Rebel of Antares [Dray Prescot #24]
Page 22
The wedding was lavish.
It went on for ten days of riotous carousing and solemn ceremonies, of much pomp and magnificence and of quiet talk and planning. So many of our friends were there as to make the heart of a warrior kick with expected action.[5] So Delia's son and my son Jaidur wed his Princess Lildra, and immediately thereafter the pair were enthroned and crowned as King and Queen of Hyrklana. I tried not to regard this as nepotism gone mad, megalomania rife, but it was a near thing, I can tell you.
[5 Here Prescot gives in loving detail a list of all the wedding guests. It makes brave reading. A.B.A.]
The dark shadow I feared lay across my mind during all these glittering ceremonies. Hyrklana rejoiced today; tomorrow her people must go up against Hamal. And then, when Hamal had been shown the true path, together, united with all Paz, we would face the menace of the Shanks, the true and fearsome enemies.
And after the Shanks, who knew what other monstrous foes we would face?
My son Drak said to me, “Well, I have seen that rascal Jaidur married off. Now I must fly back to Vallia. We have had disquieting news out of the southwest."
My ears pricked up, but all Drak would say was, “We defeated those rasts down there, but I begin to see another reason why you are so set against using mercenaries."
“You'd better tell me—"
“With your leave, I'll be off.” A stiff-necked bunch, this family of mine. “It may come to nothing, and you have work here."
“I have. You'll be ready to march against Hamal?"
“The midlands are being cleared by Kov Turko. As soon as we can establish new frontiers and fresh bases, we will be clearer to march. If a job has to be done, it has best be done well."
“Vallia is in good hands with you and the council, Drak. I trust you. If you are having difficulty in the southwest—"
“It is nothing. Rumors only. Our spies are busy."
I sniffed.
He went on, “And Princess Lildra is lovely. Jaidur is a lucky fellow."
“She's a queen now, and Jaidur is a king. Deuced odd."
“Damned odd!"
And we both laughed.
Delia came in and Drak said the remberees. Jaezila would be staying with us. We had an invasion to plan and kingdoms to run. Delia and Jaidur spent a long time together. While that right tearaway I had first met as Vax, Vax Neemusjid, might regard me as a ruffian, he set great store by what Delia said. The world belonged to young people. And, by Zim-Zair, I was young! The Savanti had insured that by their own superhuman powers. I felt young and hot and strong, and Hamal and danger lay ahead. I went galloping out for a gut-jolting ride astride a fine zorca and the blue radiance came stealthily dropping down over me.
The giant form of the Scorpion, limned in blue fire, hovered over me.
With the sound of a mighty rushing wind the crimson radiance of the Star Lords enveloped all the world of Kregen. The thin voice keened.
“Dray Prescot! You are wanted urgently. There is a mission set to your hands—"
I interrupted. I took a whooping breath and started in calling the Everoinye all the blackguard names I could put my tongue to. I finished: “And I've a lot to do here that means much to me and Kregen, although not much to you, it seems. Have I not done as you wished, and is not Lildra now Queen of Hyrklana?"
“That is sooth. But you are your usual onkerish self. Listen! Our kregoinye has failed in Hamal. It is urgent that his task be concluded, for there is no time loop available. Why do you think we talk thus to you, when we could hurl you into Hamal without a second thought?"
“Why?"
“Debate that with yourself. The answer is obvious. You will go to Hamal and perform the task we set to your hands and then you may find advantages you had not bargained for."
I felt the amazement. The Star Lords? Talking like this?
The thin voice from the crimson radiance went on: “We have changed our plans, Dray Prescot, from the time when you were first brought to Kregen, all naked and raw. You seem to possess a spark of understanding we thought absent from you. Times are changing."
I gaped. These were the superhuman entities, who had once been men like me and were now aloof, remote, impossibly unknowable?
“Do you grant me a boon?"
I was talking about clothes and weapons, and they knew it.
“No."
“Well then, give me time to make the proper remberees to those I love here."
“That is granted you, Dray Prescot. With the first rays of the twin sons, you will be transmitted to Hamal."
The crimson radiance paled. There had been no interference from the acid green of Ahrinye nor from the warm yellow of Zena Iztar. The Scorpion leered down, and I fancied his bloated figure had a much more friendly appearance. I felt as though I were dreaming. The blue fire returned, the winds blew, and once again I was galloping astride the zorca headlong for Huringa.
Slowing that mad pace, I reflected on my future.
Jaidur, the King of Hyrklana, was now the man who must set in motion at least the most important stages of the coming campaign. He would have assistance. Also, I must entrust to him the promulgations of the two measures I knew he concurred with. Neither would be easy. Both would be diabolically difficult. But we must stamp out slavery in Hyrklana. And we must close the Jikhorkdun.
What two tasks could be more difficult?
Perhaps, just perhaps, what I faced in Hamal would tax the old nerve and sinews a trifle more. I did not know.
All I knew as I rode back to Huringa, the capital of Hyrklana, where King Jaidur and Queen Lildra reigned, was that I must once again say good-bye to Delia. Through the streaming mingled rays of the Suns of Scorpio I rode, the emerald and ruby lights falling about me, and the sweetness of the air intoxicating. This time, I vowed, the parting would not be long. This time I'd do what the Star Lords desired, and then I'd take Hamal to pieces and deal with mad Empress Thyllis as we had dealt with fat Queen Fahia.
And all this, all this, not because the Star Lords had commanded, but so that Delia and I might be together again.
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About the author
Alan Burt Akers was a pen name of the prolific British author Kenneth Bulmer, who died in December 2005 aged eighty-four.
Bulmer wrote over 160 novels and countless short stories, predominantly science fiction, both under his real name and numerous pseudonyms, including Alan Burt Akers, Frank Brandon, Rupert Clinton, Ernest Corley, Peter Green, Adam Hardy, Philip Kent, Bruno Krauss, Karl Maras, Manning Norvil, Chesman Scot, Nelson Sherwood, Richard Silver, H. Philip Stratford, and Tully Zetford. Kenneth Johns was a collective pseudonym used for a collaboration with author John Newman. Some of Bulmer's works were published along with the works of other authors under “house names” (collective pseudonyms) such as Ken Blake (for a series of tie-ins with the 1970s television programme The Professionals), Arthur Frazier, Neil Langholm, Charles R. Pike, and Andrew Quiller.
Bulmer was also active in science fiction fandom, and in the 1970s he edited nine issues of the New Writings in Science Fiction anthology series in succession to John Carnell, who originated the series.
More details about the author, and current links to other sources of information, can be found at www.mushroom-ebooks.com, and at wikipedia.org.
* * *
The Dray Prescot Series
The Delian Cycle:
1. Transit to Scorpio
2. The Suns of Scorpio
3. Warrior of Scorpio
4. Swordships of Scorpio
5. Prince of Scorpio
Havilfar Cycle:
6. Manhounds of Antares
7. Arena of Antares
8. Fliers of Antares
9. Bladesman of Antares
10. Avenger of Antares
11. Armada of Antares
The Krozair Cycle:
12. The Tides of Kregen
13. Renegade of Kregen
14. Krozair of Kregen
&nbs
p; Vallian cycle:
15. Secret Scorpio
16. Savage Scorpio
17. Captive Scorpio
18. Golden Scorpio
Jikaida cycle:
19. A Life for Kregen
20. A Sword for Kregen
21. A Fortune for Kregen
22. A Victory for Kregen
Spikatur cycle:
23. Beasts of Antares
24. Rebel of Antares
25. Legions of Antares
26. Allies of Antares
Pandahem cycle:
27. Mazes of Scorpio
28. Delia of Vallia
29. Fires of Scorpio
30. Talons of Scorpio
31. Masks of Scorpio
32. Seg the Bowman
Witch War cycle:
33. Werewolves of Kregen
34. Witches of Kregen
35. Storm over Vallia
36. Omens of Kregen
37. Warlord of Antares
Lohvian cycle:
38. Scorpio Reborn
39. Scorpio Assassin
40. Scorpio Invasion
41. Scorpio Ablaze
42. Scorpio Drums
43. Scorpio Triumph
Balintol cycle:
44. Intrigue of Antares
45. Gangs of Antares
46. Demons of Antares
47. Scourge of Antares
48. Challenge of Antares
49. Wrath of Antares
50. Shadows over Kregen
Phantom cycle:
51. Murder on Kregen
52. Turmoil on Kregen
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Visit www.mushroom-ebooks.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.