Part 34 (1/2)

Above the at last, and a deep-throated roar thundered across the vale

'Xaltotun has failed us!' bellowed Amalric furiously 'Valerius has failed us! We have been led into a trap! Mitra's curse on Xaltotun who led us here! Sound the retreat!'

'_Too late!_' yelled Tarascus '_Look!_'

Up on the slopes the forest of lances dipped, leveled The ranks of the Gunder curtain And with a thunder like the rising roar of a hurricane, the knights of Aquilonia crashed down the slopes

The ie was irresistible Bolts driven by the delanced from their shi+elds, their bent hel out behind the lines of pikemen and roared down the slopes like a wave

Ae, and the Nee spurred their horses at the slopes They still outnumbered the attackers

But they eary hts had not struck a blow that day Their horses were fresh They were co downhill and they came like a thunderbolt And like a thunderbolt they s ranks of the Nemedians--smote them, split the down the slopes

After them on foot ca down the hills, loosing as they ran at every foe that still moved

Down the slopes washed the tide of battle, the dazed Nemedians swept on the crest of the wave Their archers had thron their arbalests and were fleeing Such pikehts were cut to pieces by the ruthless Gunderh the wide mouth of the valley and into the plain beyond All over the plain swarle co, wheeling horses But the Nemedians were smashed, broken, unable to re-for for the river Many reached it, rushed across and rode eastward The countryside was up behind them; the people hunted them like wolves Few ever reached Tarantia

The final break did not co in vain to rally his iant in black armor whose surcoat bore the royal lion, and over whose head floated the golden lion banner with the scarlet leopard of Poitain beside it A tall warrior in gleaed to meet the lord of Tor Theyhis foe's helmet, snapped bolts and rivets and tore off the casque, revealing the features of Pallantides But the Aquilonian's lance-head crashed through shi+eld and breast-plate to transfix the baron's heart

A roar went up as A the lance that iave way as a barrier bursts under the surging impact of a tidal wave They rode for the river in a blind stampede that swept the plain like a ind The hour of the Dragon had passed

Tarascus did not flee Amalric was dead, the color-bearer slain, and the royal Nehts were fleeing and the Aquilonians were riding them down; Tarascus knew the day was lost, but with a handful of faithful followers he raged through the melee, conscious of but one desire--to meet Conan, the Cimmerian And at last he met him

Formations had been destroyed utterly, close-knit bands broken asunder and swept apart The crest of Trocero gleamed in one part of the plain, those of Prospero and Pallantides in others Conan was alone The house-troops of Tarascus had fallen one by one The two kings met man to man

Even as they rode at each other, the horse of Tarascus sobbed and sank under hi of Nely in the sun, clashed loudly, and blue sparks flew; then a clang of arth on the earth beneath a thunderous stroke of Conan's broadsword