Part 67 (1/2)
One of the heralds called up to the balcony: ”It was Twisk! She ordered us to disturb your rest.”
The other herald corroborated the statement. ”She told us to blow a great blast that would startle you from your bed to the floor.”
Twisk gave an indifferent shrug. ”Blame me, if you like; however, I acted on the insistence of Madouc, whom you may remember.”
Madouc, with an injured glance toward Twisk, stepped forward. ”I am here!”
”So I see! What of that?”
”Do you not remember? I went to Idilra Post that I might learn the ident.i.ty of my father!” She indicated the three individuals at her back. ”Here is Nisby the peasant, Sir Jaucinet the knight; also this mysterious shape of no category, nor yet any face.”
”I remember the case distinctly!” said King Throbius. He looked across the area with disapproval. ”Fairies! Why do you thrust and crush and press with such rude energy? One and all, stand back! Now then: Twisk! You must make a sure and careful inspection.”
”One glance was enough,” said Twisk.
”And your findings?”
”I recognize Nisby and Sir Jaucinet. As for the shadow, his face is invisible, which in itself is a significant index.”
”It is indeed unique. The case has aspects of interest.”
King Throbius stepped back from the balcony and a moment later came out upon the meadow. Again the fairies crowded about, to chortle and murmur, to mow and leer, until King Throbius issued orders so furious that his subjects shrank back abashed.
”Now then!” said King Throbius. ”We will proceed. Madouc, for you this must be a happy occasion! Soon you will be able to claim one of these three for your beloved father.”
Madouc dubiously considered the possibilities. ”Sir Jaucinet undoubtedly boasts the best pedigree; still I cannot believe that I am related to someone who looks like a sick sheep.”
”All will be made known,” said King Throbius confidently. He looked to right and left. ”Osfer! Where are you?”
”I have expected your call, Your Highness! I stand directly behind your royal back.”
”Come forward, Osfer, into the purview of my eyes. We must exercise your craft. Madouc's paternity is in question and we must definitely resolve the issue.”
Osfer stepped forward: a fairy of middle maturity, brown of skin and gnarled of limb, with eyes of amber and a nose which hooked almost to meet an up-jutting chin. ”Sire, your orders?”
”Go to your workshop; return with dishes of Matronian nephrite, to the number of five; bring probers, nitsnips, and a gill of your Number Six Elixir.”
”Your Highness, I presumed to antic.i.p.ate your commands, and I already have these items at hand.”
”Very good, Osfer. Order your varlets to bring hither a table; let it be spread with a cloth of gray murvaille.”
”The order has been effected, Sire. The table stands ready at he your left hand.”
King Throbius turned to inspect the arrangements. ”Well done, Osfer. Now then: bring out your best extractor; we shall need fibrils of coming and going. When all is ready, we will contrive our matrices.”
”In minutes only, Your Highness! I move with the speed of flas.h.i.+ng nymodes when urgency is the call!”
”Do so now! Madouc is hard-put to restrain her eagerness; it is as if she were dancing upon thorns.”
”A pathetic case, to be sure,” said Osfer. ”But soon indeed she will be able to embrace her father.”