The Worm Ouroboros | Page 8

saith the King: 'I therefore summon and command
you, Juss, Spitfire, and Goldry Bluszco, to make haste and come to me
in Witchland in my fortress of Carcë, and there dutifully kiss my toe, in
witness before all the world that I am your Lord and King, and rightful
overlord of all Demonland.'"
Gravely and without gesture Lord Juss harkened to the Ambassador,
leaning back in his high seat with either arm thrown athwart the arched
neck of the hippogriff. Goldry, smiling scornfully, toyed with the hilt of
his great sword. Spitfire sat strained and glowering, the sparks

crackling at his nostrils.
"Thou hast delivered all?" said Juss.
"All," answered the Ambassador.
"Thou shalt have thine answer," said Juss. "While we take rede thereon,
eat and drink"; and he beckoned the cupbearer to pour out bright wine
for the Ambassador. But the Ambassador excused himself, saying that
he was not athirst, and that he had store of food and wine aboard of his
ship, which should suffice his needs and those of his following.
Then said Lord Spitfire, "No marvel though the spawn of Witchland
fear venom in the cup. They who work commonly such villany against
their enemies, as witness Recedor of Goblinland whom Corsus
murthered with a poisonous draught, shake still in the knees lest
themselves be so entertained to their destruction;" and snatching the
cup he quaffed it to the dregs, and dashed it on the marble floor before
the Ambassador, so that it was shivered into pieces.
And the lords of Demonland rose up and withdrew behind the flowery
hangings into a chamber apart, to determine of their answer to the
message sent unto them by King Gorice of Witchland.
When they were private together, Spitfire spake and said, "Is it to be
borne that the King should put such shame and mockery upon us?
Could a not at the least have made a son of Corund or of Corsus his
Ambassador to bring us his defiance, 'stead of this filthiest of his
domestics, a gibbering dwarf fit only to make them gab and game at
their tippling bouts when they be three parts senseless with boosing?"
Lord Juss smiled somewhat scornfully. "With wisdom," he said, "and
with foresight bath Witchland made choice of his time to move against
us, knowing that thirty and three of our well-built ships are sunken in
Kartadza Sound in the battle with the Ghouls, and but fourteen remain
to us. Now that the Ghouls are slain, every soul, and utterly abolished
from this world, and so the great curse and peril of all this world ended
by the sword and great valour of Demonland alone, now seemeth the

happy moment unto these late mouth-friends to fall upon us. For have
not the Witches a strong fleet of ships, since their whole fleet fled at the
beginning of their fight with us against the Ghouls, leaving us to bear
the burden? And now are they minded for this new treason, to set upon
us traitorously and suddenly in this disadvantage. For the King well
judgeth we can carry no army to Witchland nor do aught in his despite,
but must be long months a- shipbuilding. And doubt not he holdeth an
armament ready aboard at Tenemos to sail hither if he get the answer
he knoweth we shall send him."
"Sit we at ease then," said Goldry, "sharpening our swords; and let him
ship his armies across the salt sea. Not a Witch shall land in
Demonland but shall leave here his blood and bones to make fat our
cornfields and our vineyards."
"Rather," said Spitfire, "apprehend this rascal, and put to sea to-day
with the fourteen ships left us. We can surprise Witchland in his strong
place of Carcë, sack it, and give him to the crows to peck at, or ever he
is well awake to the swiftness of our answer. That is my counsel."
"Nay," said Juss, "we shall not take him sleeping. Be certain that his
ships are ready and watching in the Witchiand seas, prepared against
any rash onset. It were folly to set our neck in the noose; and little glory
to Demonland to await his coming. This, then, is my rede: I will bid
Gorice to the duello, and make offer to him to let lie on the fortune
thereof the decision of this quarrel."
"A good rede, if it might be fulfilled," said Goldry. "But never will he
dare to stand with weapons in single combat 'gainst thee or 'gainst any
of us. Nevertheless the thing shall be brought about. Is not Gorice a
mighty wrastler, and hath he not in his palace in Carcë the skulls and
bones of ninety and nine great champions whom he hath vanquished
and slain in that exercise? Puffed