The Worm Ouroboros | Page 7

and the guests of lower degree thronged the benches and the polished
tables as the wide doors opened on their silver hinges, and the
Ambassador with pomp and ceremony paced up the shining floor of
marble and green tourmaline.
"Why, what a beastly fellow is this?" said Lord Goldry in his brother's
ear. "His hairy hands reach down to his knees. A shuffleth in his walk
like a hobbled jackass."
"I like not the dirty face of the Ambassador," said Lord Zigg. "His nose
sitteth flat on the face of him as it were a dab of clay, and I can see pat
up his nostrils a summer day's journey into his head. If's upper lip
bespeak him not a rare spouter of rank fustian, perdition catch me.
Were it a finger's breadth longer, a might tuck it into his collar to keep
his chin warm of a winter's night."

"I like not the smell of the Ambassador," said Lord Brandoch Daha.
And he called for censers and sprinklers of lavender and rose water to
purify the chamber, and let open the crystal windows that the breezes of
heaven might enter and make all sweet.
So the Ambassador walked up the shining floor and stood before the
lords of Demonland that sat upon the high seats between the golden
hippogriffs. He was robed in a long mantle of scarlet lined with ermine,
with crabs, woodlice, and centipedes worked thereon in golden thread.
His head was covered with a black velvet cap with a peacock's feather
fastened with a brooch of silver. Supported by his trainbearers and
attendants, and leaning on his golden staff, he with raucous accent
delivered his mission:
"Juss, Goldry, and Spitfire, and ye other Demons, I come before you as
the Ambassador of Gorice XI., most glorious King of Witchland, Lord
and great Duke of Buteny and Estremerine, Commander of Shulan,
Thramnë, Mingos, and Permio, and High Warden of the Esamocian
Marches, Great Duke of Trace, King Paramount of Beshtria and Nevria
and Prince of Ar, Great Lord over the country of Ojedia, Maltraeny,
and of Baltary and Toribia, and Lord of many other countries, most
glorious and most great, whose power and glory is over all the world
and whose name shall endure for all generations. And first I bid you be
bound by that reverence for my sacred office of envoy from the King,
which is accorded by all people and potentates, save such as be utterly
barbarous, to ambassadors and envoys."
"Speak and fear not," answered Juss. "Thou hast mine oath. And that
hath never been forsworn, to Witch or other barbarian."
The Ambassador shot out his lips in an O, and threatened with his head;
then grinned, laying bare his sharp and misshapen teeth, and proceeded:
"Thus saith King Gorice, great and glorious, and he chargeth me to
deliver it to you, neither adding any word nor taking away: 'I have it in
mind that no ceremony of homage or fealty hath been performed before
me by the dwellers in my province of Demonland---"

As the rustling of dry leaves strewn in a flagged court when a sudden
wind striketh them, there went a stir among the guests. Nor might the
Lord Spitfire contain his wrath, but springing up and clapping hand to
swordhilt, as minded to do a hurt to the Ambassador, "Province?" he
cried. "Are not the Demons a free people? And is it to be endured that
Witchland should commission this slave to cast insults in our teeth, and
this in our own castle?"
A murmur went about the hall, and here and there folk rose from their
seats. The Ambassador drew down his head between his shoulders like
a tortoise, baring his teeth and blinking with his small eyes. But Lord
Brandoch Daha, lightly laying his hand on Spitfire's arm, said: "The
Ambassador hath not ended his message, cousin, and thou hast
frightened him. Have patience and spoil not the comedy. We shall not
lack words to answer King Gorice: no, nor swords, if he must have
them. But it shall not be said of us of Demonland that it needeth but a
boorish message to turn us from our ancient courtesy toward
ambassadors and heralds."
So spake Lord Brandoch Daha, in lazy half-mocking tone, as one who
but idly returneth the ball of conversation; yet clearly, so that all might
hear. And therewith the murmurs died down, and Spitfire said, "I am
tame. Say thine errand freely, and imagine not that we shall hold thee
answerable for aught thou sayest, but him that sent thee."
"Whose humble mouthpiece I only am," said the Ambassador,
somewhat gathering courage; "and who, saving your reverence, lacketh
not the will nor the power to take revenge for any outrage done upon
his servants. Thus