“What?” cried the King. “But I must do something! What of my kingdom? My dynasty? My palace? My—why, even my royal person!”
A look of surprise came upon Zulkeh’s face. “It is, then, the meaning of this dream for your personal fortunes that concerns you?”
“Of course! What does this dream mean for me? I must have an answer—and now! Do you hear? Now! Now! Now!”
The wizard made a soothing gesture. “Calm yourself, Sire. If ’tis only the personal import of the dream that you seek, the matter is simple, even commonplace. The mystery lies entirely in its deeper and more obscure elements.”
King Roy goggled. “You know, then, the meaning of this dream for myself?”
“Certes!” spoke Zulkeh, his voice full of good cheer. “The problem in this regard is transparent. The grasping of the tongue is alone a sure sign, the forcible restraint of speech being, of course, the third of the seven great oneiric portents. I refer you, in this regard, to the classic exposition by Sigmund Laebmauntsforscynneweëld, The Interpretation of Auguries, as well as to his more specific examination of the fear of mutism, Tongue and Taboo, wherein the great scholar—”
“A pox on your blithering pedantry!” shrieked King Roy. “What does the dream mean? For me! You hear? For me! Me! Answer, you wretched scholiast!”
Stiffly, the wizard drew himself up. “Well, then! Your dream foretells the utter and complete destruction of your kingdom, your palace, your dynasty and your royal person. The destruction will naturally encompass the entire male line of your family down to three generations, including all collateral branches. Whether ruination will as well sweep into its train the female line of your family is a matter open to some doubt—for here there is much dispute among the savants. Sigmund would have it so, as would his famed relative Adler Laebmauntsforscynneweëld. But, as is well know, Piaget Sfondrati-Piccolomini advances the proposition that ruination portents apply only irregularly to the distaff line, this due to their childbearing functions, the which, as he is known for saying, provide certain immunities from calamitous events due to the providence-favored innocence of babes. As to this latter, I myself have formed as yet no firm opinion, for it seems that there is some question—”
But the mage expounded no further. For at that very moment, King Roy—whose complexion had undergone in recent moments a marvelous display of the colors of the spectrum—sprang up and cried, “No!” (in a most undignified manner) and hurled himself to the floor.
“But ’tis plain as day, Your Majesty,” spoke Zulkeh to the writhing monarch, “the signs are unmistakable. For as I was saying, ’twas none other than Sigmund Laebmauntsforscynneweëld himself who enunciated that most basic principle of oneiromancy which holds that the seizure and immobilization of the tongue—”
“Stop! Cease! Desist!” bellowed Gerard, advancing to the fore. “Did I not instruct you to quell King Roy’s fears? What have you done? Your mad babble has driven the King to this state! Fiend! Miscreant!”
With this latest affront the mage’s reserve broke, even as the stately dike shatters ‘neath the blow of the mighty tidal bore. Smoke and lightning issued from his ears; his eyes blazed hotly forth.
“Silence, ye witless sycophant! Abuse me not, lest I chastise you in my affront! Science is what it is, had you the sense to see it. And what boots it, the downfall of a King? This, a trifle, when far greater matters hang in the balance!”
Then, even as the tide ebbs, so the wizard’s wrath subsided. “But I forget me. To ask perception of such as you would be to drown in folly. I can tarry no longer. For I must tend to the greater matters of which I am now apprised.”
With that, the sorcerer turned and strode down the long audience chamber, Shelyid twinkling behind.
Gerard cried out: “Stop these fiends, stop these criminals! Alarum! Alarum! Guards! Constables! Arrest these villains!”
In an instant, the trample of many jackbooted feet was to be heard coming from the left. Moments later another thunder of boots was heard on the right. Two squads of Royal Guards and Royal Constabulary appeared in doorways on either side. The lieutenant of the Constabulary drew his sword and advanced into the audience chamber, but, before he took three steps, he was hailed by the captain of the Guard.