[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
She shouldn t have the power to do that without help from the land above.
James, you told me plainly that Agatha Falon was a witch.
I didn t. I told you only that others said it. And KinetetE denied it,
saying Agatha had only tried to learn Witchery and found it required more than
she wanted to give it, in lifetime study and effort. But it s possible she
picked up a bit of their art before giving up, said Jim.
But even as he said this, a thought came to him that he told himself he
should have had before. A name or title could mean different things, depending
on who said it. If someone had asked KinetetE, as little as a year before,
whether he, Jim, was a Magickian, she would undoubtedly have snapped that he
was nothing of the kind-yet! But by that time he actually had learned a number
of things in the Art.
Still, by KinetetE s standards he would not have been qualified for the
title.
But Jim had assumed from KinetetE s response to him that Agatha had left the
witch-seminary without really learning anything. That might not have been
true. There was the instance of the Witch-Gate, for example.
He stood, thinking a moment longer. Had KinetetE known about the invasion
force in the Borderland, when he told her that he, Brian, and Dafydd were
going to the Drowned Land and Lyonesse?
Maybe there s a way to find out, he said, more to himself than the others.
He turned to Brian. It would mean leaving you for a little while.
I am hardly a child to be watched and guarded, James.
Of course not, Brian. I didn t mean that. I meant-anyway, we ve yet to hear
from King Pellinore about how the other Originals felt when he spoke to them.
They all turned to face the towering man, who now stood looking down on them
like some iron statue from an earlier age-iron face, iron hands, as well as
iron armor.
I spoke to no more than twenty of the Originals, if that many. I did not
keep count. They were the ones who should be told first. The word will spread.
They think on you, Sir James, as like to Merlin in that you must be able to
see the future; and therefore pray you to name who will lead them to battle.
It is sad...
The iron face softened for just a moment.
... but the younger ones are not like us, desire what they may. They will
wish to fight also, of course. But they are not of the mold of we of older
days.
We met a younger Sir Dinedan, our first time through Lyonesse, said Brian,
and I had the honor of encountering him with lances. But he had the
Page 191
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
misfortune to swoon just as both our spears were about to touch. I gathered
from what he said that it was a family weakness.
If so, I do not know of it, said Pellinore. The Original Sir Dinedan has
never given sign of any such swooning. He is a Knight of good heart and
strength, though perhaps oversudden in his decisions. No, this is the sort of
change that has crept into our children and their children. I thank Heaven
that the two sons of my own body, Sir Percival and Sir Lamorack of Wales, were
of an age to belong to the Round Table while it still existed-and showed no
such weakness whatsoever.
He broke off suddenly, looking at Jim.
But Sir James, he went on, you have not told me who you choose to lead we
who are the Original Knights. You must come with me and name him to them.
Jim was thinking fast. If neither the trees nor the Old Magic was going to be
of help, then he needed to get busy on his own. The first thing was to find
out what the Dark Powers had in the way of ogres, Worms, Harpies and such. He
had no time to go and talk to Knights right now. What if he had to name
himself as that leader, to go ahead and have to try to counter what magic he
could?
Look, he said to Pellinore, I ve got reasons for not wanting to announce
my choice of someone to lead them right away. Magic is involved in this; and
I ve got to find out how powerful it is, first. I d rather you just told them
the name of the leader is something to be revealed hereafter. For now, only
tell them that no common man shall lead them.
Pellinore looked grimly at him.
Indeed, that promise could be a better one, he said. For, providing all
other virtues be equal, it is always best that he who leads is a king. But
since I myself am a king, and I would not have it thought that I had, in some
way, unseemly put myself forward, it should be you, Sir James, when the time
comes, who tells them who it will be. Horse!
But even as the tall white horse was still nodding his way around the corner
of the house to come to Pellinore, the QB cried out.
King! Wait! The trees are speaking to me of an urgent message for Sir James.
One comes with it, but does not know how to find Sir James. I must go to meet
him; and bring him here, so that he not wander the land of Lyonesse for
years.
Go, then, said Pellinore. Let Sir James hear him, but do not delay after.
I have said the other Originals must swiftly know the choice of a leader is
forechosen, and beyond dispute.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Whether it was a result of the somewhat testy tone of King Pellinore s last
words, or not, would probably never be known; but it was a fact that the QB
reappeared in what seemed like a minute and a half after vanishing into the
gloom of the surrounding trees at a full lope-a black-and-white leopard blur.
Having reappeared, however, he came from the trees to them at a more
reasonable pace, to let the messenger he had spoken of trot his horse level
with him. The messenger was young-surprisingly young, Jim thought, no more
than fourteen years old. But he wore the clothing of the Drowned Land leaders,
Page 192
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
among which Dafydd and his Blues belonged. Also, there was a quiver at his
side and an unstrung longbow at his back, stretching from above his head as he
sat in the saddle, down to past the horse s withers. A bow Jim would have
thought too long for him to pull.
His face was pale and drawn with fatigue, which gave him the look of being
older than his plainly youthful years-and it was only then that Jim realized
that he was once more looking at the young King of the Drowned Land-a very
worn young king.
Your Majesty! he said, stepping forward to hold the stirrup as the King
swung down from his saddle. I hadn t thought-may I name to you King
Pellinore, one of the Originals of the Legends that people this land of
Lyonesse. As of course is the Questing Beast, whom you have met already. And
Sir Brian you already know, also.
Yes, said the boy-King.
King Pellinore, may I name to you... Jim ran out of words and turned to the
Drowned Land monarch. Forgive me, your Majesty, but I m afraid I was never
told the name by which you should be introduced.
I am David.
... Name to you King David of the Drowned Land. But what brings you, out of
all the other people in your land, to me, your Majesty?
I speak for my people, said the young King, lifting his head and squaring
his shoulders. We must have your help without delay, Sir James. Otherwise my
people and my land are lost.
Pellinore said nothing immediately; though the words without delay must
have triggered a powerful reaction in him. But Jim felt his presence acutely,
standing there, towering over both him and the newcomer. Jim s mind raced; and
he hurried to speak before Pellinore should.
I m afraid you re asking me that at a bad time, he said, as gently as he
could. I m not free to leave Lyonesse right at the moment. What s been
happening in the Drowned Land? And why did you come, instead of sending
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]