Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
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Generated <strong>by</strong> ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html<br />
Fifteen strokes, Sova thought. At least it wasn't to falling, the flogging that lasted as long as your<br />
strength, <strong>and</strong> one stroke longer. Fifteen strokes she'd be able to count. It was hardly as if she'd never<br />
been struck before.<br />
The army was in the usual bustle <strong>and</strong> confusion of making camp; the flogging-posts were always among<br />
the first things set up, eighty thous<strong>and</strong> warriors, now, producing a good deal in the way of discipline<br />
problems. She'd watched before, as they were off-loaded from a wagon, work-crews st<strong>and</strong>ing in the<br />
bed of the vehicle to pound them in with stone-headed mauls: old oak posts with frayed tops, dark <strong>and</strong><br />
stained. She'd expected not to get any closer acquainted. Those to be punished waited, some bound <strong>and</strong><br />
under guard, most st<strong>and</strong>ing with knots of their friends, faces contrite <strong>and</strong> nervous. Dust made her sneeze,<br />
<strong>and</strong> there were the usual smells of dung <strong>and</strong> leather <strong>and</strong> sweat <strong>and</strong> greased iron.<br />
She'd told Echera-e the first day he'd been up <strong>and</strong> around, two days after he'd been hurt; it was another<br />
two days now, <strong>and</strong> he'd been judged fit. "Fifteen stroke… we getting light cause she you' motser," he<br />
said. "Somekras outcahst, forrh tsaht. Most flahg to falling. Bet she say us it tsaht, next time." Now he<br />
stood beside her, his rough-callused h<strong>and</strong> in hers; his friends were there, more subdued than usual. They<br />
seemed to agree with him that the sentence was on the light side of justice, though, if anything. Sova had<br />
felt it was harsh, until she thought about it.If everyone ran around doing what they wanted , they'dcut<br />
through us like old cheese .<br />
The two hadn't been sure whether they'd get the choice, but each wanted to go first. They'd toyed with<br />
the idea of having the whip-wielder alternate strokes; but that, they realized, would make it last twice as<br />
long for both. The anticipation between, they both knew, was as bad as the pain. Sova swallowed; there<br />
was a fig orchard just north of the punishment field, <strong>and</strong> she could smell the over-sweet smell of the<br />
dropped fruit, hear the wasps buzzing about them.<br />
Shkai'ra rode up on Hotblood with most of the Slaughterers behind her, <strong>and</strong> Megan, perched on her<br />
pony, worry lines on her face. "Attention to orders!" the Kommanza barked.<br />
Echera-e <strong>and</strong> Sova looked at each other <strong>and</strong> straightened, stepped forward to st<strong>and</strong> before the<br />
comm<strong>and</strong>er; the Yeoli's eyes stopped for a moment on the man uncoiling the whip <strong>by</strong> the post, one of his<br />
own countryfolk. That was the rule, in this army, formed of nations that had in the past often been<br />
enemies, <strong>and</strong> were still sometimes touchy about perceived humiliations. Sova swallowed.<br />
As one they exchanged the salute with Shkai'ra. Her voice continued in a tone like iron.<br />
"Sova Far-Traveller, military apprentice, <strong>and</strong> Echera-e Lemana, common rank, did willfully disobey<br />
orders while in action <strong>and</strong> in the face of the enemy; specifically, did refuse to obey the signal to retreat<br />
although they heard <strong>and</strong> understood same, there<strong>by</strong> endangering the mission <strong>and</strong> the good order <strong>and</strong><br />
discipline of this army."<br />
"Therefore, they are sentenced to punishment corporeal, for their own improvement <strong>and</strong> as example<br />
general. In light of the fact that the offense was committed while attempting to rescue a wounded<br />
comrade with courage that would be commendable in other circumstances, <strong>and</strong> in view of their youth <strong>and</strong><br />
previous clean records of both parties, sentence is commuted to fifteen strokes. I warn Military<br />
Apprentice Sova Far-Traveller, <strong>and</strong> am authorized <strong>by</strong> his own comm<strong>and</strong>er Makalina Shae-Sorel,<br />
rigaryekrachaseye , to so warn Echera-e Lemana, that the next such offense will be punished <strong>by</strong><br />
flogging to falling. The sentenced may choose the order of punishment <strong>and</strong> whether they will be bound."<br />
"Told you," whispered Echera-e.