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"Greetings, Ho-Marn!" called Blade.
"Greetings, Blade," replied the soldier.
Blade took a deep breath. "Ho-Marn, I think the time has come to ask you a few
questions."
Ho-Marn laughed. "Blade, I think the time has come to answer them. You have
done all I hoped you
would do and more."
"And if I hadn't done what you hoped?"
"Another tool, another time."
"I understand. Come aboard, Ho-Marn."
Chapter 23
«^»
Five men sat on the balcony to the main room of what had been the Protector's
palace. There was
Richard Blade, sitting in the Protector's whitewashed chair with the
Protector's staff leaning against it.
There was Kuka, Swebon, and Ho-Marn, all still in fighting gear. Finally there
was a short, sturdy dark man with gray hair, the general of the Emperor of
Kylan. Swebon couldn't begin to pronounce his name or titles, but was willing
to call him "Prince," as Blade did.
They were sitting on the balcony because Blade guessed right when he said the
Emperor was the enemy of the Protector, even if he might not be the friend of
the Forest People. Swebon remembered
Blade's describing what the Emperor thought, and was glad that Blade was there
to describe it for him. It was good that Blade hadn't gone back to England at
once. Swebon would need him for a little while more at least, to teach the
Forest People how to understand all the new things which were still coming to
them.
He remembered Blade's words:
"The Emperor wanted to bring down the city of Mashom-Gad. It was growing too
wealthy and too powerful from selling the Blood of Hapanu. Its nobles and
merchants were becoming ambitious, and the
Emperor feared these ambitions.
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"About five hundred years ago, Mashom-Gad was a powerful independent city.
When the Empire of
Kylan was founded, the city came under its rule, but was never happy about
this. The people of
Mashom-Gad sent their ships across the ocean and founded Gerhaa to get back
some of their old power. They got back even more when they discovered the
Blood of Hapanu and became wealthy through it.
"A few years ago the nobles of Mashom-Gad and other nobles who also hated the
Emperor sent the
Protector here to Gerhaa. With the soldiers of his Guard, he was to conquer
the Forest People. Then there would be a second empire here in the Forest,
under the rule of Mashom-Gad instead of the
Emperor of Kylan. In time, perhaps the second empire would make Mashom-Gad
strong enough to overthrow the Emperor himself."
"They look far ahead in Mashom-Gad."
"Either that, or perhaps far into the past," said Blade. "But you can see why
the Emperor became the
Protector's enemy as soon as he knew what the Protector was doing in Gerhaa."
"I do. And the Emperor sent Ho-Marn to Gerhaa to watch the Protector?"
"Exactly. He was also to watch for any weapon for striking at the Protector.
He found me."
Swebon pulled his mind back to the present. The Prince had just finished
speaking, and now
Ho-Marn was translating what his chief said into the tongue of the Forest
People.
" a small garrison of the Emperor's troops, to protect those of his people who
wish to do business here in Gerhaa."
"How many?" asked Kuka.
"We can talk of that later."
"How many?" asked Blade, in a somewhat harsher voice. Ho-Marn saw that Blade
would not be put off.
"Not more than a thousand will be needed," said Ho-Marn.
Blade and Kuka exchanged glances, then both looked at Swebon. The chief
nodded. One thousand of the Sons of Hapanu could not do much against the
Forest People, not if they were all busy in Gerhaa.
Perhaps they could be dangerous with the help of the people of Gerhaa, but
Swebon did not think they would have that help. In Gerhaa, the people were not
of the Forest or of Kylan. They were of Gerhaa and only of Gerhaa. They would
not be the enemies of the Forest People unless they had reason to fear the
Forest People and Swebon would do his best to make sure that Gerhaa would have
no reason to fear the Forest People.
Ho-Marn was still speaking. "A small amount in taxes will be paid in the Blood
of Hapanu. This will satisfy the temples of Hapanu in Kylan. Otherwise, the
Emperor wishes that the trade in the Blood of
Hapanu be open to all free subjects of the Empire. You may sell or not sell to
anyone, as you wish."
Swebon was delighted. If the Blood of Hapanu could now be sold to the Sons of
Hapanu, the Forest
People would never need to fear an enemy again. They could buy all the weapons
they could not learn to make themselves. He did not think here was the time or
place to say this, however. He would first speak to all the other chiefs and
hear their wisdom on the question. He was now Swebon, First Chief of the
People, but he was not the only chief and never would be.
Blade nodded. "Is the Prince ready to sign an agreement covering all these
terms?"
"I do not think " began Ho-Marn.
"I do think it would be wise. The sooner we put our agreement in writing, the
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less chance of any trouble later on. I trust the Emperor, but I do not trust
the Emperor's enemies to be silent forever.
Mashom-Gad has lost a battle, but that does not mean that it has lost the war.
Even if we think they have, they may think otherwise."
Ho-Marn spoke to the Prince in the tongue of the Sons of Hapanu. The Prince
laughed and nodded, then replied to Ho-Marn. "He thinks Blade is wise," said
the captain. "We will sign for the Emperor, if
Blade and Kuka will sign for Free Gerhaa and Swebon for the Forest People."
"I will," said Swebon, and then noticed Meera coming up the stairs to the
balcony. She still wore men's clothing, but instead of a bow and quiver
carried two gourds filled with the Shield of Life. Blade rose from the
Protector's seat to greet her. She held out one of the gourds and he took it.
"I must ask you people to let Swebon and me go for a few hours," he said. "Now
we are both chiefs among the Forest People, and must give the Shield of Life
to the wounded." He tied the gourd to his belt and picked up the Protector's
staff of office.
"Kuka, take this and put it somewhere safe. It's too valuable to leave lying
around where anyone can steal it, but I certainly don't want to carry it
myself. I " He frowned, hesitated, then sat down again.
"Blade, are you ?"
"I'm I'm all right, Swebon. The call the call has come to return " He frowned
again, apparently in pain. Then he said, "To return to England," in a steady,
clear voice, and he was gone. Where he'd been was only empty air, and the
staff was gone with him.
Swebon was the first to recover his voice, because he was the only one Blade
had told of what was going to happen. "He had a vision," the chief said [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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