The Cyber Chronicles VII - Sabre by T C Southwell Page A

curious?"
    "Usually more
so."
    Fairen turned
back to Tassin. "Overlords who have families will invite single
peers to social gatherings, where they may meet their
daughters."
    "A rather
limited selection, if I may say."
    "Yes, but of a
suitable social rank. Ordinary women tend to be in awe of an
Overlord. To have one court them would be... a rather intimidating
experience, I think. Fortunately an Overlord can sense when a
woman's feelings for him are genuine and not inspired by respect,
but, even so, the daughter of another Overlord is a more suitable
spouse."
    Tassin nodded,
considering. "Then I would like to make you a proposition, My Lord.
If you come to my country incognito, the girls you meet will get to
know you for who you are, not what, and therefore you'll find a
genuine love from a far larger selection."
    Fairen said,
"I appreciate your offer, but I must point out that I'm only
fourteen, and as yet I don't find girls particularly
interesting."
    "I do tend to
forget how young you are. You have the bearing and composure of an
adult."
    "But not the
interests." Fairen hesitated. "As you said, the selection of
Overlord daughters is limited, so we do have another way of finding
a mate. This ship is equipped with surveillance instruments capable
of finding a sicle parasite on a bunhound, for obvious reasons.
Sometimes, Overlords have been known to use this to find a girl
they find attractive, who they will then arrange to meet."
    "They go down
to the planet?"
    He inclined
his head. "If they so choose. It's not encouraged, but as you said,
an Overlord may do whatever he or she wishes, including visit a
world, but not as an Overlord, you understand? That is
forbidden."
    "Of course.
Overlords never leave their ships."
    "Exactly."
    Tassin gazed
at the planet. "I'm sad to leave you, My Lord, but I'm eager to go
home."
    "Naturally."
Fairen turned to Sabre. "A shuttle is waiting for you." He dug in
his pocket and took out another silver bracelet. "You broke the
emergency beacon again, so I had another made. Perhaps I should
make a few spares. Anyway, this one has a one-way transmitter, so
you can send me a brief message. Like the wedding date."
    "I didn't
break it, Grundel did," Sabre said.
    "Hold out your
arm." Fairen snapped the new bracelet onto Sabre's wrist and
removed the old one. "Try not to break this one."
    Sabre nodded,
then glanced at Cyber Two, who stood off to the side in an immobile
guard stance. "What do you intend to do with him?"
    "I thought he
might come in useful as my protector, since you won't be here. He's
not much fun, though. At least he'll be well treated here, and I
will have my techs see if they can find a way to release him. Do
you think that's the best thing to do, or would it be kinder to
euthanize him?"
    "No, keep him.
As long as he's treated like a human being, his life won't be so
bad."
    "You know I
will."
    "Yeah." Sabre
sighed. "We should go. Tassin is eager to go home, and I'm quite
keen, too."
    "Of course you
are."
    Sabre clasped
his shoulder. "If ever you need my help, or just want to talk, I'll
be here for you. I'll be glad to see you again. I wish you could
come with us now and live a normal life."
    Fairen smiled.
"So do I."
    "Why don't you
then? Who would stop you?" Tassin enquired.
    "I'm needed
here. I have a calling, and it's not a bad life. Loneliness will
always be my lot, and even on a world such as yours I'd be an
outcast, uncomfortable around people, sickened by crowds. Being an
Overlord has its advantages."
    "Well, the
invitation will always be open."
    "Thank
you."
    Sabre put his
arm around the boy's shoulders. "Come and see us off."
    Fairen led
them along the corridors to the shuttle, Sabre at his side, Tassin
and Tarl following. At the docking port, soldiers carried their
packs aboard and Tarl entered it at their heels, but Tassin
hesitated in the doorway.
    Sabre turned
to the young Overlord and gripped his shoulders. Despite his
intimidating ebon attire and escort of stone-faced