Читать книгу Sinbad: Rogue of Mars - John Garavaglia - Страница 46

Sinbad reluctantly bowed his head lowly to the young emperor.

“Does he please you, sister?” asked Akhdar.

“He is quite handsome,” she replied, “for an alien.”

“You find favor in my sister’s eyes, Sinbad, and I admire your ability in combat. What have you to say in return?”

Sinbad stared blankly at the ruler of the Dozhakian Empire.

“I am reminded of a proverb,” he said to Akhdar. “‘Beware of one who flatters unduly; he will also censure unjustly.’”

“How quaint…and disappointing,” said Akhdar, feeling disillusioned. “I think there may be hope for him yet, dear sister. But first I think a story is in order.” Akhdar rose from his throne and advanced toward a full-scale model of his kingdom. “Listen, Earthman, as I tell you of my rise to power. After the unfortunate death of my beloved uncle Dadgar, the former zhar, and the disappearance of his only child, I assume the throne. Soon after Dozhak fell into civil war.

“While I might have stopped it, I’ve always thought the Azurians inferior and a bit impure. The outcome was inevitable. The Azurians are philosophers, farmers, and theologians, not warriors like we Thulians. Those few that did not become slaves fled to the badlands.

“Of course, there was still the problem of the Kurwani. They were a great possible threat to my reign,” Akhdar gave Sinbad a cruel smile. “I offered a hundred slaves to anyone who brought me one of their heads. Of course, slaves that have no hope become lazy and complacent, so I started a rumor. I believe they now refer to it as the prophecy.’”

Akhdar walked across the room and stopped to admire the immense green statue.

“And all was fine. That is, until you showed up. You see, your being here gives the Azurians a bit too much hope. So much, in fact, that I’ve heard there are some rebel Thulians that have joined their movement’,” Akhdar approached Sinbad slowly. “While I will surely have their pitiful rebellion crushed, it would make me happier if you were

SINBAD: ROGUE OF MARS

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