Camelot in Orbit Arthur H. Landis

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which no one in all of Marack will ever have again."
Their eyes shone. Their indrawn breath was a whistling chorus.
Rawl grinned and shook his head. "Did I not say it? That to you all violence comes?
I've always thought you mad, Collin. But 'tis a madness to be loved. I'm your man, sir, in any
case."
Fitz glared fiercely round him once again, saying, "You have my sword as always,
Collin. But are you mad? I'd lief know so's to offer the proper prayer. I'm minded of a pious
theologian of Great Ortmund who 'oft said that-"
"We've little time," I said to all of them, dismissing Fitz's maunderings. "This is the
way it will be: When sup is finished we'll make our farewells and meet in full armor, prepared
to ride. No blazonry. 'Twill be but the first step of a most perilous journey. I will, of course,
have somehow warned the king."
Griswall asked softly, "Just like that, my lord?"
"Aye," I answered. "Just like that."
Rawl hesitated. "Dare we know our destination?"
I looked him square in the eye. "Most certainly, cousin to be. We ride to Hish!"
"You joke."
"Nay, I do not."
Griswall breathed a corpse-like chuckle. Fitz exclaimed loudly, "By the gods, you are
mad! I've a potion, sir-"
I shook my head. "No potions; nor will we speak again of madness." And then to
Griswall-"We'll be taking Charney, Hargis and Tober. See that they're warned. And they
have a right to refuse, remember that."
"If 'tis for Marack," he answered bluntly, "no one has that right."
Rawl said soberly, "Hish, Collin, is not just ridden to. 'Tis a city whereat no northman's
ever been. 'Tis across a raging winter sea; through many wild and hostile countries. To ride
to Hish, my lord, is to bid good-bye to all we've known."
I sensed his meaning; saw it in the three pairs of eyes; the likelihood they'd never see
the North again. I'll ask once more," I said softly, "Will you follow me in this?"
"You are Marack's Collin," they told me. "You are the savior of the North. How could
we not-if you have asked us?"
I smiled. "Even if you think me mad?"
"That, too, considered."
"Give my your hands then, and pledge me."
They did, unmindful of the crowd around us-six callused, sword-scarred hands to
grasp mine strongly....
I smiled then to give them heart. "By this time tomorrow, sirs," I told them, "we'll be as
close to Hish as Dunguring was to Kelb, on the eve of battle. I promise you-thirty miles, no
more. From there we'll scout the countryside-ere we advance to tweak the Kaleen's scabby
nose."
Their eyes shone again, as I had known they would. They gasped and believed me.
For I was the Collin.
And I? Well, I thrilled with them. And why not Hish? While we'd slept and played these
last six months, the Dark One had acted. And he knew of me now-whereas before he'd only
guessed. More! he knew of me as a link to a starship with its, to him, unknown potential for
his destruction. What better place to hide then, than in Om itself-except we wouldn't hide! A
surge of adrenaline, born of the node's first buzzing, was still with me. A danger, really, since
the subconscious, oft' times the victim of id-ego euphoria, plays perilous games. We spoke
briefly then of plans to insure our safe departure.
We were late to the royal reception room. The king, usually bluff and hearty, was
tense, disturbed. At sight of me moved to speak but was stopped by a hurried whispering
from Fairwyn who stood behind him. A cold and drafty castle-wind fluttered the aged
sorcerer's beard. He paid it no mind, which was interesting, for he was a confessed
hypochondriac who wore quilted clothing e'en in the heat of summer.
King Olith Caronne and Queen Murie Tindil led off to the dining hall. We took our
places: myself to the princess' right hand; Rawl to Caroween's; Fitz to the rear of the four of
us.
Gen-Rondin was there, no longer friendly, but rather cold and haughty. A stranger
peered from behind his eyes. Fel-Holdt of Svoss, commander in chief of the king's armies,
was also present, along with the two great "Kolks," Lords Al-Tils and Kals of Logven.
Fel-Holdt was free of the taint, and I was glad of that. They placed themselves behind us,
their station in the hierarchy. To the rear came the Pug Boos, Hooli and Jindil-Jindil being [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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