"I will now render an account of my own activities. They have been diligent, dangerous and miserably uncomfortable." With a somewhat forced enthusiasm in the face of King Casmir's unresponsive stare, Shalles described the range of his activities, and did not fail to mention the perils he encountered almost daily. "With a price on my head, I finally decided that I could do no more. My slanders, while always popular, were never corroborated and exerted no lasting influence. During the course of my work I discovered a strange fact, to this effect: the staid stark stupid truth carries more conviction than the most entrancing falsehoods, even though the latter sometimes receive more currency. Still, I was sufficiently irksome that Aillas tried with might and main to capture me, and I was constantly skipping away just barely clear of apprehension."

With hooded eyes and in the mildest of voices King Casmir asked: "And what do you suppose might have been your fate had you been captured?"

Shalles's sensitivities were keen. After only the most imperceptible of hesitations, he said: "That is hard to say. Aillas bruited about an offer to pay me twice your own stipend, if I became a turncoat. He intended, so I suspect, only a disparagement of my reputation, and in fact the ploy reduced my credibility to nothing."

King Casmir gave a thoughtful nod. "A rumor of this offer reached me through other sources. What of Torqual?"

Shalles paused to gather his thoughts. "I have seen Torqual at various times, though not as often as I wished. He goes his way without reference to my advice, but he seems to be serving your good interests. He is insatiable in his demands for gold, that he may the better augment his power. We were together at the reduction of Three Pines House; we stood with peasants across the meadow. Torqual tells me that, first, he has been learning the terrain, and, second, that he has recruited the nucleus of a following. He has found a bolt-hole in North Ulfland from which he can penetrate South Ulfland on raids. He has let it be known that his favored victims will be those who obey the king's command—a tactic which persuades the Ska to ignore him. Gradually he thinks to extend his power over all the high moors." Here Shalles gave a shrug.

King Casmir asked: "You would seem to doubt his success?"

"In the long run, yes. He thinks only of destruction, which is not a sound basis for a stable rule. Still, I cannot read the future. In the Ulflands anything can happen."

"So it seems," mused King Casmir. "So it seems."

Shalles said somberly: "I wish I could bring you news kinder to your ears, since my fortune depends upon pleasing you."

King Casmir rose to his feet and went to look down into the fire. At length he said: "You may go. In the morning we will talk further."

Shalles bowed and departed in a cheerless mood. Lacking compliments from King Casmir, he had not dared bring up the subject of reward.

In the morning King Casmir again conferred with Shalles, and attempted to glean more information about Torqual, but Shalles could only reiterate his statements of the day before. Finally King Casmir tendered him a sealed packet. "At the stable a good horse awaits. I have another small mission for you. Ride north into Pomperol by Icnield Way. At the village Honriot turn left and ride through Dahaut into Forest Tantrevalles. Go to Faroli and give this message into the hand of the wizard Tamurello. I expect that he will have a response for you."

II

IN DUE COURSE SHALLES RETURNED to Haidion. He was at once admitted into the presence of King Casmir, to whom he delivered a parcel.

King Casmir appeared in no haste to learn the contents of the parcel. He laid it on the table and, turning to Shalles, in an almost gracious manner asked: "How went the journey?"

"The journey went well, sir. I rode at speed to Faroli, which I found without undue difficulty."

"And what do you make of Faroli?"

"It is a splendid manse of silver and glass and precious black wood. Silver poles support the roof, which is like the roof of an enormous many-sided tent, but for its sheathing of green silver tiles. The gate was guarded by a pair of gray lions, double the size of the ordinary beast, with fur as glossy as fine silk. They rose up on their hind legs and called out: ‘Halt, as you value your life!' I named myself the emissary of King Casmir, and they let me pass without emotion."

"And Tamurello himself? I am told that he never seems the same man twice."

"As to that, sir, I cannot say. He appeared to be tall, very thin and very pale, with black hair in a tall crest over his scalp. His eyes glowed like carbuncles and his robe was embroidered in silver signs. I gave him your message, which he read at once. Then he said: ‘Await me here. Do not move by so much as a pace or the lions will tear you to bits.'

"I waited, as still as stone, while the lions sat watching. Presently Tamurello returned. He gave me that packet which I have just presented to your Majesty, and quelled his lions so that I could take my departure. I returned to Haidion at best speed, and there is no more to be told."

"Well done, Shalles." King Casmir looked toward the parcel as if he might now open it, but once again turned back to Shalles.

"And now you will wish to be rewarded for your services."

Shalles bowed. "As your Majesty so pleases."

"And what might be your desires?"

"Most of all, sir, I wish a small estate near the town Poinxter in Gray wold County, where my family resides and where I was born."

King Casmir compressed his lips. "A bucolic life makes one sluggish and reluctant of foot when he goes out on the king's service. He thinks more of his hives and his calving and the set of his grapes than of the royal necessities."

"In truth, your Majesty, I have reached that time in life when I am no longer apt for midnight skulking and sinister plots. My brain has grown heavy along with my belly; it is time that I settled to a life where my great adventure of the day is a fox in the chicken-run. In short, your Majesty, pray excuse me from further service. These last months have brought me dreads in the dark and nimble escapes enough for a lifetime."

"Do you have an estate in mind?"

"I have not taken time to search the area, sir."

"And what quality estate do you consider your effort of this short period has earned?"

"If I were paid for time alone, three gold crowns would suffice. If you ask the value I put on my life, I would not sell for ten caravans laden with emeralds, not even if six shiploads of gold were added for an inducement. So I would wish to be paid with some regard for the risks I took with my costly life, for priceless plots and inspired slander, for windy nights on the moors while honest men slept snug in their beds. Your Majesty, I submit without question to your generosity. I may say that I would rejoice at a gentleman's house beside a good stream, with ten acres of woodland and three or four farms out at leasehold."

King Casmir smiled. "Shalles, if you have used as much fluency in my service as you have in your own, your requests are mild and fair, and so I must judge them." He wrote upon a parchment, performed a flourishing signature and handed the document to Shalles. "Here is the royal patent upon an unnamed property. Go to Poinxter, discover a suitable premise of the style you stipulate, and present this patent to the county reeve. Do not thank me. You may go."

Shalles bowed low and departed.

King Casmir stood brooding into the fire. The parcel from Tamurello rested on the table. King Casmir summoned his a aide of all purposes Oldebor.

"Sir, your wishes?"

"You will recall Shalles."

"Distinctly, sir."

"He has returned from a brief stint in South Ulfland with exaggerated expectations and perhaps a too intimate knowledge of my affairs. Does your experience suggest a manner of dealing with Shalles?"