James P. Hogan by Star Child

Author:Star Child
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-02-01T14:18:35+00:00

For months Gallestari had been waiting and preparing for the right moment. His triumph had provided the pretext for bringing his army into the city, and by coordinating his actions with the invasion that would follow the alliance he had formed in Halsabia, he had expected to overthrow Cyron within a week. But now, perhaps, an opportunity to make a better alliance was staring him in the face.

These gods – for surely they were, Gallestari was almost ready to believe – were returning Cyron’s mockery multiplied a hundredfold, making his elite Guard look like clowns. Even as Gallestari watched, the knight, whose disdain was such that he could afford to amuse children by letting himself be led like a buffoon, threw off bonds that would have held a bull, danced unscathed amid hurtling spears or dashed them aside, and sent the cavalry captain’s champion crashing to the ground as he would nave tossed aside an irritating puppy. The knight of blue and silver that the Guard officer had declared resurrected called to the children, who began running toward the dragon. The three others who had been borne to earth with him passed between them to face the soldiers. Cyron’s archers discharged a ragged volley. The arrows that threatened no one passed freely, while those that would have found marks were snatched from the air. Still these gods were playing games. And unarmed!

“Guards to the attack! Stop them!” Cyron shouted desperately. The royal elite came forward, brandishing spears and unsheathing swords. Gallestari swiftly assessed the situation. Hadn’t his objective all along been to come out on the winning side? The moment, it was plain to see, was now. He made his decision.

“Third Infantry,” he ordered. “Block the Guards. Defend those children!”

Amid battle cries and crashings of swords on shields and armor, the regular troops closed with the palace guards. Spears and arrows flew every way in the confusion. In the midst of all, the knights swayed and gyrated, snapping blades and plucking any missile out of flight that threatened their charges. Then one of the running girl-children fell. The yellowhaired maid, who had been urging them on toward the dragon, turned back and stooped to haul her up again, but Cyron in pursuit was upon them, his sword already swinging. Gallestari launched himself at them, but knew even as he moved that he would be too late. The nearest knight had started to twist back, but his balance was in the wrong direction; the split-second he would need to consolidate was too long. Behind Gallestari, Descemal saw the general moving on Cyron and aimed his spear. Another figure, the bearded youth, came out of the melee, and throwing himself in front of the maid, took Cyron’s blow. Cyron heaved him aside as he fell, and freed his sword, but Gallestari reached him and plunged his own blade into his body before he could thrust again.

Cyron’s eyes widened as he sank to his knees, recognizing his assailant. “You… would betray me?…”

“I serve mightier masters now,” Gallestari hissed.

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