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The window had been shuttered, and the place was dim save where the afternoon light flooded in through
the open door. Murad s quarters were monk-like in their austerity, but he made up for it when he had
time to spend in the city. His conquests were almost as legendary as the duels they engendered.
You know, gentlemen, he said, continuing to pace, that we are to undertake a voyage in a few days
time. That we are taking the best of the garrison and enough stock to breed us a new line of warhorses.
Thus far, that is all you have known.
The two ensigns leaned forward in their chairs. Murad s black eyes swept over them both balefully.
What I am about to tell you will not leave this room, not until the day and very hour we sail. You will not
repeat it to the sergeants, to the men, to your sweethearts or your families. Is that understood?
The two younger men nodded readily.
Very good. The fact is, gentlemen, that we are taking ship with a Gabrian sea captain and a crew of
black-faced easterners, so I want you to watch the men once we are aboard. Any fighting when we are
at sea will not be tolerated. No man of any piety likes having veritable Sea-Merduks as travelling
companions, but we make do the best we can with what God sees fit to give us. On that note, you had
best be aware that we are not the only passengers on these ships. Some one hundred and forty other folk
will be sailing with us, as . . . colonists. These people are, to put it bluntly, sorcerers who are fleeing the
purges in Abrusio. Our king has seen fit to allow them to take ship for a place of sanctuary, and they will
be the citizens of the state we intend to found in the west.
Hernan Sequero s face had darkened at the mention of sorcerers, but now it took on a narrow-eyed
intensity at Murad s last word.
West, sir? Where in the west?
On the as yet undiscovered Western Continent, Hernan.
Is there such a place? di Souza asked, shocked out of his respectful silence.
Yes, Valdan, there is. I have proof of it, and I am to be the viceroy of a new Hebrian province we will
establish there.
Murad could see that his officers minds were working furiously, and he had to smile. They were the only
other Hebrians of any rank who would be on the voyage; they were busy calculating what that meant in
terms of personal position and prestige.
As viceroy, Sequero said at last. You are not expected to command troops, but to be the
administrative head of the province. Is that not true, sir?
Trust Sequero to work it out first.
Yes, Hernan.
Then someone will have to be appointed overall commander of the military part of the expedition once it
reaches this Western Continent.
Eventually, yes.
Di Souza and Sequero were looking at one another sidelong and Murad had to make an effort not to
laugh. He had planned it well. Now they would be striving like titans to gain his favour in the hopes of
promotion. And there would be no conspiring behind his back, either. They would trust each other too
little for that.
But that is in the future, he said smoothly. For the moment, I want you both to begin drawing up guard
rosters and training routines with the assistance of your sergeants. I want the men well drilled while we
are at sea, and they must be proficient with arquebuses by the time we make landfall. That includes the
officers.
He saw Sequero wrinkle up his nose at the thought. Nobles disliked firearms, considering them the
weapons of commoners. Swords and lances were the only arms a man of any quality should have to
know how to use. Murad had had to overcome that prejudice himself. Di Souza, who was closer to his
troops, already knew how to use an arquebus and how to read and write, whereas Sequero, though
quicker witted, was of the old school. He was illiterate and fought with sword alone. It would be
interesting to see how they both developed in the voyage west. Murad was pleased with his choice of
subordinates. They complemented each other.
Sir, Sequero asked, do you expect any kind of resistance in the west? Is the continent inhabited?
I am not entirely sure, Murad said. But it is always best to be prepared. I am positive, though, that we
will meet nothing which can overcome a demi-tercio of Hebrian soldiers.
These sorcerers we are sailing with, di Souza said. Are they convicts being deported, sir, or are they
passengers embarking of their own free will? The Prelate of Abrusio
Let me worry about the Prelate of Abrusio, Murad snapped. It is true that we could choose better
stuff to form the seed of a new province, but I do as the King wills. And besides, their abilities could
prove useful.
I take it, then, that we will not be embarking a priest, sir? Sequero asked.
Murad glared blackly at him. Sequero sometimes liked to walk a narrower line than most.
Probably not, Hernan.
But sir di Souza began to protest.
Enough. As I said, we are all subject to the will of higher authorities. There is no cleric in our [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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The window had been shuttered, and the place was dim save where the afternoon light flooded in through
the open door. Murad s quarters were monk-like in their austerity, but he made up for it when he had
time to spend in the city. His conquests were almost as legendary as the duels they engendered.
You know, gentlemen, he said, continuing to pace, that we are to undertake a voyage in a few days
time. That we are taking the best of the garrison and enough stock to breed us a new line of warhorses.
Thus far, that is all you have known.
The two ensigns leaned forward in their chairs. Murad s black eyes swept over them both balefully.
What I am about to tell you will not leave this room, not until the day and very hour we sail. You will not
repeat it to the sergeants, to the men, to your sweethearts or your families. Is that understood?
The two younger men nodded readily.
Very good. The fact is, gentlemen, that we are taking ship with a Gabrian sea captain and a crew of
black-faced easterners, so I want you to watch the men once we are aboard. Any fighting when we are
at sea will not be tolerated. No man of any piety likes having veritable Sea-Merduks as travelling
companions, but we make do the best we can with what God sees fit to give us. On that note, you had
best be aware that we are not the only passengers on these ships. Some one hundred and forty other folk
will be sailing with us, as . . . colonists. These people are, to put it bluntly, sorcerers who are fleeing the
purges in Abrusio. Our king has seen fit to allow them to take ship for a place of sanctuary, and they will
be the citizens of the state we intend to found in the west.
Hernan Sequero s face had darkened at the mention of sorcerers, but now it took on a narrow-eyed
intensity at Murad s last word.
West, sir? Where in the west?
On the as yet undiscovered Western Continent, Hernan.
Is there such a place? di Souza asked, shocked out of his respectful silence.
Yes, Valdan, there is. I have proof of it, and I am to be the viceroy of a new Hebrian province we will
establish there.
Murad could see that his officers minds were working furiously, and he had to smile. They were the only
other Hebrians of any rank who would be on the voyage; they were busy calculating what that meant in
terms of personal position and prestige.
As viceroy, Sequero said at last. You are not expected to command troops, but to be the
administrative head of the province. Is that not true, sir?
Trust Sequero to work it out first.
Yes, Hernan.
Then someone will have to be appointed overall commander of the military part of the expedition once it
reaches this Western Continent.
Eventually, yes.
Di Souza and Sequero were looking at one another sidelong and Murad had to make an effort not to
laugh. He had planned it well. Now they would be striving like titans to gain his favour in the hopes of
promotion. And there would be no conspiring behind his back, either. They would trust each other too
little for that.
But that is in the future, he said smoothly. For the moment, I want you both to begin drawing up guard
rosters and training routines with the assistance of your sergeants. I want the men well drilled while we
are at sea, and they must be proficient with arquebuses by the time we make landfall. That includes the
officers.
He saw Sequero wrinkle up his nose at the thought. Nobles disliked firearms, considering them the
weapons of commoners. Swords and lances were the only arms a man of any quality should have to
know how to use. Murad had had to overcome that prejudice himself. Di Souza, who was closer to his
troops, already knew how to use an arquebus and how to read and write, whereas Sequero, though
quicker witted, was of the old school. He was illiterate and fought with sword alone. It would be
interesting to see how they both developed in the voyage west. Murad was pleased with his choice of
subordinates. They complemented each other.
Sir, Sequero asked, do you expect any kind of resistance in the west? Is the continent inhabited?
I am not entirely sure, Murad said. But it is always best to be prepared. I am positive, though, that we
will meet nothing which can overcome a demi-tercio of Hebrian soldiers.
These sorcerers we are sailing with, di Souza said. Are they convicts being deported, sir, or are they
passengers embarking of their own free will? The Prelate of Abrusio
Let me worry about the Prelate of Abrusio, Murad snapped. It is true that we could choose better
stuff to form the seed of a new province, but I do as the King wills. And besides, their abilities could
prove useful.
I take it, then, that we will not be embarking a priest, sir? Sequero asked.
Murad glared blackly at him. Sequero sometimes liked to walk a narrower line than most.
Probably not, Hernan.
But sir di Souza began to protest.
Enough. As I said, we are all subject to the will of higher authorities. There is no cleric in our [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]