Chapter 9
The farewell party

Everyone rejoiced - even the enemy, because down in their hearts they had hoped that the old Tishmarnians would live again in Tishma.

Then Sashtan brought everyone inside. A tall soldier poured out wine in golden goblets and said:

"A toast to the Black Avenger ... the redeemer of Tishma!" When they had done that, Chris said:

"And now a toast to the true King of Tishma, King Sashtan!"

The noise died down and Sashtan took Chris, Joan, Nite, Dae and the tall soldier in[to] another room; and said:

"Go and get me twenty soldiers."

When this was done, Sashtan told Chris and Joan to go out and organise some games. While they were out, the twenty soldiers, Sashtan and the others prepared a vast feast and decorations [were] hung from the ceiling. A balloon and a party hat was placed for everyone. Then Sashtan told the tall soldier to go out and tell one of the guests at a time to creep into the feast room.

Soon only seven dwarfs and Chris and Joan were playing games. Then the soldier went to Chris and said:

"The King would like to see seven dwarfs, please."

"Okay then, take this seven," said Chris.

The soldier told the dwarfs to run and then Chris said:

"Hey, Joan, we're the only ones here ... Sashtan hasn't got [the] right to leave us out of anything now. Come on." And [he] marched up to the feast room and went in.

"HOORAY!" came a loud shout from everybody. Then Joan walked in.

"HOORAY!" they called again, and then everyone went into fits of laughter.

"Silence!" came a kingly voice and Sashtan walked in, dressed in flowing robes [and] with a crown on his head. "Very soon our two dear friends will be leaving us to go back to their own world called England. To their honour we have a farewell party."

Jokes were told and ballads sung during the party but, when Tandar appeared, everybody knew the moment had come.

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