Storms of Victory by Jerry Pournelle & Roland Green

Author:Jerry Pournelle & Roland Green [Pournelle, Jerry & Green, Roland]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780441382996
Google: m8RmAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0441382991
Publisher: Ace
Published: 1987-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

Gwen dismissed her servant, then helped Siobhan lift Art Mason's injured leg onto the carved ironwood table.

"And Publius Caesar took back not one word of what he said to the knights of Drantos?" asked Siobhan.

Art Mason grunted as she loosened the binding holding the poultices Apelles had applied from ankle to midthigh. "Not that I heard, but then he'd hardly do it in public. Maybe to Ganton, in private—"

Siobhan bristled. "Then the knights of Drantos have known great insult, with no redress. Will the Wanax let matters rest there?"

Mason and Gwen Tremaine exchanged smiles. Earthmen against locals, but also discreet age against hotheaded youth. Getting any kind of smile from Art—and from Sergeant Major Elliot, Larry Warner, and Rick—was lifting Gwen's spirits more than she would have believed possible. Whatever had been making all four of them look through her, then shy away from any explanation, the victory over Phrados's host and the end of the southern war had helped a lot.

Helped, but hadn't ended it. What do they know, and why won't they tell me?

•

Siobhan saw their conspiratorial glances and laughed softly. Gwen smiled to herself. Mason was going to have his hands full with that young lady after they were married—and that seemed certain now. There was no mistaking Siobhan's reaction when she heard that Mason had been wounded, or when she saw his troops bring him through the University gate on a horse litter.

Chalk up another arranged marriage that's turning into a love match. Hah. Les intended that for Rick and me.

"Publius Caesar drips insults like a hydra feeds. It doesn't mean all that much," Mason said. "I think we're just going to have to live with it."

Siobhan frowned.

"Ganton will probably give Rudhrig an important post next time," Mason said. "I just hope Rudhrig's learned enough that a lot of good men don't get killed for his damned honor. Anyway, that'll have to do. Ganton has a few other things on his mind." He grinned. "Like becoming a father."

"It's official then?" said Gwen. "Octavia's pregnant?" Siobhan looked intently at the fire.

"The priests say so," Mason said. "I hear the formal announcement goes out over the semaphore in a couple of days. When the Roman bishops say the signs are right."

"Hallelujah!" said Gwen. 1 hope I sound surprised. She thought of the letter Octavia had written to her ten days ago.

"A good thing," Siobhan said. She sniffed. "Lady Prygisia has told the entire court that our queen is barren. And some listened, too."

"This should help," Art said.

"I'd think so." Gwen brushed back a wisp of hair. "The great ladies of Drantos weren't too pleased that our Wanax went to Rome to find a queen." Poor Octavia. Hardly any friends at all, so when Ganton isn't home she broods.

"This will put a stop to that particular gossip anyway."

"Especially if it's a boy," Siobhan said. Then she giggled. It was Art Mason's turn to look at the fire.

Siobhan had finished with Art's leg and was trimming his hair.

Art Mason reached up to take the scissors from her, and looked at them closely.

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