Infinite Blue Heaven - A King and A Queen by Lazlo Ferran Read Free Book Online Page B

campaign to exercise with my sword. Will you join me?” I quickly stripped to the waist and stepped away from the tent, with my sword, Geb following. He had belted his sword on, as befits a Palace Guard accompanying his King.
    I stood in the sand, on the edge of the lantern light, going through some set pieces, grunting expressively.
    Meth sidled up, wine goblet in hand. Slurrily, he encouraged me.
    After a few minutes I beckoned to Geb
    “Do you care to spar with me, Geb?”
    He looked awkward. It was not usual for a soldier to spar with the King. There were dangers involved.
    “It is alright. I am almost certainly a better swordsman than you.”
    Still he was reluctant.
    “Only if you command it, Sire.”
    “Very well. I do command it.”
    He unsheathed his sword, straight, broad and glinting yellow in the lantern light and took a stance.
    The swords rang at the first clash. I did not move as fast as I could.
    “Come on Geb,” called Meth.
    If he wanted to kill me, if he had any ambitious pretensions to power at all, now would be the time for Geb. I knew he was intelligent enough to see that. There was apparently nobody to protect me and the Guards might well be loyal to him. We exchange blows and parries and danced around in an increasingly dangerous dance, the sand flying in our faces, as our boots skidded. I was a little the worse for the drink and I could see that Geb was a little more moderate a man than I. His eyes studied my moves, closely and intensely. A fierce pride shone in his blue eyes.
    I nicked his forearm, deliberately, drawing a thin skein of blood.
    “Lord!”
    “Come on Geb. You are not trying!”
    “I cannot harm you, Sire!”
    “Oh come on now. A small nick, won’t do me no harm.” I smiled as I noticed myself slip into the common slang of my forefathers. I lunged for him, touching his belt, and let the sword fly from my grasp. I let out an exclamation of horror.
    Geb stood and sheathed his sword. He bowed. I waited until he looked up and met his eyes. I could see no realisation there that he had been tested.
    “Geb. As I told you, we need more women. I want you to ride to Parat tonight. Go to the House of the Blue Lantern on Fourth Street and ask for Demetine. Tell her the King needs thirty-five of her best whores. Tell her we need them for three months. It is for the honour of the country but I will agree a fair price with her in gold when I come to Parat in a few days’ time. She knows me and she knows she will get a fair price. Take three hours to prepare now and then take your most trusted Lieutenant. Return here with the women by dawn, the day after tomorrow. Oh yes and please leave a note at the Palace for the Princess, telling her I will be three days late.”
    “Yes, Sire.” He bowed and was gone. I turned to Meth.
    “I haven’t been to the House of Blue Lantern since I was a boy and then, usually in disguise, but it always had the best whores.”
    Meth laughed. “You are a cunning old fox. Now let us go and truly relax.” He slapped me on the back, as we walked back to the tents. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a movement in the darkness, one of the camp guards moving just beyond the lantern-light. Their site was particularly keen, spending as they did, much of their time in the clear desert nights, away from city and town lights. I smiled to myself.
    In Meth’s luxurious tent, we played chess for a few hours. It was already after midnight and I was tired but we had much to talk about. At about two and a half hours after midnight, I finally retired.
    The men, Meth’s and my own, spent most of the next day practicing sword-play and exchanging techniques, while Meth and I planned the campaign. I had told Meth where he needed to be at noon, forty days from thence. He looked up at the rising yellow orb of the sun, squinting, and then shielding his eyes with his hand, his leathery face crinkling in thought.
    “This is the route we will take. We will go to Tiwa Oasis,