Joachim stepped from the airlock and wrapped his mantle around Mm, shivering. A guard of honor waited, ranked like statues. They lowered spears in salute as a fur-clad human approached.
The Erulani were quite manlike, ‘and were stoutly built, their skins a deep amber-yellow, their faces rather flat and Mongoloid. There were only four fingers to a band, the ears were large and pointed, the males completely bald. The eyes were the least human feature: under a single straight line of black brow, they were oblique and felinoid-au smoky-red iris, slit-pupiled and unwinking. These, the soldiers, wore long blue tunics over legginged breeches and berylbum-copper chain mail, spiked helmets, curved swords at the right side.
Mountain Man Thorkild stopped a couple of meters from the Peregrines and bent his queued bead as if it pained him. “Greeting and welcome,” he said. The wind sbrilled under his words and blew them across the barren flagstones. “The Arkulan awaits you.”
“Thanks,” said Joachim. “Come along, boys.”
His men trafled after him, carrying the boxes of gifts. Sean and Ilaloa stayed ivithin the boat, partly to guard it and partly because Joachim didn’t fancy what might happen if Hadji Petroff’s eye fell on the girl. Rhythmic footfalls beat on stone as the guard tramped in the rear, A gorgeously dressed trumpeter blew a flourish when they came to the castle gates.
And I think the ships stand too much on ceremony! reflected Joachim.
But it was inevitable. The ex-Nomads had taken over a barbaric system; it followed with the ruthless logic of history that they would themselves be barbarized.
Every human male was a high noble, and every Erulani -in theory-a slave. Modern weapons were only permitted to the overlords; the natives remained in the earlv Iron Age. Tribute was exacted from a swollen empire to support the masters in luxury. On the surface, it looked as if the Hadjis and the Mountain Men had a good tbidg.
But, joachim’s thoughts continued, they were themselves captives of their own creation. The court seethed with intrigue and corruption. No strong man could rest; he must always be watching for betrayal from his savagely ambitious underlings or murder from his wary superiors. Human speech and dress and dreams were being lost, as one by one the victors took over the patterns of their slaves. A verse went through the Perearine’s memory. What shall it profit a man if he gaiiiellh the wlwle world and loseth his
own soul?
They went through looming vaulted halls until they reached the audience chamber. It was a monstrous place, the roof lost in a dusk of sheer height, tbe@ narrow windows throwing bloody lances of sunligl-it onto the thick-piled rugs. The room shouted with gold, jewels, banners and tapestries; the walls were lined with rigid native guards, and a swarm of slaves prostrated themselves before Kaukasu’s enthroned nobles. Trumpets blew again above a thunder of kettle-drums.
Joachim and his men ko-,vtowed ceremonially before the Arkulan. This was a middle-aged man, stiff in his robes, the crowned head erect with arrogance. But be greeted them well-more hospitably than some of his barons, who gave the Nomads ugly glances. Uh-ltt,th. They’ve got bisiress i nder way that the chiel doe@t know about, and i, involves their not wat@ting visitors.
Chairs were brought for the guests. Joachim distributed his gifts and sat down, smoking and gossiping with the Arkulan. As wine was drunk, the company relaxed, and there was no difficulty about getting the Idng’s permission for such crewmen as wished to go sigbt-seeing.
“But I’ll try to entertain you here,” said Petroff. “It’s been a long time since we had a ship drop in. Why aren’t you coming to trade?”
‘We have other business, Your Majesty,” said Joachim.
“Ab, so? Looking for new territories?
“I wouldn’t,” said Thorkild. “By now, you should know
the Great cross doesn’t have enough civilization to make exploration worth while.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” responded Joachim. “Whatre you building those new ships for if not to do some starfaring for yourselves?”
“I’m having that done,” said another noble, Hadii Kogama, “since I have the slaves and the machinery. But I only take them to Sura-you know the planet?”