The Lady Marid, who was still dressed in her Pallas Athene armor, broke in. "Don't be so upset, Jan. We're sorry that brute hurt your arm, but what can you expect on this type of cruise? They guaranteed us thrills, didn't they? The very dangers we face are what we're paying so highly for." She laughed lightly. "Besides, that costume you wear as Aphrodite. Really! I don't know why you didn't get worse than a scratch on the arm. These Greeks aren't exactly civilized—nor exactly cold-blooded, either."
The other's face went red and she snatched another of the drinks from a tray. "Nevertheless, I'm going to complain. This war is absolutely too perilous to be part of the tour. And after all the trouble we went to in order to learn their fantastic languages and customs. Why I was under that damned Psycho-Study Impressor for nearly two hours!"
Captain Foren had entered behind her. "I agree with you Lady Jan, and can only apologize. I should've realized last week when Lord General Baris, fighting in the battle as the God Ares on the Trojan side, was speared by this same Greek. The company would never hear the end of it, if, on one of these cruises, a passenger was seriously injured."
The Lord General Baris shrugged. "It was wonderful sport. I killed a score of the beggars that day. I don't know how that one found a chink in my armor. I'll take measures against my costumer when we return home." He grinned wryly. "I doubt if the Emperor would appreciate having one of his generals killed in a primitive war, while on leave."
"I think I'll have to take a crack at this Diomed, myself," Lord Doren said.
The Lady Marid laughed. "If I know you, you'll do it with a blaster from a hundred feet in the air above him."
Doren smiled in return. "Of course. Do you think. I'd make a fool of myself by going down into their battle as Baris does? It's insane. This hand to hand conflict is much too risky."
The Captain changed the subject. "I'm sure you'll all appreciate our next stop," he said. "I plan to visit an even more astounding planet than this. We are to fight the swamp dragons of Venus."
"From what distance, Captain?" Lord Doren drawled.
The Captain smiled. "Their poisonous breath reaches half a mile, so it will be necessary to use long distance weapons."