Helliconia Summer - Brian W. Aldiss [217]
The light made her face glow, throwing unexpected shadows on its contours, lending her mystery. She felt Faralin Ferd’s eyes on her, but forbore to return his gaze, knowing the value of feigned indifference.
He reflected as he often had done before that he deserved Farayl Musk, rather than his own woman, who bored him. Despite the dangers involved, he had several times made love to her. Now time was short. They might all be dead in a few days; drink did not drown that knowledge. He lusted after her again.
Rising, he stalked abruptly out of the room, casting a significant glance in her direction. The long story was reaching one of its periodic excitements, involving the smothering of a prominent man with the carcass of one of his own sheep. Laughter rose from round the table. Nevertheless, watchful eyes saw the lieutenant disappear – and his fellow lieutenant’s woman made her exit after a discreet interval.
‘I thought you wouldn’t dare follow.’
‘Curiosity is stronger than cowardice. We’ve only got a moment.’
‘Do it with me here, under the stairs. In this corner, look.’
‘Standing, Faralin Ferd?’
‘Feel this, woman – is it standing or is it not?’
She sighed and leaned against him, clutching what he offered with both hands. He recalled from previous occasions how sweet this woman’s breath was.
‘Under the stairs, then.’
She put the candle down on the floor. Ripping open her bodice, she revealed her majestic breasts to him. He set an arm about her and dragged her into the corner, kissing her excitedly.
There they were caught when a party of twelve men under Dathka came in from the street with torches burning and swords naked.
Despite their protests, Farayl Musk and Faralin Ferd were brought forth. They barely had time to draw their clothes together before they were thrust back into the meeting room, where tbe rest of the lieutenants were already confronted by sword blades.
‘This is all lawful,’ Dathka said, eyeing them much as a wolf regards kid arang. ‘I am taking the rule of Embruddock into my own hands until such time as the rightful Lord of Embruddock, Aoz Roon, returns. I am his deposed but oldest-serving lieutenant. I mean to see that the city is properly guarded against invaders.’
Behind him stood Raynil Layan, his sword sheathed. He said loudly, ‘And I support Dathka Den. Hail, Lord Dathka Den.’
Dathka’s eye had found Tanth Ein, lost in the shadows. The older of the two lieutenants had not risen with the rest. He sat still at his place at the head of the table, arms resting on the chair arm.
‘You dare defy me!’ Dathka cried, leaping forward with his sword raised, to confront the seated man. ‘Get to your feet, scumb!’
Tanth Ein never moved, except that a rictus of pain traversed his face as his head jerked back. His eyeballs started to roll. As Dathka kicked at the chair, he slid stiffly to the floor with no attempt at breaking his fall.
‘It’s the bone fever!’ someone shouted. ‘It’s among us!’
Farayl Musk began to scream.
By morning, two more lives had gone, and the smell of burning once more tainted the air of Oldorando. Tanth Ein lay in the hospice under Ma Scantiom’s courageous care.
Despite the dread of contagion, a large crowd gathered in Bank Street to hear Dathka’s public proclamation of his rule. Once on a time, such meetings would have been held outside the big tower. Those days had passed away. Bank Street was more spacious and more elegant. On one side of it, a few stalls dotted the bank of the river. Geese still strutted there, aware of their ancient rights. On the other side was a line of new buildings, with the old stone towers rising behind them. Here, a public platform stood.
On the platform stood Raynil Layan, shifting his