Read Online Golden Torc - 2 by Julian May - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Julian May
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction - General, Fiction - Science Fiction, Time travel, American, High Tech
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Out in the middle of the floor, the arbiter bibendi was holding a length of glittering glass chain above his head and shaking it. The riotous dancing calmed and the music drained away. Revelers drifted back to their seats. Four Tanu ladies all but dragged the disheveled Raimo with them. Aiken Drum suffered no such indignity. He strutted back to his place at the High Table and sat carefully on the edge of his couch.
"Exalted Personages, most noble lords and ladies, and illustrious honorees!" cried the arbiter. "Pray silence! It is the hour for the contributions of the honored guests!" Cheers, cup-thumping, and a clatter of knives upon golden plates.
The aribter shook the chain again. "Two of our guests"
the silver torced exquisite bowed toward Bryan and Elizabeth "are exempted from show by command of Their Awful Majesties. And one other" he pointed at Raimo " has already made his talents known!"
The ladies at the low tables screamed with laughter. A number of them began pelting Raimo with bananas, stopping reluctantly as the chain of silence rang once again.
"We will hear from Sue-Gwen Davies!"
Sukey felt herself impelled toward the center of the room.
The soul within her was turned over and over helplessly by the examining psyches of the King and Queen and the other Personages. The Tanu were surprised at the deep barrier (for Elizabeth had returned to assist in the nick of time), but were disposed to be satisfied with the superficial revelations that were accessible to them. Dionket's mind spoke.
Dear little RedactorSister, apprentice comforthealer! Lend
us a small solace this night sing of ElderEarth of ancient parentland. Sukey's apprehension began to melt. Other minds all around her seemed to beg: Lull us.
Keeping her gaze on Stein, she sang a cradlesong in a small clear voice, first in Welsh and then in Standard English. After the first phrase, a single harpist accompanied her.
Holl amrantau'r ser ddywedant,
Ar hyd y nos.
Dyma'r ffordd i fro gogoniant,
Ar hyd y nos.
Golau arall yw tywyllwch,
I arddangos gwir brydferthwch,
Teulu'r nefoedd mewn tawelwch,
Ar hyd y nos.
Love, fear not if sad your dreaming,
All through the night.
In the mist bright stars are gleaming.
All through the night.
Joy will come to us at morning,
Life with sunrise hope adorning,
Though sad dreams may give dread warning.
All through the night.
Behind the words and music glowed the sheltering love of the caregiver. Her healing energy poured over the manchild to whom she had given rebirth, overflowed and spread in a great psychic pool throughout the hall. For a moment, the lullaby's softness quenched all the others' anxieties, soothed anger and lust, diminished grief and frenzy.
When the song was done the banqueters were silent. And then on an alien level of consciousness, which the torced humans could sense but not decipher, came a burst of declaration from many Tanu minds. It was cut off in full spate by the lofty voice of Dionket. The Lord Healer rose from his place at the High Table and held out his arms, forming a living tau of crimson and silver.
Mine. Reserved.
Sukey returned to her place, dazed, and sat down beside her husband. The arbiter bibendi shook his chain. "We will know the talents of Stein Oleson."
It was the Viking's turn to be drawn irresistibly from his seat. He stood with his head uncovered and glared at the exotic nobility lounging at the High Table, feeling their minds come tapping, prying, snooping. And the Queen's motherthought, more compassionate:
He should not have been torced alas the briefliving!
And then the King: Suffice unto the Combat. Skillplay! Two of the magpie dancemasters came bounding from the sidelines, carrying metal baskets full of fruit resembling large oranges. One pitched a bright globe overhand and it flew at Stein's head.
The bronze sword hissed from it scabbard, gripped in both the giant's hands.
Out in the middle of the floor, the arbiter bibendi was holding a length of glittering glass chain above his head and shaking it. The riotous dancing calmed and the music drained away. Revelers drifted back to their seats. Four Tanu ladies all but dragged the disheveled Raimo with them. Aiken Drum suffered no such indignity. He strutted back to his place at the High Table and sat carefully on the edge of his couch.
"Exalted Personages, most noble lords and ladies, and illustrious honorees!" cried the arbiter. "Pray silence! It is the hour for the contributions of the honored guests!" Cheers, cup-thumping, and a clatter of knives upon golden plates.
The aribter shook the chain again. "Two of our guests"
the silver torced exquisite bowed toward Bryan and Elizabeth "are exempted from show by command of Their Awful Majesties. And one other" he pointed at Raimo " has already made his talents known!"
The ladies at the low tables screamed with laughter. A number of them began pelting Raimo with bananas, stopping reluctantly as the chain of silence rang once again.
"We will hear from Sue-Gwen Davies!"
Sukey felt herself impelled toward the center of the room.
The soul within her was turned over and over helplessly by the examining psyches of the King and Queen and the other Personages. The Tanu were surprised at the deep barrier (for Elizabeth had returned to assist in the nick of time), but were disposed to be satisfied with the superficial revelations that were accessible to them. Dionket's mind spoke.
Dear little RedactorSister, apprentice comforthealer! Lend
us a small solace this night sing of ElderEarth of ancient parentland. Sukey's apprehension began to melt. Other minds all around her seemed to beg: Lull us.
Keeping her gaze on Stein, she sang a cradlesong in a small clear voice, first in Welsh and then in Standard English. After the first phrase, a single harpist accompanied her.
Holl amrantau'r ser ddywedant,
Ar hyd y nos.
Dyma'r ffordd i fro gogoniant,
Ar hyd y nos.
Golau arall yw tywyllwch,
I arddangos gwir brydferthwch,
Teulu'r nefoedd mewn tawelwch,
Ar hyd y nos.
Love, fear not if sad your dreaming,
All through the night.
In the mist bright stars are gleaming.
All through the night.
Joy will come to us at morning,
Life with sunrise hope adorning,
Though sad dreams may give dread warning.
All through the night.
Behind the words and music glowed the sheltering love of the caregiver. Her healing energy poured over the manchild to whom she had given rebirth, overflowed and spread in a great psychic pool throughout the hall. For a moment, the lullaby's softness quenched all the others' anxieties, soothed anger and lust, diminished grief and frenzy.
When the song was done the banqueters were silent. And then on an alien level of consciousness, which the torced humans could sense but not decipher, came a burst of declaration from many Tanu minds. It was cut off in full spate by the lofty voice of Dionket. The Lord Healer rose from his place at the High Table and held out his arms, forming a living tau of crimson and silver.
Mine. Reserved.
Sukey returned to her place, dazed, and sat down beside her husband. The arbiter bibendi shook his chain. "We will know the talents of Stein Oleson."
It was the Viking's turn to be drawn irresistibly from his seat. He stood with his head uncovered and glared at the exotic nobility lounging at the High Table, feeling their minds come tapping, prying, snooping. And the Queen's motherthought, more compassionate:
He should not have been torced alas the briefliving!
And then the King: Suffice unto the Combat. Skillplay! Two of the magpie dancemasters came bounding from the sidelines, carrying metal baskets full of fruit resembling large oranges. One pitched a bright globe overhand and it flew at Stein's head.
The bronze sword hissed from it scabbard, gripped in both the giant's hands.
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