Part 26 (1/2)
”S'tarra are not allowed in the donjon when Amanar isn't here, and humans are locked in their quarters unless he desires them.” She tilted her head up, and her voice dropped to a whisper. ”I didn't betray you, Conan. Not even when Sitha whipped me. I would not tell Amanar who you are.”
”It's over, Velita,” he said.
She seemed not to hear. Tears trembled on her long lashes. ”He became enraged. For my punishment several times a day, without warning, I am commanded to come to this room and kneel until I am told to leave. When I hear footsteps I never know if I am to be sent back to my mat, or if it is Amanar. Sometimes he merely stands, listening to me weep. I hate him for making me fear him so, and I hate myself for weeping, but I can't help it. Sometimes he beats me while I kneel, and if I move the punishment begins again.”
”I'll kill him,” Conan vowed grimly. ”This I swear to you on pain of my life. Come, we'll find the pendants, and I'll take you away this night.”
The lithesome naked girl shook her small head firmly. ”I cannot go, Conan. I am spell-caught.”
”Spell-caught!”
”Yes. Once I tried to escape, and my feet carried me to Amanar. Against my will I found myself telling him what I intended. Another time I tried to kill myself, but when the dagger point touched my breast my arms became like iron. I could not move them, even to set the knife down. When they found me Amanar made me beg before he would free me.”
”There must be a way. I could carry you away” But he saw the flaw in that even as she laughed sadly.
”Am I to remain bound the rest of my life for fear of returning to his place? I don't know why I even tried to take my life,” she sighed heavily. ”I'm sure Amanar will kill me soon. Only Susa and I remain.
The others have disappeared.”
The big Cimmerian nodded. ”Mages are not easily killed-this I know for truth-but once dead their spells die with them. Amanar's death will free you.”
”Best you take the pendants and go,” she said. ”I can tell you where they are. Four are in the jeweled casket, in a room I can show you. The fifth, the one I wore, is in the chamber where he works his magics.”
She frowned and shook her head. ”The others he tossed aside like offal.
That one he wrapped in silk and laid in a crystal coffer.”
The memory of the stone came back to Conan. A black oval the length of his finger joint, with red flecks that danced within. Suddenly he seized Velita's arms so hard that she cried out. ”His eyes,” he said urgently. ”That stone is like his eyes. In some way it is linked to him. He'll free you rather than have it destroyed. We'll go down to his thaumaturgical chamber-”
”Down? His chamber is in the top of the tower above us. Please release me, Conan. My arms are growing numb.”
Hastily he loosed his grip. ”Then what lies at the end of that pa.s.sage that seems to lead into the mountain?”
”I know not,” she replied, ”save that all are forbidden to enter it.
His chamber is where I said. I've been taken to him there. Would the G.o.ds had trade him like Tiridates,” she added bitterly, ”a lover of boys.”
”Then we'll go up to his chamber,” Conan said. She shook her head once more. ”What's the matter now?” he asked.
”There is a spell on the stairway in the tower whenever he is out of the donjon. Truly he trusts no one, Conan. One of the human servants climbed that stair while Amanar was gone to meet you.” She s.h.i.+vered and buried her face against his chest. ”He screamed forever, it seemed, and none could get close even to end his misery.”
He smoothed her hair awkwardly with a big hand. ”Then I must enter the donjon when he is here. But if he isn't here now, Velita, where is he?”
”Why, in your camp of bandits. I heard him say that the night might affright them, so he has taken them rare wines and costly viands for a feasting.”
Conan raised his hand helplessly. It seemed the G.o.ds conspired against him at every turn. ”Velita, I must go back to the camp. If he suspects I'm here ....”
”I know,” she said quietly. ”I knew from the first you could not take me with you.”
”Does not my standing here tell you my oath-sworn word is good? I will see Amanar dead, and you free.”
”No!” she cried. ”Amanar is too powerful. You'll die to no purpose. I release you from your oath, Conan. Leave these mountains and forget that I exist.”