Harold Lamb

Name: Rusudan — VIII. The Eye of Battle
Author: Harold Lamb

Rusudan — VIII. The Eye of Battle (1927)

Summary

“Rusudan — VIII. The Eye of Battle”, published in 1927, is a work by Harold Lamb. It explores elements such as Rusudan, Hugh and strategos.

Quotes from Rusudan — VIII. The Eye of Battle (Harold Lamb)

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — VIII. The Eye of Battle (1927)

“ But the squire lingered, and spoke with flushed face, “My Lord, some say you have fellowship with the magicians of Cathay, and others that the glaive [1] in your hand hath a power beyond human might. Alas, I know not. Yet when the fever was in you the high-born Rusudan tended your hurts. She cherished your life. My Lord, protect her from the Horde.”
As if frightened by his own daring or believing that Hugh might summon up some ally of the realm of darkness, the boy hurried off on his mission. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — VIII. The Eye of Battle (1927)

“ He sighed and glanced at the crusader idly. Yet with that glance he weighed Hugh in his mind. The strategos was neither lazy nor effeminate, though he looked both. The frontier officer of an empire must be able to judge men, and in this respect Choaspes was not a whit behind Trevisani. The proof of it was that the strategos owed the merchant a great deal of money, but the merchant feared the strategos.
“By all the gods!” Choaspes leaned on the embrasure ledge, allowing Hugh to see that his left hand held no weapon. “A land as barren and hideous as its people. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — VIII. The Eye of Battle (1927)

“ Choaspes laughed good-naturedly. “'Tis my duty to forward the news of the Khaukesh. Come, what say you to a purse for the road, a pair of my followers to serve you and, at the end of the road, the Golden Chersonese. Faith, I envy you.” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — VIII. The Eye of Battle (1927)

“ The ax-man would never lift weapon again in battle. He had felt the strength of the crusader's arm, and in spite of pain and brooding he had no reproach for Hugh.
Nor did any man of the castle try to stay the knight when he donned his furs and the squire girded upon him the sword Durandal. Except an old castellan and some men-at-arms, all Georgians had left the place. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — VIII. The Eye of Battle (1927)

“ The gray stallion neighed at his approach, thrusting a soft muzzle into his neck and snorting. But when Hugh had climbed into the saddle, wincing a little, the powerful charger tossed his head and stood motionless, ears twitching.
“Eh,” muttered the serf who had groomed the horse, “it can not be true that this lord of Frankland is a fiend, because the stallion hath no fear of him.”
“He is not like other lords,” replied the squire.
They opened the barbican gate and Hugh rode forth, pacing down the long ramp and through the darkened alleys of Tphilis. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — VIII. The Eye of Battle (1927)

“ With Messer Antonio he has taken horse for the western trail.” The thawad stared at Hugh, shook his grizzled head and fingered the ax in his belt. “A pity thou art friend to the pagans and unfriend to us. If aught befalls—mark me—if there be peril, thy gray stallion is in the stable by the north wall.”
So saying, he strode from the chamber, leaving the crusader thoughtful. That evening Hugh asked one of the pages whether the Princess Rusudan was in the castle.
“Nay, my Lord, she rides with John the Constable. The mailed host hath moved from Tphilis now that the standards are lifted.” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Harold Lamb, Rusudan — VIII. The Eye of Battle (1927)

“ By ——, I have seen the Mongols fight before now! Ask the kites and the wolves where the rest of the Horde lies hid. But please to dismount, good my Lord.”
Hugh knew the breed of these men—the speaker was a Bokharian. Horse-traders, outwardly, who waited behind the lines to glean spoil from the slain and the wounded. He gathered up his reins and went on.
The Bokharian proved to be at least a sagacious prophet, because at noon he came to the summit of a ridge and saw before him the full array of the Georgians. ”

Harold Lamb

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