"Here they are," said Evardo, indicating two pots at the end, in which stood prickly-pear cacti of the genus Opuntia. "Are you sure you know which is which, my dear?"
"Certainly," said Ozma. "The tall one is the King of Silver Mountain, and the short is Ruggedo. He used to be fat and tubby, but all his efforts to best the Ozites wore him down."
"All right, my dear," said Evardo. "Just a minute while I fetch some more guards to grab Ruggedo. in case he tries something ..."
Evardo was gone for several minutes. During this time, Ozma showed Shea the rare plants in the conservatory, explaining the provenience and properties of each. Evardo returned with another pair of stalwart, sword-armed guards in palace livery. He handed Ozma a wand and a small phial, saying:
"Number three-forty; isn't that the one you wanted?"
"Yes. Everybody quiet, now."
The Queen made passes with the wand, speaking words of power in an undertone. At last she poured the contents of the phial over one of the cacti, crying:
"Awaken!"
The flowerpot burst into fragments, spilling dirt across the bench and on the floor, as the cactus changed into an aged gnome, sitting on the bench amid potsherds and the dirt in which he had been planted. His first word was:
"Ouch!"
Ruggedo pulled a large, jagged potsherd out from beneath him and threw it away. Then he slid down from the bench and ducked a bow to the royal couple, saying in a creaky voice:
"Well, well! Queen Ozma, or I'll be egged! But how you've grown! I should hardly know you but for that fancy fillet you always wore. What in Oz has been happening? Have centuries passed while I was under that villainous leprechaun's spell?''
"No," said Ozma. "A few years after Himself enchanted you and the King of Silver Mountain, a youth studying magic accidentally canceled the aging-stasis spell."
"So now Ozites die of old age as other folk do, without waiting for an accident to get them?" Ruggedo gave a sneering laugh.
"That is right. It makes less difference than one might think, because our natural lives are longer than those of mundanes to begin with."
"And what befell the King of Silver Mountain? Did he become a plant, too?"
Ozma pointed her wand. "Your fellow cactus."
"Well, strike my topsails! You will have to give me some time to gather my wits. And who are these other people?"
Shea remembered that Ruggedo had led a brief career as a pirate captain; the locutions of that milieu had evidently remained with him. Ozma said:
"My beloved husband, King Evardo of Ev, and Doctor Sir Harold Shea, a mundane."
Ruggedo chuckled. "Well, well, little Evardo! You've grown even more than she has!"
"And you've lost a lot of weight," said King Evardo, "since the time you turned me into a piece of bric-a-brac on a shelf in your palace." He added: "As you have already guessed, Sir Harold, you behold the former Gnome King, Ruggedo the Rough, a.k.a. Roquat the Red, a.k.a. the Metal Monarch. He used to be as round as a grapefruit."
Ruggedo sighed. "Life has been hard, especially that five-year stretch as a mute peddler. You have no idea how difficult it is to give customers a hard sell without a voice. No wonder I was starved down to a skinny old swabbie! The things that have befallen me in trying to recover my just rights!"
"You look better skinny," said Evardo. "You used to resemble a grape or an olive with toothpicks stuck to it."
Ruggedo put his fists on his hips. "Very funny, ha-ha. Now then, don't tell me you've revived me just out of the goodness of your hearts. Ozma just might, but I judge you, fellow monarch, to be a tougher character. You were as a boy. So what do you want of me?"
The gnome glared defiantly. Evardo said: "Just to act as a guide to Sir Harold into Gnomicia, that's all. And to help him to rescue our son—Ozma's and mine—from captivity by your successor Kaliko."
"So Kaliko worked a snatch on royalty?" Ruggedo snickered. "As chancellor, he was always warning me against overreaching; and here he's done the same fool thing himself! The last thing I said to him, when he threw me out of my kingdom the second time, was not to mess with the Ozites. I had tried every way I could think of and come a cropper each time. But some people don't learn from others' experience."
"And power corrupts," added Evardo. "Well, how about it? Will you undertake this quest?"
Ruggedo looked sly. "Yes, if you will give me back my Belt."
"Out of the question! We'll use it to send you and Sir Harold to your western entrance."
"No Belt, no guide," snapped Ruggedo, crossing his arms on his chest.
"Of course," said Ozma casually, "I can always turn you back into a cactus."
"Go ahead! At least it's painless, though life as a potted plant is pretty dull. Almost as tedious as being a walnut or a crockery jug, both of which I know from experience."
Shea spoke: "King Ruggedo, this trip would give you a chance to oust Kaliko and resume your kingship."
"Hmm. I'll think it over. If you offered the Belt along with this rescue mission, I'd say 'yes' like a shot."
"Forget the Belt!" roared Evardo. "Guide and help Sir Harold, and you shall have a chance at your former kingdom. Otherwise, not."
Ruggedo's normally gray complexion flushed an angry red. "You mean," he shouted, "that even if I do you a vital service, you still won't return my own hard-earned property?" The gnome began to hop about, and his voice rose to a scream. "You're all just a band of bandits, thieves, robbers! You pretend to be so noble and virtuous, but it's all a sham! Hypocrites! Plunderers!"
The gnome seized a small flowerpot holding a plant, raised it high, and hurled it to the floor with a mighty smash, sending dirt and potsherds flying.
"Grab him!" said Evardo to the guards. Two stalwarts seized Ruggedo's arms and held him fast despite his yells and struggles.
"Oh, my poor Ragbadian daffodil!" cried Ozma, stooping to pick up the remains of the plant.
"You two," said Evardo to the remaining guards, "find another flowerpot, put the dirt back in—as much as you can—and replant the bulb. We may save it."
Shea said: "In the mundane world, back when monarchs really ruled, anyone who spoke that way to a king or queen would soon find himself shorter by a head."
Ozma smiled. "We know old Rug." Then to the gnome: "You might as well calm down, Rug. You make much of your property rights in the Belt. But, you see, we know the story of how you obtained it in the first place."
"That was entirely different!" said Ruggedo. "You haven't heard my side of the tale—"
Evardo interrupted "Later; some other time. We're getting off the subject. Do you accept our deal or not? Don't hope that, once in Gnomicia, you can hatch another plot against us. We shall watch you."
Ruggedo looked hurt. "What, me plot against Your Majesties? Perish the thought! I tried that several times without success and hope I have learned a few things in my centuries. Since I have this time really resolved to reform, I will agree to your terms, unfair though I deem them."
"Very well," said Evardo. "When shall we send you off? Tomorrow?"
"just a minute, Your Majesty!" said Shea. "You haven't fetched Bayard yet."
"After you have released Prince Oznev," said Evardo. "Not before."
"But Bayard is a big, strong fellow, and very smart I'll need his help, especially if it comes to a fight "
"No."
"Then no rescue mission. You can turn Ruggedo back into a cactus "
"Dear," said Ozma, "we had better consult on this. Will you gentlemen excuse us?"
She swept out, followed by Evardo and two guards. The other two guards remained, glowering uneasily at Ruggedo. The gnome said to Shea:
"Who is this Bayard? What's this all about? Since I've been a dumb plant for I don't know how long, you can't expect me to sound very intelligent."