"2566-32" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 4 - 2566 Ad)2566 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Thirty Two "She has done what even Darlanis could not," one of her ad- visors spoke softly behind her as Maris watched the boat from the Huntress tie up to the dock and two black clad Imperial Warrio- resses step up on to the dock. One in the uniform of a naval captain, the other the Imperial Warlady herself, the famous Lor- raine Richards, Queen of Trelandar, a golden tiara in her hair! The Warlady yet limping a bit despite her best efforts not to show how bad she'd been hurt by a crossbowman off the North Star! "If we take her `hostage' then we can deal with the others!" Darl Jord had whispered only a few minutes before when the ship had come sailing into the harbor. The truce flag flying at its mastheads. The idea was "unthinkable" to a Warrioress like her! The preservation of the Caste Codes was drilled into all members of her Caste as something you lived by and fought for! What Darl was "asking" was simply so "unthinkable" for any Queen of Dularn! Maris watched the two women walk towards them, Lorraine yet still limping a bit, while her companion, captain Janice Hill of the Huntress nervously glanced about herself at the armed men and women who made up the Dularnian Queen's own personal armed force. There behind them in the harbor still smoldered the wrecks of her navy, although Maris had been surprised to see that all the rest of the vessels there had not been touched by the aerial bombing! "I wish we `had' you instead of Darlanis," Maris smiled, ex- tending her hands to Lorraine. That had recently been one of her own fantasies. She really didn't like the woman that much, but she did admire her, respect her for what she was as a person. It had been delightful to have Sharon as her guest, the young Prin- cess having told her about the 20th Century, and about Lorraine! "It could have been," Lorraine answered her with a smile. They were, despite their "differences", still yet caste sisters! "We must talk....!" Maris spoke, then gasping with horror! DARL JORD WHIPPING OUT WHAT SHE RECOGNIZED WAS A FLINT-LOCK PIS- TOL AND FIRING IT AT LORRAINE!! CRYING, "DIE, IMPERIAL BITCH!!!" THE QUEEN OF TRELANDAR FALLING BACK INTO THE ARMS OF HER CAPTAIN! "I've--AHHH!" he screamed, Maris' dagger driving deep as a blood red fury swam before her eyes at what he had done to them!! Destroying his own country's HONOR as he had done with his act!!! For such an act there could be but one "reaction"! DEATH!!!!!!!! Whatever fate had in store for her now, she had at least done the only thing that any Warrioress could do in such a case as this!!! "Lorraine," Maris sobbed, going to her knees, the Warlady's blood already staining the silk of her dress over her bosom, the dark eyes of Janice blazing with hatred into hers as she held her Queen! The dark eyes of the Warlady now burning up into her own! "Never thought it'd end like.....," she spoke, her head then falling back. The horror in Janice's eyes leaving no doubt that she believed the worst of those around her. Of Maris herself!* * It appears here that Janice believed I died when I lost con- sciousness. Such is the best explanation for what followed. (LR) "YOU KILLED HER! DAMM YOU ALL TO HELL!" Janice cried, leap- ing to her feet, dashing for the boat still waiting there by the dock! The horrified Dularnians making no attempt to stop her!!! "She's alive!" Maris gasped, feeling the weak pulse there in the Warlady's throat. The body of Darl Jord, her dagger yet buried in his heart there on the stones of the courtyard. "Sum- mon the Physicians, Get the Priestesses!" the Queen snapped! Ma- ris bunching up Lorraine's clothing, pressing it against the bul- let wound in her chest! Aware of little but the woman lying there before her on the stone. The Imperial she had killed for! "If she dies, we're doomed!" Maris breathed, looking up. ***************************************************************** "Huntress signaling!" the midshipman cried, Sela Dai stand- ing there at Mark's side. The ship was also flying its flags up- side down! There had been some sort of "fuss" there on the dock, but the distance had been too far for even their best telescopes! "Lorraine murdered!" the signal flashes read! The words like a blow to the little Talon Princess! Mark grasping her arm, hurting her with his grip, but just then she felt nothing! A cry of horror going up as the message was now translated to the crew! ***************************************************************** "I should have KNOWN! I should have KNOWN!" Maris sobbed, the captain of her warrioresses holding her hands. Whether the Imperial Warlady lived or died, a horrible stain had been placed upon Dularn's honor by Darl Jord's action. True, he had paid for it with his life, her own dagger buried to the hilt in his heart, but Maris dreaded what the future would bring! If Lorraine died, there would be a war between Dularn and the Empire that would end only when her country was no more! And would it be just the Em- pire??? Lorraine was said to be friends with both the Women and the Lorr! Should Aurora and Raspa take action, there would noth- ing left but a radioactive wasteland of molten bubbling lava!* * She did not know of course of what the Priestesses of Lys were. "The ships have sailed away," another spoke then to Maris. There had been no attack by the birds, or anything else. Maris dreaded what would happen now. She suspected the worst of it!!! "We have the bullet," the Physician said, holding a bloody bit of "something" in her fingers. Lorraine's blood! "She is a strong woman. Perhaps she will live, but this sort of weapon..?" "Oh Lys! Give me her life! Take mine, but give me hers!" the Queen of Dularn wept for the shame that had been put on her!* * I tend to believe that these conversations are accurate. (LR) ***************************************************************** "What will we do now?" Valerie of Corsica asked, Janice of the Huntress having once again repeated her tale of what she had seen. Janice knew of such weapons, Lorraine herself having one!* * The "effectiveness" of firearms is overrated by those of the 26th Century. This may account for what happened later on. (LR) "We avenge our Queen," Mark snapped, glancing at Sela Dai. "No one ever thought it would come to this," Lara spoke. Lorraine had seemed to them all almost "immortal". So "awesome". A woman from a past now mostly legends and myths. The same woman who had been "responsible" for Janet Rogers, for everything else! "We teach these blackguards what revenge means!" Jers spoke! "Lorraine put me in command of this force," Sela spoke, standing up, drawing her sword, "And upon my blade I swear that I will avenge her death!" The others then drawing, doing the same! ***************************************************************** "How bad?" Maris spoke, the Priestess' eyes glowing into hers. Lorraine seemed "small", her face drawn, pale, her hair a tangled black mass on the white of the pillowcase. Her breathing was almost imperceptible. She now appeared almost as one dead! "She is alive, but her life is now in the hands of Lys," the white gowned Priestess answered the young Queen of Dularn. There had been none who had spoken against her for killing her husband. Such a "crime" as he had committed had horrified everyone! Maris had done the only "right" thing that she could have done, all now spoke. People were already leaving the city, fearing what might soon be descending from the skies, tales having been circulated of what could soon be happening. Maris feared not the birds, but what would happen should Lorraine die and Darlanis learn of it!!! "She is my sister's foster mother," Maris breathed in reply. Gayle was Princess of Talon. Sharon was the Imperial Princess. "This is a bad time for our country," the Priestess said. ***************************************************************** "Make signals to Nighthawk, Seawolf, and Arrow to rejoin the squadron," Sela ordered, standing there. The Dularnians would "pay" for what they had done. She would teach them all what the meaning of "honor" was. They would feel her fury again and again as the seacoast villages burned, as men and women would learn to "fear" the ships that flew the double barred cross of Lorraine! "It will be done, your highness," the midshipman spoke. "Have the captains report on board as soon as possible," the Princess of Talon added. The Arrow would carry the "word" south. Sela had no doubts that Darlanis would declare war upon Dularn!!! ***************************************************************** Maris, Queen of Dularn gently moistened the lips of the wom- an she had once tried to kill in battle. Lorraine yet lived, but would she recover? The bullet had narrowly missed her heart, the beautiful blonde Dularnian knew, but her injuries were serious!!! It would be dawn in a few hours, the start of a new day. There had been no reports of the Imperial ships since they had sailed back down the strait towards the ocean. Perhaps they were re- turning to Sarn. To notify Darlanis of what had happened here!* * The capitol of Dularn occupies the same area as the present city of Victoria on the island of Vancouver. The "disputed ter- ritories" over which this "war" was forth consisted of an area of territory from from Cape Flattery down to Grays Harbor and east to Olympia. This area was considered "Dularnian" by Queen Maris, but was considered a part of the Empire of California by Empress Darlanis. A "study" of a map of the area is quite "interesting". "Lorraine, you must live!" Maris wept, the tears rolling down her cheeks. She had at one time hated this woman, but now? "Oh Lys, give me her life, forgive my sinful ways!" Maris prayed, her face buried in her hands. Suddenly she felt the touch of a hand and looked into the dark eyes of La-ra, her Neva- da slave girl. The girl's eyes "understanding" as she nodded. "You are good mistress," La-ra said, "Whatever they say." ***************************************************************** I was aware of pain, of difficulty breathing, of soft whis- pers beside me. Of two women speaking, one in the accents of Du- larn, the other in the accents of a woman of the Nevadas. The memories flooding back. Of Darl Jord and his pistol. Of Maris wild-eyed plunging her dagger into his black heart. Of her face looking down into mine as I tried to speak. Of Janice holding my head as I had slumped there to the cobblestones of the courtyard there before the harbor. Then only "nothingness" as I lost con- sciousness. I could see Queen Maris, the gold of her hair, a dark haired collared slave girl speaking to her in soft whispers. "Janice!" I tried to gasp, only a croak escaping my lips! "Lorraine!" Maris gasped, going to her knees beside me! "Janice, where is Janice?" I whispered, my mouth so dry. "Here, drink," Maris breathed, pressing a cup to my lips. "Not your fault," I gasped, "Not your fault." I wanted her to know that. The fact that Darl Jord had possessed a pistol was only a further proof of his involvement with the infamous Tara! "The ships are gone, as is your captain," Maris said to me. "I think they believed you dead," Maris then quickly informed me. "Be `bad' if they go to Darlanis," I whispered, fighting to stay conscious, to keep my thoughts from wandering off in every which direction. I wondered just what Princess Sela would do! I had a pretty good idea now of the extent of my injuries. Maris' doctor had at least been "competent" at her craft, I thought. I wondered if Maris had called in any of the Priestesses of Lys. "Is there anything I can do?" Maris asked, her eyes glowing into mine. I told her I didn't think so. I wondered why Janice had gone running back off to the ships after Darl Jord shot me! Why she didn't at least stick around long enough to see if I was actually dead or not! The thought going through my mind that she probably had "thought" as did most people of this era that anyone shot with a gun died instantly of the bullet! That explained it! "Wish Darlanis had agreed to my suggestion," I breathed, the exhaustion such now that I could feel myself "losing it" again. "Rest now, Lorraine," Maris said to me, stroking my fore- head. I tried to tell her that she'd make a good nurse, but that was just too much for me then as the "darkness" came flooding back and I drifted off into a deep slumber almost like a coma! "Your prayers have been answered, mistress," La-ra said. "At least she knows the `truth'," Maris answered back. "Lys has been `merciful'," La-ra replied softly. 2566 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Thirty Two "She has done what even Darlanis could not," one of her ad- visors spoke softly behind her as Maris watched the boat from the Huntress tie up to the dock and two black clad Imperial Warrio- resses step up on to the dock. One in the uniform of a naval captain, the other the Imperial Warlady herself, the famous Lor- raine Richards, Queen of Trelandar, a golden tiara in her hair! The Warlady yet limping a bit despite her best efforts not to show how bad she'd been hurt by a crossbowman off the North Star! "If we take her `hostage' then we can deal with the others!" Darl Jord had whispered only a few minutes before when the ship had come sailing into the harbor. The truce flag flying at its mastheads. The idea was "unthinkable" to a Warrioress like her! The preservation of the Caste Codes was drilled into all members of her Caste as something you lived by and fought for! What Darl was "asking" was simply so "unthinkable" for any Queen of Dularn! Maris watched the two women walk towards them, Lorraine yet still limping a bit, while her companion, captain Janice Hill of the Huntress nervously glanced about herself at the armed men and women who made up the Dularnian Queen's own personal armed force. There behind them in the harbor still smoldered the wrecks of her navy, although Maris had been surprised to see that all the rest of the vessels there had not been touched by the aerial bombing! "I wish we `had' you instead of Darlanis," Maris smiled, ex- tending her hands to Lorraine. That had recently been one of her own fantasies. She really didn't like the woman that much, but she did admire her, respect her for what she was as a person. It had been delightful to have Sharon as her guest, the young Prin- cess having told her about the 20th Century, and about Lorraine! "It could have been," Lorraine answered her with a smile. They were, despite their "differences", still yet caste sisters! "We must talk....!" Maris spoke, then gasping with horror! DARL JORD WHIPPING OUT WHAT SHE RECOGNIZED WAS A FLINT-LOCK PIS- TOL AND FIRING IT AT LORRAINE!! CRYING, "DIE, IMPERIAL BITCH!!!" THE QUEEN OF TRELANDAR FALLING BACK INTO THE ARMS OF HER CAPTAIN! "I've--AHHH!" he screamed, Maris' dagger driving deep as a blood red fury swam before her eyes at what he had done to them!! Destroying his own country's HONOR as he had done with his act!!! For such an act there could be but one "reaction"! DEATH!!!!!!!! Whatever fate had in store for her now, she had at least done the only thing that any Warrioress could do in such a case as this!!! "Lorraine," Maris sobbed, going to her knees, the Warlady's blood already staining the silk of her dress over her bosom, the dark eyes of Janice blazing with hatred into hers as she held her Queen! The dark eyes of the Warlady now burning up into her own! "Never thought it'd end like.....," she spoke, her head then falling back. The horror in Janice's eyes leaving no doubt that she believed the worst of those around her. Of Maris herself!* * It appears here that Janice believed I died when I lost con- sciousness. Such is the best explanation for what followed. (LR) "YOU KILLED HER! DAMM YOU ALL TO HELL!" Janice cried, leap- ing to her feet, dashing for the boat still waiting there by the dock! The horrified Dularnians making no attempt to stop her!!! "She's alive!" Maris gasped, feeling the weak pulse there in the Warlady's throat. The body of Darl Jord, her dagger yet buried in his heart there on the stones of the courtyard. "Sum- mon the Physicians, Get the Priestesses!" the Queen snapped! Ma- ris bunching up Lorraine's clothing, pressing it against the bul- let wound in her chest! Aware of little but the woman lying there before her on the stone. The Imperial she had killed for! "If she dies, we're doomed!" Maris breathed, looking up. ***************************************************************** "Huntress signaling!" the midshipman cried, Sela Dai stand- ing there at Mark's side. The ship was also flying its flags up- side down! There had been some sort of "fuss" there on the dock, but the distance had been too far for even their best telescopes! "Lorraine murdered!" the signal flashes read! The words like a blow to the little Talon Princess! Mark grasping her arm, hurting her with his grip, but just then she felt nothing! A cry of horror going up as the message was now translated to the crew! ***************************************************************** "I should have KNOWN! I should have KNOWN!" Maris sobbed, the captain of her warrioresses holding her hands. Whether the Imperial Warlady lived or died, a horrible stain had been placed upon Dularn's honor by Darl Jord's action. True, he had paid for it with his life, her own dagger buried to the hilt in his heart, but Maris dreaded what the future would bring! If Lorraine died, there would be a war between Dularn and the Empire that would end only when her country was no more! And would it be just the Em- pire??? Lorraine was said to be friends with both the Women and the Lorr! Should Aurora and Raspa take action, there would noth- ing left but a radioactive wasteland of molten bubbling lava!* * She did not know of course of what the Priestesses of Lys were. "The ships have sailed away," another spoke then to Maris. There had been no attack by the birds, or anything else. Maris dreaded what would happen now. She suspected the worst of it!!! "We have the bullet," the Physician said, holding a bloody bit of "something" in her fingers. Lorraine's blood! "She is a strong woman. Perhaps she will live, but this sort of weapon..?" "Oh Lys! Give me her life! Take mine, but give me hers!" the Queen of Dularn wept for the shame that had been put on her!* * I tend to believe that these conversations are accurate. (LR) ***************************************************************** "What will we do now?" Valerie of Corsica asked, Janice of the Huntress having once again repeated her tale of what she had seen. Janice knew of such weapons, Lorraine herself having one!* * The "effectiveness" of firearms is overrated by those of the 26th Century. This may account for what happened later on. (LR) "We avenge our Queen," Mark snapped, glancing at Sela Dai. "No one ever thought it would come to this," Lara spoke. Lorraine had seemed to them all almost "immortal". So "awesome". A woman from a past now mostly legends and myths. The same woman who had been "responsible" for Janet Rogers, for everything else! "We teach these blackguards what revenge means!" Jers spoke! "Lorraine put me in command of this force," Sela spoke, standing up, drawing her sword, "And upon my blade I swear that I will avenge her death!" The others then drawing, doing the same! ***************************************************************** "How bad?" Maris spoke, the Priestess' eyes glowing into hers. Lorraine seemed "small", her face drawn, pale, her hair a tangled black mass on the white of the pillowcase. Her breathing was almost imperceptible. She now appeared almost as one dead! "She is alive, but her life is now in the hands of Lys," the white gowned Priestess answered the young Queen of Dularn. There had been none who had spoken against her for killing her husband. Such a "crime" as he had committed had horrified everyone! Maris had done the only "right" thing that she could have done, all now spoke. People were already leaving the city, fearing what might soon be descending from the skies, tales having been circulated of what could soon be happening. Maris feared not the birds, but what would happen should Lorraine die and Darlanis learn of it!!! "She is my sister's foster mother," Maris breathed in reply. Gayle was Princess of Talon. Sharon was the Imperial Princess. "This is a bad time for our country," the Priestess said. ***************************************************************** "Make signals to Nighthawk, Seawolf, and Arrow to rejoin the squadron," Sela ordered, standing there. The Dularnians would "pay" for what they had done. She would teach them all what the meaning of "honor" was. They would feel her fury again and again as the seacoast villages burned, as men and women would learn to "fear" the ships that flew the double barred cross of Lorraine! "It will be done, your highness," the midshipman spoke. "Have the captains report on board as soon as possible," the Princess of Talon added. The Arrow would carry the "word" south. Sela had no doubts that Darlanis would declare war upon Dularn!!! ***************************************************************** Maris, Queen of Dularn gently moistened the lips of the wom- an she had once tried to kill in battle. Lorraine yet lived, but would she recover? The bullet had narrowly missed her heart, the beautiful blonde Dularnian knew, but her injuries were serious!!! It would be dawn in a few hours, the start of a new day. There had been no reports of the Imperial ships since they had sailed back down the strait towards the ocean. Perhaps they were re- turning to Sarn. To notify Darlanis of what had happened here!* * The capitol of Dularn occupies the same area as the present city of Victoria on the island of Vancouver. The "disputed ter- ritories" over which this "war" was forth consisted of an area of territory from from Cape Flattery down to Grays Harbor and east to Olympia. This area was considered "Dularnian" by Queen Maris, but was considered a part of the Empire of California by Empress Darlanis. A "study" of a map of the area is quite "interesting". "Lorraine, you must live!" Maris wept, the tears rolling down her cheeks. She had at one time hated this woman, but now? "Oh Lys, give me her life, forgive my sinful ways!" Maris prayed, her face buried in her hands. Suddenly she felt the touch of a hand and looked into the dark eyes of La-ra, her Neva- da slave girl. The girl's eyes "understanding" as she nodded. "You are good mistress," La-ra said, "Whatever they say." ***************************************************************** I was aware of pain, of difficulty breathing, of soft whis- pers beside me. Of two women speaking, one in the accents of Du- larn, the other in the accents of a woman of the Nevadas. The memories flooding back. Of Darl Jord and his pistol. Of Maris wild-eyed plunging her dagger into his black heart. Of her face looking down into mine as I tried to speak. Of Janice holding my head as I had slumped there to the cobblestones of the courtyard there before the harbor. Then only "nothingness" as I lost con- sciousness. I could see Queen Maris, the gold of her hair, a dark haired collared slave girl speaking to her in soft whispers. "Janice!" I tried to gasp, only a croak escaping my lips! "Lorraine!" Maris gasped, going to her knees beside me! "Janice, where is Janice?" I whispered, my mouth so dry. "Here, drink," Maris breathed, pressing a cup to my lips. "Not your fault," I gasped, "Not your fault." I wanted her to know that. The fact that Darl Jord had possessed a pistol was only a further proof of his involvement with the infamous Tara! "The ships are gone, as is your captain," Maris said to me. "I think they believed you dead," Maris then quickly informed me. "Be `bad' if they go to Darlanis," I whispered, fighting to stay conscious, to keep my thoughts from wandering off in every which direction. I wondered just what Princess Sela would do! I had a pretty good idea now of the extent of my injuries. Maris' doctor had at least been "competent" at her craft, I thought. I wondered if Maris had called in any of the Priestesses of Lys. "Is there anything I can do?" Maris asked, her eyes glowing into mine. I told her I didn't think so. I wondered why Janice had gone running back off to the ships after Darl Jord shot me! Why she didn't at least stick around long enough to see if I was actually dead or not! The thought going through my mind that she probably had "thought" as did most people of this era that anyone shot with a gun died instantly of the bullet! That explained it! "Wish Darlanis had agreed to my suggestion," I breathed, the exhaustion such now that I could feel myself "losing it" again. "Rest now, Lorraine," Maris said to me, stroking my fore- head. I tried to tell her that she'd make a good nurse, but that was just too much for me then as the "darkness" came flooding back and I drifted off into a deep slumber almost like a coma! "Your prayers have been answered, mistress," La-ra said. "At least she knows the `truth'," Maris answered back. "Lys has been `merciful'," La-ra replied softly. |
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