"2565-92" - 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 Nine "You're unbelievable!" I laughed with admiration as Darlanis finished telling me her story there in the air as we flew towards Dularn the next day. She was tired, worn out from lack of sleep, but still the inconquorable and incredible Empress of California. The gold mesh of her brief provocative attire making her seem ex- otic, unreal. Like something truly out of a fantasy. A real- life "She-Ra" in the flesh! Sharon had indeed "named" her right! "Lucky more likely," Darlanis smiled back. She was running on "nerves" right now. Later on the reaction would hit. Hard. "You'd better change," I suggested. Her attire was rather "provocative" for the "strait-laced" Dularnians. Even their prostitutes usually wear more than just halters and miniskirts. "Why?" Darlanis smiled. "Let my mother see me as I am." "Arsana," I said, staring ahead through the growing clouds. I dislike flying on instruments. I like to see where I am going. "I'm sure we're expected," Darlanis smiled. She had been dozing a bit. Slumped down in the seat next to me. She didn't look so "young" then. She had not spoken much of what she had seen there in Porlan. It had been too much like a "civil war". Blade against blade, lance against lance. Over a thousand had died in total. I had not wished to "pry" further into her memo- ries. I understood. She had been, I knew, once again "SHE-RA"! "At least we won't have to worry about Tara," I smiled back. "Perhaps we should hire crossbowmen," Darlanis said. Leav- ing the rest of her thoughts unspoken, but so clearly understood! "The end does not justify the means," I answered her back. "I grow weary of fighting," Darlanis smiled back in reply. "I'm going to drop a note telling them who we are," I said. "That would probably be wise," Darlanis agreed with a smile. "You're going to freeze your balls off," I warned Darlanis. Getting out of the plane there at the palace dock as men tied it to cast iron rings set in the stone. Feeling the chill there in the air that made me glad for my lined leather jacket. A couple dozen warrioresses, twice as many warriors, many big burly "Vik- ings", watching us. They had bows, lances, long heavy swords. The royal palace of Dularn towering up before us. A number of other men and women. All well armed. Dularn has true "Universal Armament". It is against the law in Dularn to appear in public without a sword at your hip. These people do take "The Right To Keep And Bear Arms" extremely seriously! That is also why they have the advanced democratic political system that they do. Why no one will ever be able to conquer them by sheer force of arms. Our own "New Order" is based upon their own political order to a degree, although I have made "improvements" based upon my person- al knowledge and experience. We are, for example, much less "pu- ritanical" than they are. Our society is more "colorful", less "equalitarian" perhaps, but yet just as "free" as their own is. "Freeze my `what' off?" Darlanis smiled, a bit puzzled. The cloudy sun glowed off her golden mesh. She had refused to wear a cloak or cover herself in any way. I hoped she wouldn't take sick from exposure. I could already see the goose pimples there forming on her skin. The temperature was in the high forties if all of that, with a chilly breeze blowing off the sea. I under- stand that it even snows here in Dularn two-three months out of the year. There have been major climatic changes due to The War. "Never mind," I smiled, hoping they would not make her wait. I could already hear her teeth start to chatter. Sometimes she isn't too "bright" in some ways. This was certainly a prime ex- ample! On the other hand she was certainly impressive enough standing there, her golden mesh glowing in the sunlight. Like a heroine out of some fantasy tale. Darlanis does have a high tol- erance for personal discomfort. A stoic disregard for pain that reminds me so much of one who will always live in my memories... "Maris Marn!" I gasped, seeing a golden haired beautiful woman step forward to greet us. She wore the colorful and im- pressive uniform of a Sealady of Dularn, a position of awesome status within Dularn's own military. I had heard rumors that she was soon to become the Princess of Dularn. Gayle's sister had indeed done well for herself! I recalled Sharon's comment to Gayle there on the Janis. Smiled to myself as Darlanis stood there miserable at my side. If there ever was a "jumped up slave girl" Maris was certainly one! She had done well for herself! "And how is little Mara?" Maris asked, ignoring Darlanis as if she wasn't even there. I recalled what Darlanis had told me about her earlier teenage years. About her mother disowning her. Apparently orders had been given out. Darlanis was to be ignored! Completely! Just as if she didn't exist at all here! "She still speaks of you from time to time," I answered. It was the truth. She had been to Mara almost like another mother. Why she had fled my slavery to risk her life at sea was a ques- tion for which I had never been able to obtain a suitable answer. Maris Marn (Now Queen Maris Jord of Dularn as I write this, I should state here.) is a beautiful blonde of about 5'8". She is well proportioned, and quite striking. I tend to be somewhat "prejudiced" against her for personal reasons, and will only say here that she is a beautiful woman who is also very capable and competent. The book of her adventures in sailing from my estates to Arsana is well worth reading, although whether or not she is truthful in her writing is another matter. Her depiction of me, for example, is quite unflattering, and is not at all realistic considering the extremely short period of time that she knew me. "Your `companion' is turning blue with cold," Maris smiled. Darlanis was shivering uncontrollably in the cold, the chattering of her teeth being audible perhaps even to Maris as it was to me. I slipped off my jacket and slipped it over Darlanis' shoul- ders, feeling the bite of the cold breeze through the black silk of my fashionably stylish dress. One suitable for the much warm- er climates of my beloved Trelandar, not this frigid and seeming- ly near arctic land! Maris' own cloak half covering her uniform no doubt had been drawn about herself only a minute or so ago! "You Dularnians do lack a bit in being `civilized', " I an- swered, drawing a shocked gasp both from Maris and Darlanis too! "My companion here is freezing to death and no one here seems to even give a damm," I snapped, adding insult to injury. A shocked muttering going through the Dularnians present, although none of them did much of anything about it. I didn't think that they would. I have a reputation with a sword that terrifies everyone! "No doubt my mother has given orders," Darlanis said to me. "Which doesn't speak much for her either," I snapped back. I was "freezing" myself now, but I still needed to force Maris to formally recognize Darlanis as a fellow human being! Maris had her hand on the hilt of her sword although I didn't think she was stupid enough to draw on me. She was about as able a swordswoman as Sanda. Which meant she'd last about three seconds against me! Darlanis suddenly tore off my jacket and flung it back at me, snarling, "I'd rather freeze instead!" The fury burning on her incredibly beautiful face making me wonder if she would draw on me! That would be a fine kettle of fish to start things off! "Here!" Maris snapped, whipping off her cloak, and handing it to Darlanis. I had gotten the reaction out of Maris I wanted. Forced her to recognize Darlanis as a fellow human being. I would explain things to Darlanis later on. Hope she would under- stand why I had insulted her country as I had. The fury in her face left no doubt in my mind that it would take some explaining too! On the other hand I thought it was time that Darlanis con- fronted her own feelings towards her mother right here and now! "Later," Darlanis hissed, her voice as cold as ice, "We will settle this in private." She was mad and not thinking too clear- ly. I would have never insulted her people or her mother without good reason. I had provoked Maris into "recognizing" Darlanis despite Queen Tulis Jord's own orders to "ignore" her completely. "Come," Maris said, her eyes icy as they glowed into mine. The royal palace wasn't as impressive as Darlanis' in Sarn, but I thought it fitted the "character" of these austere people. Darlanis handling Maris' cloak back to her as soon as we entered the place. She wouldn't even look at me, she was so furious yet! The walls of the corridor down which we passed were lined with a number of a large colorful tapestries, all of which either depicted hunting scenes or scenes of battle. Dularnians are a war-like people. Many of them hire out as mercenaries to fight in other people's wars. Of course since Dularn lies between the Empire of California to the south and various "Viking-like" groups to the north, they get plenty of chances to do some fight- ing. Also, they are often battling the Montanas, which are much like the Nevadas that Darlanis and I often now have to deal with! "Impressive," I smiled, Darlanis glaring at me, Maris just looking uncomfortable, perhaps worrying what the Queen would say to her for having given Darlanis her cloak. A number of others following us, muttering among themselves. My comments having now stirred up considerably anger towards me as I had muchly feared. "And not the work of `barbarians'," Maris snapped back. Darlanis glancing at her, nodding, the anger still on her face. "I have never considered the people of Dularn to be such," I smiled back, "Although those who ignore the suffering of others are always such in own my eyes despite of whatever level of `civ- ilization' they happen to claim to possess." My statement making Darlanis gasp as she suddenly realized why I had spoken as I had! "Queen Tulis," Maris said to me, but just then I had eyes only for two others. One a tall dark haired handsome manly war- rior and the other a young beautiful teenage blonde girl, both standing there beside the Queen of Dularn. My husband Jon Rich- ards and my beloved Princess Gayle! What was going on here! And what had they done to the Squala? Had there been a battle at sea? Had my ship been taken by the Dularnians? I fear I thought only the worst of those now standing about. No wonder Maris had smiled as she had. I felt a cold fury fill my fevered thoughts! "It is not what it appears, Lorraine," Jon said to me. He had seen the look in my eyes. He knew me too well to believe that I would submit peacefully to any "trick" Tulis might "pull"! "We are always pleased to make the acquaintance of a Queen of Trelandar," Queen Tulis Jord of Dularn said to me as Darlanis and I stood before her. I wondered if she knew of the "trick" I had pulled on Maris Marn. Darlanis at my side being totally ignored by her mother as if she didn't even exist! I sensed Dar- lanis' hurt, pain, and pitied my friend! To be so rejected by one's own mother is a terrible blow for any daughter, in any era! Queen Tulis was not a young woman. I could see the first signs of age there in her face. She seemed drawn, in ill health. Yet she was still tall, regal, golden. Beautiful in black. Somewhat hard featured. A woman, I thought to myself, that could command men, ships, in battle. I did not doubt that she was ca- pable, competent. Much like me. I remembered Janis. This widow was her own mother. The Queen of Dularn who had sent her own daughter on a perilous mission! Such spoke much of Queen Tulis. "I trust that my husband and my daughter are not being held against their will," I answered, my voice level, the force saber now in my hand. A flick of my thumb produced that awesome glow- ing beam of force that nothing can withstand. That can cut through the hardest strongest metals if they were but only fog!!! "It is true. You are allied with the Lorr," Tulis said to me in level tones. I could see the look in her eyes. Fortunate- ly Darlanis had enough sense to keep her mouth shut while this interplay was going on. "You are indeed the Lorraine of legend." "I am the Lorraine mentioned in Janet Roger's writings," I smiled back, clicking off the force saber. Darlanis staring at me, her face unreadable. I was glad that she hadn't interfered. "It would have been better had you not brought the one now at your side," Queen Tulis said to me then, referring to Darla- nis. "She is not welcome here." I saw Maris' eyes meet mine. I suspected that it was time, so to say, to "take the bull by the horns". Part of my mission here was to reunite these two again. "You gave birth to her, nursed her at your breast," I said. "She has brought much dishonor upon us by word and deed," Tulis answered. "She has dishonored her own family by her lies." Around us were the high and mighty of Dularn. Its own nobility. "It is her brother who dishonored you, not her," I snapped. Darl Jord was sitting there next to his mother, a gross swollen man. I thought of a pig crossed with a wolf. That did fit him! "You should not have believed her lies," Tulis snapped back. Her eyes were cold, her voice icy. She was a "hard" woman. Not one, I thought to myself, given to emotion. A true "Dularnian". "I have considerable reason to believe she speaks the truth," I retorted. "That her own brother did indeed rape her. Take from her that which is most precious to a young maiden." Virginity is highly prized among the Dularnians. It is not so in the Empire except among the daughters of high born aristocrats as a rule. The cultural standards are different. Who is "right" here is a question for which I have no answer. I doubt there is one. Such things tend, especially now, to be rather meaningless. It is usually impossible for a young girl to become pregnant ex- cept by the help of the Priestesses with their fertility drugs. "She is but a slut," Tulis snapped. "Look at her attire!" Personally I found it quite beautiful. She is a stunning beauty. "I am not a slut, mother!" Darlanis suddenly snapped, "And my own brother actually did in the company of two other boys rape me when I was fifteen and then you wouldn't even believe me!" I suspect that it was in the nature of a "prank" that went too far! "She's lying, mother, just as she did thirty years ago!" Darl Jord protested, Maris Marn standing there at his side. I wondered what she thought of all this. She was due to marry him in another few days. And now perhaps she had "second thoughts"! "I have entrusted your daughter with the care and upbringing of my own stepdaughter, Sharon, who like me is from the 20th Cen- tury," I told Queen Tulis. "I would not have ever done so had I believed your daughter to be of a low moral character." I put my arm around Darlanis. "I have stood side by side with your daugh- ter against armed foes. She is even my `sister' under the `blood codes' of the Nevadas. I have trusted Darlanis with my life. An insult to her is an insult to me." I wondered if Tulis wanted to face the consequences of that! She had seen Black Lady fly over her city. The Dularnians knew enough of history to know what an airplane could do to an unprotected city like theirs. I might not be able to do much damage, but the moral effect of being helpless against me would be telling. Queen Tulis was no doubt well aware of that fact. That it was one thing to face their own primitive technology, but another entirely to face that of the 20th Century! She could of course kill me, but that might have political consequences that could be totally unpredictable. She would also be in violation of the Code of Honor, which is sacred to all Dularnians of the upper castes. She was, I thought, in a "Catch-22" situation. The thought made me smile. I thought of Maris Marn now standing there next to Darl Jord. Tall, golden, beautiful. She would be a dangerous enemy. Capable, competent! As "Princess" Tulis would no doubt also make her "Warlady" too... "I do not ask that you believe what I told you thirty years ago was the truth, I ask only that you accept me as your flesh and blood," Darlanis spoke. "That although I am now an `enemy' of Dularn I am also still the daughter that you gave birth to forty four years ago," Darlanis added, standing there beside me.* * Actually, she is Aurora's child, but that's another story! I understand that the child Tulis bore was "stillborn", and that Aurora's baby girl (Darlanis), was substituted for her instead at the wishes of Prince Paul of Dularn, who was Darlanis' father... Proud, beautiful, and so magnificent! The golden mesh of her at- tire exotically lovely! She truly did look like "She-Ra" then! "I am a dying Queen, you who were once mine," Tulis spoke, standing, her eyes glistening there in the light of the lamps. I saw the horror there on Darlanis' face as she heard Tulis words! "Maris Marn will soon wed my son, and then take my place on this throne as the new Queen of Dularn," she added with a glance at Maris as she stood there beside Darl Jord. I understood now what I had not understood before. Why Maris would marry such a man! I supposed that Queen Tulis considered her a good choice. I did. "No! Mother! NOT NOW!" Darlanis sobbed, dashing to the throne, taking her mother in her arms! The bitter tears welling up and running down her cheeks as she sobbingly held her mother!* * Darlanis of course did not know that Aurora was her "mother" at this time, although I suspected such from conversations that I had with Aurora, and the "comment" that Aurora let slip there on the Ronda as to the "welfare" of her "daughter". While it seemed to most I suppose that she was referring to An'na, I suspected in my heart that Aurora was really referring to Darlanis herself... "Lorraine!" Darlanis pleaded. "Can't the Lorr do anything?" I shook my head. I suspected the truth now. Tulis was dying from an inoperable brain tumor. One deep within her own brain! "The Priestesses of Lys may be able to help," I suggested futilely. Tulis shook her head. They had been my last hope. I knew now that there was truly no hope. The best that could be done would be to make Tulis' final days as pleasant as possible. "We have a war to end," Tulis said, touching Darlanis' face. Her fingertips wetted by the tears that now flowed down those lovely features. "There is not much time, my dear Sunflower." I saw Darlanis start, and then crush her mother to her. I had not known of Darlanis' childhood nickname. I found the name lovely. "I need the keys to the plane," Darlanis said to me, wiping at her eyes. Her arm possessively around her mother. There was that in her voice that indicated that argument would be futile. "There isn't much daylight left," I warned her. She nodded. Briefly placed her hand on my shoulder. Looked into my eyes. I understood. Such danger meant nothing to her now. Tulis nodded. "I owe you much, Lorraine," Tulis smiled as they then left. She had but perhaps weeks to live, but she had her daughter back. Just then I didn't think anything else was important to her now. 2565 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Book Two Chapter Forty Nine "You're unbelievable!" I laughed with admiration as Darlanis finished telling me her story there in the air as we flew towards Dularn the next day. She was tired, worn out from lack of sleep, but still the inconquorable and incredible Empress of California. The gold mesh of her brief provocative attire making her seem ex- otic, unreal. Like something truly out of a fantasy. A real- life "She-Ra" in the flesh! Sharon had indeed "named" her right! "Lucky more likely," Darlanis smiled back. She was running on "nerves" right now. Later on the reaction would hit. Hard. "You'd better change," I suggested. Her attire was rather "provocative" for the "strait-laced" Dularnians. Even their prostitutes usually wear more than just halters and miniskirts. "Why?" Darlanis smiled. "Let my mother see me as I am." "Arsana," I said, staring ahead through the growing clouds. I dislike flying on instruments. I like to see where I am going. "I'm sure we're expected," Darlanis smiled. She had been dozing a bit. Slumped down in the seat next to me. She didn't look so "young" then. She had not spoken much of what she had seen there in Porlan. It had been too much like a "civil war". Blade against blade, lance against lance. Over a thousand had died in total. I had not wished to "pry" further into her memo- ries. I understood. She had been, I knew, once again "SHE-RA"! "At least we won't have to worry about Tara," I smiled back. "Perhaps we should hire crossbowmen," Darlanis said. Leav- ing the rest of her thoughts unspoken, but so clearly understood! "The end does not justify the means," I answered her back. "I grow weary of fighting," Darlanis smiled back in reply. "I'm going to drop a note telling them who we are," I said. "That would probably be wise," Darlanis agreed with a smile. "You're going to freeze your balls off," I warned Darlanis. Getting out of the plane there at the palace dock as men tied it to cast iron rings set in the stone. Feeling the chill there in the air that made me glad for my lined leather jacket. A couple dozen warrioresses, twice as many warriors, many big burly "Vik- ings", watching us. They had bows, lances, long heavy swords. The royal palace of Dularn towering up before us. A number of other men and women. All well armed. Dularn has true "Universal Armament". It is against the law in Dularn to appear in public without a sword at your hip. These people do take "The Right To Keep And Bear Arms" extremely seriously! That is also why they have the advanced democratic political system that they do. Why no one will ever be able to conquer them by sheer force of arms. Our own "New Order" is based upon their own political order to a degree, although I have made "improvements" based upon my person- al knowledge and experience. We are, for example, much less "pu- ritanical" than they are. Our society is more "colorful", less "equalitarian" perhaps, but yet just as "free" as their own is. "Freeze my `what' off?" Darlanis smiled, a bit puzzled. The cloudy sun glowed off her golden mesh. She had refused to wear a cloak or cover herself in any way. I hoped she wouldn't take sick from exposure. I could already see the goose pimples there forming on her skin. The temperature was in the high forties if all of that, with a chilly breeze blowing off the sea. I under- stand that it even snows here in Dularn two-three months out of the year. There have been major climatic changes due to The War. "Never mind," I smiled, hoping they would not make her wait. I could already hear her teeth start to chatter. Sometimes she isn't too "bright" in some ways. This was certainly a prime ex- ample! On the other hand she was certainly impressive enough standing there, her golden mesh glowing in the sunlight. Like a heroine out of some fantasy tale. Darlanis does have a high tol- erance for personal discomfort. A stoic disregard for pain that reminds me so much of one who will always live in my memories... "Maris Marn!" I gasped, seeing a golden haired beautiful woman step forward to greet us. She wore the colorful and im- pressive uniform of a Sealady of Dularn, a position of awesome status within Dularn's own military. I had heard rumors that she was soon to become the Princess of Dularn. Gayle's sister had indeed done well for herself! I recalled Sharon's comment to Gayle there on the Janis. Smiled to myself as Darlanis stood there miserable at my side. If there ever was a "jumped up slave girl" Maris was certainly one! She had done well for herself! "And how is little Mara?" Maris asked, ignoring Darlanis as if she wasn't even there. I recalled what Darlanis had told me about her earlier teenage years. About her mother disowning her. Apparently orders had been given out. Darlanis was to be ignored! Completely! Just as if she didn't exist at all here! "She still speaks of you from time to time," I answered. It was the truth. She had been to Mara almost like another mother. Why she had fled my slavery to risk her life at sea was a ques- tion for which I had never been able to obtain a suitable answer. Maris Marn (Now Queen Maris Jord of Dularn as I write this, I should state here.) is a beautiful blonde of about 5'8". She is well proportioned, and quite striking. I tend to be somewhat "prejudiced" against her for personal reasons, and will only say here that she is a beautiful woman who is also very capable and competent. The book of her adventures in sailing from my estates to Arsana is well worth reading, although whether or not she is truthful in her writing is another matter. Her depiction of me, for example, is quite unflattering, and is not at all realistic considering the extremely short period of time that she knew me. "Your `companion' is turning blue with cold," Maris smiled. Darlanis was shivering uncontrollably in the cold, the chattering of her teeth being audible perhaps even to Maris as it was to me. I slipped off my jacket and slipped it over Darlanis' shoul- ders, feeling the bite of the cold breeze through the black silk of my fashionably stylish dress. One suitable for the much warm- er climates of my beloved Trelandar, not this frigid and seeming- ly near arctic land! Maris' own cloak half covering her uniform no doubt had been drawn about herself only a minute or so ago! "You Dularnians do lack a bit in being `civilized', " I an- swered, drawing a shocked gasp both from Maris and Darlanis too! "My companion here is freezing to death and no one here seems to even give a damm," I snapped, adding insult to injury. A shocked muttering going through the Dularnians present, although none of them did much of anything about it. I didn't think that they would. I have a reputation with a sword that terrifies everyone! "No doubt my mother has given orders," Darlanis said to me. "Which doesn't speak much for her either," I snapped back. I was "freezing" myself now, but I still needed to force Maris to formally recognize Darlanis as a fellow human being! Maris had her hand on the hilt of her sword although I didn't think she was stupid enough to draw on me. She was about as able a swordswoman as Sanda. Which meant she'd last about three seconds against me! Darlanis suddenly tore off my jacket and flung it back at me, snarling, "I'd rather freeze instead!" The fury burning on her incredibly beautiful face making me wonder if she would draw on me! That would be a fine kettle of fish to start things off! "Here!" Maris snapped, whipping off her cloak, and handing it to Darlanis. I had gotten the reaction out of Maris I wanted. Forced her to recognize Darlanis as a fellow human being. I would explain things to Darlanis later on. Hope she would under- stand why I had insulted her country as I had. The fury in her face left no doubt in my mind that it would take some explaining too! On the other hand I thought it was time that Darlanis con- fronted her own feelings towards her mother right here and now! "Later," Darlanis hissed, her voice as cold as ice, "We will settle this in private." She was mad and not thinking too clear- ly. I would have never insulted her people or her mother without good reason. I had provoked Maris into "recognizing" Darlanis despite Queen Tulis Jord's own orders to "ignore" her completely. "Come," Maris said, her eyes icy as they glowed into mine. The royal palace wasn't as impressive as Darlanis' in Sarn, but I thought it fitted the "character" of these austere people. Darlanis handling Maris' cloak back to her as soon as we entered the place. She wouldn't even look at me, she was so furious yet! The walls of the corridor down which we passed were lined with a number of a large colorful tapestries, all of which either depicted hunting scenes or scenes of battle. Dularnians are a war-like people. Many of them hire out as mercenaries to fight in other people's wars. Of course since Dularn lies between the Empire of California to the south and various "Viking-like" groups to the north, they get plenty of chances to do some fight- ing. Also, they are often battling the Montanas, which are much like the Nevadas that Darlanis and I often now have to deal with! "Impressive," I smiled, Darlanis glaring at me, Maris just looking uncomfortable, perhaps worrying what the Queen would say to her for having given Darlanis her cloak. A number of others following us, muttering among themselves. My comments having now stirred up considerably anger towards me as I had muchly feared. "And not the work of `barbarians'," Maris snapped back. Darlanis glancing at her, nodding, the anger still on her face. "I have never considered the people of Dularn to be such," I smiled back, "Although those who ignore the suffering of others are always such in own my eyes despite of whatever level of `civ- ilization' they happen to claim to possess." My statement making Darlanis gasp as she suddenly realized why I had spoken as I had! "Queen Tulis," Maris said to me, but just then I had eyes only for two others. One a tall dark haired handsome manly war- rior and the other a young beautiful teenage blonde girl, both standing there beside the Queen of Dularn. My husband Jon Rich- ards and my beloved Princess Gayle! What was going on here! And what had they done to the Squala? Had there been a battle at sea? Had my ship been taken by the Dularnians? I fear I thought only the worst of those now standing about. No wonder Maris had smiled as she had. I felt a cold fury fill my fevered thoughts! "It is not what it appears, Lorraine," Jon said to me. He had seen the look in my eyes. He knew me too well to believe that I would submit peacefully to any "trick" Tulis might "pull"! "We are always pleased to make the acquaintance of a Queen of Trelandar," Queen Tulis Jord of Dularn said to me as Darlanis and I stood before her. I wondered if she knew of the "trick" I had pulled on Maris Marn. Darlanis at my side being totally ignored by her mother as if she didn't even exist! I sensed Dar- lanis' hurt, pain, and pitied my friend! To be so rejected by one's own mother is a terrible blow for any daughter, in any era! Queen Tulis was not a young woman. I could see the first signs of age there in her face. She seemed drawn, in ill health. Yet she was still tall, regal, golden. Beautiful in black. Somewhat hard featured. A woman, I thought to myself, that could command men, ships, in battle. I did not doubt that she was ca- pable, competent. Much like me. I remembered Janis. This widow was her own mother. The Queen of Dularn who had sent her own daughter on a perilous mission! Such spoke much of Queen Tulis. "I trust that my husband and my daughter are not being held against their will," I answered, my voice level, the force saber now in my hand. A flick of my thumb produced that awesome glow- ing beam of force that nothing can withstand. That can cut through the hardest strongest metals if they were but only fog!!! "It is true. You are allied with the Lorr," Tulis said to me in level tones. I could see the look in her eyes. Fortunate- ly Darlanis had enough sense to keep her mouth shut while this interplay was going on. "You are indeed the Lorraine of legend." "I am the Lorraine mentioned in Janet Roger's writings," I smiled back, clicking off the force saber. Darlanis staring at me, her face unreadable. I was glad that she hadn't interfered. "It would have been better had you not brought the one now at your side," Queen Tulis said to me then, referring to Darla- nis. "She is not welcome here." I saw Maris' eyes meet mine. I suspected that it was time, so to say, to "take the bull by the horns". Part of my mission here was to reunite these two again. "You gave birth to her, nursed her at your breast," I said. "She has brought much dishonor upon us by word and deed," Tulis answered. "She has dishonored her own family by her lies." Around us were the high and mighty of Dularn. Its own nobility. "It is her brother who dishonored you, not her," I snapped. Darl Jord was sitting there next to his mother, a gross swollen man. I thought of a pig crossed with a wolf. That did fit him! "You should not have believed her lies," Tulis snapped back. Her eyes were cold, her voice icy. She was a "hard" woman. Not one, I thought to myself, given to emotion. A true "Dularnian". "I have considerable reason to believe she speaks the truth," I retorted. "That her own brother did indeed rape her. Take from her that which is most precious to a young maiden." Virginity is highly prized among the Dularnians. It is not so in the Empire except among the daughters of high born aristocrats as a rule. The cultural standards are different. Who is "right" here is a question for which I have no answer. I doubt there is one. Such things tend, especially now, to be rather meaningless. It is usually impossible for a young girl to become pregnant ex- cept by the help of the Priestesses with their fertility drugs. "She is but a slut," Tulis snapped. "Look at her attire!" Personally I found it quite beautiful. She is a stunning beauty. "I am not a slut, mother!" Darlanis suddenly snapped, "And my own brother actually did in the company of two other boys rape me when I was fifteen and then you wouldn't even believe me!" I suspect that it was in the nature of a "prank" that went too far! "She's lying, mother, just as she did thirty years ago!" Darl Jord protested, Maris Marn standing there at his side. I wondered what she thought of all this. She was due to marry him in another few days. And now perhaps she had "second thoughts"! "I have entrusted your daughter with the care and upbringing of my own stepdaughter, Sharon, who like me is from the 20th Cen- tury," I told Queen Tulis. "I would not have ever done so had I believed your daughter to be of a low moral character." I put my arm around Darlanis. "I have stood side by side with your daugh- ter against armed foes. She is even my `sister' under the `blood codes' of the Nevadas. I have trusted Darlanis with my life. An insult to her is an insult to me." I wondered if Tulis wanted to face the consequences of that! She had seen Black Lady fly over her city. The Dularnians knew enough of history to know what an airplane could do to an unprotected city like theirs. I might not be able to do much damage, but the moral effect of being helpless against me would be telling. Queen Tulis was no doubt well aware of that fact. That it was one thing to face their own primitive technology, but another entirely to face that of the 20th Century! She could of course kill me, but that might have political consequences that could be totally unpredictable. She would also be in violation of the Code of Honor, which is sacred to all Dularnians of the upper castes. She was, I thought, in a "Catch-22" situation. The thought made me smile. I thought of Maris Marn now standing there next to Darl Jord. Tall, golden, beautiful. She would be a dangerous enemy. Capable, competent! As "Princess" Tulis would no doubt also make her "Warlady" too... "I do not ask that you believe what I told you thirty years ago was the truth, I ask only that you accept me as your flesh and blood," Darlanis spoke. "That although I am now an `enemy' of Dularn I am also still the daughter that you gave birth to forty four years ago," Darlanis added, standing there beside me.* * Actually, she is Aurora's child, but that's another story! I understand that the child Tulis bore was "stillborn", and that Aurora's baby girl (Darlanis), was substituted for her instead at the wishes of Prince Paul of Dularn, who was Darlanis' father... Proud, beautiful, and so magnificent! The golden mesh of her at- tire exotically lovely! She truly did look like "She-Ra" then! "I am a dying Queen, you who were once mine," Tulis spoke, standing, her eyes glistening there in the light of the lamps. I saw the horror there on Darlanis' face as she heard Tulis words! "Maris Marn will soon wed my son, and then take my place on this throne as the new Queen of Dularn," she added with a glance at Maris as she stood there beside Darl Jord. I understood now what I had not understood before. Why Maris would marry such a man! I supposed that Queen Tulis considered her a good choice. I did. "No! Mother! NOT NOW!" Darlanis sobbed, dashing to the throne, taking her mother in her arms! The bitter tears welling up and running down her cheeks as she sobbingly held her mother!* * Darlanis of course did not know that Aurora was her "mother" at this time, although I suspected such from conversations that I had with Aurora, and the "comment" that Aurora let slip there on the Ronda as to the "welfare" of her "daughter". While it seemed to most I suppose that she was referring to An'na, I suspected in my heart that Aurora was really referring to Darlanis herself... "Lorraine!" Darlanis pleaded. "Can't the Lorr do anything?" I shook my head. I suspected the truth now. Tulis was dying from an inoperable brain tumor. One deep within her own brain! "The Priestesses of Lys may be able to help," I suggested futilely. Tulis shook her head. They had been my last hope. I knew now that there was truly no hope. The best that could be done would be to make Tulis' final days as pleasant as possible. "We have a war to end," Tulis said, touching Darlanis' face. Her fingertips wetted by the tears that now flowed down those lovely features. "There is not much time, my dear Sunflower." I saw Darlanis start, and then crush her mother to her. I had not known of Darlanis' childhood nickname. I found the name lovely. "I need the keys to the plane," Darlanis said to me, wiping at her eyes. Her arm possessively around her mother. There was that in her voice that indicated that argument would be futile. "There isn't much daylight left," I warned her. She nodded. Briefly placed her hand on my shoulder. Looked into my eyes. I understood. Such danger meant nothing to her now. Tulis nodded. "I owe you much, Lorraine," Tulis smiled as they then left. She had but perhaps weeks to live, but she had her daughter back. Just then I didn't think anything else was important to her now. |
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