"2569-38" - 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 Thirty Eight "Big crowd down there," Darlanis said to me. "Some sort of `political demonstration' or something," she ventured to me then. The airplane's windshield wipers going back and forth, a cold fine rain of some sort falling, such being common here in Dularn. "Can you come lower?" I asked, wondering how "good" a pilot she was. It was Lorraine's airplane, not Darlanis', and while the Californian Empress knew "how" to "fly" it, I didn't know how "skillful" she might be at such things. I was well enough edu- cated to know that the airplane was a device of "science", not of "magic" as many people might think, still it represented to me a "technology" far beyond anything that we could ever manage today. "Give them a bit of a `thrill'?" the Empress "smiled" back. "Not at the risk of our lives," I suggested with a "grin". "The Queen's `back', captain," the woman said to Tori as she nodded. The members of the Royal Guard drawn up in ranks now as they confronted the demonstrators lead by Queen Pharis herself! The cold wet drizzle seemingly "fitting" for an event like this! "`Just' in time too," Tori breathed, her sword in her hand. "Some of the people have missile weapons," the guardswoman pointed out. The guardswomen in their helmets and armor a symbol of the "established" power, a hundred women against perhaps ten times that number of chanting armed civilians now led by Pharis. Tori had them armed with their swords and shields, the best weap- ons for any close quarters "work" like this promised to be now. The steam powered "quickfirer" there on the roof top of the pal- ace might be "decisive", although Tori "wondered" about that now. The airplane coming back, low this time, barely clearing the tops of the buildings. The people cringing down, moving to cover now! "Stand steady!" Tori snapped, her heart beating rapidly too! "You've got `troubles'," Darlanis announced unnecessarily. "Land," I snapped, wondering if I could "stop" this now! "Be a good fight," Darlanis smiled back, giving me a grin! "You will taxi out into the harbor and stay there until I give you the `all clear'," I snapped back. "And if anyone tries to approach you, take off and circle the city," I continued then. "I `avenge' my friends," Darlanis snapped back, coming down. The water spraying up as the plane hit the water rather "hard"... "Pharis?" I guessed, leaping up on to the dock, aware of the whirling propeller as Darlanis now taxied off, my husband nodding as the roar of the engine made conversation almost impossible now. The "blast" of wind in our faces speaking of a technology from an era now mostly myth and legend to the people of today... I had seen the crowds, the Royal Guard drawn up. I had no doubt either that Pharis was behind all of this, but why? What had she to "gain" from a "coupe de tat" like this? From overthrowing me? "She is an `agent' of Princess Tara, who still lives," Paul said, holding me close just for a brief second, the guardswomen with him looking nervous, even a bit "terrified" I thought then! "There is `evidence' that she has drugged my father somehow, and Tais has a letter from Princess Tara herself," he then "added"... A bit of "news" that didn't delight me at all just then either! "Too bad Lorraine didn't kill her!" I snapped, dashing for the palace to pass through it to the street beyond where the Roy- al Guard for the moment still held Pharis' forces yet at bay now! There being no doubt in my mind that I would have to do so now... "Thank Lys You're Here!" captain Tori Wells cried with gratitude as she embraced me, the metal of her chain mail cold, her eyes moist with emotion as she looked upon her beloved Queen! "There could be a crossbowman," my husband warned, standing so that I might be "shielded" from such a missile, his leather no protection at all of course against such weapons. I could see no evidence of one on any of the buildings surrounding us, but that meant little as such weapons can be fired from a distance as great as a hundred and fifty yards with assurance of hitting the target. I speak here of the heavy "siege" crossbow, which is drawn up with a winding device, not the much more common military weapon which is drawn up by means of a belt hook and stirrup. I did not think that Pharis had yet managed to work the people up into a state of frenzy where they might actually attack me yet... "The Queen of Dularn must never show `fear'," I answered, stepping out into the open between my own forces and those now of Queen Pharis, the Queen of the Wyomings now mounted on a unicorn. I threw back the heavy cloak that I had worn, my tiara glistening in the cold drizzle that was now falling, my rich attire leaving no doubt of course that I was actually the Queen of Dularn here! I saw Pharis slide down from the saddle, and step towards me, throwing back her cloak, and drawing her sword as she did... She wore a leather tunic, along with woolen hose, attire that was a mixture of two cultures, her hair like mine beaded with rain, her own tiara as Queen of the Wyomings glistening in its redness. "The people of Dularn `know' who `represents' them," she spoke, standing there before me. "And it is not a woman who has betrayed everything her country stands for pandering to the Impe- rials and that `tool' of theirs that threatens all Mankind now." "I am the Queen of Dularn, not a `traitor' who serves Prin- cess Tara," I "snapped" back, drawing my own slim gleaming blade. I felt the coldness of the rain on my cheek, felt a chill breeze blow against my body, saw the buildings there about me, memories flooding back, of my entire life, of Carol, who had taught me to use a sword as few others ever could. Now she was just a dried husk in a casket hidden in a cave a few miles from the city, but yet I thought then that she stood at my side, that she was there! I met Pharis' swift attack blade to blade, the redheaded Queen of the Wyomings driving me back with the very fury of her attack. She was a good swordswoman, skillful, competent, despite what I'd seen Lorraine "do" to her only a couple days now before. I was also "aware" that the stones of the street were slippery, that in such a "duel" as this one only one of us would survive... "Die, Damn You!" Pharis snapped, driving in at me, forcing me back, our blades ringing together. I suppose everyone was rather "disappointed" in me just then, as they had no doubt "ex- pected" their Queen to "do a bit better" than this, but I knew my "strengths", and my "weaknesses", and I had no wish to die now just to "prove" some meaningless point for this worthless mob... "It is `you' who will `die'," I retorted, meeting her attack as I stepped back, careful not to "slip" on the wet cobblestones. Pharis' blade swift, almost a "blur" as she drove in on the at- tack at me, the Queen of the Wyomings obviously quite "skillful"! "You're `fat', out of shape," Pharis laughed back at me now. I am "heavy", wide through the hips, but I'm more "fit" than I do look, I should mention here. Pharis was slimmer, a bit "taller". She was using one of the long sabers that are common among the Wyomings. It is a good weapon for use off the back of a unicorn, but in a hand to hand fight a shorter weapon is superior, I find. "You haven't killed me yet," I now pointed out to her then. There were a number of "taunts" from those around directed at me. I had no doubt that those on "my side" were disappointed in me as so far I had only fought solely on the "defensive" in this duel. On the other hand I am an excellent "tactician", one who is skilled in the "arts of war". For years I fought a superior nav- al military force with just a few "commerce raiders", none of which were ever a "match" for the heavier vessels of the enemy. Dularn never "won" a war against the Californians "face to face", but we did do pretty well against them when we used our "wits". I don't think Pharis was aware that I was "more" than just a good looking "blonde". That I was "more" than just another lovely face, a rather "provocative" figure in a tight royal blue gown... Pharis "thrust" at me in reply, my blade "meeting" hers in turn as we circled about. I think she was starting to be "aware" of the fact that I was just a bit "better" a swordswoman than she'd given me credit for at first here. That while I hadn't made any attempt as yet to go on the "attack", I had "met" her own attacks with more "skill" than I think she believed I'd pos- sess. She was a more "showy" swordswoman than me, but it was ob- vious to everyone watching that I was not lacking in skill. I am no Lorraine or Darlanis, but I am not "unskilled" with the blade. "Enough of `this play'!" Pharis suddenly snarled, driving in at me then and forcing me back. I saw my "chance", and took it! My blade parrying hers just up and to the side a bit, the edge just cutting the skin on the side of my neck, while my own drove straight right into her unprotected throat! The keen tip pierc- ing her arteries, driving deeper to pass through her throat, to "bump" right against the vertebra there in the back of her neck!! "Dularn is still `mine'," I hissed, stepping back, the look of "horror" in her eyes something that I will never ever forget as she dropped her sword and clutched at her throat, slumping to the wet cobblestones while over a thousand people watched this!! "And I `will' settle things too with Princess Tara," I snapped... 2569 A.D.! THE DULARNIAN QUEEN AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Thirty Eight "Big crowd down there," Darlanis said to me. "Some sort of `political demonstration' or something," she ventured to me then. The airplane's windshield wipers going back and forth, a cold fine rain of some sort falling, such being common here in Dularn. "Can you come lower?" I asked, wondering how "good" a pilot she was. It was Lorraine's airplane, not Darlanis', and while the Californian Empress knew "how" to "fly" it, I didn't know how "skillful" she might be at such things. I was well enough edu- cated to know that the airplane was a device of "science", not of "magic" as many people might think, still it represented to me a "technology" far beyond anything that we could ever manage today. "Give them a bit of a `thrill'?" the Empress "smiled" back. "Not at the risk of our lives," I suggested with a "grin". "The Queen's `back', captain," the woman said to Tori as she nodded. The members of the Royal Guard drawn up in ranks now as they confronted the demonstrators lead by Queen Pharis herself! The cold wet drizzle seemingly "fitting" for an event like this! "`Just' in time too," Tori breathed, her sword in her hand. "Some of the people have missile weapons," the guardswoman pointed out. The guardswomen in their helmets and armor a symbol of the "established" power, a hundred women against perhaps ten times that number of chanting armed civilians now led by Pharis. Tori had them armed with their swords and shields, the best weap- ons for any close quarters "work" like this promised to be now. The steam powered "quickfirer" there on the roof top of the pal- ace might be "decisive", although Tori "wondered" about that now. The airplane coming back, low this time, barely clearing the tops of the buildings. The people cringing down, moving to cover now! "Stand steady!" Tori snapped, her heart beating rapidly too! "You've got `troubles'," Darlanis announced unnecessarily. "Land," I snapped, wondering if I could "stop" this now! "Be a good fight," Darlanis smiled back, giving me a grin! "You will taxi out into the harbor and stay there until I give you the `all clear'," I snapped back. "And if anyone tries to approach you, take off and circle the city," I continued then. "I `avenge' my friends," Darlanis snapped back, coming down. The water spraying up as the plane hit the water rather "hard"... "Pharis?" I guessed, leaping up on to the dock, aware of the whirling propeller as Darlanis now taxied off, my husband nodding as the roar of the engine made conversation almost impossible now. The "blast" of wind in our faces speaking of a technology from an era now mostly myth and legend to the people of today... I had seen the crowds, the Royal Guard drawn up. I had no doubt either that Pharis was behind all of this, but why? What had she to "gain" from a "coupe de tat" like this? From overthrowing me? "She is an `agent' of Princess Tara, who still lives," Paul said, holding me close just for a brief second, the guardswomen with him looking nervous, even a bit "terrified" I thought then! "There is `evidence' that she has drugged my father somehow, and Tais has a letter from Princess Tara herself," he then "added"... A bit of "news" that didn't delight me at all just then either! "Too bad Lorraine didn't kill her!" I snapped, dashing for the palace to pass through it to the street beyond where the Roy- al Guard for the moment still held Pharis' forces yet at bay now! There being no doubt in my mind that I would have to do so now... "Thank Lys You're Here!" captain Tori Wells cried with gratitude as she embraced me, the metal of her chain mail cold, her eyes moist with emotion as she looked upon her beloved Queen! "There could be a crossbowman," my husband warned, standing so that I might be "shielded" from such a missile, his leather no protection at all of course against such weapons. I could see no evidence of one on any of the buildings surrounding us, but that meant little as such weapons can be fired from a distance as great as a hundred and fifty yards with assurance of hitting the target. I speak here of the heavy "siege" crossbow, which is drawn up with a winding device, not the much more common military weapon which is drawn up by means of a belt hook and stirrup. I did not think that Pharis had yet managed to work the people up into a state of frenzy where they might actually attack me yet... "The Queen of Dularn must never show `fear'," I answered, stepping out into the open between my own forces and those now of Queen Pharis, the Queen of the Wyomings now mounted on a unicorn. I threw back the heavy cloak that I had worn, my tiara glistening in the cold drizzle that was now falling, my rich attire leaving no doubt of course that I was actually the Queen of Dularn here! I saw Pharis slide down from the saddle, and step towards me, throwing back her cloak, and drawing her sword as she did... She wore a leather tunic, along with woolen hose, attire that was a mixture of two cultures, her hair like mine beaded with rain, her own tiara as Queen of the Wyomings glistening in its redness. "The people of Dularn `know' who `represents' them," she spoke, standing there before me. "And it is not a woman who has betrayed everything her country stands for pandering to the Impe- rials and that `tool' of theirs that threatens all Mankind now." "I am the Queen of Dularn, not a `traitor' who serves Prin- cess Tara," I "snapped" back, drawing my own slim gleaming blade. I felt the coldness of the rain on my cheek, felt a chill breeze blow against my body, saw the buildings there about me, memories flooding back, of my entire life, of Carol, who had taught me to use a sword as few others ever could. Now she was just a dried husk in a casket hidden in a cave a few miles from the city, but yet I thought then that she stood at my side, that she was there! I met Pharis' swift attack blade to blade, the redheaded Queen of the Wyomings driving me back with the very fury of her attack. She was a good swordswoman, skillful, competent, despite what I'd seen Lorraine "do" to her only a couple days now before. I was also "aware" that the stones of the street were slippery, that in such a "duel" as this one only one of us would survive... "Die, Damn You!" Pharis snapped, driving in at me, forcing me back, our blades ringing together. I suppose everyone was rather "disappointed" in me just then, as they had no doubt "ex- pected" their Queen to "do a bit better" than this, but I knew my "strengths", and my "weaknesses", and I had no wish to die now just to "prove" some meaningless point for this worthless mob... "It is `you' who will `die'," I retorted, meeting her attack as I stepped back, careful not to "slip" on the wet cobblestones. Pharis' blade swift, almost a "blur" as she drove in on the at- tack at me, the Queen of the Wyomings obviously quite "skillful"! "You're `fat', out of shape," Pharis laughed back at me now. I am "heavy", wide through the hips, but I'm more "fit" than I do look, I should mention here. Pharis was slimmer, a bit "taller". She was using one of the long sabers that are common among the Wyomings. It is a good weapon for use off the back of a unicorn, but in a hand to hand fight a shorter weapon is superior, I find. "You haven't killed me yet," I now pointed out to her then. There were a number of "taunts" from those around directed at me. I had no doubt that those on "my side" were disappointed in me as so far I had only fought solely on the "defensive" in this duel. On the other hand I am an excellent "tactician", one who is skilled in the "arts of war". For years I fought a superior nav- al military force with just a few "commerce raiders", none of which were ever a "match" for the heavier vessels of the enemy. Dularn never "won" a war against the Californians "face to face", but we did do pretty well against them when we used our "wits". I don't think Pharis was aware that I was "more" than just a good looking "blonde". That I was "more" than just another lovely face, a rather "provocative" figure in a tight royal blue gown... Pharis "thrust" at me in reply, my blade "meeting" hers in turn as we circled about. I think she was starting to be "aware" of the fact that I was just a bit "better" a swordswoman than she'd given me credit for at first here. That while I hadn't made any attempt as yet to go on the "attack", I had "met" her own attacks with more "skill" than I think she believed I'd pos- sess. She was a more "showy" swordswoman than me, but it was ob- vious to everyone watching that I was not lacking in skill. I am no Lorraine or Darlanis, but I am not "unskilled" with the blade. "Enough of `this play'!" Pharis suddenly snarled, driving in at me then and forcing me back. I saw my "chance", and took it! My blade parrying hers just up and to the side a bit, the edge just cutting the skin on the side of my neck, while my own drove straight right into her unprotected throat! The keen tip pierc- ing her arteries, driving deeper to pass through her throat, to "bump" right against the vertebra there in the back of her neck!! "Dularn is still `mine'," I hissed, stepping back, the look of "horror" in her eyes something that I will never ever forget as she dropped her sword and clutched at her throat, slumping to the wet cobblestones while over a thousand people watched this!! "And I `will' settle things too with Princess Tara," I snapped... |
|
|