A Mighty Fortress – Snippet 10
“Well, maybe Merlin can give us an estimate,” Cayleb said.
“Maybe.” Sharleyan knew her tone sounded a bit tentative, but she also figured she was entitled to at least a little anxiety, given the nature of her projected itinerary.
Legions Of Fire – Snippet 01
THE LEGIONS OF FIRE
David Drake
AUTHOR’S NOTE
First and foremost, The Legions of Fire is a novel about a fictional city named Carce (pronounced CAR-see) and the empire which Carce rules. It is not a novel about Rome and the Roman Empire in 30 AD, under the emperor Tiberius.
THE CRUCIBLE OF EMPIRE — Snippet 60
She went on to relate an improbable but quite interesting tale. Evidently conditions on Terra had once favored the exceptional growth of occasional individuals. On a trading run, Kaln had once seen examples of gigantism on a lush planet that belonged to the kochan of Hij, but those marine creatures were scarce, having been hunted into near extinction. This “blue ox” sounded much bigger anyway. She listened carefully to Miller’s soft voice with its pronounced Terran accent, trying her best to understand, and soon realized that other humans seated close to them were paying attention, too.
Much Fall Of Blood — Snippet 39
It took a few seconds for the implication of this statement to sink into the younger man’s head. Then he too knelt, his eyes wide. “My Lord Prince… they seek you. They must not find you here.”
Much Fall Of Blood — Snippet 38
Chapter 21
For Vlad, the days had passed in something of a blur. In fact, it was the countryside that had passed in something of a blur, and mostly they had passed through it in the dark. When they had stopped, especially in the first few days, he had simply been too exhausted to do more than eat and sleep. He had not cared quite what they had eaten, or that they had slept in haystacks, or caves, or a ruined barn. There were always fresh horses, and a change of horses. He was aware that this was not how noblemen usually lived, but at first he had not protested. At least the gypsies seemed to know where they were going, and just how to avoid the patrols. But after a week he was becoming fitter, and, he noticed that the party had visibly relaxed.
A Mighty Fortress – Snippet 09
October, Year of God 893
I
Merlin Athrawes’ Recon Skimmer,
Safehold Low Orbit,
Above The Anvil.
Empress Sharleyan of Charis had been prepared for marvels — or she’d thought she was, anyway. But the reality was so far beyond what she’d expected that she’d discovered all her preparations had been in vain.
THE CRUCIBLE OF EMPIRE — Snippet 59
PART V: THE WRECK
Chapter 22
As they approached the Ekhat wreck, Jihan was forced to divert more and more of their dwindling power supply to the shields. Solar radiation at this proximity was deadly.
A Mighty Fortress – Snippet 08
There were times when Merlin was deeply tempted to hop into his recon skimmer, buzz down to Manchyr, and personally eliminate Waimyan. It wouldn’t be particularly difficult. In fact, it would be childishly simple and, under the circumstances, one of the more pleasant chores he could have assigned himself. Unfortunately, unless he was prepared to remain in Corisande full-time and spend his nights doing nothing but eliminating resistance leaders, he’d be rather in the position of King Canute. Worse, he would deprive the resistance of its organized leadership, and he didn’t want that. Far better to leave Waimyan in position for now, however irritatingly competent and industrious he was proving, rather than shatter the resistance’s cohesion. That might change, yet for now it was far more useful to know exactly who its leaders were, exactly where they might be found when the time came, and exactly what sort of plans it was making and what information it was passing to its various satellites. Breaking up the current organization would almost certainly deprive it of its increasing effectiveness, but only at the cost of replacing it with a formless, unorganized movement which would be almost impossible to monitor the way they could monitor the present situation. Not to mention one which would be far more difficult to uproot when the moment to take action against it finally arrived.
THE CRUCIBLE OF EMPIRE — Snippet 58
“Not even enough to put us into a stable orbit, much less take us back to the colony,” Hadata said, her aureole drooping.
“I have piloting experience,” Jihan said. “Let me try.” She and Hadata traded stations and then she used her Starsifter skills, one-handedly plotting the course of every bit of flotsam out there, the newcomer, and –
Much Fall Of Blood — Snippet 37
Chapter 20
“So, Benito, you want to send a column of Knights of the Holy Trinity down the Via Egnata,” said Iskander, as the two of them sat on a log looking out toward Corfu. “Do you want to start several wars?”
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