Wizards (12 page)

Grimaldi's pretty assistants packed up their work bags and were in the process of dragging them through the door. I gestured to Grimaldi to come over.

"I'm not upset about Helda's trick with the underwear. Please don't punish her."

Grimaldi gave me a long appraising look before he answered.

"Perhaps I will only use the small hairbrush." He turned to leave, but then stopped as he reached the door. "You are a most unusual wizard. I should not say this to you, but I would advise you to be a little less trusting."

With that enigmatic comment, he took his leave. It was getting close to sunset and Fluffy was no longer in the courtyard. I leaned out of the window to see if I could spot him anywhere but he appeared to have vanished. It was true that he could still be in the courtyard in a state of glim, but it seemed unlikely. Nor had I seen Jenny or Esmeralda since the episode with the underwear. I'd been left completely on my own.

The Spring Ball was due to start at sunset, though I gathered it would be late in the evening before it truly got going. I wondered if I should stay in my room and wait for someone to come looking for me or to make my way into the palace.

One thing was for certain. My damned clothes were stuck to me like a second skin and I wasn't going to try to change out of them. I seriously doubted I could get out of the trousers without ripping a seam.

After a few minutes of pacing my room and cursing the whole female species for the trouble they bring onto boys, I got fed up and decided to go and see what entertainment I could find.

When I stayed in the room last time, Esmeralda took me around the palace using back stairs and narrow passageways. I suppose if you are brought up in a palace such routes become normal, although I did suspect once or twice that her main reason for taking me down those routes was to prevent me meeting anybody. This all comes down to the fact that I only know the smaller and stranger routes in the palace.

I was making my way down a narrow stone staircase when I heard two men talking. When they mentioned me, I stopped and began to listen.

"It's an outrage, having a wizard and his pet dragon as guests." The man speaking had a very cultured voice, but his accent wasn't the same as the people of Salice. He must be from one of the other kingdoms. We Welsh wizard's aren't completely stupid, even when we're walking around dressed up as a fancy French waiter.

"Quiet you fool. If word should get back to the King…" The second voice had the same accent as the first. He sounded anxious and I could imagine him looking around furtively for someone just like me.

"The Dragon spat fire at Lady Marla and me. It should be in a cage." I wondered if this speaker was the 'portly man' I saw with Fluffy earlier in the day.

"Dragons are auspicious, you know that. Any kingdom would be delighted to have one visit them."

"But he came with a wizard, Tam. And wizards are like a pestilence on the land, consuming and destroying everywhere they go."

"This one disposed of Wizard Plath and the sighs of relief when that news got out could be heard throughout Mystrang. He may not be a bad wizard, Per."

"So King Petre and his courtiers claim," Per said conspiratorially, "I ask how we know that any of it is true. It certainly didn't hurt King Petre’s reputation to spread the tale about Plath."

"Wizard Morrissey is here as a guest of Salice. That in itself is extraordinary. I have heard of wizards being invited to surrender talks or in attempts to buy them off with virgin princesses or even princes if they were that way inclined. However, I have never heard of one being invited to a ball as though he were simply a member of the aristocracy."

"There's a plot somewhere in the middle of all this, Tam. You mark my words. If we had any sense, an assassin would be on the roof, ready to kill the wizard at the first opportunity. Any other course of action is madness."

"Perhaps Per. But if the assassin missed his target, then our kingdoms might be set ablaze. It is possible Wizard Morrissey would destroy all four kingdoms in his rage. He reanimated King Petre after he was turned to stone, which is known to be impossible. A few stones he wished lucky allowed the Master to take over Salice and prevent Wizard Plath from usurping him. This wizard could be truly dangerous to us all."

"And yet we have to sup wine and dance beside him," Per replied. "King Petre, or possibly that witch of a daughter of his, has a plan of some kind. I feel it in my bones."

The two men walked off and I sat down on a stair to think. I don't think I can destroy four kingdoms or even one. After all, I barely hold down a job in Wales. Yet there was no doubt at all those two men believed it. 'Wizards are like a pestilence on the land,' Per had said. That phrase made me think of locusts.

The few wizards I had met in my travels were hostile and attacked me without warning. But I've always been lucky when such things happen and their lightning bolts and cannonball like things have always missed me for long enough for me to hop away. Wizard Plath was the only wizard I ever got close enough to talk to.

I brooded over the men's conversation for some time until a familiar voice interrupted my thoughts as it shouted out from below.

"If you have got those trousers dirty sitting on that stair I shall take a carpet beater to both them and you."

Esmeralda had found me again.

I walked down the stairs to join her and found Jenny standing with her. Both girls were wearing ball-gowns. Jenny wore the one her father bought her and Esmeralda wore a dress the color of rubies. Esmeralda wore a significant amount of jewelry - a diamond tiara in her hair, pearls around her neck and delicate carved silver bands around her wrists. To my surprise, Jenny was wearing similar jewels, though she didn't have a tiara.

"You haven't been shopping, have you?" I asked in some alarm.

"Borrowed them from the royal collection, silly boy."

I sighed with relief.

"Is he always this penny-pinching?" Esmeralda asked.

"He's lucky if he has a penny to pinch."

Esmeralda looked as though she was going to reply and then changed her mind. I could have sworn she seemed upset about something.

"Well, what do you think girls?" I asked, standing up straighter and giving a twirl so they could take in my regalia.

"At least you've lost the potatoes," Jenny said as she looked me up and down. "You don't half look like a waiter, Jake."

"Jake looks most appropriate for the occasion," Esmeralda interjected. "I must remember to thank Grimaldi. He has worked another miracle."

"Tell me about the other kings here, Esmeralda. I understand you've invited three. Where are they from?"

Esmeralda laughed. "There's no need for you to worry about such things, Jake. Just nod and shake their hands when you are introduced."

"I'd really like to know."

Esmeralda sighed as though I had become an irksome child.

"Salice is surrounded by three other kingdoms much the same size as we are. Dantor is to the north and west, Frode to the south and Alegon to the east. All three of their Kings and Queens are our guests. Does that answer your question?"

"The sea is to the north," I protested.

"Which is why I said Dantor is to the north and west. You might have noticed the coastline curves."

"Oh," I said, feeling stupid.

Esmeralda turned away and walked away down the corridor while I stood there feeling like an idiot.

Jenny grabbed onto my hand and pulled me after Esmeralda.

"Come on Jake. Don't annoy Esmeralda anymore."

I wondered as I was dragged along if Esmeralda was angry at me because of my stupidity, or whether she was angry because she didn't want me asking questions about local politics.

Grimaldi suggested I was being used and I was beginning to think he was right. The Spring Ball was becoming interesting, which was something I never expected to happen.

The reception area in front of the ballroom was packed with people in their finery holding drinks and gossiping. It was as if all the baubles from a Christmas tree had dropped off the tree and gathered for a union meeting. It would have been bad enough if the jewelry was only on the women, but most of the men had joined in the competition to find Mr. or Mrs. Sparkle. As a simple Welsh lad from the valleys it was all far too much.

I could see, however, that Jenny was entranced by it. She let go of my hand and stood there gawping, like a fish out of water. Luckily, Esmeralda came over to us.

"Do not be overwhelmed, Jenny. You're the one accompanying the guest of honor."

"Eh?" Me, the guest of honor? I wondered if anyone would notice if I hopped back to my bedroom and forgot all about this. My safe little bedroom was calling to me loudly at that moment.

I'm sure Esmeralda knew exactly what I was thinking, as she locked her arm in mine, blocking the possibility of a simple escape.

"Too late to back out now, Jake. You wouldn't want to embarrass me by disappearing, now would you?"

Jenny took hold of my other arm and the two girls gently but firmly frog-marched me into the room.

As soon as we were noticed, the hubbub dropped to a few whispered comments. Everyone stared at me and not all those eyes were friendly. None of them actually pointed at me saying 'die wizard scum' but I was betting it was on a lot of people's minds.

Esmeralda steered us expertly through the crowd towards the only people I recognized. When we were stood in front of them, Esmeralda expertly jabbed me in the ribs with her elbow. I took the hint.

"Err, hello, I mean, greetings your majesty. May I present my girlfriend, Jenny Owen? Jenny may I introduce King Petre and Queen Janti."

Queen Janti smiled warmly at Jenny and held out her hand.

"It would seem that our Wizard has unexpected depths to catch a girl as beautiful as you."

Jenny took the queen's hand and held it, unsure what to do. King Petre came to her rescue by gently taking her hand from that of his wife and kissing her fingers.

"You're certainly the first evidence we have seen so far that the Royal Wizard has taste," he said in a kindly way. Not that I missed the earlier reference from his wife. I'd moved from guest of honor to Royal Wizard in the blink of an eye. While annoyed by this revelation, a part of me was wondering exactly how much the job paid.

"You must come and greet all our guests," Esmeralda said hurriedly and somewhat guiltily. Jenny seemed to have missed my change of status, or perhaps she was just overwhelmed at meeting royalty. Esmeralda pulled me away from her parents but was stopped by her father.

"Can't I even shake the hand of Wizard Morrissey before you drag him away, Esmeralda?"

"Of course, father."

I took the King's proffered hand and he pulled me a little closer so we could talk low enough not to be overheard.

"Forgive us for this deception. Salice is at risk and it will give certain people pause."

"You could have asked," I replied in an aggrieved tone. I might have even taken the job if they'd cared to ask.

The King shook his head slightly and straightened up. He moaned in pain and his hand flew to his back.

"I'm not sure you turned all of me back from stone," he said in a strained voice.

I wished his back to heal as I was still holding his other hand, squeezing his fingers as I concentrated on the thought. The King looked surprised and let go of my hand. I followed suit and gave him a low bow.

"The Royal Wizard can only do his best," I said rather more loudly than I had intended. But then I'm not used to all this conspiracy and acting stuff. "May I take my leave, Sire, and greet your other guests?"

"You may," the King replied solemnly. Queen Janti was grinning at me like a Cheshire cat. Well, it was no skin off my nose to play along with their game.

Esmeralda led me off like a much prized pet and introduced me to the kings and queens of Alegon, Frode and Dentor in such quick succession that I still can't remember which one of them was which. After meeting and greeting the rulers, it was off to meet the dukes and lords. I am sure there was a strict pecking order in all this, which I'm equally certain Esmeralda knew backwards. From my point of view, it seemed to be in the order of amount of jewelry worn, with those with the most at the front of the line.

I was introduced to Portly Man and his wife and it came as no surprise when he was introduced as Lord Per Napshot from Frode. His wife was introduced as Lady Marla Napshot, which confirmed it.

As I exchanged a tight handshake with the man who wanted to employ an assassin to kill me, I stared deeply into his eyes. My intention was simply to annoy him but the result was unexpected. A jumble of images involving horses, carts and many men going through a pass flashed through my mind. I didn't recognize the pass, but I made a mental note to ask Esmeralda about it. However, I promptly forgot about it as Esmeralda dragged me towards yet more dignitaries.

I found I was now in front of a man I did recognize.

"Thanks again for the loan of the ring."

"My wife has taken it off me, old boy. Says it's an important piece of Salice history and that she's going to present it to the King," Sir Danth Yard replied. His moustache seemed even bushier than I remembered. Of course, that particular time had been rather fraught and there were other things on my mind.