by P R Glazier
Chapter 18. First Class to Gwéldølĩn
That evening Nar’Allia found herself walking through the wide streets of Scienocropolis. She was being escorted to the airship that was waiting to transport the Pnook emissary and herself to Gwéldølĩn. She found herself travelling through a very prosperous looking part of the Pnook city accompanied by two Pnook guards, a personal escort of honour sent by the Pnook King himself. She looked up at the buildings that surrounded her. Tall, angular edifices, reaching high enough to scrape the sky, if she looked upwards for too long she found herself experiencing a sensation of falling, of losing her balance, it seemed like the building were tilting over above her, almost falling over to crush her. She shook her head. She wondered at the buildings being pointed out to her by the two escorts, the various purposes and uses to which they adhered, many of which Nar’Allia did not understand. Nar’Allia was in no doubt that the city may appear beautiful to some, in deed she could see herself that it possessed a certain attraction, yet it was so very different from her home. T’Iea cities had an architectural emphasis linked to the natural world, an organic component that defined their character. But here, there was nothing natural; it was totally a creation of the Pnook, without any naturalistic component whatsoever. But then the Rust Desert did not offer much in the way of natural beauty, at least not as she would describe. She had to admit she did find this a little unsettling. The buildings perhaps did have a certain beauty about them yet she found them also to be hard and sterile.
As she walked her mind wandered, she found her curiosity rising within her as to whom this emissary of the King may be, she had neither met the King or his emissary as yet. Her escorts had been sent with a sealed note. She had read within it how the King expressed his sincere apologies at not being able to meet with her in person, but he had assured her that he had instructed his emissary to share the full knowledge of what the Pnook were hoping to accomplish and what they hoped for by way of aid from the Grûndén. Nar’Allia was in no doubt that this emissary would be fully versed on the negotiation skills necessary to procure whatever the Pnook wanted and for the best possible price if of course negotiations came to that. She felt a little disappointed at not having been granted an audience with the King, after all Minervar had been granted such when she visited the city long ago. But, Nar’Allia supposed times and circumstances were very different then.
Nar’Allia’s escorts remained very talkative and took great delight in pointing out various sights and places of interest along the way. She couldn’t help thinking how different was the attitude of these people, so very different from the reception that Minervar described in the story of her visit to Scienocropolis.
The sun was getting low in the sky and the buildings shadows were lengthening. Down here at street level it was starting to get a little gloomy, yet the very highest pinnacles of the buildings stood out in the waning sunlight and were brilliantly lit in a pink-orange hue. To her they looked like shining crystal spires pointing skyward to the darkening blue sky that was already speckled with the first and brightest of the stars. Eventually they emerged from a street at the end of a row of buildings and quite suddenly Nar’Allia found herself in a vast open area. She obviously stood upon the very edge, the very outer perimeter of the Scienocropolis. The city itself spread out behind her, but in front there was nothing but darkening sky to be seen as far as the horizon, where the deepening blue of the sky met with the darkening red of the Rust desert. There was a hazy area where the dull red of the desert blended into the bright red of the setting sun so that it was difficult to see the exact place where the transition occurred.
She turned her attention back to the area in which she stood. A fair amount of relatively new construction had gone on here that much was obvious. Newer looking buildings of varying shapes and sizes could be seen, but they all looked slightly different as if a new style of architecture had been devised, or someone else had taken on the role as the new architect. The material from which these newer buildings had been constructed was also different. Nar’Allia enquired about this to her Pnook escort. One of them seemed well versed in the history of the city for he explained that the Pnook unfortunately no longer had the great machines that were used to fuse the desert sands to make the materials used to construct the city in the first place and any metals they brought with them had been used up a long time ago. But, he explained, a Pnook with much ingenuity had come up with a compound that chemically bonded the fine grains tightly together and they were now able to make an unlimited supply of strong, durable bricks and prefabricated components of any size and shape.
It was obvious that the area in which she found herself was a port of sorts. It reminded Nar’Allia of the smaller port of Amentura, there were many similarities. Many large buildings appeared to be warehouses of varying sorts. Quays ran along the edge and many jetties projected out over the Rust Desert similar to those in Amentura projecting out into the waters of the Trad Ocean. Many ships and other vessels were tied alongside, just as you would expect in any sea port, yet they were in the middle of the desert without a drop of water to be seen anywhere. Nar’Allia smiled with excitement for these vessels tied alongside the docks in Scienocropolis were not sea-going vessels. No, these vessels had never set out upon the waters of any ocean or sea. These were ships of the sky, they set sail upon a wholly different medium. These ships were floating by some miraculous means in the air alongside the docks, far above the sands of the desert below.
Her two escorts strode along the quay excitedly pointing out various vessels that were obviously famous in the Pnook world. Mostly airships belonging to merchants and many private vessels of all sizes. Along one quay, the entrance to which was guarded by soldiers standing outside a high metal fence she could see smaller vessels sprouting weapons and encased in armour. The Pnook obviously still maintained a military presence in Scienocropolis, even though Nar’Allia could not think who would pose a threat to them. Yet they had been attacked of course, her stepmother’s stories attested to that fact. They eventually reached what looked like a special dock, for only a single airship was moored here and guards dressed in royal livery stood on board and beneath the tented structure that served as an entrance to this special quay. Whilst her two escorts consorted with the guards, Nar’Allia looked along the quay at the vessel. It resembled a ship of the ocean in many ways, there was a distinctive front and rear to the craft. It was quite large, indeed its size placed it in the larger category of airship when compared to all those she had walked past on her journey through these docks. She was a handsome craft, even to Nar’Allia’s untrained eye she could see that this was a craft of some beauty, fashioned to please the eye as well as perform a function. No wide girthed merchant vessel this, with gibbets and cranes for manoeuvring cargo, more like a pleasure craft, a yacht of some indulgence, built perhaps for high society entertainment and to impress the eye. The vessel was bright silver and shone even in the last rays of sunshine, her hull was sleek and smooth. Some of the other vessels outer skins looked like they had been stretched over a bony skeleton for Nar’Allia had noticed that an outline of the airships frame could be seen through the hull plating. But that was certainly not the case here. The hull plates looked continuous and as smooth as a mirrored surface. All along her side circular glass windows were set at regular intervals, the glass of each was polished to a high shine without any hint of the deserts red dust or any other stain upon them. The superstructure that stood upon the top deck of the vessel was low and rounded into pleasing forms unlike the more functional square and angular constructions she had seen on many of the other vessels in port. The whole vessel suggested extravagance, great comfort and when needed a high turn of speed.
Eventually the guards on the quay nodded in satisfaction and Nar’Allia after expressing her thanks and bidding farewell to her chatty escort, boarded the Pnook airship from a raised gangway set upon the quayside for the purpose of embarkation. Once upon the deck of the ship she turned
to look back at the city. She wondered if her travels would bring her back once more to this place, but now she was departing the city of the Pnook. She found herself filled with the exciting thought of travelling back across the Trad Ocean in this Pnook airship. The purpose of which was to take her to the city of the Grûndén, to Gwéldølĩn, a place she had longed to visit since an early age.
As she stepped off the gangway onto the deck of the vessel she found herself welcomed by a Pnook in uniform who saluted crisply and introduced himself as the captain of the vessel. The captain assured her that he was there to serve her in any way possible and to make the voyage comfortable. He then bowed once more and gesturing towards several Pnook standing to attention and all wearing smart uniforms, he assigned one of these Pnook as Nar’Allia’s personal steward for the voyage. The steward bowed and requested she follow him. They walked upon a highly polished wooden deck; Nar’Allia could see here feet and lower legs reflected in the high shine of the lacquered wood. She wondered at the extravagance of the natural material for nowhere in the Rust Desert did any trees grow, that fact had been confirmed by the nomad people she had stayed with many years before, for they did not know that wood came from a tree, didn’t even know what a tree was. So any wood must have been purchased and brought here at great expense from across the Trad Ocean or indeed the Sea of Beadreas in the far west right across the vast expanse of the Rust Desert.
She was shown to her own cabin by the steward who took great pains to explain in great detail everything he thought she needed to know and then asked if she had any requests. Nar’Allia was still trying to take everything in and she was slightly embarrassed that she could think of nothing to ask so she declined the steward’s offer, hoping that he would leave her alone to enjoy her excitement. Once he had made sure Nar’Allia was settled into her cabin he went to leave, on the way out he said that dinner would be served two hours after departure. Nar’Allia would find the meal served in the main state room on the deck above. Once he had left she found she relished the silence of her own company once more. She fell onto the sumptuous bed and laughed, it was just so unbelievably luxurious; she couldn’t believe how this turn of events had resulted in this treatment. She felt like a queen on her very own private yacht.
After washing and generally tidying herself up, Nar’Allia decided to go early to the main state room indicated by the steward; she wanted to take a slow stroll around the deck before enjoying whatever meal the Pnook had to offer. From what she now understood of Pnook cuisine she wondered if this would be fried Trotteen, boiled Trotteen, baked Trotteen perhaps followed by pureed Trotteen or maybe chilled Trotteen, even Trotteen soup may be on offer? She found herself in a light mood and laughed as she thought up more and more ridiculous recipes made from the main ingredient of Trotteen. She left her cabin and strode down the outside deck of the airship. She was somewhat surprised to see that they had left the dock and were underway, she had not felt a thing, no giveaway movement of the vessel that indicated they had left the quayside. For they were quite high and the lights of Scienocropolis were shining far behind. Below them lay an impenetrable blackness that she knew hid the red sands of the desert far below.
She shivered remembering a much more arduous journey she had made years before across that desert on the back of a beast of burden, a Duagnuats. As on that journey, she looked up at a star filled sky of the deepest midnight blue, the openness of it made her feel very small, the vastness of it made her feel very insignificant. She was reminded of something else she had long forgotten. Another journey of openness, her journey on the Ocean Belle across the great Trad Ocean to the continent of the Rust Desert, it seemed like a lifetime ago. The stars shining above had rekindled memories of those two voyages, one across an ocean of water, the other across a sea of sand. Myriad points of light twinkled at her from the heavens as she leant on the gunwale of the air ship gazing up at the night sky. The sight brought all those memories flooding back to her with breath-taking clarity. It was truly beautiful. But she also knew it heralded some uncertainties, reminding her of loss and frustration. Feeling slightly annoyed she pushed herself away from the gunwale and climbed a set of steps to the deck above. Soon she found herself outside another entrance, as she approached the same steward that had shown her to her cabin opened a door with a white-gloved hand and bowing bade Nar’Allia enter. She tilted her head in response and taking another deep breath and straightening her shoulders she passed through the door.
Inside Nar’Allia gazed around at the sumptuous interior of this large stately room. She was in awe. A second steward waited, he bade her follow. She walked across a golden carpet of sumptuously thick pile. Paintings and sculptures lined the walls. A clear glass domed ceiling above her head showed the same view as outside, stars shining above wherever she glanced through the glass; but the view was distorted slightly as she walked across the room for star shapes and planets and other heavenly bodies had been etched expertly into the glass panels above in relief, similar to a decorated wine glass but on a much larger scale. She wasn’t taking a lot of notice of where she was walking and knocked into a chair, a knife fell to the floor with a clatter. She reddened slightly in embarrassment at her clumsiness but the steward, if he noticed, did not acknowledge the fact.
There were three tables set out, each prepared for dinner with silver cutlery and fine white porcelain dinner service. Upon each piece was a crest, the crest of the king. Nar’Allia was ushered politely to one of the tables and her seat withdrawn and then pushed gently in behind her as she bent to sit. She found this slightly disconcerting for the legs of the chairs were shorter than those she was used to and she was forced to splay her feet apart so that she could lower her knees far enough to get them beneath the table. But once this was done and she was comfortable, a small square of crisp, starched white linen was unravelled by gloved hands and placed upon her lap. Then she was given a folded thin book. A red silk ribbon was wrapped around the spine, a silk tassel hung from the bottom. With a swift but gentle movement the steward held the tassel and pulled, the book opened gently. Written across the top of the sheet were some words, firstly a single word in the Pnook language which she did not know, but also alongside a single word in a smaller font that was written in the common tongue. It spelt ‘MENU’. The steward bowed once more and departed, he picked up the knife she had knocked off the table and took it away with him. He disappeared behind the staircase that led up from the floor of the dining room. Nar’Allia’s eyes followed the staircase upwards to a balcony above. It ran around the edge of the glass dome above, she could just glimpse more tables through the golden balustrade that ran around its edge. She heard the gentle swish of a door open and then close once more.
The steward returned some minutes later and after enquiring if she had chosen her meal for this evening he stood back with a folded white linen cloth across his arm and waited. Nar’Allia couldn’t help but let out a giggle from beneath her hand which she held over her mouth. But she had not chosen yet because she had spent most of the time looking around the room and staring once more at the stars slowly moving across the glass dome above. The steward, obviously quite used to this kind of behaviour, bowed towards Nar’Allia and stepped back once more to stand serenely between two ornate glass cabinets to await her decision.
Just then the door to the outside deck through which she had entered opened. In strode a Pnook she had not seen before. He was dressed in fine attire, a small skullcap was upon his head, a long blue tassel hung from the button at its very top and rested on his shoulder. He wore a smart white jacket with a high collar; many golden buttons ran down the front. His trousers matched the material of the jacket and had a blue-corded stripe matching the hats tassel running down the outside seem of each leg. The same blue cord was stitched finely into both garments on the pockets and the cuffs in swirling patterns. He was shown to one of the other tables across the room and seated facing her. A second steward appeared and attended the Pnook who had just entered. A
similar series of events happened as with Nar’Allia’s entrance, ending in the Pnook studying the ‘MENU’ most intently. Nar’Allia giggled again and the Pnook looked up a quizzical look upon his face. Then to her surprise he smiled and spoke.
“Good evening milady. I must say it is a long, long time since I have heard the laughter of one of the fare folk. I must also say it pleases me greatly, a reminder perhaps of a time long ago, a time perhaps when I was younger and probably more fool hardy.”
One of the fare folk? Nar’Allia had not actually heard that term before, but she knew that it was a common Pnook reference to her race of the T’Iea. She remained seated and tilting her head towards the Pnook introduced herself.
The Pnook stood and bowed. He looked at her intently as if mulling something over in his mind. She felt slightly uncomfortable at his gaze upon her. She fidgeted in her seat and to break the slightly uncomfortable feeling inside her she said, “perhaps master Pnook we all suffer from the fool hardiness of youth.”
He smiled and seemed to shake himself of his private thoughts, “perhaps yes. But in my case I’m afraid I flinch at some of the rashness of the actions I undertook when I was younger. For then I did not care about consequences or retribution.” He took his gaze from her face and seemed to stare into middle space. Then quietly as if talking to himself, he added, “yet I would do it again, if I had the choice, for they were exciting times.” He then returned his gaze on her and introduced himself as Tnie.
Nar’Allia felt a tingle down her spine, she knew that name, knew it well. But then she thought, well it’s probably a common name in the Pnook world. But he had made the remark about not hearing the T’Iea laugh in a long time hadn’t he? She wondered at the possible coincidence and again bowed her head and said, “it is a pleasure to meet you Master Tnie.” She was curious so she also said, “but it seems a waste for us to sit at separate tables, if you wish for the company and perhaps some light conversation to entertain you during your meal, perhaps you would like to join me?”
“Thank you my lady that is most courteous of you, I gladly accept.” So the Pnook rose, the steward rushed to get his chair, Tnie made his way to where Nar’Allia sat; he chose a seat opposite her and sat down. Nar’Allia’s face suddenly brightened, she thought the arrival of her guest as most fortuitous; she asked if he was able to fully translate the list of dishes available on the ‘MENU’. He nodded in agreement and proceeded to read the list of main dishes from inside the little book. Trotteen was indeed available in many guises, but to her surprise other foods were also. When he got to the end of the list he asked if she would like him to read the list once more. Nar’Allia declined commenting that never before had she been so spoilt for choice of meal. So Tnie explained that the airship in which they flew was the private vessel of the king, as honoured guests of the king they also benefitted from the normal everyday workings and functions of the king’s airship in that all the permanent staff were available as were the varieties of foods and other diversions and entertainments. As if on cue, four smartly dressed Pnook entered from a side door with musical instruments. They sat in a corner of the room discussing something quietly then they took up their instruments and started to play.
The two guests enjoyed a sumptuous meal together, accompanied by the soft background music. Nar’Allia didn’t know any of the tunes that were being played; she supposed them to be of Pnook origin. But she was pleasantly surprised when with Tnie’s encouragement, she requested a popular T’Iea tune and the bandleader nodded and instructed commands in the Pnook language to his fellows. Then to her delight they played the requested tune faultlessly. Whilst they sipped an after dinner glass of desert wine Nar’Allia thought about the Pnook that sat opposite her. She was sure she had seen this Pnook before. Many years of man ago when she was a child in Tent Town. She was certain he was a member of that party that included Minervar and Serinae; certainly his name matched that of the Pnook that travelled with the T’Iea women. Maybe the wine was going to her head and was loosening her tongue but she couldn’t stop herself from asking the question that burned in her mind. “Master Pnook, excuse me for asking but you hinted that you had heard the sound of T’Iea laughter before, have you travelled to the T’Iea realms in the past?”
“No milady not as such. I have travelled to Dahl’Ambronis many times, mainly to the town of Amentura as a merchant,” here he hesitated for the slightest of moments before saying, “and for other reasons. Then once long ago I had the great pleasure and honour of travelling extensively with two of your kinswomen. In fact I am indebted to them, for I owe them my life.”
Nar’Allia became very excited at these words. “You knew the ladies Minervar and Serinae didn’t you?”
Tnie looked at her an element of surprise showing in his eyes, he tilted his head slightly to one side before saying, “yes, those were their names, are you a friend or relation perhaps of one of them?”
Before she could stop herself Nar’Allia told him everything, even found herself remembering some things that she had forgotten over the years. But of course the two of them had met before in Tent Town when Nar’Allia was but a small child. This made her feel quite melancholy and at the end of the story her excitement had turned to sadness as she realised something that made her feel guilty and somewhat inadequate in the presence of this Pnook who had travelled with her mother into many dangers and trials. She found herself explaining to Tnie that in fact she had handed the more difficult part of the search for Minervar over to her sister Solvienne and she herself, although continuing the search in the Grûndén realm was also going to undertake a more diplomatic mission on behalf of the Pnook.
Tnie nodded deep in thought. “My lady, firstly I am sorry to hear your tale, for the loss of the lady Minervar I also feel deeply, for she was both friend and ally to me. Perhaps even more alarming is her seemingly joining with the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran. For she above all others has felt the malice and twisted ways of your evil cousins. But, it seems to me that you have done much yourself in aiding your mother, from what you tell me she may no longer be under the influences of the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran, she is free of them and in that I hold much hope and you should to.”
Nar’Allia smiled and nodded her head, but before she could say anything Master Tnie spoke once more.
“There is also the fact that the lady Serinae has a hand in all this, in my experience that is a most encouraging turn of events for I know first-hand that her capabilities are many, for she is a strong character, fearless in the face of adversity and the most determined personage you could ever care to make your acquaintance with.”
He smiled at Nar’Allia then said, “you are obviously the Kings chosen aid, the very person I was to meet before reaching the Grûndén realm. For my part I also have been tasked with doing the same by the king, seeking the aid of the Grûndén in the matter of mining below Scienocropolis. The king had explained that one other was appointed upon a similar mission and that I should introduce myself to this person so that we may travel together as a delegation to the Grûndén. He did not explain who this other person was, only that I should meet up with them before arriving in the Grûndén realm. Forgive me but the only reason I didn’t introduce myself on entering earlier was that I assumed incorrectly, that this other person would also be a Pnook and on entering and not seeing any others of my people I was resolved to wait until they arrived.”
“Then I will welcome your company master Pnook. What little aid I may give is yours.”
Tnie bowed his head in confirmation. “I in turn I also welcome your aid in what we wish to achieve.” Here Tnie smiled and looked down at his empty plate in thought. Then looking once more at her he said, “but milady Nar’Allia, I think we should be honest with one another right from the start. It is unusual to see any T’Iea in Scienocropolis, possibly the last time any of your race visited was when the ladies Minervar and Serinae were here all those years ago. I do not believe that your presence was in any way due to any
whim or accident?”
Nar’Allia lowered her gaze to her hands that rested upon the table in front of her. She was thinking what to say, she was afraid that if the truth be known then she may forfeit her passage on the airship and be forced to find an alternative route to the home of the Grûndén. She was reminded of the route that her stepmother took all those years before, how she and her companions were forced to traverse the desert in the same manner as she arrived here, within the JDC’s Landtrain. But the Pnook authorities may not look to kindly on the Landtrain being deviated from the task of fetching the Pnook’s food source. She looked back at Tnie and was about to say something. But before she could he spoke.
“I assume then from your silence that your true purpose with the Grûndén is to seek their aid in some way to look for your mother.”
Nar’Allia was about to protest, even though she knew that she was in a position of weakness.
But Tnie held up a hand. “ Mylady, I do not need an answer now, but be assured that if something arises that needs your urgent attention then I will not insist you remain tied to your commitments to my people. As the representative of the King I will absolve you from those responsibilities when the time comes.”
Nar’Allia felt greatly relieved and humbled by what Tnie said. “You are very honourable master Pnook and also very astute. You ask for no explanation so I will offer none. But I would not wish you to risk upsetting your superiors on my account.”
Tnie smiled, “be assured Mylady, it will not come to that I am sure.”
Nar’Allia was speechless for a while. But then she said as if trying to change the subject through fear he may change his mind, “s let us enjoy this voyage together and perhaps you will agree to tell me of the city of the Pnook, tell me what has happened to you and to Scienocropolis since the time that you parted company with my mother?”
Tnie smiled, “of course I would be happy to tell you. I don’t know how much you know of our travels together on our return from the northern lands. He sat back in his chair as if making himself comfortable and carefully folding the square of linen that was upon his lap and placing this carefully in front of him upon the table he began relating his tale. “After we had left you and your father in Tent Town and parted company with master Łĩnwéé Ârcønrâdenn, our Grûndén companion, we travelled south along known routes. It was an uneventful journey. Minervar wanted to go to the coast to visit relatives in the T’Iea town of R’ealto’ Noac’ Trado. I remember they were pleasant people, pleased to see Minervar and very gracious to me. We stayed for a few weeks or so, longer than I would have wanted, but the hospitality of those people did not allow me to leave prematurely. But it became evident that Minervar was going to stay for a longer period and I, well I had decided that I would return to Scienocropolis and see what I could do to aid the King for the situation in the city at that time was growing quite dire. I knew I played a dangerous game for I had been banished from the city by the King’s advisor, one Don Trynacs who had his own agenda. He lusted after power and ultimately to gain the throne. I knew this, I am sure the king also understood this, so I planned to return to the city in secret and make contact with those loyal to the King. I hoped these people would hide my presence and from there we could decide what to do.
So it was I left Minervar with her relations and travelled south to Amentura on my own. I had also promised Minervar to call in and see someone, the lady Solin De’Teinde, a T’Iea scholar who we had met before on the outward-bound leg of our adventures. I had promised to let her know of our success and to tell her all the events of our travels. I also promised to tell the lady Solin of the disappearance of the Lady Serinae for they were great friends of old. This promise I deeply regretted and was not looking forward to its fulfilment. Minervar also entrusted me with a journal that she had written as a record of our adventures. I was to give this to the lady Solin so that she could fully understand the events that had transpired. These things I duly did and I stayed in the house in Amentura for a period until I could gain passage back across the Trad Ocean. I arrived in Port Town some months later with some trepidation for I did not know what sort of reception I could expect there and it was with some anxiety I stepped from the ship onto that dock.
But then there occurred an amazing event. The Pnook JDC of whom you are acquainted, well he was in Port Town, he was a prisoner detained at the pleasure of the King. It seemed that the Port Town authorities blamed him for our hasty departure from the port, although they could prove nothing. But they were determined to get some restitution for their loss of face and of revenue and he was charged with some trumped up criminal acts. But for this I was grateful because he quickly recognised me and hid me from prying eyes, he also arranged my passage to Scienocropolis via a friend of his called Master Fattel who lived out in the deep desert. Master Fattel had helped us before; in fact he had introduced us to JDC and his Land Train machine. Master Fattel put me aboard an airship of a merchant friend of his that ran some black market enterprises and so it was I found myself back in Scienocropolis in secret and amongst those who were willing to hide me. This group of Pnook had all the infrastructure and organisation already in place to allow me to plan our campaign to help the King.
I knew that much of Scienocropolis at that time was run through black market means and I managed to persuade the larger organisations to withhold certain necessities from the people. I promised the King’s full pardon for their elicit acts once the King was back in total control once again for I knew that the only reason the black market trade went on was because of the extortionate taxes levied by Don Trynacs and his administration. I found these organisations very willing to help, for they did not like Don Trynacs and his methods, it cost them a small fortune in bribes and other activities to allow them to remain in business, a cost that would disappear once the King was back in power and their business activities were once more legitimised. Over a period of time the subsequent steady increased rationing and deprived state of the people started to take effect. It all started with quiet grumbling and dissatisfaction. One of the local underground newspapers loyal to the King took up the tale and started to write words of discontent. Before long small acts of rebellion started and as the people became increasingly bold a number of spontaneous riots occurred. These were put down with much force, far too much force and several Pnook were killed. These dastardly acts drove the cities inhabitants against the officials in charge at that time and more to the point against Don Trynacs. The people struggled for some weeks but they were determined and having an effect, increasingly gathering more and more followers until it seemed that the whole city was against Don Trynacs and what remained of his of supporters, for many of them saw the writing on the walls and changed sides well before the end. So it was that Don Trynacs fell from grace and the king was once again fully reinstated. Of course the once black market goods started to flow once more that the king was in power, but this time as legitimate trade and therefore far cheaper. As I said, Don Trynacs lost many of his followers and it was easy to round up those that were left and after a brief and very public trial, banish all of them from the city. I am glad to say that from that day to this Scienocropolis has been stable politically and in fact has thrived.
“But you were responsible for the partial destruction of the city and ultimately its fall to the ground were you not?”
“I admit the idea was mine to destroy the outer reaches of the city and therefore save us from invasion yes. I also concur that this act did lead ultimately to the city slowly descending to the desert. But the city had settled on the desert sand by the time I returned. I remained in hiding and somehow popular view put the blame of the cities descent onto Don Trynacs as well. The King did not openly seek to change this view, neither did he do anything to support it. But everything turned out alright in the end, apart from the problem of the Trotteen farms of course, but a solution to that problem we seek now do we not?”
Nar’Allia nodded in silent agreement.
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br /> They continued to talk long into the night. Nar’Allia told Tnie about what she had been told by the nomads in the Rust Desert concerning the killing of Don Trynacs and his remaining followers. Tnie did not seem surprised he just shook his head a look of disappointment on his face. Perhaps he saw an irony in this tale for Tnie it seemed was rewarded for his loyalty to the King and rose through the ranks of officialdom until he became the King’s chief advisor. So it was only natural that the King should entrust him with this mission of great importance to the long-term survival of the Pnook people.
Nar’Allia smiled and as she lay her head upon the soft pillow of her bed she smiled at another thought, not one that was without its own tinge of irony, for at long last after all these years she was on her way to Gwéldølĩn, to see the Grûndén. But the fine wine and excitement of the conversations with Tnie had done their work and before she could think any further on the subject she was sound asleep upon a soft feather pillow in an opulent cabin within the most luxurious form of travel she had ever experienced.
