Alan Burt Akers [Dray Prescot 11] Armada of Antares (pdf)

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You owe me the wagers, Kov. You owe me much money, for your Numim failed you. I will cancel the
debt for the girls.
So that was how we arranged it, and I struck the chains off. Tilly, my gorgeous golden-furred Fristle fifi
took them off to wash the sores, bathe them, and dress them in fine sensil and so decide their future as
free women.
The very next day the army sailed for Pandahem.
Before I left I told Balass, most sternly, He got over your shield, Balass! Careless. Although, I will
admit, he was very good.
Aye, Dray, said Balass. He was good.Was.
I laughed. And now you will train the coys that is, these brave young fighting men of mine train
them to stand in line and use sword and shield, train them to stand against the iron men of Hamal.
Such will be my pleasure. But I can only train them to fight. For tactics and drill all these things
you will need a drill master.
Yes. You train them to fight with shield and sword, or see how the glaive fits in. Tom ti Vulheim will
provide the drill masters, and for the new drills we shall need . . . well, I ll have to think on that.
The truth was that I had already thought of this problem and had already reached a solution. I feel sure
you will guess easily where I intended to obtain my drill masters in this new-fangled to my blade
comrades of Valka mode of fighting.
Naghan Kholin Donamair was absolutely furious. His four fists beat the air. His eyes protruded. He was
one enraged Djang.
But, King! My flutduins are ready, the young Valkans trained well, trained enough to give an
account of themselves, by Zodjuin of the Silver Stux! And the chicks are hatching well, so the next
generation is assured.
I shook my head. I do not punish you by asking you to stay here, Naghan. Your task is great. We must
build up a corps of flyers here in Valka. The flutduins are vital.
But, my King! You go off to war and I do not go with you?
By Holy Djan himself! I ask this of you as a favor, for I know the agony you suffer. But if Hamal wins,
if Vallia goes under, won t those cramphs of Hamal turn south through the Dawn Lands? How long will it
be before they come knocking on the Mountains of Mirth? And do you think they will be sucked in as
the Gorgrens were? Well, by Zodjuin of the Stormclouds, what do you think, Naghan Donamair?
It just wasn t fair of me. I know that. These wonderful four-armed Djangs of mine have no heads for
statecraft, strategy, and the intricacies of diplomacy. Give them a sword and a shield, a bow and a quiver
of arrows, a joat or a flutduin, and they are the bravest fighters one could ask for. So I bamboozled poor
Naghan, but I was right. His place was here, in Valka, training my aerial cavalry.
Saying goodbye to Delia came with the shock of abrupt agony.
She had said she was coming with me and had started rummaging out her leathers and the brave scarlet
breechclout and sash. But I knew her condition would prevent her from joining me, as, of course, she
knew herself. But, still, being Delia, she argued.
And suppose the little fellow s born in the middle of a battlefield, under a flap of canvas, with headless
corpses all around?
She laughed at me. She mocked me. Oh, Dray, Dray! And don t you think that s just about the most
fitting place a son of yours could be born?
I was furious. Delia! Anyone would think I liked wars and bloody battles
She was serious at once, those wonderful brown eyes warm and tender. I know, dear heart. But your
life has been hard, one of fighting yes, all for very good reasons! And I think that long before Kregen
is a fit world in which to bring up children, as you have so often told me, then he must learn to cope and
fight as quickly as may be.
But suppose he s a girl?
Suppose he s twins again?
I sighed. Well, Delia, my girl, you are not coming with me, and that is final. You d best get Thelda for I
know she loves you, even if she means well, poor soul. Here I did Seg s wife Thelda an injustice, and
both Delia and I knew I only prattled on about yesterday. And Inch, too. Time that long streak was
married, anyway.
I shall stay here, in Esser Rarioch.
I hummed and hawed, but I suppose she was right. Valka was now a real home to her, and she had
many friends here.
And Doctor Nath the Needle.
Do not fret, dear heart!
Excellent advice that it is impossible to take!
There was no question of my not going. Delia was the daughter of an Emperor and she would have
looked at me rather strangely if I had said I was not going because she was to have a baby or, as she
lived on Kregen, the strong possibility of two babies.
Turko the Shield will bear his great shield over you, so promise me you ll stay there, and not rush out
like you always do!
In giving her the promise I recollected that I might rush out anyway, forgetting in the heat of the moment.
And she, the witch, understood that, too, for she said: Well, I will not take your promise and lock it in
my golden chest with a golden lock. But, Dray Prescot! When she spoke like that it paid me to take
heed. Take care of yourself and come back with everything still attached to that body of yours! Do you
hear?
I kissed her most tenderly and said goodbye to the twins, and everyone else. There were so many [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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