"Timásh and I rode like hell, that's how. Go on; tell me everything."
After another moment of silence, Alicia resumed her tale. She had found herself in a compartment of the tent the size of an average bedroom, furnished with all the elegance of a room in a palace. There were two comfortable chairs, a dresser, a washstand, and a table, all decorated with Vizman's gilded royal symbol of a god astride a sea monster. In one corner stood a large bed with lace-trimmed bedding.
On the table reposed a three-dimensional colored photograph of Alicia, set in a silver-gilt frame emblazoned with rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. This picture, she reasoned, must have been bought or begged from some photographer in Novo, since native photography was still in the box-and-tripod, black-and-white picture stage.
After a servant in green-and-purple livery removed the food, Alicia curled up on the bed for a nap; but that nap turned into a sleep of exhaustion. When she awoke, darkness shrouded the compartment. Outside, nocturnal Krishnan creatures began their serenade of clicks, chirps, trills, and buzzes.
Abruptly the tentflap was lifted and Minyev, now without his crimson beard, slipped in, saying obsequiously in Mikardandou: "Ah, my lady! You slept well, I trust?"
"Minyev, what the devil is this about?"
"We shall discuss it presently. Do you wish a fresh repast?"
"No; the dinner they gave me sufficed. Now answer my question, damn it!"
"May I be seated, my lady?" he asked, promptly seating himself. "I said you should be a queen, and I meant it. You must pardon the extreme measures we have been compelled to take, to make you a queen in feet."
"Minyev!" cried Alicia. "What makes you think I want to be a queen?"
"All women, Terran as well as human, desire to be goddesses or royal consorts."
"You are mistaken, Minyev. I never wished to be a queen. If I had, I should long ago have accepted the proposal of King Ainkhist of Mutabwk. What has become of him, by the way?"
"An unknown murdered him." Minyev gave the equivalent of a shrug. "But to return: We have determined that for you to be Dour Vizman's queen would well serve Qirib and our world as well. We admire your superior abilities and commend your efforts to assure the common folk happiness and prosperity.
"King Vizman hath been besotted by his loss of you since you departed for the planet Terra. Never hath his passion wavered. If you but extend kindness to him, you will perceive his many splendid qualities and come to love him as he doth dote on you."
"You are entirely mad!" exclaimed Alicia. "Perhaps the women of your species react thus; but do not presume to predict how a Terran woman would feel, especially after having been snatched away from her friends by brute force. If your regard for me be anything like that which you profess, you must help me escape."
Minyev made the negative head motion. "Nay; our minds are set, and nought you say will change them. You shall receive His Awesomeness tonight in yonder bed; and your nuptials will be celebrated on your return to Jazmurian."
Alicia angrily tossed her golden hair. "And if I refuse to cooperate?"
"If you remain stubborn, His Awesomeness hath secret chambers in his palace, where intransigent subjects can meditate upon their faults. Unless he command their release, there they stay, unknown to the world, as if they had vanished into air."
"So you think you're doing me a favor by shutting me up for life?"
"Word it not so harshly, my lady," said Minyev. "We have only your ultimate best interests, as well as those of Qirib, upon our humble livers."
"Beware! My fellow Terrans will avenge me, as befell King Ainkhist."
"We have taken precautions, never fear," replied Minyev with a smugness that filled Alicia with grim desperation.
"What's your plan for tonight?"
"His Awesomeness is minded to give you pleasure in spite of your aloofness; and he is experienced in such matters. You were well-advised to bend with grace unto his will, lest he call in his minions to assist him. I do assure you, he will have his way.
"But let us speak of other things. For an aspirant diplomat, I have indeed been remiss in hospitality." Minyev went to a cupboard and returned with a bottle and two goblets. The goblets he filled with much ceremony and handed one to Alicia. "Let us drink to your future happiness as the beloved and noble consort of His Awesomeness. What joy that this delightful Terran custom of celebration hath reached this world!"
Taking a sip, Alicia found the kvad strong and of high quality. Minyev swallowed half his gobletful in one gulp, coughed, and wiped his mouth.
"By the way," said Minyev complacently, "should you entertain thoughts of fleeing Dour Vizman's custody to seek the arms of Sir Fergus Reit', let me assure you that my former employer will never marry you."
"What gives you that idea?" said Alicia sharply.
"I have been his confidant for years, have I not?"
"You'll never be that again, when he learns how you have betrayed his trust!"
"What objection will he have? I have done him no injury. Since he entertains no matrimonial designs upon you, your departure will cause him little grief. And, not wishing to leave Sir Fergus in an awkward predicament, I have asked my cousin Yinkham to take my place. He should soon reach Novo. Dear lady, as you see, I think of everything!"
"Oh, you're a monstrously clever fellow, all right. But what makes you positive that Mr. Reith will never wed me?"
"Dear madam, though you may be unaware, young Alister is much opposed. Sir Fergus hath promised not to wed without his son's approval."
Minyev finished a second goblet of kvad. Alicia sipped a drop at a time and sharply watched the Khaldonian. "Alister seemed to like me well enough, the few times we have met. I'm sure he would never force such a promise from his father."
"Ah, Lady Alicia, you do not grasp the youth's true feelings. He may admire you as a fellow Terran, but he is madly jealous of Sir Fergus's affections and unwilling to share them with another."
"I don't believe a word of this, Minyev. Why have you turned against your old employer?"
Minyev hiccuped. "My reasons are three: admiration for your superior qualities, sympathy for our lovelorn Dour, and a wish to bring together two spirits whom the gods plainly intend for one another."
"And besides, you are promised a substantial reward. Come now, old comrade, is it not so?" Alicia smiled disarmingly.
"Well, to tell the truth, Dour Vizman promises to finance my university degree, so that I can enter diplomatic service. Diplomats are a nation's first defense against the scourge of war; and I am devoted to the cause of peace."
Alicia continued. "And who are those others you call 'we'? Who abducted me?"
"Know you Enrique Schlegel?"
"Slightly. Are your accomplices active in his society?"
Minyev, taking a drink, made the affirmative head motion.
"And," continued Alicia, "doubtless the Dour has promised the society financial backing in return for me?"
"How clever you are, my lady! Much as we dislike distraining you against your will, you must see that we do but serve the greater good." Minyev drank deeply from his third goblet of strong liquor. "We commoners seldom taste so fine a beverage as this. Lady Alicia, you must surely be ready for a trifle more to wet your lovely lips!"
She shook her head. "You would not have me foil to give the Dour the welcome he desires. Do tell me more."
Minyev raised his goblet and swirled the golden liquid. "I perceive you have decided to take my sound advice. Some day you will be grateful to me. Now I must depart, ere His Awesomeness come to claim his royal rights." He downed the rest of his gobletful and set the vessel on the table with an air of finality.