Part 21 (1/2)
Lack of riding skill was another matter. Dessa rode like a sack of grain and Ma.s.souf hardly better. If it came to swift flight, Conan and Raihna would be taking their saddle-shy charges up on their own mounts.
So far they had seen no sign of pursuit, and Conan aimed to put off that moment as long as possible. They kept away from the main roads and indeed from the greater part of the mountain byways. Sheep tracks or bare hillside saw them pa.s.s, and of men only an occasional herdsman and once a hermit.
”They are a close-mouthed breed, these mountain folk,” Conan said. ”Oh, gold or torture can open their mouths like any man's. But it takes a while. Besides, torturing free Turanians is a fine way for Achmai to lose whatever good will he has in Aghrapur.”
”Their flocks can see anything the herdsmen see,” Illyana said.
”All the sheep and goats I've known were even more close-mouthed than the herdsmen,” Conan replied, with a grin. It was a fine fair morning and although tired he was in high good humor. A battle fairly fought and splendidly won always left him so.
”There are ways to make even the dumb speak,” Illyana said soberly.
”How?” Conan laughed. ”I can just imagine Achmai shouting at a ram-'Who pa.s.sed this way yesterday? Answer, or I'll roast you for our dinner!' I can't imagine him getting an answer.”
”Not that way, no.”
Conan's grin twisted. ”Are there spells for making animals speak?”
”For learning what they have seen, yes.”
”Does Achmai command them?” The upland morning suddenly seemed as cold as a Cimmerian autumn.
”Neither he nor anyone who serves him commands any magic. But if he wished vengeance enough and knew of Eremius-the Master of the other Jewel knows all the spells. He might even have learned to cast them over such a distance. It has been ten years since we met. I no longer can be sure I know everything he does.”
She forced a smile. ”At least there is one consolation. He can no longer be sure that he knows everything I know. And I have not spent those ten years in idleness or debauchery.”
The smile widened. ”Why, Conan, I truly begin to think you are curious about magic. Are you becoming willing to live with it?”
”Maybe, when I can't live without it,” Conan growled. ”Of course, I can live with the kind of magic you danced up, any day or night. I wonder if your whole scheme came from wanting to show yourself like that-”
The smile vanished and the fair skin flushed. Illyana dropped back to ride beside Dessa and Ma.s.souf. Conan spurred forward, to ride level with Raihna, muttering rude remarks about women who could be neither chaste nor unchaste.
”That was an ill-spoken jest,” Raihna said, when the Cimmerian fell silent.
”Am I to learn why, or must I guess?”
”You will learn if Illyana chooses to tell you. Not otherwise. It is not my secret to tell.”
”Not telling me all I need to know is sending me into this fight blind.”
”Ah, Conan. Surely not that. One-eyed at worst.”
”That's bad enough, against an opponent with two eyes. Or didn't Master Barathres teach you that? If he didn't, you should go back to Bossonia and get your fees back from him, at the point of a-”
Raihna's hand leaped at his cheek so swiftly he had no time to seize it. Instead he blocked the blow, then gripped Raihna's arm just above the elbow.
”Another ill-timed jest?”
”Let me go, curse you!”
”I've been cursed by a good many men and women, and I'm healthier than most of them.”