Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...

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Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html doesn't know how to do it any way but brilliantly, that's the trouble; with him as the sword in their hands, his people couldn't resist taking on the giant." "And of course if he wins—well, he wouldn't leave Arko leaderless afterwards, to fall into chaos; he'd consider it a breach of responsibility. So he'll take over as Imperator. Arkans falling on their faces every time they enter his presence; imagine what Yeola-e will think ofthat ! Poor Chevenga: he'll be the one who pays in the end, more than anyone else, I know, for he'llarrange it that way. Well, that's neither here nor there for you. You asked whether he's whole-hearted. I'd say he is." Megan rubbed her hands thoughtfully up and down the sleeves of her shirt. "Well, it's good to know that an honest man stands a chance of becoming Imperator, anyway. Ivahn, thank you for being one I can count on for news." He quirked an eyebrow at her. "That is almost like saying I'm a gossip, my friend." She crinkled the corners or her eyes at him. "Or an acerbic old fox." Who in Halya told him I said that? He knows pissing everything. "Why don't we say… oh… a person with a great many sources of intelligence, instead?" She pushed herself away from the wall and held out her hands to him. "Thank you again for your advice. We'll be leaving as soon as we can." "So be it," he said, taking her young hard hands in his gnarled gentle ones. "Good luck, Megan, Shkai'ra. When you find your son, will you bring him to visit?" "I wouldn't dare not to. I hope you don't mind that I've called you an old fox." "An acerbic old fox," he corrected. "Should I mind what is so apropos?" "Not if it's meant affectionately, you acerbic old fox." He laughed. "Zak imp. Honey-giving One be in your souls on your journey." "Safe journey," Matthas's landlord wished him, as he handed over the big brass key. "Honey-giving One be with you, and may you sell lots of rubber and silk in Karoseth. An indefinite time, you say; I'll expect your letter, then." "Thank you."Thank Celestialis I did take this trade on as a cover , he thought as he headed to harbor, a guard of two Brahvnikian hirelings in tow.An established merchant can get a bank loan to finance a business journey . The Benai had been amenable enough, despite his nationality, though they'd charged him hefty interest. Now off to Selina, a quick change of nationality-—he could convince Yeolis he was a Thane easily enough— put together the caravan and do what everyone else was doing: join Shefenkas's army. That was where the evil twosome had gone. For him, there was no other way to cross through Yeola-e than to say he meant to sell to the army. Their security wouldn't be too hard on a middle-aged merchant, obviously untrained in war—especially one who'd give good prices—and he'd be able to take his time once he'd got there. He didn't expect to be able to make an attempt to truth-drug them before that; he'd heard about Shkai'ra Farshot's mount and its night-senses.What sort of person, let alone woman, would own a Ri ? Not a good idea to tangle withthat in the dark. But in the army, there'd be more
people around for camouflage, and the beast, because of its penchant for horsemeat, would have to be kept apart from the main camp.Besides, I can make a little money from the army too, which I'm fikken well going to need … IV Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html From thePAGES,Machine-Scribed News-Chronicle of the City of Arko, 16th Day of the First Month Vernal, 55th to the Last Year of the Present Age (front page): MASSIVE LOSSES INFLICTED UPON YEOLIS AGAIN In a brilliantly executed fighting retreat, General Perisalas Kem,Aitzas , inflicted huge losses on Yeoli barbarians near the city of Tinga-e, at the tragic expense of his own life. "We found it strategically advantageous to occupy higher ground outside the city after the battle," an aide of Perisalas stated. "In terms of casualties we were by far the victors. We are not certain how many of the enemy were slain, but the streets were ankle-deep in blood." The conquest of Yeola-e has moved into its latter, most difficult stages, sources say, requiring a strategy of "attrition rather than advancement": to wear the enemy down through inflicting losses. Hence the recent series of strategic withdrawals, which Generals Perisalas and Aoatzas Kallen,Aitzas , now retired, have shown particular excellence in instigating. Our hearts and prayers fight for our valiant heroes engaged in the divine work of conquering barbarism in all benighted lands. "How long is it since the Yeolis took Tinga-e back?" Megan asked Tema, a local girl going into the market in town, and accompanying them, because she loved horses.Brat , Megan thought. "Oh, tsaht was late last fall," she said in her bad Yeoli-accented Enchian. "Wassa complete rout. Blood ankle-deep, all over tseh city. Wasgreat ." Megan gathered the reins tighter and said, in her sweetest voice, "Quiet down, you sickly, vicious, stupid nasty-tempered walking pile of dog-food. Sooo, soooohhh, calm down, mash-for-brains." She tried to mimic Shkai'ra's tone. The beast swivelled its ears back and nodded forward, dragging the reins loose. It knew. It couldn't stand her, either. She looked back at Shkai'ra on Hotblood, a few hundred paces behind. The Ri carried his wedge-shaped head lower than a horse would, silver-white forelock falling down between his green, forward-looking eyes, the eyes of a hunting carnivore. His black-on-black striped hide was glossy from having had to eat more cereals than he liked lately. He yawned, showing his tearing fangs. She hoped the wind wouldn't change; one whiff of the Ri and this herd of Aeniri horses would become totally uncontrollable. Instead of half uncontrollable, as they were now.
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