Scorpio Triumph [Dray Prescot #43]

by Alan Burt Akers

  “Seg would. So, by Vox, would I!”

  “He also expressed his opinion that he regretted he'd not put a comfortable wager on it. That made Inch laugh.”

  “Those two! They're with the Tambu Force so we'll soon have news of Fish Faces running.”

  As I'd stepped aboard observing the fantamyrrh, Captain Erlik had addressed me as strom, for I was the Strom of Valka. Oh, yes, I might be the kov of this and the king of somewhere else and have been the Emperor of Vallia, but to the people of Valka I was their strom and that was the beginning and end of it. To further the campaigns ahead the Valkans had made a huge collection to pay for this splendid new vessel, Vendayha Lady. She'd been built in the spanking new yards at Vondium. The silver boxes had come from Balintol. She'd been destined for Drak's forces operating in Pandahem. When news of the plight of their strom in the jungles of Chem reached Valka, they'd simply dispatched Vendayha Lady south to assist.

  I said: “We can't have that, my love! Drak needs all he can lay his hands on. Much though I love the folk of Valka, they are part of Vallia, and their duty is to the emperor. If Vendayha Lady was assigned to Pandahem—”

  “Hush, hush! Drak sent word to retain her. He was as worried as anyone over your—um—whereabouts.”

  I gave her a damned sharp glance. She was paler than usual. I said: “Tell me.”

  “It's so silly—well, it's not, really—”

  I took her hand off my arm and put my arm about her, arranging ourselves comfortably on the settee, her head on my shoulder. “Spit it out.”

  “We're both young still, aren't we? But—but I find it more and more difficult to—to accept—our rackety way of living.”

  “The Star Lords command me and the Sisters of the Rose you.”

  She remained silent for a moment and no doubt was using some choice phraseology regarding the Everoinye. Then: “Yes. I am a Red Sister. I might have been the chief of the SoR had I so wished.”

  I couldn't help myself from blurting out: “So you didn't succumb!”

  She did not know that I knew what I did about the SoR through the Star Lords. One day I would tell her, for we'd had enough secrets between us. “Well, husband, I shall renounce active duty with the SoR.”

  “I joy over that. I can't chuck off the damned Everoinye.”

  “And I cannot much longer endure our separations.” She moved restlessly. “By Mother Jinju the Possessed! I want a proper life with a husband at my side.”

  You may well imagine that I felt like a samphron crushed between rollers so that the rich oil might run out. Personally, I could do nothing to halt what the Star Lords commanded; personally, I would do anything—anything at all!—for my Delia. The impasse was complete.

  The need to clear my throat before I could speak did not surprise me. “Once we have stopped Carazaar, solved the Skantiklar mystery, and defeated the Shanks, I think the Star Lords might well give me a rest.”

  “Until the next time?”

  “I was thinking of a more permanent rest.”

  She twisted around at this, her hair a tumbled glory, and glared at me, her brown eyes bright with moisture, those gorgeous red lips trembling. “That sounds dreadful, Dray!”

  “Oh, I didn't mean that! Come on, let's go on deck.”

  “Very well, after—” And she kissed me very thoroughly.

  So it was some time later that we went up on deck.

  We were flying north and still over jungle. “I thought we'd be flying westerly, chasing over to Tambu—”

  “All in good time, all in good time. We've been staying with Queen Satra. The whole situation is fascinating. Deb-Lu advised, so I did.”

  I grunted. “H'm, well you can't really argue with Deb-Lu.”

  Then I said: “Hold on a mur. What about the people of the City of Eternal Twilight when they woke up from the enchantment? What about the wedding and that bungling oaf casting the spell—?”

  Delia smiled. “They acted like the other people we woke up. The sorcerer saw his spell had failed and then he was recognized and jumped on.” She was holding onto my arm with the grip of a zhantilla's jaws. “They were most surprised and dismayed to see one of their towers with its top blown off.”

  “Deb-Lu certainly did a fine job there.”

  “Na-Si-Fantong had left an apprentice there, somebody like Rollo. Fantong charged him up with extra kharrna; but, of course, he failed.”

  “Made you do a spot of aerobatics, though.”

  “Quite exhilarating, if you must know!”

  So she was getting back to her usual splendid form, thank Zair. She went on to tell me how Queen Satra and some of her retinue, flown home to Hiclantung courtesy of the Vallian Air Service, had been received. The bulk of her forces were marching. One fine day they'd arrive in Hiclantung.

  “They do seem a miserable decayed lot, these Walfargians. I don't think more than half a dozen folk raised a cheer when Satra made herself known.”

  Very often the habit of Queens of Pain of Walfarg when ascending the throne of the Empire of Loh was to lavish vast sums and immense labor on building a new capital. The old capital might decline a trifle but would remain a powerful city. This habit was known on Earth, obvious examples in the Middle East coming to mind. As a result, when the empire washed away great cities remained standing in various parts of Walfarg. That helped to explain the fragmentation of Walfarg after the catastrophe. Satra had simply resumed her occupation and command of her capital.

  “And the incumbent king—what's his name—King Hwangin, wasn't it?”

  “I notice you say ‘wasn't’ rather than ‘isn't'.”

  “Oh, aye, my love. We're getting the feel of our Satra.”

  “Quite. Mind you, every overlord of a great city or goodly lands calls himself a king these days, as the overladies call themselves queens.” She made a little moue with those gorgeous lips. “He vanished. It was given out he welcomed Satra and had abdicated.”

  “Inside a sack in the river, I expect.” I shook myself. “Well, I don't want to know much about that.”

  “His guard and soldiers—such as they are, the broken-down creatures—cheered for Satra. Gold was spent.”

  “So now she'll start up a great war of re-conquest to regain her lands in Walfarg. I don't know. I admit to being uneasy about that.”

  “Judging by the apathy of these Lohvians she'll have to hire paktuns.”

  “So she will. I don't care to dwell on what would happen if the Shanks put in a really serious attack.”

  As we talked so we walked arm in arm up and down the area of the poop immediately forward of the aft fighting tower. This was Admiral's Country and we were not disturbed. Without consciously realizing the fact, I took stock of Vendayha Lady. A fine flier, with three decks, three fighting towers, and two fighting galleries below on each beam, she represented aerial might of a kind relatively new in Vallia, for she had been built at home. Hamal continued to experience difficulties in obtaining supplies of the ingredients for the silver boxes. Hyrklana, too, could not build ships fast enough. The supplies of silver boxes from our friends in Balintol, meager though they were, were absolutely vital. King Filbarrka na Filbarrka and Queen Zenobya had worked wonders on behalf of Vallia out there in Balintol.

  A smart young Air Cadet ran up the ladder and saluted with a snap.

  “The captain's compliments, majestrix and majister. Would you care to join him for dinner?”

  I cocked an eyebrow at Delia and she smiled and said: “That would be nice.” Her smile appeared to transfix the cadet with rapture.

  I said: “Your name, cadet?”

  He jumped and swallowed and stuttered out: “Jankwa, majister, Larghos Jankwa ti Fakwald.”

  “From Hawkwa Country, I see.”

  “Aye, majister. I have heard all the tales of Jak the Drang.”

  A small rictus at the side of my mouth might have passed as a smile.

  “Those were the days. Well, Larghos, there are days like those ahead.
”

  “Aye, aye, majister!”

  He ran off, sliding down the ladder rails. One day, and Opaz alone knew, he might become the Lord High Admiral of the Vallian Air Service, perhaps taking over from Vangar ti Valkanium as he was about to take over from the Lord Farris.

  We dressed elegantly and soberly and as the Suns of Scorpio declined in washes of ruby and jade went down to dinner. The rest of the quick flight to Hiclantung passed uneventfully, pleasantly, in good company and much talk. “Hiclantung,” I said to myself. “Well, Queen Lilah's city was well-named.”

  * * * *

  The reception committee sent by Queen Satra not only met us just outside Wayfarer's Drinnik, they accompanied us into the city, showed us around, insisted on taking care of our every want and, in short, they treated us like royalty. We were housed in a palace. You'd take all week to count the slaves and servants. Anything you wanted was at your elbow almost as soon as you'd asked. The servants moved about sharply. The guards looked alert.

  “She's quite a lady, this Queen of Pain,” I said.

  “She's put a fire under their tails, all right. When I flew off to get you and Mevancy out of the jungle in a basket—” At this I made a face at her and she went imperturbably on. “The people were losing their listlessness but in this short time I can see a new difference.”

  We were standing on a high balcony overlooking the city with the suns slanting their emerald and ruby fires across that strange Walfargian architecture. The heavy shadowy arcades supporting their piled masses of buildings, the domes coated in green copper, the twisted spires, the sense of suffocation and yet of ease of movement throughout the city always struck me as strange. Covering the surrounding land the walled villas extended a long way, bowered in trees. This city of Hiclantung had been the greatest; it was still rich and Satra quite evidently intended to recover all she had lost.

  “Yes,” Delia nodded. “She'll grab it all back. But there's more to what she's doing than that.”

  “Reaction to the truth? Action to counter the shock?”

  Delia tilted her head and gave me a slanting smile. She wore a loose-fitting lavender dress and the light caught radiantly in her hair—ah, well, I cannot repeat often enough, there is no one in two worlds to compare to Delia of Delphond, Delia of the Blue Mountains. “Trylon Ge-fu-Schian—”

  “Djan rot his socks!” I put in.

  “Quite, my love. He went off to his trylonate and came back with a bloody nose.”

  “Haw!”

  “Now he's fawning around Satra wanting money to raise an army.”

  “She might. If he remains loyal to her.”

  “We've not seen much of Licria.”

  “Mevancy said you'd concocted a plan—”

  “That's all down to your little pigeon. It'll be her show.”

  “H'm,” I said, half frowning. “She's capable enough and she's as courageous as a zhantilla. You can't tell me—?”

  “Nope.” Her smile sent a breeze from my heels to my scalp. “She specifically made us promise not to tell you until she was ready.”

  “Yeh,” I said. “She's another right little madam!”

  “Talking of your various lady friends—” As she spoke I arched my eyebrows. She just went on with that mischievous smile curving her lips. “Fan-Si. I asked her if she and her group would like to join my Jikai Vuvushis but she said she wanted to go off to Tambu with her friends.”

  “Moglin the Flatch and Larghos the Throstle.”

  “Yes. Seg and Inch were pleased to take them.”

  “Oh, sure!” I grumped. “That's where I should be—”

  “They will cope splendidly, as you very well know, my love. The pot is boiling nicely here. Anyway, Trylon Kuong and Llodi the Voice went with their people.” She gave me a quizzical look. “They're still a trifle—ah—uneasy—about...”

  “Yeh, I know.” I heard the annoyance in my voice. “When I met up with you and our comrades I ignored those new friends in a most stupid and obnoxious way. Mind you, Llodi's all right.”

  “He and Larghos the Throstle gave us a beautiful concert.”

  “I'll bet.”

  A familiar step at our backs brought us around to see Deb-Lu-Quienyin walk into the suns shine of the balcony. A moment later Rollo joined him. Both their faces were grave.

  “Deb-Lu.” Delia put her hand on my arm. “Is the news so bad?”

  The Wizard of Loh nodded and his turban fell clean off revealing his brilliant red Lohvian hair. He spoke harshly.

  “We suspected Carazaar could summon a vast amount of kharrna to expend on a project. We are now confident he is able to do this and increase his powers enormously. Then he must rest and recuperate.”

  “Makes himself better than he is for a single shot,” I said. “Go on.”

  “He smashed our defenses in Vondium. The ruby of the Skantiklar in the imperial regalia of Vallia is gone.”

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  * * *

  Chapter fifteen

  Queen Satra was raising an army. She was far too busy to entertain us; but she sent a polite note in explanation with a promise of a banquet in a sennight's time. We sent back a proper reply thanking her for her hospitality. With both Milsi and Sasha away in Tambu, it was my opinion, and one I was convinced was correct, that Satra didn't care to be overshadowed by Delia. That, of course, was perfectly understandable in a powerful Queen of Pain, especially one who intended once more to be the Empress of Loh. But, then, the trouble is, as you know, no one can compare with Delia. If that brings jealousy and hatred to the bosoms of many a fine lady, then selah! Delia can handle that!

  And, by Zair, in the nicest and kindest way possible on two worlds.

  So, because Deb-Lu continued to insist we remained in Hiclantung, we had some time to ourselves, and time to explore the city.

  Along with Deb-Lu and Rollo, Mevancy had her own quarters in the palace given over to our use. I said to Delia one fine morning: “What the deuce is Mevancy up to? We hardly ever see her.”

  “Plans.”

  “Oh.”

  “Plans,” she repeated, with that firmness of tone that could stop a vove cavalry charge at fifty paces.

  “Does Deb-Lu know?”

  “No.”

  Well, now, I said to myself. The little minx may be involving the Star Lords in this pretty plot of hers.

  As the barracks and outlying camps filled up with mercenaries, the vast majority not from Walfarg, we had to face the unpleasant consequences of Carazaar's seizure of the ruby from Vondium. Deb-Lu explained that the attack had been almost entirely magical, only a small force of Paktuns being used once the defenses had been breached. That was a similar system to the one he'd used in the Castle of Samral down in Kronenvar.

  “Once he has regained his full power, he will become a dangerous enemy again.” Deb-Lu was clearly greatly concerned. He hadn't liked the cauls of protection he and his comrades had erected being penetrated.

  “And you say he can, as it were, pump himself up with extra kharrna to go out and do something similar?”

  “Yes, Delia, that he can and will.”

  “Makilorn,” I said.

  “Naturally.” She lifted her glass, for we were at a small supper. Rollo was off doing his exercises like a painstaking apprentice should. “Is there nothing we can do, Deb-Lu?”

  “Khe-Hi, Ling-Li and I are collaborating even more closely. We are sure we can defend the ruby in Makilorn—or wherever we may hide it—but that will take time.”

  “So it's a race.” I spoke glumly.

  Delia flashed me a brilliant glance. “Deb-Lu will win!”

  On that note of whistling in the dark we retired for the night.

  The next morning Nath Karidge, commander of the Empress's Devoted Life Guard, reported in that they'd caught an assassin trying to climb in through a window of the palace. Although my Guard Corps had gone off to Tambu to fight Shanks, as under the circumstances was perfectly proper, EDLG had
refused to desert their prime duty.

  “Unfortunately he insisted on striking Jurukker Erlon the Biceps’ rapier with his stomach.”

  “That Erlon!” said Delia, shaking her head. “Still, I'm sure it couldn't be helped.”

  “Erlon specially asked me to say he regretted the incident.”

  “I'm sick and tired of that Schian!” I burst out. I felt hot and cold. If a damned assassin got in and Delia—"He's got to be sorted out.”

  Delia flashed Nath Karidge a swift glance. I felt my blood turn to ice. I stared at them both. When I spoke, my old gravel-shifting voice had never sounded uglier.

  “So this isn't the first time? The cramph has tried before—when I wasn't here?”

  “Now, Dray—”

  I glared at Nath who drew himself up, your splendid beau sabreur to the life. I said: “Your duty was to tell me, Nath.”

  “No, my heart. I asked Nath not to.”

  “I see.” Nath Karidge's life, as of his regiment, revolved about the empress. He just stood there, handsome, trim, and I could not fault him.

  “Very well.” About to go on with some dangerous bombast about my going to settle this with Schian once and for all, I closed my black-fanged winespout.

  “You should know, jis,” Nath said in a firm voice. “There have been three attempts on the queen's life. All failed, and the assassins were killed before they could be questioned.”

  “They might all be sent by Licria, or only some,” said Delia.

  “Whatever,” I said, “that little madam must be getting very frustrated. The queen's got her measure well enough.”

  “I'm not sure.” Delia made a graceful gesture for Nath to help himself to the parclear on the breakfast table. That reduced the temperature of our conversation. “Licria is cunning. The queen simply does not believe she has the gall to make an attempt on her life. You can see her point of view.”

  “Is that what Milsi thinks?”

  “Yes.”

  A paline twisting in my fingers burst and the sweet juices ran down my palm. I licked them off. “Licria and Schian! What an unholy pair!”