Doctor Who_ Curse of Peladon - Brian Hayles [14]
‘We are here at your request, King Peladon. Address us.’
Peladon nodded graciously and, with a gesture, greeted the assembled delegates. He spoke without formality. He knew it was imperative that these aliens believe in his sincerity. If they did not, everything was lost.
‘Thank you for your attendance,’ said the young king pleasantly. ‘By now, you know of the tragic incident involving my Chancellor, Torbis. Since his sad death, it is Hepesh, my High Priest, who acts as my administrator. The loss was a personal one. Torbis was more than my adviser; he was a trusted friend.’
‘But he was killed,’ stated Izlyr coldly. ‘Why?’
Before Peladon could answer, Hepesh stepped forward and spoke. As High Priest, Chancellor, and acting regent, he had this traditional right. But Peladon’s eyes flashed in quiet anger as Hepesh boldly addressed the aliens.
‘The death of Torbis was a supernatural warning—!’ he cried. Before he could continue, Peladon interrupted.
‘Hepesh offers a personal opinion, not mine. He claims this tragedy is connected with one of our more ancient legends—’
With a faint whine of his traction unit, Arcturus skimmed forward slightly and gave voice. ‘Your priest speaks of a warning. Perhaps it is more than that.’
‘It is a superstition—nothing more!’ exclaimed the young king, ‘It has no bearing on the purposes of your committee. You must understand that!’
‘On the contrary,’ hissed Izlyr, ‘the incident could represent a meaningful threat—to us, and to the Federation.’
‘But it was Torbis who died,’ insisted Peladon earnestly:
‘This legend concerns my people only!’
Alpha Centauri was agitated but not yet hysterical: ‘Your ancient legend seems rather violent and unpleasant... and rather too convenient.’
‘Its timing disturbs me,’ agreed Izlyr. ‘Explain this legend to us—now!’
Hepesh looked towards the young king with the merest hint of challenge in his eyes. The royal youth was powerless to refuse.
He nodded grimly. With a bold gesture, the High Priest indicated the tapestry behind the throne and, on it, the representation of the Royal Beast, Aggedor.
‘It concerns the Royal Beast of Peladon,’ he declaimed with quiet authority, ‘a creature now extinct, but once the fiercest of all wild beasts on this planet. Only young men of noble birth would hunt him to prove their courage. His fur was so rare that it was used to trim our royal cloak and the coronation crown.
And it is his majestic head that is our royal symbol.’
Alpha Centauri muttered an aside to Arcturus, making sure it did not reach the throne. ‘These are such barbaric practices...’
The hexapod sighed, its sensors trembling at the thought of such a violent creature.
‘Mighty is Aggedor,’ continued Hepesh in the voice he used in the main for religious celebrations and state ceremonies, ‘and it is written there will come a time when the spirit of Aggedor will rise to warn—and to defend—his royal master, Peladon. For, at that time strangers will appear upon the face of the land, bringing peril to the king, and dreadful tribulation to his kingdom.’
The eyes fixed on the High Priest suddenly saw him falter.
His eyes stared past the assembled group towards the doorway.
For a moment, he showed an unease rarely seen upon his face.
The others turned to see what had disturbed him so deeply.
Standing there surrounded by armed guards, was the Doctor, with Jo at his side. Even by the humanoid standards of the Pels, Jo and the Doctor looked unusual—it was as though by speaking the legend aloud, Hepesh had brought part of it alive. Peladon stood, surprised and intrigued by the new visitors. His