Part 12 (1/2)
”I did not co to one You must vow yourself to a new man, but you may choose hihter Eanko, too, knows the warriors of the Ichiribu and seeht hi war”
”So who are you fighting?”
”Soer than I am-”
”They've matched you with an ape?”
”The ape would be the loser,” Conan said That again hinted of past battles against uncommon foes, but Valeria took no heart from it What she wanted was assurance that she would not be at the mercy of the Ichiribu if Conan lost-and that assurance, she realized, was not to be forthco
She took more comfort from an undoubted truth- that Aondo was not likely to best the Ci she could do or leave undone to keep the fight fair?
Precious little, she realized, and some of the comfort washed aith the rain on her skin Silently she cursed her folly in fleeing south when she had left the fort The next time she had to flee fro and try not to end in a land where she knew neither law, tongue, nor custoe of all of the the circle of eight who had sought to conjure the Living Wind into the globe Yet now the First Speaker showed signs of vast weariness in the way he sluilded stool His eyes were cast on the lion's skin on the floor, but they seemed as vacant as if he had at last become truly blind
-Or had seen what even those ere called God-Men were not meant to see As custom demanded of a Silent Brother, Ryku was prostrate before the First Speaker He lay thus until the chill of the stone floor began to creep through his limbs toward his heart It had to be only his fancy, but the stone see Wind had leeched the warmth of the earth from all about it
It was as well that his face was to the floor when that thought passed through his mind
”Arise, Ryku”
Ryku could not scrah The chill stone had stiffened his limbs, but he contrived to rise without loss of either balance or dignity
”I have su Wind have need of you”
”This is an honor I have not dared hope-”
The First Speaker held up a hand Ryku saw that the hand was thinner and paler than it had been the last tihtly
”Spare me your modesty You are not unknown to Chabano, Paramount Chief of the Kwanyi” It was not a question
Ryku judged that this ed that he should hold his tongue
”Have you pro in the name of the Speakers?” This time it was a question that demanded an answer
”I have not” Which was entirely true, Ryku not being a fool
”Will he believe you if you proned ”What am I to pro, First Speaker”
”Indeed, I do not need to be told what I already know You may promise him, in ranted”
”Whatwith me”
”I speak thus only to remind you of Chabano's ways, Master He is as bold as a leopard slipping into a cattle pen to pluck the newborn calf frory, also, and as fierce when balked of what he seeks”
”If I thought that Chabano commanded spirits, I would say he has made himself your master A praise-speaker could not have done better”
Ryku was silent If the oldin riddles- ”But if Chabano commanded spirits, he would have done for himself much of what he has asked of us in years past So I do not doubt that you speak the truth as you believe it to be”
”No man can speak otherwise, Master”
The look the First Speaker gave him reminded Ryku that Chabano was not the only man who could quell disobedience or strike terror into the disloyal without raising his voice He was teain
The First Speaker crossed his hands over a bronze o to Cha-bano, Silent Brother Ryku You may promise hi the Ichiribu”
”The conquerors of Xuchotl, perhaps?”
The First Speaker's look said that was so best not spoken aloud Ryku tried to look hu this,” the First Speaker went on ”Yet those who are ic would knoe used these ways They would know our powers, and that they ht be in peril froive no warning, and Chabano coht to look notIn truth, he could ad way of pretending that nothing had happened to the seeing globe was hard to ihtly, even in this moment of triumph
”Indeed, Chabano has often spoken of how no bird lays an egg without his knowing sooner or later,” Ryku said ”I think he boasts, but he surely knows the use of spies and has theo you and bid him use them for us,” the First Speaker said ”Go, and if you return with the knowledge we seek, you may be raised to the rank of Speaker”
A new Speaker was chosen from the Silent Brothers only when an old Speaker died, and as yet there had been no word put out of such a death Nor would there be, Ryku suspected, at least not until it beca honored
It would be necessary, he swore He would not fail, now that he had been offered as a free gift the opportunity for which he would have shed blood, and not only that of other iven leave to rise, then swiftly departed the First Speaker's cha!
Conan's spear sank deep into the stu contest Sank so deep, the Cied, that it struck a knot and rebounded The shaft quivered so fiercely that it jerked the iron head fro up dust
Conan turned to Aondo and raised a hand in salute The Ichiribu warrior had won the spear-casting contest, although by the slenderest of ins Had it not been for that last cursed knot- From behind Conan, Valeria strode to his side She noore an Ichiribu waistcloth and the wreath showing her to be his voos on her feet Much travel, then sunny days upon the island of the Ichiribu had darkened her northern fairness, but not otherwise marred her looks
”What now, Conan?”
”Today, nothing ht, the drum-dance”
A shadow passed across Valeria's face ”Conan, I am as deft with a canoe paddle as any of these folk More so than you, I think”
”Likely enough But it's not life or death if I lose anything save the dru-”
”Because you let him win, to muddle his ith false hopes”
”Wo over her in mock fury ”Do I have no secrets from you?”