Part 34 (1/2)
When he straightened, the thunder of drums and the cry of trumpets had overwhelmed the crackle of flames. Thyrin cursed.
”I prayed for silence, but the G.o.ds-”
”Leave the G.o.ds well enough alone,” Conan snapped. ”How fast we can run matters more now.”
”I am no cripple, Cimmerian,” Thyrin said. ”But I warn you. The paths through the village or to the way you entered the valley will be guarded now. There is another way out, and indeed an easier one for women or those carrying burdens-”
”Then lead me to it,” Conan growled. He thought of handing Oyzhik to Thyrin to silence the man, then thought better of it. Conan was younger, and also less likely to drop the prisoner into a well ”by mischance.”
”I will, but I will also pray to the G.o.ds that Marr the Piper knows of the way and is bound for it even now.”
”One more riddle-” Conan said.
”No riddle,” Thyrin said. ”Simply the truth. The way is easy enough once one is on it. But to reach the foot of it, one must cross the dam that holds in the beast's lake. The top of the dam is but a man's height above the water, well within the reach of the beast.”
Conan's horror of sorcery made his heart leap for a moment. Then he shrugged, settling his burden into a more bearable position.
”I've been in reach of worse than your star-beast and cut my way out again,” he said. ”Lead where you must, my friend.”
Chapter 15.
It was not long after the alarm was raised that Aybas knew their retreat was cut off. At least the princess would not have to struggle with the cliff while carrying the babe on her back.
When he learned of the other way out of the valley, Aybas nearly lost hope altogether. Now they faced an easy climb, but to reach it, they had to pa.s.s close to the worst of all possible foes. The beast of the Star Brothers would surely be awake and hungry before they could be out of its reach.
”Perhaps,” Marr said. ”But think on this. If we are beyond the beast before it wakes fully, it will be a good rear guard to us. Not even the Star Brothers can altogether master the beast when it is fully awake, hungry, or enraged.”
”How do we keep it from awakening before we are safely past?” the princess asked.'
”I have knowledge that may help us,” the piper said, touching the pipes at his waist.
The look on Chienna's face reminded Aybas of the Cimmerian's countenance when magic was mentioned. It was dawning on her just how wholly at the mercy of sorcery they were on this night. Aybas did not doubt that his own face mirrored the princess's.
For two moons he had dreamed of finding a place beyond the reach of the Star Brothers and their evil magic. Now he might be on his way to such a place. But the road to it would lead through still more magic-magic that might in the end be as unclean as the Star Brothers'. So be it.
The alternative was to remain in the valley until the Pougoi killed him. Aybas believed that he had some punishment yet to come for serving Count Syzambry, but he would rather it did not come tonight.
”Very well,” he told Marr. ”You take the lead. Raihna, guard Marr.
Wylla, guide us as needed. Princess, see to your babe before all else.
I will guard the rear.”
How easy it was to once again give orders instead of take them. Aybas knew that if he lived through the night, he would be fit for at least a captaincy in the hosts of the Border Kingdom.
The dam loomed against the stars, ten times Conan's height. He studied the dam's face, finding no stairs but sufficient hand and footholds for swift climbing.
”By Erlik's beard, how did the Pougoi find the hands to build this?”
”The Star Brothers found their beast,” Thyrin said. ”It gave them knowledge. They used that knowledge to raise the stones of the dam, and more knowledge to bind the stones together.”
The near presence of so much magic made the night seem even colder.