The Last Days Of The Edge Of The World Read Online Free PDF Page A

“You can tell him that the offer applies both ways. If he’ll prove himself by answering my questions. I’ll prove myself by answering his. Three each. Who could object to that?’
    Sirion Hilversun gave a low laugh. “I suppose you intend to play this game fairly,” he said. “No daughter of mine would think to cheat by failing to answer a question that was put to her, and thus break the marriage contract.”
    “How could you suggest such a thing?” asked Helen, with an attitude of outrage that was almost wholly genuine. “When I play a game I play it by the rules. Believe you me, if that weakling prince can answer my questions, I’ll answer his. No one’s ever going to say that I was unworthy to marry a creature like that. I have my pride, you know.”
    “I know,” murmured Sirion Hilversun. “I know.”
    The more he thought about it, the more the enchanter saw the suggestion as a way out—one way that perhaps everyone could be happy. If Damian really could answer the questions, and test Helen with some good ones of his own, then they might actually win one another’s respect—something they had conspicuously failed to do earlier that evening.
    There was, of course, a strong element of wishful thinking involved in Sirion Hilversun’s contemplation. He still had certain illusions about the nature and talents of princes that owed more to stories and legends than any trustworthy experience. But it is always easy to believe when you desperately want to believe.
    There was something more. While he thought about the idea, a thin fragment of memory wound itself into his thoughts… something about questions and answers, and letters exchanged… something momentous. He couldn’t remember anything specific, but he was suddenly seized by the notion that this suggestion was very important, and that on this decision might hang more than he could suspect. Something in his mind said that this was the most important decision of his life, and that he must take it correctly.
    A shiver ran suddenly down his spine.
    “What’s the matter?” asked Helen, seeing the shudder.
    “Magic,” whispered Sirion Hilversun. “Powerful magic. I sense it.”
    “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “Neither do I,” said the enchanter. “It’s beyond me…. Something from a long time ago. I want you to be careful, Helen. Very careful.”
    “Of course,” she said. “Does that mean you agree?’
    “I’ll write the letter,” said Sirion Hilversun. “Not in the morning. Right now, I’ll put in your condition. But I want you to choose your questions carefully. Very carefully indeed.”
    “Oh, I will,” she replied, with a slight hint of ironic triumph in her voice. “I will. You can depend on that.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    “What I want to know,” said the king, furiously, “is what on Earth the fellow means by it. Silly nonsense about questions. What questions? Is he trying to suggest that Damian’s a fool? I won’t stand for it, I tell you!”
    “It’s definitely an insult,” said Damian, feeding the flames of his father’s rage. “After this, I’d say that there would be no point at all in carrying on with this plan. We still have our pride. The marriage is out of the question.” He realized that he had accidentally made a pun and looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Nobody had. He shrugged philosophically. It was probably not the time for levity anyhow.
    “Please,” said Coronado, “let’s take this calmly. I understand your point of view. But what we must understand is that World’s Edge has customs and folkways that differ considerably from our own. The magic lands are steeped in ritual and superstition. Nothing is simple and straightforward where enchanters are concerned. All things have to be dressed in strange ceremony. I seem to remember reading somewhere about a custom very similar to this, and it is quite wonderful to think that such things are still being preserved. A man of Sirion Hilversun’s