Valour and Victory Read Online Free PDF Page B

alliance
with the Larg. They would have used weapons such as the Lai
envisaged to destroy Lind and colonists. They, we, could not permit
that to happen.”
    “That has not
been the case for years yet you still continued to manipulate us
without our knowledge and consent.”
    “Murdoch is
still what you might describe a tad unstable even now wouldn’t you
say?” Niaill entered into the conversation.
    “And I’d be
interested to know,” added Julia, “just why the Lai, who you are
telling us are committed to peace allowed the Lind and the Larg to
fight each other for so long. Surely they could have done something
to stop it?”
    “It is not the
Lai way,” Niaill answered. “They wanted to all right but their
primary objective has always been the protection of the planet as a
whole. They have long pursued a policy of non-interference in
internal matters.”
    “Non-interference,” scoffed Julia, “is that what you call it? I’d
say that there has been quite a considerable amount of most definite interference!”
    Niaill had had
the advantage of recent, profound and long talks about this very
subject with Haru and Chizu, two of the three Lai who had revealed
themselves at the domta of the Gtrathlin and he felt he understood
better than anyone else present just why the Lai had insisted on
this over the centuries.
    Julia turned an
angry face in his and Taraya’s direction.
    Niaill took a
deep breath. “ I know that it’s been a shock to learn what they’ve
been doing all these years, but don’t just feel but I know we should put it behind us.”
    “A breach of
trust,” insisted Julia.
    “But, as
Gsendei says, with the best of intentions. From day one, in
Murdoch, the Dukes have been fighting amongst each other. If they
had had access to weaponry like the Lai are talking about they
would have used it.”
    “In Murdoch,”
said a stubborn Julia.
    “It wouldn’t
have stayed there,” Niaill continued as if she hadn’t interrupted,
“the knowledge would have spread. If the Dukes of Murdoch had had
such weapons then the Garda would have insisted they have them too.
No Julia, I’ve had longer than you to think about this and I have
to agree that what the Lai and the Avuzdel did was right and that
it should probably continue, with certain safeguards once all this
is over. I certainly cannot condone all of their methods. I think I
must be at the wrong meeting. I appear to be attending one whose
aim is settling old scores and sowing discord.”
    Julia looked
taken aback and had the grace to acknowledge Niaill’s
admonishment.
    “I am sorry,”
she said to Gsendei.
    “Susyc, there
is no need.”
    “Thank you. I
am interested to learn just how far the telepathic abilities of
your kind can be extended to help us. Can you for instance
influence the minds of the soldiers in our army, to make them less
afraid perhaps? Can you influence the Larg kohorts?
    Gsendei shook
his shaggy brown head with regret.
    “No we cannot.
Some of us can influence, even control an individual’s mind but
this is only on a one to one basis and even this requires much
concentration and effort. In war it is impossible; it makes those
of us who can do this vulnerable to physical attack if
concentrating on mind issues. We will do what we can, perhaps some
few individual Larg could be influenced but it is of limited use in
battle.”
    “So we have to
fall back on the old, tried methods. Well, at least we know where
we stand. What of the Dglai?”
    “They, like the
Lai, have no telepathic abilities whatsoever,” answered Niaill.
    “We should be
grateful for that small mercy,” said Weaponsmaster Jilmis, entering
the tent. “Now, we shall be at Settlement tomorrow. Your
plans?”
    She frowned,
thinking, “neap tide is in eleven days.”
    “Aye, it is,”
agreed Ryzcka Davin, the Vada second in command who had entered the
tent with Jilmis.
    “I want as many
as can begin to cross over the Island Chain in nine. The First and
the