Part 32 (1/2)

”I expect no less.”

The rescuers certainly had not expected the oath that Aybas swore. He swore at length and by many G.o.ds, partly to ease their minds, but more to ease his own. This was the first time he had used some of the sacred names since he was a child, and why not? This was likely enough the last oath he would swear as a living man, and the first in twenty years that he had no intention of breaking.

Of course, if the tales of Syzambry's being dead, or at least crippled, were false, this change of allegiance held peril. A fleet pair of heels could still take him to safety, however. The count would have ample occupation while dealing with enemies closer at hand even if he did gain the throne.

Much to Conan's disgust, Oyzhik and the princess were held as far apart as the valley allowed. The rescuers would have to divide their forces and meet at the foot of the cliff for the final scramble to safety.

Aybas and Marr had to go for Chienna. Without Aybas, she might need calming by the piper's music, as her babe surely would. Without the piper, there would be no calming either of them.

Oyzhik, however, was held so closely that a single man-even Conan-could fail. Wylla swore to find her father and bring him to the wizards'

prison instead of to the princess's hut.

Conan would have cursed Aybas, Oyzhik and the Star Brothers alike had he not feared delay or noise. It might have been simpler to refuse Aybas's oath and to silence him. But they had chosen to take that oath, and now, to Conan's mind, they were bound as closely as their new friend. A world where oaths could be cast out with the chamberpots onto the middens was a world doomed to the rule of the likes of Count Syzambry and the Star Brothers.

As silent as a falling rose petal, at one with the shadows, the Cimmerian made his way down across the valley toward the Star Brother's lodge. Mist curled over the edge of the dam, and a faint breeze brought the reek of the beast to Conan. His face twisted at the foulness, and he would have known then, had he not been told before, that the creature was not of the world of men.

”Hssst!”

”Five?” Conan asked. If the reply made ten, he had met Wylla's father.

”Five,” came a gruff voice. Then a shadow that Conan had taken for a bush began to move toward him. At length it turned into a man nearly as large as the Cimmerian himself. Grizzled hair and a short beard made him resemble a patriarch, but the Cimmerian's eye made out a warrior's muscles and sinews under the man's scarred skin.

”Well met, Conan of Cimmeria,” the man said. ”I am Thyrin, father to Wylla.”

”I am Captain Conan of the Second Guards, father to none that I know of,” the Cimmerian replied. ”Is your daughter with you?”

”She wished to join us, but I bid her join the others. She can tend the babe if no more, and with them, she will be closer to safety.

”I like not this care for Captain Oyzhik, Cimmerian. Did my daughter not say that he will do our enemies more harm alive than dead, I would spear him in a moment. It will be a chancy affair, making our way to safety with a man such as Oyzhik.”

”I am of your mind. At least Marr will try to keep the alarm from being raised. Lead on, Thyrin.”

Aybas was prepared to march straight up to the princess's lodgings, trusting to his standing with the guards. Raihna counseled greater caution.

”If I were the Star Brothers-”

”You could never render yourself so ugly of either body or spirit,”

Aybas said.

Raihna seemed to be glaring and smiling at the same time. ”There is a place for the gallantries of the Aquilonian court, and this is not it.

If I were the Star Brothers, I would have my most trusted men about the princess now, especially with the tales being rumored of Syzambry's troubles.”

”It is the habit of the Star Brothers to have their most trusted men guarding the sacrifices,” Aybas said. ”Conan and Thyrin are the ones most in need of caution.”

”You did not tell us that!” Raihna exclaimed.