Of course the Nome King knew they were coming and was prepared to receive them.

Now, the Nome King had never tried to be good, so he was very bad indeed.

"For all your trouble about the Nome King," was the reply.

As for the Nome King, they did not recognize him, and wondered who he was.

"In the country of the Nome King, on the mainland away at the south," she replied.

The former Nome King agreed to this, and the two spent the rest of that day in talking over their plans.

With time it became clear that the Nome King kidnapped him.

I had supposed the Nome King was all to blame in the matter.

The Nome King nearly jumped off his seat, he was so startled.

But when the Nome King came back he brought nothing with him except a puzzled and anxious expression upon his face.