The Kings of Clonmel

Neither Gerard nor Killeen looked particularly warm or welcoming, Halt thought. He could read the underlying message in Te

`Please enjoy our hospitality,' Te

This time, his warm smile embraced both Halt and Horace. Then he turned to look at the crowd gathering around a dais at the far end of the marquee.

`The people are waiting,' he said. J should go.'

He raised a hand, describing a curve in the air in what was obviously a form of blessing. Then he turned and strode away. Flanked by his two disciples, he made his way through the crowd, stopping here and there for a quick word or a smile or to deliver a blessing.

`So that's Te

Horace hesitated, then, a little reluctantly,, he replied: `Actually, I found him rather impressive.'

Halt nodded. 'So did I.'

There was an buzz of interest from the crowd as Te

He was a polished performer, there was no question about it. He began with a joke at his own expense – a story about a disastrous attempt at milking a cow. Such a task was second nature to a rural audience like this and the laughter swelled as he described his complete ineptitude. Then he segued neatly to the fact that all people had varying skills and the trick to life was to find ways for people to work together and make the most effective use of their abilities. From there it was a short step to the need for people to stick together in troubled times such as the ones they were going through.

`There are evil, lawless men abroad in the world. They are the servants of the black spirit Balse

`The King?' said a tentative voice from the side of the crowd. Halt was willing to bet that it was one of Te

The burly orator allowed himself a small, sad smile. `The King, you say? Well, I'll agree with you that he should be the one to set his own country to rights. But can you see him doing so?'

An angry muttering swept through the crowd. Te

Te

The word 'No!' rang out from several points in the crowd. Te

`Now a king, any king, deserves the loyalty of his subjects. We all know that…' he began. An angry under- current of muttering went through the crowd again as they disagreed with him, thinking he was about to make excuses for King Ferris. Again, Te

`But…' he said, then repeated it with greater emphasis,

`But! That loyalty must pass both ways. If subjects must be loyal to their king, then kings must apply that same loyalty to their subjects. Otherwise…' He paused and the crowd seemed to lean forward, seeing where he was going before he actually went there. 'The king abandons any claim to loyalty from his people.'

There was a roar of agreement from the villagers. Halt leaned close to Horace and said in his ear, 'Dangerous stuff. This is sedition. He must be pretty sure of himself.'

Horace nodded and turned his own head to reply in a similar soft tone. 'From what you've told us, he's had plenty of practice.'

As the crowd settled down once more, Te

A ragged chorus rose from a dozen or so throats. `Nothing.'

Te

`What was that?' he asked and this time the answer was a full-throated roar from the entire assembly. `NOTHING!'

`Did he help that i

Again: 'NOTHING!'

`It's not that Ferris can't help. The fact is, he refuses to do so!' Te

His voice rose to a crescendo on the last few words. He paused, looking out over the crowd. In twos and threes, they called their agreement. Hesitantly at first, then with growing conviction. Te

`And if he shows no loyalty to you, then you owe him none at all.'

Again, the voice of the mob rose and, this time, Te

`Ferris will do nothing to help you. You must look to one' who will protect you!'

Now people began calling the same plea from different points around the crowd. Fu

`Termyson!' they shouted, and the cry spread to all parts of the crowd.`Te

But now Te

`No! No! No! Believe me, I'm not the one, my friends. I can't protect you. Your safety lies with the power of Alseiass.'

There was a groan of disappointment from the left-hand side of the crowd.

Then a voice called, 'We don't need fairy tales and superstition! They won't stop the bandits!'

Other voices were raised in agreement. But Halt noticed that they didn't seem to be a majority. The greater part of the crowd sat uncertainly, looking round at each interjection, studying the speakers and assessing the worth of what they said. They weren't willing to commit either way, he saw.

`We want swords and soldiers! Not pie in the sky, Te

`You lead us!' a third voice called. 'You lead and we'll follow! We'll teach these brigands a lesson without some strange god's help.'

That, Horace and Halt saw, was a popular position. The majority of the crowd, uncertain which way to go, followed this lead eagerly. They began shouting for Te