"2569-24" - 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 Twenty Four "There is no chance that Princess Tara could have survived?" Tori asked as she sat there by her daughter's bed, Diane recover- ing well from the injury done her, although it would be time be- fore her stump would heal and she could be fitted with a wooden peg in place of the foot that she'd once had. Diane's father glancing at me as I nodded, well aware of chances against it now! Hopefully we'd seen the last of the evil former Bajan Princess! "The water temperatures in the strait at this time of the year are so cold that no one could last more than perhaps fifteen minutes at the most in it before losing consciousness and drown- ing," her father pointed out, my nod of affirmation here leaving no doubts that Mankind was finally "free" of the evil Princess!!! "And the Priestesses of Lys are keeping an eye out for her body, which I'm sure will turn up sooner or later," I added then. "Is the North Star repairable?" Diane asked, lying there in between us. Her bedroom that of a young Dularnian woman of high caste. I recalled her there on the North Star, on the derelict. "As long as the brave men and women of our country sail the seas, there will always be a North Star," I smiled back at her. I had told Diane too that she would be its second lieutenant when my flagship was returned into commission by early summer. I had sent those of the "learned" castes to Sana to learn what they could from the derelict we'd towed in. Tais had found "this" of "interest", although she had not answered the questions I asked. "Your father returned to Sana, didn't he?" Tori said to me. "I fear there is little `left' for him now," I answered. "Both his wives died violent deaths, didn't they?" Tori's husband said then, regarding his daughter as she laid between us. I saw Tori glance at me, thought of the "stress" that Diane's in- jury had placed on her marriage. It is often "hard" for a Warri- oress. Tori had made a "decision". Diane had paid the "price". "We all die, it is `how' we live that counts," Tori spoke. Such is a saying of Warrioresses. One of many that we have... "I'm very proud of my Dularnian Queen," my Prince said to me as we laid together, the stars peeking down upon us from our bed- room windows. "Of the woman who shares my bed, and will bear me children when the time comes," Prince Paul Blue Sky said to me. "I hope I'm `loved' for `more' than `that'," I smiled back. "You do have a beautiful face and nice hair," he observed. "Just that?" I teased him, feeling the "touch" of his hand. "Your breasts are rather nice," he noted, stroking one then. "And you do seem rather `competent' at doing certain `tasks'..." "I'm glad to have you back," I said to Tori as she stood be- fore me in her golden helmet and gleaming chain mail, the doctor having said that she was well enough now to resume her duties. "Glad to be back, your majesty," Tori smiled in reply. "You may resume your duties," I said, Tori now leaving. "Good looking woman, and walks nice too," my Prince smiled. "I suppose she does," I grinned back, Prince Paul being the sort of a man who notices such things. "And do you like mine?" I asked, getting up and walking about before him here in my private chambers that I use for my own day to day activities as Queen... "You do have a delightful rear end," my husband smiled back. "Although you'd show more of it if your tunic was a bit shorter." My current attire being the usual tunic and hose worn by both men and women here in Dularn. What Bob had called "unisex" clothing. "I'll look a lot better when I get another five pounds off," I replied, having gotten the first five off over the past couple of weeks since our marriage. I look my best at about 138, which is about "right" for a woman of my height (5'8") and build. In my younger years I was more slender, and went around one thirty.* * See the first book of this series for further details. (J.B.) "The season is far enough advanced now that we could visit my father," he said to me, looking into my eyes as I stood there. "Try to resolve this `problem' that we are having between your people and mine over Dularnian settlements in Wyoming territory." There were "hot bloods" on either side who wanted to "resolve" this by the use of the lance and arrow on the Wyoming side, with the arrow and the crossbow bolt on the Dularnian side. While all the "hot bloods" on the Wyoming side were "male", the "same" was not true on the Dularnian side, as a number of Dularn's Warrio- resses were now getting "bored" with drill and camp life, and itched for a chance to see some "excitement", to test their steel against a foeman. This last having come as a surprise to Bob and Carol last year, as I don't think either of them really "under- stood" what a Dularnian woman is really like due to her culture. "There is also Queen Freydis and her conflicts with Valeris to the north," I answered. Dularn already had a third rate and "military advisors" in the area fighting on Freydis' side, while the Imperials no doubt had a "finger" in things on Queen Valeris' side in return in the form of Imperial Warrioresses as advisors.* * One is reminded here of the "Cold War" between the USA and the USSR in earlier years. As this is a book by Maris Marn, the Queen of Dularn, the Imperials are the "bad guys" here. On the other hand no doubt Darlanis and Lorraine would have "seen" the matter in a different light, as is evident in their books. (J.B.) "And the Nevadas who are a `tool' of Darlanis and Lorraine," my husband pointed out. I was now tending to doubt that it was really Darlanis who was always at "fault" here, as I had no doubt that Lorraine's own political ambitions had their role to play... "I believe Princess Tara hoped to start another war between the Dularnian Federation and the Empire," I replied thoughtfully. The "destruction" of a Dularnian warship by an Imperial would doubtlessly have greatly "strained" relations between our two so- cieties. Especially if it seemed as if only someone like Lor- raine herself could be behind such a thing. The use of cannon with explosive shells being something one might expect of the fa- mous Warlady, whose knowledge of such matters was well known now. My own death in such a "battle" would have of course given the "hot heads" in the Senate due cause to declare war upon Califor- nia, which is no doubt just what Princess Tara had planned here! Her "use" of a Trelandarian flag being the final "proof" here... "At least we'll never have to worry about `her' again," Paul smiled, everyone believing her dead, although no trace had ever been found of her body despite our searching for it. It being believed by most people that the current in the strait had proba- bly now carried it out to the sea where it would never be found. ***************************************************************** "We could get a Physician for her," the girl said, looking down at the woman lying there, the soft warm grease they had used to soothe her burns the only thing that they had to use. A low moan escaping from the woman's lips although she had not yet re- gained consciousness. The words she'd muttered had meant little to either of them, the language not being English, but Spanish. She had been very near death, and was still not out of danger as the woman standing there beside her daughter knew very well now. "No," the woman answered. Such would doubtlessly be report- ed to Arsana, and no doubt people would come from the capital to investigate. Such people might also wish to "know" things she had no wish to let known, such as her former "status" as a run- away slave girl. One who had lived for many years with a kindly old fisherman before he had drowned in a storm a few years back. The girl was his, born here in this hut without either a Physi- cian or Priestess in attendance, an "illegal" under the laws of the 26th Century. Her contraceptive implant having worn off as was the anti-aging serums that kept her from showing her age now. "She may die without medical attention," her daughter pro- tested in reply, standing there in their little two room hut, the woman there before them one who many would have gladly killed... "What LYS `wills', will be," the former slave girl answered, her hair now starting to turn gray with age, her face now "old", making her appear well over a hundred by the "standards" of 2569. "She must have been a beautiful woman once," the girl said, much of the woman's hair having been burned away by the horrible heat of the energy beams that the Priestesses of Lys had used... "Her clothing, weapons leave no doubt she was wealthy," the mother said, looking down at her. At the woman she now knew was no other than the Princess Tara Bisan, once the Queen of Sarn be- fore Darlanis, tall and golden, won her husband's heart and the throne on which she had once sat by methods no means "innocent"! "She needs what we cannot give her," her daughter answered. "I will take our boat to Sana," the woman spoke, the girl nodding. There had been considerable money in Tara's wallet... "Buy the medicines, the things that `she' will need to survive." 2569 A.D.! THE DULARNIAN QUEEN AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Twenty Four "There is no chance that Princess Tara could have survived?" Tori asked as she sat there by her daughter's bed, Diane recover- ing well from the injury done her, although it would be time be- fore her stump would heal and she could be fitted with a wooden peg in place of the foot that she'd once had. Diane's father glancing at me as I nodded, well aware of chances against it now! Hopefully we'd seen the last of the evil former Bajan Princess! "The water temperatures in the strait at this time of the year are so cold that no one could last more than perhaps fifteen minutes at the most in it before losing consciousness and drown- ing," her father pointed out, my nod of affirmation here leaving no doubts that Mankind was finally "free" of the evil Princess!!! "And the Priestesses of Lys are keeping an eye out for her body, which I'm sure will turn up sooner or later," I added then. "Is the North Star repairable?" Diane asked, lying there in between us. Her bedroom that of a young Dularnian woman of high caste. I recalled her there on the North Star, on the derelict. "As long as the brave men and women of our country sail the seas, there will always be a North Star," I smiled back at her. I had told Diane too that she would be its second lieutenant when my flagship was returned into commission by early summer. I had sent those of the "learned" castes to Sana to learn what they could from the derelict we'd towed in. Tais had found "this" of "interest", although she had not answered the questions I asked. "Your father returned to Sana, didn't he?" Tori said to me. "I fear there is little `left' for him now," I answered. "Both his wives died violent deaths, didn't they?" Tori's husband said then, regarding his daughter as she laid between us. I saw Tori glance at me, thought of the "stress" that Diane's in- jury had placed on her marriage. It is often "hard" for a Warri- oress. Tori had made a "decision". Diane had paid the "price". "We all die, it is `how' we live that counts," Tori spoke. Such is a saying of Warrioresses. One of many that we have... "I'm very proud of my Dularnian Queen," my Prince said to me as we laid together, the stars peeking down upon us from our bed- room windows. "Of the woman who shares my bed, and will bear me children when the time comes," Prince Paul Blue Sky said to me. "I hope I'm `loved' for `more' than `that'," I smiled back. "You do have a beautiful face and nice hair," he observed. "Just that?" I teased him, feeling the "touch" of his hand. "Your breasts are rather nice," he noted, stroking one then. "And you do seem rather `competent' at doing certain `tasks'..." "I'm glad to have you back," I said to Tori as she stood be- fore me in her golden helmet and gleaming chain mail, the doctor having said that she was well enough now to resume her duties. "Glad to be back, your majesty," Tori smiled in reply. "You may resume your duties," I said, Tori now leaving. "Good looking woman, and walks nice too," my Prince smiled. "I suppose she does," I grinned back, Prince Paul being the sort of a man who notices such things. "And do you like mine?" I asked, getting up and walking about before him here in my private chambers that I use for my own day to day activities as Queen... "You do have a delightful rear end," my husband smiled back. "Although you'd show more of it if your tunic was a bit shorter." My current attire being the usual tunic and hose worn by both men and women here in Dularn. What Bob had called "unisex" clothing. "I'll look a lot better when I get another five pounds off," I replied, having gotten the first five off over the past couple of weeks since our marriage. I look my best at about 138, which is about "right" for a woman of my height (5'8") and build. In my younger years I was more slender, and went around one thirty.* * See the first book of this series for further details. (J.B.) "The season is far enough advanced now that we could visit my father," he said to me, looking into my eyes as I stood there. "Try to resolve this `problem' that we are having between your people and mine over Dularnian settlements in Wyoming territory." There were "hot bloods" on either side who wanted to "resolve" this by the use of the lance and arrow on the Wyoming side, with the arrow and the crossbow bolt on the Dularnian side. While all the "hot bloods" on the Wyoming side were "male", the "same" was not true on the Dularnian side, as a number of Dularn's Warrio- resses were now getting "bored" with drill and camp life, and itched for a chance to see some "excitement", to test their steel against a foeman. This last having come as a surprise to Bob and Carol last year, as I don't think either of them really "under- stood" what a Dularnian woman is really like due to her culture. "There is also Queen Freydis and her conflicts with Valeris to the north," I answered. Dularn already had a third rate and "military advisors" in the area fighting on Freydis' side, while the Imperials no doubt had a "finger" in things on Queen Valeris' side in return in the form of Imperial Warrioresses as advisors.* * One is reminded here of the "Cold War" between the USA and the USSR in earlier years. As this is a book by Maris Marn, the Queen of Dularn, the Imperials are the "bad guys" here. On the other hand no doubt Darlanis and Lorraine would have "seen" the matter in a different light, as is evident in their books. (J.B.) "And the Nevadas who are a `tool' of Darlanis and Lorraine," my husband pointed out. I was now tending to doubt that it was really Darlanis who was always at "fault" here, as I had no doubt that Lorraine's own political ambitions had their role to play... "I believe Princess Tara hoped to start another war between the Dularnian Federation and the Empire," I replied thoughtfully. The "destruction" of a Dularnian warship by an Imperial would doubtlessly have greatly "strained" relations between our two so- cieties. Especially if it seemed as if only someone like Lor- raine herself could be behind such a thing. The use of cannon with explosive shells being something one might expect of the fa- mous Warlady, whose knowledge of such matters was well known now. My own death in such a "battle" would have of course given the "hot heads" in the Senate due cause to declare war upon Califor- nia, which is no doubt just what Princess Tara had planned here! Her "use" of a Trelandarian flag being the final "proof" here... "At least we'll never have to worry about `her' again," Paul smiled, everyone believing her dead, although no trace had ever been found of her body despite our searching for it. It being believed by most people that the current in the strait had proba- bly now carried it out to the sea where it would never be found. ***************************************************************** "We could get a Physician for her," the girl said, looking down at the woman lying there, the soft warm grease they had used to soothe her burns the only thing that they had to use. A low moan escaping from the woman's lips although she had not yet re- gained consciousness. The words she'd muttered had meant little to either of them, the language not being English, but Spanish. She had been very near death, and was still not out of danger as the woman standing there beside her daughter knew very well now. "No," the woman answered. Such would doubtlessly be report- ed to Arsana, and no doubt people would come from the capital to investigate. Such people might also wish to "know" things she had no wish to let known, such as her former "status" as a run- away slave girl. One who had lived for many years with a kindly old fisherman before he had drowned in a storm a few years back. The girl was his, born here in this hut without either a Physi- cian or Priestess in attendance, an "illegal" under the laws of the 26th Century. Her contraceptive implant having worn off as was the anti-aging serums that kept her from showing her age now. "She may die without medical attention," her daughter pro- tested in reply, standing there in their little two room hut, the woman there before them one who many would have gladly killed... "What LYS `wills', will be," the former slave girl answered, her hair now starting to turn gray with age, her face now "old", making her appear well over a hundred by the "standards" of 2569. "She must have been a beautiful woman once," the girl said, much of the woman's hair having been burned away by the horrible heat of the energy beams that the Priestesses of Lys had used... "Her clothing, weapons leave no doubt she was wealthy," the mother said, looking down at her. At the woman she now knew was no other than the Princess Tara Bisan, once the Queen of Sarn be- fore Darlanis, tall and golden, won her husband's heart and the throne on which she had once sat by methods no means "innocent"! "She needs what we cannot give her," her daughter answered. "I will take our boat to Sana," the woman spoke, the girl nodding. There had been considerable money in Tara's wallet... "Buy the medicines, the things that `she' will need to survive." |
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