Ballantine/Del Rey #29842, 1983. Stated First Ballantine Books Edition in fine condition. Cover art by David Mattingly.

Wizardly schemes, Jorian knew, went oft a-gley. But this time the wizard's plan seemed simple. Since ancient prophecy foretold that the clocks would save Iraz, Jorian must repair the great tower clocks that his father had built. If everything went well, Karadur could then plan the rescue of Jorian's beloved wife, Queen Estrildis, from Xylar. And Jorian would be appointed Clockmaster of Iraz, a position that would require him to break a pirate siege, placate an amorous priestess, and stay at least one step ahead of the Royal Guard of Xylar - where he was still wanted as the star attraction at a royal beheading!

The demon Zdim was happy with his philosophy on the Twelfth Plane, until he was conjured to Prime Plane to serve the human wizard Maldivius. There, to a logical fiend, men seemed wholly irrational. He was ordered to eat the first being to enter a sanctum, then beaten for devouring the wizard's apprentice, who sneaked through the doorway. Prime Planers stole, lied, and fought each other in needless wars. Naturally, a totally logical demon couldn't understand them. And inevitably, Zdim made mistakes. But when war came to the city of Ir, only Zdim could escape to seek rescue from wild soldiers and uncertain sorcerers. The role of savior should have gone to a hero out of the legends. But there was only one Zdim—and he was fallible.

Three years earlier, Jorian had been crowned King of Xylar. But the laws of Xylar decreed that each randomly chosen monarch must be beheaded at the end of a five-year reign. Jorian had a prejudice against losing his head. With the aid of the aged wizard Karadur, he managed to flee. Unfortunately, he had not been able to bring his beloved wife, Queen Estridis, with him, nor had he yet been able to find a means of freeing her from the palace in Xylar City. But now his luck was about to change. He and the aged wizard Karadur were being flown through the night air in a great copper bathtub, powered by a demon under Karadur's control. Ahead of them lay Xylar City. There, while the demon kept the bathtub hovering above the palace, Jorian could let down a rope and rescue Estrildis. It should have been a foolproof scheme... "The Unbeheaded King...contains everything a fantasy should have: warring wizards, fantastical beasts, princesses, traveling players, dark forests, digressive cautionary tales"

Jorian, the one-time unbeheaded king, was now safely retired from getting into trouble. But his younger brother Kerin was caught in compromising circumstances with the maiden Adeliza, so Kerin had to be sent at once to sea. But Kerin's talent for trouble was not to be denied. First came Belinka, a sprite sent by Adeliza. Then, the ship captain mistakenly believed Kerin was seducing his mistress—so Kerin left hastily. That led him to a voyage on a pirate ship, where the kidnapped princess Nogiri was held captive. Kerin was unable to save her—until he gained the help of a hermit-wizard, who then seized the girl to be used as a human sacrifice. Kerin managed to save Nogiri again, helped by another wizard. Then Kerin and Nogiri set out, this time to the Emperor of the Farthest East. There Kerin discovered more magic, and the Emperor learned that no man should be absentminded when using a powerful spell. But it was later that Kerin discovered the limitations of roller skates.