Jack Vance Elder Isles 1 Lyonesse

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including Taussig and his platoon, swung inland toward Castle Sank, the seat
of Duke* Luhalcx and a staging station for Skaling convoys en route to
Poelitetz.
*Memorandum: 'King,' 'prince', 'duke,' 'lord,' 'baron,' 'ordinary,'
are used arbitrarily and inexactly to indicate somewhat similar levels of
status among the Ska. Functionally, the differences in rank are peculiar to
the Ska, in
that only 'king,' 'prince,' and 'duke,' are hereditary, and all save 'king'
may be earned by valor or other notable achievement. Thus, an 'ordinary,'
having killed or captured five armed enemies becomes a 'knight" By other
exactly codified achievements he becomes a ,baron' then ,lord', 'duke, then
finally 'grand duke' or 'prince The king is elected by vote of the dukes; his
dynasty persists along direct male lineage, until the line becomes extinct or
is voted out of power at a conclave of dukes.
*For a brief discussion of Ska history see Glossary III.
Chapter 22
AT CASTLE SANK TAUSSIG'S GANG was assigned to the saw-mill. A ponderous
water-wheel, moving a linkage of iron levers, raised and lowered a
straight-bladed saw of forged steel nine feet long and worth its weight in
gold. The saw squared timbers and cut planks with a speed and accuracy Aillas
found remarkable. Skalings with long experience controlled the mechanism,
lovingly sharpened the teeth, and apparently worked without coercion or
supervision. Taussig's gang was assigned to the seasoning shed, where they
stacked and restacked planks.
Over the weeks Aillas gradually, a trifle at at a time, incurred Taussig's
disfavor and dislike. Taussig despised Aillas' fastidious habits and his
disinclination to work any more energetically than was absolutely necessary.
Yane shared Taussig's disfavor because he managed to achieve his share of the
work without perceptible effort, which caused Taussig to suspect him of
shirking, though he could never demonstrate as much.
At first Taussig tried to reason with Aillas. "Look you now! I've been
watching and you don't deceive me an instant! Why do you give yourself such
airs, as if you were a former lord? You will never better yourself by such
means. Do you know what happens to shirkers and fiddity-didjets? They are put
to work in the lead mines, and if they short their stint they are sent to the
sword factory and their bodies' blood hardens the steel. I advise you to show
me somewhat more zeal."
Aillas responded as politely as possible. "The Ska took me against my will;
they broke apart my life; they have done me great harm; why should I exert
myself for their benefit?"
"Your life has changed; true!" argued Taussig. "Make the best of it, like the
rest of us! Think! Thirty years is not so long a time! They will either send
you away a free man with ten gold coins, or they will give you a farmstead
with a hut, a woman, animals; and your children are free from indenture. Is
that not generous?"
"For the best part of my life?" Aillas sneered and turned away. Taussig
angrily called him back. "Perhaps you scorn the future! Not I! When my gang
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performs poorly, I take demerits. I want none on your account!" Taussig hopped
away, his face mottled with fury.
Two days later Taussig led Aillas and Yane to the yard at the rear of Castle
Sank. He spoke no word, but the jerk of his elbows, the bob of his head were
freighted with portent.
Where the gate opened into the yard, he swung about and at last gave vent to
his rage. "They were wanting a pair of house-servants and I spoke up with my
heart full! Now I am free of you both and Imboden the steward is your master.
Try him with your provocations and learn what boon it brings you!"
Aillas studied the congested face thrust toward his own, then shrugged and
turned away. Yane stood in despondent boredom. There was nothing more to be
said.
Taussig called across the yard to a scullion. "Summon Imboden; bring him
here!" He turned a darkling leer over his shoulder. "Neither of you will like
Imboden. He has the vanity of a peacock and the soul of a stoat. Your easy
days of loitering in the sunshine are over."
Imboden came out on a porch overlooking the yard: a man of late maturity,
narrow-shouldered with thin arms, long thin shanks, a swag of a belly. Dank
locks clung to his scalp; he seemed to have no face, only a cluster of large
features: long ears, a long lumpy nose, round black eyes encircled by
arsenical rings, a drooping gray mouth. He made an imperious gesture toward
Taussig, who roared: "Over here! I will not set foot in the castle yard!"
Imboden uttered an impatient oath, descended the steps and crossed the yard,
using a peculiar strutting gait, which aroused Taussig's levity. "Come along [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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