Part 7 (1/2)

Yet somehow the idea no longer drew Aybas onward as strongly as it had, even though thoughts of Wylla still did. Having unnecessary dealings with the Star Brothers was too great a price to pay for any woman!

With victory so close, it was best to bide his time, then speak to Count Syzambry. The count could deal with the unruly among the Pougoi should any protest at seeing one of their clanswomen sold away from the valley.

Of course, the count might refuse his acquiescence. But even then, Aybas would be dealing with a mortal man-an ambitious man, to be sure, one who would stop at little to rule in this wretched land- but not with a wizard, one who sent messages without a messenger and tamed creatures from beyond the world.

”Mistress Raihna, Mistress Raihna!”

The shouting slowly penetrated Conan's ears. He sat up and willed sleep from his muscles and wits. In two swift strides he was at the hut door.

Behind him he saw tanned limbs flash as Raihna scrambled into her garments. Conan unbarred the door and allowed the man pounding on it to open it a hand's breadth.

”Mistress Raihna! Mistress Raihna!” the man repeated.

”Are we attacked again?” Raihna called.

The man made no answer. Instead his mouth opened slightly as he stared at the Cimmerian looming in the crack. The Cimmerian, in the same hut as Mistress Raihna, and not fully garbed.

Conan heard that thought as if the man had been shouting it. He saw the man bend to peer through a crack between the door's weathered planks.

Then the man straightened abruptly as a large hand gripped the collar of his much-mended s.h.i.+rt.

Jerking the man to his feet, Conan opened the door wider but stood to block any view into the hut. ”Your captain has asked you a question, my friend,” he said with dangerous softness. ”Is it your habit to ignore commands from her?”

”Ghhh-” the man replied. Conan realized that his hand on the man's collar was depriving him of speech, and he loosened his grip. The man rubbed his neck, started to glare at the Cimmerian, then seemed to think better of it.

”There's a Count Syzambry outside the village, ah-”

”Conan of Cimmeria, once of the Turanian service,” Raihna said. She was only just decently clad as she stepped into the doorway, but she wore sword, dagger, and helmet over scanty garments.

”Ah, Mistress, Captain Conan. Count Syzambry says that the Princess Chienna was abducted last night. He wants to question all of us and search the camp and the baggage.”

”I'll see him buried in camel dung first!” Raihna snapped.

”Mistress, he has fifty men with him.”

”Has, or says he has?” Conan asked.

The man looked dubious about Conan's authority to ask, then cringed at Raihna's look and shrugged. ”No one has seen more than twenty, and they are still outside the village.”

”Good. Keep them there until I come,” Raihna said.

”Yes, Mistress.”

The door slammed behind the man and they heard his feet running off.

Conan and Raihna looked at each other.

Even if Count Syzambry had no more than twenty men, that was more than Raihna had. If he had the fifty he claimed to have, he might be a worse menace than the bandits.

Raihna threw her arms around Conan and let him hold her against his ma.s.sive chest for a moment. Then she kissed him and stepped back.