Part 48 (1/2)
”Oh,” breathed Mad Miltzin. His gra.s.shopper eyes bulged expressively. ”Oh.”
”You see, Sire.” Nevenskoi noted his monarch's reaction with satisfaction. ”Masterfire's potential remains largely untapped. Will you not concede as much?”
”Magnificent,” whispered the king. ”Spectacular. She is so very beautiful!”
”Your Majesty's pleasure is my greatest reward.”
”She is the most glorious creature I have ever beheld,” opined His Majesty. ”Flawless. Peerless. Never have I encountered such intensity, such unabashed ardor!”
”It is but one form among countless possibilities, each more wondrous than the last,” Nevenskoi suggested with a significant smile.
”To think how we've misjudged!” marveled the king. ”This ent.i.ty that we've known as Masterfire should by rights bear the t.i.tle of-Mistressfire. Yes, it is perfect-she is perfect. The very essence of true femininity-and we did not perceive it, until now! How could we have been so blind?” is perfect. The very essence of true femininity-and we did not perceive it, until now! How could we have been so blind?”
”Majesty, all mortals err.”
”Nevenskoi, I must touch her! It's possible, is it not? Do not deny me, my friend, do not deny her her-for I sense her longing, it burns in those incomparable eyes!”
”I believe that a certain limited contact may be possible,” Nevenskoi consented cautiously. He considered. He controlled Masterfire, he could trust Masterfire, up to a point. ”Yes. You may hold her hand. Briefly.”
”It is a start.” Miltzin's eyes traveled the undulant green form. ”The start of a journey, I am certain.”
”One moment, Sire.” Nevenskoi concentrated his thoughts and spoke with his mind. Loveliness. You have done well, I am proud of you. Now hear me. It is important, very important. Loveliness. You have done well, I am proud of you. Now hear me. It is important, very important.
Whatwhatwhat? asked Masterfire. asked Masterfire.
The king desires to touch you.
Eateateateateateat- None of that. You will suffer his touch, and you will consume nothing.
Badmeat touches me, I eat.
No! You will not eat. Not a morsel. You will not so much as frizzle a hair on his head. Do you understand me?
NoNoNo.
Yes you do.
Who is badmeat to touch Masterfire?
Our sovereign, our ruler.
Not mine.
No more argument. Nevenskoi focused his will. Nevenskoi focused his will. You hear my commands. You will obey. You hear my commands. You will obey.
No fun.
Offer your hand to the king.
Not a real hand, anyway. Complaints notwithstanding, the blazing beauty extended a graceful green arm. Complaints notwithstanding, the blazing beauty extended a graceful green arm.
Miltzin hesitantly accepted the proffered member. The slim hand of fire lay harmlessly across his open palm, and an entranced smile overspread his face. Very gently he closed his fingers to clasp the hand of Masterfire, and for some moments stood savoring the contact.
”I sense the wild flare of her emotions,” the king proclaimed at length. ”And I believe that Mistressfire likewise senses mine. We are kindred spirits, she and I. We have bonded.” Lightly he stroked the long green fingers, which flickered at his touch. ”Ah, she is exquisitely responsive.”
EAT! Masterfire s.h.i.+vered with eagerness, and for a split second the human guise wavered. Masterfire s.h.i.+vered with eagerness, and for a split second the human guise wavered. Pleasepleaseplease! Pleasepleaseplease!
No. I absolutely forbid it.
WHY?.
”She is pa.s.sion personified,” observed the king. ”She is divine. I must know her fully, Nevenskoi-I must experience her totality. You will find a way of effecting our union. I am relying on you, my friend.”
”I-well. Union. Your Majesty has taken me by surprise,” Nevenskoi answered with perfect truth.
Eateateateateateateateateat- ”But it is not so amazing,” Miltzin IX observed reasonably. ”You are the creator of Mistressfire, her father and teacher. Surely you, who know her so well, must have perceived that she and your monarch possess twin souls of fire. What could be more natural than the longing of two such spirits to merge? For I trust I do not flatter myself in a.s.suming that Mistressfire shares my desires.”
Eateateateateateateateateateat- ”I can safely report that she is not indifferent, Sire. Still-”
A sharp knock at the study door spared Nevenskoi the necessity of further invention.
”Ah, I had quite forgotten.” Miltzin shook his head. ”But then, my attention has been fully occupied!” He raised his voice. ”Come!”
The door opened. A footman hovered at the threshold. He took in the naked green flaming female handfasted to the king, and his eyes rounded. His jaw dropped, but no words emerged.
”Send him in, send him in,” Miltzin commanded, amused.
The footman bowed deeply and retired mutely.
”It quite slipped my mind, I've sent for that marvelous new sous-chef,” the king explained blithely. ”That talented fellow shall have a royal commendation, and perhaps a little pourboire to go with it. I'm sure you'll agree, my friend, that he deserves both.”
”The sous-chef?” Nevenskoi froze, paralyzed as if some blood vessel in his brain had burst, and he could only repeat helplessly, ”The sous-chef?”
”The new sous-chef, man! The genius, the rising star, the Architect of Appetizers. The gifted-what was his name, again? Oh, yes-the gifted Master Giggy Neeper!”
A new figure appeared in the doorway.
”You may approach,” Miltzin invited graciously.
The newcomer bowed low, entered, and there was Cousin Giggy, much as Nitz Neeper remembered. Fifteen years older, of course. The snub-nosed, freckled, skinny adolescent of yore had thickened around the middle and his sandy hair was receding, but Giggy remained entirely recognizable.
Terror welled within Nevenskoi, and he cast desperate eyes around him. Trapped.
Giggy Neeper's astounded eyes fastened on Masterfire. For a moment or two he saw nothing else. Recollecting the presence of his sovereign, he tore his eyes from the green woman, fixed them on the king, and held them there with obvious effort.