"2569-03" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 7 - The Dularnian Queen)2569 A.D.! THE DULARNIAN QUEEN AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Three "I wonder if the `Simmons' will ever `return'," Sharon said to me as we walked the few yards to my palace overlooking the harbor. Her blue eyes meeting mine as I nodded in the negative. The ornate swords we both carried only a "part" of our own dress. Mine is a highly decorated weapon that has been worn by Queens of Dularn for generations, all the way back to Queen Denise herself! "We found their last remains yesterday in a tomb perhaps a mile from the city," I answered, seeing Sharon nod, her eyes now meeting mine. They had "returned" despite Tais' betrayal of the promise she'd made to them. I know its not her fault, but that was the way that I looked at it just then. It had effected me a lot emotionally, perhaps because of the "means" that they "used"! The "implications" of their actions leaving no doubts of it now!* * Bob told me one time that he didn't believe either he or Carol actually "belonged" in our time, but I rather tend to doubt this. On the other hand I think they were "used" by Tais for her own purposes as First Priestess as a means to "counter" Lorraine (MM) "They `believed' in the same things you and I do," she said, "Not in the sort of ideals that Lorraine and Darlanis do," Sharon added then, her eyes meeting mine, it being well known that Dar- lanis privately considered herself to be the "reincarnation" of Janet Rogers while Lorraine herself had once been Janet Rogers' "mentor" back there in the 20th Century as she herself relates. The guardswomen on duty coming to "attention" as we passed them, such women commonly being of the Caste of Warrioresses, "profes- sional fighting women" in a way that was rarely known in earlier eras. It is not a matter of "skill", but more one of "attitude". As Bob once said, "There are no `dangerous weapons', only `dan- gerous people'." I tend to think that he was right on this too! "Darlanis believes that what she does is `good'," I smiled. Just what Lorraine felt about her own "activities" was something perhaps similar, although I think Lorraine is too much in "love" with making weapons, and thinking up new ways of killing people. Were it not for the Priestesses of Lys I have no doubt that by now Lorraine would be building up a fleet of steel armored bat- tleships with heavy guns capable of firing highly explosive shot. She has in the past manufactured explosives, and attempted at one time to use the Tarls of Talon as an "air force" against my own country. I suspected that Sharon had a "story" to tell me, one that I had some suspicion here that I might not want to "hear" just now! This "visit" of hers to me made me "wonder" just a bit what was going on in Orgon? And Sharon seemed to be scared of something! Could she have started "something" with Darlanis now? "So did Janet Rogers even when she was sending people to her `Corrective Labor Camps'," the Queen of Orgon smiled back at me. Our footsteps echoing on the marble floors as our own retinues followed us. The paintings there on the walls a part of Dularn's history dating back centuries now to when the island was settled. The Queens and their Prince Consorts right back to Queen Denise. "One never thinks of one's own `actions' as `evil'," I said. Dularn has had Queens in its past who "were", but who certainly didn't "believe" that they were. Only a woman may sit on the throne of Dularn, for reasons that have little bearing on things. There is too much "worship" of Janet Rogers, at least in my eyes. The woman was at best only a very intelligent "dictator", I feel! "Another" like the present Queen of Trelandar with the ability to control the minds of those who she ruled by electronic hypnosis. "Darlanis listens to Lorraine too much," Sharon spoke then, hinting at "things" that I had "suspected", but had not known of. On the other hand Darlanis is an "ambitious" woman "dangerous" to those who live in nations bordering the Empire of California now. Said "empire" having "grown" thanks to her marriage to Prince Serak of the Nevadas, who almost "worshiped" that big blonde... The marriage of Lorraine's foster daughter Gayle, my sister, to the Prince of Talon no doubt had been politically "valuable" too. "She has her `reasons'," I answered, well aware of this too. Our retinues now moving off, the serving maids busy as they got people settled, saw that proper "protocol" was observed here now. There would have to be a "state dinner", everything else that we would have to "have" now that Sharon had come to "visit" Dularn. "I wonder if Man will ever be `free' again," Sharon said, standing there by the window, looking out at her ship floating in the harbor, the sails now furled on the yards, the crew no doubt hoping to visit the "fleshpots" and Arsana's dockside "dives"... No doubt the "hip swingers" would be delighted with lusty sailors and their silver coins, while the inn keepers would get their own share and drunken seamen would be a "problem" for the city's own guardsmen to deal with. The North Star, her yards bare of sails, a near sister to the ship that Sharon had used to come here now. "The Lorr no longer `control' us," I pointed out to her. "The Priestesses are little `better'," Sharon answered. "They are `what' they `are'," I answered thoughtfully. "Some of my stepmother's `handiwork'," Sharon answered. "She `meant well'," I answered, knowing that of Lorraine. "`The road to hell is paved with good intentions'," Sharon smiled back, the words making me "think" for just a minute here. Such Twentieth Century "sayings" were "alien" to one of this era. I had no doubts either that Sharon would eventually get around to telling me just "why" she'd come to "visit" me as she had here... "I suppose it is `true'," I smiled back at the young Queen. "I think I `trust' you more than I `do' anyone else," she said. Her words for a moment rather taking me "all aback" as the sailors say. "You're not `ambitious' like Darlanis, and you don't `glory' in war like my step mother seems to," Sharon added. The truth that Lorraine was the Warlady of California made sense. Darlanis' "pit bull", some people called the Queen of Trelandar. "I'm `content' with what I `have'," I answered, not knowing what else to "say" just then. I did like Sharon a lot, almost as if she was a younger sister, the two of us more "alike" in some ways than even Gayle and I had been. Both Sharon and I came from "broken" homes, with step mothers that could never take the place of the mothers that we'd known. My mother had died when I was a young girl, while Sharon's had become a drunken sot from the emo- tional abuse that her father had heaped upon during the marriage. "I `admire' Lorraine, but she's not `someone' who `under- stands'," Sharon spoke, standing there by the window looking out. "And Darlanis `expects' of me `things' I cannot ever give her..." "You are learning that a `crown' has its `price'," I said. "I feel a `responsibility' towards my people," Sharon spoke, turning, facing me. "And Darlanis doesn't `see' it that way... She feels that I've `insulted' her," Sharon suddenly blurted out! "I see," I smiled. A guardswoman suddenly bursting in then before I could question Sharon further on this! The captain of my guards, Tori Wells, her ornate helmet leaving no doubts then!* * Bob Simmons used to "tease" her, calling her "Torrid Tori". I know the "story" behind this, but it has little bearing here as her 20th Century "namesake" has been dead for centuries! (M.M.) "Your Majesty! There Is A Ship!" Tori "gasped", breathing hard, obviously rather "excited" about things here! "An Imperial Steam Frigate!" Sharon going pale, seeming to cower at the news! "Darlanis!" Sharon whimpered, there obviously being "more" to this than what I'd thought! My captain now "staring" at the Queen of Orgon, then at me, her eyes showing her "feelings" here! Political relations between the Empire of California and the Du- larnian Federation were "touchy" to say the best, especially now! Last year Bob Simmons, sailing under Freydis' flag, had sunk or damaged a number of Imperial warships assisting Queen Valeris... "We will `greet' the Empress as protocol requires," I said. I had no idea of "what" was going on here, but Sharon had come to me, and I would stand behind her now regardless of what happened! My officer then leaving to carry out my orders as Sharon stood there looking at me, much like some child expecting a "spanking"! "Darlanis was `pursuing' you, wasn't she?" I said to Sharon, the young woman nodding, the look of a "child" there in her eyes. "My ship is `faster' than hers...," Sharon breathed softly. The heavy Imperial first rates with their armor plate and square rigging weren't noted for speed, while Sharon's ship was of a de- sign that approached perfection for a fore and aft rigged vessel. She also had one of the latest steam engines for auxiliary power. "I think I deserve to be told the `truth' here," I snapped. I could see smoke from the palace window, black smoke, the sort of smoke released by only a coal burning Imperial steam frigate!! "There is a group in Orgon who wants me to declare our `in- dependence' of the Empire like Lorraine has with Trelandar," the young Queen spoke, standing there at my side as I watched the black coal smoke rising up in the distance beyond the city walls. Darlanis had been forced to "accept" Trelandar's "independence", but she wasn't likely to "accept" the same in the case of Orgon! "Which doubtlessly didn't `meet' with Darlanis' approval," I smiled, well aware from the reports I'd received of "conditions" in Orgon. I wasn't "behind" any of this, but I had no doubt that Darlanis would consider this just another "example" of "Dularnian `interference'" in the "internal affairs" of Imperial California! "There was an `incident'," Sharon continued, her eyes meet- ing mine as I nodded. Darlanis sometimes "ventured" where even Priestesses feared to "tread" or so the saying goes now a days... "Darlanis got pelted with rotten eggs while giving a speech," the Queen of Orgon said, the "smile" on my own face something to see! "It `happens' to the `best' of us at times," I laughed back, the "laugh" a bit forced as I knew the "seriousness" of this too! Darlanis was the ruler of California, and any "attack" on her was something extremely serious. The sort of a thing that could have serious repercussions! Fortunately Darlanis wasn't the type to order people "executed" for such things, but I had no doubt that she'd been furious that any one would pelt her with rotten eggs! "Darlanis' people got hold of the teenagers `responsible'," Sharon continued, "And she `ordered' them all enslaved for LIFE!" "This isn't the 20th Century," I said, well aware that such a "crime" didn't really justify "that", but I supposed if I'd been "pelted" with rotten eggs I'd be pretty "pissed off" too... Punishment here in this era tends to be far more "strict" than it was back in Sharon's time, when even hardened criminals "got off" with hardly any "punishment" at all by our own "standards" today! "I ordered my guards to take the children from Darlanis'," Sharon spoke, "Telling her that I would not allow such a thing!" The look of "awe" on my face at "this" I assure you was genuine! What Darlanis must have "thought" of all this was quite obvious!! "Where are these `children' now?" I asked, fighting to keep my voice level at this "news". I had no "doubt" that Sharon did not understand the "insult" she'd done to Darlanis by doing this! I could only pray that I could "resolve" this without bloodshed!! "Aboard the `Astarte'," Sharon replied, that being her ship. 2569 A.D.! THE DULARNIAN QUEEN AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Three "I wonder if the `Simmons' will ever `return'," Sharon said to me as we walked the few yards to my palace overlooking the harbor. Her blue eyes meeting mine as I nodded in the negative. The ornate swords we both carried only a "part" of our own dress. Mine is a highly decorated weapon that has been worn by Queens of Dularn for generations, all the way back to Queen Denise herself! "We found their last remains yesterday in a tomb perhaps a mile from the city," I answered, seeing Sharon nod, her eyes now meeting mine. They had "returned" despite Tais' betrayal of the promise she'd made to them. I know its not her fault, but that was the way that I looked at it just then. It had effected me a lot emotionally, perhaps because of the "means" that they "used"! The "implications" of their actions leaving no doubts of it now!* * Bob told me one time that he didn't believe either he or Carol actually "belonged" in our time, but I rather tend to doubt this. On the other hand I think they were "used" by Tais for her own purposes as First Priestess as a means to "counter" Lorraine (MM) "They `believed' in the same things you and I do," she said, "Not in the sort of ideals that Lorraine and Darlanis do," Sharon added then, her eyes meeting mine, it being well known that Dar- lanis privately considered herself to be the "reincarnation" of Janet Rogers while Lorraine herself had once been Janet Rogers' "mentor" back there in the 20th Century as she herself relates. The guardswomen on duty coming to "attention" as we passed them, such women commonly being of the Caste of Warrioresses, "profes- sional fighting women" in a way that was rarely known in earlier eras. It is not a matter of "skill", but more one of "attitude". As Bob once said, "There are no `dangerous weapons', only `dan- gerous people'." I tend to think that he was right on this too! "Darlanis believes that what she does is `good'," I smiled. Just what Lorraine felt about her own "activities" was something perhaps similar, although I think Lorraine is too much in "love" with making weapons, and thinking up new ways of killing people. Were it not for the Priestesses of Lys I have no doubt that by now Lorraine would be building up a fleet of steel armored bat- tleships with heavy guns capable of firing highly explosive shot. She has in the past manufactured explosives, and attempted at one time to use the Tarls of Talon as an "air force" against my own country. I suspected that Sharon had a "story" to tell me, one that I had some suspicion here that I might not want to "hear" just now! This "visit" of hers to me made me "wonder" just a bit what was going on in Orgon? And Sharon seemed to be scared of something! Could she have started "something" with Darlanis now? "So did Janet Rogers even when she was sending people to her `Corrective Labor Camps'," the Queen of Orgon smiled back at me. Our footsteps echoing on the marble floors as our own retinues followed us. The paintings there on the walls a part of Dularn's history dating back centuries now to when the island was settled. The Queens and their Prince Consorts right back to Queen Denise. "One never thinks of one's own `actions' as `evil'," I said. Dularn has had Queens in its past who "were", but who certainly didn't "believe" that they were. Only a woman may sit on the throne of Dularn, for reasons that have little bearing on things. There is too much "worship" of Janet Rogers, at least in my eyes. The woman was at best only a very intelligent "dictator", I feel! "Another" like the present Queen of Trelandar with the ability to control the minds of those who she ruled by electronic hypnosis. "Darlanis listens to Lorraine too much," Sharon spoke then, hinting at "things" that I had "suspected", but had not known of. On the other hand Darlanis is an "ambitious" woman "dangerous" to those who live in nations bordering the Empire of California now. Said "empire" having "grown" thanks to her marriage to Prince Serak of the Nevadas, who almost "worshiped" that big blonde... The marriage of Lorraine's foster daughter Gayle, my sister, to the Prince of Talon no doubt had been politically "valuable" too. "She has her `reasons'," I answered, well aware of this too. Our retinues now moving off, the serving maids busy as they got people settled, saw that proper "protocol" was observed here now. There would have to be a "state dinner", everything else that we would have to "have" now that Sharon had come to "visit" Dularn. "I wonder if Man will ever be `free' again," Sharon said, standing there by the window, looking out at her ship floating in the harbor, the sails now furled on the yards, the crew no doubt hoping to visit the "fleshpots" and Arsana's dockside "dives"... No doubt the "hip swingers" would be delighted with lusty sailors and their silver coins, while the inn keepers would get their own share and drunken seamen would be a "problem" for the city's own guardsmen to deal with. The North Star, her yards bare of sails, a near sister to the ship that Sharon had used to come here now. "The Lorr no longer `control' us," I pointed out to her. "The Priestesses are little `better'," Sharon answered. "They are `what' they `are'," I answered thoughtfully. "Some of my stepmother's `handiwork'," Sharon answered. "She `meant well'," I answered, knowing that of Lorraine. "`The road to hell is paved with good intentions'," Sharon smiled back, the words making me "think" for just a minute here. Such Twentieth Century "sayings" were "alien" to one of this era. I had no doubts either that Sharon would eventually get around to telling me just "why" she'd come to "visit" me as she had here... "I suppose it is `true'," I smiled back at the young Queen. "I think I `trust' you more than I `do' anyone else," she said. Her words for a moment rather taking me "all aback" as the sailors say. "You're not `ambitious' like Darlanis, and you don't `glory' in war like my step mother seems to," Sharon added. The truth that Lorraine was the Warlady of California made sense. Darlanis' "pit bull", some people called the Queen of Trelandar. "I'm `content' with what I `have'," I answered, not knowing what else to "say" just then. I did like Sharon a lot, almost as if she was a younger sister, the two of us more "alike" in some ways than even Gayle and I had been. Both Sharon and I came from "broken" homes, with step mothers that could never take the place of the mothers that we'd known. My mother had died when I was a young girl, while Sharon's had become a drunken sot from the emo- tional abuse that her father had heaped upon during the marriage. "I `admire' Lorraine, but she's not `someone' who `under- stands'," Sharon spoke, standing there by the window looking out. "And Darlanis `expects' of me `things' I cannot ever give her..." "You are learning that a `crown' has its `price'," I said. "I feel a `responsibility' towards my people," Sharon spoke, turning, facing me. "And Darlanis doesn't `see' it that way... She feels that I've `insulted' her," Sharon suddenly blurted out! "I see," I smiled. A guardswoman suddenly bursting in then before I could question Sharon further on this! The captain of my guards, Tori Wells, her ornate helmet leaving no doubts then!* * Bob Simmons used to "tease" her, calling her "Torrid Tori". I know the "story" behind this, but it has little bearing here as her 20th Century "namesake" has been dead for centuries! (M.M.) "Your Majesty! There Is A Ship!" Tori "gasped", breathing hard, obviously rather "excited" about things here! "An Imperial Steam Frigate!" Sharon going pale, seeming to cower at the news! "Darlanis!" Sharon whimpered, there obviously being "more" to this than what I'd thought! My captain now "staring" at the Queen of Orgon, then at me, her eyes showing her "feelings" here! Political relations between the Empire of California and the Du- larnian Federation were "touchy" to say the best, especially now! Last year Bob Simmons, sailing under Freydis' flag, had sunk or damaged a number of Imperial warships assisting Queen Valeris... "We will `greet' the Empress as protocol requires," I said. I had no idea of "what" was going on here, but Sharon had come to me, and I would stand behind her now regardless of what happened! My officer then leaving to carry out my orders as Sharon stood there looking at me, much like some child expecting a "spanking"! "Darlanis was `pursuing' you, wasn't she?" I said to Sharon, the young woman nodding, the look of a "child" there in her eyes. "My ship is `faster' than hers...," Sharon breathed softly. The heavy Imperial first rates with their armor plate and square rigging weren't noted for speed, while Sharon's ship was of a de- sign that approached perfection for a fore and aft rigged vessel. She also had one of the latest steam engines for auxiliary power. "I think I deserve to be told the `truth' here," I snapped. I could see smoke from the palace window, black smoke, the sort of smoke released by only a coal burning Imperial steam frigate!! "There is a group in Orgon who wants me to declare our `in- dependence' of the Empire like Lorraine has with Trelandar," the young Queen spoke, standing there at my side as I watched the black coal smoke rising up in the distance beyond the city walls. Darlanis had been forced to "accept" Trelandar's "independence", but she wasn't likely to "accept" the same in the case of Orgon! "Which doubtlessly didn't `meet' with Darlanis' approval," I smiled, well aware from the reports I'd received of "conditions" in Orgon. I wasn't "behind" any of this, but I had no doubt that Darlanis would consider this just another "example" of "Dularnian `interference'" in the "internal affairs" of Imperial California! "There was an `incident'," Sharon continued, her eyes meet- ing mine as I nodded. Darlanis sometimes "ventured" where even Priestesses feared to "tread" or so the saying goes now a days... "Darlanis got pelted with rotten eggs while giving a speech," the Queen of Orgon said, the "smile" on my own face something to see! "It `happens' to the `best' of us at times," I laughed back, the "laugh" a bit forced as I knew the "seriousness" of this too! Darlanis was the ruler of California, and any "attack" on her was something extremely serious. The sort of a thing that could have serious repercussions! Fortunately Darlanis wasn't the type to order people "executed" for such things, but I had no doubt that she'd been furious that any one would pelt her with rotten eggs! "Darlanis' people got hold of the teenagers `responsible'," Sharon continued, "And she `ordered' them all enslaved for LIFE!" "This isn't the 20th Century," I said, well aware that such a "crime" didn't really justify "that", but I supposed if I'd been "pelted" with rotten eggs I'd be pretty "pissed off" too... Punishment here in this era tends to be far more "strict" than it was back in Sharon's time, when even hardened criminals "got off" with hardly any "punishment" at all by our own "standards" today! "I ordered my guards to take the children from Darlanis'," Sharon spoke, "Telling her that I would not allow such a thing!" The look of "awe" on my face at "this" I assure you was genuine! What Darlanis must have "thought" of all this was quite obvious!! "Where are these `children' now?" I asked, fighting to keep my voice level at this "news". I had no "doubt" that Sharon did not understand the "insult" she'd done to Darlanis by doing this! I could only pray that I could "resolve" this without bloodshed!! "Aboard the `Astarte'," Sharon replied, that being her ship. |
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