"FREE-18" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jerome Bigge - Warlady 9 - The Freedom Fighters Of Trelandar)Freedom Fighters of Trelandar A Tale of Adventure in the Second Dark Age Book Nine of the Warlady Series By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Eighteen "This could be your sister's again if she is `reasonable'," Darlanis said to me as we walked through the palace of Trelandar, the lovely tapestries on the walls, the corridors much the same. The golden haired Empress herself much like some exotic dream... Part no doubt of the "power" that she seems to exert over males. With us was another woman, one who wore a short red leather skirt and a clinging green silken half blouse, a woman who I suspected was more of a "friend" to Darlanis than any other might be here. A woman with reddish brown hair, bluish eyes, a busty figure that left few doubts as to who she might be here too... Lara Warsan!! That famous Trelandarian prostitute some called the Queen of Sex. "An `alliance' may be `acceptable' to Paula," I ventured. I had no real idea of what Paula would agree to, my sister's pride something that might well stand in the way of any agreement here. She was not a person that I would have wished to have as a "cli- ent", but just now I was more interested in seeing what Darlanis' offer might be, considering the "difficulty" she'd have in taking over Trelandar now that I was Warlady. Darlanis being well aware now that I'd been the one responsible for all her "troubles", it being likely that a certain amount of "pressure" might be placed upon her to come to some sort of "terms" here rather than contin- ue on fighting a war that could drag on for years if I so wished. Unlike warfare in the age of firearms, war in our time was more a matter of "will", of a determination to fight. Arms were not a matter of factories, but of small tools, of blacksmith shops, not great industries that were "vulnerable" to attack from an enemy. A longbow can be made by any with skill and a good sharp knife. Part of a Warrior's and a Warrioress' training is making "such". "Talon is my next `objective' after Trelandar," she stated. "There is no `defense' against air attacks," I pointed out. "A matter of `training'," she smiled, her eyes meeting mine. "Your forces will spread out, shield themselves," I smiled. "And return fire with our bows, our crossbows," she added. "I would suggest negotiating with Queen Dala," I smiled. "She is not likely to be `agreeable'," Darlanis smiled. "You do set an excellent table," Carl said to Darlanis as we ate, there being just about everything there anyone could wish... Even those iced pickled herrings in sour cream sent from Dularn. This last being a delicacy I'd only sampled a couple of times be- fore, as it is expensive to ship perishable foods kept in ice all the way down from Dularn, a matter my sister once so pointed out. A duo of slave girls, both strikingly beautiful, serving us here. We were dining with just Lara, Darlanis' "friend", Princess Tara being off somewhere, Darlanis said, tending to the war. Her own comments implying that so far as she was concerned, she'd be just as happy never to "see" the woman again. She also seemed to be a bit more "friendly" towards me than I would have expected her to be, considering that I was a serious "threat" to her own dreams. A woman, a slave, gently plucking on a lyre there in the corner, a small fire in the fireplace against the "chill" of the evening. Little having changed here in the royal palace save its occupant. "My friends live well," Darlanis smiled back, her eyes glow- ing into his. A slave girl, blonde, beautiful, refilling his own goblet at a nod from the Empress. The wench briefly clad, wear- ing just enough to cover her breasts and conceal her behind here. The dress of a gauzy material that "hinted" at what laid beneath. "And my generosity is well known," Darlanis added, smiling at me. "You were my friend at the Academy, my only friend," she added, a cold hand clasping my heart as I realized what she was up to now! "I didn't think you were that `impressed' with what I did," I spoke, keeping my voice level, keeping my "attention" upon her. The slave girl whispering into Carl's ear, and caressing him now! "I'm a married man, and I love my wife," Carl spoke in low tones to the blonde, pushing her away, this ploy of Darlanis hav- ing failed to have the effect that the Empress had hoped for now. The girl glancing at her mistress in a way that left no doubts... "You are a better Warlady than Tara, than Hara was, or your Tirana is," Darlanis answered, sipping at her wine as if nothing was happening now. I had no doubts she would have made an excel- lent court room attorney, especially with the "style" she had... "Your grasp of military tactics is awesome, and you also have an ability to `see' what others do not," she pointed out to me here. It being quite "obvious" here just "what" she wanted from me now. Lara's eyes glowing into mine as she sat there across the table. "I have no doubts that I would be well rewarded for my trou- bles," I smiled back, recalling the "term" one might apply here. I had no idea whether or not Darlanis' "Empire" was practical or not, but I had no doubts that she was a serious threat to freedom loving peoples everywhere here on the coastline of North America. "The Warlady of the Empire of California will be rich beyond her dreams," Darlanis spoke, her eyes burning straight into mine. There being no "doubt" anymore as to what she wanted from me now. "I am not of the Warrioresses," I pointed out, thinking rap- idly of something "neutral" to say here. Aware that Darlanis was no doubt aware of that fact, which as Empress she could of course overcome by royal decree, just as my sister had done for me here. "Being a Warrioress is `more' than having the caste mark on your wrist," Darlanis smiled, extending her arm, showing me hers. A local anesthetic is used, the mark itself being a "brand" of a stylized sword, somewhat resembling the Cross of the Christians with the point of the "sword" pointing outwards towards an enemy. "It is a matter of `attitudes', of the way one so `sees' things." "I would not be `Warlady' of Trelandar now if you hadn't in- vaded it," I spoke, sipping thoughtfully at my wine as I thought of what to say next. "I am not a professional fighting woman..." "I `see' myself as a `liberator', not as an `invader'," she replied, her words like the purr of some great and dangerous cat. "Freeing your people from the oppressive rule of a government who paid them little `heed' save to tax them for its own luxuries... A government that was quite willing to ally itself against Sarn." Darlanis apparently speaking here of an attempt by the King the year before to make a military alliance with the Queen of Dularn. An action that I had much applauded even if Queen Tulis of Dularn had not been interested in forming such an alliance with us then, a mistake I suspected Dularn itself would eventually now pay for. "Perhaps the people of Trelandar could vote on the issue," I suggested with a smile, aware of the "predator" that she was too. "Both you and Queen Paula could go about like `politicians' once did long ago and try to convince the people of Trelandar which of you would be able to give them the most," I continued on to her. "I see you have not forgotten your ideals," Darlanis said. "Of a constitutional republic like Dularn," I grinned back. "Democracy does not guarantee good government," she smiled. "The United States of America before Janet Rogers was `not' well governed, in part due to the Democratic Socialist Welfare Party." Its economic collapse in 2007 A.D. having been the major reason why the American people elected Janet Rogers as their President.* * The actual name of the political party was the "Democratic Par- ty", but due to the fact that Janet Rogers always referred to it as the "Democratic Socialist Welfare Party", this is the "name" that it is known by today here in the 27th Century. Lorraine in her writings refers to it by its proper name, but this is not the name that is now in general use today. It is also "known" as the "Jackass Party" due its party symbol being a jackass... That of Janet Rogers was called the "American Party" and had as its party symbol the Phoenix, a mythical bird reborn from its funeral pyre. There was also a "Republican Party", whose "symbol" was the ele- phant, which was supposed to be a wise animal that never forgets. It was primarily a "conservative" political force, often referred to here in Janet Roger's writings as the "me-too" party. (Sanda) "A `mistake' caused by extending the vote to all," I smiled, my husband sitting here listening, admiring Darlanis' slave girls as they went about their duties. Their attire briefer than most, designed I suspected to keep a man's mind off of much but S-E-X! Their movements, the ways that they carried out their tasks leav- ing no doubts in my mind too that they'd been trained to do this. Darlanis is quite a bit more "intelligent" than most give her any credit for being, perhaps due to her beauty, and I had no doubts that a part of her "power" here was due to "tricks" such as this. "With `rights' comes `responsibility'," the Empress smiled. That had not been clearly "understood" in the past when the Demo- cratic Socialist Welfare Party was in charge of things back then. When the "leader" of the Party had been Hillary Rodham Clinton... A woman far to the "left" politically, who believed that despite the fact that "socialism" had failed wherever it had been tried, that it still could succeed if only given "another chance" here!* * The basic "concept" of "socialism" for those not of my caste is that everyone puts into a "common pot" whatever they produce, and then takes back out whatever they now need in turn. It is a very "appealing" philosophy to many people, and for a very short time reappeared here in Trelandar back in 2570 before our beloved late Queen then crushed it like the deadly political viper that it is. The concept fails when you realize that people always "want" more than they are ever able to earn, that it destroys all "incentive" to produce more as one is no longer "rewarded" for hard work, but instead finds that the "drone" who produces nothing yet is given the products of someone else's hard labor just for being "there". This may also explain certain aspects of life on Mars which were written about by Lorraine in some of her diaries. Lorraine hav- ing written that civilization on that world was virtually stag- nant, a comment that others who have visited that world have made too. It being quite likely as Lorraine has related that all sci- entific progress on that world was actually "due" to the work of the Women who were "rewarded" for their work by better food and living quarters, by "awards" of various sorts they took pride in, the wearing of precious jewels much like any Earthly woman might. "I do not wish to rush you," Darlanis smiled, lifting up her goblet for her slave girl to refill it. "But I think my offer is not `unreasonable' if you love your country as I believe you do," she "purred", her eyes holding mine in a way that left no doubts. "I do not wish to destroy Trelandar as Tara seems so eager to..." Lara Warsan smiling at me, her eyes holding mine as I now nodded. Freedom Fighters of Trelandar A Tale of Adventure in the Second Dark Age Book Nine of the Warlady Series By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Eighteen "This could be your sister's again if she is `reasonable'," Darlanis said to me as we walked through the palace of Trelandar, the lovely tapestries on the walls, the corridors much the same. The golden haired Empress herself much like some exotic dream... Part no doubt of the "power" that she seems to exert over males. With us was another woman, one who wore a short red leather skirt and a clinging green silken half blouse, a woman who I suspected was more of a "friend" to Darlanis than any other might be here. A woman with reddish brown hair, bluish eyes, a busty figure that left few doubts as to who she might be here too... Lara Warsan!! That famous Trelandarian prostitute some called the Queen of Sex. "An `alliance' may be `acceptable' to Paula," I ventured. I had no real idea of what Paula would agree to, my sister's pride something that might well stand in the way of any agreement here. She was not a person that I would have wished to have as a "cli- ent", but just now I was more interested in seeing what Darlanis' offer might be, considering the "difficulty" she'd have in taking over Trelandar now that I was Warlady. Darlanis being well aware now that I'd been the one responsible for all her "troubles", it being likely that a certain amount of "pressure" might be placed upon her to come to some sort of "terms" here rather than contin- ue on fighting a war that could drag on for years if I so wished. Unlike warfare in the age of firearms, war in our time was more a matter of "will", of a determination to fight. Arms were not a matter of factories, but of small tools, of blacksmith shops, not great industries that were "vulnerable" to attack from an enemy. A longbow can be made by any with skill and a good sharp knife. Part of a Warrior's and a Warrioress' training is making "such". "Talon is my next `objective' after Trelandar," she stated. "There is no `defense' against air attacks," I pointed out. "A matter of `training'," she smiled, her eyes meeting mine. "Your forces will spread out, shield themselves," I smiled. "And return fire with our bows, our crossbows," she added. "I would suggest negotiating with Queen Dala," I smiled. "She is not likely to be `agreeable'," Darlanis smiled. "You do set an excellent table," Carl said to Darlanis as we ate, there being just about everything there anyone could wish... Even those iced pickled herrings in sour cream sent from Dularn. This last being a delicacy I'd only sampled a couple of times be- fore, as it is expensive to ship perishable foods kept in ice all the way down from Dularn, a matter my sister once so pointed out. A duo of slave girls, both strikingly beautiful, serving us here. We were dining with just Lara, Darlanis' "friend", Princess Tara being off somewhere, Darlanis said, tending to the war. Her own comments implying that so far as she was concerned, she'd be just as happy never to "see" the woman again. She also seemed to be a bit more "friendly" towards me than I would have expected her to be, considering that I was a serious "threat" to her own dreams. A woman, a slave, gently plucking on a lyre there in the corner, a small fire in the fireplace against the "chill" of the evening. Little having changed here in the royal palace save its occupant. "My friends live well," Darlanis smiled back, her eyes glow- ing into his. A slave girl, blonde, beautiful, refilling his own goblet at a nod from the Empress. The wench briefly clad, wear- ing just enough to cover her breasts and conceal her behind here. The dress of a gauzy material that "hinted" at what laid beneath. "And my generosity is well known," Darlanis added, smiling at me. "You were my friend at the Academy, my only friend," she added, a cold hand clasping my heart as I realized what she was up to now! "I didn't think you were that `impressed' with what I did," I spoke, keeping my voice level, keeping my "attention" upon her. The slave girl whispering into Carl's ear, and caressing him now! "I'm a married man, and I love my wife," Carl spoke in low tones to the blonde, pushing her away, this ploy of Darlanis hav- ing failed to have the effect that the Empress had hoped for now. The girl glancing at her mistress in a way that left no doubts... "You are a better Warlady than Tara, than Hara was, or your Tirana is," Darlanis answered, sipping at her wine as if nothing was happening now. I had no doubts she would have made an excel- lent court room attorney, especially with the "style" she had... "Your grasp of military tactics is awesome, and you also have an ability to `see' what others do not," she pointed out to me here. It being quite "obvious" here just "what" she wanted from me now. Lara's eyes glowing into mine as she sat there across the table. "I have no doubts that I would be well rewarded for my trou- bles," I smiled back, recalling the "term" one might apply here. I had no idea whether or not Darlanis' "Empire" was practical or not, but I had no doubts that she was a serious threat to freedom loving peoples everywhere here on the coastline of North America. "The Warlady of the Empire of California will be rich beyond her dreams," Darlanis spoke, her eyes burning straight into mine. There being no "doubt" anymore as to what she wanted from me now. "I am not of the Warrioresses," I pointed out, thinking rap- idly of something "neutral" to say here. Aware that Darlanis was no doubt aware of that fact, which as Empress she could of course overcome by royal decree, just as my sister had done for me here. "Being a Warrioress is `more' than having the caste mark on your wrist," Darlanis smiled, extending her arm, showing me hers. A local anesthetic is used, the mark itself being a "brand" of a stylized sword, somewhat resembling the Cross of the Christians with the point of the "sword" pointing outwards towards an enemy. "It is a matter of `attitudes', of the way one so `sees' things." "I would not be `Warlady' of Trelandar now if you hadn't in- vaded it," I spoke, sipping thoughtfully at my wine as I thought of what to say next. "I am not a professional fighting woman..." "I `see' myself as a `liberator', not as an `invader'," she replied, her words like the purr of some great and dangerous cat. "Freeing your people from the oppressive rule of a government who paid them little `heed' save to tax them for its own luxuries... A government that was quite willing to ally itself against Sarn." Darlanis apparently speaking here of an attempt by the King the year before to make a military alliance with the Queen of Dularn. An action that I had much applauded even if Queen Tulis of Dularn had not been interested in forming such an alliance with us then, a mistake I suspected Dularn itself would eventually now pay for. "Perhaps the people of Trelandar could vote on the issue," I suggested with a smile, aware of the "predator" that she was too. "Both you and Queen Paula could go about like `politicians' once did long ago and try to convince the people of Trelandar which of you would be able to give them the most," I continued on to her. "I see you have not forgotten your ideals," Darlanis said. "Of a constitutional republic like Dularn," I grinned back. "Democracy does not guarantee good government," she smiled. "The United States of America before Janet Rogers was `not' well governed, in part due to the Democratic Socialist Welfare Party." Its economic collapse in 2007 A.D. having been the major reason why the American people elected Janet Rogers as their President.* * The actual name of the political party was the "Democratic Par- ty", but due to the fact that Janet Rogers always referred to it as the "Democratic Socialist Welfare Party", this is the "name" that it is known by today here in the 27th Century. Lorraine in her writings refers to it by its proper name, but this is not the name that is now in general use today. It is also "known" as the "Jackass Party" due its party symbol being a jackass... That of Janet Rogers was called the "American Party" and had as its party symbol the Phoenix, a mythical bird reborn from its funeral pyre. There was also a "Republican Party", whose "symbol" was the ele- phant, which was supposed to be a wise animal that never forgets. It was primarily a "conservative" political force, often referred to here in Janet Roger's writings as the "me-too" party. (Sanda) "A `mistake' caused by extending the vote to all," I smiled, my husband sitting here listening, admiring Darlanis' slave girls as they went about their duties. Their attire briefer than most, designed I suspected to keep a man's mind off of much but S-E-X! Their movements, the ways that they carried out their tasks leav- ing no doubts in my mind too that they'd been trained to do this. Darlanis is quite a bit more "intelligent" than most give her any credit for being, perhaps due to her beauty, and I had no doubts that a part of her "power" here was due to "tricks" such as this. "With `rights' comes `responsibility'," the Empress smiled. That had not been clearly "understood" in the past when the Demo- cratic Socialist Welfare Party was in charge of things back then. When the "leader" of the Party had been Hillary Rodham Clinton... A woman far to the "left" politically, who believed that despite the fact that "socialism" had failed wherever it had been tried, that it still could succeed if only given "another chance" here!* * The basic "concept" of "socialism" for those not of my caste is that everyone puts into a "common pot" whatever they produce, and then takes back out whatever they now need in turn. It is a very "appealing" philosophy to many people, and for a very short time reappeared here in Trelandar back in 2570 before our beloved late Queen then crushed it like the deadly political viper that it is. The concept fails when you realize that people always "want" more than they are ever able to earn, that it destroys all "incentive" to produce more as one is no longer "rewarded" for hard work, but instead finds that the "drone" who produces nothing yet is given the products of someone else's hard labor just for being "there". This may also explain certain aspects of life on Mars which were written about by Lorraine in some of her diaries. Lorraine hav- ing written that civilization on that world was virtually stag- nant, a comment that others who have visited that world have made too. It being quite likely as Lorraine has related that all sci- entific progress on that world was actually "due" to the work of the Women who were "rewarded" for their work by better food and living quarters, by "awards" of various sorts they took pride in, the wearing of precious jewels much like any Earthly woman might. "I do not wish to rush you," Darlanis smiled, lifting up her goblet for her slave girl to refill it. "But I think my offer is not `unreasonable' if you love your country as I believe you do," she "purred", her eyes holding mine in a way that left no doubts. "I do not wish to destroy Trelandar as Tara seems so eager to..." Lara Warsan smiling at me, her eyes holding mine as I now nodded. |
|
|