge
than in getting him out of the way We can't have him
running loose here, and Goama does not think he can be
reduced to useful magical slavery Goama, can you put a
spell on him to make him obey one command from me^
Implicitly7"

"Aye, within limits "

"Going to make him kill himself7" asked Boso with a
grin

"Nay, though the idea has ment "

"That would not work anyway," said Goama "The
spell cannot make him contravene his basic instincts "

"How," asked Jonan, "would it be to command mm to
kill Abacarus2 That would be a fair turnabout "

Goama said "Be not hasty Abacarus is a clever rogue
If I know him, he will have taken precautions Let me
send out my second sight "

She sat still, breathing deeply with her eyes closed At
last she said "It is as I thought. He has set up a barrier

120

THE UNBEHEADED KING

that will dissolve your command when Malgo passes
through it Abacarus will then aim Malgo back at you, as
in a game of paddle ball "

"Bouncing Malgo back and forth at each other could
become tedious," said Jonan He thought a moment "I
have something equally useful Goama, how long will such
a command obtain7"

"One to three months, depending on many factors "

"Then pray put it on him "

"Very well The rest of you, leave me alone with Malgo
I will call when I have finished "

They trooped out to the kitchen From the living room
came sounds of chants and incantations in Coama's voice,
and then a harsh, crackling voice that was neither Goama's
nor Malgo's Jonan killed time by telling a story "I am
sure," he said "you have heard some of my tales of King
Fonmar the Aesthete He nearly ruined Konoh by ne-
glecting statecraft to pursue the arts, such as music, paint-
ing, and verse, m all of which he made signal contributions

"Then Kortoli was overrun by the armies of Aussar
under Doubn the Faultless, a fanatical pnest who wished
to foist on other nations the puritanical austerity he had
imposed upon his own land The siege of Kortoli City was
broken by the return of the naval squadron under Fonmar's
brother Fusonio

"Fonmar had sent Fusonio to Salimor in the Far East,
ostensibly to establish trade relations, but actually to get
nd of his brother, whose carping at Fonmar's extravagance
and neglect of public affairs vexed the king But as the
price for saving Kortoli, Fusonio forced his brother to ab-
dicate in his favor

"Anon, Fusonio thwarted a conspiracy by his brother
to regain the throne To prevent further attempts, Fusonio
sent the ex-king to distant Salimor as ambassador Fusonio
would normally have dispatched his brother on a warship
But he had heard that the barbarians of Shven were as-
sembling a fleet in the Bay of Norli to ravage the Novanan
coasts So he felt he had to keep the fleet at home

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

"The conveyance of Fonmar he trusted to a privateer,
Captain Joehd, with orders to take Fonmar to Salimor.
Joelid bore letters of marque from Fusomo, but since Kor-
toh was then at peace, he was compelled to fill the role
of peaceful trader.

"Fusomo sent a bodyguard of ten soldiers to act as For-
imar's escort and, moreover, to see that he did not slip
away at some intermediate port. The soldiers were young
single men who had volunteered because they had heard
tales of the beauty and availability of the Saiimorese girls,
who went about clad like those Mulvaman dancers whom
Margalit saw. Fusomo also gave the officer of this detach-
ment, Lieutenant Locnnus, a letter to the Sophi, asking
that potentate to hold Fonmar in genteel confinement all
his life.

"So off went Captain Joelid, and off with him went
Lieutenant Locnnus and the former King Fonmar. Unable
to find an adequate cargo in Kortoli, Joelid dropped down
the coast to Vmdium.

"At Vindium, Lieutenant Locnnus saw to it that the
ex-king had no chance to slip ashore and escape. But he
had no authority over Captain Joelid, who went ashore on
his own business. After an unsuccessful day of cargo seek-
ing, the privateer sought a tavern, where he fell in with a
fellow sea captain from Salimor, one Dimbakan.

"Now, in visiting merchants and warehouses, Captain
foelid had heard of a deal very profitable to a skipper who
could take immediate advantage of it. It involved a tri-
angular trade amongst Vmdium, Janareth, and Tarxia. The
thought of these profits made foelid's mouth water; but
he could not sail to Janareth, to Tarxia, and back to Vin-
dium and also carry Fonmar to Salimor.

"So, when both Joelid and Dimbakan were well plied
with the liquors of Vindium, they struck a deal. Joelid
would turn over Forimar and his escort to Dimbakan, who
was to leave for home in a few days. He would pay Dim-
bakan a part of the fee that Fusonio had paid him to take
his brother to Salimor. He opened by offenng one tenth;

but Dimbakan, no stranger to chaffering, laughed in his

122

THE UNBEHEADED KING

face. After much haggling, they settled on two-thirds of
the fee for Dimbakan.

"Next day, Joelid told Forimar and his men that they
were going to Salimor, not on joelid's pnvateering vessel,
but on Dimbakan's ship, the Itunkar. Lieutenant Locnnus
vehemently obfected. But Joehd said he could make his
choice: go ashore, sail with the Itunkar, or remain on
Joelid's ship, about to leave for Janareth and Tarxia.

"As a privateer, Joelid earned a large crew for the size
of his ship. These seemed a hard-bitten lot of rogues, who
could easily turn to piracy if lawful occupations failed
them. Lacking the force to overawe Captain Joelid, Locn-
nus grudgingly accepted the new plan. He and his men
marched ashore, surrounding Forimar, and adown the
waterfront until they came to the Itnnkar. Two days later,
Captain Dimbakan sailed.

"Forimar found himself aboard a long, narrow vessel,
with outnggers to keep it upright in all weathers and two
lugsails of curious shape. The voyage took a good part of
a year, and Fonmar was happy to disembark at the capital,
Kwatna. He had learned enough of the language to get
along with the Saiimorese and now dressed as they did,
in a simple length of cloth wrapped skirt-wise about his
loins.

"Since Fusonio's departure from Salimor, the Sophi who
had reigned at that time had died and been succeeded by
his son Mynang. The new Sophi received Fonmar gra-
ciously and showed a lively interest in Novanan customs
and technics.

"Fonmar made a serious effort to discharge the office
of ambassador in a creditable way. But he soon became
moody and discontented, because there was little for him
to do. Konoli and Salimor were too far asunder to be con-
cerned with each other's military alliances and adven-
tures, and trading ships, selling metalware and glassware
and buying tea and spices, arrived from Novaria only at
intervals of months.

"So Forimar returned to his old love, art. He studied
the Salimorian arts of painting, sculpture, and music. He

123

THE UNBEHEADED KING

was especially captivated by the Sahmonan dance A dan-
cer of the royal troupe caught his eye, and he divined that
neither was she indifferent to his regard He persuaded the
dancing master to present the girl, Wakti, to him When
he hesitantly said something about seeing her alone later,
she replied

" 'Oh, that is no matter, my lord I shall come to your
house tonight ' Sure enough, when Fonmar returned to
his bedchamber after supper, he found a nude Wakti smil-
ing invitingly

"Although nearly forty, Fonmar had never bedded a
woman in his life When he hesitated, Wakti asked him
what was the matter He confessed to being a complete
tyro at love, whereupon she was convulsed with laughter,
as if it were the runniest thing she had ever heard But she
said 'That is no matter, dear Ambassador Ponmar' For
so the Sahmonans called him, having no F m their language
'Come hither and I will show you how '

"Wakti's laughter had caused Fonmar to lose some of
his readiness, but Wakti revived it Afterward Fonmar
said 'Great Zevatas, what have I been missing all this
time' But tell me, Wakti darling, what would happen if
you should conceive7'

" 'Oh,' she said, 'that is no matter We have an herb to
prevent that Now sleep for a while, and we will at it
again '

"So Fonmar and Wakti became official lovers, a state
on which all the Salnnorese, from the Sophi down, smiled
benignly Fonmar was delinously happy But since he could
not make love to Wakti all the time, and his official duties
were negligible, he took more intense interest in the
Sahmonan arts

"In Kortoli he had dabbled in architecture, bankrupting
the nation by building costly temples and other structures.
To Mynang he suggested erecting a lighthouse like that
of Iraz, of which he had heard and seen pictures, but even
taller and more splendid The Sophi, spellbound by
Fonmar's exotic ideas, asked Fonmar to draw up a plan.

"Fonmar did so, and Mynang commanded his ministers
to assemble workmen and matenals forthwith He also

124

THE UNBEHEADED KING

ordained a special tax to pay for this enterpnse This tax
caused much grumbling amongst the common folk, on
whom it bore heavily But Fonmar, in an ecstasy of
watching his tower go up day by day and at night practicing
Salimonan dances with Wakti in both the vertical and the
horizontal positions, knew naught of this

"Months passed and the tower, in a square on the
waterfront, soared into the heavens So impatient was the
Sophi to see it that he caused the workmen to be speeded
with whips A little over a year after the laying of the first
stone, the tower was complete but for the interior
furnishings Mynang decreed a holiday for the dedication
of his tower

"A platform was erected before the tower, whence the
Sophi would make a speech. The square was decorated
with flowers and colored cloth. Fonmar took his place in
the parade behind Mynang, who was borne in a gilded
htter The band stepped out, tooting and tweedhng and
banging After them came the royal guard, and then the
htter.

"The procession was approaching the square of the
tower, where thousands of Salimorese had already
assembled, when the earth gave a slight quiver Fonmar
had been so busy with his arts and with making love to
Wakti that he had never learned that Salimor was a land
of frequent earthquakes. Most dwelling houses were
therefore low, flimsy affairs of bamboo and palm-frond
matting, which would whip back and forth when shaken
but remain largely intact. A few of the nobility and the
Sophi, only, dwelt in buildings of masonry

"The earth lurched again, and the tower groaned and
swayed At once, the thousands in the square began to run
away m all directions The first fugitives who raced up
the street on which the parade was marching collided with
the band and swept the bandsmen along with them.

"Then came the main shock. The tower groaned louder
and swayed wider Then it crumbled into thousands of
separate stones, pouring down from its height like drops
m a waterfall, to stnke the earth with a roar heard leagues
away, smashing and rebounding and shaking the city of

125

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Kwatna almost as severely as the earthquake itself Soon
there was naught left of the tower but a huge pile of broken
masonry, half hidden in a vast cloud of dust

"Thanks to the warning shocks, the square had been
pretty well cleared of spectators Natheless, several score
were killed, some by rebounding stones and some trampled
to death in the rush Many more suffered lesser injuries
Some other houses in Kwatna, including part of the palace,
were shaken down with loss of life and property

"The crowd that rushed through the street of the parade
had knocked down Mynang's litter bearers, so that the
Sophi was thrown out on the street He tried to restore
order, but none heeded him A rumor ran through the
crowds, that Sophi Mynang had displeased the gods and
thus brought about the earthquake Some blamed the Sophi,
while others blamed his fiendish foreign crony, meaning
Fonmar Mynang was recognized as he tried to get back
to the palace A mob, incited by a holy man, set upon him
and tore him to pieces.

"Fonmar might have suffered a similar fate, but amid
the swirling crowds of Salimorese, screaming and foaming
with excitement, a brown hand seized his wnst 'Come
quickly'' said a familiar voice, and Wakti dragged him
through a doorway He found himself in the house of friends
of Wakti, who let her take him to a back room and hide
him.

"Some Salimorese were giving thought to who should
succeed Mynang in power The late Sophi's eldest son was
a boy by a concubine, six years old, the eldest by a legitimate
wife was four (The Salimorese did not allow the rule of
women ) Each child had partisans, and for a day it looked
as if the succession would be settled by civil war

"Then Wakti reported to Fonmar that a new leader had
ansen This was none other than the Captain Dimbakan
who had brought Fonmar thither from Vmdium. Dimbakan
harangued the crowds on the form of government he had
observed m Vmdium, namely a republic, with the chief
officers elected at fixed intervals by the people, and no
hereditary ranks of nobility This idea was new to the

126

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Salimorese, but they took to it with enthusiasm Dimbakan
promised that, once in power, he would forthwith hold an
election to decide whether to abolish the monarchy and
whom to choose to run the state

"In a few days, Dimbakan proclaimed himself regent
m the royal palace Mynang's sons had disappeared,
whether slam or smuggled away, Fonmar never learned
As time passed, people asked Dimbakan when he would
hold that promised election, but he always had some
plausible reason for not staging it )ust yet Eventually he
announced that, albeit reluctantly, he would yield to the
unanimous wish of the people and declare himself the new
Sophi As to how unanimous this popular desire was, we
have only Dimbakan's words as reported by Fonmar

"On a visit to the hidden Fonmar, Wakti said 'My love,
since the royal dance troupe has been disbanded, and you
can no longer make me generous gifts, I have decided to
marry '

"Fonmar said 'Do you mean to marry me^ Oh, }oy' Let
us be about it mstanter''

"'What''cned Wakti, 'Me wed you, a fugitive foreigner?
Good gods, what an idea' Nay, I have a good man picked
out, a )oumeyman coppersmith. As for you, you had better
take the first ship back to your own land, ere some fanatic
recognize you '

'"But you said you loved me'' bleated Fonmar

"True, so I do But that is no matter What has love
to do with marriage^

"'Back in Novana, they are supposed to go together,'
quoth he

'"What a barbarous land'' she said 'Here mamage is
the forming of family alliances, the pooling of resources,
and the building up of a stable, self-supporting family unit
Such considerations form a much firmer base for happy
longtime cohabitation than mere love '

" 'You make mamage sound like a sordid commercial
deal'' he said

"'And why not7' she retorted 'To eat regularly is the
most important thing m life—even more so than love,

127

THE UNBEHEADED KING

since one can live without love but not without eating—
and a well-matched pair can eat better together than
separately.

" 'Now, pack your gear, for a ship leaves on the morrow
for Vindium. I will fetch a disguise, so you can pass safely
through the streets.'

"And so it was done. Some years later, King Fusonio
visited Vindium. As usual, he sought a tavern wherein to
mingle incognito with the common folk. In this tavern,
he found himself seated near a group of fisherman, who
could easily be identified by their smell. One slender.
middle-aged fellow, with a graying beard, looked familiar.
At length this nagging half-memory so irked Fusonio that
he went to the other table and touched the man on the
shoulder, saying: 'Your pardon, my friend, but do I not
know you?'

"The man looked up, replying: 'I am Porimar of Kortoli,
a fisherman in the crew of Captain—oh'' the man stared
wide-eyed. 'I believe you do know me, and I also know
you. Let us go where we can talk freely.'

"They found a secluded comer, and Forimar (or Porimar,
as he now called himself) related his adventures. Fusonio
brought Forimar up to date on events in Kortoli. The
brothers were warily friendly. The king said: 'How do you
like your present trade?'

"Forimar shrugged. 'Not bad. There is as much art, I
find, in tracking a school of fish and managing a net as
there is in painting a portrait or cobbling together a verse.'

"'Is there aught you would like me to do for you—
short of letting you back into Kortoli, that is?'

" 'Aye; give me the money to buy my own fishing smack
and hire a crew.'

'"You shall have it,' said Fusonio, and so it was done.
And sometimes, when affairs of state were more than
usually vexatious. King Fusonio wondered if, perhaps, his
brother did not have the better lot of the twain. But when
he thought of the hardships and hazards of a fisherman's
life, he put aside such thoughts as sentimental
romanticism. And he resolved to get such satisfaction as
he could out of the role to which the gods had called him."

128

THE UNBEHEADED KING
* + *

When Goania called, they came back to find Malgo
standing blank-faced. The magical cords that had bound
him now dangled harmlessly from the fist of the wizardess.

"Give your command, Jorian," said Goania. "Take not
too long about it."

"Malgo!" said lorian. "Wilt obey my command?"

"Aye, sir," growled Malgo.

"Then you shall leave Othomae City forthwith, travel
east to Vindium, and take ship as a deckhand for the
Kuromon Empire, or the Gwoling Islands, or Salimor, on
whatever ship thither bound has a berth open. Do you
understand?"

"Aye, sir. Can I stop back to my room to get supplies
for the foumey?"

"Aye, but without needless delays. Now go!"

Like a walking corpse, Malgo shambled out the door
and into the night. Jorian said: "By the time the command
loses power, he'll be well on his way to the Far East. Once
aboard ship, 'twill avail him naught to change his mind.
If he survive the voyage, he could not get back in a year,
by which time I hope to be elsewhere."

"Can I dress your wound?" said Goania.

"Nay, it is but a scratch- Betwixt my thick skull and
Doctor Karadur's best turban, I have nought worse than a
slight headache. And thanks for saving my life, Boso."

Boso scuffed his shoe. "Oh, that was nought. You once
saved mine, when we fell into Lake Volkina. Besides, you
said you liked my cooking."

On the way back to the inn for the second time, Jorian
told Margalit: "It is strange. I've fought with Boso thrice—
not mere words, but twice with fists and once with swords.
It started when he learned I was the son of the man who
built Othomae's chiming municipal water clock, thus
ending his job as the city's gong ringer.

"Either of us might have killed the other, for he has
the thews of an ox. I thought he hated me. At the same
time, I did drag him out of that lake when the Goblin
Tower fell; and now he saves me from being chopped up
like kindling."

129

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Limping from her fall, Margalit said: "I once read in
the Aphorisms of Achaemo that one should treat every
friend as if he might some day become an enemy, and
every foe as if he might some day become a friend."

lonan grinned in the darkness. "Good worldly advice.
But I don't think I could imagine you as my enemy,
Margalit."

130

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VIII

MARSHES OF MORU

1 N THE MONTH OF THE DRAGON, fORIAN RECEIVED AN UN-
Signed letter, in Kerin's hand, reading: THE FISH HAS SWAL-
LOWED THE HOOK- As soon as they could gather their gear,
Jorian, Karadur, and Margaiit set out. Karadur and the girl,
the latter in the masculine attire she had worn to Mount
Aravia, rode in a cart with a canvas top and two large
wheels, drawn by Filoman the mule. Jorian had spent many
weary days in training the balky animal to obey the reins
and was not altogether satisfied with the results-
Dorian himself rode a new horse, Cadwil, of better qual-
ity than the late Fimbri. When a storm blew up, Jonan
crowded into the cart and led the horse behind the vehicle.

Short of the Xylarian border, Jorian took a side road that
led southwesterly through the forest, clad in the dense
green foliage of late summer, toward the Marshes of Moru.
When the road petered out to a mere track, he halted,
tethered the animals, and left Margalit m charge. He also
left her his crossbow with instructions for its use. He was
pleased to find that she, unlike most women, was strong
enough to cock it.

forian and Karadur set out afoot. They followed a copy

131

THE UNBEHEADED KING

of a map from the Grand Ducal archives and Jorian's mem-
ory of the country from his flight through it nearly three
years before. Flies buzzed round their heads; fonan slapped
one that bit him in the neck. The woods resounded with
the metallic song of cicadas.

At the time of Jorian's previous visit to this area, Rhi-
thos the Smith had laid a confusion spell on the forest
around his house. He did this as a favor to the Silvans,
the aboriginal inhabitants, to keep hunters and woodcut-
ters out of their woods. In return, the Silvans furnished
Rhithos and Vanora, who was then his slave, with food.
But when Rhithos had tried to kill Jorian in order to put
a spell on a magical sword he was making, Jorian killed
him instead. So the spell was broken.

They had been walking the trail for an hour, going slowly
because of Karadur's age, when Jorian )erked his head back
as something whispered past him. The sound ended in a
sharp tick. Jorian saw a dart sticking in a tree beside the
trail; he pulled it out- The point had been smeared with
some sticky stuff.

"That must be the doing of the Silvans," said the Mul-
vaman. "It is doubtless poisoned."

'T thought they dwelt leagues farther east, in the vi-
cinage of Rhithos's house?"

"Nay, they range widely through the forest belt north
of the Lograms."

"But why should they shoot at me?"

"You slew their ally the smith. We had better get back
to the wagon—"

Another whisper, and another dart struck another tree,
this time behind them.

"Get down!" said Jonan, throwing himself flat on the
trail. "Are they warning us, or are they merely bad shots?"

"I know not," said Karadur, lowering himself more
slowly.

Jorian had already started to crawl back along the trail.
Another dart struck his leather jacket; he snatched it out.

"They seek to slay us, forsooth!" he said. "There goes
one of the losels!" A small, hairy, naked form with pointed
ears and a tail flitted among the trees. "And me without

132

THE UNBEHEADED KING

my trusty crossbow! Canst work a spell to eet us out of
this?"

"If they would stop shooting blowguns at us, I could
effect another confusion spell. It is a simple magical op-
eration."

"0 Silvans!" roared Jonan, rising on his elbows. "We
are fnends! Come out and let us talk!" He ducked as an-
other dart whizzed past.

"Crawl faster!" he growled, wngglmg along the trail
past his companion.

"I cannot keep up with you!" panted Karadur.

"If I could get close enough to seize one....' Look you,"
Jonan whispered. "I'll pretend to be hit and dying. Do you
likewise."

A dart flew at Jonan's face, but a twig deflected it at
the last instant. "Ail" screamed Jorian, thrashing about as
if in his death throes. Behind him, Karadur made similar
noises and motions. Then both lay still.

After what seemed a long wait, a rustle in the greenery
announced the forest folk. Three appeared on the path,
with blowguns made from canes. When they stepped closer,
jforian bounded to his feet and threw himself on the nearest
one. Since the little fellow was only waist-high to Jonan,
he was easily overcome.

The other two leaped back, squeaking in their own
tongue. As they raised their blowguns, Jonan put the blade
of his knife against the captive's neck.

"Don't shoot, if you want your fnend alive!" he shouted.

Whether or not they understood the words, the two
hesitated. Karadur came up behind Jonan and spoke in the
twittering tongue of the Silvans, who answered. Then they
lowered their weapons.

"What say they?" asked Jonan.

"They say they shoot all 'big folk' who trespass here.
Since their fnend the smith was slam, their woods are
overrun with our kind."

"Tell them you will put another confusion spell if they
will leave us alone."

"I was about to do so." Karadur and the Silvans con-
ferred further-

133

THE UNBEHEADED KING

The Mulvaman gathered twigs and started a small fire
on the trail From one of the many internal compartments
of his wallet he look a pinch of powder and sprinkled it
on the blaze, intoning words. The vapors made Jonan,
holding his captive, sneeze

"They say," said Karadur, "that you may release their
fellow now without fear."

"I know not how far to trust these creatures."

"Oh, I am sure—"

"Aye, I have accepted your assurances to my sorrow
ere this. What's their most binding oath?"

"By Thio's soul, I believe."

"Very well, tell them to swear peace with us by Thio's
soul. I must release this fellow sooner or later, since I
cannot dig for the crown and hold him hostage at the same
time."

More twittering, and Jonan released his captive. The
three Silvans faded into the vegetation. Jonan asked:

"How did you come to know so much about them?"

"I had to pass examinations in those subiects when
studying wizardry at Tnmandilam."

"If you knew their language, why didn't you speak to
them sooner?"

"I was too fnghtened and out of breath."

They plodded on. Jonan sweated, swatted flies, and cast
anxious looks through the aisles of the greenwood. The
day wore on.

In the afternoon, they came out on the shore of a branch
of the Marshes of Mom. One of the small crocodiles of
the marsh slipped mto the water, sending npples out across
the still, black mere, over which glittering, glassy dragon-
flies hovered and darted.

"This is odd," said Jonan, frowning at his map. "It looks
like the middle finger of the north branch of Kadvan's
Marsh. But we should be much farther south, around here,"
He pointed. "I thought I knew this country like the palm—
great Zevatas! I know what's the matter! Your confusion
spell has confused me, too'"

Karadur spread his hands. "What expected you, my son?
I had no means of immunizing you from its effects."

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Does it affect you, also'"

"Not really, since I never did learn my way about this
lieu so well as you did when you were King, so I have
little knowledge to be twisted by the spell "

Jonan shrugged. "Then there is naught for it but to keep
on trying Come on'"

He started off on a vast circumambulatlon of the
marshes, plowing through thickets of shrubbery and sink-
ing into boggy patches Karadur's fatigue forced them to
stop to rest more and more often. Time and again, Jonan
would set his course by the sun and start off in what he
meant as a straight line, only to find soon after that he
had somehow gotten turned around and was heading in
the opposite direction. At sunset they were still struggling.

"I thought we should be back at the cart with the crown
by now," grumbled Jonan. "I can testify that this spell of
yours, at Feast, works fme. Had I known, I should have
brought food and blankets. No use blundenng on without
light to see our way."

"Must we spend a night on the ground7" asked Karadur.

"So it seems. Let's hope that tiger I saw at Mount Aravia
wander not down this way. Twere not an impossible dis-
tance for it."

Jonan built a small fire and spent an uncomfortable
night, sleeping in snatches with his back to a tree and
wondenng whether the sounds he heard were those of
some prowling predator or the rumbling of his empty
stomach. Karadur seemed to manage better, settling mto
a cross-legged position, putting himself mto a mystical
trance, and awakening with dawn apparently none the
worse.

They plodded on through the morning, as the cool of
the night gave way to the steamy heat of midday At last
Jonan said: "We should be near our goal. The lay of this
land looks familiar, unless your spell has addled what
memory I have. Have you a short-range divination spell
that will tell us where lies the crown;"

"Nay; that is Goama's specialty Let me see, we buned
the bauble beneath a log, did we not2"

135

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Aye. Younder lies a log; could that be the one?"
It was not, nor were the next six logs they investigated.
Jorian said: "1 shall have nightmares of digging under one
fallen trunk after another through all eternity—ah, that
one looks familiar'"

A few minutes later, Jonan gave a whoop as they dragged
out a mass of rotted rags wrapped around a heavy object.
The rags were the remains of the clothing from which
Jonan had changed when he made a rendezvous with Kar-
adur here on his flight from Xylar. Inside the tatters, bright
and gleaming, was the crown of Xylar.

Jonan held it up to admire the glitter of the morning
sun on the jewels around the rim, which flashed scarlet
and azure and green. "At least, 'tis some satisfaction to
have guessed right for once.... What's that?"

A sound of a heavy body moving came to his ears. He
sprang to his feet, peering about. The swish of displaced
branches and the thud of heavy footfalls came closer. Jor-
ian cried:

"It's a Paaluan dragon! Up a tree, and yarely!"
Through the brush came a monstrous lizard, over thirty
cubits long. Jorian sprang to the nearest large tree, an old
silver-gray beech, with enough low branches for easy
climbing. As he swarmed up the trunk, he turned to see
how his companion fared.

Instead of climbing a tree, Karadur had loosed the rope
from around his waist and laid it in a coil before him. He
was chanting a spell over it. The upper end of the rope
reared up, like the head of an angry cobra. As it rose to
man-height, Karadur seized the tip in both hands and
wrapped his scrawny legs around it lower down. The rope
continued to rise until it almost stood on its tip, raising
the wizard three fathoms above the ground.

The dragon came bnskly to the foot of the tree that
Jonan had climbed. It placed its foreclaws against the trunk
and reared up, maneuvering its head among the branches
and shooting out a long forked tongue. Jorian climbed
higher to keep out of its reach.

The dragon backed down the trunk and turned its at-
tention to Karadur, bunched at the top of his rope. It cocked

136

THE UNBEHEADED KING

its head to one side and then to the other, it approached
the rope and gingerly touched it with the tip of its tongue.

lonan foresaw that even its small reptilian brain might
have the wit to seize the rope in its fanged jaws and shake
Karadur off his precarious perch. Without stopping to pon-
der, Jorian descended with reckless speed, ran to where
the lizard was still scrutinizing the rope, and drew his
sword as he ran. He aimed a cut at the dragon's tail, open-
ing a small gash in the thick, scaly hide.

With a hoarse bellow, the dragon swung its ponderous
head about to see what had stung it. Prepared for this,
)onan sheathed his sword and ran, the dragon lumbering
after.

Jorian did not run so fast as he could have, knowing
that if he tripped and fell, the dragon might gobble him
up before he regained his feet. So he ran cautiously, watch-
ing for roots and fallen branches. Behind him came the
dragon. From the sounds it made, Jorian thought it was
gaining; but he held to his course.

Jonan ran and ran. His heart pounded and his breath
came in gasps. At least the sounds of pursuit seemed to
be getting no closer.

Then, despite his care, he put his foot into a hole in
the turf, masked by dead leaves, and fell sprawling. He
scrambled up, expecting the fanged jaws to slam shut on
him. A glance showed him still several fathoms ahead of
his pursuer. He ran on.

When his laboring lungs seemed ready to burst, Jorian
became aware that the dragon, too, had slowed. He risked
a glance back. The monster was still coming, but more
and more slowly, like a clockwork toy running down.

Jorian slackened his own pace, taking care not to gain
so much on the dragon as to lose sight of it altogether. A
savant in Iraz had explained that cold-blooded organisms
like lizards had less efficient hearts than birds and mam-
mals and hence could not sustain such strenuous efforts
so long. And so it had proved.

The dragon stopped altogether, lowering its huge barrel
to the forest floor and lying still, save for the movements
of its tongue and rib cage. Breathing great gulps of air,

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

Jonan watched from a distance. After a while the lizard
rose to its stumpy legs and ambled off. Jonan feared it
might head back toward Karadur; but instead it set out at
right angles to its former direction. When it was out of
sight and hearing, Jonan returned to the place where he
had buned the crown.

Karadur still clung to his perch. "Is it safe to come
down?" he quavered.

"Aye, at least for the moment. Didn't you realize it
could seize your rope m its ]aws and )erk you back to

earth?"

"Oh, I thought of that. But whereas I find tree climbing
impossible at my age, and we had no ladders as in the
Grand Duke's park, I knew the rope would carry me up
on the strength of the spell." Karadur slid to the ground.
At his command, the rope fell in a limp heap at his feet.
He picked it up and wound it round and round his waist.
"My thanks for saving my life at the risk of your own.
Whatever your faults, my son, you are a true hero."

"Oh, rubbish!" said Jorian, looking embarrassed. "Had
I stopped to think, 1 should have been too fearful to do

aught."

"Jorian!" said Karadur sternly. "What have I told you
about deprecating yourself?"

"Sorry. I haven't run so hard since Estrildis's father
chased me with a scythe, the first tune I came over to his
farmstead to spark his daughter." Jorian picked up the
crown. "I feared lest the dragon swallow this. Then I should
have had to slay the beast, cut it open, and dig out the
crown, and I have no idea of how to do that. Let's be off,
ere another come along."

"I saw none when I met you in Mom before. Whence
come they?"

"That was a dragon of Paalua, from across the Western
Ocean. The Paaluans used to raid the coasts of other lands
to seize the folk to eat; for, albeit civilized in some ways,
they retained this unneighborly habit. Several generations
past, they landed on the coast of Ir, hoping to replenish
their larders with Novanan captives. They brought a num-

138

THE UNBEHEADED KING

ber of these lizards as mounts for cavalry, each dragon
bearing half a dozen soldiers. When the Paaluans were
crushed, some dragons found their way south to the
Marshes, where they survived and bred. There have been
rumors of them, but this is the first one I have seen."

By paying close heed to the map and the terrain, they
finally found their way back to the wagon despite the
confusion spell, which several times sent them astray.
Jonan wore the crown of Xylar as the easiest way to carry
it.

As they neared the glade where Jonan had left the cart,
the sound of voices )erked him alert. He stole forward,
motioning Karadur to keep behind him and be quiet.

As the cart came into view, forian saw figures moving.
Coming closer, he perceived that they comprised two rag-
gedly-clad men holding a struggling Margalit by the arms.
A third was pulling things out of the cart, only his lower
half could be seen. The horse and the mule placidly grazed.

Jorian slipped behind a tree as he eased his sword out
of its scabbard, lest a flash of sunlight on the steel alert
the brigands. Behind him, Karadur whispered an incan-
tation.

Jonan gathered his legs beneath him and hurled himself
toward the cart in a swift, silent charge. He had covered
half the distance when a robber saw him and shouted:

"Ho! Aldol, beware!"

The third robber, who was stripping the cart, whirled
around. He was smaller than fonan but lithe and quick.
Before Jorian, his sword extended before him, could get
home, Aldol had drawn his own sword, a double-curved
hunting falchion.

Going too fast to stop to fence, Jorian bore in. His point
plunged into Aldol's chest halfway to the hilt. At the same
time, the robber brought his short sword down on Jonan's
head in an overhand cut. The blade struck the crown of
Xylar with a clank.

A little staggered, Jonan tried to withdraw his own blade,
but it seemed to have become wedged in Aldol's spine. As

139

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Jonan pulled, the man struck again, forehand at the side
of Jonan's head Jonan threw up his left arm He felt the
blade bite through leather and cloth into the flesh Then
Aldol sagged as his knees gave way, dragging Jonan's sword
down with him

The robbers holding Margalit released her to reach tor
their weapons Still trying to free his sword, Jonan thought
this is the end, they will make ground steak of me ere I
can get my hanger free

But to Jonan's surpnse, a look of terror flickered in the
surviving robbers' faces, even as they drew Instead of at-
tacking, the pair turned and ran down the track toward
the main road until lost to sight

Jonan got his sword loose at last The robber he had
skewered moved and groaned Jonan put his point over
the man's heart and, with a vigorous thrust, quieted him

")onan'" cned Margalit, throwing her arms around him
"You came ]ust in time' They were boasting of how often
they would rape me ere cutting my throat "

"Take care, you'll get yourself bloody "

"Art wounded7"

"fust a scratch WhatbefelP"

He peeled off his )acket and shirt Aldol's falchion had
been stopped by the ulna, but there was a freshly bleeding
cut on his forearm, a finger's breadth long As Margalit
washed and bandaged the wound, she told her tale

"I was washing my face m the stream, when these stin-
kards pounced upon me The crossbow was in the wain,
so I had no chance to use it Methinks I gave one a black
eye " She glanced down and saw that her shirt had been
widely torn open She pulled the edges together "What
was that I saw, as you rushed upon the chief robber^ It
looked like three or four fonans, all running toward us
with bared blades and all wearing golden crowns 'Twas
a daunting sight "

"Just a little illusion spell," said Karadur "It sufficed
to put the other twain to flight Lady Margalit, if you keep
much company with Jonan, one thing is sure you will

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

never suffer boredom Life in his vicinage is one dire en-
dangerment after another "

"I know not why," said Jonan in plaintive tones "I am
a peaceable man, who asks for nought but to be suffered
to make an honest living "

"Perhaps," said Karadur, "you were born on the day
sacred to your Novanan war god—what is his name7"

"Heryx, but I was not born on his feast day " Jonan
took off the crown, in which Aldol's sword had made a
deep nick "This thing saved my brainpan, )ust as your
turban did I do not think the cleft will much impair its
value "

Margalit exclaimed over the crown's beauty, saying
"Jonan, are you sure you wish to give it up to get your
Estnidis back7"

"Of course I'm sure'" snorted Jonan "That's what I
said, is it not7" He looked down at the dead robber "It
behooves me to carry this rogue afar off, lest the corpse
draw beasts of prey He will soon stink in this heat any-
way "

"Jonan'" said Karadur "Ere you remove the body, should
we not report this manslaymg to someone in authonty7"

"To whom7" said Jonan

"Are we in Othomae or in Xyiar7"

Jonan shrugged "The boundary has never been sur-
veyed so far south When I was King of Xylar. I tried to
persuade the Othomaeans to set up a joint boundary com-
mission But they suspected some swindle and made so
many difficulties that I gave up m sooth this lieu has no
government and hence no law "

He relieved the body of its purse and weapons, hoisted
it to his shoulders, and carried it back up the trail for a
tenth of a league before dropping it and returning to the
wagon

Dunng the rest of the day and all of the next, the cart
was bedizened with bright paint and astrological symbols
Jonan shaved his face, and he and Margalit were turned a
deep brown all over

When it came Margalit's turn to be dyed, she said "Jor-

141

THE UNBEHEADED KING

ian, I pray you, go off and hunt something- I care not to
have you staring whilst I stand nude before Father Karadur
to be painted."

Jorian grinned. "If you insist; although he is a man,
too."

"At his age, I do not feel the same as I should about
you. You know wizards; he is probably centuries old."

"Folk exaggerate so!" said Karadur. "True, I may have
somewhat lengthened my span by austerities and occult
arts; but I have not yet reached a hundred."

"A wizard's life may or may not be centuries long,"
said Jorian. "But with so few amusements, it doubtless
seems so in any case. Congratulations, Doctor. Here you
are, at ninety-odd, looking like a limber lad of seventy!"

"Mock me not, saucy boy!" said Karadur. "Now take
your crossbow and shoot us a hare or something, whilst
I transform the lady."

The next morning they set out on the main road from
Othomae to Xylar. Karadur took the name of Mabahan-
dula, which he had used before. He wanted to give Jorian
an equally polysyllabic Mulvanian name, but Jorian balked,
saying: "It is all I can do to remember yours. Should we
not feel silly if, when asked my own name, I had forgotten
it?"

So Jorian became Sutru, while on Margalit was be-
stowed the name of Akshmi. Jorian wore a turban, a crim-
son jacket with many glass buttons, and baggy trousers
gathered at the ankles, all bought from Henvin the Cos-
turner. Margalit's Mulvanian garment was a broad, twenty-
cubit length of thin material, wound round and round and
over in a complicated way.

At a leisurely pace, they traveled through Xylar, stop-
ping to pick up a few pence by fortune telling, juggling,
and dancing. Margalit performed the dances that Jorian
and Karadur had taught her, clattering ringer cymbals while
Karadur tapped a little drum and Jorian tweedled on a flute.
His wound had become inflamed, making use of his left
arm painful.

Jorian played such musical phrases as he could remem-

142

THE UNBEHEADED KING

ber from Mulvan, repeating them over and over. Although
Karadur muttered that generations of Mulvanian musi-
cians would rise from their graves in fury at Jorian's treat-
ment of their art, the villagers found nothing amiss. As
Jorian pointed out, they had no standards of comparison.
With practice the trio improved. The result, if not au-
thentic Mulvanian art, was at least a good show.

On a day of heavy overcast, Karadur asked; "How far
to the next village, my son?"

Jorian frowned. "That should be Ganaref, as I remem-
ber. By my reckoning, 'twill take us till after dark. I could
get there sooner by spurring Cadwil, but Filoman shows
signs of lameness. He needs a new off-front shoe; the smith
in Othomae botched the job."

"Must we camp out again?" said Margalit-

"Belike not. The road to Castle Lore branches off near
here, and the castle would afford some shelter." He glanced
up. "An I mistake not, we may have rain."

Karadur said: "Didst tell me, Jorian, that Baron Lore's
castle was haunted?"

"So it was reputed; I never looked into the matter- I
pay little heed to such legends."

"Betimes you pay too little," said Karadur. Thunder
rumbled.

Margalit and Karadur broke into speech at the same
time. The Mulvanian urged that they turn off the road at
once and rig their tent; the girl demanded that they press
on to Ganaref. They were still arguing when Jorian said:

"Here, methinks, is the road to Castle Lore."

Margalit peered from the cart. "It is half overgrown.
Does none use it?"

"I suppose not. Here comes the rain!" A few large drops
struck the canvas top of the cart. "That settles it; we spend
the night in the castle. Hand me my cloak, somebody."
Cloaked, he turned his horse on to the weedy track.

"I lust not to meet my ancestor's ghost," said Margalit.

"Are you a descendant of Baron Lore?"

"Aye."

"Then, if ghost there be, it should be friendly. Come
along!"

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THE UNBEHEADED KING

Trotting through the weeds and avoiding occasional
small trees that had grown up in the road, they clopped
through the forest up a long, easy slope. The rain began
in earnest- Jorian was soon so wet that he decided it would
serve no useful purpose to crawl into the can.

At the top of the hill, the forest opened out into an area
of low, thin second growth, where a wide greensward
around the castle had been abandoned. Over the spindly
little trees, black against the clouds, loomed the broken
walls of the castle.

The front gate, fallen to pieces, admitted them to the
courtyard. The yard was not only overgrown with weeds
and a few saplings, which in their growth had pried up
the cobblestones, but was also dotted with man-made pits,
which the travelers had much ado to avoid.

"Treasure hunters have been here," said Jorian. "The
folk of Ganaref have been here, too. They have taken the
portcullis and a lot of the loose stones for their own uses.
Let's see if enough roof is intact to keep off the rain. Wait
whilst I search."

Jorian dismounted, handed the reins to Margalit, and
strode into the castle, whose doors sagged on broken hinges.
Inside, he had to climb over heaps of rubble where parts
of the roof had fallen in- He moved warily.

At last he emerged, saying: "I've found a chamber that
seems tight enough. Tie the animals to the statues around
the fountain and come on in."

Jorian pulled the blankets and other gear out of the cart
and carried the heaviest items in on his shoulders. He and
his companions were no sooner settled than the rain
stopped. The setting sun turned the undersides of the
breaking clouds to crimson and purple.

"Damn it!" said Jorian, sneezing. "I wish I could get
dry. Belike one of these fireplaces still draws. Luckily for
us, the chimney had been invented in Lore's time."

Jorian returned to the cart, got out the ax, and as twilight
fell reappeared with an armful of slender logs. "This stuff
is green and wet," he said. "You may have to use your fire
spell again, Doctor."

*   *

144

THE UNBEHEADED KING

They were still trying to light the fire when sounds
from outside brought Jorian up. "Visitors," he muttered,
rising and tiptoeing to the door. Returning, he whispered:

"Seven or eight, with horses; either robbers or treasure
hunters. I could not be sure in this light, but two looked
like those who ran from us near Moru. Margalit, would
you get my sword? It is in the chamber with the rest of
our gear."

"What good is one sword against eight rogues?" said
Karadur. "You might earn a hero's death, but what would
that avail us?"

"We must do something! They are standing about the
wain and the beasts. Soon they'll come seeking us. Even
if they fail to find us, they will take the cart and the
animals."

"Here is your sword," said Margalit.

Karadur said: "Methinks we shall do better to afright
them. Lady Margalit, pray fetch a blanket.... Here!" He
draped the blanket over Jorian's shoulders. "When they
enter, do you impersonate the baron's ghost. Come back
to the chamber. Margalit."

Soon, several armed men crowded into the crumbling
hall. They glanced nervously about, looking up at the
broken ceiling and the gallery that ran around the second
story.

Draped in his blanket, Jorian stepped down the bottom
Steps of the stairway. As he emerged, he became barely
visible in the deepening dark. In a sepulchrally deep voice,
he said: "Who disturbeth the rest of Baron Lore?"

As he spoke, he gripped the hilt of his sword beneath
the blanket. If they saw through his disguise, they would
not find him helpless. On the stair, they could not come
at him more than two at a time.

The seven looked around with a hiss of sudden breaths.
One uttered a low cry.

"Who violateth the demesne of Baron Lore?" moaned
Jorian, advancing a step.

The foremost man gave back. Another, turned and ran
for the door, crying "Fly!" He stumbled over a loose stone,
failing and scrambling up again.

145

THE UNBEHEADED KING

In a trice, the other six also ran, tripping and stumbling.
Jorian advanced by slow steps, in case one should look
back in. From without came sounds of men hastily
mounting, and a dwindling clatter of hooves. When Jorian
got to the door, the courtyard was empty but for his horse,
mule, and cart.

Jorian shrugged off the blanket and drew his forearm
across his sweat-pearled forehead. "Come on out! They
have fled!"

"I congratulate thee, young sir," said a voice behind
Jorian. Jorian's hair prickled, for the voice was neither
Karadur's hi^h, nasal whine nor Margalit's clear contralto.
Though faint and whispery, its tone was as deep as Jorian's
own. He whirled, half drawing his sword.

A few paces away hovered a shadowy, translucent shape.
It became the semitransparent figure of a short, stout,
elderly man, clad in garments as antiquated as his speech.

Jorian started violently; his tongue seemed stuck to the
roof of his mouth. At last he croaked: "Are—are you Baron
Lore? I m-mean, his ghost?"

"Aye, aye, in good sooth I am both. Thou hast most
featly put to flight yon gang of scroyles and saved thy
possessions. Had I not—"

The ghost broke off as Karadur and Margalit emerged
from the stair passage. Jorian heard Margalit's catch of
breath. Having somewhat regained his composure, Jorian
remembered his current persona. Assuming his Mulvanian
accent, he said:

"Exalted sir, these are traveling friends of me, dancer
Akshmi and Doctor Maha—Mabahandula of Mulvan. I
Sutru of Mulvan are. This Baron Lore is."

Staring in the gloom, Margalit managed a wordless
curtsey. The ghost smiled. "Thou seekest to cozen me to
believe ye be Mulvanians. But I have barkened to you since
ye entered my dilapidated manse, and I wot ye speak
Novarian as do those bom to the Twelve Nations. So I
take it ye be merely Novarians in garb oriental. Now
wherefore this imposture?"

Jorian sighed. "Well, I did but try. We are earning our
way as entertainers from afar. Permit me to present the

146

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Lady Margalit of Totens, who tells me she is a descendant
of yours; and Doctor Karadur, who is truly a Mulvanian."

The ghost bowed, saying: "Indeed, it reioiceth me to
meet a kinswoman. I cannot kiss thy hand, for my form
is insufficiently material, but I prithee, take the intention
for the deed. I thank Zevatas that, after all these years, he
hath allowed me visitors who flee not in terror from my
aspect. Know that I am a harmless phantom, who findeth
the lot of haunter a wearisome sameness. Will ye remain
the night, keeping this lonesome wraith company and
telling me somewhat of what hath befallen in the world
of late? Since my friend Alaunus died, I have had no mortal
copemate."

"Who was he?" asked lorian.

"Alaunus was an aged drunkard, who lived by begging
and promiscuous employment in Ganaref. Betimes he came
hither to down a bottle and gossip with me. He was the
only mortal for leagues hereabouts who feared me not."

"Why must you haunt this ruin, instead of going on to
the afterworld?" asked Jorian.

"'Tis a long and heavy-footed tale. Were it not wiser
to ignite your blaze and prepare your even's repast whilst
I do speak? I were a poor host, to keep you standing. Take
seats, an ye can find any that the tooth of time hath not
destroyed."

When Jorian at last got the fire going and Margalit had
spread out their modest supper, the baron resumed: "Now,
where was I? Ah, yea; I was to relate the tale of my being
bound to this place. Know ye that, in the last year of my
mortal life, a wonderworker, clept Aurelion, appeared at
the castle begging shelter. He was, he said, a wizard and
alchemist. My health being bad, with disturbances of the
heart, Aurelion said that, for a modest sum of gold, he
would transmute lead into gold of ten times the quantity.
Moreover, this alchemical gold was of such potency that,
reduced to powder, it would cure all my ills and enable
me to live on indefinitely.

"When my daughter and her husband came to visit, she
warned me that the wight was but a charlatan. But so
convincing was Aurelion's presence and so beguiling his

147

THE LJNBEHEADED KING

mien that I gave him the gold and commanded him to
proceed forthwith.

"For the greater part of a twelvemonth, the alchemist
dwelt in the castle, making, he said, his preparations. Ever
he required more money to procure rare ingredients, some
of which he want to Xylar City to obtain. He studied
ancient books he had with him. He practiced magical
operations in the tower of the castle that I had set aside
for his use.

"As time passed, I became impatient with Aurelion's
neverending flow of promises. At last I told him plain,
either produce his gold or get himself hence, ere he eat
me out of house and home. At last he announced that the
final operation would take place the following night.

"That he was a true wizard or sorcerer as well as a cheat
I have no doubt, the terms not being mutually exclusive.
He evoked an authentic demon to assist him- Hath any
of you witnessed a sorcerous evocation? Yea? Then I need
not recount all the tedious details of the pentacle, the
suffumigations, the chants, the gestures, and so forth.
Suffice it to say that this fellow did place a hundredweight
of bars of lead upon a table and performed a mighty
conjuration thereover. When the smoke and flames cleared
away, the bars did gleam with the aureate hue of authentic
gold.

"Delighted was I with this addition to, the familial
fortune and even more so with the prospective banishment
of the ills the flesh is heir to. Thinking but to test the
softness of the gold, I stepped forward as soon as the metal
had had time to cool, and thereupon did scratch one of
the bars with my dagger. Ye may conceive my dismay
when, at the touch of the steel, the bar instantly resumed
the glaucous tones of lead. Fearing the worst, I speedily
touched the other bars with my blade, and as 1 did so they
in turn did lead once more become.

" 'Hah, sirrah, what is this?' I shouted at Aurelion, who
in turn bawled at his demonic assistant; 'What's this, thou
noodlehead? Thou hast cheated us!' The demon roared
back: 'I did but follow thy commands, as I have done many

148

THE UNBEHEADED KING

a time and oft before! 'Tis not my fault that this mortal
detected thy cozening ere we had won clear!'

"Both wizard and demon screamed at each other until
the demon vanished with a flash of light and a clap of
thunder. I summoned the guards and bade them whip the
alchemist from the castle.

"As he was being led, bound with ropes whilst two lusty
guardsmen belabored his bare back till the blood flew, he
snarled back at me: 'Baron Lore, I curse thee with the curse
of Gwitardus! When thou diest, thy spirit shall be bound
to this castle until thou canst persuade a queen to scrub
thy castle floor!'

"That was the last I saw of Aurelion. A few months
later, my heart worsened, and one mom I arose to find I
was looking down upon myself lying stark and still upon
the bed. Then I wist that I had died in my sleep. I soon
discovered that the alchemist's curse had come to pass,
for my shade could not leave the castle.

"My daughter and her husband returned hither to carry
out the funeral and the execution of my will. They moved
into the castle for a time, since she was my principal heir.
But, alas, whenever I sought converse with any person,
that one became palsied with fright. My shade cannot be
seen by full daylight; but as ye do observe, it becometh
visible at night.

"Day or night, howsomever, none would linger to
befriend a lonely old phantom. By day, they would hear a
disembodied voice and run witlessly hither and yon, like
unto a yard of fowls'befrighted by the swoop of an eagle.
At night they would run at the mere sight of me, whether
or no I spake. Little by little the guards and other retainers
departed to seek employment elsewhere- At last my
daughter and son-in-law followed them forth, leaving me
alone.

"At first I was not altogether discontented, for my wife
had predeceased me, and I feared to encounter her in the
afterworld. This prospect pleased me not a whit, by which
hint ye may ]udge our state of marital felicity whilst she
did live."

149

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"You need not worry," said Karadur. "According to our
savants, one is born into the afterworld virtually without
memory of life in this one- Moreover, 1 am told that the
people in that world number in the thousands of millions,
wherefore the chances of your encountering your whilom
spouse were too small to consider."

"Thou relievest my mind," said the ghost. "But, lacking
a queen to scrub the floor, I know not how I shall ever
attain that plane. I am like to spend all eternity here,
whilst the castle crumbleth about me. Had I material hands,
I would, an all else failed, make the repairs myself to stay
the gaunt hand of decay. But as things be, what time doth
not disintegrate, the treasure seekers rend asunder."

As the others ate, the ghost launched into a long account
of his experiences in life: the year of a famine; his defense
of the castle against a free company, and notable hunts in
which he had taken pan. He seemed a good-natured person
of modest intelligence, limited experience, and somewhat
narrow interests. He and Margalit got into a long discussion
of genealogy, tracing her descent from him. There was
talk of "Third Cousin Gerion," "Great-Aunt Bria," and
other relatives whose names meant nothing to Jorian.

Then the garrulous ghost got off on the revolution in
Xylar, several generations back, which had deprived the
nobility of its feudal privileges. "A monstrous folly!" said
the ghost. The baron spent the next hour fulminating
against the injustice done his fellow lords and against the
iniquities of the Regency Council, the true ruler of the
nation ever since.

}onan found the baron a nice enough fellow but a terrible
bore. It took simultaneous yawns by the three travelers
to remind the baron that, unlike him, mortals did from
time to time require sleep.

150

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IX




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1 0 ADDRESS ROYALTY IN MULVANIAN," SAID KARADUR TO

Margalit, "one uses the politest form. Sentences whereof
the ruler is subject or object are put in the third person
singular subjunctive. For another member of the royal
family, or a priest in his official capacity, one uses instead
the third person singular indicative with the honorific suf-
fix -ye—"

"Doctor," said Jorian, "we need not waste Margalit's
time on these distinctions. Imprimus, we shan't perform
before royalty; secundus, nobody in Xylar would know
the difference anyway. Teach her the form used between
equals and let it go at that."

"But, my son, if she is to impersonate a Mulvanian, she
must not speak my beautiful mother tongue brokenly!"

"Jorian is right," said Margalit. "I find these lessons
hard enough without more complications than are abso-
lutely needed."

Karadur sighed. "Very well. Lady Margalit, suffer me
to explain the significance of nasal vowels...."

151

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"You had better compress your lessons," said Jorian.
"Tomorrow we shall raise Xylar City. Meseems she al-
ready knows the sentences she will most need, such as /!
do not understand Novarian' and 'No thank you; my body
is not for sale.'"

"Where are we stopping?" asked Margalit.
"Kerin and I have arranged to meet at the Fox and Rab-
bit."

The tavemer, Sovar, looked suspiciously at the three
exotic foreigners, but a deposit of a golden Xylarian lion
quieted his fears. He gave them two rooms, a single for
Margalit and a larger one for the two men. As they settled
it, Jorian said to Karadur: "Doctor, pray ask our host if
Synelius the Apothecary is still in business."

"Why me?"

"Because I am fain to keep out of sight. 1 patronized
Synelius when I was king. If I ask after him and go to his
shop, someone may put two and two together despite the
costume and the bogus accent."

"What would you with this Synelius?"

"I wish some salve for this cut. My arm is still sore,
and I want you to make the purchase."

"Ah, my old bones!" sighed Karadur, but he went. Later,
when Jorian was applying the salve, Sovar knocked, say-
ing: "A gentleman below asks after a party of Mulvanians.
Be you they?"

"I will see," said Jorian. Below, he found his brother
Kerin. Resisting an impulse to throw himself into a bear
hug with his brother, Jorian clasped his hands in the Mul-
vanian manner and bowed low, murmuring: "Sutru of
Mulvan, at your service. What can this unworthy one do
for noble sir?" In a whisper he added: "Keep your voice
down!"

Kerin, taking in his brother's costume and manner,
compressed his lips in an effort not to burst into laughter.
He said: "Ah, I understand. How about supper?"

"Nay; a Mulvanian cannot eat with a foreigner without
pollution."

152

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"I thought you told me," murmured Kerin, "you at-
tended a party given by the Mulvanian emperor?"

"I did; but that was a dance, not a banquet. All they
served was fruit juice, and I suppose that counts not."
Raising his voice and resuming his accent, Jorian contin-
ued: "But do you chew by noble self, and then we will
forgather in my humble quarters."

So Kerin ate by himself, while the pretended Mulvan-
ians, eating their own supper, ostentatiously ignored him.
Later, when only a few remained in the common room
and those absorbed in their own affairs, Jorian caught Ker-
in's eye, winked, and gave a slight jerk of his head. After
Jorian had disappeared into his room, Kerin rose and fol-
lowed him up the stairs. In the room, they hugged and
pounded each other's backs, grinning.

"Well?" said Jorian. "Can Thevatas deliver her?"

"So he claims. Have you it1"

"Aye; 'tis in yon bag atop my soiled garments. You can
feel it through the cloth. When could he fetch her?"

Kerin shrugged. "Belike tomorrow even?"

"Make it earlier, at least an hour ere sunset. I am not
lief to try to talk my way out of the city after the gates
are closed for the night. When the palace finds she is gone,
they'll swarm out like hornets."

As the sun approached the horizon, an increasingly ner-
vous Jorian repeatedly stepped out of the Fox and Rabbit
to look at the sky, or to walk down the street to glance
at the water clock in the window of Vortiper and Jeweller.

At last, a worried-looking Kerin hastened up, murmur-
ing: "Thevatas said he would be delayed."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you. Let us go inside. I'll wait in the common
room, drinking beer; you shall return to your chamber.
We would not make a public scene of this reunion."

"That's sense," said Jorian. "When did he say he'd be
late?"

"I was to meet him in the Square of Psaan and guide

153

THE UNBEHEADED KING

him hither, since I had not told him where you were stay-
ing When he appeared not, I cast about the nearby streets,
thinking there might have been a misunderstanding. I met
him coming out of the apothecary's shop. When I asked
about this, he said she had a headache and besought him
to fetch her one of Synehus's simples. Hence they would
be late."

Heart pounding, jorian returned to his room, where he
found Karadur and Margalit looking questions. "There's
been a delay," he said shortly.

"But, my son," said Karadur, "darkness falls without,
and the gates will close. How then shall we issue forth?"

"I wish I knew, too. Belike I can persuade or bribe the
officer of the gate watch to open for us."

"Could we climb down the Doctor's magical rope from
the city wall, as they do in romances?" asked Margalit.

"We could, but that would mean leaving the cart and
the animals. Afoot, we should soon be run to earth."

"Were it not wiser to remain the night?" said Karadur.
"In the mom, those who pass through the gates are not
questioned."

"It would be, could we count upon Estrildis's disap-
pearance to remain undiscovered. But someone is sure to
sound the alarum. Then every guard, soldier, spy, and flun-
key in Xylar will be out searching. They'll poke into every
dog kennel and henhouse."

Karadur muttered, "We had better pray that this prox-
enary clerk and your Queen are stopped from leaving the
palace. An they come hither, we are undone."

Jonan asked; "Could you send us to the afterworld, as
you did me three years since?"

"Nay. That spell was one of the mightiest whereof I
have command. It required extraordinary preparations,
which took months. Ah well, they say beheading is one
of the least painful forms of execution."

"Perhaps; but I have never heard a beheadee's side of
the story."

"Anyway," said Karadur, "if they come seeking us, I
will see what my illusion spells can accomplish."

154

THE UNBEHEADEU KING

"I can return to the palace, saying you snatched me
thence, and I have only now escaped your captivity and
made my way back to Xylar," Margalit suggested.

"That would not do," said Jonan. "Judge Grallon knows
that you and I were on friendly terms in Othomae, not
captor and captive. Mark you, if I must lose my head, it
does not follow that you should lose yours. I can give the
twain of you the names of other inns, not of the highest
repute, where you will be taken in without questions. If
men from the government question you, say you had no
idea of who I really was."

"What about you?" said Margalit "Why hide you not
likewise?"

"I might; but let us first see whether Thevatas come
hither, with or without Estnidis. Then we can better de-
cide."

They went down to supper. Although Sovar's food was
excellent, Jorian left half his repast uneaten. Kenn had
returned to the Square of Psaan to await Thevatas. When
one of Sovar's patrons became drunk and offensive, Jonan
was tempted to beat the man up and pitch him out. Such
was the tension within him that he felt he would burst if
he could not discharge it in some violent action. With
effort he controlled himself, and Sovar ejected the unruly
patron.

Afterward they went back to the large room and sat
gloomily, composing plan after plan to save their skins.
They tried out various schemes, according to whether
Thevatas came, with or without Estnidis, or did not come,
or others came to arrest Jonan.

At last came a light tap on the door and Kenn's low
voice: "Here they are!"

jonan leaped up, overturning his chair, and threw open
the door. Three stood in the door frame; the tall, hand-
some, youthful Kerin; a small, paunchy man of middle
age; and a short woman in a hooded cloak, which fell to
her ankles and hid her features-

"Come m!" whispered jorian. He closed the door be-
hind them and turned.

155

THE UN BEHEADED KING

"Have you it1' said the small man

"Aye Is this she1 Jonan pulled back the hood Estnl-
dis's blond hair and round featured face came into view
She seemed to stare unseeingly

"Where is it7" demanded Thevatas "I must begone, to
establish my alibi "

Jonan dumped the contents of the bag out on the bed
He extracted the crown from the soiled clothing and handed
it to Thevatas, who turned it over, hefted it, and put it
back in its bag

"Good'" muttered the clerk, turning to go

"One moment'" said Jonan "What mean you to do7
Melt it down for bullion7"

"Nay, I have grander plans " The little man giggled
"Next time you visit Xylar, you shall find me a man of
authority, perchance a member of the Regency Council
Meanwhile, keep your mouths shut, and I'll do likewise
Farewell'"

The clerk scuttled out and was gone Jonan turned to
Estnidis "Darling'"

She turned her head slowly toward him but seemed
unable to focus her eyes

"What ails you, beloved7" Jonan asked

She did not reply Karadur said "Your woman seems
under some spell or drug Smell her breath'"

Jonan sniffed "There is something strange here   How
can we bnng her round7"

Margaht grasped the girl by the shoulders and gave her
a slight shake "My lady' Your Majesty' Estnidis' Know
you me not7"

"I have had some experience," said Karadur "Suffer me
to try "

He went to the washstand and dipped a comer of the
towel m the water Then he faced Estnidis and began slap-
ping her cheeks gently with the wet towel, repeating her
name

(onan untied the drawstring at Estnidis's throat and
took off the enveloping cloak His first impression was
that his favorite wife had gamed weight in the three years
since they had parted Then he looked more closely

156

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Margalit'" he said "Tell me honestly Is she preg-
nant7"

Margaht stared at the floor "Aye, she is "

"Did you know of this when the demon bore you of?"

"I had a strong suspicion She had missed a penod "

"When is the child due?"

"Methmks in a month or two "

"I cannot be the father Who is7"

"I had liefer she told you," said Margalit

Jonan turned back to Estnidis, who seemed to be com-
ing round Staring wide-eyed, she looked from one to the
Other, murmuring "Where am I7" Then she shneked
"Margalit' Do I dream7"

"Nay, dear one, it is I/' replied Margalit

"But what has made you so brown, like a nomad of
Fedirun7 Hast been lying all day in the sun7"

Jonan said "Estnidis, dear'"

She stared at him in puzzlement "Are you truly Jonan7
And all brown, too7"

Jonan said "You are at the Fox and Rabbit, in Xylar
City We came to fetch you away But I see that things
have changed "

For a long moment she stared wordlessly Then she
glanced down at her belly "Oh, Jonan, I am so sony' I
could not help it "

"Who is he7"

"A young man of noble family, attached to the Re-
gency "

"His name7"

"I—I won't tell You would slay him, and 11-1 love him "
She began to weep

Jonan picked up the chair he had upset and sat down
in it, burying his face m his hands Then he said "Sit
down, the rest of you We must think what to do "

Karadur said "It is a shame we let that clerk make off
with the crown ere we had looked into this matter "

"Spilt milk," said Jonan "He'll be back at the palace
by now, not to be dug out save by a siege But he'd better
not meet me on a dark night Estnidis, did you wish to
wed this other wight7"

157

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Aye; but the Regency would never dissolve my mar-
riage to you whilst they had hope of luring you back to
cut off your head."

Margalit asked: "Jorian, if you knew the father, would
you kill him?"

Jorian heaved a deep sigh. "That was the first thought
that entered my mind. But then...."

"And the second?"

"Then reason took hold. If I slew him, what should I
have but a wife mourning her slain lover and rearing an
infant not mine? I thought this would be the most loving
reunion of history, but as things be.... Why did you not
tell me ere this?"

Margalit spread her hands. "I could not foresee the out-
come."

"How mean you?"

"Well, you might have died, or Estrildis might have
died, or young Sir — the youth in question might have
died. Then what good would it have done to tell you, save
to make you unhappier than you need be? Besides, my
first loyalty belonged to her. I did drop a hint or two."

"So you did. Did they companion often, those twain?"

"During the past year, he came to visit daily. After a
while she asked me to leave them in privacy during these
visits."

Jorian turned to Estrildis- "My dear, what has this young
man that so turned your head?"

"Oh, he is handsome and brave and gallant, like a knight
from feudal times. And he comes of noble family."

"You mean, like a knight as described in romances. We
still have knights in Othomae. Some are not bad fellows;

but others are mere bullies and lechers, who'll cut a com-
moner down over a fancied slight. And I am homely and
hardworking and practical, and my forebears, like yours,
were farmers and tradesmen. But tell me why, when Thev-
atas brought you hither, you acted drugged?"

"Because I had been. That rascal drugged me."

"How?"

"This afternoon he came, saying he could smuggle me
out of the palace so I could refoin my husband. But I re-

158

THE UNBEHEADED KING

fused. Much as I esteem you, Jonan, my heart belongs
to—to the other."

"What then?"

"Thevatas went away. After supper he came back, say-
ing he had obtained a pot of rare tea from the Kuromon
Empire. He carried the pot wrapped in a towel to keep it
warm and invited me to join him.vl thought it tasted strange,
and the next thing I knew, I was in such a daze that I
knew not what I did. I remember Thevatas's wrapping me
in that peasantry cloak and guiding me out, telling the
guards I was a light Icman of his."

Kerin said; "That explains what Thevatas was doing at
the apothecary's."

Jorian sat silently as the others watched. Their expres-
sions mingled curiosity, expectancy, and a trace of fear.
At last he said:

'T see no way out of this tangle but to cut our losses
and run. Kerin can take Estrildis back to the palace gate
and leave her there. She can make up her own taradiddle
of having walked out by a ruse, to wander the city unes-
cor—"

A sharp knock interrupted. Jorian picked up his scab-
barded sword from where it leaned in a comer, drew the
blade, and faced the door, muttering:

"If that's the Regency's bully-rooks, they shan't take
me alive. Stand back, all! Come in, whoever you are! It is
not bolted."

A slim, strikingly handsome man, several years younger
than Jorian, stood in the doorway. At the sight of Jorian's
blade, he said: "Ha!" and reached for his own hUt.

"Corineus!" cried Estrildis.

Jorian backed a step. "Another mystery explained. Well,
come on in and close the door! Stand not there like a
ninny!"

The young man drew with a wheep. He entered, saying:

"I perceive you wish to slay me to wipe the stain from
your honor. So, have at you!" He took the guard position.

"You mistake me," said Jorian. "I know about you and
my wife, but I do not wish to cause unnecessary sorrow

159

THE UNBEHEADED KING

or to leave the child fatherless. Neither do I wish the task
of rearing it. So take her and it; they are yours."

Sir Corineus frowned in puzzlement. "Did I hear you
aright? Methought Jorian was brave, not an arrant cow-
ard."

"My bravery has nought to do with it. If we fight, either
I shall slay you, or you will kill me-1 am not eager to be
slain just yet; and as for slaying you, what would that
profit me? What could 1 get for your carcass? Your hide
were of little value as leather, and we don't eat our fallen
foes as in Paalua."

"You have no knightly sense of honor! You sound like
a mere tradesman, a cold, scheming, money-grubber!"

Jorian shrugged. "Suit yourself. If you attack me, I'll
give a good account of myself; but I shan't be sorry if you
refrain."

"It is plain that you are no gentleman, or you would
have demanded instant satisfaction when I implied you
were a coward."

"My dear boy, you are living in the past! Those ideas
have been obsolete in Xylar for a century."

"To you, belike, but not to me. How much must I insult
you ere you fight me?"

"You try my patience, young man, but I'll essay to be
reasonable. Wherefore are you so avid to fight?"

"Because, so long as you live, I cannot wed Estrildis.
So one of us must die. Have at you again!" And Corineus
rushed forward, aiming a slash at Jorian.

In an instant they were furiously hacking and thrusting.
Sparks flew from the flickering blades. The others crowded
against the far wall to keep out of harm's way.

Jorian found that Corineus was a fair but not a first-
class fencer. He beat off the young man's frenzied attacks
until Corineus, panting and sweating, began to flag. Then
jorian made a quick feint and a slash at the top of Cori-
neus's head. The blade bit into the youth's scalp, but the
blow was not hard enough to disable him. Corineus backed
off to wipe from his forehead the trickle of blood that ran
down from the scalp wound.

Jorian was not yet breathing hard. Presently Corineus

160

THE UNBEHEADED KING

came on again, more slowly and carefully. He got his point
into the sleeve of Jorian's shirt, opening a rip.

"Another sewing job, Margalit." said Jorian. Again he
feinted, doubled, and brought his blade down on Cori-
neus's pate. Corineus backed off, wiping a fresh flow of
blood from his scalp. His face was becoming smeared with
blood.

They fenced on indecisively until both simultaneously
attempted an advance-thrust and found themselves in a
corpse corps, with blades crossing near the hilts. For an
instant they struggled frozen in position, each trying to
push the other off balance.

By sheer strength, Jorian forced the other blade up and
back, until he could bring his own blade down on Cori-
neus's mangled scalp again. He sawed two more gashes in
the flesh. Corineus staggered back and disengaged, fran-
tically wiping his face with his free hand.

It was no use. Blinded by the flow of blood, Corineus
stood helplessly, pawing at his face. Jorian whacked his
sword hand with the flat of his blade. Corineus's sword
clattered to the floor. Jorian put a toe beneath it, tossed
it into the air, and caught it.

A knock sounded, and Sovar's voice said; "Is all well
within, gentlemen?"

"All's well," replied Jorian. "We did but practice." He
turned to the others. "See if you can bandage this poor
fellow. Sit down, Corineus."

"Where? I cannot see."

Jorian pushed Corineus into a chair. The youth said:

"You have made a mock of me! My honor is in ruins' I
must seek an honorable death to atone for my disgrace."

"Oh, for the gods' sake!" snorted Jorian. "Play the man
for once and not the silly child!"

"What would you of me?"

"Tell me more of this affair. How did you find us here?"

"I saw Thevatas leaving the palace with Estrildis, whom
I knew despite that cloak. The eye of true love sees through
all disguises. 1 followed until the clerk entered the inn. I
waited without, trying to decide whether to alert the Re-
gency Council or to cope with the matter myself. After

161

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Thevatas emerged and hastened furtively away, I decided
it were a more honorable and knightly course to essay the
rescue myself. So here I am."

"Lucky for us, young man," said Jorian- "I cannot fight
the whole gamson single-handed. Now then, you claim
the title of 'Sir.' Why is that?"

Corineus nursed the hand that lorian had struck, on
which an angry bruise was rising. "As you surely know,
it is a title accorded sons of a hereditary baron, since we
have no true orders of knighthood any longer. My sire,
Lord Holdar, is titular baron of Maesbol."

"I know of that family. What do you for a living?"
"I am undersecretary in the foreign department."
"Maesbol is close to the borders of Ir, is it not?"
"Aye."

"Does your father dwell (hereabouts?"
"Aye, we still have a small castle and enough land to
support it, albeit we are much fallen from our former es-
tate- No longer can we compel hinds to swink in our fields
as their feudal duty, but must hire these oafs for real money,
like any untitled squire."

"Tsk. tsk," said ^orian. "Having worked as a hind, I
sympathize with the oafs. But do you love Estnidis enough
to give up your post in the govenment?"
"Aye! What true knight would not—"
lorian held up a hand. "Has your father influence with
the syndics of Ir?"

Corineus looked puzzled. "Aye, now that you mention
it. Those money-grubbers buy our surplus crops. Why?"

"Why not take Estrildis fo Ir and, with some hidden
influence from your father, get your marital status sorted
out? When things quiet down and you and she are legally
pined—at least under Inan law—you can slip back to
your father's estate and work for him. If he makes diffi-
culties, the sight of an infant grandchild should soften
him."

"But what of you, King Jorian?"

Jorian gnnned. "No titles, pray. As you said, I am a
tradesman at heart. I shall manage, albeit differently from
your way."

162

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Conneus shook his head, muttering: "I do not under-
stand this modem world. In feudal times, every man knew
his place and what he must do to defend his honor. In our
bout just now, you could have slain me six times over; I
knew it almost as soon as we engaged. Yet you refrained,
as though I were nought but a bad-tempered child."

"To slay you once would have been sufficient; and had
I been full of your ancient notions of honor, 1 had done
just that. But let us be practical. Have you means of reach-
ing Ir? Estnidis is in no condition to nde horseback."

Corineus pondered. "My friend Vercassus has a gig,
which he has lent me in times past. Belike I can borrow
it. I keep my horse in Vercassus's stable, and my groom
Gwithion sleeps in the servants' quarters there. I can take
both with me to Maesbol, and my man can return the gig
to Vercassus. If Cwithion have not gone out on a round
of the mughouses, we should be ready to fly within the
hour."

"How will you get out of the city at night?"

"The captain of the watch at the North Gate owes me
a gambling debt. Now, if you will excuse me whilst I
return to the palace for my belongings—"

"Better not take time for that. Belongings can be re-
placed, but your head cannot. And pray take Estrildis to
your friend's house forthwith, for our safety here."

Corineus seemed inclined to argue, but Jonan said
firmly: "Nay, out you go, the twain of you- As the little
clerk said, keep your mouths shut and we'll keep ours
likewise. Good-bye, Estrildis."

She began to weep again. "I know not what to say—it
is awkward—you are a true gentleman despite what he
said—"

"Na, na, forget all that and get tha hence," said Jorian,
reverting to the rustic Kortolian dialect of his boyhood.
"Partings, like executions, were best done speedily; but a
shall remember ma bonny little farm lassie."

Wrapped in the hooded cloak, Estnidis went out snif-
fling. Conneus shepherded her, treating her as if she were
a fragile glass vase.

163

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Whew'" Jonan drew his sleeve across his forehead
"Let us hope they get safely away ere the palace come
looking for them Think you not that we need a draft of
Sovar's best? All but Father Karadur, whose principles for-
bid "

"I'll fetch the wine," said Kenn

"Methmks even I could bend my principles a tnfle,"
said Karadur "This is a change from how you formerly
spoke, Jonan, of skewering any villain who so much has
made eyes at your lass "

"That's your doing," said Jonan "I remembered your
lecture, when we were flying over the Lograms So I've
tried in accordance therewith to take the long view of what
were best for all concerned Conneus would call that un-
knightly, but happily I have no kmghtly code to live up
to The lad may be handsome and brave and gallant, but
he is also a damned fool."

Margalit said "That's the main reason I insisted on
coming on this ^oumey "

"How mean you7" said Jonan

"Methought that, when you learned of her infidelity,
you might slay her in your rage, and I thought it my duty
to protect her Thank Zevatas I did not have to throw
myself betwixt her and your steel'"

For the next hour they sat in the large bedchamber,
drinking from the bottle that Kenn had brought and talk-
ing plans Then, bottle empty. Kerm spoke of returning to
his quarters and Margalit, of retiring to her chamber They
were bidding good night when a noise from below caught
their attention There were footfalls of many men, a rum-
ble of speech, and a clank of weapons

Kenn looked out, then softly closed the door "It's a
squad of the Royals, looking for her.' he said "They will
search every digit of this place, their officer says What
now?"

"Let me think," said Jonan "If we try to run for it—
nay, and if they look us over closely, they may see that
Margalit and I are disguised   1 know one tnck that might
throw them off Kenn and Karadur, get under the bed'
Margalit, take off your clothes and get into the bed'"

164

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"What'" she cried "Art mad? Why—"

"just do it' I'll explain anon " As he spoke, Jonan peeled
off his own garments "Hasten, curse it' Fear not tor your
virtue, this is but a charade to cozen them Yare'"

"Every last stitch7" quavered Margalit, unwinding the
voluminous Mulvanian garment.

"Every stitch'" Standing naked, Jonan waited until
Margalit was under the blanket, while his brother and
Mulvanian were out of sight beneath the bed Then he
blew out the lamp and slid under the blanket Below, Kenn
grunted as Jonan's weight pressed the bed down upon him
"Quiet'" whispered (onan, sliding an arm around Mar-
galit, who stiffened at his touch "Let me do the talking "

The tramping and voices outside went on and on At
last the door burst open Turning his head, Jonan made
out the silhouette of two Royal Guardsmen in the door-
way Half sitting up, still holding Margalit closely, he
roared

"Heryx smite you with emerods' Cannot a man make
love to his own lawful wife in privacy7 Have you no de-
cency7 Get out'"

"I beg your pardon, sir," said a voice The door closed,
and the trampings died away When all sounds of the vis-
itations ended, Jonan got out of bed, opened the door a
crack to peek out, and relit the lamp

"They've gone," he said, pulling on his trousers

Margalit held the Mulvanian garment against her front
"May I go now7"

"Aye, my dear If any wight besmirch your fair name
as a result of this play acting, Kenn and the Doctor can
swear I took no liberties They'd have known "

"But you thought of those liberties I could tell " She
giggled "After traveling about with you, Jonan, I misdoubt
I have any fair name left to preserve "

165

x

'-rir TTID mm^ iii\JT'"mni ir^n*
1 Hh HHUIN 1 JbU U-i>

1VAARGAUT, HANDLING FILOMAN'S REINS, SAID: "fORIAN, FOR

one whose heart has just been broken by his love's faith-
lessness, you seem unwontedly cheerful."

lorian, riding Cadwil beside the cart, bad been singing
an air from The Good Ship Petticoat, by Galliben and
Silfero:

"Oh, I am a pirate captain bold;

I fill my vessel with jewels and gold
And slaughter my captives, young and old,
To rule the raging sea, oh!"

He gave Margalit a searching look, saying: "You are
right, now that I bethink me. It was a shock, of course.
But later, when I pondered the matter, along with my grief,
disappointment, and resentment, I realized there was an
element of relief."

"Meaning you loved her not so desperately as you have
been alleging?"

"Well, three years is a long separation for one so young

166

THE UNBEHEADED KING

and lusty as Estrildis. True. I loved her—I still do in a
way—and had she remained true, I would have tried to
be a loving, faithful husband. When she did not, I found
the break less painful than I might have expected. Mean
you to return to your post at the Academy?"

"Aye, what else? There are few positions as a queen's
lady-in-waiting open."

They had been traveling southeasterly, wasting no time
but not moving so hurriedly as to arouse suspicion. Once
a squadron of horse caught up with them and searched
them. But Jorian's Mulvanian accent, together with the
lack of any trace of Estrildis, convinced the troopers that
these were merely harmless foreigners. They galloped on.

jorian said: "We shall soon come to the road to Castle
Lore- Let's spend the night there. Baron Lore is not a bad
sort as ghosts go, and we shall have a roof over our heads."

When neither of his companions objected, ^orian led
the cart up the long, overgrown slope to the ruined castle-
Margalit called: "^orian! Had we not better station the cart
and the beasts behind the castle, instead of in the court-
yard? They were less visible."

"That's my wise woman! How have I managed without
you all these years?"

"Welcome, my friends," said Baron Lore's ghost, as
darkness fell and Margalit set out their supper in the main
hall- "Let me think. The large man, albeit clad as a Mul-
vanian, saith he be Nikko of Kortoli. The lady is Margalit
of Totens; and—I forget thy name, reverend sir. If thou
hast noted a failure of memory with advancing age, thou
mayst imagine how much worse it be for me."

"He is Doctor Karadur," said ^orian.

"Now, this doth excite mine interest," said the ghost.
"Ye see, yesternight a squadron of cavalry made free with
my demesne, and I overheard their talk. Several troopers
seemed not to know what their mission portended, having
been mere boys when these events began. So their officer
related the particulars.

"It transpired that they sought one Estrildis, Queen of
Xylar, who hath vanished. The burthen was that she had

167

THE UNBEHEADED KING

been abducted by her husband, the fugitive King Jonan,
who disappeared three years since He fled, they said, to
escape beheading at the ceremony that taketh place every
lustrum—or would, had not Jonan's desertion thrown the
calendar into confusion "

"We heard something of that," said Jonan

"Ah, but that was not all According to this officer, this
^onan also passeth under the name of Nikko of Kortoli,
to which name thou didst admit when I confronted thee
with proof thou wert no true Mulvaman Now, were that
not a coincidence singular7 And furthermore, this officer
spake of one Margaht of Totens, once lady-in-waitmg to
Queen Estrildis, who vanished last winter—some say ear-
ned off by a demon, but the officer believed not that tale—
and hath not been seen since One such coincidence of
names were within the realm of the possible, but two'
That passeth all bounds of rational belief "

Jonan sighed "Very well, I confess—again Means this
that you will set the next group of searchers on our trail;"

"Nay, why should I7 But what in sooth hath befallen
the Queen7 I see her not with thee "

"She has gone off in another direction, with one who,
she hopes, will become her new husband "

The ghost shook its transparent head "I regret that she
came not with thee Then ye could set me free from this
curse "

"You mean, if Estnidis would scrub the floor7"

"Yea, verily Be ye still wedded, thou and she7"

"Legally, I believe so She hopes to arrange a divorce in
another state, since Xylar won't give her one "

The ghost frowned, chin in hand "A new thought doth
begin to blossom in my brainpan, or whatever phantoms
have in lieu thereof In life I was the local magistrate, and
none hath ever canceled my appointment 1 can grant thee
a divorce Her refusal to accompany thee maketh her guilty
of desertion "

"Is a legal act by a ghost valid?"

"I misdoubt the point hath ever come before thy high
courts But let us assume it so be Then thou couidst wed
the Lady Margaht here Since thou art King, thy consort

168

THE UNBEHEADED KING

is Queen So if she scrub my floor—not all of it, I do assure
thee—I were mstamer enlarged from this durance tedi
ous"

Jonan and Margalit stared at each other "Well'" said
Jonan at last "That's an interesting suggestion We should
need time to consider it "

Margaht said nothing The baron said "All the time ye
wish, gentles I would not coerce you into hasty acture
But think once I am suffered to depart for my next life,
ye need no more worry about my betraying you to the
Xylanans' A favor menteth a return favor "

"Let's sleep on it," said Jonan

Next morning, Jonan said "Margalit, let's take a walk
and see how our beasts tare "

When they had found the horse and the mule thriving,
)onan looked at Margalit "Well7"

"Well, what?" she replied

"You know The baron's proposal that you and I wed "

"Mean you that you do not altogether trust this ghost!
That, if we yield not to his urgings, his resolution not to
betray us might weaken7 He hinted as much "

"That was a consideration, but it is not what I had in
mind "

"What had you in mind7"

Jonan kicked a stone from the path "I had not meant
to speak thus but three days after parting from Estrildis
I have been drawn to you ever since the demon fetched
you to Abacarus's sanctuary You have all I should wish
for in a life's companion, including the good sense that I,
alas, sometimes lack When I see you dance m your Mul
vaman guise, 'tis all I can do not to leap up and bear you
off

"Ere the break with Estrildis, I told myself Jonan, you
are a faithful husband who'll do aught to recover his be
loved wife What you feel for Margalit is mere lust But
now I cannot deny that I am in love with you I had meant,
after a decent interval, to press my suit, but the baron has
forced my hand

"True, this journey has made a beggar of me, since

169

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Thevatas got away with the crown. But I have always been
able to earn a living in one way or another."

"How legal would such a marriage be?" she asked- "I
have heard of taking a ghost's deposition in a lawsuit, but
never of one's acting as magistrate. Even if the marriage
were legal, a royal divorce might not be, since the Regency
claims authority in such matters."

"Well," said Jorian, "if I be King, then by Xylarian law
I am entitled to five wives. So I cannot be faulted tor
bigamy whatever Estrildis's status. At least, that is, in
Xylar, whither I hope never to return. How think you?"

"Jorian, promise me one thing."

"Aye?"

"That as soon as we cross into Othomae—assuming
they do not catch us—you will file similar actions for
divorce and marriage under Othomaean law, so that no
awkward questions shall arise."

"Mean you that your answer be 'yea'?"

"Aye, I do so mean. Well?"

"I promise. And back in Kortoh I'll do it again!"

Told of the betrothal, Karadur said: "My felicitations
on you twain. But it does seem a pity that all your arduous
efforts, over the last three years, to regain your spouse
should come to nought."

"Rubbish, old man!" snapped Jorian. "My efforts have
given me an infinitude of stories to tell. And without these
attempts, I should never have known Margaiit. So from
adversity has come treasure."

"As to that, we shall judge ten years hence."

"No doubt, but I can't wait until we are all dead ere
making up my mind. Let's to it."

Under Baron Lore's directions, Jorian found some yel-
lowing papers in the desk in the baron's cabinet. With the
ghost invisibly dictating, Jorian wrote legal phrases on
them. He signed the first, and both he and Margaiit signed
the second. The problem was getting the baron to sign,
since the ghost was not material enough to grasp Jorian's
quill pen. At last, by concentrating his psychic force, the
ghost made a small scorch mark on each of the sheets

170

THE UNBEHEADED KING

where his signature would have appeared, Jorian, Margaiit,
and Karadur signed their names around the blackened spots
as witnesses to Baron Lore's mark.

"Hail! "said the disembodied voice. "Now stand ye before

me-

"Where is that?" asked Jorian.

"Oh, pox! Anywhere will do. Stand side by side and
clasp hands. Dost thou, Jorian-..."

The ceremony was soon over. The ghost said: "Now,
sir and madam, I pray you to carry out your side of the
bargain. Goodwife Margatit, thou shalt find a bucket in
the kitchen, and the well still holdeth water. For a rag,
thou must needs employ something from thine own pos-
sessions, for the looters have swept the castle clean of
aught of that sort."

They made a rag by cutting a piece off the tail of Jorian's
older shirt. Margaiit got down on her knees and scrubbed.
After a few moments, the invisible ghost said:

"That will suffice, my dear. The curse is lifted; I do
perceive the walls of the castle fading from view.

"Oh, ere I depart, one small matter. The treasure hunt-
ers have poked and pried all over my poor castle. If ye
covet the small hoard they sought but never found, pry
out a stone to the right of the main fireplace: third course
from the bottom, second stone from the left. 'Tis of no
use to me. And now fare ye well! I am...." The voice faded
to silence.

Jorian pried the stone loose, disclosing a hollow con-
taining a bag of coin. When counted, the hoard came to
ninety-nine Xylarian lions plus some small change.

"Ha!" said Jorian. " Tis almost exactly the sum where-
with I fled from Xylar the first time. Twill not buy an
army or a kingdom, but at least we shan't starve for a
while!"

Four days later, riding through broad farmland, Jorian
said: "We should reach the Othomaean border by nightfall.
We could get there sooner by hard driving, but I like not
the look ofFiloman's leg."

They were seated beside the road, eating. Karadur said:

171

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Silence, I pray " His dark eyes took on a glassy, faraway
look

jonan whispered "He is listening for some message
from the astral plane "

At last the old Mulvanian shook his head "My son,"
he said, "my second sight informs me that we are again
pursued "

"How far? How many?"

Karadur shook his head "I cannot say at the distance,
save that they approach swiftly "

Jonan wolfed down his last mouthful "Finish up, my
dears, and let us to horse—or to mule "

Soon they were again trotting along the road to Oth-
omae An hour later, Karadur said "I caught another
glimpse I estimate them as not above two leagues behind
us"

"Jonan," said Margaht, "why do you not gallop on,
leaving us7 We can turn into some side road and let them
go past We must not slow your steed to a trot, when you
can reach the border safely ahead of them "

"And leave you to their mercies7 Be not silly, wife'"
snorted Jonan "Besides, this country is too open for play-
ing hide-and-seek with pursuers They'd see you in no
time "

"Then," said Karadur, "why not mount Margalit on the
horse behind you and gallop on7 I can drive the cart, and
if they stop me, I am but a poor fortune-teller who knows
naught of Xylar and its fugitive kings I can change my
appearance by a small illusion spell What ails that plan7"

"Two things," said fonan, speeding up his trot while
Margaht lashed Filoman to hasten the placid mule. "Im-
pnmus, Margaht's weight would slow Cadwil almost as
much as my staying with the cart She's a big girl Secun-
dus, we have been seen together enough so that they'll be
looking for you as well as me "

"Belike," said Margalit, "they would not punish us se-
verely Karadur and I could say you deceived us "

"Count not upon the Regency's mercies At the least,
you would likely spend most of your lives in dungeons
dank If anyone shall play fox to their hounds, 'tis I Kar-

172

THE UNBEHEADED KING

adur is small and slight You and he together weigh no
more than I You twain could gallop in tandem to the
border, trusting me to dodge or cozen the puruers "

"Nay'" said Karadur "My old bones are too brittle for
such a dash The mere thought of perching precariously
atop your great destrier makes me dizzy "

"Well, we had better do something, and speedily," said
Jonan "Try your astral vision again "

Karadur closed his eyes After a while he said "They
are less than a league behind us I make ten or twelve "

Margalit "Perchance they are not concerned with us "

Jonan shook his head. "They would not push their beasts
so hard, save in flight or pursuit "

For several minutes they trotted as briskly as the pace
of the cart allowed As they topped a nse, Jonan called
out. "Ha' I see woods' I remember now, when I was King,
this tract was the sub)ect of a lawsuit betwixt a syndicate
of magnates, who wished to cut the timber, and the Xy-
lanan Navy, who wished to preserve the forest for future
ship timbers "

"How did you decide7" asked Margaht

"Grallon decided for the Navy, and I supported him It
was a close thing He might have ruled the other way had
not one of the magnates made the error of trying to bribe
him, as Abacarus did lately "

"What then7 Mean you to hide in the forest7"

"Nay, the tract is not large enough But—Karadur, you
have your magical rope, do you not7"

"Aye But its magical charge is nearly exhausted After
two or three more usages, it will require to be ensorcelled
again "

"Canst use it against our pursuers7"

"I can inflict a painful overthrow upon them, but that
will not necessarily slay them."

"I would not fain kill the poor fools, but I urgently yearn
to get my hands on their commander Here is what we
shall do   "

Half an hour later, the cart had been pulled well off the
road and concealed behind several saplings Jonan had cut

173

THE UNBEHEADED KING

these with his sword, trimmed them at the butt end to
points, and thrust them into the ground. Out of sight be-
hind the cart, the horse and the mule were tethered.

Karadur unwound the rope from his waist and tossed
it so that it lay athwart the road. He muttered an incan-
tation, and the two ends of the rope groped around until
they found tree trunks. These ends, like questing serpents,
then crept up the trunks and wound around them. The
bulk of the rope still lay limply, hardly visible, in the dust.

They waited for what seemed hours to Jorian but was
in fact less than half an hour. Then the squadron ot horse
appeared on the road, coming at a tired gallop. The panting
horses were flecked with foam from hard riding. Jorian
suspected that some would never be good cavalry mounts

again; they had been used up.

On came the soldiers, in scarlet coats under their mail
shirts, the afternoon sun flashing from their silvered hel-
mets. The lieutenant, distinguishable by the little silver
wings on his helm, rode in the lead.

"Now!" breathed Jorian.

Behind him, Karadur muttered another spell. At once
the ends of the rope coiled around the tree trunks came
to life, like serpents constricting their prey. The bulk of
the rope rose from the dust to stand as a rigid horizontal

bar at knee height.

The rope snapped into position just as the lieutenant's
horse reached it, so the rider had no chance to jump his
mount over this not very formidable barrier. The horse
did a somersault, throwing the lieutenant ahead of him
into the dirt. With a hideous clatter, the following horses

piled up in a kicking heap.

Before any of the thrown soldiers had rime to rise, Jorian
leaped out from behind his tree and sprinted to where the
lieutenant had fallen. As he arrived, the man was sitting
up with a dazed look. One of the silver wings on his helmet

was crumpled.

Jorian seized the lieutenant around the neck from be-
hind and pressed his dagger against the young man's throat.
"Order them back!" he roared, "or you're a dead man!"

Those soldiers who had regained their feet paused, tak-

174

THE UNBEHEADED KING

ing in the situation. So did the three troopers who had
pulled up their mounts in time to keep their saddles. Of
the fallen soldiers, one lay still with his neck twisted;

another was calling out something about a broken arm-
Others nursed lesser injuries.

"Stand back!" wheezed the lieutenant. "Do nought to
disturb this man!" He turned his head a little. "Are you
King Jorian?"

"Never mind who I am. You shall come with me as
hostage. Karadur!"

"Aye, my son?"

"Give your rope that other command."

Karadur muttered another spell. The rope came alive,
snaking out from under a fallen horse and slithering to
where Jorian held the lieutenant. The rope coiled around
the captive's wrists and ankles. In a trice the lieutenant
was tied as securely as a hog on the way to market.

"Order them to return to their quarters!" said Jorian.
"And tell them that, the instant I see we are again pursued,
away goes your tender young throat!"

The lieutenant repeated the command. The soldiers
gathered in a group, arguing in low, tense tones. Jorian
guessed that they were debating whether to ignore the
officer's orders, as given under duress, and try to seize
Jorian anyway. Jorian suspected that he had some sym-
pathizers, who would be glad to see him escape.

At last the soldiers mounted and rode off, the dead man
draped across his saddle and another with his arm in a
sling.

"I regret that young man's death," said Jorian. "One
would think you people would learn that seeking to lay
violent hands on me entails risks."

"I do my duty," rasped the lieutenant between set teeth.

Margalit led Jorian's horse from the woods, and Karadur
followed with the mule and cart. Jorian boosted Lieuten-
ant Annyx, whose horse had gone off with the rest of the
troop, into the cart. Margalit said:

"Jorian, do you go through life taking hostages? In the
short time I've known you, you have done it thrice al-
ready. "

175

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Jonan shrugged "Only when I must Forsooth, I never
took them ere meeting you, that is )ust how events have
fallen out "

The sun was a crimson ball on the horizon when Jonan
came m sight of the tenc^ marking the border between
Xylar and Othomae A Xylanan border guard was closing
the gate on the Xylanan side but opened it again as Jonan
and his party appeared The guards gave them a bored,
perfunctory glance, not inspecting the cart, wherein Lieu-
tenant Annyx lay bound, gagged, and covered by a blanket
The horse and mule proceeded into the neutral strip, three
or tour fathoms wide, between the two nations At the far
end of this strip stood another fence and gate

In the neutral strip, Jonan halted, reached into the cart,
and hauled out Lieutenant Annyx "Turn him loose," he
told Karadur

The Mulvaman mcanted, the rope fell limply to the
ground Karadur gathered it up and wound it around his

waist

Annyx arose with murder in his eyes and tore the gag
loose As Jonan led his horse to the second gate, the lieu-
tenant shouted

"Seize that man' He is wanted in Xylar1 He is a violent
criminal, a kidnapper, a fugitive from justice'"

The officer of the border watch on the Othomaean side
said "Send us a formal request for extradition, laddie, and
we'll see what we can do "

The lieutenant looked as if he could cry "You damned
Othomaeans never do aught we ask, no matter how rea-
sonable' This is a flagrant case of hot pursuit, so I am
entitled to demand your aid m apprehending him'"

The Othomaean grinned "That's the first time I ever
heard a man who has been earned hog-tied in a cart claim
he was in hot pursuit of anyone " He turned to Jonan
"And you, my fine onen^-l friend, what is your business
in the Grand Duchy7"

F   ig Annyx's sword and dagger out of the cart, Jonan
tos     em back into the ne ral zone He got out his
p^      Here you are, sir perni for a foreigner to reside

1/5

THE UNBEHEADED KING

m Othomae, permit to wear a sword, permit to hunt and
fish As tor the costume, I had business in Xylar and wished
to do it without losing my head "

"Jonan of Ardarnai'" exclaimed the guard "We hear
fantastic tales of you Is it true that you slew a unicorn
m the Grand Duke's park with your bare hands7"

"Not quite," said Jonan "If I remember—"

Lieutenant Annyx had picked up his weapons He
shouted "I demand—"

"Oh, shut thy gob'" said the Othomaean officer "This
man is well known in Othomae and, from all I hear, is
entitled to political asylum Now go away like a good boy
and cease to pester us "

"You shall hear more of this'" said Annyx, turning back
to the Xylanan side

"The first inn," said Jonan, "is a league or so down the
road May we be on our way, to reach it ere dark7"

Two years later, a small party appeared at the entrance
to Evor's Sons, Clock Makers, in Konoli City A foppishly
dressed young man asked if Jonan were in Silkus, the
senior man of the firm, said

"My brother is m but busy May 1 have your name and
business7"

"I am Conneus son of Holdar, and 1 bring a message
from the Provisional Government of Xylar "

Silhus's eyebrows rose "Wait, good my sir," he said,
and disappeared Soon he returned, saying "I will show
you the way in "

Conneus found himself in a large room used as a work
shop Tables were littered with tools and with sheets of
paper beanng diagrams and sketches In a chair at one end
sat a tall, handsome woman nursing a year old baby At
the other, Jonan, wearing a workman's leather apron over
his clothes, puttered with a device of gears and levers

It took Conneus a few heartbeats to recognize Jonan
When they met in Xylar, Jonan was clean-shaven and tur-
baned, with a dark brown skin Now he was light skinned,
bare-headed, and bearded Conneus noted that he had put
on weight, and that his black hair had receded a little

177

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Your Majesty!" cried Corineus at last.
Jorian looked up. "By Imbal's iron yard!" he cried. "What
brings you hither, Corineus? If you think to kidnap me
back to Xylar to cut off my head again, forget it. I have
taken measures."

"Nay, nought like that," said Corineus. "We have had
a revolution and abolished the Regency Council, along
with the custom of lustral regicide. We have a new con-
stitution. with a king of limited powers and an elective
legislature. And we want you for King!"

"Well, dip me in manure!" After a pause, Jorian smiled.
"Tell them I thank them, but nay. I have all I wish right
here." He glanced toward Margaht, who smiled back. "Tell
them to find some other popinjay, intelligent enough to
follow public rituals but not so clever as to plot to seize
absolute power."

"But King Jorian! My liege lord!" pleaded Corineus,
sinking to one knee. "You are famous! You have become
our national hero! The tale of your adventures—slaying
the dragon single-handed, overthrowing the Goblin Tower,
routing the besiegers of Iraz—is worth an epic by Physo!"

"I see the tales have not shrunk in the telling. Get some
poet to make a lay, then, and send me a copy. Twere good
for business."

"Business!" said Corineus in tones of disgust. "After
all your splendid adventures, do you not find a mere trades-
man's life dull?"

Jorian laughed- "Not at all, my dear fellow. As you once
said, I am a tradesman at heart. We prosper. I have the
respect of my workfellows. the love of my dear ones, plenty
to eat and drink, and money at usury with my banker. My
wife, by doing the bookkeeping, keeps us solvent.

"Furthermore I am engaged in a problem more fasci-
nating to me than how far one must run to tire out a
pursuing dragon."

"What's that?"

"To make an accurate clock powered by falling weights
instead of falling water. I saw them working on such in
Iraz. My little brother Kerin has gone to the Far East to
leam the secret of their superior escapement."

178

THE UNBEHEADED KING

Corineus shook his head. "I cannot imagine how oni
who has survived all your knightly adventures could settli
down to so drab a lite."

lorian: "Since I survived those adventures by the skil
of my teeth, they make fine fireside talk. But I sough
them not; the goddess Elidora forced them upon me- Whiis
they were going on, I should have been heartily glad to b<
elsewhere. Meseems that when one has had as many nar
row escapes as have been crowded into the first half o
my life, one is happy to spend the second halt in a safe
peaceful, humdrum pursuit. At least, that's how I feel."

"Do the honor and glory of the kingship, without th»
hazard of execution, not beguile you?"

lorian shook his head. "Had I never experienced it, i'
might. But for five years I had my fill of donning omat<
costumes, and sitting through tedious ceremonies, ani
hearing the lying arguments of litigants and petitioners
and trying to collect enough taxes to keep the kingdon-
going without inciting a revolt. So tell your people I an
flattered but firm in my refusal."

"But think of ail the good you could accomplish!"

lorian smiled. "That's the excuse every tyrant gives ir
snatching at total power. But from what I've seen of th<
world, plans to better the lot of the people seldom turr
out as the planners hope, even with the best intentions.'

"Will nought persuade you?"

"Nought whatever. Your legislature will have to mud
die along without my wisdom."

Corineus stared at the ground. "I—I ought to than!
you—I made a bit of an ass of myself on our first meeting
You—you had been justified in slaying me...."

Jorian grinned. "Forget the whole episode. When I wa;

ten years younger, I did silly things, too. But let me asl
you: How did you, an admirer of the old feudal regime
get involved in a popular revolutionary movement?"

Corineus looked embarrassed. "Forsooth, Estrildis talke<
me into it. She said 'twas the only way our marriage woult
ever be fully recognized as legal in Xylar. She can be ver^
persuasive."

"I know," said Jorian. "How is she?"

179

THE UNBEHEADED KING

"Fine, and so is the boy. She is getting—well, a trifle

plump."

"Give her my brotherly love."

"Where is the old Mulvanian?"

"Karadur is a professor in Othomae, having compassed
the ouster of his predecessor Abacarus. I had some-
thing—" Jorian was about to say "to do with that," but
thought better of it. "He wants me to teach an engineering
course at the Academy. What befell that clerk, Thevatas?"

"He was hanged."

"Indeed? My grief overwhelms me not. How fell it?"

"The Regency offered a generous reward tor recovering
the crown, but he held out for a seat on the Council.
Believe it or not, he lusted to command the army. Losing
patience, they feigned to agree and then, as soon as they
had the royal headpiece, hustled him off to the scaffold
with hardly a pretense of legal process."

"So perish overreachers!" said Jorian. "Now foin me in
a glass of wine, and then be off to tell the Xylarians what
i have said. When one has been to as many places, and
worked at as many trades, and suffered through as many
vicissitudes as I have, if he have leamt nought else, he
should at least know when he is well off!"

180

About the Author

L. Sprague de Camp. who has over ninety-five books
to his credit, writes in several fields: historicals, SF, fantasy.
biography, and popularizations of science. But his favorite
genre of literature is fantasy.

De Camp is a master of that rare animal humorous fan-
tasy. As a young writer collaborating with the late Fletcher
Pratt, he set forth the world-hopping adventures of Harold
Shea. These are available today in two books: The Compleal
Enchanter and Wall of Serpents. Together, Pratt and de
Camp also wrote the delightfully zany Tales from Gavagan's
Bar. a book which has remained in print for forty years.

In 1976. at the 34th World Science Fiction Convention,
he received The Gandalf—Grand Master Award for Lifetime
Achievement in the Field of Fantasy. The Science Fiction
Writers of America presented him with their Grand Master
Nebula Award of 1978. Alone, and with his wife and some-
time collaborator Catherine, de Camp has been a welcome
guest of honor at fan conventions throughout the United
States.

The de Camps live in Villanova, Pennsylvania. They
have two sons: Lyman Sprague. and Gerard Beekman, both
of whom are distinguished engineers.