Alexander at the World's End by Tom Holt

Author:Tom Holt
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Fantasy, Humour, Historical
ISBN: 9780349113159
Publisher: Abacus
Published: 1999-08-05T00:00:00+00:00

this nonsense seriously.

The very same Tyrsenius whod demanded, a mere four days earlier, that when we

took the village (when, mark you, not if), we should burn down all the houses

and plough up the site, and distribute the land between our citizens. I knew

where he was coming from then; he was already looking ahead to buying up all

this extra land cheap, once everyone had realised itd be completely impractical

to try to farm a large additional holding a days ride from Antolbia, with a

view to selling it dear to the next wave of settlers he was already planning to

bring in once the Scythians had been dealt with. It was gold to bronze he had an

equally sound commercial reason for this latest change of heart, but I really

wasnt interested in hearing about it.

(The very same Tyrsenius who killed four Scythians during the raid, pulling them

down from their horses and hacking them to death with one of their own

scimitars; all this in spite of having been shot through the left bicep in the

first volley of arrows, losing so much blood that when it was all over he passed

out and nearly died in the night. I, of course, just stood there and did

nothing, while the sacred snake shielded me in its coils and flicked flying

arrows away from my head with its tongue.)

I cant believe Im hearing this, Prodromus was saying meanwhile. Euxenus,

for gods sakes, the whole future of the colonys at stake here. How the hell

can we be expected to get on with our lives with the threat of something like

this hanging over us every day till we die? Youve got to do something and itd

better be soon. Two more families are talking about getting on the next ship

out. Soon therell be nobody left here but the Illyrians.

He was making me lose my temper. Thats whats really bugging you, isnt it? I

said angrily. Youre afraid that unless we true-born Greeks take control of the

situation, the Illyrians are going to lose patience and go off on their own to

do something about it; and then you wont be a Founder any more, just some Greek

whos got to work for a living.

I resent that, Prodromus replied, predictably enough. I think youd better

take that back, before

Hey, I said. Thatll do. As it happens, I agree with you, not Tyrsenius. I

want to kill the bastards, every last one. Its them or us; theres no way we

can live peacefully together after whats happened, and I wouldnt want to if

there was. All Im saying is, unless we do it right theyre going to massacre

us.

Thats nonsense, Prodromus said. Isnt it?

The last part of his remark had been directed at Marsamleptes, whod been

sitting there still and quiet as a log, through all Prodromus comments about

the shifty and treacherous Illyrians, without once taking his eyes off the

sconce on the opposite wall. No, he said. Euxenus is right. If we attack, we

must do it properly.

If? Prodromus repeated. Dont you start. Its bad enough Tyrsenius here wants

to pretend nothings happened. For pitys sake, Euxenus, just for once

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