"2568-29" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 6 - In Harms Way)"IN HARM'S WAY" AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Robert J. Simmons Chapter Twenty Nine "No man has ever beaten me in swordplay," Queen Freydis sud- denly said, stepping down from her throne. She was six feet in her boots, a big burly Amazon of a woman, a true "Viking Queen". I suspected that she wanted to "prove" something here with me. I saw some of the men standing there watching grin at each other. If anyone was to ever make a movie about Vikings, they would have made great "extras", especially with their own swords and attire. "You wish to cross blades with me?" I smiled back, undoing my ornate uniform coat, handing it to the awed midshipman stand- ing behind me. A lot of the women of this time have inflated opinions of their own abilities. There are, so far as I know, only three that are better than me, and I'm married to one of them. One of the other two was aboard the Diana waiting for us. "You have implied that I am `incompetent'," she answered. I supposed that you could have taken my earlier words that way. "That can happen to the `best' of us at times," I said. "I will not hurt you very much," she smiled back at me. "I am pleased by that information," I smiled in reply. "You may draw," she said then, drawing her own blade. "As you wish," I said, smiling at her daughter then. "I am ready," she said, standing there before me. "Ladies first," I smiled, holding my blade ready. "Defend yourself," she laughed, swinging up her sword. "I have," I said, my point at the side of her neck. It had been a simple move, although one seldom used or understood here. I had once done the same to Lady Tirana, the Warlady of Trelandar just last year. It is a simple enough "trick" if you have skill. I had merely stepped inside her guard, and caught her forearm on my own. Apparently few people of this time understand it either. It is similar in a way to knife fighting techniques as taught by my old D.I. when I was a new recruit in the U.S. Marines back in the 20th Century. The long heavy sword as used by those to the north of Dularn is not really as "effective" a weapon as thought. It is actually too "long" and "heavy" for really close in combat. "You may have me if you wish," Queen Freydis said then, her gray eyes wide with surprise and something else that made me glad that Carol wasn't around to see, my wife being extremely jealous. "I fear my wife would not approve and her skill with a sword exceeds mine," I smiled, sheathing my own weapon as she nodded... "You are a mighty Warrior," she spoke, sheathing her blade. "I am Darlanis Marden, Empress of California," Darlanis said to Queen Freydis, the two a "study" in "contrasts". The Empress in her golden mesh, Freydis in her short leather skirt and leg- gings that are often worn by the "Northman" woman in this land. I might note here that Darlanis still used the last name of "Mar- den" even though she was married to Prince Serak of the Nevadas. She once told me that she did so for "political" reasons, which I suggest the reader accept, as she didn't go any further into it. "Queen Freydis Thorson," Freydis answered, stepping up on to the metal surfaced inside deck of the Diana, regarding Darlanis with that "look" that one warrior woman gives another if she's not at all sure that she's too "friendly". Freydis was also of course well aware that Darlanis was the "source" of her problems. That without the "support" of the Empire Queen Valeris would not be the "threat" that she was to everyone here in western Canada.* * I had "discussed" this matter with Queen Maris shortly before I sailed on the Diana. Maris being of the "opinion" (true as it turned out) that Darlanis was trying to "isolate" Dularn by sur- rounding it with hostile nations, thus leaving us "ripe" for the "pucking" when the Imperials no longer had Mexico to worry about. Darlanis does have a good head on her shoulders, even if she is not really that great as a military commander. Her "tactics" may be lacking at times, but she takes a "long range" view of things. "You have steam up, captain?" I asked, Freydis looking about in awe. I wouldn't have wanted to take her on in a hand to hand. She had shoulders on her like a man, and muscles to match too along with an "odor" that spoke of too infrequent baths, I noted. "As you ordered, sir," Sandra smiled, grinning at Freydis. "She is captain of this vessel of yours?" Freydis asked. "I am, your majesty," Sandra "smiled", and nodding to me. "Your Queen isn't like Valeris, is she?" Freydis asked me. "We believe in `equality', of `earning' one's way," I said. "Equality of the sexes is something assured under our laws," Darlanis spoke, standing there watching, smiling to herself now. She had promised Freydis that she would "call off" Valeris in re- turn for Freydis' "support" in the Empire's war against Mexico. I had no doubts that Freydis understood the "implications" here. On the other hand the "fact" that the Diana was "Dularnian" also counted for something here, Freydis being well aware that our new "battleship" was superior to anything that the Empire had at sea! "She fights a very `fluid' sort of warfare," Freydis said to me, taking a goblet of wine from Kathi, who had a hard time keep- ing from staring openly at this golden haired "barbarian queen". "Her forces will never stand and fight, but merely `flow' around any fixed defense, which they then attack from the rear or engage in a sort of constant `skirmish' against which there is yet no effective defense." She may have been a "barbarian", unable to read or write, but Freydis was a quite capable competent monarch! The steady "thud-thud" of the triple engines at three quarters a sound that was hardly "noticeable" any more after all this time as we came back out to sea to meet up with the rest of the ships. "Looks like old Hara knows what she's doing," I smiled back. Hara Eslund had been the head of the Warrioress Academy there in Trelandar before their "revolution". She was a good friend of Lorraine, and well acquainted no doubt with Lady Tirana Greyson. The military "tactics" on the other hand reminded me of Carol's! "Valeris is a smart woman, a `warrioress'," Darlanis smiled, her azure eyes glowing into the steel gray of Queen Freydis'... "One who has learned the advantages of `association' with the one civilization that still believes in the ideals of Janet Rogers."* * Last year Darlanis had spoken much the same way in her campaign to convince the people of Dularn's "southern territories" that they would be better off under the rule of Queen Sharon of Orgon. Darlanis is a very "popular" monarch, even although "life" under her rule is not as "free" as one might wish it to be, mainly due to the fact that Darlanis herself has a hard time "understanding" these sort of things. A problem "compounded" by the fact that Queen Sharon herself is a "liberal" in the late 20th Century way. Lorraine is more a "conservative" by the same standard, although she herself has little actual "effect" upon Darlanis' "politics". The "revolution" mentioned in Lorraine's first book was more to "reestablish" Darlanis' rule over California than anything else. It has been noted by some however that there is more "freedom" in Trelandar than in the rest of the Empire in the sense of there being less "restriction" of business and so forth. Sarn and Ta- lon (Queen Dai is quite "liberal") are thus in a way quite like the United States of the last decade of the Twentieth Century. I suspect too that Darlanis' own political viewpoint is colored by the fact that she considers herself to be following in the "foot- steps" of Janet Rogers, who is of course now almost "worshiped" by many people still despite the fact that she was more a benevo- lent dictator than any actual "champion of freedom" as such... "She is a vicious bitch `driven' by hatred of men," Freydis answered. "One who `you' have exploited for your own purposes." Freydis obviously being the sort who spoke what was in her heart. I had to cover my face to hide from Darlanis the "smile" that her words brought forth, even Kathi turning away, giggling a bit now! "My intention was to rid the area of the pirates who have infested it for centuries," Darlanis replied in cold level tones. "While at the same time seeking whatever political advantage you could obtain from your relationship with her," I pointed out. I was strongly tempted just then to point out that the only "dif- ference" between her and Princess Tara was the fact that she was "blonde" and Tara "brunette". Darlanis is an extremely "ambi- tious" woman, one who believes she was destined to rule "all". She is a very "nice" person (the same was true of Janet Rogers), but one who believes that everything she does is "RIGHT". In this respect she reminds me of "TRUE BELIEVERS" and "BORN AGAINS" of my own era, who held that they were "right" and everyone else was wrong. Such "issues", of course, can be "decided" only on the battlefield. "And just how far `south' did you plan to allow Queen Valeris to `ride'?" I then challenged the golden Empress... "You are a `Dularnian'," Darlanis answered, not pleasantly. "We hold to the ideals of George Washington, Thomas Jeffer- son, Tom Paine, those who founded the United States of America. People who believed in `freedom', and who were willing to fight and if necessary die for it. Those who believed in their hearts that `government' should be the `servant' of Man, not its `mas- ter' like the `woman' whose `ideals' you apparently believe in." "I have `heard' of such things," Queen Freydis breathed, her eyes holding the now blazing hot azure of Darlanis'. I was well aware of the fact that I was not a match for Darlanis in a duel, and the Empress was just about "mad" enough to go "challenge" me! "You have a `choice'," Darlanis snapped to Freydis, standing up, the rapid rise and fall of her breast leaving no doubts as to the emotions she felt burning through her body. "You can either decide to support me or watch your country be destroyed, turned into a lifeless wasteland as a memorial to your own stupidity." "There is only one `decision' for a woman of honor to make," Freydis snapped back, standing up, facing the Empress of Califor- nia. I told Kathi then to have signals made to Sarnian Queen, that the Empress was leaving us for her own ship. Once again I feared that there might be warfare between Dularn and the Empire. "IN HARM'S WAY" AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Robert J. Simmons Chapter Twenty Nine "No man has ever beaten me in swordplay," Queen Freydis sud- denly said, stepping down from her throne. She was six feet in her boots, a big burly Amazon of a woman, a true "Viking Queen". I suspected that she wanted to "prove" something here with me. I saw some of the men standing there watching grin at each other. If anyone was to ever make a movie about Vikings, they would have made great "extras", especially with their own swords and attire. "You wish to cross blades with me?" I smiled back, undoing my ornate uniform coat, handing it to the awed midshipman stand- ing behind me. A lot of the women of this time have inflated opinions of their own abilities. There are, so far as I know, only three that are better than me, and I'm married to one of them. One of the other two was aboard the Diana waiting for us. "You have implied that I am `incompetent'," she answered. I supposed that you could have taken my earlier words that way. "That can happen to the `best' of us at times," I said. "I will not hurt you very much," she smiled back at me. "I am pleased by that information," I smiled in reply. "You may draw," she said then, drawing her own blade. "As you wish," I said, smiling at her daughter then. "I am ready," she said, standing there before me. "Ladies first," I smiled, holding my blade ready. "Defend yourself," she laughed, swinging up her sword. "I have," I said, my point at the side of her neck. It had been a simple move, although one seldom used or understood here. I had once done the same to Lady Tirana, the Warlady of Trelandar just last year. It is a simple enough "trick" if you have skill. I had merely stepped inside her guard, and caught her forearm on my own. Apparently few people of this time understand it either. It is similar in a way to knife fighting techniques as taught by my old D.I. when I was a new recruit in the U.S. Marines back in the 20th Century. The long heavy sword as used by those to the north of Dularn is not really as "effective" a weapon as thought. It is actually too "long" and "heavy" for really close in combat. "You may have me if you wish," Queen Freydis said then, her gray eyes wide with surprise and something else that made me glad that Carol wasn't around to see, my wife being extremely jealous. "I fear my wife would not approve and her skill with a sword exceeds mine," I smiled, sheathing my own weapon as she nodded... "You are a mighty Warrior," she spoke, sheathing her blade. "I am Darlanis Marden, Empress of California," Darlanis said to Queen Freydis, the two a "study" in "contrasts". The Empress in her golden mesh, Freydis in her short leather skirt and leg- gings that are often worn by the "Northman" woman in this land. I might note here that Darlanis still used the last name of "Mar- den" even though she was married to Prince Serak of the Nevadas. She once told me that she did so for "political" reasons, which I suggest the reader accept, as she didn't go any further into it. "Queen Freydis Thorson," Freydis answered, stepping up on to the metal surfaced inside deck of the Diana, regarding Darlanis with that "look" that one warrior woman gives another if she's not at all sure that she's too "friendly". Freydis was also of course well aware that Darlanis was the "source" of her problems. That without the "support" of the Empire Queen Valeris would not be the "threat" that she was to everyone here in western Canada.* * I had "discussed" this matter with Queen Maris shortly before I sailed on the Diana. Maris being of the "opinion" (true as it turned out) that Darlanis was trying to "isolate" Dularn by sur- rounding it with hostile nations, thus leaving us "ripe" for the "pucking" when the Imperials no longer had Mexico to worry about. Darlanis does have a good head on her shoulders, even if she is not really that great as a military commander. Her "tactics" may be lacking at times, but she takes a "long range" view of things. "You have steam up, captain?" I asked, Freydis looking about in awe. I wouldn't have wanted to take her on in a hand to hand. She had shoulders on her like a man, and muscles to match too along with an "odor" that spoke of too infrequent baths, I noted. "As you ordered, sir," Sandra smiled, grinning at Freydis. "She is captain of this vessel of yours?" Freydis asked. "I am, your majesty," Sandra "smiled", and nodding to me. "Your Queen isn't like Valeris, is she?" Freydis asked me. "We believe in `equality', of `earning' one's way," I said. "Equality of the sexes is something assured under our laws," Darlanis spoke, standing there watching, smiling to herself now. She had promised Freydis that she would "call off" Valeris in re- turn for Freydis' "support" in the Empire's war against Mexico. I had no doubts that Freydis understood the "implications" here. On the other hand the "fact" that the Diana was "Dularnian" also counted for something here, Freydis being well aware that our new "battleship" was superior to anything that the Empire had at sea! "She fights a very `fluid' sort of warfare," Freydis said to me, taking a goblet of wine from Kathi, who had a hard time keep- ing from staring openly at this golden haired "barbarian queen". "Her forces will never stand and fight, but merely `flow' around any fixed defense, which they then attack from the rear or engage in a sort of constant `skirmish' against which there is yet no effective defense." She may have been a "barbarian", unable to read or write, but Freydis was a quite capable competent monarch! The steady "thud-thud" of the triple engines at three quarters a sound that was hardly "noticeable" any more after all this time as we came back out to sea to meet up with the rest of the ships. "Looks like old Hara knows what she's doing," I smiled back. Hara Eslund had been the head of the Warrioress Academy there in Trelandar before their "revolution". She was a good friend of Lorraine, and well acquainted no doubt with Lady Tirana Greyson. The military "tactics" on the other hand reminded me of Carol's! "Valeris is a smart woman, a `warrioress'," Darlanis smiled, her azure eyes glowing into the steel gray of Queen Freydis'... "One who has learned the advantages of `association' with the one civilization that still believes in the ideals of Janet Rogers."* * Last year Darlanis had spoken much the same way in her campaign to convince the people of Dularn's "southern territories" that they would be better off under the rule of Queen Sharon of Orgon. Darlanis is a very "popular" monarch, even although "life" under her rule is not as "free" as one might wish it to be, mainly due to the fact that Darlanis herself has a hard time "understanding" these sort of things. A problem "compounded" by the fact that Queen Sharon herself is a "liberal" in the late 20th Century way. Lorraine is more a "conservative" by the same standard, although she herself has little actual "effect" upon Darlanis' "politics". The "revolution" mentioned in Lorraine's first book was more to "reestablish" Darlanis' rule over California than anything else. It has been noted by some however that there is more "freedom" in Trelandar than in the rest of the Empire in the sense of there being less "restriction" of business and so forth. Sarn and Ta- lon (Queen Dai is quite "liberal") are thus in a way quite like the United States of the last decade of the Twentieth Century. I suspect too that Darlanis' own political viewpoint is colored by the fact that she considers herself to be following in the "foot- steps" of Janet Rogers, who is of course now almost "worshiped" by many people still despite the fact that she was more a benevo- lent dictator than any actual "champion of freedom" as such... "She is a vicious bitch `driven' by hatred of men," Freydis answered. "One who `you' have exploited for your own purposes." Freydis obviously being the sort who spoke what was in her heart. I had to cover my face to hide from Darlanis the "smile" that her words brought forth, even Kathi turning away, giggling a bit now! "My intention was to rid the area of the pirates who have infested it for centuries," Darlanis replied in cold level tones. "While at the same time seeking whatever political advantage you could obtain from your relationship with her," I pointed out. I was strongly tempted just then to point out that the only "dif- ference" between her and Princess Tara was the fact that she was "blonde" and Tara "brunette". Darlanis is an extremely "ambi- tious" woman, one who believes she was destined to rule "all". She is a very "nice" person (the same was true of Janet Rogers), but one who believes that everything she does is "RIGHT". In this respect she reminds me of "TRUE BELIEVERS" and "BORN AGAINS" of my own era, who held that they were "right" and everyone else was wrong. Such "issues", of course, can be "decided" only on the battlefield. "And just how far `south' did you plan to allow Queen Valeris to `ride'?" I then challenged the golden Empress... "You are a `Dularnian'," Darlanis answered, not pleasantly. "We hold to the ideals of George Washington, Thomas Jeffer- son, Tom Paine, those who founded the United States of America. People who believed in `freedom', and who were willing to fight and if necessary die for it. Those who believed in their hearts that `government' should be the `servant' of Man, not its `mas- ter' like the `woman' whose `ideals' you apparently believe in." "I have `heard' of such things," Queen Freydis breathed, her eyes holding the now blazing hot azure of Darlanis'. I was well aware of the fact that I was not a match for Darlanis in a duel, and the Empress was just about "mad" enough to go "challenge" me! "You have a `choice'," Darlanis snapped to Freydis, standing up, the rapid rise and fall of her breast leaving no doubts as to the emotions she felt burning through her body. "You can either decide to support me or watch your country be destroyed, turned into a lifeless wasteland as a memorial to your own stupidity." "There is only one `decision' for a woman of honor to make," Freydis snapped back, standing up, facing the Empress of Califor- nia. I told Kathi then to have signals made to Sarnian Queen, that the Empress was leaving us for her own ship. Once again I feared that there might be warfare between Dularn and the Empire. |
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