Part 7
Claudette stayed close to her husband as they waited inside. She had just whispered the magic words once again.
"Were you looking for me, dearie?"
Chris gave her hand a squeeze in hopes of comforting her.
"Aah," the odd man gave Christopher a grin, "You must be the lucky man."
"I am King Christopher Rupert Alexander. Ruler of this land."
"Nice to meet you," he said cheerfully.
The King's expression didn't change. "And you must be the man who my wife is in debt to."
"At your service," he gave a bow.
"I have no intention of giving you my child," the king said flatly, "What use have you for a baby anyway? Surely there must be something else."
"But that seems to be the most valuable thing you have," the man said cheerfully.
"I have so much more," the king said, "I would give you whatever you ask, within reason."
"Something valuable," the magic man said thoughtfully, "And I might consider it."
"I could give you a large estate," he said, "Part of my own land."
"What am I to do with land?" he tilted his head.
"And what use have you of another's child?" the king retorted.
"It is what was promised to me."
"Well you aren't going to have it."
"Think of what I gave to you, dearie," the magic man spoke directly to Claudette.
"Don't talk to her!" Christopher growled.
"Everything that you ever wanted," he continued, as if Christopher hadn't spoken, "A comfortable life. Love." He spread his hands, "And what have I gotten? Just a broken promise."
Claudette looked away, sort of hiding behind Chris.
"And here I thought you were a good and deserving person," he shook his head, "But you're just as selfish and ungrateful as the rest. Why, I bet you don't even know my name."
"She is a good person!" Chris snapped, taking Claudette in his arms.
The man suddenly smiled. "On the other hand, perhaps I will take you up on your generous offer, your highness. Draw up the papers. Make it all legal."
"It will only take a few minutes," Chris nodded, calling for a servant.
"I don't like this," Claudette whispered, "I don't trust him."
"It will be an iron clad contract," Christopher assured her, "There won't be anything to worry about."
She shook her head nervously. "I don't like this."
The contract was drawn up, and the king called the magic man over to look at it and see what he thought.
"Mmm, yes… looks very official," the man agreed, reading it over thoroughly, "Yes, this will do."
"All that remains is to put your name on the line here, and then your signature and everything will be arranged," Christopher held out a quill to the magic man.
"Oh no," the man smiled, "I think that your wife should."
"M-me?" Claudette blinked, "Why me?"
"Well, with all that I've done for you, dearie, surely you would have taken the trouble to learn my name." He smiled cheerfully.
Claudette looked helplessly at her husband.
"Although I suppose I'm not being entirely fair," the magic man yielded, "Tell you what. I will give you three days to guess my name."
"Starting when?" Chris asked suspiciously.
"Tomorrow night will be the end of day one," he replied, "I'll give you the full three days."
"And if we learn your name in three days?" the king asked.
"Then I shall accept your offer of the land, instead of taking the child," the magic man nodded.
"And if not?" Claudette piped up meekly.
He smiled at her, almost predatorily. "Then I shall take what I was promised." He went to touch her stomach, but Christopher darted between them. He chuckled and held up his hands in mock surrender. The magic man gave a little bow. "I shall return tomorrow night, at sunset."
"we'll be ready," Christopher said firmly.
The man gave a bow, and turned and walked out of the door.
"I'm sorry," Claudette whimpered, "I told you… we're going to lose our first child… it's all my fault."
"No we are not," Christopher said firmly. He told another servant to fetch Baelfire.
When Baelfire arrived, Christopher told him what he needed - a list of names. The longer the better. He explained about the odd man, and the new arrangement.
He gave a bow. "I will assemble a list."
After Baelfire had left, Christopher tried to reassure Claudette that everything would be fine. "This is our happy ending," he told her softly.
The magic man arrived, right at sunset, just as he had promised.
"Good day, your highnesses," he greeted them with a bow.
"We've made a list," Christopher informed him.
"Alright," he agreed cheerfully, "Let's hear it."
"Wait," the king said, "How do we know that you'll actually tell us when we guess the right name."
He placed a hand over his heart. "On my honor, I will tell the truth."
"Do you have any?" Chris snorted.
"You wound me, your highness," he looked affronted, "I always keep my promises."
"Alright, alright," he said, unfolding the list.
They made it through the As with no luck.
"Alright," Claudette said softly, "onto the B's. Baelfire?"
An odd look crossed the man's eyes, but he shook his head. "No, that's not it either."
Hours passed and Claudette passed through the B's, onto the C's, and so on until Zeke at the end of the list.
"Is that it?" the magic man looked amused.
"We still have two more nights," Chris said firmly, "We'll figure out your name yet. You'll see."
"Good luck," the man agreed
Word had spread to the neighboring kingdoms that a list of as many names as possible were needed. Messages came pouring into the castle by courier, by bird, by magic (and even one trained dog). Two of the scribes were set to work compiling a new list of names for tonight's guessing.
Claudette was napping, and Christopher was alone in his study. He couldn't let his wife see that he was worried. He called out a soft "come in" when someone knocked at his door.
"Chris?" Baelfire entered the room, "how are you holding up?"
"What do you think?" he asked tiredly.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Christopher sighed. "Figure out this blasted man's name."
Baelfire gave a bow. "I shall."
"If only it were that easy," Christopher gave him a weak smile.
"Sire," Baelfire said seriously, "I shall find out this man's name."
"I appreciate that-" he started.
"I am going to go wander the kingdom and the outskirts. Someone must know something of this man. And someone out there must know his name."
"Bael…" Christopher smiled weakly, "You don't have to-"
"I am going," he said firmly.
Sunset arrived and once again, they met with the magic man.
"Good evening," he greeted them cheerfully, "I hope that this evening finds you well."
"As well as can be expected," the King replied stiffly.
"And in good health, I trust?" he smiled at Claudette.
"May we start?" Christopher nearly growled. The magic man just gave a now. "Proceed."
There were more exotic names on this list this time, and a few that they had just made up by stringing random words or letters together. Once again, the magic man said no to all of them.
"Sir?" Chris spoke up.
"Yes?" the magic man turned to him, looking oddly pleased.
"We have one more night."
"That's right," he nodded.
"I would like to ask you if you would grant us one additional night."
"Ah, ah," he waggled his index finger, "That wasn't the agreement."
"I recall that," Chris replied, "But I was thinking of raising the stakes."
He raised a brow. "I'm listening."
"Double or nothing."
"What?" Claudette exclaimed.
"Let me get this straight," the magic man said, "I give you an extra day, and then when you cannot guess my name, I get the land and the child?"
"If we cannot guess your name," Chris corrected, "But yes. That would be the deal. But when we guess your name, the contract is completely void."
"Double or nothing, hmm…" the magic man looked thoughtful, "What do you think dearie?"
"Have you gone mad?" Claudette gasped at her husband.
"Trust me," he soothed her, and then turned to the magic man. "Have we a deal?"
"Why not?" he chuckled, and shook the king's hand.
"Double or nothing?" Claudette nearly screeched at her husband, "What were you thinking?"
"Baelfire has gone out to find out his name," Chris replied, "And I know that he often does the impossible."
"But what if he doesn't?" she whimpered.
"He will," Chris said, "I'm sure of it. Just have faith."