"FREE-24" - 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 Four "Good Evening, Widow Hibber," the attractive Imperial spoke, stepping into the house, no doubt aware of the odor of food here. Her further comment a gasp of shock as I put my point to the side of her neck, her eyes going wide now as she turned to look at me. Her black tunic, hose and weapons the mark of the warrior woman. "I am Lady Sanda of Trelandar," I spoke in level tones here, the tip of my blade pressed in warning up against her jugular. I supposed that Lady Lana Daris would know "who" I was here. Kath- erine closing the door behind her, my blade pressed up against Lana's throat in a way that left no doubts of what I might do... "I pray Lys will have mercy on my soul," Lady Lana spoke, a weak smile on her lovely lips as she waited for the deadly thrust that would take her life. She was a beautiful woman, a delight. A lovely brownette, hazel eyed, about 5'7", with a "figure" that would have brought forty gold crowns in any proper slave market. "She does not wish your life," Katherine Hibber said then. "Oh..." replied the Lady Lana, now seeing Carl and Marta. I supposed she could draw the proper conclusions from all this now. "We should be able to get a good `ransom' for her," Marta said, regarding the Lady Lana Daris, her voice "unpleasant" here. Marta having no love for any Imperial, even one like Lady Lana. "No," I spoke, coming to a decision, lowering my point. "But, my Warlady..." Marta protested, surprised here. "As you noted, I am the `Warlady'," I smiled in reply. "You came after your son," Lady Lana now said to me then. "`Smart' as well as beautiful," Carl grinned back at me. It was obvious that Lana knew "more" about me than she should have. "A patrol is `missing'," Lady Lana answered, standing there. The gold links of her neck chain gleaming there in the lamplight. No doubt she had a pretty good idea of what had happened here... And of what could also "happen" to her if we wished to do so now. She was quite "feminine", more so in a "way" than I am, and I had no doubt that she'd bring us excellent price in any slave market. Not that I would ever do such to a woman without good reason, but Lady Lana was well aware of the fact that her "side" was doing just that to Trelandarian women, and that we did the "same" too. "My mother killed them, all three of them!" my son spoke. "I was trained as a Warrioress," I said, Lana nodding. "Do you wish me to strip?" Lana said, standing there. "We'll let you go as soon as we leave," I smiled to her. "I'm glad you don't live up to your `reputation'," she said. The Imperials depicting me as a blood thirsty terrorist who made war upon anyone, including helpless women and children, a Warlady who executed her own people for any "submission" to the Empire... "I suppose however you'd feel better if I wasn't wearing these," she smiled, reaching down to unbuckle her ornate weapons belt. "I believe you are a woman of honor," I now smiled back. "Darlanis is an `idealist', a woman who `believes' that what once existed can in some form once again exist," Lana said to us as she stood there drying the dish I'd just washed, Marta putting away while Katherine stood and watched. The scene I supposed so utterly "domestic" that you would have never thought that we were all actually "enemies", that Lady Lana was an "Imperial", a woman who under other circumstances any of us would have gladly killed. She was a mother, with a son several years younger than my Jerry. A baby just recently "weaned" from the breast, Lana had told us. "A `fruitcake', living out her own `fantasies'," Marta said, referring to Darlanis. "A `nut' who has killed thousands of peo- ple, `innocent' people... Like those of the past like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, that Iranian..." Referring here to some historical figures I'd told her about during during our past conversations. "Our Empress is a woman who wishes only the best for all of Mankind," Lana smiled back as she took another dish from me then. Lady Lana a woman that I found it very "easy" to like, to admire. "And we kill only those who resist us," Lady Lana then explained. That was the usual Imperial's line of defense to such questions. Along with the idea that we provoked them into a war with us now. "People do have a right of self defense," I pointed out. I was aware that this right was "honored" only in Dularn, where the law actually stated that no free person could be disarmed but by a court of law for criminal activities. Even the American democ- racy of the pre Janet Rogers era had outlawed guns, depriving the people of the right of self defense. It being held at that time that there was no legal right despite clear Constitutional Law to the contrary for the people to be allowed to keep and bear arms.* * Lorraine's diaries go into detail into these matters. (Sanda) While their government maintained that depriving people of their rights would make society "safer", history shows the opposite, I should mention. Even that of Trelandar under Darlanis when out- laws became far more common due to the people being "disarmed"... It being "illegal" then for any not a part of the Imperial forces to "possess" arms, a policy that did not change until quite later on when it became obvious to Darlanis herself what the results of this policy were, even her own Lords and Ladies opposing it then. Lady Lana being one of the leaders in the movement to restore to the people of Trelandar the "means" of defending themselves from the criminals and outlaws that were so commonplace after the war. Pointing out to her Empress that criminals, outlaws, and "terror- ists" (like me here) were able to obtain or make weapons, while the "honest" people were "disarmed" by these useless futile laws. "A point well taken," Lana smiled, her hazel eyes meeting my own. I liked her a lot despite the fact that she was an "enemy". I could see why Katherine had said what she had about the woman. "But yet I think in the long run we will be better off with some- one like Darlanis ruling us than the sort of monarchs we've had." "Queen Paula is a far `better' ruler than Darlanis!" Marta snapped, putting away the last of the dishes as Katherine watched us. My son sitting there in the living room talking to Carl now. "And you invaded Trelandar, we didn't invade you!" she continued here, raising an issue that we'd been raising all along here now. It was true that we'd done things that had "provoked" Darlanis, such as seeking an alliance with Dularn against her, with Talon, Darlanis claiming that she'd been "forced" to "act" as she had so that her own country, her own people wouldn't end up on the short end of things. That the war she was fighting now was preventive in nature, not a war of aggression as we maintained that it was. There had also been an "incident", a "misunderstanding" there at the border that had cost lives, created a build up of tensions... A pirate too that we should have turned over to Sarn, but didn't. "And does anyone but Paula have a `say' in things?" Lana re- torted, the Imperial Senate being "modeled" upon that of Dularn, with membership in it limited only to the "black" castes, just as it was now in Dularn. Although at least there everyone who was a taxpayer had a right to vote, whereas in the Empire only those of the Warriors and Warrioresses had such a right. This being based upon the laws of Janet Rogers' World Federation, which had limit- ed the right to vote to those who had served in the armed forces. Military service at that time being open to all, I might mention. The caste system we've got having come into place after The War. "Did anyone have a say in things beside your own King?" she asked as I drained the water from the sink and dried my hands, recall- ing how Paula would smile, that arrogant smile I so much remember even yet so many years after her death. The idea that she was a Queen, and that I didn't know anything about warfare at all now.* * The same accusation was made against Lorraine, who many people saw as being stubborn and bull headed, unwilling to "negotiate" a settlement to a war that no one wanted there in 2567. My action in doing so as Prime Minister of Trelandar was I felt "right" de- spite the fact that I'd gone directly against Lorraine's wishes. She admitted however that I'd done the "right thing", even if it was something that could have caused a constitutional crisis here in Trelandar as I did exceed my own legal authority as Prime Min- ister; only the Queen having the authority under the law to make treaties with foreign powers. I acted however upon the basis of doing what was "best" for my country, not pleasing Lorraine here. When Lorraine returned aboard the Athena after having been beaten in battle, that legendary battle so many have written of, which I feel only proves that Lorraine too was human, that she could make mistakes, I told her that I was willing to take the consequences of my actions, and if she wished my life, it was hers to take... Lorraine's answer being that Trelandar was fortunate to have such a Prime Minister as me, although she hoped in the future that I'd think a bit more before "pulling any more damn stunts like this!" I miss Lorraine a lot, the talks we had, the ideas we shared, the good times that we had together the last fifty six years. (Sanda) "Yours is an army of conquest, not of liberation," Marta re- plied as she stood there listening. "You have not come to make life `better' for the people of Trelandar, but to extract taxes." Those of the Empire being much higher than before, serving to pay for Darlanis' great armies, the cost of fighting this war here... The people of Trelandar were paying a high price for their "lib- eration" from their own government, and this woman was a part of the Imperial administration I realized, regarding the Lady Lana. "I'm not saying that you yourself are `evil', but that the cause which you serve is `evil' despite whatever your Queen now says." 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 Four "Good Evening, Widow Hibber," the attractive Imperial spoke, stepping into the house, no doubt aware of the odor of food here. Her further comment a gasp of shock as I put my point to the side of her neck, her eyes going wide now as she turned to look at me. Her black tunic, hose and weapons the mark of the warrior woman. "I am Lady Sanda of Trelandar," I spoke in level tones here, the tip of my blade pressed in warning up against her jugular. I supposed that Lady Lana Daris would know "who" I was here. Kath- erine closing the door behind her, my blade pressed up against Lana's throat in a way that left no doubts of what I might do... "I pray Lys will have mercy on my soul," Lady Lana spoke, a weak smile on her lovely lips as she waited for the deadly thrust that would take her life. She was a beautiful woman, a delight. A lovely brownette, hazel eyed, about 5'7", with a "figure" that would have brought forty gold crowns in any proper slave market. "She does not wish your life," Katherine Hibber said then. "Oh..." replied the Lady Lana, now seeing Carl and Marta. I supposed she could draw the proper conclusions from all this now. "We should be able to get a good `ransom' for her," Marta said, regarding the Lady Lana Daris, her voice "unpleasant" here. Marta having no love for any Imperial, even one like Lady Lana. "No," I spoke, coming to a decision, lowering my point. "But, my Warlady..." Marta protested, surprised here. "As you noted, I am the `Warlady'," I smiled in reply. "You came after your son," Lady Lana now said to me then. "`Smart' as well as beautiful," Carl grinned back at me. It was obvious that Lana knew "more" about me than she should have. "A patrol is `missing'," Lady Lana answered, standing there. The gold links of her neck chain gleaming there in the lamplight. No doubt she had a pretty good idea of what had happened here... And of what could also "happen" to her if we wished to do so now. She was quite "feminine", more so in a "way" than I am, and I had no doubt that she'd bring us excellent price in any slave market. Not that I would ever do such to a woman without good reason, but Lady Lana was well aware of the fact that her "side" was doing just that to Trelandarian women, and that we did the "same" too. "My mother killed them, all three of them!" my son spoke. "I was trained as a Warrioress," I said, Lana nodding. "Do you wish me to strip?" Lana said, standing there. "We'll let you go as soon as we leave," I smiled to her. "I'm glad you don't live up to your `reputation'," she said. The Imperials depicting me as a blood thirsty terrorist who made war upon anyone, including helpless women and children, a Warlady who executed her own people for any "submission" to the Empire... "I suppose however you'd feel better if I wasn't wearing these," she smiled, reaching down to unbuckle her ornate weapons belt. "I believe you are a woman of honor," I now smiled back. "Darlanis is an `idealist', a woman who `believes' that what once existed can in some form once again exist," Lana said to us as she stood there drying the dish I'd just washed, Marta putting away while Katherine stood and watched. The scene I supposed so utterly "domestic" that you would have never thought that we were all actually "enemies", that Lady Lana was an "Imperial", a woman who under other circumstances any of us would have gladly killed. She was a mother, with a son several years younger than my Jerry. A baby just recently "weaned" from the breast, Lana had told us. "A `fruitcake', living out her own `fantasies'," Marta said, referring to Darlanis. "A `nut' who has killed thousands of peo- ple, `innocent' people... Like those of the past like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, that Iranian..." Referring here to some historical figures I'd told her about during during our past conversations. "Our Empress is a woman who wishes only the best for all of Mankind," Lana smiled back as she took another dish from me then. Lady Lana a woman that I found it very "easy" to like, to admire. "And we kill only those who resist us," Lady Lana then explained. That was the usual Imperial's line of defense to such questions. Along with the idea that we provoked them into a war with us now. "People do have a right of self defense," I pointed out. I was aware that this right was "honored" only in Dularn, where the law actually stated that no free person could be disarmed but by a court of law for criminal activities. Even the American democ- racy of the pre Janet Rogers era had outlawed guns, depriving the people of the right of self defense. It being held at that time that there was no legal right despite clear Constitutional Law to the contrary for the people to be allowed to keep and bear arms.* * Lorraine's diaries go into detail into these matters. (Sanda) While their government maintained that depriving people of their rights would make society "safer", history shows the opposite, I should mention. Even that of Trelandar under Darlanis when out- laws became far more common due to the people being "disarmed"... It being "illegal" then for any not a part of the Imperial forces to "possess" arms, a policy that did not change until quite later on when it became obvious to Darlanis herself what the results of this policy were, even her own Lords and Ladies opposing it then. Lady Lana being one of the leaders in the movement to restore to the people of Trelandar the "means" of defending themselves from the criminals and outlaws that were so commonplace after the war. Pointing out to her Empress that criminals, outlaws, and "terror- ists" (like me here) were able to obtain or make weapons, while the "honest" people were "disarmed" by these useless futile laws. "A point well taken," Lana smiled, her hazel eyes meeting my own. I liked her a lot despite the fact that she was an "enemy". I could see why Katherine had said what she had about the woman. "But yet I think in the long run we will be better off with some- one like Darlanis ruling us than the sort of monarchs we've had." "Queen Paula is a far `better' ruler than Darlanis!" Marta snapped, putting away the last of the dishes as Katherine watched us. My son sitting there in the living room talking to Carl now. "And you invaded Trelandar, we didn't invade you!" she continued here, raising an issue that we'd been raising all along here now. It was true that we'd done things that had "provoked" Darlanis, such as seeking an alliance with Dularn against her, with Talon, Darlanis claiming that she'd been "forced" to "act" as she had so that her own country, her own people wouldn't end up on the short end of things. That the war she was fighting now was preventive in nature, not a war of aggression as we maintained that it was. There had also been an "incident", a "misunderstanding" there at the border that had cost lives, created a build up of tensions... A pirate too that we should have turned over to Sarn, but didn't. "And does anyone but Paula have a `say' in things?" Lana re- torted, the Imperial Senate being "modeled" upon that of Dularn, with membership in it limited only to the "black" castes, just as it was now in Dularn. Although at least there everyone who was a taxpayer had a right to vote, whereas in the Empire only those of the Warriors and Warrioresses had such a right. This being based upon the laws of Janet Rogers' World Federation, which had limit- ed the right to vote to those who had served in the armed forces. Military service at that time being open to all, I might mention. The caste system we've got having come into place after The War. "Did anyone have a say in things beside your own King?" she asked as I drained the water from the sink and dried my hands, recall- ing how Paula would smile, that arrogant smile I so much remember even yet so many years after her death. The idea that she was a Queen, and that I didn't know anything about warfare at all now.* * The same accusation was made against Lorraine, who many people saw as being stubborn and bull headed, unwilling to "negotiate" a settlement to a war that no one wanted there in 2567. My action in doing so as Prime Minister of Trelandar was I felt "right" de- spite the fact that I'd gone directly against Lorraine's wishes. She admitted however that I'd done the "right thing", even if it was something that could have caused a constitutional crisis here in Trelandar as I did exceed my own legal authority as Prime Min- ister; only the Queen having the authority under the law to make treaties with foreign powers. I acted however upon the basis of doing what was "best" for my country, not pleasing Lorraine here. When Lorraine returned aboard the Athena after having been beaten in battle, that legendary battle so many have written of, which I feel only proves that Lorraine too was human, that she could make mistakes, I told her that I was willing to take the consequences of my actions, and if she wished my life, it was hers to take... Lorraine's answer being that Trelandar was fortunate to have such a Prime Minister as me, although she hoped in the future that I'd think a bit more before "pulling any more damn stunts like this!" I miss Lorraine a lot, the talks we had, the ideas we shared, the good times that we had together the last fifty six years. (Sanda) "Yours is an army of conquest, not of liberation," Marta re- plied as she stood there listening. "You have not come to make life `better' for the people of Trelandar, but to extract taxes." Those of the Empire being much higher than before, serving to pay for Darlanis' great armies, the cost of fighting this war here... The people of Trelandar were paying a high price for their "lib- eration" from their own government, and this woman was a part of the Imperial administration I realized, regarding the Lady Lana. "I'm not saying that you yourself are `evil', but that the cause which you serve is `evil' despite whatever your Queen now says." |
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