Part 10 (2/2)
They were like black jewels
”Imy sword, but I missed him clean how, Croht ers burned like hot iron All the strength went out of me, and the floor rose and struck one, and I was down, and curse him! I can't iant's hand, and his flesh crawled On the king's wrist showed the blue rip so hard as to leave its print on that thick wrist? Pallantides reh he had heard as he rushed into the tent, and cold perspiration beaded his skin It had not been Conan who laughed
”This is a thing diabolical!” whispered a tre squire ”Men say the children of darkness war for Tarascus!”
”Be silent!” ordered Pallantides sternly
Outside, the daas di up froht the fanfare of a thousand tru's ain the veins in his temples knotted as he strove to break the invisible shackles which crushed him down
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”Put my harness on me and tie e yet!”
Pallantides shook his head, and a squire plucked his skirt
”My lord, we are lost if the host learns the king has been smitten! Only he could have led us to victory this day”
”Help eneral
They obeyed, and laid the helpless giant on the furs, and spread a silken cloak over him
Pallantides turned to the five squires and searched their pale faces long before he spoke
”Our lips must be sealed for ever as to what happens in this tent,” he said at last ”The kingdoo and fetch me the officer Valannus, who is a captain of the Pellian spearmen”
The squire indicated bowed and hastened fro down at the stricken king, while outside trumpets blared, drurowing dawn Presently the squire returned with the officer Pallantides had na Like hiray and he did not rese is stricken by a strange reat honor is yours; you are to wear his armor and ride at the head of the host today Nonewho rides”
”It is an honor for which a ive up his life,” starant that I do not fail of thisstared with burning eyes that reflected the bitter rage and humiliation that ate his heart, the squires stripped Valannus of -pieces, and clad him in Conan's armor of black plate- over the wivern crest Over all they put the silken surcoat with the royal lion worked in gold upon the breast, and they girt hiold-buckled belt which supported a jewel-hilted broadsword in a cloth-of-gold scabbard While they worked, trued, and across the river rose a deep-throated roar as squadron after squadron swung into place
Full-armed, Valannus dropped to his knee and bent his pluure that lay on the dais
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”Lord king, Mitra grant that I do not dishonor the harness I wear this day!”
”Bring me Tarascus's head and I'll uish Conan's veneer of civilization had fallen froround his teeth in fury and blood-lust, as barbaric as any tribesmen in the Cimmerian hills
III
THE CLIFFS REEL
The Aquilonian host was drawn up, long serried lines of pikeure in black ar up into the saddle of the black stallion held by four squires, a roar that shook the mountains went up from the host They shook their blades and thundered forth their acclaiold-chased armor, pikemen in mail coats and basinets, archers in their leather jerkins, with their longbows in their left hand
The host on the opposite side of the valley was in entle slope toward the river; their steel shone through thethat swirled about their horses'
feet
The Aquilonian host moved leisurely to round tre wind; lances swayed like a bristling forest, dipped and sank, their pennons fluttering about theriuarded the royal pavilion One squire stood in the tent, peering out through a slit in the doorway But for the handful in the secret, no one else in the vast host knew that it was not Conan who rode on the great stallion at the head of the army
The Aquilonian host had assuest part was the center, cos were made up of smaller bodies of horsemen, mounted men-at-arms, mostly, supported by pikemen and archers The latter were Bossonians froly built men of medium stature, in leathern jackets and iron head-pieces
The Nemedian army came on in similar fors in advance of the centers In the center of the Aquilonian host the great lion banner streaure on the black stallion
But on his dais in the royal pavilion Conan groaned in anguish of spirit, and cursed with 95
strange heathen oaths
”The hostsfro sun strikes fire from lance-heads and helmets until I am dazzled It turns the river crimson aye, it will be truly crimson before this day is done!
”The foe have reached the river Now arrows fly between the hosts like stinging clouds that hide the sun Ha! Well loosed, bowmen! The Bossonians have the better of it! Hark to the, above the din of tru steel, came the deep fierce shout of the Bossonians as they drew and loosed in perfect unison
”Their archers seek to hold ours in play while their knights ride into the river,” said the squire
”The banks are not steep; they slope to the water's edge The knights coh the s By Mitra, the clothyard shafts find every crevice of their harness! Horses andin the water It is not deep, nor is the current swift, but ed under by their arhts of Aquilonia advance They ride into the water and engage the knights of Nemedia The water swirls about their horses' bellies and the clang of sword against sword is deafening”
”Croishly back into his veins, but still he could not lift his s close in,” said the squire ”Pikeht hand to hand in the stream, and behind them the bowmen ply their shafts
”By Mitra, the Nemedian arbalesters are sorely harried, and the Bossonians arch their arrows to drop aains not a foot, and their wings are pushed back up froed Conan ”Gods and devils, could I but reach the fighting, if but to die at the first blow!”
Outside through the long hot day the battle store and counter-charge, to the whistling of shafts, and the crash of rending shi+elds and splintering lances But the hosts of Aquilonia held fast Once they were forced back froe, with the black banner flowing over the black stallion, regained the lost ground
And like an iron raht bank of the streaave Conan the news that the Ne back fros are in confusion!” he cried ”Their knights reel back from the sword-play But what is this? Your banner is in motion the center sweeps into the strea the host across the river!”
”Fool!” groaned Conan ”It may be a trick He should hold his position; by dawn Prospero will be here with the Poitanian levies”