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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"Ha-a-a-a-a-alt!" They'd arrived at tonight's resting-place; time to fall out <strong>and</strong> set camp, <strong>and</strong> Sova<br />
should be with Shkai'ra. Megan answered the girl with an affirmative grunt, then reached up to hug her<br />
head. "That's food. We'll talk more. You know, you're outgrowing me, daughter." She smiled. "Go on<br />
with you."<br />
"O my sons, my precious pooooor sonnnnns!"<br />
As Dimae, thesolas goddess, female counterpart to the Steel-Armed One, Megan put on her bestsolas<br />
accent, <strong>and</strong> overacted shamelessly. "Like flies you die, all in a doomed cause! Sweet innocent souls,<br />
deluded <strong>by</strong> fools, believing your Steel-armed God favors this cause after so many clear omens! O my<br />
babes, wasted, flung away, like dust, O woe, O woe, O wo-o-o-o-oe!"<br />
Chevenga laughed so hard he fell off his cushion.The only person in the world , Megan thought,who<br />
could maintain his dignity rolling on the floor of an office-cart . She liked making him laugh.<br />
"Fabulous," he said. "Stunning. The prize of the play festival for you… we're planned then?"<br />
She nodded. "We're planned,kras ."<br />
"So fast, we've barely spoken two words." He swung back up to sitting. "Stay for a bit?"<br />
She'd been hoping he'd let her linger this time, <strong>and</strong> had brought a suitable inducement; they knew each<br />
other well enough now that he wouldn't take it as trying to buy his favor, she knew. She hadn't expected<br />
an invitation. "Certainly. I underst<strong>and</strong>—I've heard from one of the most comprehensive of sources—you<br />
have a taste for this." She drew out the small flask of Saekrberk.Shkai'ra <strong>and</strong> I never got around to<br />
drinking it ourselves , she'd thought,so why not ?<br />
"Well, yes…" His lips pursed, as if he were searching for a polite way to say something awkward.Shit ,<br />
she thought.Of course —security. She held the flask up, showing him the waxen Benai Saekrberk seal<br />
affixing the cap. "It's been in our possession all the way from Brahvniki, my word <strong>and</strong> oath on it. Well<br />
<strong>and</strong> good in our possession, in a hip-pouch <strong>by</strong> day, in the bottom of our bedroll at night—we didn't want<br />
some scruff stealing it."<br />
He grinned then, teeth flashing gold. "Good enough. The most comprehensive source first introduced me<br />
to that, as he told you. It's a little early… well, maybe not for justone . To toast… the gods of Arko, who<br />
are so just?"<br />
Megan smiled. From the lowest drawer of the cabinet he drew two small cups, h<strong>and</strong>ing one to her; the<br />
jiggling of the cart made it unwise to put them down to pour. "To the gods of Arko, who are so just,"<br />
they said together. "Korukai." By ancient tradition, both emptied their cups in one draught.<br />
The Saekrberk burned its familiar way across Megan's tongue; she licked the green sweetness off her<br />
lip. "I never thought I'd be a theater player. Truly, I'm not that… how would you say it… out-flung? No:<br />
outgoing."<br />
"The audience will be too busy pissing themselves to give critical opinions," he said. "You keep to<br />
yourself; that's your way, or your nature, so be it."<br />
"Tell me,kras : I'm in only affecting a h<strong>and</strong>ful of people each time. Do you think it's making that much of