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Roca pulled her jacket tighter. Your people have a saying, yes? The sins of the father ?
Shall be visited upon the son. Yes. A grimace creased his face. Let us hope this castle is as
unassailable as it looks.
She shivered. Let us hope.
People filled the dining hall: Garlin, Eldri, soldiers, women and men from the castle. Young people
moved among them, serving food and drink. Everyone wore heavy clothes, fur-lined boots, and jackets
or cloaks. Only a low fire burned in the great hearth; they were already rationing the glasswood they used
for everything but couldn t grow here. Roca and Brad waited on a bench against the wall, out of the way,
a few meters from the long table where Eldri and Garlin conferred with several advisers.
Roca crossed her arms. We should be over there.
Garlin refused, Brad said.
She rose to her feet. Garlin needs to trust us more.
At first Brad looked as if he would caution against interfering. Then he stood next to her. As they
approached the table, Garlin glanced up and frowned at them. Following his gaze, Eldri looked too.
Roca stopped at the table. We would like to help.
This concerns Windward, Garlin said. Not you.
We are here, also, Roca answered.
He waved his hand at the room full of people. So are they. I do not see them interrupting us.
We have knowledge they don t.
Garlin scowled at her. This is not about offworlders.
It is about defense, Eldri said mildly. Theirs, too.
We might be able to offer insights, Brad added.
I think they should stay, Eldri said.
Garlin s urge to send them away was almost palpable, so much so that Roca wondered everyone in the
room didn t feel it. But apparently Eldri s wishes superseded his. He motioned curtly at two chairs across
the table, set back from his group. Be seated then.
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As Roca and Brad settled into the chairs, Roca looked around. Three other people were at the table: an
older man with gray hair and a craggy visage; a portly woman, also with graying hair, though surely she
was only in her early thirties; and Shaliece, the Memory in the red robe. Shaliece watched them all, her
concentration never wavering. It unsettled Roca; she felt as if a holovid camera were recording her every
move.
The others resumed their discussion. They spoke in Trillian, but Brad translated for her. The two of them
were far enough away from the others that as long as he kept his voice low, it didn t disrupt the
conversation.
They are shocked by Avaril s army, he said. They knew he was gathering men, but they had no idea
he had so many.
She felt their bewildered dismay. What did Avaril s man say?
He gave Garlin terms for surrender.
Roca scowled. Why should we surrender?
Brad indicated Eldri, who was gesturing with vehemence as he spoke. He asks the same question. It is
a standoff. We can t get out and Avaril s army can t get in. They wonder if Avaril can breach the walls.
He paused. Personally, I think he would need flyers to get in here or some other technology they don t
possess.
What do they say?
Brad waited for an appropriate opening, then spoke to the others in Trillian. The older man responded,
and Brad translated for Roca. The walls are strong, probably enough to keep out Avaril. He paused.
They measure time differently here, but I think he is saying they have enough stores to last about a
standard year, and that only with careful rationing.
A year? She held back her apprehension. Surely Dalvador will send reinforcements before then.
He relayed her question and translated the answer. Apparently Avaril has other forces that have
engaged the armies of Dalvador and Rillia. Or so his man claims. We have no way to verify it.
Garlin spoke to Brad in English. Can you ask your port for help?
I ve sent messages. Brad tapped the palmtop on his belt. With a good line of sight from a tower, I
can reach the computers. Unfortunately, no one in Dalvador knows to check for messages or how. He
glanced at Roca. I sent a message offworld, but it won t travel any faster than light speed.
The Memory held up her hand. She spoke to Brad in a melodic trill; then, in perfect English, she said,
But it won t travel any faster than and tilted her head.
Brad spoke slowly. Light speed.
She nodded and folded her hands on the table.
Roca smiled at Shaliece. You speak English well.
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Everyone at the table froze. The older man rose to his feet, his lips pressed in a line. Eldri spoke quickly,
putting his hand on the man s arm, nudging him back into his chair.
Roca glanced at Brad. What did I do?
It was Eldri who answered, his voice gentle. The Memory will not speak unless her hand is up. It
otherwise disrupts her memory of events.
Roca spoke to all of them, with Brad translating. Please accept my apologies. I am new here and meant
no offense.
Eldri s face lit in a smile. None taken. Then he added, The Memory doesn t actually know English,
but she can replicate what she hears perfectly. Sometimes when she hears new combinations of sounds,
she needs to check their pronunciation.
Garlin leaned toward Roca. What does light speed mean?
It means, she said dourly, that it will take years for Brad s message to reach anyone. It sounded
even more depressing out loud.
I don t see what good that will do, Eldri said.
Neither do we, Brad admitted. But we must try.
Eldri inclined his head in acknowledgment. As he and the others resumed their discussion in Trillian,
Roca spoke to Brad in a low voice. Did you bring any weapons to this planet?
An EM pulse-gun.
She sat up straighter. Do you have it with you here? He could fight off a good number of warriors with
such a weapon, as long as its ammunition and charge lasted.
He shook his head. Garlin, Eldri, all these people they ve been my friends for years. I would no more [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl fopke.keep.pl
Roca pulled her jacket tighter. Your people have a saying, yes? The sins of the father ?
Shall be visited upon the son. Yes. A grimace creased his face. Let us hope this castle is as
unassailable as it looks.
She shivered. Let us hope.
People filled the dining hall: Garlin, Eldri, soldiers, women and men from the castle. Young people
moved among them, serving food and drink. Everyone wore heavy clothes, fur-lined boots, and jackets
or cloaks. Only a low fire burned in the great hearth; they were already rationing the glasswood they used
for everything but couldn t grow here. Roca and Brad waited on a bench against the wall, out of the way,
a few meters from the long table where Eldri and Garlin conferred with several advisers.
Roca crossed her arms. We should be over there.
Garlin refused, Brad said.
She rose to her feet. Garlin needs to trust us more.
At first Brad looked as if he would caution against interfering. Then he stood next to her. As they
approached the table, Garlin glanced up and frowned at them. Following his gaze, Eldri looked too.
Roca stopped at the table. We would like to help.
This concerns Windward, Garlin said. Not you.
We are here, also, Roca answered.
He waved his hand at the room full of people. So are they. I do not see them interrupting us.
We have knowledge they don t.
Garlin scowled at her. This is not about offworlders.
It is about defense, Eldri said mildly. Theirs, too.
We might be able to offer insights, Brad added.
I think they should stay, Eldri said.
Garlin s urge to send them away was almost palpable, so much so that Roca wondered everyone in the
room didn t feel it. But apparently Eldri s wishes superseded his. He motioned curtly at two chairs across
the table, set back from his group. Be seated then.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
As Roca and Brad settled into the chairs, Roca looked around. Three other people were at the table: an
older man with gray hair and a craggy visage; a portly woman, also with graying hair, though surely she
was only in her early thirties; and Shaliece, the Memory in the red robe. Shaliece watched them all, her
concentration never wavering. It unsettled Roca; she felt as if a holovid camera were recording her every
move.
The others resumed their discussion. They spoke in Trillian, but Brad translated for her. The two of them
were far enough away from the others that as long as he kept his voice low, it didn t disrupt the
conversation.
They are shocked by Avaril s army, he said. They knew he was gathering men, but they had no idea
he had so many.
She felt their bewildered dismay. What did Avaril s man say?
He gave Garlin terms for surrender.
Roca scowled. Why should we surrender?
Brad indicated Eldri, who was gesturing with vehemence as he spoke. He asks the same question. It is
a standoff. We can t get out and Avaril s army can t get in. They wonder if Avaril can breach the walls.
He paused. Personally, I think he would need flyers to get in here or some other technology they don t
possess.
What do they say?
Brad waited for an appropriate opening, then spoke to the others in Trillian. The older man responded,
and Brad translated for Roca. The walls are strong, probably enough to keep out Avaril. He paused.
They measure time differently here, but I think he is saying they have enough stores to last about a
standard year, and that only with careful rationing.
A year? She held back her apprehension. Surely Dalvador will send reinforcements before then.
He relayed her question and translated the answer. Apparently Avaril has other forces that have
engaged the armies of Dalvador and Rillia. Or so his man claims. We have no way to verify it.
Garlin spoke to Brad in English. Can you ask your port for help?
I ve sent messages. Brad tapped the palmtop on his belt. With a good line of sight from a tower, I
can reach the computers. Unfortunately, no one in Dalvador knows to check for messages or how. He
glanced at Roca. I sent a message offworld, but it won t travel any faster than light speed.
The Memory held up her hand. She spoke to Brad in a melodic trill; then, in perfect English, she said,
But it won t travel any faster than and tilted her head.
Brad spoke slowly. Light speed.
She nodded and folded her hands on the table.
Roca smiled at Shaliece. You speak English well.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Everyone at the table froze. The older man rose to his feet, his lips pressed in a line. Eldri spoke quickly,
putting his hand on the man s arm, nudging him back into his chair.
Roca glanced at Brad. What did I do?
It was Eldri who answered, his voice gentle. The Memory will not speak unless her hand is up. It
otherwise disrupts her memory of events.
Roca spoke to all of them, with Brad translating. Please accept my apologies. I am new here and meant
no offense.
Eldri s face lit in a smile. None taken. Then he added, The Memory doesn t actually know English,
but she can replicate what she hears perfectly. Sometimes when she hears new combinations of sounds,
she needs to check their pronunciation.
Garlin leaned toward Roca. What does light speed mean?
It means, she said dourly, that it will take years for Brad s message to reach anyone. It sounded
even more depressing out loud.
I don t see what good that will do, Eldri said.
Neither do we, Brad admitted. But we must try.
Eldri inclined his head in acknowledgment. As he and the others resumed their discussion in Trillian,
Roca spoke to Brad in a low voice. Did you bring any weapons to this planet?
An EM pulse-gun.
She sat up straighter. Do you have it with you here? He could fight off a good number of warriors with
such a weapon, as long as its ammunition and charge lasted.
He shook his head. Garlin, Eldri, all these people they ve been my friends for years. I would no more [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]