Part 7 (2/2)
”Oh? And what magic do I have to perform this miracle?”
”It's neither magic nor miracle. It's making ready to kill your enemies faster than their courage can endure. Most men can be brave if they have some hope of life or victory. Losing all hope of either would turn most into cowards.”
”Save yourself, no doubt, Cimmerian?”
”I have not tested the defenses of your house, Mishrak. Nor do I have any cause to do so. I am not yet your enemy, and I doubt you plan to make me so. Killing me here might do injury to your rugs and ladies.”
”So it would. Yet I would suggest that you learn why I have summoned you, before you call me friend.”
”It will be a rare pleasure to be told something, for once,” Conan said.
”I predict the pleasure will be brief,” Mishrak said, in a tone that told of a grim smile under the mask. ”Yet your life might be even more so, if you do not accept what I offer you.”
”No man lives as long as he wants to,” Conan said. ”That's the way of the world, just as no man can have every woman he desires,” he added, grinning at Raihna. She flushed again. ”What is going to shorten my days this time?”
”Lord Houma. Ah, I see I have finally driven a dart deep enough in that thick Cimmerian skull to gain your attention.”
Conan wasted no breath denying it. ”I understand he's rather fonder of his son than the young witling deserves. You should understand that Raihna and I met his first band of hired swords on our way here. Only one of them left alive, and he only because he fled.” Conan would have sworn Raihna threw him a grateful look for not mentioning her mistake.
”As you say, they were the first band sent against you. They will not be the last. Your eye is keen, but can it stay open forever? Who will guard your back when you sleep?”
Almost imperceptibly, Raihna shook her head. Conan shrugged. ”I could take leave for a time. Or are you going to tell me that Lord Houma is one of those men with short tempers and long memories? Such have sought my life before, with what success you can see.”
”You could not be away from Aghrapur long enough to foil Lord Houma without breaking your oath of service. Are you ready to give up your captaincy?”
”Out of fear of Houma? Lord Mishrak, you can make your offer or not, as you choose. Do not insult me in the bargain.”
”I would insult you more by implying that you are too stupid to be afraid. Houma has not the strength he once had, but he is still more than a match for you.”
Conan did not doubt the first part of that statement. Houma had owed some of his former strength to his friends.h.i.+p with the Cult of Doom.
Conan himself had cast the Cult down to utter and final destruction the best part of two years ago.
As for the rest-
”Granting that Houma might be my match, how would you change that?”
”If you will leave Aghrapur on-a task-for me, I will find ways to change Lord Houma's mind. The task. should not take you more than a month. By then you can return to Aghrapur and sleep in peace.”
”And this task?”
”In a moment. While you are traveling, I will also protect those you leave behind, who might also feel Houma's vengeance. I do not imagine that you care much what happens to Sergeant Motilal, but-would you see Pyla's face turned into something like my legs?”
Conan cursed himself for a witling. Houma was clearly the kind of coward who would hurt a foe however he could, whether honorably or not.
He should not have forgotten the women.
”I would not like that at all,” Conan said, then grinned at the look in Raihna's eyes. So let the swordwench be jealous! He owed Pyla and her friends more than he owed Raihna of Bossonia! ”If you can protect them, it would indeed make your offer worth hearing.”
”Although,” Conan added more calmly than he felt, ”I imagine you have plans for Lord Houma whether I'm part of mem or not. You might be keeping him too busy to worry about taverns and their girls anyway. He has more in hand than letting his son misbehave, doesn't he?”
<script>