Read Online The Sword of the Lady by S. M. Stirling - Free Book Online
Authors: S. M. Stirling
Ads: Link
yes; the smarter ones realized how she held the barons in check; but love, no. Too many memories of the early days remained raw, among the ordinary people. And for different reasons, among the Associates as well. Norman Arminger had taken Machiavelli′s dictum that it was better for a ruler to be feared than loved rather literally.
″This . . . this quest thing . . . it′s made her more like an icon,″ Delia continued. She hesitated again. ″Rudi too. The Sword of the Lady . . . it′s not just the people who follow the Old Religion. The rest think of the Virgin, you see? And Ignatius′ vision added to that. They think Rudi is the hero who returns, the one who comes back to save his people when the evil day arrives and things look their worst.″
Sandra chuckled, a gurgling sound that made her cool brown eyes warm for a moment.
″Certainly dear Rudi has all the qualifications for a legendary hero. He′s very young , and he′s very handsome , and he′s very strong , and he′s very brave , and he′s very . . . not stupid.″
For some reason Conrad thought that was funny too, though she couldn′t see why: it was all true. He sobered quickly, though.
″It′s good that the stories are perking the ordinary people up,″ he said. ″Even with our allies, we can′t win this war just with the nobility and their retainers; it′s going to be too big for the Associates to handle. But what happens . . . well, my lady, what happens if Rudi and Mathilda don′t show up?″
Sandra was very quiet for a moment. ″If Mathilda is killed? Then it′s all rather moot.″ Softly: ″What have I worked for, if not for her?″
CHAPTER THREE
DES MOINES CAPITAL, PROVISIONAL REPUBLIC OF IOWA BOSSMAN′S HOUSE AUGUST 20, CHANGE YEAR 24/2022 AD
″So, you′re really a princess?″ Kate Heasleroad said, her pink young face wide-eyed and guileless. ″I mean, they call you that?″ ″Yes, I′m entitled Princess and styled Your Highness at home; my mother′s the Lady Regent,″ Mathilda Arminger explained to the Bossman′s consort.
She must be at least twenty, she thought. And I′m only two years older, but it feels like more. I think she led a sheltered life. Until recently, at least.
Aloud: ″But I inherit through my father, Lord Norman Arminger, whose only child I am. He was our first sovereign lord; Lord Protector of the Portland Protective Association. He was a knight before the Change, of course, in the Society, as well as a great scholar of the old ways at the university.″
The other woman made a fascinated sound and inclined her head towards a painfully young man in a military uniform that involved a good deal of braid and a gold lanyard.
″Something for me and the Princess, please, Lieutenant.″
″At once, Mrs. Heasleroad!″
The aide sprang away towards the buffet and the bar.
It′s all just homelike enough to make me homesick but not enough to comfort, Mathilda thought, as she schooled her face to friendly interest. Not that it′s hard to be friendly. It′s brief acquaintance, but I find I do like Kate.
A burbling surf of conversation rose to the carved plaster of the ceiling two stories above; more guests leaned on the balustrade that ringed the reception room. Heels clicked on the marble tiles and on the curving staircase that linked the levels. The Bossman′s household troops—they called them the State Police—stood at attention along the walls amid framed pictures and half-columns, their burnished mail-shirts and helms glittering in the brilliance of the incandescent mantles of the gaslights, along with the crowd′s crystal and gold and diamonds, fine cloth and polished leather. Open French doors brought an occasional waft of cooler air from the gardens, and the scents of roses and cut grass, along with the odd suicide-bent moth.
″So everyone says your Highness ?″ Kate said, returning to the subject that fascinated her.
″Yes,″ Mathilda Arminger said, with a practiced smile; there
″This . . . this quest thing . . . it′s made her more like an icon,″ Delia continued. She hesitated again. ″Rudi too. The Sword of the Lady . . . it′s not just the people who follow the Old Religion. The rest think of the Virgin, you see? And Ignatius′ vision added to that. They think Rudi is the hero who returns, the one who comes back to save his people when the evil day arrives and things look their worst.″
Sandra chuckled, a gurgling sound that made her cool brown eyes warm for a moment.
″Certainly dear Rudi has all the qualifications for a legendary hero. He′s very young , and he′s very handsome , and he′s very strong , and he′s very brave , and he′s very . . . not stupid.″
For some reason Conrad thought that was funny too, though she couldn′t see why: it was all true. He sobered quickly, though.
″It′s good that the stories are perking the ordinary people up,″ he said. ″Even with our allies, we can′t win this war just with the nobility and their retainers; it′s going to be too big for the Associates to handle. But what happens . . . well, my lady, what happens if Rudi and Mathilda don′t show up?″
Sandra was very quiet for a moment. ″If Mathilda is killed? Then it′s all rather moot.″ Softly: ″What have I worked for, if not for her?″
CHAPTER THREE
DES MOINES CAPITAL, PROVISIONAL REPUBLIC OF IOWA BOSSMAN′S HOUSE AUGUST 20, CHANGE YEAR 24/2022 AD
″So, you′re really a princess?″ Kate Heasleroad said, her pink young face wide-eyed and guileless. ″I mean, they call you that?″ ″Yes, I′m entitled Princess and styled Your Highness at home; my mother′s the Lady Regent,″ Mathilda Arminger explained to the Bossman′s consort.
She must be at least twenty, she thought. And I′m only two years older, but it feels like more. I think she led a sheltered life. Until recently, at least.
Aloud: ″But I inherit through my father, Lord Norman Arminger, whose only child I am. He was our first sovereign lord; Lord Protector of the Portland Protective Association. He was a knight before the Change, of course, in the Society, as well as a great scholar of the old ways at the university.″
The other woman made a fascinated sound and inclined her head towards a painfully young man in a military uniform that involved a good deal of braid and a gold lanyard.
″Something for me and the Princess, please, Lieutenant.″
″At once, Mrs. Heasleroad!″
The aide sprang away towards the buffet and the bar.
It′s all just homelike enough to make me homesick but not enough to comfort, Mathilda thought, as she schooled her face to friendly interest. Not that it′s hard to be friendly. It′s brief acquaintance, but I find I do like Kate.
A burbling surf of conversation rose to the carved plaster of the ceiling two stories above; more guests leaned on the balustrade that ringed the reception room. Heels clicked on the marble tiles and on the curving staircase that linked the levels. The Bossman′s household troops—they called them the State Police—stood at attention along the walls amid framed pictures and half-columns, their burnished mail-shirts and helms glittering in the brilliance of the incandescent mantles of the gaslights, along with the crowd′s crystal and gold and diamonds, fine cloth and polished leather. Open French doors brought an occasional waft of cooler air from the gardens, and the scents of roses and cut grass, along with the odd suicide-bent moth.
″So everyone says your Highness ?″ Kate said, returning to the subject that fascinated her.
″Yes,″ Mathilda Arminger said, with a practiced smile; there
Similar Books
