Free Mistress of mistresses by E. R. Eddison

And indeed, if my bond were
better than my word, you might stand in some peril now.'
    'Forgive
me,' said Roder then. 'We are content with your royal word, and in this I am the
mouthpiece of all three of us. And truly,' said he, chuckling in his beard, ‘I
may now disclose to your grace the inwardness of my calling of 'em out: 'twas
because we should not all three be in your hand afore we had ta'en assurance of
our safety. But now, had you been minded to entreat me evilly, he and Beroald
do stand at your doors without the citadel with enough stout lads mustered
under arms as—'
    The
blood rushed to Barganax's face and neck, and his hand leapt to the dagger at
his belt. Roder said, 'I am sorry. But your grace will not forget your oath,
nor you will not strike a weaponless man. Will't please you enter your closet
and suffer me bring in the Admiral and the Chancellor, when we shall confer
with you about matters of most weighty consequence.'
    'You
are a brave man, Roder,' said Barganax at length, folding his arms and speaking
close in the Earl's face. 'Bring in your friends. This circumspection of
peace-pledges, and this armed alertness when we were never yet at variance, are
clean past my understanding. But tell 'em, for their better counsel, 'twas well
you had my oath before I knew you threatened force against me. Had I known or
seen it, my answer had been pat and to the purpose.'
    The
Earl Roder, as a man that hath escaped a danger the full menace of which he had
not apprehended till the danger was past, went forth somewhat shaken from before
the face of the Duke.
    When
they were set in Duke Barganax's closet, the lord Admiral took up the word:
they were but five there, those three great officers of state, the Duke himself
and Doctor Vandermast. 'It was unadvisedly done,' said the Admiral; 'and we
will first tender to your grace our large regrets and most humbly crave your
pardon. Yet shall you consider, when you know all, that these be great news and
sudden, and something in a manner to root up all past custom and example, so as
we know not where we stand, in a manner; and albeit we do well think, my lord
Duke, that it shall still lie to our interest, both yours and ours, to hold
each by other, sith it well may so come about as that like dangers from the
like quarter should menace us both, yet in a manner—'
    'My
good lord Admiral,' said the Duke, ‘I pray you put out of mind this of the
soldiers. I am satisfied: not another thought will I give it. But, for the
matter in hand, we shall the more readily follow your argument if you will
first tell us these news you speak on.'
    'Earl
Roder', said Jeronimy, 'hath rid from the north this morning with tidings of
sudden and great import.'
    'Give
me in a word, what is it?' said the Duke.
    'Then,'
said Roder, 'in a word: the King is dead.'
    'Heavy
news; but 'tis ten months old.'
    'Nay,
nay: King Styllis is dead,' said Roder. 'Four days since, in Rerek, in's camp a
little beside Hornmere. I was by his bed, held his hand in mine when his soul
took flight.'
    Those
three lords narrowly watched the Duke who, from his late posture of careless
ease, was sat upright at these tidings, his strong and delicate hands grasping
the edge of the table of carved sandalwood. His eyes were on Roder's, but
seemed to gaze through and beyond him: for a minute he was silent. At length he
spoke, saying, *He died young. The Gods rest his soul. He was my brother,
though he ne'er was good to me.' He lowered his gaze and was silent again, his
fingers drumming on the table. None spoke. Then, as if waking to common things,
he looked up and said sharply: 'Dead, by what means?'
    'Eating
of some venomous confection,' answered Roder. He paused an instant, then
blurted out, 'The common tittle-tattle doth loudly say your grace did poison
him.'
    Barganax
narrowed his eyes. He fell a-drumming once more on the table. Then, 'I doubt
not, my lord Admiral,' said he, 'you have surveyed the field anew ere you came
to me with