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.With the city safe behind its walls, and her port protected by engines, spells, and booms, Zutria stood immune from any mischief the attacking ships might do.The fisherfolk gathered on the shores to watch the fun, wondering what the invading fleet would do to vent its rage.The fleet of galleys might have belonged to Sumbria, the nearest city down the coast, were it not for their black flags and clear hostility.The lean little shapes formed a swarm about a giant barge that ponderously beat into the bay.With its huge oars rippling like a water insect's limbs, the barge settled itself before Zutria's harbor mouth, just out of ballista range.The barge backed water, the world fell into an expectant hush—and suddenly the air flickered to a blinding bolt of light.A shaft of searing heat stabbed out from the barge.The seawall exploded like a bomb, slumping stones into the water with a hiss of scalding steam.The crash of breaking masonry sent shock waves through the air, while violet afterimages hung like wraiths before the eyes of shocked defenders.The giant barge shifted; black figures swarmed across an armored box mounted at the bow, and the deadly light beam stabbed across the bay once more.It raked across the harbor guard towers, cutting through stonework in a searing blast of noise.Seconds later, Zutria stood open and exposed.With insolent ease, the light beam scored across the waves, boiling water and sending up titanic gouts of steam.It snipped the boom chains clean in two like a princess opening new public baths with a pair of golden shears, and the black galleys surged forward in a triumphant, screaming wave.Water elementals clashed as defending mages tried to hold the storm tide back; crushed aside by superior sorceries, the Zutrian spells swiftly flickered out and died.Within minutes, the attacking warships had driven hard ashore, spilling armored men into the streets.Spells rang out.Here and there a fire bloomed, yet the invasion happened so swiftly that Zutrian soldiers scarcely had time to resist.The fishermen stood blinking as the black banners broke out above the rooftops of their homes.Watching from the rocks beside the bay, a row of nixies stared in silence at the menacing black barge.Thin, aquatic faces swapped blank looks of shock and alarm.Surfacing amidst her people, a pink-haired princess gazed at the city, then stared at the black-armored figure striding up through the ruined harbor walls.Lithe as a dolphin, the girl reared high up on thrashing flippers and stared at the Sun Cannon floating in the bay.With a frantic splash, the nixies plunged back down out of view, speeding clean white wakes toward the distant south.Toward the peaceful shores of Lomatra.* * * * *Winter had not mellowed moods in the fair city of Lomatra.Not only had the wet weather brought its usual spate of colds, coughs, and running noses, but it had also brought a staggering influx of refugees from Sumbria.Retainers from the households of Mannicci, Toporello, and several smaller families had joined hundreds of commoners who had run for better climes.They had crowded themselves one and all into the Lomatran city streets, where Miliana had them housed in a deserted barracks hall.Enforced proximity between noble and common folk went unnoticed in a general gratitude for shelter from the bitter winter storms.The refugees brought tales of woe from home—wild stories of growing armies, ruthless taxes, and rapine.Although the Lomatran commoners listened to the stories in disquiet and alarm, their nobles decided that it was all merely a ploy to avoid paying rent and taking jobs.Until the day the first official messages from Prince Ugo Svarezi arrived.Using her pointy hat to help hold an old cloak spread against the rain, Miliana sheltered Lorenzo and Tekoriikii as they scuttled past her into the Lomatran city hall.Miliana shook out her cloak, careful not to stain her one and only decent gown.Lorenzo's allowance would only spread so far, though Tekoriikii's gullet provided an erratic, but illegal income.Dusting off her brand new hat—tall, blue, and sharpened like a needle—the princess ducked beneath the lintel and strode on into the hall.Lomatra's Prince Rosso was a small, mouselike man who had been elected by his peers mostly because he never argued with their plans.He commanded less votes than any other man in Lomatra's Blade Council, and the Utrellis were his main supporters.Lorenzo's father had succeeded in arranging his match with Sumbria's princess simply because his powerless family had made the perfect candidate of compromise.Most of the other families had considered a few hundred troops contributed to the Mannicci bride-price a small cost, particularly if it kept their more powerful rivals from enjoying the advantage a union with the Manniccis would provide.The added power of the Utrellis would hardly be noticed.Standing alone inside the hall, dwarfed by the wooden benches which soared giddily up the walls, Lomatra's prince seemed nervous, short, and really rather tired.The huge crowds of spectators that the day's meeting had drawn were utterly unprecedented; over three hundred nobles, merchants, Sumbrian refugees, and common folk had crammed into the gallery.Self-consciously pulling at the collar of his breastplate, Prince Rosso rapped upon the council table and tried to make himself heard."Um.the meeting can come to order.If you like." The little man removed and polished spectacles at least as big as Miliana's own."I'd like to make a short speech, if I may."Lomatra sported only eleven Blade Captains, all evenly balanced, more or less, as to numbers of both votes and men.The armored figures crashed themselves into their seats, drowning out their ruler's voice as he unfolded a damp sheet of parchment and began to read."Um [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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