Part 79 (1/2)

”We heard a rumour that the Grail was guarded by the ogre Throop of the Three Heads, and that a hundred brave knights had died in the attempt to liberate it.”

”And where is it now! Speak! Tell me at once! I am beside myself with excitement!”

”Just so, Your Highness! Throop immured the Grail in a closet of his Castle Doldil, deep within the Forest of Tantrevalles.”

”That is absolutely important news! We must a.s.semble an army of gpodly knights and march on an expedition of deliverance! Ca.s.sander, go this instant to inform His Highness the King! All else is trivial.”

”Hear me out, Your Highness!” cried Madouc. ”I am not yet done! With advice from my mother Sir Pom-Pom and I presented ourselves at Castle Doldil; and there, with bravery unsurpa.s.sed, Sir Pom-Pom inflicted death upon Throop and won the Holy Grail, which he has carried back to Lyonesse Town wrapped in purple silk, and which he will now place before you. Sir Pom-Pom, you may present the Holy Grail.”

”I cannot believe this!” cried Queen Sollace. ”I am in a state of entrancement, or ecstasy of the ninth order!”

Sir Pom-Pom stepped forward and gravely removed the wrapping of purple silk from the chalice; on bended knee he placed the sacred object on the table before Queen Sollace. ”Your Majesty, I hereby offer you this Holy Grail! I hope that you will cherish it with joy, and also that you will grant me the boon of my desires as stated in the king's proclamation.”

Queen Sollace, her eyes fixed on the Grail, was numb to all else. ”Glory of glories! I marvel that this unction has been yielded to me! I am confounded by rapture! It is beyond belief; it is beyond all ordinary scope!”

Madouc said primly: ”Your Highness, I must call to your attention that you have Sir Pom-Pom to thank for the presentation of this Grail!”

”Indeed this is so! He has done a magnificent service for the Church, and on behalf of the Church I render him my full and royal thanks! He shall be well rewarded! Ca.s.sander, at this mo ment give the lad a gold piece as an earnest of my favor!”

Ca.s.sander brought a gold coin from his pouch and pressed it into Sir Pom-Pom's hand. ”Do not thank me; thank the queen for her generosity!”

Queen Sollace called out to the footman who stood immobile by the door. ”Bring Father Umphred here at once, that he may share our joy! Hurry, run on your fastest feet! Tell Father Umphred only that glorious news awaits him!”

Sir Mungo the High Seneschal entered the parlour. ”Your Highness, I notified His Majesty in regard to the Princess Madouc. He wishes me to bring her and her companion to the Hall of Judgments.”

Queen Sollace made an absent-minded gesture. ”You have my permission to leave. Madouc, you too have worked for the Good, and in my great happiness I discharge you of blame for your transgressions! But in the future you must learn tractability!”

Sir Pom-Pom spoke diffidently: ”Your Highness, what of the boon promised by the king? When should I make my wants known, and when will the boon be granted?”

Queen Sollace frowned somewhat impatiently. ”In due course any feasible arrangements will be considered. In the meantime, you already have what is best of all: which is to say, the knowledge of how well you have served our Church and our Faith!”

Sir Pom-Pom stammered something incoherent, then bowed and backed away. Sir Mungo said: ”Princess Madouc, you may come with me at this time, along with your companion.”

Sir Mungo led the two by a side corridor into the ancient Old Hall, through a portal in a dank stone wall out upon a landing, from which a stone ramp descended past monumental stone columns to give into the solemn s.p.a.ces of the Hall of Judgments.

On a low dais sat King Casmir, wearing the traditional vestments of judgment: a black robe with black gloves, a square of black velvet on his head with gold ta.s.sels dependent and a gold fillet above. He sat on a ma.s.sive throne with a small table before him; to either side of the dais stood a pair of men-at-arms clad in s.h.i.+rts and breeches of black leather relieved only by epaulettes and bra.s.sards of black iron. Helmets of iron and leather clasped their faces, lending them a sinister aspect. Those unfortunate individuals awaiting judgment sat on a bench to one side of the hall, in att.i.tudes of gloom. Those who had already been tortured stared blankly into s.p.a.ce, eyes as empty as knotholes.

Sir Mungo brought Madouc and Sir Pom-Pom before the king. ”Your Highness, I bring you the Princess Madouc and her companion, as you have requested.”

King Casmir leaned back in his throne and, frowning, considered the two.

Madouc curtseyed primly. ”I trust Your Majesty enjoys good health.”

King Casmir's face altered by not so much as a quiver. At last he spoke. ”It seems that Prince Ca.s.sander surprised you beside the road. Where have you been and what has been your mischief, to the disgrace of the royal house?”

Madouc spoke haughtily: ”Your Majesty has been shamefully misinformed! Far from being surprised by Prince Ca.s.sander, we were returning at best speed to Lyonesse Town. Prince Ca.s.sander and his friends overtook us along the way. We neither lurked, skulked, hid, lied, nor in any way compromised our dignity. As for mischief and disgrace, Your Majesty again has been victimized by misinformation, since I did no more than obey your instructions.”

King Casmir leaned forward, the pink rising in his already florid face. ”I instructed you to skite off into the wilderness, taking neither proper escort nor proper protection?”

”Just so, Your Majesty! You ordered me to discover my pedigree as best I could, and not to trouble you with the details.”