Foster, Alan Dean - Icerigger 03 by Foster Alan Dean

Author:Foster, Alan Dean
Language: eng
Format: epub

IX

Ethan didn't know whether their guards would have shot Hunnar, Elfa, or any of the other Tran in the visiting party for laughing, but all of them somehow managed to restrain their instinctive reaction to this astonishing pronouncement. Even the acerbic and combative Seesfar restricted herself to a single sharp bark of amusement.

By the look of him Massul fel-Stuovic wasn't emperor of anything. Any one of them, including the ladies of the group, could have beaten him up without strain.

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Corfu frowned and lifted the muzzle of his own beamer. "All will bow ."

September shrugged indifferently. "What the hell. It's only a gesture. Not much point in getting shot over a gesture." He bent from the waist. Ethan and Milliken mimicked the movement.

Their Tran companions were not as ready to comply. Corfu aimed his beamer between Hunnar's legs and scorched the floor with a single shot. Hunnar's expression tightened, but he held his ground. The merchant was about to fire again when the diminutive ruler tiredly waved a paw.

"It doesn't matter, Corfu. Leave it be. What good to kill a potential convert?"

Corfu's gaze narrowed as he stared at Hunnar Redbeard. "Not this one, I think. Too stubborn to save himself."

"Stubbornness can give way to fanaticism, and if channeled, that can be useful." Massul waved a second time.

The merchant hesitated, his eyes locked with Hunnar's. Then he shrugged as if it were of no consequence and re-holstered his weapon. "As you command, my lord."

"There are no emperors on Tran-ky-ky." Elfa didn't request permission to speak. "There never have been and never will there be."

"Never is a long time, female."

"Besides, we've already unified four major city-states and are preparing to accommodate more in a union of our own making. We have no need of would-be emperors."

"A union, you say? Good news, if true. It makes our own work that much easier." The emperor appeared no more distressed by this news of a competing planet-wide government than had Corfu. On the contrary, it was a development he seemed to welcome.

"Just what is your 'work'?" Ethan asked him.

Massul studied him out of small, sharp eyes. "Curious, you humans. Always asking questions. When you're not giving orders."

Suaxus-dal-Jagger was craning his neck to examine the hall with exaggerated interest. "Where are the banners, the insignia of family? What kind of court is this?"

"A new kind," the emperor informed him. "One based on achievement instead of nobility. I do not count myself the product of an ancient line. I merely have been fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. As have many of us." He gestured casually in Corfu's direction. The merchant acknowledged the gesture with a nod. Even here, in the castle's inner sanctum, the wind penetrated sufficiently to ruffle the fur and dan of the visiting Tran.

"Words do not make a ruler," Hunnar snapped.

"Truly. Only deeds make rulers. One cannot achieve great things without proper preparation. We are in the process of preparing. The results will become apparent to all Tran soon enough.

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