[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
the entry that Clement despaired of getting in the door. But the Paladin
commander spotted them, and in a moment ten Paladins had politely but firmly
cleared the crowd and then stood on either side of the path, greeting the
arriving garrison commanders in Sainnese as they passed. "Good morning,
General
Clement," said Saleen, at the top of the stairs.
She took his hand. "Commander Saleen, I was just thinking that you people
can't
sensibly organize yourselves."
"Then you will be many times surprised today," he said. In Sainnese. Like
Zanja,
Saleen seemed to have the fire talent for languages. He had made it his
mission
to learn Sainnese and seemed to be constantly teaching whatever he learned to
the Paladins in his command.
As Clement's party entered the door, children hurried forward with towels to
dry
their boots, then a line of young people divested them of their coats. Saleen
led the way to the big parlor, where Emil stood casually, sipping tea by the
hearth. Immediately, a crowd of people paraded in to serve breakfast, and
Clement's companions, lured by the promise of sweet pastries and hot tea,
abandoned her.
"Good morning, Emil," said Clement, and Gabian uttered a joyful yelp.
Emil picked up a tray of pastries from a nearby table and offered it to her.
"Will you eat something, Clement? You'll be wanting to be fortified."
"I fight better on an empty stomach."
Emil set down the tray. "Do you think this day will be soù" He fell silent,
riveted by something that appeared to have just come in the door.
Clement turned. The woman at the door was dressed in a surcoat of heavy
embroidered silk, in a blue that exactly matched here eyes. The draping
fabric
parted when she moved, revealing trousers and undername of shimmering purple.
She lifted an arm, corralling Garland, the cook, in the doorway. The fabric,
drawn back, revealed her muscular forearm. "What's become of our humble
G'deon?"
murmured Emil.
"It's only pastries!" Clement heard Garland protest, and then he escaped.
Karis
turned, noticed their stares, and joined them, saying grumpily, "What?"
Page 38
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"You combed your hair," said Emil blandly.
"Give me that baby, will you, Clement? Maybe he'll spit up on me."
Emil hastily flung a napkin across Karis's shoulder. Karis glared at him, but
then smiled sweetly at the baby as Clement put him in her arms. "Greetings,
little brother. What nonsense all this is!"
"I understand your commanders are being difficult," said Emil to Clement.
"Five are missing entirely and haven't provided an explanation."
"I know. I should hear from Wilton soonùI have people watching the garrison,
and
they can get me a message by the ice road in a matter of days."
Clement felt an uprush of anger. "You're spying on my garrisons?"
"Now, General, don't bristle at me. I trust youùit's Heras I'm worried about."
Of course. The first year Heras commanded Wilton garrison, Emil had still
been
commander of South Hill company. Medric had served directly under Heras, and
Zanja under Emil. The razing of South Hill had scarred and educated all three
of
them.
Gabian, apparently fascinated by the crisp, shimmering fabric of Karis's
clothing, grasped a fold and endeavored to drool upon it. Emil intervened,
then
said to Clement, "Does Heras think she should be general? Is this an
insurrection?"
"Of course she thinks she should be general. She's astute, decisive,
uncompromising, and doesn't suffer from divided loyalties. She'd be a better
general than I would be."
"She's manipulative, ruthless, and closed minded!"
"She has all sorts of admirable qualities."
"Oh, you're being sarcastic," said Emil with relief.
Fortunately, Norina and her law students were busy elsewhere, for surely it
would have been obvious to an air witch that Clement's statements had been
more
truthful than Emil seemed to think.
"This baby of yours is not cooperating," said Karis, whose astonishing outfit
remained unstained. "Clem, this Heras had better remember that it's not you
she
is opposing, but me. And I'm not much impressed by bullies now that I am one
myself."
Emil choked on a swallow of tea.
"And am I just your puppet?" Clement said. "No, never mindùI know what I am."
Karis began to reply. "Tomorrow's problem," Emil said.
"Tomorrow's problems are accumulating," said Karis. "What is wrong with that
seer?"
"Maybe Zanja can do something with him."
They exchanged serious glances, and Clement felt a moment's pity for them.
Then
Emil said, "If you won't eat, Clement, then perhaps you will introduce me to
the
commanders, as I missed my opportunity to meet them yesterday."
Emil exercised his geniality on the commanders, with great brilliance but
little
effect. Clement delivered Gabian to a parlor that now was a playroom, where
Leeba officiously instructed several children in the rules they all must
follow.
Then she and her commanders followed Emil and Karis into what she remembered
as
a vast, echoing, very cold room at the back of the monstrous building. But
now
its floors had been muffled with carpets of many sizes and colors; it was
filled
Page 39
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
with chairs of many styles and heights, and the fire that had probably been
blazing in the fireplace since before dawn had made it somewhat less chilly.
People milled nervously through the space, talking to each other and staring
about as though they feared they'd miss something. Clement caught herself [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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the entry that Clement despaired of getting in the door. But the Paladin
commander spotted them, and in a moment ten Paladins had politely but firmly
cleared the crowd and then stood on either side of the path, greeting the
arriving garrison commanders in Sainnese as they passed. "Good morning,
General
Clement," said Saleen, at the top of the stairs.
She took his hand. "Commander Saleen, I was just thinking that you people
can't
sensibly organize yourselves."
"Then you will be many times surprised today," he said. In Sainnese. Like
Zanja,
Saleen seemed to have the fire talent for languages. He had made it his
mission
to learn Sainnese and seemed to be constantly teaching whatever he learned to
the Paladins in his command.
As Clement's party entered the door, children hurried forward with towels to
dry
their boots, then a line of young people divested them of their coats. Saleen
led the way to the big parlor, where Emil stood casually, sipping tea by the
hearth. Immediately, a crowd of people paraded in to serve breakfast, and
Clement's companions, lured by the promise of sweet pastries and hot tea,
abandoned her.
"Good morning, Emil," said Clement, and Gabian uttered a joyful yelp.
Emil picked up a tray of pastries from a nearby table and offered it to her.
"Will you eat something, Clement? You'll be wanting to be fortified."
"I fight better on an empty stomach."
Emil set down the tray. "Do you think this day will be soù" He fell silent,
riveted by something that appeared to have just come in the door.
Clement turned. The woman at the door was dressed in a surcoat of heavy
embroidered silk, in a blue that exactly matched here eyes. The draping
fabric
parted when she moved, revealing trousers and undername of shimmering purple.
She lifted an arm, corralling Garland, the cook, in the doorway. The fabric,
drawn back, revealed her muscular forearm. "What's become of our humble
G'deon?"
murmured Emil.
"It's only pastries!" Clement heard Garland protest, and then he escaped.
Karis
turned, noticed their stares, and joined them, saying grumpily, "What?"
Page 38
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"You combed your hair," said Emil blandly.
"Give me that baby, will you, Clement? Maybe he'll spit up on me."
Emil hastily flung a napkin across Karis's shoulder. Karis glared at him, but
then smiled sweetly at the baby as Clement put him in her arms. "Greetings,
little brother. What nonsense all this is!"
"I understand your commanders are being difficult," said Emil to Clement.
"Five are missing entirely and haven't provided an explanation."
"I know. I should hear from Wilton soonùI have people watching the garrison,
and
they can get me a message by the ice road in a matter of days."
Clement felt an uprush of anger. "You're spying on my garrisons?"
"Now, General, don't bristle at me. I trust youùit's Heras I'm worried about."
Of course. The first year Heras commanded Wilton garrison, Emil had still
been
commander of South Hill company. Medric had served directly under Heras, and
Zanja under Emil. The razing of South Hill had scarred and educated all three
of
them.
Gabian, apparently fascinated by the crisp, shimmering fabric of Karis's
clothing, grasped a fold and endeavored to drool upon it. Emil intervened,
then
said to Clement, "Does Heras think she should be general? Is this an
insurrection?"
"Of course she thinks she should be general. She's astute, decisive,
uncompromising, and doesn't suffer from divided loyalties. She'd be a better
general than I would be."
"She's manipulative, ruthless, and closed minded!"
"She has all sorts of admirable qualities."
"Oh, you're being sarcastic," said Emil with relief.
Fortunately, Norina and her law students were busy elsewhere, for surely it
would have been obvious to an air witch that Clement's statements had been
more
truthful than Emil seemed to think.
"This baby of yours is not cooperating," said Karis, whose astonishing outfit
remained unstained. "Clem, this Heras had better remember that it's not you
she
is opposing, but me. And I'm not much impressed by bullies now that I am one
myself."
Emil choked on a swallow of tea.
"And am I just your puppet?" Clement said. "No, never mindùI know what I am."
Karis began to reply. "Tomorrow's problem," Emil said.
"Tomorrow's problems are accumulating," said Karis. "What is wrong with that
seer?"
"Maybe Zanja can do something with him."
They exchanged serious glances, and Clement felt a moment's pity for them.
Then
Emil said, "If you won't eat, Clement, then perhaps you will introduce me to
the
commanders, as I missed my opportunity to meet them yesterday."
Emil exercised his geniality on the commanders, with great brilliance but
little
effect. Clement delivered Gabian to a parlor that now was a playroom, where
Leeba officiously instructed several children in the rules they all must
follow.
Then she and her commanders followed Emil and Karis into what she remembered
as
a vast, echoing, very cold room at the back of the monstrous building. But
now
its floors had been muffled with carpets of many sizes and colors; it was
filled
Page 39
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
with chairs of many styles and heights, and the fire that had probably been
blazing in the fireplace since before dawn had made it somewhat less chilly.
People milled nervously through the space, talking to each other and staring
about as though they feared they'd miss something. Clement caught herself [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]