"CHAP-23" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 3 - The Queen Of Swords)THE QUEEN OF SWORDS! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Twenty Three "Let's try you out," the sweating overweight kitchen master said to me, a slim brunette slave girl watching us as she stirred a large black iron pot of soup simmering over one of the fires. The firelight gleaming off her sweaty skin as she watched us two. "I think you will be disappointed," I told him, removing my strip of blue cloth from about my hips and lying down there on the sweat stained mattress that had no doubt cushioned the sweaty naked bodies of a large number of slave girls before me. He then joined me. I let him paw me and then ride me. I hope he enjoyed doing it. No doubt I was a considerable disappointment to him. "You Dularnians aren't any good!" he complained, getting up, pulling his clothing back together. I laid there, smiling up at him. I am "good" if I want to be. I've learned a lot from Lara. "As `cold' as our `frigid wasteland'," I smiled back at him, recalling what Lorraine had once called it there in the winter. "Get off your damm back and get to work!" he snapped, reach- ing for a slave whip. The other slave girl smiling to herself. ***************************************************************** Queen Dala Dai of Talon smiled to herself as she watched the Queen of Trelandar restlessly pace the walkway by the edge of the palace's roof top, the tall stern looking brunette in no mood to be "trifled" with by anyone, as Lady Sanda Talen had just found out to her discomfort! Later, she knew, Lorraine would go to the woman and ask her forgiveness, but just now Lorraine was in no mood to be "pestered" by anyone over anything! Dala watching the famous brunette pause to stare out over the city and the harbor. "Damn it!" Lorraine muttered to herself, not thinking of the little Queen sitting there on the bench next to a large flowering plant. The black silk of her gown well displaying her figure. Dala was small, only 5'1" and a hundred pounds, but with a slim trim build that any woman, regardless of height, might well envy. "It was said that people of your era had no `patience'," Dala smiled, remembering what she had read in the history books. "I'm still used to a social order with telephones, air- planes, automobiles, not one where the fastest means of transpor- tation over any distance is a three masted Squala class ship!" the famous Warlady of the Empire of California then laughed back. "I've often wondered what it was like to live back then," Dala smiled, wishing to keep Lorraine's mind off her "troubles". "We considered ourselves `civilized', but sometimes I wonder if we confused `technology' with `civilization'," Lorraine then replied with a smile. "The fact that we could travel out into space did not mean that we were ready to meet with another race." "Had the Lorr been different than they were, perhaps things would have been different," the little Queen of Talon answered, a warm sun glowing down upon them from a nearly cloudless blue sky. The Lorr were horrifying creatures much resembling gigantic black ants. Their practice of using "human" women as servants had no doubt also been a deciding factor in the decision made by certain military officers after the death of Janet Rogers to destroy the Lorr by diverting a gigantic comet from its orbit so that it would crash into Mars and hopefully destroy the horrible aliens! "I doubt it would have mattered considering that we are still willing to fight among ourselves like barbarians even after everything that has happened over the centuries," Lorraine said. "There are unfortunately too many in this world who can think of war as a `solution' to all their problems for us to hope for any- thing more." Dala Dai nodded, thinking of twelve years ago. Of a tall golden Empress who had lead her forces in battle. Of the husband who had died fighting against that woman's own invasion. Talon had "won" that war, but at a "cost" that had almost ruined the little hidden country nestled there between the mountains... "You are not the `militarist' I first expected," Dala said in reply. "I suppose one of our troubles is that we live too much in the past and let our own memories control our thoughts." "And we believe that people never change," Lorraine replied. "Like the hostile reception we gave Darlanis," the Queen of Talon answered. The memories had been too vivid of another time. "There is `good' and `evil' in all of us," Lorraine smiled. "With the exception of Princess Tara," Dala Dai teased her. "Tara is mentally unbalanced due to what happened to her," Lorraine answered. "She was furious with Darlanis for letting her son, her only child, marry a woman like `Lara of Trelandar'." The Queen feeling that it was best if she kept to herself her own suspicions that the Bajan Princess was now "possessed" by an evil demoness from that "plane of existence" commonly called "Hell"... "I can understand that as a mother myself," Dala answered. She had a son, and the thought of him marrying a woman with a "reputation" like Lara possessed was enough to any mother sweat! ***************************************************************** "Aurora!" Katt breathed, clasping the still beautiful blonde to herself. The "stress" of overseeing things here at Leith had been "enough" to unnerve the "bravest". Leith being the secret Lorr city beneath the Sierras that had been used for thousands of years as a "base of operations" there on the Earth.* And there at Katt's side was Aurora's own granddaughter, An'na, whose own beloved Starfire was now being armed with anti-matter missiles! * There have of course been "tales" of such a "place" told by various "secret societies". One wonders if there might be "some- thing" to such "stories". There are numerous reports of "UFO's" in this same area. (Perhaps the Lorr do "exist" after all!) It may be noted here that Leith was also "THE CITY OF GOLD" once sought by the Spanish. The Lorr using gold for its electrical properties in their equipment. Also the area in which Leith lies was once also quite famous for its rich gold deposits. (JBB) "I'm `scared', Aurora," Katt breathed, looking up into her eyes. Thinking of "what" they were about to "do" perhaps in only a week or so now when the "orders" came from Mars. Aurora nod- ding, well aware of "what" could happen should things "go wrong"! An'na on the other hand could only think of the excitement of REVOLUTION! Of a "new" social order where Woman and Lorr were "equals", and one no longer served the other upon a "slave to master" relationship! And Aurora would be truly their Leaderess! "My daughter is once again the captive of Princess Tara," Aurora spoke in reply, a side glance at An'na as she nodded back. It was well known in Leith that Darlanis was Princess Tara's new captive. The "activities" of the woman Dena had been noted too! Aurora had few "doubts" that Dena was now one of Tara's "agents"! "The Starfire is still having its engines rebuilt!" Katt protested back. "And Princess Tara could kill you!" The tradi- tional "protection" afforded Lorr Servitors would not apply here! Not once Aurora stepped outside the bounds of her own "duties"!!! "Refuel my saucer and I'll go in that!" Aurora snapped, drawing her pistol, checking it, and putting it back into the holster. "My daughter needs me, and I won't fail her this time!" "If something happens to you...!" Katt breathed softly, a lovely pair of dark eyes glowing into the jade green of Aurora's. Once, long ago, they had been more than close, their love strong. "You will `do' as best you can," Aurora smiled back then, turning to An'na, taking her beloved granddaughter in her arms, briefly brushing her hair as she once used to do years before... "I'll go in your place!" Katt protested. "My life is worth far less than `yours'!" Aurora nodded, knowing the truth spoken. "Darlanis is my daughter," Aurora answered in level tones. "If Tara kills me, An'na should be our Leaderess in my place."* * Lorraine notes in her book that Aurora seemed to be a person of "importance" on Mars. This is just about like saying that I am a person of "importance" here in California! Aurora is a very "popular" Leaderess among the Women of Mars, very well respected. She is also, as Lorraine has noted, a very wonderful singer too! ***************************************************************** Prince Jers Bisan of Baja regarded the two golden haired de- lights standing there before him, his provocative and sensual wife Lara sitting there on the sofa beneath the stern windows be- side him. The cool breeze off the water pleasant given the heat of the sun as the Seahawk rode quietly at anchor there in a lit- tle cove some distance from La Paz. The Sea Star gone at his or- der to seek the Squala, it being obvious now that his mother, the Princess of Baja, had me now in her possession if I still lived. "Sela Dai is our only hope now of learning anything," Sharon pointed out to the young handsome boyish Prince, the angry flash of Lara's eyes at her words unnoticed by the Imperial Princess. "Why don't I just go `ask' my mother if she has Darlanis?" Jers smiled back. He knew better than to expect the truth. His mother, who he still loved despite her evil deeds, was not one he could trust to tell the truth. He had meant his words in a dif- ferent way than what they had implied upon first hearing them. He had over the years learned to disregard much he heard about Tara. Many of the things spoken of her were but mere "legends"! "Perhaps you might tell Sela that there is now friendship between Talon and the Empire," Gayle of Trelandar pointed out. "So Lorraine did get a treaty signed," Jers smiled back. "I did most of the `work'," Gayle smiled in reply, remember- ing. She was young enough to arouse the Queen of Talon's own "mothering" instincts, and the rest had been rather easy for her. Especially after the young Prince of Talon had taken a "shine" to her, girls of her height and hair color being very rare in Talon. "We need alcohol for the airplane," Sharon pointed out then. "I had the rest of it unloaded off Sea Star before sending her out to seek the Squala," Jers smiled back, glad of doing so. "At least that gives us an `advantage' over Tara," Sharon smiled, wondering how long it would be before Lorraine arrived! "Perhaps we could `negotiate' Darlanis' release," Gayle sug- gested, thinking of what she had done in Talon with Queen Dala. "Not likely," Lara spoke up from beside her husband. "I could `ask', however," her husband smiled back. ***************************************************************** "No doubt Emperor Manuel will be delighted with you," Prin- cess Tara said to me as I served there at dinner along with Lynn, a nearly naked slave girl both chained and gagged at Tara's re- quest. At the table with her was Sela Dai. I wondered about her a bit. What thoughts went through her mind at the sight of me now there. And the Lorr Servitor "Dena", a "traitor" now even to the Lorr! Tara having just informed me to my horror that Dena would shoot down Black Lady the next time the airplane flew over! "My Princess, the Seahawk has just entered the harbor!" a warrioress burst in, Sela Dai smiling to herself as I felt a tin- gle of pleasure go over me at hearing her words. It was obvious that Lorraine or someone had decided to bring Jers into the act! "Chain Darlanis in our deepest and darkest and most secret cell and warn everyone that none is to speak to my son of her!" Tara snapped back, her rapidity of thought reminding me of anoth- er. She had been a capable and competent Warlady over the years. Only her sadism caused her to be less "effective" than otherwise. Otherwise I have no doubt history would have been very different. "And Sela," Tara added, "I'm sure he's come for Darlanis, not for you," warning Sela not to get up her "hopes" for her son. "If he comes here, I will `talk' to him," the Princess an- swered, her eyes meeting those of Tara across the table from her. Dena glancing at Princess Tara, who "nodded" back in return then. "Mind your tongue!" Tara snapped back at her, "Or I'll chain you right next to Darlanis." Sela's chin lifted, her dark eyes hot as they glowed into the darkness of Tara's in reply. She was of the Warrioresses. As good with a sword as Tara herself, I suspected, considering the Bajan Princess' injured right wrist. "Lay a hand on me, and my mother will sign a treaty with the Empire," Sela snapped back, her hand on the hilt of her sword. We did not of course know at this time that such had already been done. No doubt it would have altered things considerably had we known. While the Tarls of Talon cannot fly far enough to reach La Paz, they could be transported by ship to an area close enough where they might make their strikes from the air. Also, of course, Tara was well aware of Black Lady and its own abilities! And I did not not think Dena would be allowed to use her blaster for long without drawing "attention" that she "working" for Tara! "Bitch!" Tara snarled. "Seize her! Disarm her!" Sela's sword now in her hand. She was "quick". She must have been to get "beneath" Lorraine's guard. Probably another like Sa-she-ra. Dena standing up, her hand on the grip of her blaster. At a word from Tara she would doubtlessly kill the Princess right there!!! "And WHO in the name of HELL are YOU!" Tara snapped, wheel- ing about, a warrioress of her guards dashing ahead of a silvery clad blonde haired woman whom I instantly recognized as Aurora!!! "I am Aurora, Representative of the First Princess," Aurora snapped in level tones, ignoring the "fuss" about her as everyone looked to Tara for "instructions" as to "what do" about all this! "She came down on the roof top!" the warrioress gasped to her Princess. I had a hard time keeping a "straight face" then, especially seeing the look of "sheer terror" on Dena's features! "You will `turn' this traitor over to me!" Aurora snapped, pointing at Dena, her right hand on the grip of her Lorr blaster. Such weapons fire small highly explosive bullets of .25 caliber. "DIE!" Dena screamed, whipping out her pistol, Aurora doing the same! THE SHOTS ALMOST AS ONE! Blood spraying from Dena as Aurora's explosive bullet took her in the chest! A crater blast- ed into the rock of the wall behind Aurora as Dena's bullet just missed my mother! Fortunately no one had been standing there be- hind her at the time! The look of "terror" on Tara's face de- lighting me as Aurora then aimed her pistol at Tara! The Bajan Princess having grabbed up Lorraine's caplock pistol there in the confusion. I waited for Aurora to pull the trigger, kill Tara!!! "Drop that!" Aurora snapped, her jade eyes now burning hot! "Not this time, you black hearted bitch!" Lynn suddenly snapped, a knife suddenly at Tara's throat as she stepped behind her, much to everyone surprise, including Tara's no doubt! "There are worse things than being a slave girl, and serving you is one of them," she added, much to Princess Tara own discomfort! "Free Darlanis of her shackles," Aurora snapped to Sela Dai, picking up Dena's own blaster pistol, a smile curving her lips! The look on Tara's face leaving no "doubt" how she felt about it! "Feels good to be on the side of `good' this time," Sela said to me as she freed me of my shackles and gag. Lynn careful to keep Tara under control, the Bajan Princess furious at what we had done! "Even if you were responsible for my father's death." "There is `something' that needs being done," I told Aurora. "Open it!" I snapped, pushing Dena's pistol into Tara's back as the Princess pushed the "card" into the lock of the door far below Triskelion. What the Lorr "did" with the things there was of no concern of mine, but I would not leave the last remains of Domino Tremaine for them to gloat over! I would see that her re- mains received a proper burial somewhere where they would never be "disturbed" by the hand of Man or the claw of the horrid Lorr! "It is `wrong' to disturb `her'," Tara spoke, pushing open the door. Her words coming as a considerable "surprise" to me considering the sort of a person that she was. I wondered if it was possible that Tara had a superstitious dread of the remains?? "What Mars does with this here is of no concern of mine, but I will not have one of those damm `ants' clawing at `her'!" I snapped back, shoving the Bajan Princess forward into the room. "She was a proud and beautiful woman," I said to Tara, looking down at what remained of Domino Tremaine after some five centuries. Most people considered her "responsible" for the at- tack on Mars that had been the "cause" of The War of 2047, but I did not think she had ever "given" such orders. Doubtlessly she too had once had her own "Tara", and had been "betrayed" by such just as I had. Such was, I thought, quite likely considering the "horror" that she had viewed the near destruction of Mars by the great comet of 2046! Such was a matter of "public record". Her death here far below the Earth was perhaps only further "proof"! No doubt she had felt "responsible" for what had happened even if there was no way that she could prevent the Lorr's bombing of the Earth! That I thought, was why she had killed herself as she had in this place. In among the bones of the right hand there was a sort of plastic "card", such "cards" being used in the 21st Cen- tury as a means of storing data readable only by a computer! And Lorraine possessed such a computer! WE WOULD LEARN THE TRUTH!!!! THE QUEEN OF SWORDS! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Twenty Three "Let's try you out," the sweating overweight kitchen master said to me, a slim brunette slave girl watching us as she stirred a large black iron pot of soup simmering over one of the fires. The firelight gleaming off her sweaty skin as she watched us two. "I think you will be disappointed," I told him, removing my strip of blue cloth from about my hips and lying down there on the sweat stained mattress that had no doubt cushioned the sweaty naked bodies of a large number of slave girls before me. He then joined me. I let him paw me and then ride me. I hope he enjoyed doing it. No doubt I was a considerable disappointment to him. "You Dularnians aren't any good!" he complained, getting up, pulling his clothing back together. I laid there, smiling up at him. I am "good" if I want to be. I've learned a lot from Lara. "As `cold' as our `frigid wasteland'," I smiled back at him, recalling what Lorraine had once called it there in the winter. "Get off your damm back and get to work!" he snapped, reach- ing for a slave whip. The other slave girl smiling to herself. ***************************************************************** Queen Dala Dai of Talon smiled to herself as she watched the Queen of Trelandar restlessly pace the walkway by the edge of the palace's roof top, the tall stern looking brunette in no mood to be "trifled" with by anyone, as Lady Sanda Talen had just found out to her discomfort! Later, she knew, Lorraine would go to the woman and ask her forgiveness, but just now Lorraine was in no mood to be "pestered" by anyone over anything! Dala watching the famous brunette pause to stare out over the city and the harbor. "Damn it!" Lorraine muttered to herself, not thinking of the little Queen sitting there on the bench next to a large flowering plant. The black silk of her gown well displaying her figure. Dala was small, only 5'1" and a hundred pounds, but with a slim trim build that any woman, regardless of height, might well envy. "It was said that people of your era had no `patience'," Dala smiled, remembering what she had read in the history books. "I'm still used to a social order with telephones, air- planes, automobiles, not one where the fastest means of transpor- tation over any distance is a three masted Squala class ship!" the famous Warlady of the Empire of California then laughed back. "I've often wondered what it was like to live back then," Dala smiled, wishing to keep Lorraine's mind off her "troubles". "We considered ourselves `civilized', but sometimes I wonder if we confused `technology' with `civilization'," Lorraine then replied with a smile. "The fact that we could travel out into space did not mean that we were ready to meet with another race." "Had the Lorr been different than they were, perhaps things would have been different," the little Queen of Talon answered, a warm sun glowing down upon them from a nearly cloudless blue sky. The Lorr were horrifying creatures much resembling gigantic black ants. Their practice of using "human" women as servants had no doubt also been a deciding factor in the decision made by certain military officers after the death of Janet Rogers to destroy the Lorr by diverting a gigantic comet from its orbit so that it would crash into Mars and hopefully destroy the horrible aliens! "I doubt it would have mattered considering that we are still willing to fight among ourselves like barbarians even after everything that has happened over the centuries," Lorraine said. "There are unfortunately too many in this world who can think of war as a `solution' to all their problems for us to hope for any- thing more." Dala Dai nodded, thinking of twelve years ago. Of a tall golden Empress who had lead her forces in battle. Of the husband who had died fighting against that woman's own invasion. Talon had "won" that war, but at a "cost" that had almost ruined the little hidden country nestled there between the mountains... "You are not the `militarist' I first expected," Dala said in reply. "I suppose one of our troubles is that we live too much in the past and let our own memories control our thoughts." "And we believe that people never change," Lorraine replied. "Like the hostile reception we gave Darlanis," the Queen of Talon answered. The memories had been too vivid of another time. "There is `good' and `evil' in all of us," Lorraine smiled. "With the exception of Princess Tara," Dala Dai teased her. "Tara is mentally unbalanced due to what happened to her," Lorraine answered. "She was furious with Darlanis for letting her son, her only child, marry a woman like `Lara of Trelandar'." The Queen feeling that it was best if she kept to herself her own suspicions that the Bajan Princess was now "possessed" by an evil demoness from that "plane of existence" commonly called "Hell"... "I can understand that as a mother myself," Dala answered. She had a son, and the thought of him marrying a woman with a "reputation" like Lara possessed was enough to any mother sweat! ***************************************************************** "Aurora!" Katt breathed, clasping the still beautiful blonde to herself. The "stress" of overseeing things here at Leith had been "enough" to unnerve the "bravest". Leith being the secret Lorr city beneath the Sierras that had been used for thousands of years as a "base of operations" there on the Earth.* And there at Katt's side was Aurora's own granddaughter, An'na, whose own beloved Starfire was now being armed with anti-matter missiles! * There have of course been "tales" of such a "place" told by various "secret societies". One wonders if there might be "some- thing" to such "stories". There are numerous reports of "UFO's" in this same area. (Perhaps the Lorr do "exist" after all!) It may be noted here that Leith was also "THE CITY OF GOLD" once sought by the Spanish. The Lorr using gold for its electrical properties in their equipment. Also the area in which Leith lies was once also quite famous for its rich gold deposits. (JBB) "I'm `scared', Aurora," Katt breathed, looking up into her eyes. Thinking of "what" they were about to "do" perhaps in only a week or so now when the "orders" came from Mars. Aurora nod- ding, well aware of "what" could happen should things "go wrong"! An'na on the other hand could only think of the excitement of REVOLUTION! Of a "new" social order where Woman and Lorr were "equals", and one no longer served the other upon a "slave to master" relationship! And Aurora would be truly their Leaderess! "My daughter is once again the captive of Princess Tara," Aurora spoke in reply, a side glance at An'na as she nodded back. It was well known in Leith that Darlanis was Princess Tara's new captive. The "activities" of the woman Dena had been noted too! Aurora had few "doubts" that Dena was now one of Tara's "agents"! "The Starfire is still having its engines rebuilt!" Katt protested back. "And Princess Tara could kill you!" The tradi- tional "protection" afforded Lorr Servitors would not apply here! Not once Aurora stepped outside the bounds of her own "duties"!!! "Refuel my saucer and I'll go in that!" Aurora snapped, drawing her pistol, checking it, and putting it back into the holster. "My daughter needs me, and I won't fail her this time!" "If something happens to you...!" Katt breathed softly, a lovely pair of dark eyes glowing into the jade green of Aurora's. Once, long ago, they had been more than close, their love strong. "You will `do' as best you can," Aurora smiled back then, turning to An'na, taking her beloved granddaughter in her arms, briefly brushing her hair as she once used to do years before... "I'll go in your place!" Katt protested. "My life is worth far less than `yours'!" Aurora nodded, knowing the truth spoken. "Darlanis is my daughter," Aurora answered in level tones. "If Tara kills me, An'na should be our Leaderess in my place."* * Lorraine notes in her book that Aurora seemed to be a person of "importance" on Mars. This is just about like saying that I am a person of "importance" here in California! Aurora is a very "popular" Leaderess among the Women of Mars, very well respected. She is also, as Lorraine has noted, a very wonderful singer too! ***************************************************************** Prince Jers Bisan of Baja regarded the two golden haired de- lights standing there before him, his provocative and sensual wife Lara sitting there on the sofa beneath the stern windows be- side him. The cool breeze off the water pleasant given the heat of the sun as the Seahawk rode quietly at anchor there in a lit- tle cove some distance from La Paz. The Sea Star gone at his or- der to seek the Squala, it being obvious now that his mother, the Princess of Baja, had me now in her possession if I still lived. "Sela Dai is our only hope now of learning anything," Sharon pointed out to the young handsome boyish Prince, the angry flash of Lara's eyes at her words unnoticed by the Imperial Princess. "Why don't I just go `ask' my mother if she has Darlanis?" Jers smiled back. He knew better than to expect the truth. His mother, who he still loved despite her evil deeds, was not one he could trust to tell the truth. He had meant his words in a dif- ferent way than what they had implied upon first hearing them. He had over the years learned to disregard much he heard about Tara. Many of the things spoken of her were but mere "legends"! "Perhaps you might tell Sela that there is now friendship between Talon and the Empire," Gayle of Trelandar pointed out. "So Lorraine did get a treaty signed," Jers smiled back. "I did most of the `work'," Gayle smiled in reply, remember- ing. She was young enough to arouse the Queen of Talon's own "mothering" instincts, and the rest had been rather easy for her. Especially after the young Prince of Talon had taken a "shine" to her, girls of her height and hair color being very rare in Talon. "We need alcohol for the airplane," Sharon pointed out then. "I had the rest of it unloaded off Sea Star before sending her out to seek the Squala," Jers smiled back, glad of doing so. "At least that gives us an `advantage' over Tara," Sharon smiled, wondering how long it would be before Lorraine arrived! "Perhaps we could `negotiate' Darlanis' release," Gayle sug- gested, thinking of what she had done in Talon with Queen Dala. "Not likely," Lara spoke up from beside her husband. "I could `ask', however," her husband smiled back. ***************************************************************** "No doubt Emperor Manuel will be delighted with you," Prin- cess Tara said to me as I served there at dinner along with Lynn, a nearly naked slave girl both chained and gagged at Tara's re- quest. At the table with her was Sela Dai. I wondered about her a bit. What thoughts went through her mind at the sight of me now there. And the Lorr Servitor "Dena", a "traitor" now even to the Lorr! Tara having just informed me to my horror that Dena would shoot down Black Lady the next time the airplane flew over! "My Princess, the Seahawk has just entered the harbor!" a warrioress burst in, Sela Dai smiling to herself as I felt a tin- gle of pleasure go over me at hearing her words. It was obvious that Lorraine or someone had decided to bring Jers into the act! "Chain Darlanis in our deepest and darkest and most secret cell and warn everyone that none is to speak to my son of her!" Tara snapped back, her rapidity of thought reminding me of anoth- er. She had been a capable and competent Warlady over the years. Only her sadism caused her to be less "effective" than otherwise. Otherwise I have no doubt history would have been very different. "And Sela," Tara added, "I'm sure he's come for Darlanis, not for you," warning Sela not to get up her "hopes" for her son. "If he comes here, I will `talk' to him," the Princess an- swered, her eyes meeting those of Tara across the table from her. Dena glancing at Princess Tara, who "nodded" back in return then. "Mind your tongue!" Tara snapped back at her, "Or I'll chain you right next to Darlanis." Sela's chin lifted, her dark eyes hot as they glowed into the darkness of Tara's in reply. She was of the Warrioresses. As good with a sword as Tara herself, I suspected, considering the Bajan Princess' injured right wrist. "Lay a hand on me, and my mother will sign a treaty with the Empire," Sela snapped back, her hand on the hilt of her sword. We did not of course know at this time that such had already been done. No doubt it would have altered things considerably had we known. While the Tarls of Talon cannot fly far enough to reach La Paz, they could be transported by ship to an area close enough where they might make their strikes from the air. Also, of course, Tara was well aware of Black Lady and its own abilities! And I did not not think Dena would be allowed to use her blaster for long without drawing "attention" that she "working" for Tara! "Bitch!" Tara snarled. "Seize her! Disarm her!" Sela's sword now in her hand. She was "quick". She must have been to get "beneath" Lorraine's guard. Probably another like Sa-she-ra. Dena standing up, her hand on the grip of her blaster. At a word from Tara she would doubtlessly kill the Princess right there!!! "And WHO in the name of HELL are YOU!" Tara snapped, wheel- ing about, a warrioress of her guards dashing ahead of a silvery clad blonde haired woman whom I instantly recognized as Aurora!!! "I am Aurora, Representative of the First Princess," Aurora snapped in level tones, ignoring the "fuss" about her as everyone looked to Tara for "instructions" as to "what do" about all this! "She came down on the roof top!" the warrioress gasped to her Princess. I had a hard time keeping a "straight face" then, especially seeing the look of "sheer terror" on Dena's features! "You will `turn' this traitor over to me!" Aurora snapped, pointing at Dena, her right hand on the grip of her Lorr blaster. Such weapons fire small highly explosive bullets of .25 caliber. "DIE!" Dena screamed, whipping out her pistol, Aurora doing the same! THE SHOTS ALMOST AS ONE! Blood spraying from Dena as Aurora's explosive bullet took her in the chest! A crater blast- ed into the rock of the wall behind Aurora as Dena's bullet just missed my mother! Fortunately no one had been standing there be- hind her at the time! The look of "terror" on Tara's face de- lighting me as Aurora then aimed her pistol at Tara! The Bajan Princess having grabbed up Lorraine's caplock pistol there in the confusion. I waited for Aurora to pull the trigger, kill Tara!!! "Drop that!" Aurora snapped, her jade eyes now burning hot! "Not this time, you black hearted bitch!" Lynn suddenly snapped, a knife suddenly at Tara's throat as she stepped behind her, much to everyone surprise, including Tara's no doubt! "There are worse things than being a slave girl, and serving you is one of them," she added, much to Princess Tara own discomfort! "Free Darlanis of her shackles," Aurora snapped to Sela Dai, picking up Dena's own blaster pistol, a smile curving her lips! The look on Tara's face leaving no "doubt" how she felt about it! "Feels good to be on the side of `good' this time," Sela said to me as she freed me of my shackles and gag. Lynn careful to keep Tara under control, the Bajan Princess furious at what we had done! "Even if you were responsible for my father's death." "There is `something' that needs being done," I told Aurora. "Open it!" I snapped, pushing Dena's pistol into Tara's back as the Princess pushed the "card" into the lock of the door far below Triskelion. What the Lorr "did" with the things there was of no concern of mine, but I would not leave the last remains of Domino Tremaine for them to gloat over! I would see that her re- mains received a proper burial somewhere where they would never be "disturbed" by the hand of Man or the claw of the horrid Lorr! "It is `wrong' to disturb `her'," Tara spoke, pushing open the door. Her words coming as a considerable "surprise" to me considering the sort of a person that she was. I wondered if it was possible that Tara had a superstitious dread of the remains?? "What Mars does with this here is of no concern of mine, but I will not have one of those damm `ants' clawing at `her'!" I snapped back, shoving the Bajan Princess forward into the room. "She was a proud and beautiful woman," I said to Tara, looking down at what remained of Domino Tremaine after some five centuries. Most people considered her "responsible" for the at- tack on Mars that had been the "cause" of The War of 2047, but I did not think she had ever "given" such orders. Doubtlessly she too had once had her own "Tara", and had been "betrayed" by such just as I had. Such was, I thought, quite likely considering the "horror" that she had viewed the near destruction of Mars by the great comet of 2046! Such was a matter of "public record". Her death here far below the Earth was perhaps only further "proof"! No doubt she had felt "responsible" for what had happened even if there was no way that she could prevent the Lorr's bombing of the Earth! That I thought, was why she had killed herself as she had in this place. In among the bones of the right hand there was a sort of plastic "card", such "cards" being used in the 21st Cen- tury as a means of storing data readable only by a computer! And Lorraine possessed such a computer! WE WOULD LEARN THE TRUTH!!!! |
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