Beasts of Antares by Alan Burt Akers Page B

Hyr Jikordur apply.” At this there were gales of laughter, for the Jikordur specifies the code of conduct and the rituals of combat in duels — often to the death.
    The rowdy part set about arranging the duel in strict conformity with the Hyr Jikordur and I went across to Karidge. I knew why he had dressed like this and was going through the manual of arms of a pike-wielding brumbyte. Karidge regarded me stonily as I approached.
    “I see you prepare yourself, Nath.” I was very easy with him. “That is as it should be.”
    “Majister!”
    “And, too, that is why I have picked you for your next assignment.”
    He licked his lips. The vosk-skull helmet shadowed his face, but the glory of the Moons of Kregen spilled down and set that hard, reckless face stark against the bronze fittings.
    “I think your wife will approve.”
    “She was most wroth. She told me that, much as she admires all sections of the Phalanx, she could not really credit being married to a man not in jutman’s uniform.”
    I nodded. If, sometimes, I refer to any of the riders of Kregen as horsemen, forgive me. Jutman is the word, for there are most marvelously varied bunches of saddle animals, and one does not always detail zorcaman or totrixman or voveman.
    I told Nath Karidge what I wanted. As I spoke so his features loosened, and then tautened. He smiled. The sparkle grew. His enthusiasm seized him up as a giant winged monster of Kregen’s skies snatches up its prey.
    “I shall serve to the death, majister—”
    “Aye, Nath. Aye, I know that. And it grieves me, as well as affording me intense pride in you. The empress—”
    “I shall begin at once.”
    “You may select your officers and troopers from whatever regiments of the cavalry arm you wish. I do not restrict you in any way. You are to form a regiment of the best, the smartest, the toughest — in short, Nath, you will create a cavalry regiment that is just simply the finest in all the world.”
    “And this regiment will be the empress’s personal bodyguard!”
    “Just so. You are herewith promoted instantly to ord-Chuktar. The regiment will be known as EDLG, the Empress’s Devoted Life Guard.” I gestured in a way I tried to make nonchalant, to hide the guilt I felt at the next words I would say, guilt at the expense of the rest of the army. “Your officers will be a rank higher than customary. Jiktars will command the squadrons. I want the best, the finest, the—”
    “Yes, majister.”
    On a sudden, Nath Karidge’s voice sounded soft.
    I swallowed.
    “This is a thing I should have done seasons ago.”
    “I can only say that the honor you do me—” He did not go on. I do not think he could. By Zair! But my Delia is loved by her people!
    Then a great outburst of shouting and laughter dragged us back from the lip of mawkish sentiment. The two hotheads had laid each other out, their wooden swords clattering onto the cobbles. I barely saw. My Val! My Delia — she demanded everything of me I had to give. Everything...

Chapter seven
    Sacrifice
    When Turko and his army were safely on their way north, that, I made up my mind, would be my cutoff point. Then I would take off for Hyrklana to bring back our friends. During my recent absences from Vallia the country had been run by my son Drak, the Presidio, the Lord Farris, with the expert and unstinting help of Larghos the Left-Handed and Naghan Strandar, chief among the other pallans. Yes, that was what I decided.
    Jilian had not returned. The Wizards of Loh, although in communication by messenger, had still not penetrated through whatever dark veil of sorcery that arch devil Phu-Si-Yantong had thrown over us. The army needed an overhaul. The harvests remained good. So with a small suite I took myself off to the rocky island of Chandror, off the south coast of Gremivoh. We took one of the sailing fliers and made good progress. On Chandror the new gold mines were yielding ore of a rich red lusciousness. Gold is just a metal;