by E R Eddison
‘Why, ’tis a monstrous thing,’ said Zenambria, ‘if Corinius shall have Demonland, which surely much surpasseth this crown of Pixyland. Shall this novice have all the meat, and thou, because thou art old, have nought but the bones and the parings?’
‘Hold thy tongue, mistress,’ said Corsus, looking upon her as one looketh on a sour mixture. ‘Why hadst not the wit to angle for him for thy daughter?’
‘Truly, husband, I’m sorry for it,’ said Zenambria.
The Lady Sriva laughed, placing her arm about her father’s bullock-neck and playing with his whiskers. ‘Content thee,’ she said, ‘my lady mother. I have my choice, and that is very certain, of these and of all other in Carcë. And now I bethink me on the Lord Corinius, why, there’s a proper man indeed: weareth a shaven lip too, which, as experienced opinion shall tell thee, far exceedeth your nasty moustachios.’
‘Well,’ said Corsus, kissing her, ‘howe’er it shape, I’ll to the King tonight to move my matter with him. Meanwhile, madam,’ he said to Zenambria, ‘I’ll have thee take thy chamber straight. Bolt well the door, and for more safety I will lock it myself o’ the outer side. There’s much mirth toward tonight, and I’d not have these staggering drunken swads offend thee, as full well might befall, whiles I am on mine errand of state.’
Zenambria bade him good-night, and would have taken her daughter with her, but Corsus said nay to this, saying, ‘I’ll see her safe bestowed.’
When they were alone, and the Lady Zenambria locked away in her chamber, Corsus took forth from an oaken cupboard a great silver flagon and two chased goblets. These he brimmed with a sparkling yellow wine from the flagon and made Sriva drink with him not once only but twice, emptying each time her goblet. Then he drew up his chair and sinking heavily into it folded his arms upon the table and buried his head upon them.
Sriva paced back and forth, impatient at her father’s strange posture and silence. Surely the wine lighted riot in her veins; surely in that silent room came back to her Corinius’s kisses hot upon her mouth, the strength of his arms like bands of bronze holding her embraced. Midnight tolled. Her bones seemed to melt within her as she bethought of her promise, due in an hour.
‘Father,’ said she at last, ‘midnight hath stricken. Wilt thou not go ere it be too late?’
The Duke raised his face and looked at her. He answered ‘No.’ ‘No,’ he said again, ‘where’s the profit? I wax old, my daughter, and must wither. The world is to the young. To Corinius; to Laxus; to thee. But most of all to Corund, who if a be old yet hath his mess of sons, and mightiest of all his wife, to be his ladder to climb thrones withal.’
‘But thou saidst but now—’ said Sriva.
‘Ay, when thy mammy was by. She cometh to her second childhood before her time, so as to a child I speak to her. Corund did ill to wed with a young wife, ha? Phrut! Is not this the very bulwark and rampire of his fortune? Didst ever see a fellow so spurted up in a moment? My secretary when I managed the old wars against the Ghouls, and now climbed clean over me, that am yet nine year his elder. Called king, forsooth, and like to be ta’en soon (under the King) for Dominus fac totum throughout all the land if a play this woman as a should. Will not the King, for such payment as she intends, give Demonland upon Impland and all the world beside? Hell’s dignity, that would I, and ’twere offered me.’
He stood up, reaching unsteadily for the wine jug. Furtively he watched his daughter, shifting his gaze ever as her eye met his.
‘Corund,’ said he, pouring out some wine, ‘would split his sides for laughter to hear thy mother’s prim-mouthed brabble: he that hath enjoined upon his wife, there’s ne’er a doubt on’t, this very errand, and if he visit it on her at his coming home ’twill but be with hotter love and gratitude for that she wins him in our despite. Trust me, ’tis not every lady of quality shall find favour with a King.’
The casement stood open, and while they stood without speech sounds of a lute trembled upward from the court below, and a man’s voice, soft and deep, singing this song:
Hornes to the bull,
Hooves to the steede,
To little hayres
Light feete for speed,
And unto lions she giveth tethe
A-gaping dangerouslye.
Fishes to swim,
And birds to flye,
And men to judge
And reeson why,
She teacheth. Yet for womankind
None of these thinges hath she.
For women beautie
She hath made
Their onely shielde
Their onely blade.
O’er sword and fire they triumph stille,
Soe they but beautious be.
The Lady Sriva knew it was Laxus singing to her chamber window. Her blood beat wildly, the spirit of enterprise winging her imagination not toward him, nor yet Corinius, but into paths strangely and perilously inviting, undreamed of until now. The Duke her father came towards her, thrusting the chairs from his way, and saying, ‘Corund and his mess of sons! Corund and his young Queen! If he conjure with the white rose, why not thou and I with the red? It hath as fair a look, the devil damn me else, and savoureth as excellent sweet perfume.’
She stared at him big-eyed, with blushing cheeks. He took her hands in his.
‘Shall this outland woman,’ he said, ‘and her sallow-cheeked gallant still ruffle it over us? Long beards, whether they be white or black, are too huge a blemish in our eye, methinks. The thing seemeth not supportable, that this precise madam with her foreign fashions – Dost fear to stand i’ the field against her?’
Sriva put her forehead on his shoulder and said, scarce to be heard, ‘And it come to that, I’ll show thee.’
‘It must be now,’ said Corsus. ‘Prezmyra, thou hast told me, seeketh audience betimes i’ the morning. Women are best at night-time, too.’
‘If Laxus should hear thee!’ she said.
He answered, ‘Tush, he need never blame thee, even if he knew on’t, and we can manage that. Thy silly mother prated but now of honour. ’Tis but a school-name; and if ’twere other, tell me whence springeth the fount of honour if not from the King of Kings? If he receive thee, then art thou honoured, and all they that have to do with thee. I am yet to learn dishonour lieth on that man or woman whom the King doth honour.’
She laughed, turning from him toward the window, her hands still held in his. ‘Foh, thou hast given me a strong potion! And I think that swayeth me more than thy many arguments, O my father, which to say truth I cannot well remember because I did not much believe.’
Duke Corsus took her by the shoulders. His face overlooked her by a little, for she was not tall of build. ‘By the Gods,’ he said, ‘’tis a stronger sweet scent of the red rose to make a great man drunk withal than of the white, though that be a bigger flower.’ And he said, ‘Why not, for a game, for a madcap jest? A mantle and hood, a mask if thou wilt, and my ring to prove thee mine ambassador. I’ll attend thee through the courtyard to the foot o’ the stairs.’
She said nothing, smiling at him as she turned for him to put the great velvet mantle about her shoulders.
‘Ha,’ said he, ‘’tis well seen a daughter is worth ten sons.’
In the meanwhile Gorice the King sate in his private chamber writing at a parchment spread before him on the table of polished marmolite. A silver lamp burned at his left elbow. The window stood open to the night. The King had laid aside his crown, that sparkled darkly in the shadow below the lamp. He put down his pen and read again what he had writ, in manner following:
Fram Me, Gorice the Twelft, Greate Kyng of Wychlande and of Ympelande and of Daemonlande and of al kyngdomes the sonne dothe spread hys bemes over, unto Corsus My servaunte: Thys is to signifye to the that thoue shalt with all convenient spede repaire with a suffycyaunt strengthe of menne and schyppes to Daemonlande, bycause that untowarde and traytorly cattell that doe there inhabyt are to fele by the the sharpnes of My correctioun. I wyll the, as hold
ynge the place of My generalle ther, that thow enter forcybly ynto the sayd cuntrie and doe with al dilygence spoyl ravysche and depopulate that lande, enslavying oppressyng and puttyng to the dethe as thow shalt thynke moost servychable al them that shal fall ynto thy powre, and in pertyculer pullyng downe and ruinating all thayr stronge houlds or castels, as Galinge, Dreppabie, Crothryng, Owleswyke, and othere. Thys enterpryse in head is one of the gretest that ever was since yt is to trampe downe Daemonlande and once and for al to cutt thayr coames whose crestes may daunger us, and thow art toe onderstande that withowt extraordinair experiens of thy former merrits I wolde not commyt to the so greate a chairge, and especially in such a tyme. And since al gret enterpryses oughte to bee sodeynly and resolutely prosequuted, therefore thys oughte to bee done and executed at furthest in harveste nexte. Therefore yt is My commaundemente that thow Corsus take order for the instant furnesshynge of shippes, seamen, souldiers, horsemen, officiers, and pertyculer personnes, wepons, municions, and al other necessaries whych is thought to be needfull for the armie and hoast whych shalbe levied for the sayd entrepryse, for whyche this letter shalbe thy suffycyaunt warrant under My hande. Given under My signeth of Ouroboros in My pallaice of Carcie thys XXIX daie of may, beynge the VII daie of My yeare II.
The King took wax and a taper from the great gold inkstand, and sealed the warrant with the ruby head of the worm Ouroboros, saying, ‘The ruby, most comfortable to the heart, brain, vigour, and memory of man. So, ’tis confirmed.’
In that instant when the wax was yet soft of the King’s seal sealing that commission for Corsus, one tapped gently at the chamber door. The King bade enter, and there came the captain of his bodyguard and stood before the King, with word that one waited without, praying instant audience, ‘And showed me for a token, O my Lord the King, a bull’s head with fiery nostrils graven in a black opal in the bezel of a ring, which I knew for the signet of my Lord Corsus that his lordship beareth alway on his left thumb. And ’twas this, O King, that only persuaded me to deliver the message unto your Majesty in this unseasonable hour. Which if it be a fault in me, I do humbly hope your Majesty will pardon.’
‘Knowest thou the man?’ said the King.
He answered, ‘I might not know him, dread Lord, for the mask and great hooded cloak he weareth. It is a little man, and speaketh a husky whisper.’
‘Admit him,’ said King Gorice; and when Sriva was come in, masked and hooded and holding forth the ring, he said, ‘Thou lookest questionable, albeit this token opened a way for thee. Put off these trappings and let me know thee.’
But she, speaking still in a husky whisper, prayed that they might be private ere she disclosed herself. So the King bade leave them private.
‘Dread Lord,’ said the soldier, ‘is it your will that I stand ready without the door?’
‘No,’ said the King. ‘Void the ante-chamber, set the guard, and let none disturb me.’ And to Sriva he said, ‘If thine errand prove not more honester than thy looks, this is an ill night’s journey for thee. At the lifting of my finger I am able to metamorphose thee to a mandrake. If indeed thou beest aught else already.’
When they were alone the Lady Sriva doffed her mask and put back her hood, uncovering her head that was crowned with two heavy trammels of her dark brown hair bound up and interwoven above her brow and ears and pinned with silver pins headed with garnets coloured like burning coals. The King beheld her from under the great shadow of his brows, darkly, not by so much as the moving of an eyelid or a lineament of his lean visage betraying aught that passed in his mind at this disclosing.
She trembled and said, ‘O my Lord the King, I hope you will indulge and pardon in me this trespass. Truly I marvel at mine own boldness how I durst come to you.’
With a gesture of his hand the King bade her be seated in a chair on his right beside the table. ‘Thou needest not be afraid, madam,’ he said. ‘That I admit thee, let it make thee assured of welcome. Let me know thine errand.’
The fire of her father’s wine shuddered down within her like a low-lit flame in a gust of wind as she sat there alone with King Gorice XII in the circle of the lamplight. She took a deep breath to still her heart’s fluttering and said, ‘O King, I was much afeared to come, and it was to ask you a boon: a little thing for you to give, Lord, and yet to me that am the least of your handmaids a great thing to receive. But now I am come indeed, I durst not ask it.’
The glitter of his eyes looking out from their eaves of darkness dismayed her; and little comfort had she of the iron crown at his elbow, bright with gems and fierce with uplifted claws, or of the copper serpents interlaced that made the arms of his chair, or of the bright image of the lamp reflected in the table top where were red streaks like streaks of blood and black streaks like edges of swords streaking the green shining surface of the stone.
Yet she took heart to say, ‘Were I a great lord had done your majesty service as my father hath, or these others you did honour tonight, O King, it had been otherwise.’ He said nothing, and still gathering courage she said, ‘I too would serve you, O King. And I came to ask you how.’
The King smiled. ‘I am much beholden to thee, madam. Do as thou hast done, and thou shalt please me well. Feast and be merry, and charge not thine head with these midnight questionings, lest too much carefulness make thee grow lean.’
‘Grow I so, O King? You shall judge.’ So speaking the Lady Sriva rose up and stood before him in the lamplight. Slowly she opened her arms upwards right and left, putting back her velvet cloak from her shoulders, until the dark cloak hanging in folds from either uplifted hand was like the wings of a bird lifted up for flight. Dazzling fair shone her bare shoulders and bare arms and throat and bosom. One great hyacinth stone, hanging by a gold chain about her neck, rested above the hollow of her breasts. It flashed and slept with her breathing’s alternate fall and swell.
‘You did threaten me, Lord, but now,’ she said, ‘to transmew me to a mandrake. Would you might change me to a man.’
She could read nothing in the crag-like darkness of his countenance, the iron lip, the eyes that were like pulsing firelight out of hollow caves.
‘I should serve you better so, Lord, than my poor beauty may. Were I a man, I had come to you tonight and said, “O King, let us not suffer any longer of that hound Juss. Give me a sword, O King, and I will put down Demonland for you and tread them under feet.”’
She sank softly into her chair again, suffering her velvet cloak to fall over its back. The King ran his finger thoughtfully along the upstanding claws of the crown beside him on the table.
‘Is this the boon thou askest me?’ he said at length. ‘An expedition to Demonland?’
She answered it was.
‘Must they sail tonight?’ said the King, still watching her.
She smiled foolishly.
‘Only,’ he said, ‘I would know what gadfly of urgency stung thee on to come so strangely and suddenly and after midnight.’
She paused a minute, then summoning courage: ‘Lest another should first come to you, O King,’ she answered. ‘Believe me, I know of preparations, and one that shall come to you in the morning praying this thing for another. What intelligence soever some hath, I am sure of that to be true that I have.’
‘Another?’ said the King.
Sriva answered, ‘Lord, I’ll say no names. But there be some, O King, be dangerous sweet suppliants, hanging their hopes belike on other strings than we may tune.’
She had bent her head above the polished table, looking curiously down into its depths. Her corsage and gown of scarlet silk brocade were like the chalice of a great flower; her white arms and shoulders like the petals of the flower above it. At length she looked up.
‘Thou smilest, my Lady Sriva,’ said the King.
‘I smiled at mine own thought,’ she said. ‘You’ll laugh to hear it, O my Lord the King, being so different from what we spoke on. But sure, of women’s thoughts is no more surety nor rest than is in a vane that tu
rneth at all winds.’
‘Let me hear it,’ said the King, bending forward, his lean hairy hand flung idly across the table’s edge.
‘Why thus it was, Lord,’ said she. ‘There came me in mind of a sudden that saying of the Lady Prezmyra when first she was wed to Corund and dwelt here in Carcë. She said all the right part of her body was of Witchland but the left Pixy. Whereupon our people that were by rejoiced much that she had given the right part of her body to Witchland. Whereupon she said, but her heart was on the left side.’
‘And where wearest thou thine?’ asked the King. She durst not look at him, and so saw not the comic light go like summer lightning across his dark countenance as she spoke Prezmyra’s name.
His hand had dropped from the table edge; Sriva felt it touch her knee. She trembled like a full sail that suddenly for an instant the wind leaves. Very still she sat, saying in a low voice, ‘There’s a word, my Lord the King, if you’d but speak it, should beam a light to show you mine answer.’
But he leaned closer, saying, ‘Dost think I’ll chaffer with thee? I’ll know the answer first i’ the dark.’
‘Lord,’ she whispered, ‘I would not have come to you in this deep and dead time of the night but that I knew you noble and the great King, and no amorous surfeiter that should deal false with me.’
Her body breathed spices: soft warm scents to make the senses reel: perfume of malabathrum bruised in wine, essences of sulphur-coloured lilies planted in Aphrodite’s garden. The King drew her to him. She cast her arms about his neck, saying close to his ear, ‘Lord, I may not sleep till you tell me they must sail, and Corsus must be their captain.’
The King held her gathered up like a child in his embrace. He kissed her on the mouth, a long deep kiss. Then he sprang to his feet, set her down like a doll before him upon the table by the lamp, and so sat back in his own chair again and sat regarding her with a strange and disturbing smile.
