Part 31 (2/2)

And that told him that they were no friends of his, and most likely why they were here.

In spite of the steel at his throat, Aybas smiled. The night had brought one surprise to him. Now it was about to bring one to his visitors.

”If you seek the freedom of Princess Chienna, I am yours to command.”

The giant grunted something wordless that might have indicated surprise. Aybas could barely make out his face in the dark hut, and in any case, he was no longer looking at the giant.

Behind the giant stood a fair-haired woman of mature but still great beauty, for all her warrior's garb and appearance. Beside her-and here Aybas had to swallow-stood a man who seemed small beside the giant but who exuded a power that had little to do with his stature.

A set of silver-adorned pipes dangled at his waist. Aybas did not need a second look at those pipes for them to tell him more than he wanted to know about the man.

Marr the Piper, who had toyed with the spells of the Star Brothers like a playful cat with a mouse, had come in the service of King Eloikas.

”Then we command you to rise and guide us to the house of the princess,” the giant said.

”I will do as much or more on one condition,” Aybas said.

The sword point p.r.i.c.ked harder. Another twitch of the giant's wrist and Aybas's life blood would stream over his pallet. ”Wait! Hear the condition first! It may be worth the hearing.”

”It may,” Marr said. Aybas almost smiled. He had heard the legend that the piper of the mountains was mute save for his music. So much for the legend.

”We must rescue Captain Oyzhik,” Aybas said.

The giant's sword point drew back, but the look on his face was more frightening than the sharp steel. With his eyes now fully waking, Aybas saw that the giant had the look of Cimmeria about him. Perhaps he was the new captain of the Guards of which rumor had spoken? If so, he would have no reason to love Oyzhik.

”You are here out of loyalty to King Eloikas, to save Chienna from the Star Brothers and from Count Syzambry alike. Save Oyzhik and you may do the king another service.”

”How?” The Cimmerian, it seemed, was not one to waste words.

”Oyzhik is a traitor to the king, to be sure. He also knows a good many of Syzambry's secrets. He has not been rewarded for his treason, either. The Star Brothers hold him close captive, ready to sacrifice him to the beast at a whim. If saved, might he not reveal much of what he knows, out of grat.i.tude?”

”Oyzhik has as much grat.i.tude in him as a turnip,” the woman said. ”But if the king pardoned him as well-”

”Raihna!” the giant growled. ”Have your wits flown after this one's?”

”No,” the woman called Raihna replied. ”Merely thinking that if we can win a second victory without losing our first-”

She seemed to have decided. From the look on his face, the piper was of the same mind. The Cimmerian was not, and he seemed ready to argue.

The hut door swung open, and Wylla entered as silently as smoke. ”I have warned my father. He trusts no one else enough to bring them, but he will meet us at the house of the princess.”

”Is anyone suspicious?” Conan asked.

”I saw none of the Star Brothers or their faction,” Wylla said. ”I think that if they suspected aught, they would be abroad.”

”Likely enough,” Conan agreed. He looked upward, apparently calling on the G.o.ds for patience with fools, and wisdom to tell fools from wise men. Then he looked at Aybas with a face that made the Aquilonian wish that this were a nightmare.

”We'll take your oath to aid us. Break it, or even bend it, and you'll die ten times over before the Pougoi take you.”

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