Devil House(71)

Thus in his young arms does Gorbonian lift the body of his father the King from the mire, holding it to himself, and crying,—Woe is me, and woe unto the kingdom, for today a great tree is felled.

Then did this noble Prince make such dole as never was heard in those humble halls, wailing as he were wood; and all hastened to the stables, each calling back to each, saying,—Come and see, the King is dead. Dead, says one, the King, say not so. Killed, saith another; and so, as birds in the bush all a-chatter, do they prate, the cry gone up and into the streets beyond. Thus was this direst of news made known; and when his mother arrived to his side to grieve with her son, saith she unto him,—This day is thy Father gone; grieve well and wail away, for he is no more; this day didst thou arise a prince, and go forth a king.





4.


Now Morvidus was wrapped in fine cloth, according to custom, and laid atop fresh earth for all to see; and garlands were strewn in fragrant heaps atop that noble body. Around him were placed jars filled with wild honey and oil; and among the people who came to see the King in state was one, yclept Kenir, who earned his keep thinning scrap-heaps day to day. He foraged among waste; and some he did sell, and some did keep for use. In rags he went about, for no fine clothing was his; he stayed in his dwelling somewhat away from town and upland, where that he did find shelter from the storm.

Now seeing the people all in mourning, he did espy the body of his Lord, dressed for the grave, and cried,—My Lord and my King, whose land this is, what shall we do? And bitterly did he wail. But the folk around did comfort him, saying,—Behold, Gorbonian, his son, shall rule us.

Now this Kenir knew the old ways, and did keep them well; and so, turning to them, he cried,—Was this the work of human hands? And all around did say it was. Then straightaway he began to draw with his finger atop the grave-mound, fine symbols, the meaning of which none knew. But, wild in his grief, young Gorbonian did approach, saying,—What dost thou upon my father’s grave! Gird up thyself, for I shall slay thee.

And old Kenir replied,—Slay me if thou must; but your father knew me; and this would he will, that his friends, and, yea, his heir, if thou will’st, would avenge him as men of old were avenged, with the aid of signs and portents. Whereat Gorbonian wondered, and did withdraw with the scrap-scavenger; and spake they of the old ways, those now dying from the world: of the passage of the dead, and the duties of the living, as in this case, to exact from the robber such tribute as might be bitterly pried.

Then did the young King wail aloud, crying,—My father, guide you mine hand, for I am your son, and must needs have counsel. And behold, upon the burial-mound, a raven alights. And the new King did rise, and order sheep and oxen brought in from the fields, to be laid atop his father’s body and burned; and for days of sport and game to follow, as men had practiced in days of old.

Now all was done as the King decreed. And when the body was burnt, then did he bury his father’s bones, made pure by fire, deep in the earth; and, coming away from the graveside, said,—Let us be done with mourning; and games were held, and men made merry: yea, at riding, and at jousting, and with sword and shield, crying,—Long live the King!

Thus was Gorbonian made glad in his grief; but within him, his heart grew hard, a-wondering at the wickedness of men.





5.


And so, to seek the butcher of his father’s body, Gorbonian called up men of rank, to establish his court; but sought he also men of the common kind, friends from town, heart-fellows. And the first he called was Kaswallan, a general greatly loved by his men; his army was the envy of the whole world, though he despised a bath, and his hair as a clump of river-reeds did hang from his head; but except that they fear him in battle, and pay him well thereafter, he cared not how he seemed before men, and for this had King Morvidus loved him well.

Next came Seisil, a man but small in aspect. It was said of him that no hair on his horse’s head escaped his notice; of tributes taken and costs accrued, he kept count for the King. In fat times and in lean had he served the castle, having known King Danius before, and King Kimar before him. Wherefore he knew better than any the needs of estate, and served in the counting-house.

And next to come was Madauc; he was a magician, and all did pale at his power. By cards and by the casting of coins, he told of times to come; oft had he strengthened the hand of the King, with potions brought to battle; from which, victorious, full many a time would Morvidus return, saying,—Ah, Madauc, in truth my sword is thine. He did live even within the walls of the castle, in a small corner room reserved for himself, to enjoy the pleasures of his station. He held his weapon well, but sang with soothing voice, his beard gone grey and fit to house a nest of sparrows. But time was short for men such as Madauc, though few or none did know it.

Now a king without friends is a king in name only; and so did Gorbonian call to his court, two friends most dear to him, to advise and instruct. First did he call Braith, his companion since cradle-days; to them were known the hidden haunts of the castle, and what trees of the orchard bore sweet fruit in spring; and, pardee, how in stealth to take such fruit, if that the overseer slept.

Next named was Hafren; and to many this did seem, in sooth, great scandal, for her mother was the witch Seren. But others did attest that women such as she had long served, in village and in castle hall; and that only with the coming of new men to the land, had any seen cause to shun such care. To Morvidus in his afflictions had she come in aid, restoring him to health with wild roots, and with poultices pounded from none knew what. Wherefore the saying of Morvidus, still remembered,—I know not whether by cunning or by physic I am healed, but I arise and walk.