Part 30 (2/2)

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

The Cimmerian placed a mail-shod foot on his eneone; he shook back his black mane and his blue eyes blazed with their old fire

'Do you yield?'

'Will you give me quarter?' deivenLife for you and all your ht to split your head for an infernal thief,' the Cilared over the plain The ree with swar with fury of glutted vengeance Bossonians and Gunder the tents to pieces in search of plunder, seizing prisoners, ripping open the baggage and upsetting the wagons

Tarascus cursed fervently, and then shrugged his shoulders, as well as he could, under the circumstances

'Very well I have no choice What are your des in Aquilonia Order your garrisons to march out of the castles and towns they hold, without their aret your infernal armies out of Aquilonia as quickly as possible In addition you shall return all Aquilonians sold as slaves, and pay an indee your occupation of the country has caused has been properly estie until these terms have been carried out'

'Very well,' surrendered Tarascus 'I will surrender all the castles and towns now held by s shall be done What ransohed and rerasped his shoulder and heaved him to his feet He started to speak, then turned to see Hadrathus approaching hi his way between rows of dead men and horses

Conan wiped the sweat-smeared dust froh the day, first on foot with the pikeone, his armor splashed with blood and battered with strokes of sword, round of blood and slaughter, like soy

'Well done, Hadrathus!' quoth he gustily 'By Crohts were al their hearts out to be at sword-strokes I could not have held theone down the dim road to Acheron,' answered Hadrathus 'And I - I am for Tarantia My work is done here, and I have a task to perform at the temple of Mitra All our work is done here On this field we have saved Aquilonia -and more than Aquilonia Your ride to your capital will be a triudo the return of their king And so, until we reat royal hall - farewell!'

Conan stood silently watching the priest as he went Fro toward him He saw Pallantides, Trocero, Prospero, Servius Galannus, their ar way to a roar of triu with exultation, were turned toward the great black figure of the king; mailed arms brandished red-stained swords A confused torrent of sound rose, deep and thunderous as the sea-surf: 'Hail, Conan, king of Aquilonia!'

Tarascus spoke

'You have not yet nahed and slapped his sword hohty arh his thick black locks, as if feeling there his re-won crown

'There is a girl in your seraglio named Zenobia'

'Why, yes, so there is'