together.”
“Precisely,” I said. “So why are you taking off your armor?”
“Dray!” said Delia. She swung to face me. “Are you such a monster?”
I humphed up at this. “Time,” I said. “It will take time for Drak to get across and organize and march.”
“One night?” She gave me that old look that curled the toes in my boots. “Since I saw Drak and Silda a great deal has happened.”
I went over and ripped open the other buckles on Drak’s armor, snatched off the breast and back, and tossed them down on the rugs. “Of course. Absolutely.”
“Now you are in a bad temper.”
“Yes, and I’ll tell you why. I want to go to the wedding of Drak and Silda, the soon-to-be Emperor and Empress of Vallia. That wedding must be held in Vondium the Proud, the capital city of the Empire of Vallia. Yet if I go to Vondium that she-leem Csitra will spoil the wedding.”
For a moment, silence closed in on us in the tent.
“And if I go chasing off to deal with Csitra first, as I wanted to do, that could take months. I wouldn’t ask Drak and Silda to wait. So the difficulty remains.”
Delia, as I may have remarked before, is not only the most beautiful woman in two worlds, she is also the most clever and devious, not to say downright cunning.
“I shall,” she said, and her words and little gesture effectively dealt with the subject, “I shall have a few words with dear Deb-Lu.”
“Excellent, mother,” exclaimed Drak. “And now I would like another stoup and I am ravenous. Did I tell you that Silda sends her love and respects...?”
I slouched off to a totally unnecessary inspection of the zorca lines where the swods might find me a stoup and where we could have a yarn or two before I returned for the evening meal.
If I sound like an old graint with a thorn in his foot, then, well, by Vox, I suppose I was.
The lines of the various regiments were well spread out. Sometimes too close proximity creates frictions that besides being totally unnecessary lead to internecine strife. The swods were most welcoming and a jar was produced instanter. In the nature of things I could not know all the faces around the campfires; I knew most of them, though.
They wanted to know what the future held and some of them, the newer lads, wanted to know when we’d be going home. I have expressed my views on those great commanders and captains of history who led faithful armies all around the world on gyrations of conquest. Eventually, the soldiers become tired and soured. No sane man wants a continual career of conflict.
A policy of rotation was strongly in force. So I was able to reassure them and, perfectly truthfully, say that home was distinctly on the agenda. As to the old argument about home-leave sapping a soldier’s willpower and determination, if a fellow — or a girl — is fighting for their home and loved ones, that spur should surely sustain their spirits.
When affairs go well, that is, of course. When the course of the war drags and the outcome is uncertain, why then all manner of mischiefs may darken the imagination. Walking slowly between the lines of tents back to that splendid tent where the flags flew and the guards stood to, glittering and imposing figures, I tried to sort out what I really wanted for the future.
Csitra had to be dealt with. The continents and islands of Paz had to understand that they must cling together in alliance against the Fishheads, the Leem Lovers, the Shanks who raided from over the curve of the world. There were many matters outstanding between me and the Star Lords. It seemed to me the Kroveres of Iztar would find busy occupation dealing with the evil cult of Lem the Silver Leem.
Delia stepped out of the tent and said in that delightful way: “And have you found the calsany yet?”
I said: “While you are with me I could lose a million zorcas and never notice.”
At once she moved forward and slipped her arm through mine. The guards stood lance-stiff — for, of
“Precisely,” I said. “So why are you taking off your armor?”
“Dray!” said Delia. She swung to face me. “Are you such a monster?”
I humphed up at this. “Time,” I said. “It will take time for Drak to get across and organize and march.”
“One night?” She gave me that old look that curled the toes in my boots. “Since I saw Drak and Silda a great deal has happened.”
I went over and ripped open the other buckles on Drak’s armor, snatched off the breast and back, and tossed them down on the rugs. “Of course. Absolutely.”
“Now you are in a bad temper.”
“Yes, and I’ll tell you why. I want to go to the wedding of Drak and Silda, the soon-to-be Emperor and Empress of Vallia. That wedding must be held in Vondium the Proud, the capital city of the Empire of Vallia. Yet if I go to Vondium that she-leem Csitra will spoil the wedding.”
For a moment, silence closed in on us in the tent.
“And if I go chasing off to deal with Csitra first, as I wanted to do, that could take months. I wouldn’t ask Drak and Silda to wait. So the difficulty remains.”
Delia, as I may have remarked before, is not only the most beautiful woman in two worlds, she is also the most clever and devious, not to say downright cunning.
“I shall,” she said, and her words and little gesture effectively dealt with the subject, “I shall have a few words with dear Deb-Lu.”
“Excellent, mother,” exclaimed Drak. “And now I would like another stoup and I am ravenous. Did I tell you that Silda sends her love and respects...?”
I slouched off to a totally unnecessary inspection of the zorca lines where the swods might find me a stoup and where we could have a yarn or two before I returned for the evening meal.
If I sound like an old graint with a thorn in his foot, then, well, by Vox, I suppose I was.
The lines of the various regiments were well spread out. Sometimes too close proximity creates frictions that besides being totally unnecessary lead to internecine strife. The swods were most welcoming and a jar was produced instanter. In the nature of things I could not know all the faces around the campfires; I knew most of them, though.
They wanted to know what the future held and some of them, the newer lads, wanted to know when we’d be going home. I have expressed my views on those great commanders and captains of history who led faithful armies all around the world on gyrations of conquest. Eventually, the soldiers become tired and soured. No sane man wants a continual career of conflict.
A policy of rotation was strongly in force. So I was able to reassure them and, perfectly truthfully, say that home was distinctly on the agenda. As to the old argument about home-leave sapping a soldier’s willpower and determination, if a fellow — or a girl — is fighting for their home and loved ones, that spur should surely sustain their spirits.
When affairs go well, that is, of course. When the course of the war drags and the outcome is uncertain, why then all manner of mischiefs may darken the imagination. Walking slowly between the lines of tents back to that splendid tent where the flags flew and the guards stood to, glittering and imposing figures, I tried to sort out what I really wanted for the future.
Csitra had to be dealt with. The continents and islands of Paz had to understand that they must cling together in alliance against the Fishheads, the Leem Lovers, the Shanks who raided from over the curve of the world. There were many matters outstanding between me and the Star Lords. It seemed to me the Kroveres of Iztar would find busy occupation dealing with the evil cult of Lem the Silver Leem.
Delia stepped out of the tent and said in that delightful way: “And have you found the calsany yet?”
I said: “While you are with me I could lose a million zorcas and never notice.”
At once she moved forward and slipped her arm through mine. The guards stood lance-stiff — for, of
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