Elder Isles - Madouc Part 88

"I said: 'No!' of course. Kylas was amazed, and departed in shock. A few moments later I saw Queen Sollace complaining to the king. He looked at me, and I was very much frightened."

Dhrun took her hand. "You shall come to Troicinet. Are we agreed on this?"

"Yes. Especially since I have nowhere else to go. I doubt if ever I shall find my father, which perhaps is all for the best."

Dhrun led the way to a bench; the two seated themselves. He asked, "Why do you say that?"

"In truth, I am afraid of what I might find. When Sir Pellinore met my mother he was carefree and full of artful gaiety. Now, all is changed. The years have come and gone; perhaps he has become austere and aloof, or settled in his ways, or married to a woman of severe character, who has given him several unpleasant children. None would like me, or take me warmly into their family."

"If you found this unfortunate man, it would be wise to approach him anonymously, and with great caution."

"Even so, I would be forced to reveal myself in the end. No doubt he would insist that, w.i.l.l.y-nilly, I join his sordid household, and I might be reluctant to do so."

"It might not be so bad as you think."

"Perhaps not. It might be worse, to my distress! I am not partial to folk who are grim and austere. I prefer fanciful folk who make me laugh."

"Hmf," said Dhrun. "I would seem to be a failure-much like poor miserable Sir Pellinore, with his virago of a spouse and his smelly children. I seldom see you laugh."

"I am laughing now! Sometimes I smile quietly when you are not looking, or even when I am thinking of you."

Dhrun turned his head and looked down into her face. He said: "I pity the poor wretch you finally decide to marry; he will be in a constant state of nerves."

"Not at all!" said Madouc airily. "I would undertake to train him, and it should be easy enough, once he learned a few simple rules. He would be fed regularly, and I would sit with him if his manners were polite. He would not be allowed to snore, nor wipe his nose on his sleeve, nor sing loudly over his beer, nor keep dogs in the house. To gain my favor, he would learn to kneel nicely before me that he might tender me a red rose or perhaps a bouquet of violets, and then, with his best voice, beseech a touch of my fingers."

"And then?"

"Much depends upon circ.u.mstances."

"Hm," said Dhrun. "The spouse of your dreams, as you describe him, would seem idealistic and rather meek."

"Not altogether and not always."

"He would surely lead an interesting life."

"I expect so. Of course I have not seriously considered the subject, except to decide whom I will marry when the time comes."

Dhrun said, "I also know whom I will marry. She has blue eyes, as soft as the sky and as deep as the sea, and red curls."

"They are more of a copper-gold, are they not?"

"Quite so, and although she is still young, she grows prettier by the minute, and I do not know how long I will be able to resist the temptations which push at me."

Madouc looked up at him. "Would you like to kiss me now, just for practice?"

"Certainly." Dhrun kissed her, and for a time they sat close together, with Madouc's head on Dhrun's shoulder. Dhrun presently asked, "Now: are you still in fear of Casmir?"

Madouc sighed. "Yes! I fear him greatly. Though for a time I had forgotten him."

Dhrun rose to his feet. "There is nothing he can do to you, unless you obey his orders."

"I will not obey him, that would be folly."

"There is no more to the colloquy, and my father does not want to embarra.s.s King Audry by staying over. He wants to leave as soon as possible, perhaps within the hour, to catch the ebb tide."

"I will need only a few minutes, to change from these pretty clothes, and bundle up a few other things."

"Come, I will take you to your chambers."

Dhrun escorted Madouc to the east wing and to her door. "I will be back in ten minutes. Remember: allow no one to enter, except your maid."

Ten minutes later, when Dhrun returned to Madouc's chambers, the maid reported that Madouc was gone, having departed only minutes before accompanied by three men-at-arms of Lyonesse.

Dhrun groaned. "I told her to keep her door locked and to admit no one!"

"She followed your instructions, but they came from the chambers next door into the parlour! The Damsel Kylas opened the door to them!"

Dhrun ran back to the reception hail. King Casmir was no longer present, nor was King Audry, nor yet Aillas.

Dhrun made urgent inquiries and at last discovered Aillas in a small chamber to the side of the reception hall, in conversation with Audry.

Dhrun burst in upon them. "Casmir has taken Madouc away by force! She was to ride with us, but now she is gone!"

Aillas jumped to his feet, face taut with fury. "Casmir went off five minutes ago! We must catch them before they cross the river! Audry, allow me eight fast horses at this very instant!"

"You shall have them, at best speed!"

Aillas sent messengers to the knights of his company, ordering their immediate presence at the front of the palace.

The horses were brought from the stables; Aillas, Dhrun and the six Troice knights of their escort mounted, wheeled and galloped off at a rush, south along the road to the Cambermouth ferry. Far ahead, the troop from Lyonesse could be seen, also riding at a pounding gallop.

Dhrun called over his shoulder to Aillas: "We will never catch them! They will be aboard the ferry and gone!"

"How many ride in their company?"

"I cannot make it out. They are too far!"

"It looks to be a troop about like our own. Casmir will not choose to stand and fight."

"Why should he fight when he can escape us on the ferry?"

"True."

Dhrun cried out in fury: "He will torment her, and take his revenge in some horrid fas.h.i.+on!"

Aillas gave a curt nod, but made no comment.

Far ahead, Casmir's party mounted the bluff which bordered the river, pa.s.sed over the crest and was lost to view.

Five minutes later the Troice company rode to the edge of the scarp, where they could overlook the river. A hempen hawser led from a nearby stone b.u.t.tress at a slant across the river to a similar b.u.t.tress at Cogstone Head. The ferry, attached to the hawser by a bridle and a sheave rolling along the hawser, was propelled by reason of the slant of the hawser. When the tide ebbed, the ferry was taken south; when the tide was at flood, the ferry was driven north across the river. A half-mile to the west, another hawser slanted in the opposite direction, so that with each change of the tide, the ferries crossed the Camber-mouth in opposite directions.