WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:05.839 Part two of Tetric by E. E. Smith. This LibriVox 2 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:10.720 recording is in the public domain. That evening he selected 3 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:15.439 a smooth, fine grained stone and wetted the already almost 4 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:19.559 perfect cutting edge of his new sword, an edge which 5 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:23.079 in cross section was rather more like an extremely sharp 6 00:00:23.239 --> 00:00:28.160 cold chisel than a hollow ground razor. He fitted the 7 00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:33.719 two hand grip meticulously with worked and tempered rawhide, thrilling 8 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:37.600 again and again, as each touch of an educated and 9 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:42.039 talented finger tip told him over and over that here 10 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:47.920 was something brand new in metal, a real god metal. 11 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:53.039 A piece of flat wrought iron, about three sixteenths by 12 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:56.399 five inches and about a foot long, already lay on 13 00:00:56.479 --> 00:01:00.719 a smooth and heavy hard wood block. He tapped it 14 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:05.040 sharply with the sword's edge. The blade rang like a bell, 15 00:01:05.640 --> 00:01:08.680 the iron showed a bright new scar that was all. 16 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:14.239 Then a moderately heavy two handed blow, about as hard 17 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:17.959 as he had ever dared swing an iron sword, still 18 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:23.920 no damage. Then heart in mouth, he gave the god 19 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:29.200 metal its final test, struck with everything he had, from 20 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:34.040 heels and toes to finger tips. He had never struck 21 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:37.879 such a blow before, except possibly with a war ax 22 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:43.599 or a sledge. There was a ringing clang. Two sundered 23 00:01:43.719 --> 00:01:47.079 slabs of iron flew to opposite ends of the room. 24 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:51.239 The atrocious blade went on half an inch deep into 25 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:55.959 solid oak. He wrenched the weapon free and stared at 26 00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:01.799 the unmarred edge. Unmarred. For an instant, Tedric felt as 27 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:06.040 though he were about to collapse. But sheerest joy does 28 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:11.000 not disable. There was nothing left to do except make 29 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:14.039 the lynx hinge pins and so on for his armor, 30 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:18.280 which did not take long. Hence, when the minions of 31 00:02:18.520 --> 00:02:23.000 Sarpadion next appeared, armored this time in the heaviest and 32 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:26.759 best iron they had, and all set to overwhelm him 33 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:32.319 by sheer weight of numbers, he was completely ready. Nor 34 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:36.360 was there palaver or poorly. The attackers opened the door, 35 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:42.560 saw the smith, and rushed. But Tedric, although in plain sight, 36 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:47.120 had chosen the battle ground with care, he was in 37 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:51.439 a corner. At his back, a solid walled stairway ran 38 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:55.039 up to the second floor. On his right, the wall 39 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:59.280 was solid for twenty feet. On his left, beyond the stairwell, 40 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:03.960 the wall was equally solid for twice as far. They 41 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:07.159 would have to come after him, and as he retreated 42 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:10.479 they would be fighting their way up, and not more 43 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:16.360 than two at a time. The first swing, horizontal and 44 00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:20.360 neck high, was fully as fierce driven as the one 45 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:23.400 that had clovened the test piece and almost ruined his 46 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:28.639 testing block. The god metal blade scarcely slowed as it 47 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:33.080 went through armor and flesh and bone. In fact, the 48 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:36.199 helmet and the head within it remained in place upon 49 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:39.800 the shoulders for what seemed like seconds before the body 50 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:45.120 toppled and the arteries spurted crimson jets. He didn't have 51 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:49.039 to hit so hard, then good. Nobody could last very 52 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:53.039 long the way he had started out. Wherefore the next blow, 53 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:56.639 a vertical chop, merely split a man to the chin 54 00:03:56.840 --> 00:03:59.840 instead of to the navel, and the third, a back 55 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:04.319 handed return, didn't quite cut the victim's head clear off. 56 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:08.439 And the blows his steel was taking aimed at head 57 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:11.439 or neck or shoulder were doing no harm at all. 58 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:16.240 In fact, except for the noise, they scarcely bothered him. 59 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:20.240 He had been designing and building armor for five years, 60 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:25.920 and this was his masterpiece. The helmet was heavily padded, 61 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:31.240 the shoulders twice as much, so he had sacrificed some mobility. 62 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:34.079 He could not turn his head very far in either direction. 63 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:37.800 But the jointing was such that the force of any 64 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:41.399 blow on the helmet from whatever direction coming was taken 65 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:46.519 by his tremendously capable shoulders. The weapons of the mercenaries 66 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:50.120 could not dent, could not even nick that case. Hardened 67 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:56.399 high alloy steel swords, bent broke, twisted hammers and axes 68 00:04:56.519 --> 00:05:02.000 bounced harmlessly off. Nevertheless, the attack pressed forward, and even 69 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:05.040 though each blow of his devastating sword took a life, 70 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:09.920 Tedrick was forced backward up the stairs step by step. 71 00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:14.959 Then there came about that for which he had been waiting. 72 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:20.040 A copper clad priest appeared behind the last rank of mercenaries, 73 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:25.000 staring upward at something behind the iron master, beckoning frantically. 74 00:05:26.199 --> 00:05:29.560 The priest had split his forces, had sent part of 75 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:32.480 them by another way to the second floor to trap 76 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:35.839 him between two groups had come in close to see 77 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:40.600 the traps sprung. This was it. Taking a couple of 78 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:44.279 quick upward backward steps, he launched himself into the air 79 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:47.480 with all the power of his legs, and when two 80 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:50.720 hundred and thirty pounds of man dressed in eighty or 81 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:53.920 ninety or one hundred pounds of steel, leaps from a 82 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:56.279 height of eight or ten feet upon a group of 83 00:05:56.360 --> 00:06:02.639 other men. Those other men go down. Writing himself quickly, 84 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:07.399 Tedrick sprang toward the priest and swung, swung with all 85 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:11.199 the momentum of his mass and speed, and all the 86 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:15.079 power of his giant frame, swung, as though he were 87 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:20.160 concentrating into the blow all his hatred of Sarpadion and 88 00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:24.720 everything for which Sarpadion stood, which in fact he was. 89 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:30.360 And what such a saber scimitar so driven did to 90 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:34.199 thin showy copper armor and to the human flesh beneath 91 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:40.399 it is simply nothing to dwell upon. Here Hold, he 92 00:06:40.519 --> 00:06:43.639 roared at the mercenaries, who hadn't quite decided whether or 93 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:50.600 not to resume the attack, And they held, But you're dead, 94 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:56.040 the non com stuttered. You must be the great Sarpadion, 95 00:06:56.079 --> 00:07:02.680 would a right lively corpse, I, Tedric snarled. Your Sarpaedion, 96 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:07.240 false god and coward, drinker of blood and slayer of 97 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:13.920 the helpless, is weak, puny and futile beside my loser. Hence, 98 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:18.439 under Losir's shield and at Loser's direction, I shall this 99 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:23.160 day kill your foul and depraved God shall send him 100 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:28.000 back to the grizzly hell from whence he came. Nor 101 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:31.240 do I ask you to fight for me? Nor would 102 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:35.000 I so allow, for I trust you not though you 103 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:39.000 swore by all your gods? Do you fight for pleasure 104 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:42.959 or for pay? A growl was the only answer, but 105 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:48.759 that was answer enough. He of Sarpaedion, who paid your wages, 106 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:53.600 lies there dead. All others of his ilk will die 107 00:07:53.639 --> 00:07:59.439 ere this day's sunset be advised. Therefore, fight no more 108 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:03.959 until you know who pays? Wouldst any more of you 109 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:09.480 be split like whitefish? Ere I go? Time runneth short, 110 00:08:09.959 --> 00:08:14.040 But I would stay and oblige if pressed. He was 111 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:19.759 not pressed, Tedrick whirled and strode away. Should he yet 112 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:23.879 his horse or not? No? He had never ridden mighty 113 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:27.360 Drigar into danger wearing armor less capable than his own, 114 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:31.920 and he wouldn't begin now. The Temple of Sarpadion was 115 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:37.000 a tall, narrow building with a far flung outside staircase 116 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:40.559 leading up to the penthouse like excrescence in which the 117 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:45.519 green altar of sacrifice was. Tedric reached the foot of 118 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:51.440 that staircase and grimly, doggedly cut his way up it. 119 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:53.519 It was hard work, and he did not want to 120 00:08:53.559 --> 00:08:57.559 wear himself out too soon he might need a lot, 121 00:08:57.799 --> 00:09:01.320 and suddenly later on would be a good idea to 122 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:06.240 have something in reserve. As he mounted higher and higher, however, 123 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:10.200 the opposition became less and less, instead of greater and 124 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:13.720 greater as he had expected. Priests were no longer there 125 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:17.840 he hadn't seen one for five minutes, and in the 126 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:22.120 penthouse itself, instead of these solid phalanks of opposition he 127 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:25.240 had known would bar his way, there were only half 128 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:31.159 a dozen mercenaries who promptly turned tail and ran. The 129 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:35.840 way is clear hasten, Tedrick shouted, and his youthful squire 130 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:40.200 rushed up the ramp with his axe and hammer, and 131 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:45.440 with those ultra hard, ultra tough implements, Tedric mauled and 132 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:52.720 chopped the image of the god Divon. Sarpadion's high priest 133 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:59.600 was desperate. He believed thoroughly in his God. Equally thoroughly, however, 134 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:02.960 he believed in the actuality and in the power of 135 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:06.519 Teddrick's new God. He had to for the miracle he 136 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:11.279 had performed spoke for itself. While Sarpadion had not appeared 137 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:16.000 personally in Divan's lifetime, he had so appeared many times 138 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:20.240 in the past, and by a sufficiently attractive sacrifice, he 139 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:25.080 could be persuaded to appear again, particularly since this appearance 140 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:29.519 would be in self defense. No slave or any number 141 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:34.279 of slaves would do, nor criminals, no ordinary version of 142 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:39.519 the common people. This sacrifice must be of supreme quality. 143 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:45.679 The king himself too old and tough and sinful, ah, 144 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:50.799 the King's daughter. At the thought, the pit of his 145 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:57.960 stomach turned cold. However, desperate situations required desperate remedies. He 146 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:03.720 called in his henchmen and issued arders. Thus it came 147 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:08.320 about that a towering figure clad in flashing golden armor, 148 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:12.879 the king himself, with a few courtiers scrambling far in 149 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:16.799 his wake, dashed up the last few steps just as 150 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:24.080 Tedric was wrenching out Sarpedion's liver. Tedrick attend the monarch panted, 151 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:27.840 the priests have taken Rowan and are about to give 152 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:34.120 her to Sarpadion. They can't, sire, I've just killed Sarpadion 153 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:40.080 right here, but they can. They've taken the holiest one 154 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:43.799 from the innermost shrine, have enshrined him on the temple 155 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:48.519 of Scaney. Slay me, those traitor priests, for they slay Rowan, 156 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:52.200 and you may Tedric did not hear the rest of it, 157 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:55.600 nor was his mind chiefly concerned with the plight of 158 00:11:55.639 --> 00:12:01.360 the royal maid. It was Sarpadion he was after. With 159 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:05.799 a blistering oath. He dropped the god's liver, whirled around, 160 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:09.679 and leaped down the stairway. It would do no good 161 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:13.159 to kill only one Sarpadion. He would have to kill 162 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:17.679 them both, especially since the holiest one was the major image. 163 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:24.159 The holiest one, the sarpadion never before seen except by 164 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:28.480 first rank priests. Of course, that would be the one 165 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:32.320 they'd use in sacrificing a king's daughter. He should have 166 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:35.000 thought of that himself sooner, Damn him for a fool. 167 00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:38.840 It probably wasn't too late yet, but the sooner he 168 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:41.200 got there, the better would be his chance of winning. 169 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:46.600 Hence he ran, and farther and farther behind him came 170 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:50.559 the king and the courtiers. Reaching the temple of Skanea, 171 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:54.159 he found, to his immense relief that he would not 172 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:58.600 have to storm that heavily manned rampart alone. A full 173 00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:02.320 company of the royal Guard was already there. Battle was 174 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:05.879 in progress, but very little headway was being made against 175 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:09.879 the close packed defenders of the God, and Tedrick knew 176 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:14.039 why a man fighting against a god was licked before 177 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:16.960 he started, and he knew it. He'd have to build 178 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:21.840 up their morale. But did he have time? Probably they 179 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:25.679 couldn't hurry things too much without insulting Sarpadion, for the 180 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:31.000 absolutely necessary ceremonies took a lot of time. Anyway, He'd 181 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:32.720 have to take the time or he'd never reach the 182 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:39.080 god art. Lord Tedric, a burly captain, disentangled himself from 183 00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:43.200 the front rank and saluted, I'm Tedrick, Yes, newest I 184 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:47.279 was coming. Yes, Lord, orders came by Helio, but now 185 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:50.600 you are in command. You speak with the vice of 186 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:55.840 King Fagon himself. Good, Call your men back thirty paces. 187 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:59.080 Pick me out the twelve or fifteen strongest to lead 188 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:03.879 men of the Royal Guard. He raised his voice to 189 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:06.960 a volume audible not only to his own men, but 190 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:10.960 also to all the enemy. Who is the most powerful 191 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:15.559 swordsman among you, stand forward. This armor I wear is 192 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:20.440 not of iron, but of God metal, the metal of Loser, 193 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:24.960 my personal and all powerful God that all may here 194 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:28.600 see and know. I command you to strike at me 195 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:34.080 your shrewdest and most effective, most powerful blow. The soldier, 196 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.519 after a couple of false starts. Did manage a stroke 197 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:44.440 of sorts? I said, strike tetric roared, Think you ordinary 198 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:48.679 iron can harm the personal metal of a god. Strike 199 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:52.519 where you please, at head or neck, or shoulders or guts. 200 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:56.840 But strike as though you meant it. Strike to kill, 201 00:14:57.639 --> 00:15:03.840 shatter your sword. Strike convulsively. The fellow struck, swinging for 202 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:07.879 the neck, and at the impact his blade snapped into 203 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:12.879 three pieces. A wave of visible relief swept over the guardsmen, 204 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:15.759 one of dismay and shock over the ranks of the foe. 205 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:20.759 I implore parton, lord, the soldier begged, dropping to one knee. 206 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:26.480 Up man, tis nothing, and by my direct order, Now men, 207 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:29.519 I can tell you a thing you would not have 208 00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:34.360 fully believed before. I have just killed half of Sarpadion, 209 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:38.360 and he could not touch me. I am about to 210 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:42.159 kill his other half. You will see me do it. 211 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:47.080 Come what may, of God or devil, You need not 212 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:51.000 fear it. For I and all with me fight under 213 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:55.600 Losir's shield. We men will have to deal only with 214 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:58.840 the flesh and blood of those runty mercenaries of tark. 215 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:04.159 He study the enemy formation briefly, A solid phalanx of 216 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:08.960 spearmen with shields latticed and braced close, set spears outthrust, 217 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:13.600 and anchored strictly defensive. They hadn't made a move to 218 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:17.360 follow nor throw a single javelin when the King's forces withdrew. 219 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:22.039 This wasn't going to be easy, but it was possible. 220 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:25.759 We will make the formation of the wedge with me 221 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:29.799 as point, he went on, Sergeant, you will bear my 222 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:33.120 sword and hammer. The rest of you will ram me 223 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:37.320 into the center of that phalanx. With everything of driving 224 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:42.399 force that in you lies, I will make and maintain 225 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:45.960 enough of opening. We'll go up that ramp like a 226 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:54.360 fast ship plowing through waves, make wedge drive. Except for 227 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:58.320 his armor of god metal, Tedric would have been crushed 228 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:01.720 flat by the impact of the flying wedge against the 229 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:05.240 soldier he packed so solidly on the stair. Several of 230 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:09.279 the foe were so crushed. But the new armor held, 231 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:13.960 Tedric could scarcely move his legs enough to take each step. 232 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:17.559 His body was held as though in a vice, but 233 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:21.359 his giant arms were free, and by dint of sharp, 234 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:25.519 savage punching jabs and prods and strokes of his atrocious 235 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:29.799 war ax, he made and maintained the narrow opening upon 236 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:34.279 which the success of the whole operation depended, and into 237 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:39.720 that constantly renewed opening, the smith was driven irresistibly, driven 238 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:44.039 by the concerted and synchronized strength of the strongest men 239 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:49.160 of Lomar's Royal Guard. The result was not exactly like 240 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:53.000 that of a diesel powered snowplow, but it was good enough. 241 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:56.960 The mercenaries did not flow over the sides of the 242 00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:01.160 ramp in two smooth waves, however, unable with either weapons 243 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:04.359 or bodies to break through the slanting walls of iron 244 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:08.359 formed by the smoothly overlapping shields of the guardsmen, over 245 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:12.880 the edges, they went, the living and the dead. The 246 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:18.079 dreadful wedge drove on as the guardsmen near the top 247 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:22.880 of the stairway the mercenaries disappeared. Enough of that kind 248 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:26.599 of thing was a great plenty, and Tedric, after a 249 00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:30.400 quick glance around to see what the situation was, seized 250 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:35.079 his sword from the bearer. Old Divan had his knife aloft, 251 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:38.720 but in only the third of the five formal passes. 252 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:43.680 Two more to go kill those priests, he snapped at 253 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:46.200 the captain. I'll take the three at the altar, you 254 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:50.400 fellows take the rest of them. When Tedric reached the 255 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:54.400 green altar. The sacrificial knife was again aloft, but the 256 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:59.359 same stroke that severed Divan's upraised right arm severed also 257 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:04.480 his head and his whole left shoulder. Two more whistling 258 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:07.039 strokes and a moment's study of a scene of action 259 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:11.039 assured him that there would be no more sacrifices that day. 260 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:15.680 The King's archers had followed close behind the guards. The 261 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:21.319 situation was well in hand. He exchanged sword for axe 262 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:25.640 and hammer, and furiously, viciously went to work on the god. 263 00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:30.359 He yanked out the holiest one's brain, liver, and heart, 264 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:35.119 hammered and chopped the rest of him to bits. That done, 265 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:38.359 he turned to the altar. He had not even glanced 266 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:44.200 at it before, stretched taut, spread eagled by wrists and 267 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:48.559 ankles on the reeking blood fouled green horror stone. The 268 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:53.640 lady Rowan lay her yard long, thick brown hair, a 269 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:59.160 wide flung riot. Six priests had not immobilized Rowan of 270 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:03.319 Lomar without a struggle. Her eyes went from shattered image 271 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:07.160 to blood covered armored giant, and back to image. Her 272 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:11.880 face was a study of part horrified, part terrified, part 273 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:18.200 worshipful amazement. He slashed the ropes extended his mailed right hand. 274 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:25.279 Ar't hurt, Lady Rowan, no, just if taking his hand. 275 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:29.480 She sat up a bit groggily and flexed wrists and 276 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:33.680 ankles experimentally while behind his vizor. The man stared and 277 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:40.920 stared tall, wide but trim, superbly, made a true scion 278 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:45.680 of the old blood, lo serious liver. What a woman. 279 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:49.839 He had undressed her mentally more than once, but his 280 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:55.039 visionings had fallen short, far short of the entrancing the 281 00:20:55.240 --> 00:21:02.400 magnificent truth. What a woman a virgin hu technically so, 282 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:07.359 perhaps more shame to those pusi laminous half breed midges 283 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:11.880 of the court if he had been born noble. She 284 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:15.119 slid off the altar and stood up, her eyes still 285 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:20.319 dark with fantastically mixed emotions. She threw both arms around 286 00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:24.960 his armored neck and snuggled close against his steel, heedless 287 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:27.960 that breasts and flanks were being smeared anew with half 288 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:33.160 dried blood. He put an ironclad arm around her, moved 289 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:37.000 her arm enough to open his visor, saw sea green 290 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:41.279 eyes only a few inches below his own. Staring straight 291 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:47.319 into his The man's quick passion flamed again. Gods of 292 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:51.279 the ancients. What a woman there was a mate for 293 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:56.559 a full grown man. Thank the gods. The king dashed up, panting, 294 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.680 but in surprisingly good shape for a man of forty 295 00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:03.400 odds who had run so far in gold armor. Thanks 296 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:07.359 be to all the gods. You are in time, just barely, sire, 297 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:11.880 But in time name your reward, Lord Tedrick. I will 298 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:16.079 be glad to make you my son, not that, sire. Ever, 299 00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:18.880 if there's anything in the world or the next I 300 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:24.599 don't want to be, it's Lady Rowan's brother. Make him 301 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:28.119 lord of the marches. Father, the girl said, sharply, knowest 302 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:31.880 what the sages said, twhis to be better. The monarch agreed, 303 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:37.359 Tedrick of old Lomar, I appoint you lord of the upper, 304 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:41.720 the Middle, and the lower marches, the highest of the high. 305 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:47.480 Tedrick went to his knees. I thank you, sire, have 306 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:49.880 I your backing and wiping out what is left of 307 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:54.079 Sarpadion's power. If you will support the throne with the 308 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:56.880 strip I so clearly see as to be yours, I 309 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:59.200 will back you with the full power of the throne 310 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:02.160 in anything you wish to do. Of course, I will 311 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:05.200 support you, sire, as long as I live. And with 312 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:09.000 all that in me lies since time first was my 313 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:11.799 blood has been vassal to yours, and ever will be. 314 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:16.599 My brain, my liver, and my heart are yours. I 315 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:20.920 thank you, Lord Tedrick proceed Tedrick snapped to his feet, 316 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:25.200 his sword flashed high in the air. His heavy voice 317 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:29.640 rang out, People of Lomar, listen to a herald of 318 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:38.160 the throne. Sarpedion is dead. Loser lives. Human sacrifice, yes, 319 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:42.000 all sacrifice except the one I am about to perform 320 00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:48.240 of Sarpadion himself to Losir is done. That is and 321 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:52.480 will be the law. To that end, there will be 322 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:56.799 no more priests, but a priestess only. I speak as 323 00:23:56.880 --> 00:24:01.079 herald for the throne of Lomar. He turned to the 324 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:05.119 girl still clinging to his side. I had it first 325 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:09.359 in mine, Lady, rowan to make you priestess, but not I, 326 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:16.960 she interrupted vigorously, No priestess, I Lord Tetrick. By Lowsier's brain, girl, 327 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:23.480 you're right, You've been wasted long enough. In another time track, 328 00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:29.160 another scandals and another firmin almost but not quite identical 329 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:35.119 with those first so named, poured over a thronoviagram. The 330 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:39.640 key point in time is there, the prime physicist said thoughtfully, 331 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:43.519 placing the point of his pencil near one jagged peak 332 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:47.880 of the trace. The key figure is Lord Tetrick of Lomar, 333 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:53.039 the discoverer of the carburization of steel. He could be 334 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:57.720 manipulated very easily. But after all, the real catastrophe is 335 00:24:57.720 --> 00:25:01.440 about three hundred eighteen years away. There is nothing alarming 336 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:04.559 about the shape of the curve, and any interference with 337 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:07.799 the actual physical events of the past would almost certainly 338 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:12.640 prove calamitous. Over the years, I have found your judgment good. 339 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:17.720 What is your thought on this matter? Ferman I would 340 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:20.920 say to wait at least for a few weeks or months, 341 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:25.240 even though eight hundred twelve fails, Number eight hundred and 342 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:29.279 fifty or number nine hundred may succeed. At the very worst, 343 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:32.200 we will be in the same position then as now, 344 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:35.000 to take the action which has for a hundred years 345 00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:40.000 been specifically forbidden by both counsel and school. So be 346 00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:45.240 it end of Tedrick by E. E. Smith, this recording 347 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:48.359 by Phil Schinevert. Thank you for listening.