02 Quetzals Flock

QUETZAL'S FLOCK
been united and our people would have been one. You, Kane Ashford, put an end to
that and the result has been four thousand of your years spent wandering the surface
of this planet, each Gens avoiding the other. We have suffered the bitter cold of the
nights and the deaths in the caves and all the other privations. Now, you want to be
noble, you want to save the people before the planet is destroyed. You want us to go
into the Ship like good little people and all will be well."
It was like an ulcer which had finally burst. Kane kept silent, there was more.
"Ajanta preferred you. She liked your sensual approach. You look different to
our men - she liked that. Obeid listened to her, it pleased him to have an alternative
suitor. He hated me and had no sympathy with the plan of reconciliation. I remember
how he gloated when he told me, so very politely, in the hearing of the elders of both
our Gens, that the Tene Ajanta had declined my offer of union and that instead, she
would link herself to the alien who had come through this Arch.
Ajanta turned from me! I ask the great Quetzal. Why should I consider her?
Let the great Lord Quetzal provide for her - otherwise, she can burn with the planet!
As for Hammadi - if he cares to acknowledge me as I have acknowledged him,
I will take him along. He will have to come to me before the battle and he will have to
shed the grey cloak and don the black cloak and ride with me against his uncle! If the
opportunity comes, I will not kill Obeid, I will give the sword to Hammadi. It will be
the final proof that he considers himself to be my son. Not only, that it was my seed
which gave him life, but that he values me above Obeid as his father!"
Eridos had exhausted himself at last, he looked grey even in the fiery light of
the red star. He stared at Kane with undiminished hatred.
"It was an error for me to come here."
"But, you came. Was it only to pour out your hatred?"
"Why else?"
Quetzal was still dominant, he probed gently, finding the path into the tight
knot of hatred which locked Eridos' thoughts. He remembered Danyk and how he had
poured tranquillity, quietness, peace into the dark pool of bitterness and hatred. Eridos
slept before he knew it.
Quetzal looked down at the relaxed features. In so many ways, he was an
image of the human form in which he lived. Eridos was an exaggerated version of
Kane Ashford, with less of the qualities of softness, but with the same sensuality.
Eridos was a much harder man, more vicious and determined, with none of the
qualities which created indecision or soul searching. The similarities were what
created the conflict between them and the differences were the weapons in the
conflict.
In the camp of Obeid, Hammadi entered his uncle's tent. He stood waiting for
acknowledgement.
"So, you're back. What happened? Has the mighty Quetzal beaten a retreat
with his fancy metal box? Perhaps, he's run to Eridos. I wouldn't expect anything else.
Your so-called father has a good turn of speed when it comes to running away from
trouble. He's like a virgin Picun with a stallion after her. I begin to wonder about my
judgement, Hammadi. Perhaps, I'm getting old. I had thought of killing him before the
battle, to get him out of the way. He's not worth the trouble, he'll keep. We can string
up both of the bastards by the balls and they can scream each other deaf!"
Hammadi proceeded with caution. Obeid was spoiling for a fight, but he didn't
want to purge their differences in that way. It would have served no useful purpose
and it wouldn't have prevented the impending battle. Obeid eyed him balefully.
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