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.The silence lasted until Conan's laughter broke forth."What is the jest, Conan?""I hope it ends as a jest, you being here.""You fear Marr?""I fear offending any man who had that power.""It shames both him and me to say that you need fear anything from this " she patted the furs."You and Raihna.""Eh? Oh, that we are both our own mistresses?""Yes.Although I do not think that Mistress Raihna will be so free for long.Not if Decius lives "Conan's laugh was louder this time."I won't ask where Raihna spent the night, because I think Iknow.But I will ask this.Did she ?""Send me? Of course.She said that Decius was not made by the gods to be as alone as he was.You were, but no man should be without a woman on the eve of what might be his last battle.So I came,and you were not.""Suppose I turn you over my knee for speaking ill-omened words about last battles?""Oh, if that is your pleasure " She wriggled, raising herself so that he could pull her over his knee ifhe wished.At the same time, her hands danced along Conan's limbs in a way that could have only oneconclusion.This time Wylla fell asleep when they were done.Conan did not sleep.Quietly he slipped from under the furs, garbed and armed himself, and went tofind his rest under a pine tree just inside the sentry line.He would not ask the gods to let him understand women, even if they could give him that power.But would it be too much to ask that women should not understand him as easily as Raihna seemed to?Chapter 18Back | NextContentsThe scout was looking over his shoulder when his time came, not ahead as he should have been.Small shame to him, however.He was an honest trapper's almost equally honest son, who had takenservice with Count Syzambry many years ago.He had not imagined then that he would end as the scout for a host led only in name by the count.He had not imagined that the Pougoi wizards, the Star Brothers, were even real, let alone that they wouldcome forth from their valley.As for believing that they could put fear into the count and all his host a thousand men or morethe scout would have called it madness.He would have suggested that the speaker needed physicking, torestore his wits.And if by some chance he had believed that he would end serving the Star Brothers, he would havefled the Border Kingdom as fast as his feet would carry him.Indeed, he would have crawled, if need be,to put distance between himself and those monster-worshipers.Not having fled, or even left the count's service, the scout was now bound to his master and hisduty.Bound as with bands of iron by loyalty to his comrades, oaths to the count and by stark terror ofthe Star Brothers.It was that terror that made the scout look back over his shoulder at the wrong moment.He hadjust decided that no spy for the wizards followed close on his heels when a hand like steel closed on hissword arm.The scout tried to whirl around, cry out, and draw his sword with his left hand.He accomplishednone of these.Another hand clamped itself over his mouth, both hands jerked, and he soared through theair into the bushes as his sword flew out of his hand.Conan tapped the scout's head gently against a fir trunk, and the man went limp.The Cimmerianlistened to the man's breathing, judged him fit to travel, and slung him over his broad shoulders.Carrying his prisoner as he would the carcass of a deer, Conan loped away from the trail and deepinto the woods.Only when he was beyond any human senses did he turn west, toward the royalvanguard that awaited him.Count Syzambry was short of stature, not of sight.He was also a warrior of great experience andproven courage.So he rode forward when a messenger from his scouts came to tell of the missing man.He sent themessenger ahead again, with orders for the scouts to hold where they were.Then he rode swiftly with asmall escort to join them.After joining the scouts, Syzambry dismounted.He needed help to do so, which his men gavewillingly, but he no longer had to stifle gasps of pain.After he had examined the ground closely, heneeded no help in climbing back on his mount.Some of the aches and pains had to be stiffness from being too long in the saddle.He had notridden for so long that he had almost forgotten something he learned as a boy!He laughed, which seemed to hearten his men.Those who served him out of loyalty rather thangreed or fear had felt for their lord's pain and weakness.They were glad to see him leading as he haddone before.It gave them more hope of victory and less fear of the Pougoi wizards.They had no fears of theroyal host.What could a ragged band of fugitives half their strength, fighting on behalf of a woman, reallyhope to do?The count's laughter ended quickly as another messenger cantered up.This one was of the Pougoi,and the Star Brothers spoke through his mouth.They also heard through his ears but did not, to the bestof Syzambry's knowledge, see through his eyes."Hail, Brothers.I wish I had better news," the count said."What is it?" The Star Brothers had learned enough of war in recent days to know the value of time.Syzambry explained what the disappearance of the scout might mean."Of course, he may simplyhave fled in fear," the count ended."If so, I give you leave to hunt him down as you wish [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]