moment, looking much like a tired man, for the dead who
may not rest know more weariness than any of us. “Tell me,
did you see anyone this night?”
“You know I did. A knight, a mage, a half-elf, assorted
two-legged shortlings. They are important to you?”
“They are important, I think.” The king said absently,
“You seem curious. I had thought you indifferent to
everything.”
“To everything beneath me, which is much of the
world. And you, great and loyal Peris?”
“Much the same. Of course, more is beneath a dead
king”
The stag said drily, “Long though we have endured, our
standards are still better preserved than we are. May they
last forever. What is their importance?”
“The standards?”
“Their importance is self-evident, or it is none. I mean
the strangers; how are they important?” “To the future of
our wood and world.”
“Ah. Politics.” The stag nodded wisely. “I try to avoid
politics.”
“I understand completely,” the king said casually. “I
tried to avoid politics – once.”
“A question of permission to enter, and of forced
entry, wasn’t it?”
“It was.” He added with uncustomary frankness, “A
question of entry by evil, and into these woods – which at
that time were not called Darken. Perhaps you remember
the stanzas – ”
“I do.” The stag sang, a little too eagerly for the king’s
liking:
BUT ONE LONE GUARD FOREWARNED THE KING:
“THIS HUNT IS EVIL-STARRED;
FOR THOSE WITH ARMS AND POTENT CHARMS
AGAINST WHOM WE MUST GUARD
NO MORE WILL WAIT WITH EYES OF HATE
AND SOULS AND HEARTS OF GALL,
BUT PURGE THE WOOD OF LIGHT AND GOOD,
AND GODS FORGIVE US ALL.”
He looked expectantly at King Peris, who sighed
hollowly and sang with as full a voice as a spirit could
muster:
STILL PERIS BOASTS, “STEP DOWN, MY HOSTS,
AND HEAR THE HUNTING-HORN,
LET MEN INVADE BOTH WOOD AND GLADE,
WE HUNT THE UNICORN.”
He lowered his sword, which he had raised for emphasis.
“It wasn’t that way at all, of course. And it wasn’t rebellion,
or wilful treason, or any of those things. My men were
bored; I was bored. A hint or two from their commanding
officer – ” he made a mock bow” – was all it took.” He
looked around himself. “Imagine thinking anything in a
short life and a merry one could be boring. I threw away a
kingdom for a day’s amusement and an afterlife of painful
tedium.”
“I am surprised to hear you admit it.”
“I am surprised also. Perhaps something is troubling
me. Let us change the subject.”
“I shall. Did you speak to any of the strangers?” As the
king shook his head, the stag nodded, “For I thought I saw
one address you.”
“Ah. That one was a mage. He spoke first.” The king
looked as though he had never even tried to evade
answering.
“What did he say to you? I could not hear.”
King Peris said with difficulty, “He knew that we were
the spirits of men who had failed a pledge, that we were
doomed to perform that same task endlessly until we
somehow earned final peace.”
“Knowledgeable man.”
“Mages often are. I think he meant to remind me that I
could earn final peace.”
“And what did you say to him of your present state, 0
King? For if I may be truthful, you do not appear in full
majesty. Empty majesty is more like it.”
“I told him that we were called to fulfill our oath, one
day.”
“When you say we,” the stag said carefully, “I assume
that you meant ‘my men and I.’ ”
“I was not specific. I did not mention you by name, but
that does not mean he did not know you also were called to
fulfill your oath.”
“Did you tell him,” the stag inquired, “How long it
has been since we first heard that call?”
The king shifted, a move of discomfort in the living.
“Discussing these things is not easy. Have you no
understanding of how shameful it feels to rehearse a
long-broken pledge?”
“I have more feelings than I commonly show. Let us
change the subject.”
“I shall. Something troubles you.”