"2569-06" - 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 Six "Your majesty," captain Tori Wells said to me as she stood to go, "I think I `learned' something today I never knew before." "And `what' was `that'?" I smiled, wondering where Kathi was now with my dinner, the sun having set well over an hour ago. I had no doubt that Tori was tired after the events of the day, and perhaps well aware as I was that we had witnessed things today we would no doubt never see again in our lives. Things that I also suspected too that Tori and I would have to "keep" to ourselves. I wondered too now why I was so afraid of the "dark", of entering areas of the palace that weren't brightly lit. I had felt an ac- tual "terror" of the dark hidden places there beneath my palace! I had thought of speaking to Tori of these things, but dared not. I knew she would not make "fun" of me, but yet I would lose re- spect in her eyes, and her respect for me was a precious thing... To speak to her of "ghosts", of things "felt" but not seen, would only make her believe that perhaps her Queen was going insane! I should mention here that Queen Tulis did to a certain degree near the end of her life, when her brain tumor took "control" of her! She eventually killed herself at the end, dying in the arms of a woman who had once been her "daughter" before being "disowned"... "The `depth' of a mother's love for her children," she an- swered, her words coming as a bit of a "puzzle" to me just then. "Sharon is not Darlanis' `daughter'," I pointed out to her, although I suspect that she knew "that" as it is widely known. I was also more aware of political issues in Orgon than was Tori. Darlanis was close to "losing" Orgon to me, especially if Sharon ever decided to turn completely against Darlanis as she might... That in turn could lead to a "war" against Dularn if Darlanis de- cided to try to hang on now to Orgon by force. The country also could be torn by a civil war that would leave little in its wake, especially as such a civil war would involve both our societies! "I'd better get `going' before my husband decides to `bed' our slave girl and Diane disappears for the next six hours," Tori smiled back, then taking her leave of me. Kathi coming in as soon as she left with a dinner tray for me, La-ra there with her, carrying Hope there in her arms like a lovely little doll. I thought I would have La-ra sleep with me tonight, with orders to awaken me if she heard me now starting to whimper or cry out. Such at least would insure that I didn't suffer through the en- tire nightmare even if I had to endure the beginning parts of it! The thought going unbidden through my mind that at least Tori did have a husband, someone to sleep with at night, to hold her close and stroke her, touching her, the "visions" that passed through my mind then of Tori in the arms of her husband utterly "erotic"! "Another would have `exploited' the situation," Darlanis said to me as we shared a breakfast the next morning, Sharon sit- ting there in bed, watching us, nibbling at her own food, keeping her thoughts to herself. No doubt she was well medicated for the pain, I thought, although I suspected that there would be scars. I did not see either Prince Serak or their slave girl Pussycat. Darlanis has a three year old daughter by the name of Artemis who was "cloned" from one of the Empress' own ovums three years ago. It is believed by Lorraine that this is actually Domino Tremaine, although one can make of these things much as one will here too. "I would not care to play poker with you," I smiled back. "I have `risked much' in my life," the Empress smiled then. "There is `meaning' in what she `did'," Sharon said to me. "You took a `gamble' I wouldn't have `dared'," I told her. "I made a `decision' that could cost me my life," she said. "If my step mother does not `understand'...," Sharon added. Lorraine was the greatest swordswoman of all time, many believed. Darlanis herself was awesome, but no true match for the Warlady. In a sword duel between them it was likely that Lorraine would be the winner. I had seen Lorraine take on Carol Simmons back a couple years ago, a woman whose "skill" with a sword considerably exceeded mine. Not even my famous "Warlady" had stood a chance! And it was possible that Lorraine would kill Darlanis in a duel!! "I suspect you would not have `acted' as I did," Darlanis said to me, getting up, walking to the window, and looking out. Dressed in a woolen robe, her golden hair tousled from sleep, she didn't seem so "impressive" then. Just another "big blonde" like many I've seen here in Dularn. Bob Simmons once said that she looked like a woman called "Shannon Tweed" in the 20th Century. His wife on the other hand said she reminded her of a "soap op- era" actress by the name of Brenda Epperson. One can take this as you wish, although both of them said I looked like Katherine Kelly Lang, another soap opera actress of the Twentieth Century. "I would have never `whipped' a `daughter' as you did," I "answered" her back in level tones, aware that Darlanis no doubt had good reason for what she did here. I wouldn't have "done" what she had either with the three teenagers, although I had un- derstood just "what" she was doing here, as had my friend Tori. "You are a good Queen, a `competent' Queen, I think," Darla- nis said to me, "But you are not truly of royal blood," she then added, turning, regarding me as I sat there at the table finish- ing up my breakfast. "Nor could you govern an Empire like mine." "I believe in the ideals of Thomas Jefferson, not Janet Rog- ers," I answered, the Empress nodding, her eyes meeting my own. "`Minimum government', and a `free enterprise' system," the Empress smiled back. "The Eighteenth Century, the `Age of Rea- son'," Darlanis continued, Sharon sitting there grinning a bit... "When they still believed that Mankind was capable of self gov- ernment," the Empress "concluded", her azure eyes meeting my own. "Not the `technocratic dictatorship' of Janet Rogers," I an- swered back with a "smile" matching hers. If Darlanis wished to discuss political philosophy with me I would be quite happy to oblige her. I had no doubts that our own "system" was superior. Even Lorraine herself has admitted that Dularn stood for the same ideals that the founders of the original United States of America stood for before the politicians turned it into something "else". Janet Rogers was an "improvement" over them, but no more than I feel Darlanis probably has "been" for the peoples of California. "Democratic political systems work well in pre-technological societies," Darlanis answered, walking over, sitting on the bed, looking at Sharon, taking her hand in hers, stroking it a bit. I was well "aware" that Darlanis may have been a beautiful blonde, but she was also no "dumbbell" when it came to things like this! "Our society in the 20th Century was falling apart," Sharon said to me, her eyes so much the color of Darlanis' holding mine. "We `lacked' the `social discipline' that it took Janet Rogers to provide," she continued on, obviously well educated in the histo- ry of the 21st Century after the election of Janet Rogers in the year 2008. "The same social discipline that Darlanis provides." "She `whipped' you yesterday until the blood ran down your body," I said to her, seeing Sharon nod, glance up at Darlanis... "I `challenged' her `authority' as `Empress'," Sharon said. "Such a `challenge' could not be `ignored'," Darlanis added. Darlanis had "acted" as the Empress of California, "meeting" it. I had seen the tears in those azure eyes, understood her "pain". "If Sharon had `asked' for my `protection'...," I "smiled". Darlanis "nodding", glancing down at Sharon, then again up at me. I did not believe that Darlanis would have "won" this time. Du- larn had "allies" now that made us a "match" for the Imperials. "I would have died the death that a Warrioress often dies," Darlanis answered back in level tones. I "understood" much then. The "magnificence" of this woman that so many have spoken of... "You are a `legend' in your own time," I said to her then. "I am `She-Ra'," Darlanis smiled, Sharon nodding at me. "Must be an `odd' marriage," Tori said to me as we walked together out on the quay that overlooks the harbor. The Astarte and the Sarnian Queen floating there at anchor along with half a dozen other vessels, most of them trading schooners of one sort or another. The North Star was setting up her yards, the crew as such still a bit "green", I noticed as I enjoyed the brisk air. "A Nevada and a woman like her?" I smiled, "wondering" a bit myself. The men of the Nevadas view women almost as "property", whereas a woman like Darlanis would likely see a marriage as a relationship between two equals, much as any Dularnian would now. "It's probably just a `political' marriage," Tori grinned. "I don't think so," I answered, recalling things I'd heard. "I hope my daughter does well aboard the North Star," Tori said, changing the "subject" to something more "profitable" to discuss than what Darlanis and her husband "did" together in bed! "She is under `naval discipline' now," I pointed out to her. The sort of `pranks' she'd pulled in Arsana would not be `toler- ated' aboard the ship, something Tori had no doubt warned her of. "I made her read the `rule book'," Tori smiled back. This being a heavy rather "boring" tome detailing the rules and regu- lations governing the operation of warships of the Royal Navy... "I trust you have made preparations for Prince Paul Blue Sky of the Wyomings," I "smiled", the Prince being due here tomorrow. With Darlanis and Sharon here I wanted no "incidents" to happen! All I needed was for Lorraine to show up, and I'd have them all!! "There is a steam ship out in the strait," Tori said to me. "`Problems' come in `threes'," I answered, seeing Tori nod. "Ship is the `Athena', your majesty," Tori said to me as I nodded, well aware that this wasn't a good time for the Queen of Trelandar to be "visiting". Especially not after what Darlanis had done to Sharon! True, Sharon didn't hold it against the Em- press, but there was no telling what Lorraine would think of it!! 2569 A.D.! THE DULARNIAN QUEEN AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Six "Your majesty," captain Tori Wells said to me as she stood to go, "I think I `learned' something today I never knew before." "And `what' was `that'?" I smiled, wondering where Kathi was now with my dinner, the sun having set well over an hour ago. I had no doubt that Tori was tired after the events of the day, and perhaps well aware as I was that we had witnessed things today we would no doubt never see again in our lives. Things that I also suspected too that Tori and I would have to "keep" to ourselves. I wondered too now why I was so afraid of the "dark", of entering areas of the palace that weren't brightly lit. I had felt an ac- tual "terror" of the dark hidden places there beneath my palace! I had thought of speaking to Tori of these things, but dared not. I knew she would not make "fun" of me, but yet I would lose re- spect in her eyes, and her respect for me was a precious thing... To speak to her of "ghosts", of things "felt" but not seen, would only make her believe that perhaps her Queen was going insane! I should mention here that Queen Tulis did to a certain degree near the end of her life, when her brain tumor took "control" of her! She eventually killed herself at the end, dying in the arms of a woman who had once been her "daughter" before being "disowned"... "The `depth' of a mother's love for her children," she an- swered, her words coming as a bit of a "puzzle" to me just then. "Sharon is not Darlanis' `daughter'," I pointed out to her, although I suspect that she knew "that" as it is widely known. I was also more aware of political issues in Orgon than was Tori. Darlanis was close to "losing" Orgon to me, especially if Sharon ever decided to turn completely against Darlanis as she might... That in turn could lead to a "war" against Dularn if Darlanis de- cided to try to hang on now to Orgon by force. The country also could be torn by a civil war that would leave little in its wake, especially as such a civil war would involve both our societies! "I'd better get `going' before my husband decides to `bed' our slave girl and Diane disappears for the next six hours," Tori smiled back, then taking her leave of me. Kathi coming in as soon as she left with a dinner tray for me, La-ra there with her, carrying Hope there in her arms like a lovely little doll. I thought I would have La-ra sleep with me tonight, with orders to awaken me if she heard me now starting to whimper or cry out. Such at least would insure that I didn't suffer through the en- tire nightmare even if I had to endure the beginning parts of it! The thought going unbidden through my mind that at least Tori did have a husband, someone to sleep with at night, to hold her close and stroke her, touching her, the "visions" that passed through my mind then of Tori in the arms of her husband utterly "erotic"! "Another would have `exploited' the situation," Darlanis said to me as we shared a breakfast the next morning, Sharon sit- ting there in bed, watching us, nibbling at her own food, keeping her thoughts to herself. No doubt she was well medicated for the pain, I thought, although I suspected that there would be scars. I did not see either Prince Serak or their slave girl Pussycat. Darlanis has a three year old daughter by the name of Artemis who was "cloned" from one of the Empress' own ovums three years ago. It is believed by Lorraine that this is actually Domino Tremaine, although one can make of these things much as one will here too. "I would not care to play poker with you," I smiled back. "I have `risked much' in my life," the Empress smiled then. "There is `meaning' in what she `did'," Sharon said to me. "You took a `gamble' I wouldn't have `dared'," I told her. "I made a `decision' that could cost me my life," she said. "If my step mother does not `understand'...," Sharon added. Lorraine was the greatest swordswoman of all time, many believed. Darlanis herself was awesome, but no true match for the Warlady. In a sword duel between them it was likely that Lorraine would be the winner. I had seen Lorraine take on Carol Simmons back a couple years ago, a woman whose "skill" with a sword considerably exceeded mine. Not even my famous "Warlady" had stood a chance! And it was possible that Lorraine would kill Darlanis in a duel!! "I suspect you would not have `acted' as I did," Darlanis said to me, getting up, walking to the window, and looking out. Dressed in a woolen robe, her golden hair tousled from sleep, she didn't seem so "impressive" then. Just another "big blonde" like many I've seen here in Dularn. Bob Simmons once said that she looked like a woman called "Shannon Tweed" in the 20th Century. His wife on the other hand said she reminded her of a "soap op- era" actress by the name of Brenda Epperson. One can take this as you wish, although both of them said I looked like Katherine Kelly Lang, another soap opera actress of the Twentieth Century. "I would have never `whipped' a `daughter' as you did," I "answered" her back in level tones, aware that Darlanis no doubt had good reason for what she did here. I wouldn't have "done" what she had either with the three teenagers, although I had un- derstood just "what" she was doing here, as had my friend Tori. "You are a good Queen, a `competent' Queen, I think," Darla- nis said to me, "But you are not truly of royal blood," she then added, turning, regarding me as I sat there at the table finish- ing up my breakfast. "Nor could you govern an Empire like mine." "I believe in the ideals of Thomas Jefferson, not Janet Rog- ers," I answered, the Empress nodding, her eyes meeting my own. "`Minimum government', and a `free enterprise' system," the Empress smiled back. "The Eighteenth Century, the `Age of Rea- son'," Darlanis continued, Sharon sitting there grinning a bit... "When they still believed that Mankind was capable of self gov- ernment," the Empress "concluded", her azure eyes meeting my own. "Not the `technocratic dictatorship' of Janet Rogers," I an- swered back with a "smile" matching hers. If Darlanis wished to discuss political philosophy with me I would be quite happy to oblige her. I had no doubts that our own "system" was superior. Even Lorraine herself has admitted that Dularn stood for the same ideals that the founders of the original United States of America stood for before the politicians turned it into something "else". Janet Rogers was an "improvement" over them, but no more than I feel Darlanis probably has "been" for the peoples of California. "Democratic political systems work well in pre-technological societies," Darlanis answered, walking over, sitting on the bed, looking at Sharon, taking her hand in hers, stroking it a bit. I was well "aware" that Darlanis may have been a beautiful blonde, but she was also no "dumbbell" when it came to things like this! "Our society in the 20th Century was falling apart," Sharon said to me, her eyes so much the color of Darlanis' holding mine. "We `lacked' the `social discipline' that it took Janet Rogers to provide," she continued on, obviously well educated in the histo- ry of the 21st Century after the election of Janet Rogers in the year 2008. "The same social discipline that Darlanis provides." "She `whipped' you yesterday until the blood ran down your body," I said to her, seeing Sharon nod, glance up at Darlanis... "I `challenged' her `authority' as `Empress'," Sharon said. "Such a `challenge' could not be `ignored'," Darlanis added. Darlanis had "acted" as the Empress of California, "meeting" it. I had seen the tears in those azure eyes, understood her "pain". "If Sharon had `asked' for my `protection'...," I "smiled". Darlanis "nodding", glancing down at Sharon, then again up at me. I did not believe that Darlanis would have "won" this time. Du- larn had "allies" now that made us a "match" for the Imperials. "I would have died the death that a Warrioress often dies," Darlanis answered back in level tones. I "understood" much then. The "magnificence" of this woman that so many have spoken of... "You are a `legend' in your own time," I said to her then. "I am `She-Ra'," Darlanis smiled, Sharon nodding at me. "Must be an `odd' marriage," Tori said to me as we walked together out on the quay that overlooks the harbor. The Astarte and the Sarnian Queen floating there at anchor along with half a dozen other vessels, most of them trading schooners of one sort or another. The North Star was setting up her yards, the crew as such still a bit "green", I noticed as I enjoyed the brisk air. "A Nevada and a woman like her?" I smiled, "wondering" a bit myself. The men of the Nevadas view women almost as "property", whereas a woman like Darlanis would likely see a marriage as a relationship between two equals, much as any Dularnian would now. "It's probably just a `political' marriage," Tori grinned. "I don't think so," I answered, recalling things I'd heard. "I hope my daughter does well aboard the North Star," Tori said, changing the "subject" to something more "profitable" to discuss than what Darlanis and her husband "did" together in bed! "She is under `naval discipline' now," I pointed out to her. The sort of `pranks' she'd pulled in Arsana would not be `toler- ated' aboard the ship, something Tori had no doubt warned her of. "I made her read the `rule book'," Tori smiled back. This being a heavy rather "boring" tome detailing the rules and regu- lations governing the operation of warships of the Royal Navy... "I trust you have made preparations for Prince Paul Blue Sky of the Wyomings," I "smiled", the Prince being due here tomorrow. With Darlanis and Sharon here I wanted no "incidents" to happen! All I needed was for Lorraine to show up, and I'd have them all!! "There is a steam ship out in the strait," Tori said to me. "`Problems' come in `threes'," I answered, seeing Tori nod. "Ship is the `Athena', your majesty," Tori said to me as I nodded, well aware that this wasn't a good time for the Queen of Trelandar to be "visiting". Especially not after what Darlanis had done to Sharon! True, Sharon didn't hold it against the Em- press, but there was no telling what Lorraine would think of it!! |
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