Beasts of Antares Read Online Free PDF Page B

of his country. “Hang him from the highest branch in all Vondium.”
    I sipped the wine, for it was evening and the lights had been brought in and the curtains closed. My small workroom with the books and charts, the arms rack, enclosed us. The wine was superb — Vela’s Tears from Valka — and I swallowed down, keeping Nath waiting before replying.
    Then: “Nath. It is high time this vexed question of your name was settled.”
    “You will not hang this Hamalese spy?”
    “Probably not. If you ask him which he prefers, to be hanged by us or sent back to the Empress Thyllis, what do you think he will reply?”
    Nath’s face creased. “So we hang him?” He could see the funny side of that. “Because it is more tender?”
    “He might be won over. At least, we must make the attempt. Naghan Vanki will earn his keep as the chief spymaster in this.”
    “I am privileged to command the Phalanx. We are the most powerful fighting force Vallia possesses. I leave spies and darkness of that kind to Vanki’s faceless minions.”
    “And, Nath, that is the problem. Your father’s rank of Nazab gives you the right to call yourself Nazabhan. We have talked on this. You are the Kapt of the Phalanx. I have warned you often enough that the Phalanx is vulnerable—”
    “And have we not overturned all who came against us?”
    “Yes, yes. We have done well together. And you keep shying away from this business of your name.”
    Enevon Ob-Eye rustled papers at the side of my desk where he had brought in the latest reports. A small folding stool allowed him to sit down to the job. His own offices were large and crammed with people and files and papers.
    “If I may speak for Nath, majis? He wishes to remain in the Imperial service, with your blessing, as a Justicar governing a province or city. He has no ambitions to be ennobled in the main ranks of the peerage — at least—” and here Enevon squinted his one eye up— “that is how I read the situation.”
    “That is so, Enevon.” Nath spoke crisply.
    I said, “You know that at any time you wish you may be appointed Justicar to govern the city or province of your choice. The imperial provinces around Vondium are in our hands once more, and arrangements can be made that will not unduly upset the incumbents.” Nath Nazabhan was a good comrade, a fine man, who led the Phalanx and who was devoted to that immense cutting instrument of war, as the brumbytes within the ranks were devoted to him. So, I added, “You’d have to leave the Phalanx, of course.”
    “That, I am not prepared to do.”
    Enevon closed his eye. I leaned back and sipped the wine.
    “So, as you are set in your ways, Nath, and it is necessary that you be rewarded—”
    “It is not necessary, majister!”
    “Oh, but, Nath, it is.”
    Nath, as a superb example of the splendid young fighting men who had fought shoulder to shoulder to liberate Vallia and stave off the attacks of the predators feasting on the prostrate empire, a blade comrade, a man of unquestioned loyalty, Nath must be seen to shine in that galaxy of gallants who had stepped forth to save Vallia in her Time of Troubles.
    “You remember the Battle of Kochwold, Nath?”
    “Who can ever forget it?”
    “We had three Phalanxes there. It was a famous victory.”
    “Aye.”
    “It appears to me that Nath na Kochwold has a ring.” [1]
    “Majister?”
    Enevon rustled more papers and pulled out a large sheet much embellished with fine writing and scrollwork. He placed this down before me and then fussed in his meticulous way with the sealing equipment. I looked steadily at Nath.
    “Kyr Nath! No more shilly-shallying. Your rank will be formally announced when the lists are promulgated. You are Nath na Kochwold.” Then, and I hoped in no testy way, I added, “There are so many Naths on Kregen you have to accept the needle in this.” And I signed and sealed the patent.
    Nath opened his mouth, shut it, opened it again and his lower jaw moved