Chapter Forty-Four

“I recognize you,” said the guard. “You are his grooming slave.”

“I am not such a slave,” I said. “I have groomed him. Will you deliver the tray to him?”

“No,” said the guard.

“I fear to approach him,” I said.

“He will not hurt you,” said the guard. He then sounded the small bar in the background and, in a bit, another guard appeared, carrying one of the bulky, complex crossbows. The door to the cell was then opened, and I was ushered within. I did my best to appear reluctant. I heard the gate close behind me.

“Groom him,” said the guard. “He dies tomorrow.”

All these remarks from the guard, of course, were transmitted by means of his translator.

The two guards then withdrew.

If the prisoner had cared to tear my head from my shoulders, my arms from my body, there would have been nothing to prevent it.

“Tal, Allison,” said Grendel.

“I beg your forgiveness, Master,” I said, “for doubting you.”

“You were supposed to doubt me,” said Grendel.

“How is it,” I asked, “that they have turned on you?”

“The matter was simple,” he said. “It was inevitable that their suspicions would be aroused. I would not fight for Agamemnon, I would not execute those who were foolish enough to avail themselves of the amnesty. I sought excuses for delaying my departure for the steel world of Arcesilaus. Indeed, I was surprised at their patience. One does not expect such of my fellow Kurii.”

“You were crucial to their plans,” I said. “You were not to be lightly expended.”

“Apparently,” he said. “But they then devised a test, one I must refuse to pass, to see if I were sincerely of their camp.”

“They threatened the Lady Bina,” I said.

“Nothing so simple,” he said. “One might always negotiate, delay things, make promises, fail to keep them, make new promises, fail to keep them, and so on.”

“That might have earned enough time to escape the Cave,” I said.

“That would have been my hope,” he said. “As you know, matters were moving forward. Supplies might have been gathered, warm clothing found for the humans, the Lady Bina freed, and the guards at the gate dealt with, hopefully benignly. It might well have been dangerous, particularly if we were pursued in force, but the stakes were high, and there seemed little choice.”

“What happened, then?” I asked.

“Returning to the Cave,” he said, “I was apprehended, bound, and conducted into the presence of Agamemnon, and confronted with the test.”

“I saw you arrested, at the great portal,” I said. “What was the test?”

“Bite at the fur,” he said. “Appear to groom me.”

I obeyed, and, shortly thereafter, the two guards returned. Grendel had doubtless heard their approach.

“Feed,” ordered the first guard.

I drew back, and Grendel, humbly, turned to the tray. The guards then, again, withdrew.

He then faced me, and I went close to his muzzle.

“The test was a simple one, exquisite, worthy of Agamemnon,” said Grendel. “The Lady Bina was present. I was instructed to kill her, immediately. I refused, and that was the end of the matter. Thus were my lies and ruses exposed. My pretense of being of the party of Agamemnon was proved fraudulent.”

“The Lady Bina must have been terrified,” I said.

“Not at all,” he said. “She fears nothing from me.”

“How is that?” I asked.

“I am her guard,” he said.

“You are to be executed tomorrow,” I said.

“Agamemnon will have to find another envoy to the world of Arcesilaus,” he said.

“I do not think there is another,” I said, “and certainly none who might be expected to be taken as seriously as you, nor exercise an influence such as yours.”

“Perhaps,” he said.

“You have dealt a great blow to the plans of Agamemnon,” I said.

“With respect to remote support, at least for a time,” he said.

“Master Desmond,” I said, “without your leadership, despairs of escaping the Cave, of braving the Voltai, of counteracting the conspiracy. Pausanias and his wagons may already be near Venna.”

“Desmond is a fine leader, one of intelligence, power, and honor,” said Grendel.

“He puts me in a cage when it pleases him,” I said. “If he owned me, I have little doubt but what I would be well corded, well roped, and chained.”

“I take it you hate him,” said Grendel.

“Yes!” I said.

“And how is it then,” he asked, “that you love him?”

“I, love?” I said.

“Yes,” he said.

“On Earth,” I said, “I did not love. I did not know what love was. But here, with a collar fastened on my neck, I know.”

“You love Desmond of Harfax,” he said.

“Yes,” I said.

“With the love of a free woman?” he asked.

“No,” I said. “I love him with the most profound and deepest love a woman can know. I love him with the love of a helpless, yielding slave for her master.”

“Tomorrow, at the Ninth Ahn,” said Grendel, “I am to be taken from the Cave and executed. Perhaps you might leave the Cave a few Ehn before the Ninth Ahn and walk to the Sixth Ahn.”

“I do not understand,” I said.

“There is no escape for you, of course,” he said. “If you were not caught, you would die of cold, or be eaten by animals.”

“What are you saying?” I asked.

“You would be well advised to return promptly,” he said. “You might not even be missed. If you returned soon, and of your own accord, you might not even be switched.”

“There are guards,” I said.

“They might not be observant,” he said. “In any event, they are not likely to leave their post.”

“Why should I do this?” I asked.

“Perhaps you thought to run, and then wisely changed your mind,” he said.

“Master?” I said, puzzled.

“Remember,” he said, “walk to the Sixth Ahn.”

“How can I walk for so many Ahn,” I asked, “if I leave before the Ninth Ahn?”

“You will only have to walk a little,” he said, “only a few Ehn.”

“To the Sixth Ahn?” I said.

“Precisely,” he said.

“I understand nothing of this,” I said.

“It is better that you do not,” he said.

At this point the two guards entered the outer chamber. Shortly thereafter I removed the tray, the plate, and tankard from the cell.

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