Part 42 (1/2)

Count Syzambry was short of stature, not of sight. He was also a warrior of great experience and proven courage.

So he rode forward when a messenger from his scouts came to tell of the missing man. He sent the messenger ahead again, with orders for the scouts to hold where they were. Then he rode swiftly with a small escort to join them.

After joining the scouts, Syzambry dismounted. He needed help to do so, which his men gave willingly, but he no longer had to stifle gasps of pain. After he had examined the ground closely, he needed no help in climbing back on his mount.

Some of the aches and pains had to be stiffness from being too long in the saddle. He had not ridden for so long that he had almost forgotten something he learned as a boy!

He laughed, which seemed to hearten his men. Those who served him out of loyalty rather than greed or fear had felt for their lord's pain and weakness. They were glad to see him leading as he had done before.

It gave them more hope of victory and less fear of the Pougoi wizards.

They had no fears of the royal host. What could a ragged band of fugitives half their strength, fighting on behalf of a woman, really hope to do?

The count's laughter ended quickly as another messenger cantered up.

This one was of the Pougoi, and the Star Brothers spoke through his mouth. They also heard through his ears but did not, to the best of Syzambry's knowledge, see through his eyes.

”Hail, Brothers. I wish I had better news,” the count said.

”What is it?” The Star Brothers had learned enough of war in recent days to know the value of time.

Syzambry explained what the disappearance of the scout might mean. ”Of course, he may simply have fled in fear,” the count ended. ”If so, I give you leave to hunt him down as you wish.”

That was an invitation for the Star Brothers to use their magic to bring the scout to heel. The count had offered such invitations several times since his host marched. Each time, the Star Brothers had refused.

They either had less magic than they claimed, or they feared the spells of Marr the Piper more than they admitted.

It hardly mattered. If the Star Brothers could remove Marr from the balance of the coming battle, the count was sure of victory. Then, before the wizards could become suspicious, it would be time to settle with them.

”We do not wish to spend our strength against a single common man,” the messenger replied. ”His death would prove nothing, except our presence with this host.”

At last, something like a reason for the silence of the Star Brothers!

Syzambry doubted that the royal captains were ignorant of the Star Brother's presence. If they had been, the scout would tell them soon enough, and it would need no magic to loose his tongue. Hot irons would serve as well.

Still, if the Star Brothers wished their presence concealed to the last, it did Syzambry no harm to humor them. The more they thought he did their bidding, the less they would be on their guard after the battle.

”Very well,” Syzambry said. ”I judge that we should slow our advance, however. The scouts must walk two, even four, in company, with archers close at hand. Also, I think I shall send more scouts out to either flank. A royal captain has thought to s.n.a.t.c.h a man of our vanguard. His next scheme may be to ambush it. If we can find the rear of those ambushers before they find our flank-”

”Such matters of war we leave to you,” the messenger said.

That was exactly where they belonged, the count considered. If the Star Brothers ever tried to take the command of his host from him, he might have to fight a battle to his rear as well as to his front.

Conan had seen councils of war meet in better heart. Most of those, however, were composed of fools who did not know the chances of the forthcoming battle. A few had met before battles where the odds were so much in their favor that only a fool could waste strength in worrying.

None of the men and women here in the royal tent were fools. All of them knew that tomorrow's battle was one against long odds, and that it could go either way.

They also knew that, win or lose, it would bring a decision in the war in the Border Kingdom. The land would not be harried for years by the contending hosts, until no babe could be born or crop harvested in safety.

”Rather than bring that fate to the land, I would flee to the Black Coast,” Chlenna said. ”I would even drive my dagger into my own breast and dash Prince Urras's brains out on the nearest rock.”

Decius flinched at hearing such words from Chienna, and he shot an anguished look at the woman he might have loved. Would have loved, save for the whim of the G.o.ds that made her his half-sister.