Free The Ancient Enemy by Christopher Rowley Page B

that had gone up the hill immediately and slaughtered the wounded pyluk where they were found. Eventually, after a search, seven long pyluk spears were brought in from the canyon.
    No more pyluk were found, and the conclusion was reached that it had been a rogue band, driven by hunger. With a fair degree of awe, the agent sent off the report and filed his own copy.
    Thru and Meu recuperated in White Deer for a few weeks, then they rode by donkey cart to Lushtan before they undertook the journey north to Dronned.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    In the great city of Shasht, it was the eve of the Summer Solstice festival. Simona was very excited because they were going to go to Lady Bezzad's garden party and those were always great fun. Simona had been wondering for days whether she would wear the orange gown she'd worn for the chorales or the green summer one that Mama had had made for her birthday. She was nineteen and she had to attract a man soon or it would be too late.
    All those plans turned to dust when her papa walked in the door. She could tell the moment she saw him that something dreadful had happened. He stood in the entrance hall with a stricken look, his eyes puffy and red. He was not a strong man, she knew, but she had never seen him this upset before.
    A magnificent purple envelope had been delivered to Filek Biswas's office in the hospital. Within lay a communication from the Imperial Court. The Imperial Seal was always a little intimidating to break. The great red A of Aeswiren III lay embossed in wax across the envelope and glittered with baleful power. Still, Filek had opened it with confidence. His work at the hospital had attracted the Emperor's favorable attention before.
    He'd broken the seal and found orders from the Emperor's presumptive heir Nebbeggebben directing one Filek Biswas, to report to the Colony Fleet. He was being sent overseas. He blinked for a moment in horrified amazement, then he'd read it again with enormous care before slumping back in his chair.
    When he got home he was still barely able to speak.
    His wife, Chiknulba, could scarcely comprehend what he was saying the first time around, then she broke down into tears when it all sank in.
    "I am commanded to leave the hospital. I am to take a position as second surgeon aboard the colony ship Growler . I am to take my family to the colony in the east."
    At the name Growler Chiknulba had understood everything in a moment of dreadful clarity. Vli Shuzt had done this. Vli had had it in for Chiknulba since that dreadful party that had turned into a sordid orgy with slaveboys. Chiknulba had been brought up to despise that sort of thing, and Vli had not taken Chiknulba's obvious disgust very well.
    Of course it was her, because Vli Shuzt was going on the colony expedition as well, something she was quite bitter about. Her husband was captain of the Growler , and she must go where he was sent.
    But there was a great power attached to being captain of a departing colony ship. If necessary, the captain could request that anyone of social rank beneath that of the imperial purple join the expedition. Such persons, once they had been requested in writing under seal, could not refuse.
    Of course, there were safety measures inhibiting this custom. If a captain reached too high above himself, he would be assassinated by the Hand of Aeswiren, which governed these matters in its own silent, implacable way.
    Alas, Filek Biswas had no such protection.
    "Old Klegg wept when I told him. He will now have to do his own work. It's been years since he ran the hospital. He was very gloomy when I left."
    "What does he have to worry about?" cried Chiknulba. "He will still be here in the city. He will be able to order a cup of hot tea at any time of day or night. We will be at the ends of the world digging ditches. Trying to stay alive through the first winters."
    "We will lose everything," he mumbled, staring blankly at the large comfortable rooms of his house.
    "And you will be