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though I myself am guilty of no wrongdoing. Just minutes ago, my agents in Lekk reported that a force of aliens landed on the northern promontory of Catalia in the province of Llull. They numbered in the tens of thousands and were well armed. My agents identified them as Sammack nomads, of the Sammak-Kalmucki horde which has been coming into our region of space for the last century with their old-fashioned spaceships filled with smelly livestock. This group, however, was one of the elite Sammak battle groups, obviously come to try the defenses of our worlds before summoning the main horde. Since Lekk has no standing army, and since hesitation might prove fatal, I have ordered my Commander Rux to wipe out these invaders without mercy. The rapidity and sureness of our response will impress their warlords, and save us from grievous trouble in the future.’ ”
    “Did you believe him?” Chuch inquired.
    “Of course not,” said Count John. “But Snint feigned agreement. What else could he do?”
    “What about Rufus? How did he react to the news?”
    John smiled maliciously. “Sweat sprang to his loyal brow, and his mouth turned down in pain and disbelief. Yet still he declined to condemn Dramocles. He said it was a time of trials for us all, not least our host. He counseled us to be patient a little longer. ‘How long?’ I asked. ‘Until he takes your kingdom or mine?’ He had no answer for that, but turned away and went to his chambers, perplexed, disturbed, but still stubbornly loyal to Dramocles.”
    Suddenly, Adalbert lifted his head from the table and sang in a thin, bleary voice,
     
    “Saddles and soap trays
    Goldfish and zeers
    Came into Aardvark
    All in one year.”
    Then he laid his head down again and slept.
    “Poor wretched little king,” John said. “But no matter. What’s good for Dramocles must be good for us all, for has not Dramocles himself told us so? Prince, you should join your father in wassailing and mirthful merriment.”
    “I understand your bitterness,” Chuch said, “but it carries you too far. You very well know the disesteem which exists between Dramocles and myself. I am most vehemently opposed to the King’s present course of action, and, indeed, to the King himself.”
    Snint said, “All of this is well known,” and John nodded grudgingly.
    “How could it be otherwise?” Chuch asked. “Never has he loved me. My functions in the government are few and ceremonial. Despite my years of military training, Dramocles has never let me command so much as a platoon of soldiers. And although I am still considered the heir apparent, I consider it unlikely that I will ever inherit the throne.”
    “It sounds like a tedious position,” said Snint, “for an ambitious young man such as yourself.”
    Chuch nodded. “Since coming into man’s estate, I have been forced to stew in my own ineffectuality, forever at the mercy of my father’s absentminded whim. There was nothing I could do about it. Until now.”
    John sat up straight, and his small eyes grew more attentive. “What about now?”
    Chuch set down his muggard. “I’ll not mince words. I wish to stand beside you, Count John and King Snint, in the struggle for hegemony that fast approaches.”
    John and Snint looked at each other. Snint said, “Surely you jest with us, young Prince. The ties of blood are strong. This momentary pique will pass.”
    “Damnation!” cried Chuch. “Will you give me the lie, then?”
    “Softly, Prince, I meant but to test you. Tell me, what do you think Dramocles has in mind?”
    “It must be apparent to you that his goal can be nothing less than the restoration of the old Glormish Empire. And you must admit that one planet seized and another invaded is a good beginning. But after this, the going gets harder. Neither Aardvark nor Lekk is militarily significant. But he’ll not get into Crimsole so easily, I think.”
    “Not with my good wife Anne in command during my absence,” said