Part 20 (1/2)
”My King,” Vegentius said deferentially, ”this thing is no better than trickery, an entertainment, but of no use in war” As he spoke his eyes drifted to Conan The Ciht, but could not believe, it was a look of hatred and fear
”No, good Vegentius,” Garian said, shaking his head ”Your advice is often sound on entius opened his nored him ”Hear ive each old old marks, and another each day you serve me”
”It is meet,” Conan said levelly No merchant would have paid more than half so well
Garian nodded ”It is done, then But you lass each day, for I see by the wear of your hilt that you have soentius, see that Conan has quarters within the Palace, and let them be spacious”
In the way of kings, having issued his commands Garian strode aithout further words, soldiers bowing as he left, courtiers and counselors trailing in his wake The blonde went, too, but as she went her eyes played on Conan's face with furnace heat
Fro away ”Co say entius al said you were to receive quarters, barbar He said naught of that ragtag you call a coutter” And he, too, stalked away
So to Garian, asking that Vegentius be made to quarter his men There were inns aplenty at the foot of the hill, but in even the cheapest of them, he would have to supplement the men's pay from his own purse That would strain even his newfound resources Yet it was not the worst of his worries Why did Vegentius hate him? He must discover the answer before he was forced to kill thehi her favors, if possible But then, when had one born on a battlefield sought a life free of troubles?
Laughing, he rode to the gate to tell the others of their fortune
Chapter XIII
The high doray stone ell lit by cressets brass-hung about the bare walls, in which there was noand but a single door, and that well guarded on the outside Albanus would allow no slightest risk to that which the roo on it, he felt the power that would come to him from it Centered in the rooher than a step froular block of peculiarly beige day It was that clay that would give Albanus the Dragon Throne
”Lord Albanus, I deht here and imprisoned”
Albanus schooled his face to a s, bushy, browed man who confronted hiuards, good Stephano I but told thereat sculptor Stephano, and they overstepped theed, I assure you”
Stephano waved that last away as uniuards to be spared their pro
”You have heard of
”Of course,” Albanus replied, hard put not to laugh This e script ”'Tis why I want you to sculpt this statue for me As you can see, your iestured a low table that held every sort of sculptor's tool
”'Tis all wrong,” Stephano said, with overbearing condescension ”Clay is used for sures Statues are of stone or bronze”
Albanus' lips retained their sht all the way from Khitai” He could think of no more distant land to serve as a source ”When fired, it has the hardness of bronze, yet is lighter than the damp clay On the table are sketches of he who doubtfully at the block of clay, Stephano took up the parchasped, ”Why, this is Garian!”
”Our gracious king,” Albanus agreed unctuously, though he near choked on the words ”'Tis to be a present for him A surprise”
”But how is the work to be clothed?” the sculptor asked, ruffling through the drawings ”In all of these is he naked”
”And so is the sculpture to be” Albanus forestalled the surprise on Stephano's face by adding, ”Such is the custom of Khitai with statues of this clay They are clothed in actual gared froure is clothed always in the latest fashi+on” He was pleased with hiht not be a to have a statue done so of hihed suddenly, a harsh sound like the scraping of slates
”And ould be done with a naked statue of Garian, were Garian no longer on the throne?”
”An unlikely event,” Albanus said blandly