The Tritonian Ring by L. Sprague de Camp

Author:L. Sprague de Camp [Camp, L. Sprague de]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9780575103498
Publisher: Paperback Library
Published: 1968-01-29T06:00:00+00:00

XII. – THE HORNS OF AUMON

Queen Aramnê was indeed an impressive-looking woman, as tall as Vakar, with a broad-shouldered mannish figure clad in a loose short tunic that left one small breast bare. She sat in a chair of pretence on her galley-barge, the torchlight gleaming on and pearls in her diadem, and rested her chin on one capable fist. Vakar guessed her age as the middle thirties. She said:

“Your words are persuasive, Prince Vakar. In fact, a party among us has been urging that we take the initiative in such negotiations. However, before I make my decision, we will undertake a divination to aid us. Zoutha, proceed!”

There was a burst of activity among the attendant Amazons. Some set up a small stand with a copper bowl on it while others dragged in a naked man whom they forced to his knees in front of the bowl. There was nothing to indicate what sort of man he was and Vakar thought it injudicious to ask.

An elderly woman who seemed to be high priestess or head sibyl prayed, and then the man’s head was forced down while Zoutha, the old woman, cut his throat so that his blood poured into the bowl. When the man’s throat stopped gushing the Amazons threw the limp body over the side, where the crocodiles soon carried it off.

Zoutha stared into the bowl a long time. She dipped a finger into the blood and tasted it, and said:

“Queen, a thing will almost come to pass.”

“Is that all?” said Aramnê.

“That is all.”

The queen said to Vakar: “I have almost decided to acceed to your proposal—with a few minor reservations. However, words are not enough.”

“Yes?” Vakar wondered what was in store for him this time.

“Before I commit my people to this course, I should like a sample of the benefits offered by King Ximenon.”

Vakar’s heavy eyebrows rose. “You mean, madam …”

“Exactly. You shall attend me tonight.” A faint smile touched the queen’s frosty face. “I too have lost time to make up for.”

At least, thought Vakar, this new test promised to be one that he was competent to surmount, even though he had never contemplated it as a method of earning a living.

-

The sun was well up the next morning when Vakar confronted a wan and peaked reflection of himself in Queen Aramnê‘s silver mirror as he fumbled for his razor. Behind him the queen stretched like a lazy lioness where she lay and said:

“Vakar, if some unforeseen accident should remove King Ximenon, would you be interested in—ah—”

“You honor me beyond my wildest dreams, but I fear that duty calls me back to my homeland,” he replied, conscious that accidents that happened to his predecessors might some day happen to him also. “By the way, do you Amazons eat breakfast? I could devour one of those beasts you call a hippopotamus whole, I think.”

Aramnê sighed. “Men! Before they have their pleasure they will promise anything, but immediately afterwards they rush off, full of plans and bustle, with less thought for their late partner than for their favorite hound or hawk.

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