Treachery of Kings

THIRTY-THREE

"I should like to have breakfast, at least,” said Letitia Louise, yawning for the second time in a minute and a half. “They do serve a very fine breakfast here, Finn. I don't see why we can't wait for that.”

“Because, love, I have done what I came to do here, and that was to deliver a clock. He doesn't want it, fine. He can toss the bundle out. In truth, I'm rather pleased it turned out the way it did. That wasn't my greatest work, you know. I made it under extreme duress.”

“I thought it really wasn't all that bad, as a fact.”

“As a fact,” Julia said, “it really wasn't all that good. What it was was a piece of-”

“No one asked you, Julia. Letitia, are you sure you have everything, dear?”

“No, Finn, I don't. I had that red valise you gave me for Winter's Day, but it burned up in that balloon. I really don't have anything at all.”

“Yes, well, we'll get you another bag quite soon.”

He looked about the room, though he couldn't guess why. He had nothing himself except Koodigern's dagger, and the clothes he had on, which seemed to be smelling rather stale.

He supposed he should be grateful for that. Letitia's senses weren't as keen as Julia's, but good enough to catch a hint of candles, say, or scents from across the Misty Sea.

The hallway was empty, as it ever seemed to be. And, as ever, the faint, slightly chill odor of the underworld was in the air.

Letitia had suggested they wait for Dostagio or Maddigern to help them find the proper way out. Finn said a definite “no” to that. He'd had enough of them both, especially the bad-tempered Badgie. They could find their own way, even if it took a little time.

And, once they did, he would find a proper breakfast at an inn and purchase a bath as well. That, and some new, fresh clothing would have their spirits up again.

“I believe we turn left here,” Letitia said. “I recall this corner quite well.”

“I have to disagree. We go straight ahead for some time.”

“We go left,” Julia said.

“Absolutely not.”

“Who has the compass in their belly, you or me, Finn?”

“I don't feel your senses are working right.”

“They were working right last night.”

“What?” Letitia looked puzzled. “What's all this about?”

“I haven't the slightest idea,” Finn said. “Julia says whatever comes into her head.”

“I don't think she always does, Finn.”

“All right, most of the time. Which has nothing to do with whether we should-”

Finn stopped. He saw them, from the corner of his eye, both of them, coming from the corridor ahead.

Dostagio and-to Finn's great chagrin-the odious Maddigern himself. He wondered, again, how the kindly Koodigern could be so totally different from his Badgie brother. Still, families were ever at odds, among Newlies and human folk alike.

“How nice of you to take your precious time to see us out,” Finn spoke to Maddigern. “Did you fear we'd try to stay, that we might miss your ever-cheerful ways?”

“I would be pleased to gut you right here,” the Badgie said, with a wary glance at Julia, perched on Finn's shoulder, watching with her bright ruby eyes. “If that'd be convenient, Master Finn.”

“It would be my pleasure, a fine way to start this lovely day.”

“Finn-!” Letitia's look was dark enough to bring rain.

“Maiming and such will not be possible,” Dostagio said, “as you are well aware, Captain/Major Maddigern. Plans have been altered, modified, changed, as it were, by the wishes of His Grace, King Llowenkeef-Grymm. He would have your presence, sir and Miss, in the Great Hall of Tedious Favors and Petitions, which is in endless session right now.”

Finn shook his head. “I'm sure there's some mistake. We're supposed to be out of here. I doubt if the King has changed his mind about that.”

Finn hesitated, turning on the Badgie with a curious eye.

“This is some doing of yours, isn't it, Maddigern? It has nothing to do with the King.”

“I assure you it does, sir,” Dostagio said. “We must not dawdle any longer. The King is most frugal about his time.”

“As I understand it, the Afterworld has its own sense of time. One should be in tune with the Eternal Hour, not the illusion of time as we find reflected here.”

Maddigern, ever in control of his rigid, sullen appearance, was clearly aghast. Even Dostagio's sober mask appeared to twitch.

“He quoted scripture,” Maddigern said. “I heard him. He said it aloud.”

“I'm afraid he did.”

“We're not supposed to hear this. Damn the fellow, Dostagio, I have to kill us all.”

“Wait, hold it there,” Finn said.

“I suppose you do, Captain/Major, but I wonder if the rule applies if we have prior orders from the King. Might not such an order take precedence over Shameful Heresy and Disrespect for the Dead?”

“You have a point, First Servant.”

“Well, then. I suggest I take it up with the Forty-Third Elder and get back to you on this.”

“Good. That's that. Now, Master Finn and Miss, get on to the hall like you're told. And no more foul desecration or such as that. We're religious people here.”

“Why?” Finn asked. “You're not even allowed to join.”

“Of course we're not, sir. What kind of church do you think this is…?”