got to their rooms, with the chamberlain’s help. Once there, they changed into their clothes for the “break out.” Edward and Heather both put on brown leather jerkins and gnome capes. Edward girded on his sword and Heather took her lyre. Groundfirm put on his jerkin and gnome cape as well, also girding on his sword. The children tiptoed carefully into Groundfirm’s room.
“It be almost the time of the midnight watch change. We needs be hurry,” said Groundfirm. “The friendly mice are here, under the bed, waiting to guide us to the dungeons.”
That brought a sigh of relief from Edward because he had just realized he memorized the locations of objects in the daylight, not at night. Things change a lot at night when you are trying to find your way around. You always trip over things and the like. They crept slowly out of Groundfirm’s room and worked their way, with the mice, down and around numerous halls.
“I’d have gotten us lost for sure,” muttered Edward, as they made complex turns and twists.
As the children were working their way to the dungeons, a dark thing was happening in the Vizier’s council room. Before him sat a Bobcat on its haunches licking its fur and meowing.
“I saw two children with a gnome about seven days journey form here. They were not very large, but one was a boy with brown hair and blue eyes and one ws a young maid with blond hair and green eyes.”
“And what sort of gnome did you see?” asked the Vizier.
“A red one, oh Vizier,” purred the insolent puss.
“So, they are ambassadors, are they? My guess is that these ‘ambassadors’ were sent by those stupid animals and gnomes to try and release the Prince. But of what use are two young humans?” ruminated the Vizier.
Suddenly, he gave a cry, “It cannot be true! The rune cannot be true! Yet the magic never lies!”
“What rune, Vizier?” inquired the Bobcat.
“The rune that these wretched Logolanders, curse the name, believe in:
‘In our time of greatest need,
The King shall send two of deed.
Boy and girl to free the land;
Servants of the Most High’s band.’
These two children must be servants. These three must be stopped! Chamberlain!
Chamberlain! Where is that lazy son-of-a-slug!”
“H-h-here, your grace,” whimpered the chamberlain, as he entered the room.
“Have the three ‘ambassadors’ of the Western Lands seized immediately,” declared the Vizier.
“Yes, your grace, and on what charge?” fawned the Chamberlain.
“On treason to overthrow His Royal Majesty King Lipophrenia,” replied the Vizier.
The chamberlain hurried out of the council room to alert the guard.
The Bobcat continued to converse with the Vizier.
“My Lord Vizier, these three then might be the ones spoken on in the ancient tale?” inquired the Bobcat.
“Yes, and they need to be eliminated,” the Vizier said grimly.
“What does my Lord intend to do with them?” asked the Bobcat.
“They shall be killed, of course, for treason against the state and for trying to incite rebellion against the King.”
“Well, my Lord, may I be excused for now?” said the Bobcat.
“Yes, my good cat, but see to it that you and your friends are available. I may have need of your services again shortly,” returned the Vizier rubbing his bony hands together.
The cat stretched luxuriously and lightly padded out of the room. Just then, the chamberlain returned, whimpering and wringing his hands.
“The three ambassadors are not to be found, your Lordship. We have checked all of their rooms. What shall we do?” he asked pitiably.
“Fool and dolt! Call out the guard! Check the way to the dungeons! They are seeking the Prince Logosian, no doubt. If you value your miserable life, you had best capture them and return not without them, on pain of death!” screamed the Vizier.
SHAME AND RENEWAL FOR EDWARD
VIII
The guards were turned out and the search began in earnest. Of course, the children and gnome heard all the uproar and surmised that they might have been missed. The mice scrambled ahead and sought to lead them rapidly to their goal, the dungeons. They rounded a corner and suddenly ran into a group of soldiers with torches.
“After them men, and a gold piece to the one who captures them!” shouted the sergeant.
The children and gnome dashed down a side passage and escaped for the moment. The pursuit that transpired next was a chaotic chase that resembled hide and seek, only it was not playing. Edward and Heather later said that it seemed to go on for hours. They ducked down many passages, only to confront new troops. They stumbled into rooms, ran upstairs and bumped into things, until they were exhausted. Still, they said they might have escaped if they had not ducked down a passageway short of the banquet hall main doors, only to find it a dead end. They rushed back down the hall to run headlong into the arms of the pursuing troops.
Groundfirm drew his sword, as did Edward, but the head guard said, “I don’t think your swords are of any use to you against spears and bows. So, unless you wish to die like the dogs you are, and the fair maid with you, I would turn those blades to us by the hilts.”
The boy and gnome realized they were caught and Heather was too scared to remember the lyre, so they surrendered their weapons. The whole chase had lasted only about ten minutes, according to Edward’s later account. Rough hands grabbed them and dragged them to the Grand Vizier. The guards placed them before the Vizier who eyed them coldly.
“Take the boy and gnome away. I shall deal with them later. Place them in the dungeons for now while I talk to our young Lady Heather.”
The guards took Edward and Groundfirm away and left Heather trembling before the Grand Vizier.
He began sweetly, “Tell me, young maid, why you are really here? I know that you are not really ambassadors and that you are here for other reasons. Tell me why.”
Heather’s courage plucked up a little and she replied,” Kind sir, we are here as servants of His Royal Highness Across the Water. . .”
“Enough of this foolish talk girl,” exclaimed the Vizier, interrupting her. “You will tell me the truth or I will have your brother, yes, that is who he is, and that dwarf-mutant slain and you thrown into the dungeon with the bats and spiders! I have not the time for delays or lies!”
At this, Heather gave way to despair. She loved her brother and hated spiders and bats; the thought of a dungeon terrified her. After all, she was only a girl of eight. So, Heather broke down into tears and sobbed, “I wish we’d never read that horrid book and left home. I wish we’d never heard the story or agreed to come and help the Prince. I’m sorry we came to know about the Bright Morning Star or any of this!”
With this information extracted, the Vizier’s speech became honeyed, “There, there, little lady. You’ll not have to go to the dungeon and we needn’t kill your brother or the gnome. Is there anything else little maid? Where are they gathering?” asked the Vizier in the sweetest voice possible.
“I-I don’t know,” replied Heather through the tears.
The Vizier scrutinized her and realized she was telling the truth.
“Very well then, we’ll have you placed in your room under guard,” replied the Vizier coldly. “You’ve been most helpful Lady Heather. Too bad you’ll not be staying around much longer. You’d have been a most cooperative servant.”
Heather, upon hearing this, realized that she had betrayed their cause and the Bright Morning Star. This brought a fresh bout of tears as she was led away to her room.
“Bring me the boy next,” announced the Vizier. “We’ll see if he is as pliable as his sister.”
The soldiers arrived with Edward and flung him as the Vizier’s feet.
“Well, well, young Edward. How is our dungeon? Most comfortable, I trust? Smirked the Vizier.
“I should like to
know the meaning of this outrage,” responded Edward. “I’m sure His Majesty King Lipophrenia would not like to see his ambassadors treated by such methods.”
“Silence, young knave!” thundered the Vizier. “I already have talked to your sister and she has told me of your treasonous intents! I could have you killed as spies right now!”
Edward still continued gamely, “I am sure I don’t know what you are talking about. We were out for a stroll when. . .”
“Liar, you serve the Bright Morning Star!” shrieked the Vizier trembling with rage.
Edward started at this revelation and out tumbled, “I-I don’t know who you are talking about! I know no such person! I swear it!”
No sooner had the words been spoken than the single trumpet sounded for the midnight change of the guard. Edward paled and then dissolved into tears and sobs. He had betrayed His Master the Bright Morning Star for the third time!
“Quiet, you sniveling coward! Now tell me where the army gathers to attack us?” retorted the Vizier icily.
Edward only continued to sob.
“Little swine,” roared the Vizier, leaping up. “I’ll have your throat,” he screamed and drew his dagger placing it at Edward’s throat. Edward paled even more and could not speak. He knew that the army was to meet in the Clearing of Light, two days journey away. The Vizier grew impatient and boxed Edward’s ears, knocking him to the floor.
“Talk to me or the knife goes into your throat,” hissed the Vizier.
Edward shuddered and lay on the floor in abject fear.
Suddenly, there came into Edward’s brain a vision of the figure