King's Quest

CHAPTER 4: THE LAND OF LLEWDOR

The shopkeeper gives a nervous greeting, "Good, good day young master."

"Good day to you sir," Gwydion returns, before turning to business, "I'll need a jar of lard and an empty pouch."

The shopkeep retrieves the two items. "Here they are," he says.

Gwydion is ready to allow Mannanan's specter to continue terrorizing the people, ensuring free goods for him, but he just isn't that cruel.

"I don't have any money," he admits.

"No need," the other man returns. "You know that anything you should need is free."

"Not anymore," Gwydion speaks.

"What do you mean?" the shopkeep enquires.

"I don't have money," Gwydion repeats before an idea occurred to him. "But could I perhaps trade you a secret?"

"What kind of secret?" the shopkeep pries, intrigued by the notion, completely forgetting his obligation to the tyrant that lives on the top of the mountain.

"One that will change you and your fellow citizen's lives forever," Gwydion assures him.

"If it's really that big," the shopkeep set in. "Then yes I could part with these items."

"Mannanan is gone," Gwydion delivers the news.

"What?" the shopkeep returns. "Oh, you must mean a journey."

"No," Gwydion corrects him. "The evil wizard is no more."

"You killed him?" the shopkeep queries with a mixture of horror and elation.

"No," Gwydion endeavors to explain. "I changed him into a cat."

"A cat?" the shopkeep responds.

"Yes, and now, he has no power over you anymore," Gwydion informs the confused proprietor.

"Is this a joke?" the shopkeep angles in, wary of a practical joke.

"No sir, I can assure you, I am serious," Gwydion replies. "Just wait, give it a week and you'll find that he does not make an appearance."

"If you do indeed speak the truth," the shopkeep proceeds still a little leery. "Then please take these with my blessings."

Gwydion nods gratefully as he receives the goods. "One last thing," he breaks in once he'd properly pocketed the gifts.

"Yes, anything, just name it?" the shopkeep chirps allowing himself to be carried away by the possibility of living without a vengeful eye gazing upon every minor infraction.

"Do you know of the monster in the desert, the one that turns men to stone?" Gwydion enquires of the other man.

"I have not personally met it, but I have heard tales," the shopkeep relays what he knows. "Seems its a kind of woman who has snakes in her hair. Her very sight can turn you to stone, at least that's what I've heard."

Gwydion thanks him and leaves the establishment. No sooner has the door shut, then he hears a jubilant shout from within. A smile spreads across his lips. He then heads off to the nearest garden he knows, one that belongs to three bears. He traipses lightly, wary of the garden that sits to the front of the house.

He knows Mama bear is a devoted seamstress, so it's likely he might find a thimble within her domicile. He raps soundly on the front door and waits for several minutes. There's no response. The door is unlocked so our hero, lets himself in.

Knowing that time is not on his side he does a quick sweep of the lower level reveals nothing of interest, just bowls of porridge. So he hustles to the single, upstairs room.