Part 26 (1/2)

”I think you will find,” I said, ”that my s.h.i.+ps have already withdrawn from the harbor of Telnus.”

Corpulent Lurius sprang to his feet, paunch swinging. He shook his fist at me.

”Tharlarion!” he cried. ”Tharlarion of Port Kar!”

”I gather,” I said, smiling, ”that our terms of peace are rejected.”

Lurius sputtered.

”Your surmise is correct,” said Chenbar, who had now sat again upon his throne.

”I shall then take my leave,” I said.

”I think not,” smiled Chenbar.

”Put him in chains!” screamed Lurius.

I regarded them. ”I claim,” I said, ”the immunity of the herald.”

”It is denied!” screamed Lurius, his wide, bloated face scarlet with rage.

I extended my wrists, to the sides, and felt manacles, with leashes, snapped on them.

”You have been offered peace,” I told them.

”And we have refused it!” screamed Lurius.

I heard the laughter of the girl, Vivina, who seemed amused. Several of the others in the court laughed as well.

Lurius settled himself, breathing heavily, again in his throne.

”Put him in a market chain,” said Lurius, ”and sell him at the slaves' wharf.”

The girl laughed.

”When,” snarled Lurius, ”you find yourself chained in the rowing hold of a round s.h.i.+p, you may, my fine captain of Port Kar, bethink yourself less brave and clever than now you do.”

”We shall see,” said I, ”Ubar.”

I felt a movement on the chains, and turned to leave the presence of the two Ubars.

”Wait,” I heard. It was Chenbar, who had spoken.

I turned again to face the Ubars.

The hall was high about my head. Broad tiles lay beneath my feet.

”May I present,” asked Chenbar, indicating the veiled, robed girl sitting to one side, ”the Lady Vivina?”

”I do not wish to be presented to a tarks of Port Kar.” hissed the girl.

”Let us not forget our manners, my dear,” smiled Chenbar.

She rose to her feet, and, small gloved hand in the hand of Chenbar, descended the steps of the dais on which sat the thrones of Lurius and Chenbar, and stood before me.

”May I present, Captain,” said Chenbar, ”the Lady Vivina?”

She dropped her head, and then lifted it.

”I am honored,” I said.

”Tharlarion,” she said.

The girl turned and was escorted, again by Chenbar, her gloved hand in his, to her seat on the dais.

When she had regained her seat, I said, ”You extraordinary beauty, High Lady, which, forgive me, you veil but scarcely conceals, is indeed worthy of a Ubar of Cos--”

Lurius grinned. The girl herself permitted herself the smallest of smiles.

”Or,” I added, ”a collar in Port Kar.”

Lurius sprang to his feet, his fists clenched. The girl, eyes flas.h.i.+ng, scarlet beneath the white silken veil, too sprang to her feet. She pointed her finger at me. ”Slay him!” she cried.

I heard two swords leave their sheaths behind me.

But Chenbar laughed. He motioned the men behind me to resheath their weapons.

Lurius, furious, returned to his throne. The girl, enraged, took again her seat on the dais.

”Doubtless, stripped,” I said, ”you would be even more beautiful.”

”Slay him!” she hissed.

”No,” said Chenbar, smiling.

”I meant only,” I said, ”that your beauty reminded me of that of a girls, serving slaves, nude and double chained in the paga taverns of Port Kar. Many of them are very beautiful.”

”Slay him! Slay him!” she begged.

”No, no,” smiled Chenbar.

”Do not speak of me as though I were a slave girl,” said the girl.

”Are you not?” I asked.

”The impudence!” she screamed.

I nodded my head toward Lurius, swollen in the chair of the Ubar of Cos.

”I own women,” I said, ”who are more free than you.”