The Iron
Crown

I awoke in the arms of a beautiful woman, in a place I knew not, and unaware of how I had been transported.

There I stayed for many months, partaking freely of her graces and eating as never before.

There came a day, though, (I judged by the moon that it was late winter, yet there was no snow) when she addressed me for the first time, her waist-length hair tumbling about me as we lay together on the furs of her bed.

"Desmond," she whispered, and after all I could pardon that one inaccuracy, as she had been mother, lover, and daughter to me in my time there, "Desmond," she continued, "The time is nigh when your quest must be resumed."

Shamefaced I rose and dressed, and she led me, both weeping, through marbled corridors to a great balcony looking out on the world, and indicated with trembling hand my men patiently playing cards on the steps far below.

"They have waited, Desmond," she said, "They have waited as you never thought they would.

In these months they have been tested as never servants and companions have.

Some day, if you ask them, (but not yet), they will no doubt tell you of their trials.

But, Desmond, do not forget that you too have been tested, though you shall never be able to tell any man of your trials, for I doubt if you yourself have very much notion of their essence.

Do not look downcast - you have not been found wanting.

If you had you should have been whipped to death in the Pit of Spiders.

But you are whole.

Return to your men and lead them, as only you can, to the Valley of Silence to find the goal of your quest and your King."

Man though I had always reckoned myself, at these words I broke down and wept piteously in the arms of the lady I had come to think of as eternally mine; and it was not until the dimming of the sun and the chilling of the wind made our staying impossible on that high balcony that I returned to our suite and put on the armour she offered me.

Many and sweet were her final caresses, long and proud my protestations of undying service, but in truth, when I had left for the last time her embrace and passed out through the long cold passages of the lower castle, I began to think of her as only a pastime; and with every step forth I took, the memory of her clutch became more and more ephemeral, until, coming to the outskirts of my camp, I turned around and found that the great castle was gone.