Part 95 (2/2)
”The days go by quickly. I visit the library, where I confer with Kerce the librarian and read books. Once I went up the cloisters, through Zoltra Bright-Star's Gate and out on the Urquial. I went close to the Peinhador, so that when I looked at the ground I could imagine King Casmir sitting deep below me in the dark. The thought made me feel strange. I went back across the Urquial and pushed through the old gate so that I could look into Suldrun's garden, but I did not go down the path; the garden is far too quiet. Today I went out to the stables, and I found that poor Sir Pom-Pom had been killed in Dahaut and now is dead. I can hardly believe it, since he was so full of foolishness. His life barely got started before it was done.”
”Once I spoke along similar lines to Murgen,” said s.h.i.+mrod. ”His response was not exactly to the point, and it puzzles me to this day-to some extent, at least.”
”What did he say?”
”First he leaned back in his chair and looked into the fire. Then he said: 'Life is a peculiar commodity, with dimensions of its own. Still, if you were to live a million years, engaged in continual pleasures of mind, spirit and body; so that every day you discovered a new delight, or solved an antique puzzle, or overcame a challenge; even a single hour wasted in torpor, somnolence or pa.s.sivity would be as reprehensible as if the fault were committed by an ordinary person, with scanty years to his life.'
”Hm,” said Madouc. ”He gave you no exact information, or so it seems to me.”
”This was my own feeling,” said s.h.i.+mrod. ”However, I did not a.s.sert as much to Murgen.”
Madouc said thoughtfully: ”It might be that he was confused by your question and gave the first answer that entered his mind.”
”Possibly so. You are a clever girl, Madouc! I will now consider the matter an insoluble mystery and dismiss it from my mind.”
Madouc sighed. ”I wish I could do the same.”
”What mysteries trouble you so seriously?”
”First is the mystery of where I will live. I do not care to stay at Haidion. Miraldra is too cold and misty and too far. Watershade is peaceful and beautiful, but nothing ever happens and I would soon become lonely.”
”At Trilda I too am often lonely,” said s.h.i.+mrod. ”I invite you, therefore, to visit me at Trilda, where you shall stay as long as you like-certainly until Aillas builds his palace Alcyone. Dhrun would come often to join us and you surely would not be lonely.”
Madouc could not restrain a cry of excitement. ”Would you teach me magic?”
”As much as you cared to learn. It is not easy, and in fact surpa.s.ses the ability of most folk who try.”
”I would work hard! I might even become useful to you!”
”Who knows? It is possible!”
Madouc threw her arms around s.h.i.+mrod. ”At least I feel as if I have a home!”
”Then it is settled.”
On the next day Aillas and Dhrun returned to Lyonesse Town, and immediately all departed Haidion. s.h.i.+mrod and Madouc would turn off Old Street at Tawn Twillett and ride north to Trilda; Aillas and Dhrun would proceed along Old Street to Tatwillow and Castle Ronart Cinquelon.
Along the way the group came to Sarris, where Aillas chose to sojourn for two or three days of banqueting, good-fellows.h.i.+p and irresponsibility. Dhrun and Madouc wandered out on the lawn which sloped down to the River Glame. In the shade of a great oak with wide-sprawling branches they paused. Dhrun asked: ”Do you remember how you hid behind this very tree to escape the attention of poor Prince Bittern?”
”I remember very well. You must have thought me a very strange creature to go to such lengths.”
Dhrun shook his head. ”I thought you amusing and altogether remarkable-as I do now.”
”More now than then, or less?”
Dhrun took her hands. ”Now you are begging for compliments.”
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