"FREE-23" - 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 Twenty Three I walked around the house, waved the sword I held, hoping that they would see, know that I was safe. That long slim blade that had belonged to my mother, that she'd worn there at her hip. A different sort of weapon from that I usually carried, this more a rapier than a slashing weapon, a blade forged by men now dust. Made of a steel alloy that not even time could destroy, rustless, made to be handed down from generation to generation, from mother to daughter. I thought of my mother, tall, black haired, truly a Warrioress in a way I never could be... I saw then the answering flash from the forest, and a moment later, saw them riding forth. "My husband Carl Talen, Marta Satel of the Warrioresses," I introduced them to Katherine, remembering my mother, the way that she'd been truly of the Warrioresses in a way that I never could be. More like Paula in some ways, the caste codes having "mean- ing" for her in a way that they could never be for me... Jerry moving to my side, putting his arm around me as they then dis- mounted, the bodies of the Imperial troopers leaving no doubts of things. Or that they had died at the hand of Trelandar's Warla- dy. It had been a "classic" ambush, simple "Academy" tactics. Surprising an unprepared enemy, as I'd so often done here lately. "The sword..." Carl said, aware that I hadn't carried one. "My mother's," I answered, the blade like none other now. "She is `worthy' of it too," Katherine spoke, Carl nodding. "We have ridden long," I said then, Katherine smiling back. "You are welcome to share my table and stay the night," she smiled back. In the morning we'd head back towards that part of Trelandar yet under the control of Paula, three days hard riding. I'd take Jerry with me, and we'd be a family once this was over.* * I still believed at this time that we'd eventually win against Darlanis, as we had fought her to a stalemate south of Trella. I was aware that we lacked the numbers to win any substantial "vic- tories" against her Legions, but I felt that a long campaign of "harassment" would eventually bring Darlanis to the peace table. As it turned out however, Darlanis did have other "alternatives". What she did was an act of desperation, but it did work. (Sanda) "This entire area is under the domain of Lady Lana Daris," Katherine Hibber said as we sat there at the table, the bodies of the Imperial troopers having been disposed of where it was likely now that little suspicion would fall upon my former mother in law should the Empire wish to determine what happened to them here... It was getting late, the sun soon to set as we ate our dinner to- gether. "We're `lucky' that she's of Trelandarian birth, and not really one of `them'," Katherine continued on here, saying that Lady Lana had done a lot to see to it that the worst of the Impe- rial abuses came to an end. Her husband Lord Daris of Sarn, was a "power" in the new Imperial Senate, one of enough authority in any case she claimed to make his own wife a "power" in the area. Lana was said to be both "beautiful" and an awesome swordswoman, one perhaps even a "match" for such as Darlanis and Tara, we were told. Well "liked" too by most of the people living here. The lamp there on the table lighting up her face as she spoke, my son sitting there listening to us all. Trouble sitting there by his chair, the Boston Terrier hoping for a tidbit off his plate here. "Then we won't make any `troubles' for her," I smiled. "How much of `this' is yours?" Carl asked me then. "A `part', all south of Thistle," I smiled back. "It all belongs to the Daris' now," Katherine said. "Thanks to Darlanis and her ambitions," Marta retorted. "Lady Lana has asked us not to `resist'," Katherine said. "Lady Lana is an `Imperial'," my officer swiftly retorted. "She has done everything she can for us," Katherine replied. "Makes the people easier to `govern' that way," Marta said, the implication of her comments here something none of us missed. "Standard tactics for control of slaves," Carl pointed out, his eyes holding mine as I nodded thoughtfully back in reply now. Lady Lana was a "competent" overlord, better than most Imperials. "First you let them `feel' the whip, then you `reward' those who `kowtow' to you," I explained, seeing Katherine nodding then. Darlanis was noted for using such tactics, I might mention here.* * Her "relationship" with Lara Warsan may have been such. On the other hand Warsan was also helpful towards my own F.T.M. (Sanda) "You are so `beaten down' that someone like Lady Lana seems like a `savior' to you when really she is only just another Impe- rial overlord," Marta Satel spoke. The tone of her voice leaving no doubts as to her feelings in this matter. I supposed that it was possible that Lady Lana was everything she was said to be, as not all Imperial lords and ladies were evil oppressive overlords, but one does not speak well of the enemy even if the enemy isn't as EVIL as what your own propaganda makes them out to be here...* * A good example of this are the two books that Bob Simmons wrote about their adventures in the 26th Century which show Lorraine in a different "light" than what her own writings indicate. (Sanda) "Regardless of what you think of her, she's at least better than `most' of them," Katherine retorted, perhaps correctly here. I supposed that could be "possible", judging from my own "experi- ences" with Darlanis, who was not in my opinion an "evil" person. Excessively "ambitious", perhaps not completely "sane", Darlanis was still a person that it was actually hard to truly hate here. She didn't herself "abuse" people, she did have a well developed sense of "morality" in a way, which we tried to downplay with our own propaganda here, while the Imperials of course played it up. To them she was "The Queen of Light", whereas we saw her more as being The Queen of Darkness, fighting here on the side of "EVIL". "Gott Mit Uns", I mused, recalling the old saying centuries ago. Both Paula and Darlanis claimed Lys was "on our side", although the Priestesses of Lys did not support either Queen's claim here. "We are at `war' with these people," I said, aware that many Imperials probably were good husbands, fathers, the Warrioresses that we shot down from ambush no doubt were good wives, mothers. It is always best in warfare to see the enemy as the ENEMY, those who are the minions of the EVIL ONE, His own evil spawn sent here to Earth to carry out war, killing, rape and pillage against you. Then when you shoot your arrows, your crossbow bolts, you do not feel as if you are killing a fellow human being, someone who has been a father, a mother, a person who might be not "evil" at all. In World War One the "enemy" were called "Huns", in another war later on in that century they were called "VC", and later yet in the 21st Century during the great wars in the Middle East they were called "Slams", based perhaps on their religion of Islam.* * This parallels the "opinions" that many people had of the Lorr, who were seen as "Bugs", which is probably "why" The War of 2047 took place. The Lorr of course seeing us much as we saw them... It is always "easy" to see the "enemy" as being "subhuman beasts" of one sort or another, as being without honor, without morality. Without the least shred of human decency, without any compassion. This last was used against the Imperials by my sister, and also I did the same with my Free Trelandar Movement, which depicted them in terms of brutal oppressors, as exploiters of the people of our country, whereas the reality was of course quite different. Some Imperial overlords were "despicable", while others did everything that they could make the lives of those who they ruled "better". Darlanis herself was never the evil person we made her out to be, something that the Empress reminded me of a number of times, much to my own discomfort as I was very much aware that she was right! On the other hand Princess Tara was all I said she was... (Sanda) "Perhaps some of them are not our enemies." she pointed out. I supposed it could be true, but one did not "admit" such things. "All Imperials are our `enemies'!" Marta Satel snapped back. To Marta the only "good" Imperial was one that she'd just killed. She didn't mutilate the dead or steal from them as some, but she hated with a deep burning hatred that left no room for feeling... "They are no `different' than we would be had our Queen fol- lowed the same path that Darlanis has," Katherine Hibber smiled. I was well aware that Trelandarians had done a number of things I had no wish to discuss, such as the killing of wounded and such. The torturing of prisoners, the raping of captured enemy women... We also executed those here who betrayed us by helping the enemy. In some people's eyes we were to be as feared as Imperial troops! Taking our vengeance upon those who had turned against Trelandar. "You aren't going to `win' this argument," I said to Marta. "I'll start cleaning up," Katherine smiled, getting up. "I'll help," I spoke, smiling at my son sitting there. "Someone's coming," Katherine spoke, the dog barking. "Damn!" I hissed, peeking out through the curtains. "That's Lady Lana!" Katherine spoke in awe quietly. "We'll take her by surprise," I said, drawing my blade. "Don't hurt her!" Katherine breathed, going now to the door. Carl and Marta withdrawing and taking my son with them into the kitchen. Hopefully Lady Lana had not noticed "anything" here... I did not wish to kill, but I knew it could become necessary now as I heard her boots clumping on the porch steps, heard her step to the door. My palm damp around the hilt of my mother's sword. Freedom Fighters of Trelandar A Tale of Adventure in the Second Dark Age Book Nine of the Warlady Series By Jerome B. Bigge Chapter Twenty Three I walked around the house, waved the sword I held, hoping that they would see, know that I was safe. That long slim blade that had belonged to my mother, that she'd worn there at her hip. A different sort of weapon from that I usually carried, this more a rapier than a slashing weapon, a blade forged by men now dust. Made of a steel alloy that not even time could destroy, rustless, made to be handed down from generation to generation, from mother to daughter. I thought of my mother, tall, black haired, truly a Warrioress in a way I never could be... I saw then the answering flash from the forest, and a moment later, saw them riding forth. "My husband Carl Talen, Marta Satel of the Warrioresses," I introduced them to Katherine, remembering my mother, the way that she'd been truly of the Warrioresses in a way that I never could be. More like Paula in some ways, the caste codes having "mean- ing" for her in a way that they could never be for me... Jerry moving to my side, putting his arm around me as they then dis- mounted, the bodies of the Imperial troopers leaving no doubts of things. Or that they had died at the hand of Trelandar's Warla- dy. It had been a "classic" ambush, simple "Academy" tactics. Surprising an unprepared enemy, as I'd so often done here lately. "The sword..." Carl said, aware that I hadn't carried one. "My mother's," I answered, the blade like none other now. "She is `worthy' of it too," Katherine spoke, Carl nodding. "We have ridden long," I said then, Katherine smiling back. "You are welcome to share my table and stay the night," she smiled back. In the morning we'd head back towards that part of Trelandar yet under the control of Paula, three days hard riding. I'd take Jerry with me, and we'd be a family once this was over.* * I still believed at this time that we'd eventually win against Darlanis, as we had fought her to a stalemate south of Trella. I was aware that we lacked the numbers to win any substantial "vic- tories" against her Legions, but I felt that a long campaign of "harassment" would eventually bring Darlanis to the peace table. As it turned out however, Darlanis did have other "alternatives". What she did was an act of desperation, but it did work. (Sanda) "This entire area is under the domain of Lady Lana Daris," Katherine Hibber said as we sat there at the table, the bodies of the Imperial troopers having been disposed of where it was likely now that little suspicion would fall upon my former mother in law should the Empire wish to determine what happened to them here... It was getting late, the sun soon to set as we ate our dinner to- gether. "We're `lucky' that she's of Trelandarian birth, and not really one of `them'," Katherine continued on here, saying that Lady Lana had done a lot to see to it that the worst of the Impe- rial abuses came to an end. Her husband Lord Daris of Sarn, was a "power" in the new Imperial Senate, one of enough authority in any case she claimed to make his own wife a "power" in the area. Lana was said to be both "beautiful" and an awesome swordswoman, one perhaps even a "match" for such as Darlanis and Tara, we were told. Well "liked" too by most of the people living here. The lamp there on the table lighting up her face as she spoke, my son sitting there listening to us all. Trouble sitting there by his chair, the Boston Terrier hoping for a tidbit off his plate here. "Then we won't make any `troubles' for her," I smiled. "How much of `this' is yours?" Carl asked me then. "A `part', all south of Thistle," I smiled back. "It all belongs to the Daris' now," Katherine said. "Thanks to Darlanis and her ambitions," Marta retorted. "Lady Lana has asked us not to `resist'," Katherine said. "Lady Lana is an `Imperial'," my officer swiftly retorted. "She has done everything she can for us," Katherine replied. "Makes the people easier to `govern' that way," Marta said, the implication of her comments here something none of us missed. "Standard tactics for control of slaves," Carl pointed out, his eyes holding mine as I nodded thoughtfully back in reply now. Lady Lana was a "competent" overlord, better than most Imperials. "First you let them `feel' the whip, then you `reward' those who `kowtow' to you," I explained, seeing Katherine nodding then. Darlanis was noted for using such tactics, I might mention here.* * Her "relationship" with Lara Warsan may have been such. On the other hand Warsan was also helpful towards my own F.T.M. (Sanda) "You are so `beaten down' that someone like Lady Lana seems like a `savior' to you when really she is only just another Impe- rial overlord," Marta Satel spoke. The tone of her voice leaving no doubts as to her feelings in this matter. I supposed that it was possible that Lady Lana was everything she was said to be, as not all Imperial lords and ladies were evil oppressive overlords, but one does not speak well of the enemy even if the enemy isn't as EVIL as what your own propaganda makes them out to be here...* * A good example of this are the two books that Bob Simmons wrote about their adventures in the 26th Century which show Lorraine in a different "light" than what her own writings indicate. (Sanda) "Regardless of what you think of her, she's at least better than `most' of them," Katherine retorted, perhaps correctly here. I supposed that could be "possible", judging from my own "experi- ences" with Darlanis, who was not in my opinion an "evil" person. Excessively "ambitious", perhaps not completely "sane", Darlanis was still a person that it was actually hard to truly hate here. She didn't herself "abuse" people, she did have a well developed sense of "morality" in a way, which we tried to downplay with our own propaganda here, while the Imperials of course played it up. To them she was "The Queen of Light", whereas we saw her more as being The Queen of Darkness, fighting here on the side of "EVIL". "Gott Mit Uns", I mused, recalling the old saying centuries ago. Both Paula and Darlanis claimed Lys was "on our side", although the Priestesses of Lys did not support either Queen's claim here. "We are at `war' with these people," I said, aware that many Imperials probably were good husbands, fathers, the Warrioresses that we shot down from ambush no doubt were good wives, mothers. It is always best in warfare to see the enemy as the ENEMY, those who are the minions of the EVIL ONE, His own evil spawn sent here to Earth to carry out war, killing, rape and pillage against you. Then when you shoot your arrows, your crossbow bolts, you do not feel as if you are killing a fellow human being, someone who has been a father, a mother, a person who might be not "evil" at all. In World War One the "enemy" were called "Huns", in another war later on in that century they were called "VC", and later yet in the 21st Century during the great wars in the Middle East they were called "Slams", based perhaps on their religion of Islam.* * This parallels the "opinions" that many people had of the Lorr, who were seen as "Bugs", which is probably "why" The War of 2047 took place. The Lorr of course seeing us much as we saw them... It is always "easy" to see the "enemy" as being "subhuman beasts" of one sort or another, as being without honor, without morality. Without the least shred of human decency, without any compassion. This last was used against the Imperials by my sister, and also I did the same with my Free Trelandar Movement, which depicted them in terms of brutal oppressors, as exploiters of the people of our country, whereas the reality was of course quite different. Some Imperial overlords were "despicable", while others did everything that they could make the lives of those who they ruled "better". Darlanis herself was never the evil person we made her out to be, something that the Empress reminded me of a number of times, much to my own discomfort as I was very much aware that she was right! On the other hand Princess Tara was all I said she was... (Sanda) "Perhaps some of them are not our enemies." she pointed out. I supposed it could be true, but one did not "admit" such things. "All Imperials are our `enemies'!" Marta Satel snapped back. To Marta the only "good" Imperial was one that she'd just killed. She didn't mutilate the dead or steal from them as some, but she hated with a deep burning hatred that left no room for feeling... "They are no `different' than we would be had our Queen fol- lowed the same path that Darlanis has," Katherine Hibber smiled. I was well aware that Trelandarians had done a number of things I had no wish to discuss, such as the killing of wounded and such. The torturing of prisoners, the raping of captured enemy women... We also executed those here who betrayed us by helping the enemy. In some people's eyes we were to be as feared as Imperial troops! Taking our vengeance upon those who had turned against Trelandar. "You aren't going to `win' this argument," I said to Marta. "I'll start cleaning up," Katherine smiled, getting up. "I'll help," I spoke, smiling at my son sitting there. "Someone's coming," Katherine spoke, the dog barking. "Damn!" I hissed, peeking out through the curtains. "That's Lady Lana!" Katherine spoke in awe quietly. "We'll take her by surprise," I said, drawing my blade. "Don't hurt her!" Katherine breathed, going now to the door. Carl and Marta withdrawing and taking my son with them into the kitchen. Hopefully Lady Lana had not noticed "anything" here... I did not wish to kill, but I knew it could become necessary now as I heard her boots clumping on the porch steps, heard her step to the door. My palm damp around the hilt of my mother's sword. |
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