Free Legions of Antares by Alan Burt Akers Page B

requisitioning warrant. If he did so, Nulty would know what to do with our mirvols. As though to underline the significance of this incident a patrol of Hamalian army flyers settled with a rush of wings. They had been descried by our lookouts at a distance and authenticated. They flew pale blue and white fluttlanns, smallish birds and a trifle slow, who are willing up to a point and do not eat overmuch. They can barely carry two riders. But they breed phenomenally and are cheap. The patrol leader, a Deldar who would never rise in rank to Hikdar now, walked up to me, saluting with gauntleted hand. He wore a full beard, the lines around his eyes were caked with grime pouching pits of tiredness. His blue uniform was ragged and faded; but his weapons were clean and sharp. The matoc was bellowing at the patrol, some twenty flyers, and keeping them in order while their Deldar sorted out lodgings and food. I gave orders that the Deldar and his men should be treated well.
    “And, master, that is all the army can provide the Three Valleys, and Folding Mountain and High-Trail Forks, to give us protection.” Nulty spoke as much to the Jiktar of the supply service as to me.
    “I suppose they fly from valley to valley on patrol,” I said. And, then, in a mean spirit, I added, “I would guess they pray each night that they do not meet wild men on a raid.”
    Nulty put a hand to his mouth. The Jiktar’s brows drew down. But I waved a hand, very much your high and mighty Hamalian lord, acting the part of one of those hateful abusers of authority. “You will be leaving us soon, Jiktar? Good. We have the valley to make flourish again ready for your return. It is not for us to go around collecting food; we have to grow it.”
    He spluttered.
    I went on: “And the hides. Our hides are of the finest. Our people have to grow the animals, and skin the hides, and we tan with birch-bark and emboss a beautiful grain with cunning rollers, and then the hides are bundled ready for you to come and collect — and you burn them all up.”
    “There is going to be an inquiry, notor.” He could hardly get the words out. His face was the color of bruised plum. “A strict inquiry—”
    “And very proper, too. Someone was damned lax. As for me, I was asleep at the time. And my people were abed. By themselves.” The meaning about the two idiots and Pansi did not escape him. “The laws require me or my Crebent to make full reports of any trials held under our jurisdiction here.”
    He didn’t like that.
    As soon as he could he collected his swods and they trooped silently into the five remaining famblehoys. When they took off and spread their canvas into a tidy breeze, we all breathed easier.
    The incident had given me hope. And the sight of tough flutswods of the Hamalian army flying brave but inferior little fluttlanns also gave me a lift. Thyllis was really scraping the barrel to continue her wars. And this reminded me that as the man responsible for Vallia I ought to be commanding armies and maneuvering fleets instead of fiddling about burning a few flying sailers. Ruathytu beckoned. I now knew I could move about Hamal freely using my name of Hamun ham Farthytu. There, in the capital city, I could do more good than here in Paline Valley, and, perhaps, if the gods smiled, more even than commanding those armies and maneuvering those fleets.
    A last few duties had to be discharged.
    Pansi had to be reassured and I made sure that all we could do was done for her. Lalli, too, had to receive the best attention. Sundry other folk were dealt with according to their desserts. The slaves were integrated. This was not easy, it never is; but Nulty and I showed what we intended and the people who had been slave responded. The valley was not overcrowded yet, and fresh settlers were still welcome. The sennight I had promised myself passed, six busy days, and then I selected a middling quality mirvol from the perching towers.
    “But, master!” protested