Castle Dreams c-6

by John Dechancie

  Again, he thought he had heard something. He stopped and listened intently. He thought he had heard the calling of a name. Distant, very distant.

  His name? But how would he know his name?

  He wished his name would return to him. Perhaps if he heard, clearly, distinctly, he would recognize it for what it was. But he could hear nothing now. He doubted that there was anything to hear. He had imagined it, wishing for it so mightily.

  He began walking again. He maintained the same pace as before. A brisk walk, a purposeful walk. He had nowhere to go, nothing to do when he got there. No direction, no destination.

  What kind of world was it, he wondered, in which there was so little? So very little. Darkness, hardness, a bit of light … himself … and that was all. What kind of universe was that? How could it exist? Who could dream of such a place? For there was nothing to dream of. It was … a fever dream. A fever dream of a place. (He could barely remember what fever was. He wasn’t quite sure.) But whose fever? Whose dream?

  His. His dream. He was dreaming. But it was not like a dream. It was too much like being awake to be a dream. (He could not remember, exactly, what a dream was.) Yet it had to be a dream.

  His thinking was not very clear. That he knew. Better to avoid thinking too much. Thinking led to confusion. It was enough to walk. To move, though he moved in a directionless space, along an infinite plane.

  He returned to the question of what he did before he came to this place. He had done something. He had had a life. Of that he was sure.

  Life. That was a strange concept. Life struck him as something exciting, interesting, infinitely varied. Fluid. Not like this, which was unchanging and absolute. Life was not like this. Life was change, constant change. There was no change here. Life was movement with a purpose, a goal, a motive. None of those qualities was present in the circumstances in which he now found himself. Life was … much more than this. That was about all he could say on the matter, though. He did not remember his life. All he knew was that it had been quite different from the existence he led now.

  When had the transition between life and this existence occurred? What had occasioned it?

  There were too many questions and too few means at his disposal to begin to answer them. Again, he told himself that it was best not to think.

  But he had to think. It was his nature to think.

  Ah! So he did know something about his nature after all! He was a thinker. He thought. He had been thinking all along, his mind racing like a machine with its gears disengaged, wheels spinning, revolving in their cycles. But to what purpose was all that thinking? None that he could divine.

  He kept walking. He wanted to walk. He would keep doing it, for it was his only function in this world. His necessary and sufficient cause for being.

  The horizon was far, just as far as it always had been, always would be. He would walk forever, the darkness hanging over him, an infinite band of gray spectral light encompassing him, a horizon delimiting the limitlessness of his world.

  It was enough.

  Four

  Sea

  The sea was placid, the sky hazy. Not a good day for sailing. There was a breeze but it barely stirred the jib. No trace of a whitecap in sight. The surface was like tepid water left standing inside a bathtub. A tropical inversion had settled in, becalming everything adrift.

  Trent gave up. He dropped anchor, though there was no need. The sloop Inside Straight was dead in the water.

  The sun had tanned him, bleaching his butter-colored hair to cornsilk white, and the wind and weather had turned his handsomeness rugged. He had done a lot of sailing lately, living in this aspect, Sheila’s world.

  Sheila, his wife.

  She, of the red hair and wild magical talent, was stretched out prone on the deck, sunbathing in the nude.

  One arm resting on the mainsail boom, he admired the shapeliness of her posterior, appreciating its perfect hemispherical geometry. He also deeply approved of the long legs, the ample thighs, the well-turned calves, the perfect, arched feet. There were three brown freckles on her broad oiled back, and he liked those as well.

  “You’re going to burn,” he said.

  “I have super sun-blocker on.”

  “You always burn. You turn into lobster thermidor within five minutes.”

  Scowling, she turned over and sat up. “Isn’t it the truth. Redheads never tan, damn it anyway.” She ran a hand over her left arm. “I hate my complexion.”

  “Don’t you dare.”

  “It’s mine. I get to hate it if I want.”

  “I like what it’s wrapped around.”

  She smiled. “Come here and kiss me, sailor.”

  He went to her and did.

  She bit his nose. “You’re so damned good-looking, I could eat you.”

  “Sounds great.”

  “I like the cut of your jib, sailor.”

  “And my mainsail?”

  “Your what?”

  He pointed.

  She looked. “Oh. That, too.”

  “You just like nautical men.”

  “Naughty men. The naughtier the better.”

  “You’re taking quite a chance saying that, dressed the way you are.”

  “I’m not dressed at all, dear.”

  “Au contraire, in your finest.”

  “Thank you, dear.” She kissed him again. “Hot, isn’t it?”

  He took off his mirrored sunglasses and rubbed his eyes. “Aye, that it is. And muggy. We’ll probably have to use the motor to get home.”

  “No wind, huh?”

  “We are becalmed. If we wait an hour or two, the heat will rise and cooler air will come, on a breeze. But I don’t feel like lying to for that long. Besides, this is squall weather.”

  “Maybe a good storm will cool things off.”

  “It might cool us off — permanently, if we get stuck out here in it.”

  “I trust you implicitly, Captain. You’ll get us safely back to Sheila’s Cove.”

  “And Sheila World.”

  ““Club Sheila,” please. Trent?”

  “Yes, my dear?”

  “Have you enjoyed our living here?”

  “Of course.”

  “You’re not bored, helping me run this little resort?”

  “As a career, resort-hotel management offers many chances for advancement and personal fulfillment.”

  She whacked him on the shoulder. “Seriously. Have you minded awfully much?”

  “Not at all, my dear. It’s a wonderful place. Sun, sand, sea, and great banana daiquiris.”

  “You don’t get bored sometimes?”

  “Oh, maybe a little. And a bit annoyed, when we get a particularly fussy guest.”

  “You mean like Lord Peter.”

  “Ever since Incarnadine made the error of elevating him to the peerage, he’s been insufferable.”

  “Wasn’t he an aristocrat or something before? I mean, back in England? He always acted like it.”

  “I doubt it. But I’m sure he always thought that was an oversight that should be corrected. And now, thanks to Inky …”

  ““His Majesty,” please.”

  “Oh, to hell with him.”

  “Trent! He’s the king!”

  “He’s my brother, and I love him. Like a brother. Would you like some champagne, my dear?”

  “Do I ever refuse?”

  Trent got up and fetched the cooler. Soon, a cork popped and flew on an arching trajectory into the sea.

  Sheila yelled, “Pollution!”

  “It’s our world; we can pollute it a little, as we’re its only inhabitants.”

  “What an attitude!” Sheila said reprovingly. “All the more reason to keep it pure.”

  “A bit of cork is not pollution. Be quiet and drink this.”

  “Yes, my lord. Thank you. Nice champagne glasses. Where’d you … not from the bar, I hope?”

  “Where else?”

  “We’re running short of gl
assware.”

  “You’ll conjure more.”

  “It’s hard work! Really, I can’t keep up with the maintenance of this place. Light bulbs, dishes, towels —”

  “Why the hell do people steal towels from hotels?” Trent mused. “I’ve always been mystified by that.”

  “And ashtrays! And soap, and sugar bowls, and anything else that’s not nailed down.”

  “Comes with the territory. What I want to know is who these “people’ are who are hotel guests and who aren’t from the castle.”

  “They came with the hotel when I conjured it,” Sheila said.

  “Phantasms.”

  “Window dressing.”

  “Props,” he said. “Lifeless props.”

  “I’ve talked to a few. They’re nice people.”

  Trent sipped his champagne. “One of these days you’ll have no other choice than to consign them all to the oblivion whence they came. When you finally get tired of this little island paradise you created.”

  “Think I’ll get tired of it?”

  “Do you think you will?”

  Sheila mulled it over. “I like it here much better than the castle. The castle’s dark and gloomy.”

  “Castles tend to be that way.”

  “Especially Perilous.”

  “Well, yes. But it has one hundred forty-three thousand nine hundred ninety-nine more game rooms besides this one.”

  “Some of them are downright creepy.”

  “Oh, sure, but some are quite delightful. I wouldn’t mind a change of scenery.”

  “Really? Trent, do you want to move?”

  “No, dear. I want to be where you are happiest. And I think that, for the moment, you are happiest here.” Trent crossed his legs and sipped thoughtfully. “But paradise can be ultimately boring. I do miss the castle every once in a great while.”

  Sheila set down her glass and stretched out again, this time on her back. “I thought you said you can’t ever live at Perilous. Because of the curse?”

  “Well, it’s a mild curse.”

  “Your father put it on you, right?”

  “Yep. Old Dad. The king.”

  “You’ve never really explained why.”

  “Well, simply put, Dad banished me from the castle because I was a rotten kid.”

  “Were you a rotten kid?”

  “I was young. And hot-headed. And ambitious. I wanted to be king.”

  “But your dad favored Incarnadine over you.”

  “For the succession, yes.”

  “Incarnadine is older than you, isn’t he?”

  “No,” Trent answered. “I am. By four minutes.”

  Sheila’s head popped up. “What?”

  “We’re twins. Fraternal twins.”

  “You never told me that.”

  Trent considered it. “No, I don’t believe I ever did. It’s true, though.”

  “This four-minute difference — is that why you thought you should be king? Some legal thing?”

  “Dad didn’t care a fig about legalities. Dad liked Inky a lot. He hated me. There was no question in his mind who should wear the crown after he died.”

  “And Inky … I mean, Incarnadine, was crowned when that happened.”

  “Yes, but not until after I gave him a run for his money.”

  “I’ve heard stories about how you challenged him.”

  “Mostly blown out of proportion. But I’ll have to admit I got rather insistent about it.” Trent stretched out his legs and leaned back against the bulkhead. He chuckled. “Do you know how long ago that was?”

  “I know you two are getting along in years,” Sheila said, “for all that you both still don’t look a day over thirty-five.”

  “Magic, my dear. Magic.”

  “Great stuff, magic. So, about this curse. You can’t set foot in the castle?”

  “Oh, I can set foot in it, all right. But I can’t stay for long. Eventually I get an overpowering urge to leave.”

  “Too bad.”

  “It used to be worse. Used to be I’d get anxiety attacks. The shakes. I’ve done some work against the spell over the years to reduce its effectiveness.”

  Sheila asked, “Are you saying you could live in the castle now?”

  “I’m really not sure. The spell may have lost potency on its own. Spells do that, with time.”

  A gull screeched somewhere off in the lazy silence.

  Trent looked up at the canopy of fuzzy, blue-dyed cotton that was the sky. “I honestly don’t know if I could stay in the castle for any length of time. But I’m fairly sure I’m not interested in trying.”

  “Then we’ll stay here for the time being?”

  “As I said, Sheila, dear — where you’re happiest is where I want to be.”

  “You’re so gallant. So damned gallant.”

  “I’m a prince, hey.”

  “A prince of a prince.”

  “And you’re a princess, don’t forget. A princess of the Realms Perilous.”

  Sheila sat up and pulled her husband close. She kissed him. “Thanks for making my life a fairy tale.”

  “My pleasure. You know, when I first met you, I —”

  Trent suddenly turned his head shoreward.

  “We have company,” he said.

  Sheila got to her knees and looked. “The speedboat. Snowy’s probably waterskiing again.”

  “Look again. It’s the speedboat all right, but no skiers. Heading right for us.”

  “Something must have happened at the hotel,” Sheila said with concern, reaching for the two scraps of cloth that were her bikini. “That must be Julio piloting.”

  “It’s not Julio,” Trent said, shielding his eyes. “This is interesting.”

  “Who is it?”

  “Looks like Tyrene, a couple of Guardsmen with him.”

  “What? They never come here!”

  “No.” Trent’s brow lowered.

  “Trent, what do you think is up?”

  “We’ll soon find out.” Trent got to his feet.

  The speedboat cut its engines and turned, its starboard aligning with the sailboat’s port. One of the Guardsmen stood and threw a line.

  Tyrene, Captain of the Castle Guard, waved and shouted, “Ahoy!”

  Trent caught the line, tied the end off. The Guardsman hauled the two craft close enough to bump gently against each other.

  “Your Royal Highness,” Tyrene said, “if you’ll pardon the intrusion …”

  “What’s up, Tyrene?”

  “Permission to come aboard, sir?”

  “Permission granted.”

  It took some doing. Tyrene was the lubbiest of landlubbers. Trent helped him onto the deck of the sloop, where he eventually spilled.

  Trent had immediately taken ominous readings from Tyrene’s grave expression, but said casually, “Something’s up at the castle, I take it.”

  Tyrene came to unsteady attention. “Your Royal Highness, a disaster of unprecedented magnitude has befallen us. I regret to inform you that your brother, the king, is dead.”

  A gasp escaped Sheila’s lips before both hands shot up to cover her mouth.

  Trent turned his head and stared out to sea. A long interlude followed, the only sound that of wavelets lapping at Fiberglas hulls.

  At last Trent looked back. “How?”

  “He was found dead this morning, at his desk, locked within his quarters at the Elector’s palace.”

  “In …?”

  “Malnovia. That is the aspect, sir. He was Court Magician there.”

  “Malnovia, Malnovia.” Trent scratched his bare chest. “I recall the name but can’t put any images with it.”

  “The milieu is not unlike Earth, western Europe, eighteenth century, sir. Highly developed science, but largely agrarian …”

  “Yeah, I remember. Fine music, just like Earth’s in that period, only slightly different harmonic conventions and freer musical forms …” Trent exhaled. “Now, why do I remember trivialities li
ke that?”

  “Sir, His Majesty was fond of the aspect chiefly for its music.”

  Trent nodded. “Inky’s a classicist through and through.” He looked out to sea again. “Was. But you haven’t told me how he died.”

  “Sir, I regret to say that the cause is not yet known. However, the court physician was summoned and he pronounced the king dead. Later, our Dr. Mirabilis confirmed. Your Royal Highness, I am afraid there is no doubt about it. The king is dead.”

  “Long live the king,” Trent intoned. “But I regret to say I have forgotten his name.”

  “The king’s only son and heir is Brandon.”

  “Ah, Brandon. Yes, of course. Fine lad. How old?”

  “Twelve, sir.”

  “Seems he was born last Tuesday.” Trent inhaled salt air deeply, let it out. “So.”

  “There is the matter of appointing his regent, sir.”

  “The ministers have met?”

  “Not yet, sir. They will do so within the hour. I was instructed to beg the honor of your presence as they discuss this gravest of issues.”

  Trent nodded. “Please inform the ministers of the Privy Council that I will be in Council Chambers within the hour.” Trent wet a finger and held it up. “That is to say, if we get half a breeze out here.”

  “Sir, if I might make a suggestion —”

  Trent glanced at the speedboat. “No, we’ll stay with the Inside Straight. I don’t trust your men to bring her in safely, even under power. They don’t have a nautical look about them.”

  Tyrene straightened up. “But, Your Royal Highness —”

  “I need time to clear my wits, Tyrene. I may be a little late, but I’ll be there. Tell them not to start without me.”

  Tyrene slumped. “Yes, sir.”

  “Buck up, old man. These things are inevitable, even with the long life-spans the likes of us are blessed with.”

  “I suppose. Nevertheless …” Tyrene groped for words.

  “Yes, a death’s a shock to the system. All the more so for the false sense of security we’re lulled into because of its long postponement.”

  “Aye.” Tyrene sighed and looked off forlornly. “He was a great man.”

  Trent hesitated the barest second. “One of the greatest. Now, off with you. This is a vulnerable time, a critical juncture if there ever was one. You’re needed back at Perilous.”