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!

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"