"L. E. Modesitt - Corean Chronicles 4 - Alector's Choice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

5

At a quarter past the second glass of the afternoon, Dainyl began his
preparations for the administration of justice scheduled to begin at the
third glass, preparations he had expected to make, but not oversee
completely. When he had arrived that morning, he had learned that the
marshal had left for Iron Stem, leaving Dainyl fully in command of a
proceeding that was exceedingly distasteful. All Dainyl knew was that the
Cadmian officer in charge there had sent an urgent dispatch. The marshal
had left no instructions.

First, the colonel took out the crimson armband that signified alector
misconduct or blood wrongly shed, or both, and fastened it into place on
his upper left sleeve below the shoulder. Then he checked his sidearm and
straightened his tunic.

After leaving his study, he went to find Undercaptain Zernylta, third
squad leader and acting commander of First Myrmidon Company in the
absence of Captain Ghasylt, who had left with the marshal early that
morning to fly to Iron Stem.

Zernylta was standing by the duty desk, talking with the duty officer,
Undercaptain Yuasylt.

"Zernylta?"

"Yes, Colonel?" Zemylta was a slender alectress, but tall and wiry. Like
Dainyl, she had blue eyes, rather than the violet usual for most alectors.
Her crimson armband was already in place.

"Third squad will be escorting the prisoner. Are they prepared?"

"I just checked. They all have their armbands and sidearms, and the
crystals are fully charged. The prisoner was brought in a glass ago, and he
is in the holding cell. The duty coach is already standing by at the Hall of
Justice." She paused. "What was he actually convicted of, Colonel?"

"According to the briefing sheet," Dainyl replied, "he abused his house
servants, physically and sexually, and he used Talent contrary to the Code
of the Duarches."

"Stupid," murmured the black-haired woman. "Abusing steers is bad
enough, but to force sex, and then use Talent to cover it up--he deserves
more than he'll get."

While that wasn't possible--the sentence was death-- Dainyl
understood what she meant. Being an alector granted one power, but also
entailed great responsibility, and the Archon and the Duarches punished
abuse of that power severely. There wasn't any option, not with so few