Chapter 13

           SophiewasfeelingdecidedlyqueeragainwhentheyreachedthePalace.Itsmanygoldendomesdazzledher.Thewaytothefrontentrancewasupahugeflightofsteps,withasoldierinscarletstandingeverysixsteps.Thepoorboysmusthavebeennearfaintinginthisheat,Sophiethoughtasshepuffedherwaydizzilypastthem.Atthetopofthestepswerearchways,halls,corridors,lobbies,oneafteranother.Sophielostcountofhowmany.Ateveryarchwayasplendidlydressedpersonwearingwhitegloves—stillsomehowwhiteinspiteoftheheat—inquiredtheirbusinessandthenledthemontothenextpersonageinthenextarchway.

           “Mrs.PendragontoseetheKing!”thevoiceofeachechoeddownthehalls.

           Abouthalfway,Howlwaspolitelydetachedandtoldtowait.MichaelandSophiewentonbeinghandedfrompersontoperson.Theyweretakenupstairs,afterwhichthesplendidpersonsweredressedinblueinsteadofred,andhandedonagainuntiltheycametoananteroompaneledinahundreddifferent-coloredwoods.ThereMichaelwaspeeledoffandmadetowaittoo.Sophie,whobythistimewasnotatallsurewhethershewasnothavingsomestrangedream,wasusheredthroughhugedoubledoors,andthistimetheechoingvoicesaid,“YourMajesty,hereisMrs.Pendragontoseeyou.”

           AndtherewastheKing,notonathrone,butsittinginarathersquarechairwithonlyalittlegoldleafonit,nearthemiddleofalargeroom,anddressedmuchmoremodestlythanthepersonswhowaitedonhim.Hewasquitealone,likeanordinaryperson.