Placid and content in their stolid existence, they were rulers in their own way. But they could be killed. T’ang had yet to meet anyone who could not. Probably even the sun could be killed, but it was even further away than the end of the Green Plain. The opinion was held by some that the light-eaters were the stupidest of aU living creatures. Another school thought them the most intelligent. Assuredly they were
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dedicated pacifists. The light-eaters themselves did not contest these arguments either way.
Possibly this in itself was a sign of that very disputed intelligence.
T’ang Lang wondered, and stared.
One of the lancers flashed by. The lancer-folk owned the finest propulsive systems on Tang’s world. Superbly engineered, they could move at tremendous speed across the sky. Their equally amazing detection systems could spot prey many thousands of body-lengths away. They were capable of twisting, diving attacks few could avoid.
Once, their ancestors had been lords of the planet. Time had changed things and they had slipped back. But they were still a formidable factor in T’ang’s world. Despite their speed and ability, though, T’ang would make short work of one if it darted too close.
The isky-man knew it. After a sharp glare at T’ang, he gunned his propulsors and shot off hi search of prey of his own.
Yes, a good day to be alive and emperor.
There were many of the sky-folk about, cavorting in the downy-warm air. None flew near T’ang Lang. T’ang was not anxious. He’d fed well the previous day. For the nonce he was mildly satisfied. High karma.