Part 25 (2/2)

”Well then: let us dine,” said s.h.i.+mrod.

The three seated themselves at a table in the shade of the oak, and were served from great silver salvers by the stewards.

Lady Desdea meanwhile had gone to take instruction from Queen Sollace. The two engaged in a hurried conference, after which Lady Desdea marched purposefully across the lawn to the table where Madouc sat with Dhrun and s.h.i.+mrod. She stopped beside Madouc and spoke in a voice carefully controlled: ”Your Highness, I must inform you that Prince Bittern has urgently begged that you do him the honour of dining in his company. The queen desires that you accede to his request, and at once.”

”You must be mistaken,” said Madouc. ”Prince Bittern is absolutely fascinated by that tall lady with the long nose.”

”That is the distinguished d.u.c.h.ess Clavessa Montfoy. However, please take note: Prince Ca.s.sander has persuaded her to take a turn on the river before proceeding with the banquet. Prince Bittern now sits alone.”

Madouc turned to look; indeed, Prince Ca.s.sander and the d.u.c.h.ess Clavessa were strolling off toward the dock, where three punts floated in the shade of a weeping willow. The d.u.c.h.ess Clavessa, although perplexed by Prince Ca.s.sander's proposal, continued to exercise her usual effervescence, and chattered away at a great rate. Prince Ca.s.sander was less effusive; he conducted himself with urbane politeness but no great zest. As for Prince Bittern, he sat looking after the d.u.c.h.ess Clavessa, slack-jawed and glum.

Lady Desdea told Madouc: ”As you see, Prince Bittern is anxiously awaiting your presence.”

”Not so! You misread his posture. He is anxious to join Ca.s.sander and d.u.c.h.ess Clavessa on the river.”

Lady Desdea's eyes glittered. ”You must obey the queen! She feels that your place is properly with Prince Bittern.”

Dhrun spoke in cold tones: ”You would seem to imply that the princess now sits in unsuitable or demeaning company. If this discourtesy is carried any farther, I will instantly protest to King Casmir, and ask him to deal with what would seem a gross breach of etiquette.”

Lady Desdea blinked and drew back. She performed a stiff bow. ”Naturally I intended no discourtesy. I am only an instrument of the queen's wishes.”

”The queen, then, must be at some misapprehension. The princess does not wish to deprive us of her company, and she seems quite at her ease; why create a fiasco?”

Lady Desdea could proceed no farther. She curtseyed and departed.

With a drooping mouth Madouc watched her go. ”She will take vengeance-needlework and more needlework for hours on end.”

Madouc turned a thoughtful glance upon s.h.i.+mrod. ”Can you teach me to transform Lady Desdea into an owl, if only for a day or so?”

”Transformations are complicated,” said s.h.i.+mrod. ”Each step is critical; if a single syllable went awry, Lady Desdea might become a harpy or an orc, with the whole countryside at peril. You must delay transformations until you are more experienced.”

”I am apt at magic, according to my mother. She taught me the 'Tinkle-toe Imp-spring', that I might fend off bandits or louts.”

”I don't know that particular effect,” said s.h.i.+mrod. ”At least, not by that name.”

”It is simple enough.” Madouc looked here and there, around the lawn and down the slope toward the river. Near the dock she took note of Prince Ca.s.sander, who was politely seating d.u.c.h.ess Clavessa in a punt, while at the same time making a gallant remark. Madouc arranged thumb and finger, muttered: ”Fwip!” and jerked her chin. Prince Ca.s.sander gave a startled outcry and jumped into the river.

”That was the low strength or low virtue method,” said Madouc. ”The other two virtues are more notable. I saw Zocco the wefkin jump a good six feet into the air.”

”That is a fine technique,” said s.h.i.+mrod. ”It is neat, quick and of nice effect. Evidently you have not used the 'Tinkle-toe' in any of its virtues upon Lady Desdea?”

”No. It seems a bit extreme, and I would not want her to jump past her ordinary ability.”

”Let me think,” said s.h.i.+mrod. ”There is a lesser effect known as the 'Sissle-way', which also comes in three gradations: the 'Subsurrus', the 'Sissle-way Ordinary', and the 'Chatter-fang'.”

”I would like to learn this effect.”

”The sleight is definite but subtle. You must whisper the activator-schkt-then point your little finger, thus and so, and then you must hiss softly-like this.”

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