Treachery of Kings

TWENTY-FOUR

"What it is,”Finn said, feeling as if steam might rise from his collar, might, indeed, whistle from his ears, “what it is is plain arrogance, scorn, outright contempt. That's a royal for you, no sense of decency, no feeling for anyone except their own bloody selves!”

“I suppose that's so,” Letitia said, glancing about, laying a restraining hand on his. “But I believe this is what you were asking for, only moments ago. Just leave that infernal clock on the table, in the hall, anywhere, and let's be gone from here.”

“Of course, that's exactly what I'll do. Goes without saying. That doesn't excuse the fellow's bad manners, though. There's no way he can make up for that.”

“Most likely, he won't even try,” Julia said. “He's a king, you know.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“She was just clearing her throat, dear. Getting the rust out. Are you going to finish your parsley pie?” “Yes, if you don't mind?”

“What you do about this mess is your concern, love, but don't you take it out on us, you understand? Julia's of the mechanical persuasion, and I'm just a Newlie. We are not responsible for big mental decisions, we are only here to serve humankind-”

“If I have said something to offend…”

“Why, whatever made you think so, dear?”

“If I may interrupt,” said Julia Jessica Slagg, making her way up Finn's back, iron claws digging at his cape, “those men are looking at us again.”

“I can't be responsible for that. They can look if they like.”

Finn squeezed the arms of his chair. His feet had gone to sleep, and he wanted to stomp.

“I don't see anyone leaving. Do you suppose we all have to sit here till the King's finished his lunch? Maybe he'll toss more fruit at the common folk to let us know.”

“Finn…Those two men, they aren't looking at us. They're looking at him.”

Finn twisted halfway around. The stranger was coming toward them over the fragile bridge that linked their dining pad to the outer wall. The bridge swung perilously as the fellow crossed, until the wooden slats began to clatter and roll in dizzy oscillation, like waves upon a beach.

The being coming at them clearly didn't care. He was a short, stumpy creature, but every muscle, every limb, spoke of great power and strength. His body, clothed beneath a dark green robe and chain mail, was totally at ease.

It looked as if he paid little heed to the busy world about, yet anyone but a fool knew a Badgie was ever alert, that any rude encounter with this sleepy-eyed fellow would be over and done, scarcely before it had begun.

As Letitia had guessed, this stout creature, one of the Newlie Nine, was the reason the villains across the way had grown cautious and aware.

“Forgive the disturbance,” the newcomer said, in a voice somewhere between a hiss and a growl, “I would simply like a word, if you will. My name is Koodigern, colonel/sergeant of the King's Third Sentient Guards.”

“A pleasure,” Finn said. “It's nice to run into someone of the sentient bent around here. Most everyone seems to be dead.”

If the Badgie saw a jest in this, he didn't let it show. His dark, bearded lips didn't move. His eyes seemed nearly as black and fluid as Letitia's, but any resemblance ended there.

There was kindness and love in Letitia's eyes, while those of Colonel/Sergeant Koodigern absorbed, swallowed, every beam of light that came their way. Everything went in, and nothing came out.

“I mean no offense of a personal nature, you understand. But I have been informed by Dostagio that His Grace commands that you leave Heldessia as soon as conditions allow. He is, in spite of the fact that he springs from humankind, prone to an indulgent nature from time to time.”

“Tales of his compassion are legend,” Finn said, “and we will be pleased to follow his desires. I expect Dostagio has told you that as well. Have you some idea when this great storm will arrive, and when it might pass?”

“I am not a student of weather, myself. I would have no knowledge of that. I should add, in case it's not clear, that you are to take this gift you speak of when you leave.”

The Badgie looked curiously at Julia Jessica Slagg. “Is that it? Your present to the King?”

“No, it is not, I am not anyone's gift, sir, have no doubt of that.” Julia shook her claws and snapped her silver snout, motions that startled even the wily Badgie himself.

“Amazing. I imagine that's the pizzard Dostagio's been talking about. I have never seen one before.”

“Lizard,” Finn corrected, “and I cannot imagine why everyone has such trouble with the name.”

Still, he was pleased to be off the subject of the damnable present, which lay in its bundle at his feet, an object he was determined to leave behind, in spite of what anyone said.

The Badgie let his gaze rest briefly upon Letitia, a look that showed only idle interest and no expression at all. His head was rather broad, and his face was somewhat flat. His bristly hair was black, centered with a streak of white, the whole coming to his point above his brow. Features, in all, Finn noted, ill suited for more than the slightest emotion of any kind.

Letitia showed no alarm at the Badgie's gaze. Before the Change, when Newlies were in their animal form, Koodigern's kind had been the hunters and Letitia's the prey. Bowsers, Yowlies, and the leathery Vampies were former foes as well, but Mycers feared only the Yowlies now, for these fierce creatures with pumpkin-seed eyes had not lost their ancestors’ hatred, though they were close, now, to humankind.

“Those fellows over there have no more liking for you than for me,” Finn said, “though I never saw the pair before.”

“They are Diggers, Rooters. They follow the charnel arts.” The Badgie leaned in to Finn. “You won't be in Heldessia long, but while you're here do not make friends with anyone dressing in garish colors, unfamiliar wear of any sort.”

Finn was taken aback. “What do they want with me? I'm not dead and don't intend to be.”

“Not yet, you're not. These fellows plan ahead, and competition's fierce. Let ‘em get close and they'll mark you with their sign. Can't rub it off. Anything happens, that's it.”

“That's what?”

“The marker's got call on your carcass. Bones, organs, whatever they can sell, whatever's left intact.”

Finn looked at Letitia, and was grateful she was distracted by the storm clouds darkening the skies above the dome. Lightning sizzled, and distant thunder rattled the leaded glass.

“Is that why they're watching you, then?” Finn asked. “They, ah-want your remains as well?”

“No, sir. If they ever get close enough to me, I'll mark them with this.”

Koodigern held his cloak aside to show Finn a short, wicked blade, gracefully curved in the fashion of the East.

“That's why they're watching me. I got two of their kind last week. They're sly fellows, but not too bright.”

The Badgie paused, then, as if gathering his words, to be certain they'd come out right.

“Will you think it improper if I ask if you have a weapon, friend? I cannot help but notice your belt seems rather bare.”

“I had one, yes. A Bowser blade, but I fear I lost it somewhere.”

“Lost your weapon. Truly so?” His tone said he'd never heard of such a thing before.

“You had best take mine, then. No-do not protest, please. I can get another. I have to see you safely out of Heldessia. I would be remiss if I allowed you to come to harm in any way. I would never be promoted again.”

Once more, the Badgie paused in thought. “I have already been remiss in another fashion. I know what you are doing here, but Dostagio failed to tell me your name.”

“Finn. Finn of Ulster-East in Fyxedia. Our countries have been at war for some seven hundred years, though I couldn't tell you why. I am a Master Lizard-Maker. Such as the one you see here. I make them, for various purpose. And I am pleased to get the chance to meet you, sir.”

Then, as Finn thrust his hand across the table, the Badgie shrank back in alarm.

“The Badgie kind don't do that, Finn. Someone should have told you. It is an obscenity to touch another male's hand. It means, in our tongue, ‘Your private parts are infinitely small.’ “

“Sorry,” Finn said. “Of course I didn't know. I really feel it is much too difficult to travel. It's best to stay at home.”

“I cannot answer, as I have no experience in that. I was born here, and I have never-”

Koodigern's words were cut short as a deafening sound ripped through the dome, a clatter, a shudder, followed by shrieks and shouts of pain. A shower of glass rained down upon the diners below. A body plummeted from the heights.

At first, Finn thought lightning had hit the top of the dome and shattered the panes of glass. Then, staring in disbelief, he saw a thin rope drop from the jagged hole above, then another, and a dozen after that.

“Bowsers! By damn, it's those yappers again!”

A great horde of the bow-tied louts slid down from the dizzy heights, armed to the teeth with muskets, blades, and weapons of every sort.

“What is this,” Finn shouted above the din. “I thought these rogues came on Tuesdays and Thursdays, what are they doing here now?”

“Bowsers drink, quite heavily, are you not aware of that? These dunderheads don't know one day from the next.”

With that, Koodigern was off, waddling across the treacherous bridge, his green robe flapping at his heels…