High Society

Danan sucked down wine and water and helped himself to more roast suckling pig. He was eating in the third dining room, just off the kitchen, with other tradesmen and travelers come to the palace. It was one step above eating with the servants, but Danan didn’t mind. He was glad to be out of the bunkroom.

Danan had been bathed, given a new robe and turban of clean undyed cotton, and had his beard trimmed by a barber. His own clothes were being washed by servants. There were no slaves in Orvma, he reminded himself. All servants of the rich were indentures, and must be treated with greater respect.

Where was Clee?

He grabbed a bunch of grapes and ate them nervously. His position was never certain, that was the life he’d chosen, but at least in the old days his position rested on his own words and actions. Now his fortune, his life! was in the hands of a shepherd boy he had met two months ago.

What had that demon done to Clee?

That was really the main worry. Apparently the boy had some strange power now that Danan could only imagine. He was unprepared for it, and unprepared to be alone with royalty. Every second increased the odds of danger.

Danan weighed the chances of requesting an audience, but decided to stay where he was left. He would be summoned in turn, or not. But though it was not the first time he had been at the beck and call of royalty, he felt none of the thrill of the old days?

Where was Clee?

Horns sounded outside the Palace. “What’s that racket?” asked Danan.

“The King returns,” said a caravan master. “He is always proceeded by horns.”

The King! And he was stuck here eating his pork, with no chance for a performance. Danan hoped he would meet him before Clee did. Where was Clee?

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Clee was eating roast suckling pork and tasting the best wine in a week’s march, and his head was spinning. The Queen herself condescended to feed him grapes. What the servants thought of such frivolity they very carefully kept to themselves.

“Have you ever summoned Argomath before?” Queen Pelena asked him, laughing.

“No, he was the first one I have summoned,” said Clee. He stumbled on his bench, shook his head.

“Take some pure cold water,” said the Queen laughingly. “Little brother, you are not used to a royal feast!”

“Why do you call me brother?” asked the boy.

“Because we are both Henren!” laughed the Queen.

“Yes, but you are a Queen,” said Clee.

“Yes, I am a Queen. But I still remember the old days,” said Pelena. “ I remember the traveling sorcerers who summoned Gathrak for my father.”

“The names of demons are secrets,” said Clee again.

“Yes but Gathrak is no secret among the Henren,” said Pelena. “I know your friend Danan must have summoned him, or my father would never have let him go!”

Pelena laughed as if this was really funny. Clee was confused. Wasn’t that not funny at all? His stomach was not happy with all the food he’d eaten.

’A cold cloth for my little brother,” called Pelena sharply. She rested Clee’s head against her own lap while servants bathed his face and throat with a cool cloth. Clee felt his stomach steady.

“You were green there for a second,” said Pelena. “It never does to vomit at table, weren’t you taught that back home?”

“I’m sorry,” mumbled Clee.

“But not so sick that you can’t remember for your big sister. What did Gathrak do for you that impresses Argomath?”

“Not Gathrak. It was Nun,” said Clee, forgetting himself.

“Take away this food immediately,” shouted Queen Pelena. Servants grabbed the long tables and lifted them out of the room, careful not to spill a drop or a crumb of food.

“Get up,” said the Queen harshly. “Bring my crystal ball! What did Nun do for you, scamp?”

“He slapped me unconscious and said I can concentrate better with his help,” stammered Clee. “Please let me lie down again.”

“Shortly you’ll have all the rest you could want, and more,” said the Queen. “Very well, lie down quietly then. Where’s my crystal ball? Ah.”

A servant brought in a small crystal ball, about the size of a ripe grapefruit. The Queen took it in both hands and stared into it. Light glittered off it. Clee watched, trying to concentrate.

And suddenly found he was completely sober.

“I, Pelena, daughter of Eve, conjurer of Eden, summon Nun to come! And coming, obey!”

The servants hid around corners, the torches flickered in their sconces. Nothing happened.

“Summon Nun for me then,” said the Queen furiously. “And be quick about it.”

“We need something blue-green, the color of magic,” said Clee.

“Nun is demon of magic? An important addition,” said the Queen. “Bring us garments of blue-green!”

The steward of the Palace deserves credit for having robes in all twelve arcane colors at hand. Clee and Pelena were brought robes within minutes.

“And a knife,” said Clee. “He wants blood.”

“Blood he shall have,” said Pelena. “Begin!”

“I, Clee, son of Adam, conjurer of Eden, summon Nun, demon of magic, to come to me! And coming, obey!”

The flames of a dozen torches flared, streamed into the center of the room, swirled into a cone, and vanished, leaving a nine-foot leathery demon floating in mid-air.

“Greetings, Clee, son of Adam,” said Nun.

“The summons was mine,” said Pelena. “I, Pelena, daughter of Eve, invoke thee, Nun, demon of magic!”

“Most irregular. But perhaps, to be expected,” said Nun. “Very well, daughter of Eve, what would you?”

“I want the same powers you gave this shepherd boy!” bellowed Pelena.

“No.”

“No? You dare refuse me?”

“You are but a mortal. I dare nothing with you,” said Nun.

“I offer you a blood sacrifice, the boy himself!” She dragged Clee forwards. Clee yelped and knocked her hand aside.

“You dare strike royalty?” shrieked the Queen. “Seize him!”

“Do not harm the boy,” said Nun. And he did not yell it, but his words seemed louder and more real than the shrieks of the Queen. The guards wavered as they moved forwards.

“Why not?” asked the Queen. “What will you do to prevent me?”

“Very well,” said Nun. “Spare the boy any harm, and you will have the same powers.”

“Truly?” asked the Queen.

“Keep a respectful tongue in your mouth, daughter of Eve,” said Nun. “Know that I am the demon of magic. I can summon any demon and they will come to serve me. I can summon a djinn even, and ask her to judge between us. You are a wicked woman and

would be punished.”

“None doubt your word, Nun,” said the Queen, much calmer now. “Let there be a bargain between us.”

’So be it,” said Nun. And he struck the Queen unconscious.

“Not entirely necessary,” said Nun. “But most satisfying.” And he was gone.

Horrified servants ran forward to raise the Queen off the floor. None looked at Clee.

Outside the palace, horns blew at the return of the King.

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Danan nibbled his custard pie and slurped tea. The talk of the merchants and travelers died suddenly. A rush of guards entered the dining hall.

“Where is Danan the sorcerer?” asked their sergeant.

Danan gobbled his pie and drained his tea. “Here!” he mumbled, his mouth full. He didn’t know when he’d get another meal again.

They dragged Danan up three stairs and into the upper dining chamber. A furious King Jason stood in the center of the room, his Queen resting on stuffed pillows on the flags. A circle of fawning maids was waiting on her. She seemed asleep, but her face appeared red. Clee was in irons, off to one side.

“Sorcerer!” bellowed the King. “What have you done in my house?”

Danan knew the form. He fell headlong on the floor, spoke without looking at more than Jason’s feet. “O King, I have enjoyed the King’s bread and meat.”

The mention of accepted hospitality cooled the King’s wrath, as Danan knew it must. One did not simply slay a dinner guest.

’What has happened to my Queen?” asked Jason.

“I was separated from my apprentice. He had better explain what he has done,” said Danan, not daring to look at Clee. He knew Jason was watching the two of them.

“I didn’t do anything,” said Clee. “O King. I helped the Queen summon…a demon.”

“Sorcery!” shouted the King. “What else?”

“The Queen asked the demon for powers, and he struck her.”

“You dare accuse the High Queen of Orvma of sorcery?”

“She’s a good one,” said Clee quickly. “She’s got a crystal ball and everything. She’ll be a better one when she wakes up. That’s what she asked for.”

King Jason heard this with frustration, then resignation. “She would practice it publicly.”

“Nothing is public, O King,” said Danan quickly. “Only we know of it.”

“Socerers,” sneered the King.

“Perhaps the King would like to hear the message of Golmak, the chieftain of the Henren, to his daughter, Pelena,” said Danan.

“Yes, yes I would. What message? You came from there then?” said Jason.

“The Xee queens air their wings. Fifteen of them. The chieftain Golmak predicts an unbeatable attack upon Orvma.”

“And you still came hence? To dally at my table?” snarled Jason. “You must be mad.”

“We are prepared to serve the great King,” said Danan, gambling.

“You’ve served me well enough! Guest you may be, but nothing of what you say or have seen will be discussed beyond this Palace. You’re going to stay in the tower prison for a spell.”

“Thank you, O King,” said Danan, and meant it. Imprisonment was not death.

“Take these two and lock them within the tower prison,” said the King. “Treat them correctly but firmly. They have eaten my meat and bread. And take the Queen to her chamber! Give out that she is ill.”

Clee and Danan were marched through the Palace. “Say nothing,” hissed Danan, and Clee bit off his question. They marched side by side silently, through the kitchens, past the stables to a squat brick building with very narrow windows. They were taken inside and brought before a cell. They marched onto the straw floor, and the iron door was locked behind them. It was totally dark.

“Now we can relax,” said Danan.