“It really hasn’t shown until recently, but he’s been unhappy since Vaya ditched him,” Linda said. “He won’t admit it, but she was the love of his life.”
“She must have been something.”
“A real bombshell.”
With eyebrows arched appreciatively, Dalton said, “I’ll second that.”
“Ever since,” Linda went on, “Gene’s been traipsing through one castle aspect after another, trying to find something to take his mind off her. As I said, he’d never admit it, but it’s the truth.”
“When did he lose her?” Melanie wanted to know.
“Shortly before you came to the castle, I think it was.”
“I don’t understand you humans,” Snowclaw said.
Linda turned her head. “What don’t you understand, Snowy?”
“Mating. I mean, the way humans carry on about it.”
“How is it handled in your world? I don’t think I’ve ever asked before.”
“Handled?”
“How is it … uh, you know … done?”
Snowclaw shrugged. “Well, you just do it. It’s something that’s got to be done, and you just go out and get it over with, that’s all. And then you go back home and sleep for a week.”
“I see. Um …”
“Maybe that’s preferable,” Dalton commented. “No fuss, no hearts and flowers.”
“Maybe it’s the best way,” Linda said, “but it doesn’t sound like very much fun.”
“Fun?” Snowclaw said dubiously. “What does fun have to do with it?”
Linda began, “Well, you —” Then she thought better of it. “Uh, Snowy, maybe you’d better talk to Gene about this.”
“Anything you say, Linda. Actually, I’m not all that interested in the subject, if you want to know the truth.”
Dalton interjected, “Sometimes I think the subject isn’t worthy of all the attention that’s usually paid it.”
“Anyway,” Linda said, “I wish Gene would forget about the past. He’s been so glum lately he hasn’t been much fun at all. One thing he knows how to do is liven things up. When he’s in the right mood.”
“He’ll get over her,” Melanie said. “Just like I got over the father of these little joy-bundles.”
“You don’t still think of Chad?” Linda asked pointedly.
Melanie gave a wan smile. “Oh, every once in a while. Sometimes, at night, when the castle is quiet …” Melanie suddenly frowned. “You know, Linda, for months now I’ve been telling you all the secrets of my love life, and just now it suddenly struck me that I know zero about yours. Fair is fair.”
Linda snorted. “Me? What love life?”
“Oh, come on.”
“I’ve been ditched so many times I’ve thought of buying a backhoe.”
“I think you did mention a boyfriend once.”
“Yeah, I had one or two of those, and even a fiance. But it all came to zilch zip.”
“I feel as though I’m eavesdropping,” Dalton said, eyes on the chessboard.
“I got no dirt to hide, no scandal,” Linda said. “Kind of wish I did.”
Melanie struck a pose. “Meanwhile I must struggle with the stigma of the Unwed Mother,” she said, giving the line a dramatic reading.
“Aw, nobody cares about that any more,” Linda said.
“I do. I still believe in marriage. Call me old-fashioned.”
“Like sex,” Dalton said, “and love, for that matter, marriage is beyond the realm of fashion. It’s a necessary institution. Always was, always will be.”
“You’re an old fogey, Mr. Dalton,” Linda said.
“My dear, you are quite right. And I glow with pride of it.”
Snowclaw asked, “Just what is marriage, anyway?”
There was an awkward silence.
Dalton began, “Well, it’s …”
There was a commotion in the corridor. Shouts, then murmuring voices.
“I wonder what’s up?” Linda said.
“I’ll go see,” Melanie said and hurried to the open door.
“Maybe it’s the excitement Gene was looking for,” Dalton speculated. “In Castle Perilous, you don’t have to wait very long for some.”
“I don’t like excitement,” Deena said nervously. “I like it when it’s quiet.”
Linda said, “I kind of get nostalgic for the calmer periods myself, sometimes, especially when the sludge starts hitting the whirling blades.”
“Yeah, I can do without that sludge stuff,” Deena said, scowling. “Ever since I come here it’s been flyin’. First it was the Blue Meanies invadin’, then it was demons, then crazy people comin’ out of mirrors scarin’ everybody.”[2] Deena shook her head. “I don’t need that.”
“It does get interesting around here at times,” Dalton admitted. “But it’s good for the circulation. Gets the blood racing. It’s always good to —”
“Hah
Dalton regarded his chess opponent, from whom the outburst had come. “What on earth has got into you?”
Lord Peter sat back, a triumphant smirk on his lips. “I moved!”
“Well, congratulations. What did you move?”
“Bishop to queen’s three. There. You’re in check.”
Dalton studied the board. “So I am.”
“You always manage to squirm out of it, but this time I’ve got you. You’re hemmed in on all sides. You must either move your king or take the bishop with the queen, but doing the latter will put your queen in jeopardy. And if you move your king, it’s only a matter of time before I corner you.” Lord Peter folded his arms and gloated.
“What a jam,” Dalton said appreciatively. “Quite a nice little trap you set for me.”
“And have just sprung mercilessly.”
“So you have, so you have. Unless …”
Lord Peter sat up. “Unless?”
“Well, if I’m not mistaken, if I take your king’s bishop with my queen’s, you’re in check … and — unless I’m entirely misapprehending the strategic situation — that’s mate.”
Lord Peter saw with horror that Dalton was right. “Impossible!”
“I would not kid his lordship.”
Lord Peter looked ill. “I think I’ll go to my room and blow my bloody brains out.”
“Here, here, that’s hardly called for. Besides, you’ll have the chambermaids all upset.”
Lord Peter thought it over. “You’re right, they’ll refuse to step into the place and there’ll be no end of mess.” He gave the matter more consideration. “I’ll throw myself off the King’s Tower.”
“Now you’re being reasonable.”
The giggling from Deena and Linda quickly faded as Melanie came running into the room. They saw the look on her face.
“Melanie, what’s wrong?” Linda asked uneasily.
“It’s the servants,” Melanie said grimly. “They’re saying something happened to Lord Incarnadine. Word came through from the aspect he’s in.”
“My God, what —?”
“They’re saying …” Melanie swallowed hard and tried again. “They’re saying he’s dead.”
Two
Keep — Near the Queen’s Tower — Lower Levels
