Harold Lamb

Name: Rusudan — V. The Message
Author: Harold Lamb

Rusudan — V. The Message (1927)

Summary

“Rusudan — V. The Message”, published in 1927, is a work by Harold Lamb. It explores elements such as Rusudan, Tphilis and Trevisani.

Quotes from Rusudan — V. The Message (Harold Lamb)

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — V. The Message (1927)

“ Nevertheless, Georgia was a kingdom and jealous of its liberty.
“Ask, in the Chersonese,” he said slowly, and Trevisani sank back in his chair. It was not well to inquire too closely into the secrets of the emperor.
“And yet,” resumed the strategos, “here in the Khaukesh a child has done my work for me. The chit Rusudan has fired the blood of these mountaineers. She is old enough to delight in the love of men, and too young to dread the sting of wounds.”
Trevisani glanced at his companion shrewdly. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — V. The Message (1927)

“ The central figure was Ivan, or John the Constable, Protector of Georgia, who alone of the three wore mail.
Small of stature, he sat erect, seldom moving hand or head. A cloak of good gray homespun was cast over his chair, and the weapon-bearer behind him held a short, black ax, heavy and whetted to a keen edge. Like the ax, the face of the constable was broad and heavy and unchanging—a curling jaw, a beak of a nose and grizzled hair close-clipped. A daring man and obstinate. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — V. The Message (1927)

“ The Georgians who had been muttering behind the crusader now rushed up to the table, clutching sword hilts and roaring their rage, while John the Constable crashed the flat of his ax upon the table and set all the goblets to dancing. The patriarch raised a quivering hand and seemed to bless the tumult, while Rusudan twisted her fingers in her white sleeves, her eyes shining.
It was John the Constable who thrust back the unruly nobles and stepped to Hugh's side.
“Bold are you,” the modulated voice of the Genoese translated the grim words, “to bear such defiance to Tphilis. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — V. The Message (1927)

“ Hugh folded his long arms on the handguard of Durandal and looked into the faces that pressed close to him—like his own, bearded and scarred and weather-worn. “Messers, many days have I spent in the Horde. And I know there is a mighty power in the Mongol onset. They reck not of death, nor do they yield them captive. They seek no war with ye, but mean to find a way through the Khaukesh. I say to ye, wait—for two days or three—and do not answer out of hand.”
When this was interpreted by the Genoese, the men of Tphilis murmured anew. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — V. The Message (1927)

“ Hugh faced the Lord of Tphilis.
“Thus says Subotai Bahadur: 'Our horses are swift, our arrows sharp and our hearts hard as yonder mountains. It is ours to command; the Georgians', to obey. Let them not molest us when we pass over the roads of their kingdom.'”
When he had done, Trevisani started, and hesitated before translating. When he had rendered the message in harsh Georgian, the swarthy face of John the Constable grew dark, and he snatched at the ax in the hand of his weapon-bearer.
“Was that all?” the Genoese asked. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — V. The Message (1927)

“ She lifted her head and cried one word, and the hall rang with the approval of her chieftains. Fifty swords were snatched forth and raised overhead, and the warders at the door, taking heart from the sight, began to clash their axes against their shields. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — V. The Message (1927)

“ Choaspes knew well enough that the eight hundred crusaders had died because Theodore Lascaris, the Greek emperor, had sacrificed them; but he did not intend to admit as much to the merchant.
“A bold man is usually honest,” commented the Genoese, who was a judge of character, as all money-lenders must be. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — V. The Message (1927)

“ Messer Frank, you will bear our answer hence on the morrow.”
Hugh had been brought to Tphilis in a heavy mist at evening, and would doubtless be led away before he could have a fair sight of the stronghold that was the gate of Europe.
“Lord Prince,” he said bluntly, “men say you are wise in battle. The Horde is not like other foes. Is the answer yours—or a young girl's, echoed by her henchmen?”
The broad chin of John the Constable thrust out and his powerful hands gripped the ax. ”

Harold Lamb

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Quotes from Rusudan — V. The Message (Harold Lamb)

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