Part 28 (2/2)
”You must sleep. We need you with your wits about you.” One hand too strong to resist gripped Bora's head, the other held the cup to his lips. Sweet wine and pungent herbs overpowered his senses, then his will. He drank.
Sleep took him long before the cup was empty.
Conan reached the meeting place as dawn gave way to day. Raihna was asleep, Dessa and Ma.s.souf had found the strength for another quarrel, and only Illyana greeted him.
She seemed to have regained all her strength and lost ten years of age.
Her step as she came downhill was as light as that of her dancer's image, and her smile as friendly.
”Well done, Conan, if you will accept my praise. That was such good work that even a sorceress can recognize it.”
In spite of himself, Conan smiled. ”I thank you, Illyana. Have you any new knowledge of our friend Eremius?”
”Only that he once more commands his Jewel, as I
do mine. That is not altogether bad. Some part of-of what I sensed last night-told me his Jewel had been in danger.”
”Wouldn't smas.h.i.+ng Eremius's Jewel be winning the battle?”
”At too great a price. The Jewels are among the supreme creations of all magic. To grind them to powder as if they were pebbles, to lose all that might be learned by using them wisely together-I would feel unclean if I had a hand in it.”
Conan would not trust his tongue. He already felt unclean, from too long in the company of too much magic. Now he felt a sharp pang of suspicion. Perhaps the Jewels could teach much, to one fit to learn.
Likely enough, though, it would be what their creators or discoverers wanted learned.
Something of Conan's thoughts must have shown on his face. Illyana feigned doubt.
”Also, it is said that destroying one Jewel without destroying the other makes the survivor far more dangerous. No one can command it.”
”A fine mess of 'it is saids' the Jewels carry with them! Didn't you learn a little truth while you studied with Eremius?”
Illyana's face turned pale and she seemed about to choke. Conari remembered Raihna's advice and started to apologize.
”No,” Illyana said. ”You have the right to ask, a right I grant to few.
I also have the duty to answer. I learned as much as I could, but Eremius gave me little help. What he wished me to learn was-other matters.”
She shook herself like a wet dog, and the nightmares seemed to pa.s.s.
”Where do we go now, Conan?”
”Fort Zheman, and swiftly.”
”A garrison may show us scant hospitality, unless we use Mishrak's name.”
”Time we did that anyway. We're close to country where we need mountain horses. Besides, we owe it to Dessa to leave her among enough men to keep her happy!”
At Illyana's laugh, Raihna stretched catlike and began to waken.
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