Samarkand The Omnibus: Books 1-2 by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-06-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

Le-Dan was a large man, well-trimmed despite his advanced years. He toyed with the apple in his hand, taking his first bite savoringly, relishing the juices as they swilled over his tongue. The hammock in which he rested, slung carefully between two great cypress trees, remained perfectly still, even when he leaned over the side and spat a seed onto the grass.

His companion, equal perhaps in age but certainly not in physical fitness, belched loudly as the last of his grapes were swallowed. He wiped his hands on a soiled napkin, rested his head back against the trunk’s bark, squarely facing the man in the hammock. Sunshine, gay late afternoon light, filtered glowingly through the leaves and boughs. It was a most pleasant country setting, peaceful and tranquil, and to see these two men now no one could have ever guessed the reason for their meeting.

Le-Dan drew a breath, let it out in a long blow of his puffed cheeks. At first glance there was nothing striking about him; he seemed stern yet jovial, like an uncle who loves dearly his nieces and nephews but is constantly in need of exercising authority lest they take advantage of his disposition. A strong man of independent thought, but a fair man as well — as many of his troops had reason to be thankful for.

The second man, portly and balding, was far more the ambassador than he ever was the soldier. Outwardly aloof, even disinterested, but inwardly studying and noting his adversary’s every move, recording it in a perfect memory. Lucienus never forgot — anything.

He folded a betel nut between his fingers, placed it gingerly in the back of his mouth, resting it beside gum and cheek. The flavor delightfully spread, and Lucienus smiled.

“Well?” said Le-Dan. Hands at his sides, eyes closed beneath white, bushy brows, he listened to the singing of the birds nesting among the branches.

Lucienus smacked his lips. “Well what? What else is there to say about the matter, my dear fellow? You and I have been friends for more years than I suspect either one of us wishes to recall. We’ve seen kings like this come and go, time and time again.”

Le-Dan peered over at his companion. “Not kings like this one, we haven’t. Not like this devil. What we’ve seen over the years have been washerwomen by comparison.”

The portly man chuckled. “You always overestimate everything. Your emir was weak — a pushover, if I may be so bold as to speak it openly. Never had a chance, none of you did.”

“How could we?” answered Le-Dan with a shrug. “The Khan’s forces were overwhelming. You know it’s true when I say that not one of my legions fled. To a man we stood our ground and fought: in the valleys, along the plains, why, right into the rivers themselves. Anything, anything at all to halt this maniac and his scourge.”

“That’s why I was amazed when I received word that you were still alive; you have no idea how wonderful it made me feel.

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