King of Rainmoor

Jinx and Elanor wandered through the caves and tunnels of Rainmoor, and Jinx was beginning to wish he hadn't bothered. Several times they'd seen someone in the distance, but everyone who saw them coming ducked into another tunnel or turned around and went the other way. Vernon was right: they were all afraid of him and didn't want to get anywhere near him.

"Why is everybody running away?" asked Elanor, puzzled.

"They're afraid of me, Elanor."

"Well, somebody should tell them not to be. There's another one, I'll go tell him not to be afraid!"

Elanor bounded off toward the distant figure before Jinx could stop her. "Elanor! Come back here!" shouted Jinx desperately, as the distant figure fled past a twist in the passageway, hotly pursued by Elanor.

Jinx ran after them, terrified that whoever it was might have a weapon, might kill Elanor in fear. Surely anybody would assume that she was the creature that killed James, considering the circumstances! He ran harder, desperate to get there before Elanor was quite dead, and try to heal her. If that meant fighting off somebody, fine. They all thought he was dangerous anyway. If they hurt Elanor, they'd find out what dangerous really meant...

Jinx rounded the corner and almost fell over Sean, who was sitting on the ground petting Elanor.

"Too late, mate, I've already been knocked down by your consort. Didn't recognize her until she pounced on me, pinned me down, and told me not to be afraid. Odd way to tell somebody not to be afraid, isn't it? Was it your idea?"

"Sean, I'm so sorry!" said Jinx breathlessly.

"Oh, it was your idea, eh? Might have known. I probably would have been afraid if she wasn't purring so loud. It's hard to be afraid of something that's purring and licking your nose."

"This wasn't my idea, Sean, she just ran off after you. Elanor, don't you ever do that again!"

"Don't be harsh with her, now." said Sean. "She's a dear, and I can't believe she meant any harm. Lucky it was me, though, and I knew who she was. James got killed, you know, and everybody's nervous. Oh, by the way, did you kill him?"

"No, and neither did Elanor."

"Then it must have been Ivan. I saw them talking last night, though they didn't see me. I don't know exactly how he made it look like you did it, but any good mage could manage it without too much trouble. I could almost like Ivan for that, except that he must have killed Robert as well if he's Nameless. I wish I'd known that at the time, so I could have gone after the pair of them."

"Don't." said Jinx. "Ivan is too dangerous."

"Oh? Rumor has it you went for his throat the other night. Is that true? I hope so."

"No, it was me." said Elanor.

"No, really? Elanor, you're a beautiful creature with impeccable taste. You couldn't have picked a better person to bite, take my word for it. What gave you the idea? Or did you just think he'd look better without a neck?"

"He was trying to kill Jinx, so I had to bite him to make him stop."

"What? The bastard! He won't rest until he kills off all my friends, will he? Why didn't you finish him off?"

"I would have, only I was biting him from the lonely place..."

"The Astral Plane." translated Jinx.

"Okay, the astral plane, and when Jinx got away I didn't want to kill him as much as I wanted to see if Jinx was all right. So I went after Jinx, and I didn't finish killing Ivan."

"Pity." said Sean. Jinx wondered what Ivan would think if he knew how badly these two wanted to kill him. Maybe he did know, and that's why he was hiding.

"Is everybody really afraid of Jinx?" inquired Elanor.

"Blame Hugo for that. He's been going around telling everybody he could find that he'd warned James to be careful of Jinx. Now he's warning everybody. You ought to kill him, Jinx, you outrank him and he's certainly behaving disrespectfully. Tell him, if he doesn't take it all back, then you'll kill him. He'd never do it, so then all you'd have to do is catch him warning somebody about you and he'd be fair game."

"And then if I killed him, everybody would think he was right."

Sean winced. "I guess so. He tried to warn me, you know. I just told him that if you had killed James my main gripe was that you'd deprived me of the pleasure of it. That shut him up right away."

"Do you really think Ivan killed James? I saw them together too, but they were being friendly because they both wanted to kill me."

"P'raps they stopped being friendly after you left them."

"No, James left and I went with Ivan. He was being friendly, and I didn't know he was going to try to kill me. When I got away, Elanor was already attacking him, and I don't think he'd go out again after that."

"No, honestly? Then Ivan probably didn't kill James. I wonder who did? Are you sure you didn't?"

"I haven't killed anybody yet."

"Ah, well, the night is young."

"It's not night yet!" said Elanor. "It's still daytime!"

"See?" replied Sean. "I told you."

Jinx suddenly realized the page, Michael, was hovering nervously some fifty feet away, clearly wanting to say something but afraid to approach Elanor. Sean and Elanor noticed him next.

"What's the matter with him?" remarked Sean.

"Elanor attacked him, remember?"

"Oh!" said Elanor. "He didn't know I was only chasing him away?"

"Of course not! You told him you wanted to see what his throat tasted like!"

"Huh!" remarked Sean. "You shouldn't have done that, Elanor. He's a good lad."

"Awww. Look how frightened he is. Is he going to come say hello, or is he just going to stand there?"

"Michael!" called Jinx. "Come here, she's not going to hurt you."

Michael approached hesitantly. "Promise?"

"Promise."

The boy never took his eyes off Elanor as he came closer and produced a scroll.

"Now hear this," he read, shot a nervous glance at Elanor, and continued, "all nobles of Rainmoor are to gather in the Great Hall at seven tonight for the Execution of First Lord Charles, also known as the Nameless Pretender, for the murder of First Lord Nicholas, First Lord Robert, and Second Lord James. Your attendance is required."

There was a stunned silence, and then Sean said lamely, "Oh. I guess it wasn't Ivan, then."

"Is that all right?" said Michael in a small voice.

"I guess so. Why wouldn't it be?" replied Jinx.

"No, I mean is it all right with Lady Elanor?"

"Aww." purred Elanor, and padded softly up to the boy. He gulped, but didn't flee. "You're a nice little human, and I'm sorry I frightened you. I promise I won't ever bite you or anything like that. Okay?"

He nodded mutely, then jumped when Elanor licked his hand. She returned to Jinx's side, certain that she'd expressed herself plainly. Jinx was amazed at how soft-hearted Elanor was getting. Perhaps it was because she'd learned to talk.

"Are you sure it's Charles?" asked Sean.

"King Thomas is." replied the boy, furtively wiping his hand on his tunic. "He said that it would be proved beyond the shadow of a doubt, and everyone would know."

"Fair enough. You can go now, to tell the others."

"Oh, I already have! I only had Lord Jinx after you, and now I'm finished."

"Left Jinx for last, did you?"

"In case..." said the boy, and left off there, glancing at Elanor, who looked abashed. Being King Thomas's Astral Guard hadn't taught her much about dealing with humans. Michael left with polite haste.

"Awww... Now I know what you wanted me to apologize for, Jinx. The poor thing!"

"Well, you did, anyway. I guess we don't have to bother trying to find out who Nameless is, now."

"Charles!" marveled Sean. "Who'd have thought it? I always knew he was a sneak, but imagine!"

"Jinx isn't particularly surprised. You should have seen the look on his face when King-Thomas tried to make you a First Lord instead of him."

"Oh, really? That figures. I should have known all along that he was Nameless. Why else would he put up with Gerald all those years, if he wasn't up to something?"

Jinx didn't reply. Humans never made sense anyway. Why wouldn't Charles have put up with Gerald for years before killing him? Admittedly it was ridiculous, impossible: any sensible being in the situation would have killed Gerald immediately, rather than washing his socks for years first. But this was a human, not a sensible being, and humans were maddeningly confusing...

"Jinx?" asked Elanor. "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking about Charles."

"Well," said Sean, "I imagine you won't have to for much longer. I say, Peter must be upset at this, the poor bloke. We ought to visit him, cheer him up. He'll be feeling rotten, I expect."

They set out for Peter's rooms, and halfway there encountered a strange person drifting aimlessly toward them. Jinx thought at first that this was Charles, but soon recognized it as a man whom he'd seen at Robert's funeral. He gripped the back of Elanor's neck, determined to keep her from scampering up to the man, who was behaving in a disturbing way, talking to himself and gazing into space with wild, staring eyes.

"Harold?" said Sean. "You all right, mate?"

"But if he wasn't, then somebody else would be, possibly even me!" exclaimed the man. Elanor shrunk against Jinx's leg, fearfully.

"Harold! Get a grip, man, it's me, Sean!"

"Sean? No, I'm not you, silly, silly..."

Sean went up to him and took his arm, which made the man jump so violently that it startled Jinx and Elanor. Harold stared fixedly at Sean's hand, in seeming wonder and astonishment.

"Harold, you're seeing visions, mate. How many mushrooms was it this time?"

Harold turned his stare to Sean's eyes in confusion. "Many?"

"Oh, dear. Jinx, would you be good enough to help out here? If you don't take the edge off, he's liable to hurt himself."

Jinx moved warily closer, but the man, upon looking at him, struggled with Sean. "Many?!?"

"What am I supposed to do?" asked Jinx desperately.

"Oh, that's right, you didn't grow up in Rainmoor, did you? You've got this healing power..."

"I knew that already. Am I supposed to make him not crazy?"

"He's not crazy, Jinx. At least not as much as it looks. He's seeing visions, and they're frightening him. Think of it as poisoning, eh? Just try to heal his mind. It won't change things completely, but it should take some of the intensity away..."

"But he's getting frightened just looking at me!" protested Jinx.

"That's because you're frightened, you idiot!"

"Many!"

"Easy, there, Harold." soothed Sean. "You're safe."

Elanor had been looking at Harold nervously, but Sean's words seemed to reassure her. "Is that why he's acting so strange? Because he's frightened? I've never seen anyone as frightened as that. Are you sure?"

"Oh aye. Hard to say what he's seeing, but it's not us."

"Aww." said Elanor, losing all her nervousness. She padded up to him, and rubbed against his leg in a friendly manner, then rose up on her hind legs and rested a paw on his trembling shoulder. "Don't be frightened of my mate. He's not going to hurt you." she said, gazing into his eyes as if he was some small, helpless creature that touched her maternal instinct. She then dropped to all fours again.

This time Harold allowed Jinx to approach, because Elanor's obvious sincerity had calmed him, or possibly because she had confused him past the point of being able to react. He stared wildly into Jinx's eyes as Jinx touched his head, but before long his stare became less terrified, and finally he spoke.

"Sean? Why is a tiger holding my head?"

"That'll do, Jinx." said Sean, and Jinx, relieved, backed away again. "He was healing you, Harold, you got carried away again. Don't you recognize him? You were present when Jinx was made a First Lord."

"You mean he really does look like that?"

"Aye."

"What was the Protector?"

"The what?" said Sean, puzzled.

"A beautiful, wild creature. It turned into a person and told me not to be afraid, but it was still a savage beast that could destroy all the monsters..."

At this point, Harold glanced at Elanor, and said "Oh!". He still had the tendency to stare obsessively at things, but was beginning to notice his surroundings. Jinx thought that his surroundings probably weren't helping much.

"Harold," said Sean, "you thought you were seeing things that day, didn't you? If Jinx looks like a tiger to you, mate, then you're seeing straight for once."

Harold turned his weird, disconcerting stare to Jinx. "Is that really fur? Can I touch you?"

Jinx grudgingly allowed this, and the man stroked his neck with great wonder and delight, as if he were being allowed to pet a real tiger. When it appeared that he was getting lost in the experience, Jinx backed away, which seemed to disappoint Harold.

"You're still flying, mate." said Sean. "Think you can navigate back to your room without getting lost? We were on our way to see Peter before we got sidetracked."

"Of course I can!" replied Harold. "Thank you for everything, I love you all!" He set off down the tunnel.

"Is that where his room is?" asked Jinx.

"No. He'll be all right, Rainmoor looks after fools and madmen. That leaves out the rest of us, but you can't have everything. Let's go."

When they got to Peter's place, it was getting late in the day, for they'd stopped a few times to talk with various nobles and knights they'd met. Everyone was so thunderstruck by the announcement that Charles was the Nameless One that they didn't even remember to be nervous of Jinx, although Elanor often startled them by suddenly speaking up: they tended to see her as a tame animal of Jinx's and ignore her until she added her own comments. Some of them, even then, tried to pretend she wasn't there, which annoyed Jinx. He wondered how many of them would ignore him if he was on all fours.

Julia opened the door. "Sean! And Jinx and Elanor! I'm so glad to see you, I was hoping one of you would remember Peter and come by. This is dreadful for him, just awful."

"Is it bloody Victor again?" came a dispirited voice from the other room.

"No love, it's friends." she called, and turned to them. "Do please come in."

"Victor?" said Sean. "Again?"

Julia glowered. "He came by as soon as he heard. Not to commiserate Peter, but trying to get Peter to suggest him as a replacement for Charles! Can you believe that? Of all the insolence!"

Sean rolled his eyes in disgust, and marched straight into the other room. "Peter, old sport, it's not your fault."

Jinx, Elanor and Julia followed, to see Peter regarding Sean with a tormented, pleading expression on his face. "You don't understand, Sean. The King is wrong."

"Wrong? He said it would be proved!"

"Let me ask you this question, and maybe you'll have better luck with it than I have. Why would Nameless beg the King to stay safe in his rooms? Why? Charles was desperate that the King be safe, begging him to not take the slightest chances. I was present. King Thomas confirmed that every word was utter truth. How could this man be the ruthless killer we fear?"

Sean paused, stumped. "Maybe he chose his words carefully."

"Or maybe Nameless has framed him, Sean. Think of that. What better way to further his plans, than to betray Charles? Then the King would think himself safe, and would mix with the nobles once more. Charles has risen to the occasion, you know. He's been frantically going about hunting for Nameless, more than any other person has. The promotion he got roused his spirit, and now he's determined to catch Nameless. He promised the King the head of Nameless, in my presence! He said he wouldn't rest until he could bring the head of Nameless before the King. Every word was true..."

"Well, if he isn't Nameless, then who is?"

"Ivan. Only Ivan could pull such a trick off. Think of it! For some reason, the King has decided against the evidence of his own senses, against what he knows to be true, and has turned against the one man who's absolutely frothing at the mouth to kill Nameless! How else can you explain it, but that Ivan has laid an enchantment upon him?"

"Have you told the King this?"

"Sean, he refuses to see me! He's got to be under a spell of some sort, he wouldn't even talk to me!"

Peter fell silent, and nobody spoke for a while. Finally Elanor asked, "The same human who tried to kill my mate is doing other bad things?"

"What is this, Elanor?" said Peter. "Ivan tried to kill Jinx?"

They explained, and Peter grew more and more excited.

"Don't you see? That proves it! Ivan is trying to kill off both Charles and Jinx, because both of them are a threat to his plans! If he got to be King while either of them were still alive, they'd avenge King Thomas no matter what. But if there are no First Lords, and the King is killed, nobody knows what would happen, and he's counting on that! He knows nobody wants to take the chance of destroying the magic of Rainmoor!"

"Peter, it wouldn't destroy the magic of Rainmoor!" said Sean. "Rainmoor is a lot bigger than we are, and you know it!"

"But can you be sure that Rainmoor would continue to accept us? Would it still make air for us to breathe, light for us to see with, caves for us to live and travel in? Can you be sure Rainmoor wouldn't do something that might be perfectly normal to it, but which would destroy us in an eyeblink?"

"Peter, be reasonable. You're worried sick over what would happen if both Charles and Jinx were killed, and then Ivan became King, and then Ivan was killed! Give it a rest, will you?"

"I suppose that's not as inevitable as it seems..."

"Certainly not!" said Sean. "I'll tell you what we'll do. I still think that Nameless is probably Charles, just because he's such a worm, but you've raised some serious doubts for me, and so we'll watch Ivan like a hawk. If he shows up to this trial, we won't let him get anywhere near the King."

"Couldn't he kill the King with magic, from a distance?" asked Jinx, confused. "Isn't that what happened to Robert?"

Peter replied, "Not the King. Rainmoor is funny that way, Jinx. The protections over the King are powerful, but there are two ways he can die. One is old age. The other way is if his blood is spilled in malice. Not by magic, only by actual physical combat."

"That's stupid!" remarked Elanor. "What good are magic protections that only work against other magic?"

"It's not stupid, Elanor. You'd have to know some history to understand why Rainmoor operates that way. There have been times when the King had to die. King Adrian, for instance."

"Who was that?" asked Jinx.

"The worst oppressor Rainmoor has ever seen, or so the history books say. It was generations ago, so one might doubt the accuracy of the accounts. However, I thought of asking Vernon about him, and Vernon confirmed it. Mind you, Vernon doesn't know that much about King Adrian, for the man went out dragon-hunting as often as he could, and Vernon quite sensibly took the opportunity to wander other parts of Rainmoor most of the time. However, Vernon claims he once saw Adrian on a hunting party, hunting another human. According to Vernon, that hunt was a very short one."

"Fair enough." said Sean. "I ought to talk to Vernon more often, it sounds like he's got a lot of interesting stories..."

"Peter," interrupted Julia, "it's time."

"Already? Oh, hell. Come on, all of you, we're off to the execution. Maybe somebody can clear Charles at the last moment. Here, Jinx, you'll be needing more formal dress, you'd better wear my sword..."

"You're going?" asked Sean, startled. "I thought you resigned!"

"Serves you right for not studying your history. A resigned noble is permitted to attend court functions, Sean, and I intend to do so. I refuse to just stay home and allow Charles to be killed. In fact, if Ivan shows up I shall accuse him, and maybe then King Thomas will listen."

"Is Ivan going to show up?" asked Jinx.

"He must. The King said attendance was compulsory. If he didn't attend, King Thomas could strip him of his rank, which would cripple him magically. All First Lords draw heavily on the power of their rank, you know."

"I'm coming along." said Elanor firmly. "I'm not letting Jinx go alone. This Ivan might try to kill my mate again. If he shows up, can I finish him off?"

"Elanor!" exclaimed Jinx. "Don't! He might kill you!"

"Perhaps," said Peter, "that is what Rainmoor has planned. There may be no other way."

Jinx looked back and forth between them, distressed. "I'm supposed to let Elanor be killed, just to get rid of Ivan? No!"

"I never said that. I was thinking that Elanor alone has been able to injure Ivan. Perhaps his defenses aren't designed to deal with her. Elanor may be destined to kill Ivan."

"She is not! I am, according to Vernon!"

"Oh, never mind. I'd forgotten about that part. All this is too damned confusing to keep track of. Jinx, since you're destined to slay the Nameless Pretender, would you keep an eye on him if he shows up? By the way, that also proves it's Ivan, because if it's Charles and he's executed King Thomas would hardly call on you to do it. Executions are by the hand of the King."

Peter, leaving his rooms, strode off urgently, as if fearing that Ivan would beat him to the Great Hall and kill off the King if he didn't hurry. The others followed in his wake. Jinx noticed that Julia was coming along as well.

"Are you allowed to come?"

"You try and keep me away!" she retorted. "It's not just wanting to be there for Peter, either. Nothing like this has ever happened before, in our lifetimes. Remember how I said that consorts don't bother to attend boring court functions? I'll bet you anything you like that every last one is there to watch."

When they arrived at the Great Hall, the place was already filled with people. It seemed larger this time, as if it had expanded to fit the throngs of nobles and consorts that had shown up. King Thomas was already present, sitting on his throne, not attempting to stop the excited babble of voices: the nobles chattered almost hysterically, mostly about how they'd always suspected Charles was a bad sort. The hall's mirror-illusion was already expanded to a vast, flat plane, and it shivered and flickered as if it, too, was unbearably excited.

Elanor, who'd never seen the Great Hall this way, didn't want to go in, and paced nervously before the entrance, trying to work up the courage to enter. She sniffed at one of the doors, distracted.

"Jinx?"

"It's only an illusion, Elanor. You have to come in, if you're going to stay with me. Come on."

With that, Jinx made his way to the place he'd sat before, near the back of the hall with Sean and Peter. Elanor followed, overcoming her nervousness. Jinx scanned the room, looking for Ivan, but the man was not to be found. He did spot Harold, who was gazing around with a brittle serenity in his expression, as if enjoying the show.

"Why isn't he starting?" said Sean. "What's he bloody waiting for?"

King Thomas stubbornly refused to do anything or to call the proceedings to order, and his silence was driving the nobles wild with tension. Their faces showed the strain: they'd been expecting the trial to start, but something was wrong and the King just sat, refusing to act or to explain.

"Where's Charles?" asked Peter, baffled, and Jinx scanned the room but was unable to find him in the crush of people. Ivan, too, was absent, although it was hard to find anybody in the crowd. Jinx considered that, if Charles was present, he probably wasn't allowed to mingle with the others.

"Hsst!" went Peter, and Jinx whirled to see Ivan coming cautiously through the doors. He moved slowly, looking from side to side, as if sensing some danger, but uncertain of what it might be.

As he moved away, seeking a place in the back of the room that wasn't near Jinx, a figure with a sword leapt from behind the door, and, with a sudden lunge, stabbed Ivan in the back. The room erupted in commotion, with the closer nobles trying to get away and the farther ones trying to get closer and see what was happening. Jinx, astonished, saw who it was. It was Charles.

Charles slashed viciously at the fallen Ivan, with a kind of desperation. He severed the man's head, and stood facing the nobles and his King, with his grisly trophy dangling by the hair from his hand. A proud fire burned in his eyes. The nobles froze, staring at him, and Jinx rose, sword in hand, certain that this was his moment.

"Stop!"

It was King Thomas, who stood commandingly, palm outstretched, his eyes fixed on Jinx.

"Lay down your weapon, Lord Jinx. Nameless is dead."

There was utter silence, into which the King spoke.

"I have misled all of you, and now it is time for truth. Charles was never meant to die this day: all this was his idea, for he was certain that no other means would succeed against Ivan, the Nameless Pretender. I do not ask that you accept this on faith: I know, from Lord Charles's certainty, that you will see for yourselves proof of this, proof to dispel all doubt."

Lord Charles bowed, and strode proudly between the ranks of nobles, with a confident, steady tread. When he reached the King he bowed once more, and humbly knelt, laying the head at King Thomas's feet. He remained kneeling, head bowed, as if waiting for something to happen.

All was silent, and nobody moved or spoke. Everyone's attention was transfixed by the still tableau before them. Jinx noticed, uneasily, that the image of the infinite plane was rippling worse than ever, crackling with unstable energy. King Thomas stared intently at the head of Ivan, unperturbed by its grisliness, determined to view whatever change it would undergo.

Shortly, the King spoke, querulously. "Well, sir? Will it turn into a puff of smoke, or sink into the ground? What are we to observe? You said I'd know..."

He broke off, as Charles's head slowly lifted to look him in the eyes. None but the King could see what was on Charles's face, but all could see the King's expression, as it slowly changed from irritation, to alarm, to utter horror, and at the instant that the King's fear was greatest, Charles sank the bloody sword into his chest. King Thomas grasped the blade with his hands, but Charles drove it deeper, giving it vicious twists, pinning the King to his own throne.

The hall was silent, everyone in it dumb with shock, as King Thomas brokenly whispered, "...true..." and went limp in death.

Charles snatched the crown from his head, and pushed the body aside, letting it fall heavily on the floor. He turned to face the stunned nobles. "The King is dead, and I am King, Nameless no more. Fear not! Only one more need die today..."

Jinx knew what that meant. He sprang up, sword in hand, but before he could take a step his mind was struck with crushing force, immobilizing him. He saw, but could not move a muscle.

"Naughty, naughty!" said Charles, and Elanor, who'd taken one look at Jinx and gone after Charles with murder in her eyes, was frozen as well.

"I told you, only one more need die! Don't bother to..." said Charles, and broke off, as Sean came after him and was frozen in turn. Charles began to sweat. "Don't you see..." he said, almost apologetically, and then Peter and Julia both started approaching him, and were frozen.

Charles's eyes were wild. "Die if you want to! I will not allow this insubordination!"

Through a haze of pain, Jinx saw one more person rise against Charles. It was Harold, and he looked at Jinx, Elanor, Sean, started forward, and was frozen, but at that moment Jinx felt the force crushing his mind weaken. He forced himself to move, and saw around him that Sean too was fighting forward inch by inch, his eyes fixed on Charles's, unaware of anything else.

Peter, too, was slowly, painfully moving, and when Jinx looked forward again he was shocked to see that Elanor, fighting harder than anyone else, was halfway to Charles. Jinx heard her ragged snarl as she forced herself onward, and saw in horror that Charles was readying the bloody sword, preparing to slash at her.

Jinx went mad with rage, and his mind ripped apart its bonds with vicious force. He raced forward, seeing Elanor, also suddenly released, spring upon Charles with unbridled ferocity. Charles flung Elanor to the side, his sword flashing out at her, and then Jinx was upon him...

Slowly, Jinx realized that he was slashing at a tattered dead thing, a pile of flesh and cloth that no longer resembled anything remotely human. Jinx's arm weakened, and he panted with exhaustion, and dropped his sword on the ground with a metallic clatter, looking over toward Elanor, afraid of what he would see.

She lay where she had fallen, not moving, and Jinx staggered over and buried his face in her side, hurt too badly to weep. There was no sound but his own breathing, as his exhausted gasps gradually subsided.

After a while, when his mind began to settle down, he realized with a shock that she was breathing, that her heart was beating. At that point, she stirred and began to struggle for a moment, and quieted only when she saw his face.

"Is it dead?"

"Very." replied Jinx.

"Are you hurt?"

"I don't think so, are you?"

"Sort of. I landed on my head!" she said, and looked woebegone.

Jinx embraced her joyfully, and as he did, heard a quiet "Ahem" behind him. He ignored it, and willed Elanor's hurts to be better with all his might.

"Ooh!" she said. "You're getting good at that, tiger!"

"Ahem!"

Jinx slowly turned, to see all the nobles still there, watching him. Lord Hugo, who had said "Ahem", was standing over him, and Jinx hastily stood, feeling self-conscious, and said "What do you want?"

"My liege," said Hugo, "I believe this is yours."

He placed the crown in Jinx's hands, and Jinx stared at it in mute incomprehension for a moment.

Elanor laid her ears back in alarm as the crown bounced on the floor in front of her nose, and gaped at her mate as he began to laugh. She'd never seen him do that before, and now that he was doing it he seemed unable to stop. She kept looking up at him, puzzled, as he began to walk, and she stuck close by his side, hoping for some sort of explanation, but he offered none. He just kept laughing, as he walked through the assembled nobles, through the doors of the Great Hall, through the tunnels, through his rooms, through the strange tunnel that opened before him, and out of Rainmoor.

The End