[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
translation. How many they lost to get it here I wouldn t want to speculate.
They probably had the strongest Talents do it, and had spares. It s nothing
like the ones Rhelyn had. It s far more powerful, and they re tapping the
Table and translation tubes to power it.
Alcyna winced. Even Brekylt and... some of those around him aren t that
stupid.
Or that desperate. Dainyl gestured toward the low hill to the northwest of
the patroller station. We can get a view of the complex from the top of the
hill.
That might be a good idea.
Once they were away from the other Myrmidons, Dainyl glanced at Alcyna.
You re worried. I don t think it s about Soupat.
No. Brekylt sent me a dispatch. It was Talent-sealed. Someone had opened it
and resealed it. I doubt anyone besides me or his chief assistant would have
caught the difference.
Zelyert?
Alcyna gave a low and rueful laugh. Possibly. It doesn t matter. He ll know
by now.
What are you going to do?
That s one of the things I like about you. You don t ask the inane questions
like Do you want to tell me? You know I wouldn t mention it if I didn t.
Brekylt was like that, too.
Dainyl kept walking, listening.
It was a simple note, really, Alcyna went on. Not that what was behind it
was simple at all. He just wished me well in Elcien. He wrote that I had great
ability and should be rewarded with a position that offered me the ability to
command without having to compromise with those who did not understand and
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never would. That was all.
That was almost an offer of command if you return.
He didn t go quite that far. He never does.
But you know that, and he knows that you do, Dainyl pointed out.
Shastylt truly underestimated you. So does Zelyert.
You don t want complete command?
Of course, I want to be in command. Her eyebrows lifted and her lips quirked
into a sardonic expression. I also don t want to be a mere tool if there s
any alternative, and Brekylt is looking for tools. Even Noryan knows that.
How long before Brekylt declares the east independent of the Duarches?
Just before the Master Scepter is transferred, when no one can really do
anything. Efra will take all the effort and power the Archon and those with
him have. Once Brekylt consolidates his power and controls the Tables in the
east, the Archon will have to recognize him as the equivalent of a Duarch.
Dainyl frowned. I m new to the deeper levels of this sort of plotting, but it
seems that all the refugees from Ifryn might well be another means to keep
matters unsettled enough that the High Alectors didn t get ideas like Brekylt
has or make implementing them more difficult.
I wouldn t be at all surprised. It s aimed as much at the Duarches as at
Brekylt, though.
That was certainly true. What else should I know about what s happening in
Elcien?
Doubtless there s something, but what that might be ... Alcyna shrugged.
Zelyert has yet to talk to me since I arrived in Elcien.
Dainyl sensed both the truth and a certain frustration behind her words.
She gestured toward the northwest. It looks as though your bombardment is
working, but... it s been hard on the pteridons.
The two squads from Seventh Company started out one short, and we ve lost
four, Dainyl admitted.
You knew this wouldn t be as easy as Zelyert thought, didn t you?
I don t think he cares what it costs.
You re right about that. After the briefest of pauses, she asked, How much
damage do you think you ve done?
Less than it looks. In a bit, I m going to try something else.
Dropping a large boulder from overhead?
That s the idea. It s not practical for most Myrmidons. He snorted. It may
not be practical for me.
You have blasting powder, don t you?
Some... but the more I ve thought about it, the less I think it s practical.
And you still don t like giving ideas to the indigens?
Dainyl couldn t help but think of Majer Mykel. Some of them already have it
figured out. They just fear the consequences.
Those are the dangerous ones.
Not wanting to discuss that particular matter further, Dainyl turned. I need
to get ready.
Of course.
They began to walk down the hill.
How is Lystrana doing in Dereka?
I have no idea, except that she arrived safely and the recorder was pleased.
I haven t exactly had access to a Table here.
Alcyna s laugh was rueful. I m sorry. Sometimes, it seems ... you know what I
mean.
We take the presence of Tables for granted.
We couldn t hold even Corus together without them.
We may not be able to even with them, Dainyl replied sardonically.
When they reached the station area, Dainyl found Ghasylt talking with Lyzetta.
... hands-on commander ... knows what a pteridon can do ... what it can t...
Both looked up.
Captain Ghasylt, is Halya available for a short flight... with a passenger? I
have one more tactic I d like to try.
Page 138
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Yes, sir. I believe she s ... over there. Halya!
In less than a quarter glass, Dainyl was standing beside Halya s pteridon,
explaining. We re going to lift a large boulder very high in the sky, after
twilight, but while there s light in the sky, and then we re going to drop it.
You have a good idea of how much your pteridon can lift, I take it?
Yes, sir.
Then we should get airborne. We ll head toward the sinkhole valley to the
north, just to the east of the high road. There we ll see which boulder looks
best. Then, we ll head north and circle west, climbing as we go. I d like to
be at least two thousand yards up before we start to come south over the RA s
complex.
We can do that, sir.
Dainyl was more than a little amused by the alectress s cheerful confidence.
At the supply valley he had Halya s pteridon pick up the largest and most
spherical boulder that she felt confident the creature could carry. Even so,
he had to wince at the Talent/lifeforce draw that it took for the pteridon to
get into the air and slowly climb out.
They continued to climb for a good four vingts before Dainyl called forward.
You can swing back south now. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl karpacz24.htw.pl
translation. How many they lost to get it here I wouldn t want to speculate.
They probably had the strongest Talents do it, and had spares. It s nothing
like the ones Rhelyn had. It s far more powerful, and they re tapping the
Table and translation tubes to power it.
Alcyna winced. Even Brekylt and... some of those around him aren t that
stupid.
Or that desperate. Dainyl gestured toward the low hill to the northwest of
the patroller station. We can get a view of the complex from the top of the
hill.
That might be a good idea.
Once they were away from the other Myrmidons, Dainyl glanced at Alcyna.
You re worried. I don t think it s about Soupat.
No. Brekylt sent me a dispatch. It was Talent-sealed. Someone had opened it
and resealed it. I doubt anyone besides me or his chief assistant would have
caught the difference.
Zelyert?
Alcyna gave a low and rueful laugh. Possibly. It doesn t matter. He ll know
by now.
What are you going to do?
That s one of the things I like about you. You don t ask the inane questions
like Do you want to tell me? You know I wouldn t mention it if I didn t.
Brekylt was like that, too.
Dainyl kept walking, listening.
It was a simple note, really, Alcyna went on. Not that what was behind it
was simple at all. He just wished me well in Elcien. He wrote that I had great
ability and should be rewarded with a position that offered me the ability to
command without having to compromise with those who did not understand and
Page 137
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
never would. That was all.
That was almost an offer of command if you return.
He didn t go quite that far. He never does.
But you know that, and he knows that you do, Dainyl pointed out.
Shastylt truly underestimated you. So does Zelyert.
You don t want complete command?
Of course, I want to be in command. Her eyebrows lifted and her lips quirked
into a sardonic expression. I also don t want to be a mere tool if there s
any alternative, and Brekylt is looking for tools. Even Noryan knows that.
How long before Brekylt declares the east independent of the Duarches?
Just before the Master Scepter is transferred, when no one can really do
anything. Efra will take all the effort and power the Archon and those with
him have. Once Brekylt consolidates his power and controls the Tables in the
east, the Archon will have to recognize him as the equivalent of a Duarch.
Dainyl frowned. I m new to the deeper levels of this sort of plotting, but it
seems that all the refugees from Ifryn might well be another means to keep
matters unsettled enough that the High Alectors didn t get ideas like Brekylt
has or make implementing them more difficult.
I wouldn t be at all surprised. It s aimed as much at the Duarches as at
Brekylt, though.
That was certainly true. What else should I know about what s happening in
Elcien?
Doubtless there s something, but what that might be ... Alcyna shrugged.
Zelyert has yet to talk to me since I arrived in Elcien.
Dainyl sensed both the truth and a certain frustration behind her words.
She gestured toward the northwest. It looks as though your bombardment is
working, but... it s been hard on the pteridons.
The two squads from Seventh Company started out one short, and we ve lost
four, Dainyl admitted.
You knew this wouldn t be as easy as Zelyert thought, didn t you?
I don t think he cares what it costs.
You re right about that. After the briefest of pauses, she asked, How much
damage do you think you ve done?
Less than it looks. In a bit, I m going to try something else.
Dropping a large boulder from overhead?
That s the idea. It s not practical for most Myrmidons. He snorted. It may
not be practical for me.
You have blasting powder, don t you?
Some... but the more I ve thought about it, the less I think it s practical.
And you still don t like giving ideas to the indigens?
Dainyl couldn t help but think of Majer Mykel. Some of them already have it
figured out. They just fear the consequences.
Those are the dangerous ones.
Not wanting to discuss that particular matter further, Dainyl turned. I need
to get ready.
Of course.
They began to walk down the hill.
How is Lystrana doing in Dereka?
I have no idea, except that she arrived safely and the recorder was pleased.
I haven t exactly had access to a Table here.
Alcyna s laugh was rueful. I m sorry. Sometimes, it seems ... you know what I
mean.
We take the presence of Tables for granted.
We couldn t hold even Corus together without them.
We may not be able to even with them, Dainyl replied sardonically.
When they reached the station area, Dainyl found Ghasylt talking with Lyzetta.
... hands-on commander ... knows what a pteridon can do ... what it can t...
Both looked up.
Captain Ghasylt, is Halya available for a short flight... with a passenger? I
have one more tactic I d like to try.
Page 138
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Yes, sir. I believe she s ... over there. Halya!
In less than a quarter glass, Dainyl was standing beside Halya s pteridon,
explaining. We re going to lift a large boulder very high in the sky, after
twilight, but while there s light in the sky, and then we re going to drop it.
You have a good idea of how much your pteridon can lift, I take it?
Yes, sir.
Then we should get airborne. We ll head toward the sinkhole valley to the
north, just to the east of the high road. There we ll see which boulder looks
best. Then, we ll head north and circle west, climbing as we go. I d like to
be at least two thousand yards up before we start to come south over the RA s
complex.
We can do that, sir.
Dainyl was more than a little amused by the alectress s cheerful confidence.
At the supply valley he had Halya s pteridon pick up the largest and most
spherical boulder that she felt confident the creature could carry. Even so,
he had to wince at the Talent/lifeforce draw that it took for the pteridon to
get into the air and slowly climb out.
They continued to climb for a good four vingts before Dainyl called forward.
You can swing back south now. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]