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Another contingent, including Taussig and his platoon, swung inland toward
Castle Sank, the seat of Duke* Luhalcx and a staging station for Skaling
convoys en route to Poelitetz.
*Memorandum: 'King,' 'prince', 'duke,' 'lord,' 'baron,'
'ordinary,' are used arbitrarily and inexactly to indicate somewhat similar
levels of status among the Ska.
Functionally, the differences in rank are peculiar to the Ska, in that only
'king,' 'prince,' and 'duke,' are hereditary, and all save 'king' may be
earned by valor or other notable achievement. Thus, an 'ordinary,' having
killed or captured five armed enemies becomes a 'knight" By other exactly
codified achievements he becomes a ,baron'
then ,lord', 'duke, then finally 'grand duke' or 'prince The king is elected
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by vote of the dukes; his dynasty persists along direct male lineage, until
the line becomes extinct or is
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- - - - Vance uses many footnotes in this volume voted out of power at a
conclave of dukes.
*For a brief discussion of Ska history see Glossary III.
Chapter 22
AT CASTLE SANK TAUSSIG'S GANG was assigned to the saw-mill. A
ponderous water-wheel, moving a linkage of iron levers, raised and lowered a
straight-bladed saw of forged steel nine feet long and worth its weight in
gold. The saw squared timbers and cut planks with a speed and accuracy Aillas
found remarkable. Skalings with long experience controlled the mechanism,
lovingly sharpened the teeth, and apparently worked without coercion or
supervision.
Taussig's gang was assigned to the seasoning shed, where they stacked and
restacked planks.
Over the weeks Aillas gradually, a trifle at at a time, incurred
Taussig's disfavor and dislike. Taussig despised Aillas'
fastidious habits and his disinclination to work any more energetically than
was absolutely necessary. Yane shared Taussig's disfavor because he managed to
achieve his share of the work without perceptible effort, which caused Taussig
to suspect him of shirking, though he could never demonstrate as much.
At first Taussig tried to reason with Aillas. "Look you now! I've been
watching and you don't deceive me an instant! Why do you give yourself such
airs, as if you were a former lord? You will never better yourself by such
means. Do you know what happens to shirkers and fiddity-didjets? They are put
to work in the lead mines, and if they short their stint they are sent to the
sword factory and their bodies' blood hardens the steel. I advise you to show
me somewhat more zeal."
Aillas responded as politely as possible. "The Ska took me against my will;
they broke apart my life; they have done me great harm;
why should I exert myself for their benefit?"
"Your life has changed; true!" argued Taussig. "Make the best of it, like the
rest of us! Think! Thirty years is not so long a time! They will either send
you away a free man with ten gold
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a farmstead with a hut, a woman, animals; and your children are free from
indenture. Is that not generous?"
"For the best part of my life?" Aillas sneered and turned away.
Taussig angrily called him back. "Perhaps you scorn the future!
Not I! When my gang performs poorly, I take demerits. I want none on your
account!" Taussig hopped away, his face mottled with fury.
Two days later Taussig led Aillas and Yane to the yard at the rear of Castle
Sank. He spoke no word, but the jerk of his elbows, the bob of his head were
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freighted with portent.
Where the gate opened into the yard, he swung about and at last gave vent to
his rage. "They were wanting a pair of house-servants and I spoke up with my
heart full! Now I am free of you both and
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