And with that the wizard resumed his progress, Shelyid caroming behind.
But before our heroes had rounded the first corner, a great clattering of hooves and jingling of harness was heard to approach. Zulkeh stood to one side as a coach-and-four thundered down the narrow street accompanied by a mounted squad of the Goimr Royal Coachmen. Shelyid, unfortunately, bent double in concentration, failed to apprehend the approach of these worthies. He lurched into the center of the street just as they passed. Two of the riders were bowled over—horses and riders going asses over teacups—while the others frantically avoided the staggering dwarf and his pack. The coach skidded dangerously but came to a halt without upsetting.
The coach door flew open and a courtier leapt out. He hurried up to the wizard.
“Are you not the wizard Zulkeh?” he demanded. Then, not bothering to wait for a reply, he continued:
“Excellent, excellent! I’ve just come from the palace—Chief Counselor Gerard sent me to bring you to the King. Please, please—get into the coach! We must hurry! The King is at his wits’ end!”
Even as the courtier spoke, the coach and four was brought up next to Zulkeh and Shelyid. A footman jumped down and opened the door. Alas, it soon became evident that Shelyid and his sack could not be crammed into the coach, the which was more of a dainty and elegant carriage than a sturdy means of transport. The courtier instantly called up the detachment of Royal Coachmen who helped Shelyid load the sack onto the rear of the coach. The vehicle settled deeply, with an ominous creaking and groaning.
That done, Zulkeh and the courtier climbed into the coach. Shelyid made to follow them but was arrested by his master’s fierce glare.
“Wretched gnome! Have you forgotten your duty?”
“No, master, the sack is loaded and tied,” explained the dwarf, his legs fairly vibrating in relief from their burden.
“Yes, but who will watch it?”
So saying, Zulkeh slammed the door. Shelyid, with a shrug of resignation, found a perch on the top of the sack where he grabbed onto one of the straps as the coach rushed off down the street toward the palace.
With a squad of Royal Coachmen to clear the streets, the coach careened unimpeded through various lanes and byways before it debouched onto a main thoroughfare, where it continued pell-mell toward the landing. It was but the work of a minute for the passengers to alight and, with the assistance of many hands, to transfer the sack onto a water taxi. The boat—now deep in the water—instantly departed for the royal isle. Once upon land, the courtier conducted them to Chief Counselor Gerard’s chamber, hissing his anxiety and haste all the while.
Gerard was equally agitated. “Egbert, what took you so long? King Roy has been screaming for the wizard. And you—Zulkeh! I warn you once again—say nothing to disturb King Roy! He is in a most unstable state.”
Zulkeh nodded curtly. He and Shelyid followed Gerard into the royal audience chamber. The King’s cries of distress could be heard from a considerable distance. They grew positively clamorous upon the entrance of the mage.
Indeed, King Roy was a shocking sight. In the two weeks which had elapsed since the last interview, he had aged twenty years. His hair was straggling and gray, tufts of it plucked out. His clothes were disheveled, his eyes were wild. He gave off the odor of a hunted roebuck.
“Wizard! Tell me, what does it all mean? I must know, I must know!”
“Your Highness, as I have previously explained, this matter is too deep for facile explication. In fact, I have but recently discovered that the import of your dream is considerably more complex, with many more hidden and obscure attributes than I had at first appreciated. Much additional study is required. Even at this moment I am undertaking a journey for—”
“No! No! No! I must know, know, know! Now! Now! Now!” So shrieked King Roy, in a most unregal manner.
“Your Majesty—please! There is no need for this unseemly distress. You may rest easy in your mind. For the magnitude of the danger which is so clearly indicated by your dream is such as to preclude the thought that a mere monarch might forestall its occurrence.”