"2570-10" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 8 - The Queen Of Time)THE QUEEN OF TIME 2570 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Ten "How are you doing?" I asked, bringing my unicorn up along- side Hope's. She'd gotten a bit more used to riding now, and no longer had to hold on to the front of the saddle as she had be- fore to keep her seat on her animal's back. Karen there in the lead, the blonde being a bit more "familiar" with this area of Trelandar that I would be due to the changes in things over the centuries. Trelandar of the 26th Century having "roads" that 24th Century Trelandar didn't have. The Trelandar of this era in some ways not even yet being a "country" as I'd think of it here! "The `chaps' Karen made for me do `help'," she smiled back. "`Riders' up ahead," Karen spoke, raising her hand and drop- ping back. Under such circumstances I took the lead, my attire being such that I did "appear" somewhat like a Warrioress of this era, although close inspection would have of course proved other- wise. The riders being in a column, with several women riding in an open carriage drawn by a pair of horses flanked by men at arms from the looks of them. A wise precaution in an era where out- laws abounded, where such women might later be sold to slavers. The women being of high caste, I noted, wearing the veil of the high caste woman, much like the one I swiftly slipped back on... A pair of slave girls riding double on a horse rode at the rear. "Oh, Warrioress!" one of the women called to me as we rode by, her attire that of the Physicians, while her companions were of the Builders, which includes all the highly educated castes, those who build things, know the strengths, weaknesses of things. What back in the 20th Century would have been engineers, "scien- tists" of various sorts, like chemists, biologists, physicists. People who "build" things, design ships, perhaps design cities. Who have knowledge of the science of the past, its "technology". There being too a certain "overlap" between Scribes and Builders although only a Builder may legally "design" and "build" things. It being widely held perhaps with good reason that any building not designed and built by members of the caste would be unsafe.* * Much like our "licensing laws" and "union work rules"! (JBB) "Yes?" I answered, turning my mount, my every sense alert! There were half a dozen men with them, "more" than I would have cared to face in any sort of a fight, Hope being completely un- skilled in battle off of a mount. My own skills in this field not being "anything" that I'd care to brag too much about either! Hope and Karen having ridden on a few yards and then halted here. The thick forest on either side of the "road" such that I had no doubts however that archery might be decisive in a conflict here, Hope being an extremely skillful archer much like Carol had been. "How far is it to the next village?" the woman then asked, her features veiled, although I could see that she was "blonde". Her skirt considerably longer than mine, going down to mid calf. She was wearing like the others a broad brimmed hat, it being thought "proper" that a high caste woman be "pale" in complexion. My own hat at the moment hanging on its chin string at my back, as if I had to fight, I had no wish to be handicapped by it here. It was also somewhat the "worst" for wear, as was my clothing, a fact that I suspected all three of the women had noticed by now. "About ten kilometers," I answered, using the common metric system that replaced the older system back in the 21st Century. The fact that they were three women together without husbands only indicating that they were perhaps going to join their hus- bands in some sort of "enterprise" being established somewhere. It being "commonplace" even in my own era for high caste women to travel in groups with armed men for protection against "outlaws". All three had golden neck chains visible under their veils, which left little doubt of this, such marking them too as long married. "Your companions are `unusual'," one of the others "noted". "Yes, your slave girl carries a sword," another pointed out! "I have purchased her, freed her, given her arms, but I do not have the tools until we reach Trella to remove her collar," I quickly replied, well aware that my tale wasn't too "believable!" Hope having dismounted, disappearing around behind a tree, her bow there in her hands, Hope having the much the same awesome archery skills that her famous mother had showed me back in 2567! Hopefully she might be able to empty a saddle or two if it came to a fight here. The women themselves were no threat, as they had only the long slim daggers that most women of this era carry. "You are a good swordswoman?" the third woman then asked me. "I am a `Queen of Swords'," I smiled, lifting back my veil. A woman who holds such a "title" is one the wise do not "cross"! "Thank you for your information," the Physician then said. "My name is Lorraine Richards," I smiled, giving her a nod. "You have been wounded recently," another then said to me. "My blade took three lives," I smiled, telling the "truth". "What did you tell them?" Hope asked, well aware of what had "transpired" here. The women and their escort traveling on now. "In poker I think it is called a `bluff'," I smiled back. "They will speak what they have `seen' to others," Karen warned, the same thought having crossed my own mind earlier now. Someone might just be "believing enough" to send back a dozen Warrioresses to check, assuming they had a dozen to send here... Warrioresses usually being the "cavalry" of this and my own era, of the era when I, Lorraine Richards, was the Queen of Trelandar. "We will ride to the west," I said, well aware of "where" that might take us. In my own time even my own Warrioresses, the finest fighting women in all Trelandar, were "terrified" of the ruins of Los Angeles. I suspected that the "same" held true now. "That will take us to the `ruins', mistress," Karen breathed in fear, her steel gray eyes showing the "terrors" that she felt! These ruins the source of legends that chill the heart of anyone! "We are well mounted, armed, and I think as long as we make the `crossing' in daylight we will be `safe'," I answered back, not really believing myself that there was "danger" in the ruins. I tend to view the people of this "post-War world" as being most- ly superstitious ignorant uneducated folk of a sort far below me! It is a "mistake" that I've paid for before, and will again too!! "I prefer slavery to the death we will find in the ruins!" Karen cried, suddenly kicking her unicorn into a gallop back the way we'd come! Hope giving me a look of "awe" as she rode away! "We're better off without her," I said, seeing Hope nod. "She was willing to return to slavery than go with us," Hope said to me as I washed myself in a small stream we'd found, glad to get the dried sweat, the filth off of myself, my shoulder now almost healed, although I would bear the scar the rest of my life from the bullet. I am "scarred", both from battles here on Earth and the time I fought for my life against the insane Lorr, Sisa, there a mile behind the arid cold nearly airless surface of Mars. There is also the laser burn I took in the "revolution" of 2566. "The people of this era are `much' like those of the Middle Ages," I pointed out. "They have their own irrational terrors." While I was well aware that the ruins were "inhabited", having seen creatures moving among them when I'd flown over them in Black Lady, I didn't think it was impossible to get through them. I am, I suppose, one who takes risks another would not, it being said sometimes of me that I "tread" where few Warrioresses would! "Whatever...," Hope answered, stripping off her 21st Century attire, her golden clips and provocative leather strap leaving no doubts that she was truly the daughter of Carol Simmons herself! What would be considered a "fifty gold piece girl" in my own era! Over what Karen would have gone for, I mused to myself then as I watched Hope bathe, wondering what the slave girl had done, sus- pecting too that she'd sought asylum with those we'd met earlier. "We will stay here for the night," I spoke, the ruins now spreading out there before us. A structure, the roof long gone, suitable I thought for our needs. A place where keen steel might be "effective" against whatever roamed out here at night. I re- called the "creature" I'd seen there in 2565, the scaly humanoid. From time to time such creatures are "glimpsed" by hunters, al- though they seldom approach human habitation, being well aware of the arrows, crossbow bolts that will be swiftly sent their way. Oddly enough, there has never been an attempt so far as I know to capture these creatures and put them upon exhibition, perhaps due to the reason that they were considered until just recently to be something "cursed by Lys" and thus to be quite strictly avoided!! My experiences here with Queen Joyce and her daughter, Princess Lily, are proof of this, as my attempt to establish "relations" with those who live beneath the ruins almost caused a revolution! One would have thought that I'd attempted to establish diplomatic relations with the EVIL ONE Himself from the reaction that I got! Even the High Priestess of the city voicing her opinion that Lys had "cursed" these creatures, and that it was going against "Her Teachings" to establish diplomatic relations with such "things"! THE QUEEN OF TIME 2570 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Ten "How are you doing?" I asked, bringing my unicorn up along- side Hope's. She'd gotten a bit more used to riding now, and no longer had to hold on to the front of the saddle as she had be- fore to keep her seat on her animal's back. Karen there in the lead, the blonde being a bit more "familiar" with this area of Trelandar that I would be due to the changes in things over the centuries. Trelandar of the 26th Century having "roads" that 24th Century Trelandar didn't have. The Trelandar of this era in some ways not even yet being a "country" as I'd think of it here! "The `chaps' Karen made for me do `help'," she smiled back. "`Riders' up ahead," Karen spoke, raising her hand and drop- ping back. Under such circumstances I took the lead, my attire being such that I did "appear" somewhat like a Warrioress of this era, although close inspection would have of course proved other- wise. The riders being in a column, with several women riding in an open carriage drawn by a pair of horses flanked by men at arms from the looks of them. A wise precaution in an era where out- laws abounded, where such women might later be sold to slavers. The women being of high caste, I noted, wearing the veil of the high caste woman, much like the one I swiftly slipped back on... A pair of slave girls riding double on a horse rode at the rear. "Oh, Warrioress!" one of the women called to me as we rode by, her attire that of the Physicians, while her companions were of the Builders, which includes all the highly educated castes, those who build things, know the strengths, weaknesses of things. What back in the 20th Century would have been engineers, "scien- tists" of various sorts, like chemists, biologists, physicists. People who "build" things, design ships, perhaps design cities. Who have knowledge of the science of the past, its "technology". There being too a certain "overlap" between Scribes and Builders although only a Builder may legally "design" and "build" things. It being widely held perhaps with good reason that any building not designed and built by members of the caste would be unsafe.* * Much like our "licensing laws" and "union work rules"! (JBB) "Yes?" I answered, turning my mount, my every sense alert! There were half a dozen men with them, "more" than I would have cared to face in any sort of a fight, Hope being completely un- skilled in battle off of a mount. My own skills in this field not being "anything" that I'd care to brag too much about either! Hope and Karen having ridden on a few yards and then halted here. The thick forest on either side of the "road" such that I had no doubts however that archery might be decisive in a conflict here, Hope being an extremely skillful archer much like Carol had been. "How far is it to the next village?" the woman then asked, her features veiled, although I could see that she was "blonde". Her skirt considerably longer than mine, going down to mid calf. She was wearing like the others a broad brimmed hat, it being thought "proper" that a high caste woman be "pale" in complexion. My own hat at the moment hanging on its chin string at my back, as if I had to fight, I had no wish to be handicapped by it here. It was also somewhat the "worst" for wear, as was my clothing, a fact that I suspected all three of the women had noticed by now. "About ten kilometers," I answered, using the common metric system that replaced the older system back in the 21st Century. The fact that they were three women together without husbands only indicating that they were perhaps going to join their hus- bands in some sort of "enterprise" being established somewhere. It being "commonplace" even in my own era for high caste women to travel in groups with armed men for protection against "outlaws". All three had golden neck chains visible under their veils, which left little doubt of this, such marking them too as long married. "Your companions are `unusual'," one of the others "noted". "Yes, your slave girl carries a sword," another pointed out! "I have purchased her, freed her, given her arms, but I do not have the tools until we reach Trella to remove her collar," I quickly replied, well aware that my tale wasn't too "believable!" Hope having dismounted, disappearing around behind a tree, her bow there in her hands, Hope having the much the same awesome archery skills that her famous mother had showed me back in 2567! Hopefully she might be able to empty a saddle or two if it came to a fight here. The women themselves were no threat, as they had only the long slim daggers that most women of this era carry. "You are a good swordswoman?" the third woman then asked me. "I am a `Queen of Swords'," I smiled, lifting back my veil. A woman who holds such a "title" is one the wise do not "cross"! "Thank you for your information," the Physician then said. "My name is Lorraine Richards," I smiled, giving her a nod. "You have been wounded recently," another then said to me. "My blade took three lives," I smiled, telling the "truth". "What did you tell them?" Hope asked, well aware of what had "transpired" here. The women and their escort traveling on now. "In poker I think it is called a `bluff'," I smiled back. "They will speak what they have `seen' to others," Karen warned, the same thought having crossed my own mind earlier now. Someone might just be "believing enough" to send back a dozen Warrioresses to check, assuming they had a dozen to send here... Warrioresses usually being the "cavalry" of this and my own era, of the era when I, Lorraine Richards, was the Queen of Trelandar. "We will ride to the west," I said, well aware of "where" that might take us. In my own time even my own Warrioresses, the finest fighting women in all Trelandar, were "terrified" of the ruins of Los Angeles. I suspected that the "same" held true now. "That will take us to the `ruins', mistress," Karen breathed in fear, her steel gray eyes showing the "terrors" that she felt! These ruins the source of legends that chill the heart of anyone! "We are well mounted, armed, and I think as long as we make the `crossing' in daylight we will be `safe'," I answered back, not really believing myself that there was "danger" in the ruins. I tend to view the people of this "post-War world" as being most- ly superstitious ignorant uneducated folk of a sort far below me! It is a "mistake" that I've paid for before, and will again too!! "I prefer slavery to the death we will find in the ruins!" Karen cried, suddenly kicking her unicorn into a gallop back the way we'd come! Hope giving me a look of "awe" as she rode away! "We're better off without her," I said, seeing Hope nod. "She was willing to return to slavery than go with us," Hope said to me as I washed myself in a small stream we'd found, glad to get the dried sweat, the filth off of myself, my shoulder now almost healed, although I would bear the scar the rest of my life from the bullet. I am "scarred", both from battles here on Earth and the time I fought for my life against the insane Lorr, Sisa, there a mile behind the arid cold nearly airless surface of Mars. There is also the laser burn I took in the "revolution" of 2566. "The people of this era are `much' like those of the Middle Ages," I pointed out. "They have their own irrational terrors." While I was well aware that the ruins were "inhabited", having seen creatures moving among them when I'd flown over them in Black Lady, I didn't think it was impossible to get through them. I am, I suppose, one who takes risks another would not, it being said sometimes of me that I "tread" where few Warrioresses would! "Whatever...," Hope answered, stripping off her 21st Century attire, her golden clips and provocative leather strap leaving no doubts that she was truly the daughter of Carol Simmons herself! What would be considered a "fifty gold piece girl" in my own era! Over what Karen would have gone for, I mused to myself then as I watched Hope bathe, wondering what the slave girl had done, sus- pecting too that she'd sought asylum with those we'd met earlier. "We will stay here for the night," I spoke, the ruins now spreading out there before us. A structure, the roof long gone, suitable I thought for our needs. A place where keen steel might be "effective" against whatever roamed out here at night. I re- called the "creature" I'd seen there in 2565, the scaly humanoid. From time to time such creatures are "glimpsed" by hunters, al- though they seldom approach human habitation, being well aware of the arrows, crossbow bolts that will be swiftly sent their way. Oddly enough, there has never been an attempt so far as I know to capture these creatures and put them upon exhibition, perhaps due to the reason that they were considered until just recently to be something "cursed by Lys" and thus to be quite strictly avoided!! My experiences here with Queen Joyce and her daughter, Princess Lily, are proof of this, as my attempt to establish "relations" with those who live beneath the ruins almost caused a revolution! One would have thought that I'd attempted to establish diplomatic relations with the EVIL ONE Himself from the reaction that I got! Even the High Priestess of the city voicing her opinion that Lys had "cursed" these creatures, and that it was going against "Her Teachings" to establish diplomatic relations with such "things"! |
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