Part 29 (2/2)

”That's within reason.”

The price they finally negotiated was not. Yakoub considered that if matters went on in this way, Lord Houma might face taking the throne as the only alternative to being imprisoned for debt!

To be sure, Shamil's price had to be considered in the light of what the men would face. Yakoub did not expect many of the men to survive the Cimmerian's sword. This did not matter, as long as the Cimmerian himself did not survive either.

With Conan dead and Raihna the plaything of the garrison, Illyana would be easy prey. To gain the Jewel of Kurag and deliver it to Eremius would be at least imaginable for one swift of blade, foot, and wit.

Even if Yakoub could not himself s.n.a.t.c.h the Jewel and earn Eremius's reward, victory would be far closer.

The shadow fingers gripped almost the whole courtyard when Yakoub left the garden. He turned toward his quarters under a darkening sky and a rising wind. By the time he pulled the shutters of his room, he could hear it whining above. On the keep, the banner of Turan stood stiff and black against the flaming hues of sunset.

”All's well,” came Raihna's voice from behind Conan.

The Cimmerian finished his turn more slowly than he had begun it.

”Don't slip up behind anyone else here, Raihna. They might finish their turn with sword in hand, ready to push through your guts.”

”The men wouldn't be such fools.”

”The veterans, no. The others, I don't know. Not the kind to listen to tales of demons on the march without seeing enemies everywhere. And even the veterans lost friends in those outposts that vanished.”

”I'll take care.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed Conan in a way that might have looked chaste from a distance. It set the Cimmerian's blood seething. With a will of their own, his arms went around her.

Self-command returned. ”Come, my lady's sister,” he said with a grin.

”We must not make anyone suspicious.”

”Indeed, no. The family's pride-it would not countenance a caravan guardsman's suit.”

”I shall not always be what I am, Raihna,” Conan said, still grinning.

”That's as certain as anything can be,” Raihna replied. She gently pushed him away, with hands not altogether steady in spite of the smile on her face.

Both knew that being welcomed at the fort without having to mention the name of Mishrak was either unexpected good fortune or a subtle trap.

Until they knew, they were all determined to play out their masquerade as long as possible. If they could play it out for their entire sojurn at Fort Zheman, it might even confuse those who had set any trap, until they sprang it too late.

With the garrison under strength, this wing of the barracks was nearly deserted. Conan and Raihna met no one on their way to her room. From the stairway floated the sound of crude revelry, as the soldiers'

drinking hall on the ground floor began its evening's work.

Conan threw the bolts on Illyana's room and likewise that of Dessa and Ma.s.souf. Then he s.h.i.+fted one of his knives from boot to belt.

”I'm going down for a cup of wine or two. It's what I'd be expected to do. I may also learn more about the demons.”

”Learn more about where to find mountain horses, if you can. I'd rather buy them somewhere else than the fort. It's easier to silence tongues with gold.”

”You have your wits about you, Raihna.'*'

”Alas, he praises only my wits. Yet I have heard not one word of complaint about-”

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