"2565-88" - читать интересную книгу автора (Warlady 1 - 2565 Ad Book 2)2565 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Book Two Chapter Forty Five "Sharon! Swim for it! Go for the Squala!" I snapped, siz- ing up the situation with a Warrioress' instinct. Tara had nine women with her. The best the Empire of California had. Women of Darlanis' very own personal guard who had now "betrayed" her. There could be but only one outcome to such a fight against such terrible odds. Darlanis and I would die together. Take as many of the bitches with us as we could on the way. I felt no terror of what the future held. Darlanis would be with me all the way! "Do it!" Darlanis snapped, the two of us moving back, our swords there in our hands. I would have preferred to have Darla- nis on my right instead of on my left, but it didn't matter much. "Like old times again," Darlanis smiled. She is of the War- rioresses. Tara ordered her warrioresses to attack. She did not lead the attack. She knew what sort we were. What we could do. "We've got good Princesses," I answered, meeting the attack. Sharon somewhere behind us as we stood there on the dock, letting our attackers drive us back. My blade seeking the throat of the armored woman facing me. Darlanis thrusting, her opponent fall- ing. She is good. Stronger than me, but not quite as "quick". "Stop that girl!" I heard Tara cry out as there came a splash behind us. I wondered if she had a boat out there in the darkness. Sharon would be hard to catch in the water. There were men on Squala. Enough to deter any force that Tara could muster against the ship. Sharon would be safe there from Tara. I got my blade beneath my opponent's guard, dropped her. A sword slipped out from among those before us, slipped into my thigh as I was kept helplessly busy with another's attack. Driv- ing deep in a searing painful thrust into my leg. I dropped another of those bitches who had betrayed the golden Empress of California there beside me. I heard Jon's voice, saw figures there in the darkness as Tara sent some of her women to deal with this new threat. I feared much for his life! Saw blades flash! More than just his. Lady Tirana's, Sanda's, Hara's. My friends! "Lys-dammed bitch!" Darlanis snarled, thrusting, taking a thrust herself, staggering back. I shielded her as best I could until she could recover. My right leg was painful, not fully usable now. I partially parried another thrust, felt the sword grate against my ribs there beneath my right arm. Got my point into another throat as the last of our opponents went to her fi- nal judgment. Heard yells, cries, saw more blades flash. Those loyal to Darlanis were finally here now. The end was swift then for those traitors to Darlanis who had followed Princess Tara. "Tara?" Darlanis snapped, a dozen of her warrioresses stand- ing there, their blades in their hands. Jon, Sanda, Tirana, Hara together to one side. Bodies there on the ground. No quarter had been asked or given. Tara's body was not among those there. "I saw her run, leap into the water," Sharon said, her teeth chattering, her gown soaking wet, revealing every curve beneath as she stood beside a bleeding Darlanis. Gayle here now, others, the scene now well lit by torches. Jon supporting me, the blood running from my body, from my leg. My beautiful gown now ruined! "She won't survive long in those waters," Jon said. I did not think however that she had drowned. We would see her again! "I had a `feeling'," Jon said to me, carrying me into the palace in his arms. He had cut my gown, made a quick tourniquet. I thanked "SHE" for the lives of my friends. That all the "loss- es" had been on Tara's "side". There had been no survivors. It was, I thought to myself, just as well. Sharon would not have cared to watch the executions, although I think Darlanis would have merely have run the women through with her sword rather than be bothered with trials and executions and etc. She was furious. I could understand why. Those we had fought had been members of her own personal guard. Those who she had always "trusted" above anyone else. I think she felt both "betrayed" and "uneasy" at how easy Tara had managed to gain entrance to the palace grounds! "I'm getting too old for this sort of stuff," Tirana said to me as Darlanis' physician tended to her wound. Lady Tirana had been cut on her cheek. The woman now stitching up the cut. It would probably leave a scar although I doubt that she cared much. She had once been the Warlady of Sarn. That had come as a sur- prise to me. Thar Marden's own Warlady! The same Warlady that Darlanis under public pressure, had used as a "scapegoat" twenty years ago when the King of Sarn was killed in a Nevada ambush. Much like Custer had been some seven centuries ago. Darlanis, seeking someone to "blame", had picked on Tirana as her victim. "I've detailed forces off our ships to reinforce security here tonight," Hara said, striding into the room. She was a good Warlady. Capable, competent. Sanda was sitting beside Darlanis. Once they had been bitter enemies. I did not feel they were now. "That damn Tara must have `agents' everywhere!" Darlanis snapped back. Sharon and Gayle sitting together, speaking soft- ly. "My own warrioresses! Attacking us!" She was still "hurt". "I don't think you have anything more to fear," Sanda said to Darlanis, pouring a glass of wine, handing it to the Empress. "Why didn't you ally yourself with Tara?" Darlanis asked. I could understand how Darlanis felt. Her entire "world" had just been "turned upside down" by what had happened tonight. She had taken a sword blade through the left shoulder. Her arm was in a sling. A robe drawn about her otherwise naked form. My own at- tire a blanket, nothing else as I laid there watching everything from the Empress' own bed, propped up so that I might take part in things if I so wished. I had lost considerable blood. Tara's women had been excellent swordswomen. I had killed three of them in the fight. Darlanis two. The other four had died at the blades of either my friends or Darlanis' own loyal warrioresses. "I didn't like you, but I detested Tara," Sanda answered. "You at least I respected for being `honorable' and `decent'." Tara of course is the exact opposite of that. Darlanis nodded. "Perhaps there's hope for you yet," Darlanis smiled back. I saw Sanda nod, smile. I don't think she hated Darlanis anymore. "I don't like leaving you like this," Jon said to me. I had asked him to take the Squala to Sana. Take Gayle, two hundred gallons of medical alcohol for Black Lady. It would take him perhaps ten days to make the trip. Perhaps eight hours for Black Lady although it wasn't my intention to make the trip to Dularn in one jump. We would stop at Porlan, refuel, refresh ourselves, and leave the next morning. In the air at least we would be safe. As safe as one can be here in the 26th Century with its dangerous beasts and more dangerous people. I planned to take off in about a week after our wounds healed up somewhat. I could hardly walk on my bad leg and Darlanis had but little use of her left arm. Fortunately Princess Tara hadn't damaged the airplane. "I doubt that there is any danger here anymore," Darlanis assured him, a cloak drawn around her golden form against the chill that had descended from the north. Summer was long gone. "And if worst comes to worst we'll still have Sharon and Sanda to put things back together," I pointed out. Hara was ca- pable and competent, and Lady Tirana had seen enough in her life to provide level-headed council to those two "radicals" of ours. "But I would lose a wife who's `good in bed'," Jon laughed. "And those kind are more valuable than any Queens or Princesses." "He loves you," Darlanis said to me as we walked the grav- eled paths, a crutch under my armpit, her arm about me, three of the Janis' warrioresses following close behind. They at least we could "trust", Darlanis felt. I had suggested to Darlanis that probably the rest of her women were still "loyal" to her. That she would have to eventually "trust" those around her. On the other hand I was a "fine one to talk". I had at one time or another mistrusted everyone I knew with the exception of Gayle, Lady Tirana, and Jon Richards. Even Sanda, my own Prime Minis- ter, had once felt my mistrust. Had suffered the humiliation of being possibly considered the woman who had tried to kill both me and Darlanis there on our flight from my estates to Trella. Now of course I knew it had been one of Tara's agents, but then, yet, as you can see if you look back in my story, I actually did con- sider it possible that Sanda was the one guilty of poisoning me! "I'm just `lucky', I guess," I smiled back, flinging a stone into the bay. I was glad that Jon disliked Darlanis as much as he did. She was far too beautiful for any married woman to ever want "hanging around" her husband. Her stunning beauty was enough to make any wife "sweat" a bit with worry. Darlanis is fantastically beautiful by the standards of the 26th Century or by those of any century for that matter. Sort of a "Goddess of Beauty" if you will. Men are almost helpless before her. I have seen such things enough times to know. She can only be success- fully opposed by another woman. I'm glad Jon doesn't like her. "I would give up everything I have to have a man who loves me for myself like Jon loves you," Darlanis answered, staring out into the bay. Watching the seagulls as they now swooped about searching for something to eat there in the rippling waters be- low. Her gem-like azure eyes for a moment burned hot into mine. 2565 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Book Two Chapter Forty Five "Sharon! Swim for it! Go for the Squala!" I snapped, siz- ing up the situation with a Warrioress' instinct. Tara had nine women with her. The best the Empire of California had. Women of Darlanis' very own personal guard who had now "betrayed" her. There could be but only one outcome to such a fight against such terrible odds. Darlanis and I would die together. Take as many of the bitches with us as we could on the way. I felt no terror of what the future held. Darlanis would be with me all the way! "Do it!" Darlanis snapped, the two of us moving back, our swords there in our hands. I would have preferred to have Darla- nis on my right instead of on my left, but it didn't matter much. "Like old times again," Darlanis smiled. She is of the War- rioresses. Tara ordered her warrioresses to attack. She did not lead the attack. She knew what sort we were. What we could do. "We've got good Princesses," I answered, meeting the attack. Sharon somewhere behind us as we stood there on the dock, letting our attackers drive us back. My blade seeking the throat of the armored woman facing me. Darlanis thrusting, her opponent fall- ing. She is good. Stronger than me, but not quite as "quick". "Stop that girl!" I heard Tara cry out as there came a splash behind us. I wondered if she had a boat out there in the darkness. Sharon would be hard to catch in the water. There were men on Squala. Enough to deter any force that Tara could muster against the ship. Sharon would be safe there from Tara. I got my blade beneath my opponent's guard, dropped her. A sword slipped out from among those before us, slipped into my thigh as I was kept helplessly busy with another's attack. Driv- ing deep in a searing painful thrust into my leg. I dropped another of those bitches who had betrayed the golden Empress of California there beside me. I heard Jon's voice, saw figures there in the darkness as Tara sent some of her women to deal with this new threat. I feared much for his life! Saw blades flash! More than just his. Lady Tirana's, Sanda's, Hara's. My friends! "Lys-dammed bitch!" Darlanis snarled, thrusting, taking a thrust herself, staggering back. I shielded her as best I could until she could recover. My right leg was painful, not fully usable now. I partially parried another thrust, felt the sword grate against my ribs there beneath my right arm. Got my point into another throat as the last of our opponents went to her fi- nal judgment. Heard yells, cries, saw more blades flash. Those loyal to Darlanis were finally here now. The end was swift then for those traitors to Darlanis who had followed Princess Tara. "Tara?" Darlanis snapped, a dozen of her warrioresses stand- ing there, their blades in their hands. Jon, Sanda, Tirana, Hara together to one side. Bodies there on the ground. No quarter had been asked or given. Tara's body was not among those there. "I saw her run, leap into the water," Sharon said, her teeth chattering, her gown soaking wet, revealing every curve beneath as she stood beside a bleeding Darlanis. Gayle here now, others, the scene now well lit by torches. Jon supporting me, the blood running from my body, from my leg. My beautiful gown now ruined! "She won't survive long in those waters," Jon said. I did not think however that she had drowned. We would see her again! "I had a `feeling'," Jon said to me, carrying me into the palace in his arms. He had cut my gown, made a quick tourniquet. I thanked "SHE" for the lives of my friends. That all the "loss- es" had been on Tara's "side". There had been no survivors. It was, I thought to myself, just as well. Sharon would not have cared to watch the executions, although I think Darlanis would have merely have run the women through with her sword rather than be bothered with trials and executions and etc. She was furious. I could understand why. Those we had fought had been members of her own personal guard. Those who she had always "trusted" above anyone else. I think she felt both "betrayed" and "uneasy" at how easy Tara had managed to gain entrance to the palace grounds! "I'm getting too old for this sort of stuff," Tirana said to me as Darlanis' physician tended to her wound. Lady Tirana had been cut on her cheek. The woman now stitching up the cut. It would probably leave a scar although I doubt that she cared much. She had once been the Warlady of Sarn. That had come as a sur- prise to me. Thar Marden's own Warlady! The same Warlady that Darlanis under public pressure, had used as a "scapegoat" twenty years ago when the King of Sarn was killed in a Nevada ambush. Much like Custer had been some seven centuries ago. Darlanis, seeking someone to "blame", had picked on Tirana as her victim. "I've detailed forces off our ships to reinforce security here tonight," Hara said, striding into the room. She was a good Warlady. Capable, competent. Sanda was sitting beside Darlanis. Once they had been bitter enemies. I did not feel they were now. "That damn Tara must have `agents' everywhere!" Darlanis snapped back. Sharon and Gayle sitting together, speaking soft- ly. "My own warrioresses! Attacking us!" She was still "hurt". "I don't think you have anything more to fear," Sanda said to Darlanis, pouring a glass of wine, handing it to the Empress. "Why didn't you ally yourself with Tara?" Darlanis asked. I could understand how Darlanis felt. Her entire "world" had just been "turned upside down" by what had happened tonight. She had taken a sword blade through the left shoulder. Her arm was in a sling. A robe drawn about her otherwise naked form. My own at- tire a blanket, nothing else as I laid there watching everything from the Empress' own bed, propped up so that I might take part in things if I so wished. I had lost considerable blood. Tara's women had been excellent swordswomen. I had killed three of them in the fight. Darlanis two. The other four had died at the blades of either my friends or Darlanis' own loyal warrioresses. "I didn't like you, but I detested Tara," Sanda answered. "You at least I respected for being `honorable' and `decent'." Tara of course is the exact opposite of that. Darlanis nodded. "Perhaps there's hope for you yet," Darlanis smiled back. I saw Sanda nod, smile. I don't think she hated Darlanis anymore. "I don't like leaving you like this," Jon said to me. I had asked him to take the Squala to Sana. Take Gayle, two hundred gallons of medical alcohol for Black Lady. It would take him perhaps ten days to make the trip. Perhaps eight hours for Black Lady although it wasn't my intention to make the trip to Dularn in one jump. We would stop at Porlan, refuel, refresh ourselves, and leave the next morning. In the air at least we would be safe. As safe as one can be here in the 26th Century with its dangerous beasts and more dangerous people. I planned to take off in about a week after our wounds healed up somewhat. I could hardly walk on my bad leg and Darlanis had but little use of her left arm. Fortunately Princess Tara hadn't damaged the airplane. "I doubt that there is any danger here anymore," Darlanis assured him, a cloak drawn around her golden form against the chill that had descended from the north. Summer was long gone. "And if worst comes to worst we'll still have Sharon and Sanda to put things back together," I pointed out. Hara was ca- pable and competent, and Lady Tirana had seen enough in her life to provide level-headed council to those two "radicals" of ours. "But I would lose a wife who's `good in bed'," Jon laughed. "And those kind are more valuable than any Queens or Princesses." "He loves you," Darlanis said to me as we walked the grav- eled paths, a crutch under my armpit, her arm about me, three of the Janis' warrioresses following close behind. They at least we could "trust", Darlanis felt. I had suggested to Darlanis that probably the rest of her women were still "loyal" to her. That she would have to eventually "trust" those around her. On the other hand I was a "fine one to talk". I had at one time or another mistrusted everyone I knew with the exception of Gayle, Lady Tirana, and Jon Richards. Even Sanda, my own Prime Minis- ter, had once felt my mistrust. Had suffered the humiliation of being possibly considered the woman who had tried to kill both me and Darlanis there on our flight from my estates to Trella. Now of course I knew it had been one of Tara's agents, but then, yet, as you can see if you look back in my story, I actually did con- sider it possible that Sanda was the one guilty of poisoning me! "I'm just `lucky', I guess," I smiled back, flinging a stone into the bay. I was glad that Jon disliked Darlanis as much as he did. She was far too beautiful for any married woman to ever want "hanging around" her husband. Her stunning beauty was enough to make any wife "sweat" a bit with worry. Darlanis is fantastically beautiful by the standards of the 26th Century or by those of any century for that matter. Sort of a "Goddess of Beauty" if you will. Men are almost helpless before her. I have seen such things enough times to know. She can only be success- fully opposed by another woman. I'm glad Jon doesn't like her. "I would give up everything I have to have a man who loves me for myself like Jon loves you," Darlanis answered, staring out into the bay. Watching the seagulls as they now swooped about searching for something to eat there in the rippling waters be- low. Her gem-like azure eyes for a moment burned hot into mine. |
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