Hyr Kov Brannomar slowly turned. He looked directly at Prince Tom.
“Long live King Tomendishto!” he cried in a loud, firm voice. “Long live the king!”
Nandisha collapsed in a dead faint.
Ortyg swore and grabbed the parchment, feverishly reversing it and gobbling out his words as he read what he hated to see.
Khonstanton started to speak, said nothing, and stalked from the room.
The new king said, hesitatingly: “But—” and said no more.
What I said, to myself, was: “For the disgusting sake of the putrescent inward parts and festering outer parts of Makki Grodno! Thanks be that's over!”
I went over to give what assistance I could to Nandisha. As far as I was concerned, this affair was dead. Now the future must concern the fate of the numim twins, Rofi and Rolan. The Star Lords had shown much forbearance in allowing me to gad about in the regal affairs of Tolindrin. Now Fweygo and I must ensure that the numim twins were safe. And how long would that take? By the Black Chunkrah! All I wanted to do was go home to Esser Rarioch and live peacefully with Delia.
“There is a great deal to be done,” declared Brannomar.
He was talking about Tom's accession and the coronation and boring formalities of that kind. I agreed with him for reasons he would never know, reasons to do with the Everoinye and four hundred light years of empty space. Carrying Nandisha I went out to find Fweygo and Tiri.
All the same, I wouldn't quickly forget the Amak Dagert, Dagert of Paylen. He was a bit of a card, more than a bit of a lad, by Krun!
Nandisha was beginning to stir as I went out into the atrium. Fweygo and Tiri saw me and hurried over. Overhead the twin Suns of Scorpio, Zim and Genodras, here known as Mabal and Matol, shone down their streaming mingled lights. I looked at my friends and tried to smile.
By Zair! I didn't know what my destiny might be on the beautiful and terrible world of Kregen. What I did know with great certitude was—I needed a wet! Delia forgive me.
By Mother Zinzu the Blessed—yes!
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About the Author
Alan Burt Akers was a pen name of the prolific British author Kenneth Bulmer, who died in December 2005 aged eighty-four.
Bulmer wrote over 160 novels and countless short stories, predominantly science fiction, both under his real name and numerous pseudonyms, including Alan Burt Akers, Frank Brandon, Rupert Clinton, Ernest Corley, Peter Green, Adam Hardy, Philip Kent, Bruno Krauss, Karl Maras, Manning Norvil, Chesman Scot, Nelson Sherwood, Richard Silver, H. Philip Stratford, and Tully Zetford. Kenneth Johns was a collective pseudonym used for a collaboration with author John Newman. Some of Bulmer's works were published along with the works of other authors under “house names” (collective pseudonyms) such as Ken Blake (for a series of tie-ins with the 1970s television programme The Professionals), Arthur Frazier, Neil Langholm, Charles R. Pike, and Andrew Quiller.
Bulmer was also active in science fiction fandom, and in the 1970s he edited nine issues of the New Writings in Science Fiction anthology series in succession to John Carnell, who originated the series.
More details about the author, and current links to other sources of information, can be found at www.mushroom-ebooks.com, and at wikipedia.org.
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The Dray Prescot Series
The Delian Cycle:
1. Transit to Scorpio
2. The Suns of Scorpio
3. Warrior of Scorpio
4. Swordships of Scorpio
5. Prince of Scorpio
Havilfar Cycle:
6. Manhounds of Antares
7. Arena of Antares
8. Fliers of Antares
9. Bladesman of Antares
10. Avenger of Antares
11. Armada of Antares
The Krozair Cycle:
12. The Tides of Kregen
13. Renegade of Kregen
14. Krozair of Kregen
Vallian cycle:
15. Secret Scorpio
16. Savage Scorpio
17. Captive Scorpio
18. Golden Scorpio
Jikaida cycle:
20. A Sword for Kregen
21. A Fortune for Kregen
22. A Victory for Kregen
Spikatur cycle:
23. Beasts of Antares
24. Rebel of Antares
25. Legions of Antares
26. Allies of Antares
Pandahem cycle:
27. Mazes of Scorpio
28. Delia of Vallia
29. Fires of Scorpio
30. Talons of Scorpio
31. Masks of Scorpio
32. Seg the Bowman
Witch War cycle:
33. Werewolves of Kregen
34. Witches of Kregen
35. Storm over Vallia
36. Omens of Kregen
37. Warlord of Antares
Lohvian cycle:
38. Scorpio Reborn
39. Scorpio Assassin
40. Scorpio Invasion
41. Scorpio Ablaze
42. Scorpio Drums
43. Scorpio Triumph
Balintol cycle:
44. Intrigue of Antares
45. Gangs of Antares
46. Demons of Antares
47. Scourge of Antares
48. Challenge of Antares
49. Wrath of Antares
50. Shadows over Kregen
Phantom cycle:
51. Murder on Kregen
52. Turmoil on Kregen
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Visit www.mushroom-ebooks.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.