The Sword Lord (28 page)

Lazer in hand, he kicked open three doors before he found Namita and her slave girl huddled together in one of the bedchambers. He threw the slave girl out and slammed the door behind her. There was a wooden bar to secure the door and seal it from any outside interference and he dropped the bar into place. Then he holstered his lazer and advanced upon the quaking princess.

Namita began to scream again. Thorn found the sound irritating and to shut her up he stuffed her mouth with one of her own lace handkerchiefs.

He slapped her hands away and tore off her clothing. Then for the second time he unbuckled his belt and dropped his chain mail codpiece and leggings. With both hands gripping her knees he wrenched her legs apart, and at that stage Namita swooned. Thorn completed the rape without any further resistance and when he had finished he decided that the whole experience had not been worth the trouble he had taken. This highborn one had been no more exciting than the other dull women of this planet had been.

He strapped his weapon belt back into place and slowly became aware that the girl was still unusually motionless and silent. She had stopped writhing and fighting the gag. He went back to her and discovered to his mild but unconcerned surprise that she was dead. Namita had choked on the handkerchief and suffocated.

 

 

 

At about the same time, there were urgent whispers of excitement flying about the palace and the news was that a runner had at last arrived from Kananda.

Two couriers had traveled together as was customary, but one of them had suffered a snake bite on the way. The other had been reluctant to allow a beloved cousin to die alone and so the delay had added a further two days to his journey. The news he brought was six days old. It reported only that the two princes and their hunting party had encountered with strange and wonderful golden-skinned gods in silver suits—gods who came in a black temple of steel from the stars.

The news was carried to Maryam on the river bank, where she was still struggling to communicate with Raven. The runner was still with the king and his advisors, but a young captain of the palace guard had gleaned enough to know that he could find favour with his mistress. He ran to inform her, hesitating only briefly when he saw that she was not alone.

Maryam was delighted, bewildered and amazed, her expressions and emotions jumping from one display to another. Any news of Kananda was welcome relief and the story that there were more gods with golden skins was fantastic. She pumped the young guard captain for every detail, but all that she learned further was how little he actually knew.

Raven stood watching and listening. He was intrigued by her excitement. Twice the young guard captain had pointed across the river to the distant Solar Cruiser. Several times there had been mention of the name “Kananda”, which Raven knew had something to do with the delay over their planned marriage ceremony.

He began to ask questions of his own. Maryam tried to answer, pointing to the spaceship and then indicating the southwestern horizon far beyond it. She held up two fingers, tapping one and gesturing back to the spaceship, then the other finger and the horizon beyond.

Abruptly Raven understood.

Somewhere out there was another spaceship.

It could not be another Gheddan ship, which could only mean that it must be from Alpha.

Chapter Fourteen

Raven held war council on his ship where all five of his crew could be present and speak their minds on the decisions to be made. So far their sojourn on this planet had been one of general inactivity and boredom and their expressions brightened at the prospect of blood and battle. The general consensus of opinion was that they should immediately locate and destroy the Alphans and their vessel. Whatever happened here on Earth was beyond the knowledge and intervention of any power on Dooma, which gave them complete freedom to act as they saw fit.

“There is more to consider.” Raven did not hold his command solely by virtue of his Gheddan appetite for a fight. “If we are to engage in a ship-to-ship battle, then even in destroying the Alphans we will probably suffer some damage to our own vessel. We may find it necessary to return directly to Ghedda without finishing our business here. We could leave the impression that we have departed in fright at the mere mention of there being other visitors to this planet who have similar powers to ourselves.”

Garl shrugged. “Does it matter? The garrison force will soon dispel any such false ideas when it arrives.”

“True. But do we need to leave any unfinished business?” Landis guessed at some of what was in Raven's mind and looked back to their commander.

“There is no need,” Raven said firmly. “We can see that there are already signs of rebellion in this city which must be crushed before we depart. The attack upon my own person was one such sign. The stronger men of this city, those two brothers of the king and that old war-dog who always stands with them, are all too eager to reach for their swords. They would oppose us if they dared. Until now our lazer power has kept them under control, but if they had Alphan help and Alphan lazer weapons to support them, they could become openly hostile.”

“You think there may already be Alphans in the city?”

“I think not. Until Maryam learns more of our language, I cannot question her in detail and I can only grasp the broad outline of what she has tried to tell me. There is an Alphan ship on this planet. It has landed some days travel from here and I think that the crew has made contact with some Earth group who are from, or friendly to, this city. It may be that they are on their way here. It may be that the Alphans know of our presence. These things are possible but are unclear to me.”

“So first we crush all possibility of resistance in the city,” Landis offered. “Then we seek out and destroy the Alphans.”

“We can wipe out the city now.” Caid carried the offer one step further. “I have the ship's battle lazers targeted in a maximum destruction pattern of its principle areas.”

“No.” Raven shook his head. “If there is a possibility that we may have to engage an Alphan ship, then we cannot waste any more of our lazer power on the city. Besides, a pile of rubble is of no value. We want a subject population.”

“What of your plan to go through their marriage ceremony with the king's daughter?” Taron asked.

Raven shrugged. “It might have proved useful if the situation had not changed. It would have given me a positive role in their ruling power structure, in terms of their own laws and customs. We could then have left Thorn and one other here to maintain a Gheddan presence in my name until the garrison arrives. Now we have to be more ruthless.”

Thorn looked surprised. He had not realized that it had been Raven's intention that he should stay behind. Then he saw that he should have guessed it, for it was obvious that Raven would not delegate his command for the poor pleasures of this puerile planet.

“There is something else.” It suddenly occurred to Thorn that this was worth some consideration. “Earlier this afternoon I succeeded in finding the girl they tried to hide from me. She made so much stupid fuss that the only way to give my ears some peace was to stuff her mouth. The silly fool choked and died. This could anger them against us.”

It was a careless account, an afterthought added because it might have some bearing on the mood of the city.

Raven realized that Thorn was talking about Namita, Maryam's sister and a princess of the ruling family of Karakhor. He stared coldly at his second-in-command but then he relaxed. Killing the girl was clearly a mistake, but if there was anyone to blame then it was his own fault, for he had not thought to forbid his crew from interfering with the women of the royal family. Thorn was a Gheddan Swordmaster, and in the absence of any direct order from a higher sword, it was only natural for him to take what he wanted.

Raven could see how Namita's death would have worked against his original plans but now it was of no great consequence. Events were moving and the situation was changing fast, which meant that all plans and strategies had to be open and fluid. He looked to his senior engineer.

“Landis, how soon will the ship be ready for flight?”

“The major parts of the maintenance and inspection programme are complete. What remain are minor checks that can be postponed. With Caid to assist me, I can have her ready in a few hours.”

“Good enough. We can use the delay to settle matters in the city. Landis, you will stay here with Caid to prepare the ship for immediate launch and battle. Also to maintain a constant all-levels watch for the Alphan ship. The rest will come with me. We will use the gong again that summons all their leaders into the great hall of the king's palace. Last night we only executed one of them as an example. But this time we will kill all of those who show signs of defiance, especially the king, his two brothers, and that growling old war-dog.”

Thorn grinned widely. The others showed varying degrees of satisfaction and approval. None of them wanted to challenge any of Raven's decisions.

“We will wipe out all of those who are strong enough to lead a rebellion against us,” Raven finished. “That will keep the city crushed and suitably reminded of us until we can return.”

“And the Alphans?” Landis asked.

“We shall come back immediately to the ship. As soon as she is ready to launch, we will begin a grid-search to the south west. When we find the Alphan ship, we will lazer-blast it out of existence.”

 

 

 

In the dusky twilight, silhouetted against a sky that was the darkening colour of dried blood, the four Gheddans whipped the horses of their borrowed chariots as they raced back into the city. Hooves and wheels clattered and rumbled across the single bridge that spanned the Mahanadi. The warriors guarding the city gates moved forward from their posts but then shrank back again when they saw the stern blue faces of the gods. No one dared to hinder their passage.

At the same moment in time, a mile below the bridge, concealed by the walls of the city and the bend of the river, Kananda and his force entered the smooth flowing water and began to swim across. Zela had warned them that the tall spires of the Gheddan ship had powerful “eyes” that could “see” them over great distances and so they had approached the city with stealth and caution. Their chariots were hidden in the forest and they had kept under cover, skirting the open plain in front of the bridge that was dominated by the Solar Cruiser.

To Kananda, it was galling that he had to enter Karakhor under the cover of darkness, emerging dripping from the river like a thief in the night. But they had to enter unseen and this was the only way. He promised himself grimly that this was another outrage for which he would exact a due price.

He climbed onto the far bank, straightened up and drew his sword. They had picked a deserted boatyard just above the burning ghats. It reeked of rotting fish scales, black pitch and drifting funeral smoke that had the prophetic taint of death. Rats scuttled among piles of refuse. An old beggar opened his eyes under the crumbling boat hulk that was his refuge, but did not dare to move or show himself.

Kasim and Gujar stepped up beside Kananda and they too drew their swords. One by one the other warriors of the small band splashed their way out of the water to stand, sword-ready, waiting for Kananda's command. The three Alphans emerged last from the river. They had taken off their weapon belts and swam more slowly as they struggled to keep their hand lazers and the spare fuel packs high and dry.

When they were all assembled, Kananda made a sign with his sword and led them swiftly and silently into the heart of the city. The streets behind the boatyards were mainly the areas of the artisans, the metalworkers, wool-dyers, carpenters and weavers. They were by day colourful, overflowing hives of commerce and industry, but by night the wooden doors of the little shops were all barred and bolted. There may have been eyes to see them or ears to hear, but no one interfered or challenged them as they passed through. There were no whispers behind them and Kananda began to sense the hush of cold fear that had settled over the city. He had left Karakhor alive with laughter and movement and now all was unnaturally still, muted and afraid. Again a fierce and passionate anger surged in his breast.

Kananda led them unerringly through the night-dark maze until they emerged from the leather-tanged streets of the harness-makers immediately below the side walls of the palace. The walls were twice the height of a man, constructed of rough-hewn stone, and they moved along the outside until Kananda found a narrow gateway. He tried to push open the heavy, iron-studded door but it was barred on the inside.

Kasim was at his side, as always. The young lord glanced upward at the top of the wall, and then to Gujar who pressed close behind them. “A toss?” He suggested cheerfully.

Gujar smiled and nodded. He braced his back firmly against the wall and then clasped his hands in front of him ready to take Kasim's leaping foot. Kasim sheathed his sword and stepped back to take a short run. Then they all froze as the boom of the great gong shattered the hush of the dread-filled night.

The sound waves of the first stroke rolled away, to be replaced by the second and then the third. As the gong beats continued, the warriors looked at each other with uncertainty on their faces. Zela pushed through and looked to Kananda.

“What does this mean?”

“The great gong calls all the nobles and princes to an audience with the king,” Kananda told her briefly. “'But I cannot understand why my father should make such a summons in the dead of night. Something is very wrong here.”

“Then we should hurry.”

Kananda nodded and signed to Kasim. The young lord took his run and leaped. Gujar caught his sandaled foot and heaved upward with all his strength. Kasim caught the top of the wall, squirmed over it with athletic ease and dropped down on the inside. They heard the rattle of the bar and seconds later the door was opened. They all passed through into a side courtyard, the Karakhorans with ready swords, the Alphans with hand lazers drawn.