Part 36 (1/2)

A horseman rode up. ”Captain Khezal, we have met the people of Six Trees. Their armed fighters wish to join us.” He looked at the ground and seemed reluctant to speak further.

”Captain Shamil resists this, of course?” Khezal said.

”Yes, Captain.”

”Well, it seems we have duties too, Captain Conan. Shall we go down and do them?”

Conan followed Khezal. Yakoub was a mystery but not a menace. He could wait. Captain Shamir and his follies were no mystery but a dire menace.

They could not.

Yakoub would gladly have run like a fox, to escape the eyes of that Cimmerian wolf. By the utmost effort of will, he held his feet to a brisk walk until he was out of Conan's sight.

Then he ran most of the way back to the improvised camp of the villagers and dog-trotted the rest. On pa.s.sing the sentries, he went straight to Bora's fam-ily.

”I greet you, Mother Merisa.”

”Where is Bora?”

”He will march with the soldiers. All those not fit to fight are returning to Fort-”

”Aiyeee! Is it not enough that the G.o.ds have taken my Arima and may take my husband? Will they tempt Bora to his doom also? What will become of us without him?”

Merisa clutched the two youngest children to her as she wailed. She did not weep, however, and in a minute or so was silent, if pale. Yakoub was about to ask where Caraya was, when he saw her returning from the spring with a dripping waterskin.

”Yakoub!” Burdened as she was, she seemed to fly over the ground.

Merisa had to s.n.a.t.c.h the waterskin to safety as Caraya flew into Yakoub's arms.

When they could speak again, they found Merisa regarding them with a mixture of fondness and indignation. Yakoub's heart leaped. Now, if Rhafi would be as kindly disposed toward his suit, when he was free-

”Yakoub, where is Bora?”

”Your brother is so determined to prove himself to the soldiers who took away his father that he will march with them tonight,” Merisa said.

Yakoub nodded. ”We tossed pebbles, to see who would go and who would not. Bora won the toss.” He prayed this lie would not be found out. If the G.o.ds ever allowed him to wed Caraya, he would never again tell her a lie.

”A good thing, then, that I went for the water,” Caraya said practically. ”If the younglings can go to the jakes, we'll be ready to march.”

Yakoub kissed Caraya again and blessed the G.o.ds. They had sent good blood to both Rhafi and Merisa, and they had bred it into their children. Saving such a man was a gift to the land. Marrying his daughter was a gift to himself.

Eremius raised both staff and Jewel-ring to halt the mounted scout. The man reined in so violently that his mount went back on its haunches.

Forefeet pawing the air, the horse screamed shrilly. The messenger sawed desperately at the reins, his face showing the same panic as his mount.

The sorcerer spat. ”Is that how you manage a horse? If that is your best, then your mount is only fit to feed the Transformed and you hardly better.”

The scout went pale and clutched at the horse's neck, burying his face in its ill-kept mane. The release of the reins seemed to calm the frantic beast. It gave one final whinny, then stood docilely, blowing heavily, head down and foam dripping from its muzzle.

Eremius held the staff under the scout's nose. ”I would be grateful if you would tell me what you saw. I do not remember sending you and your comrades out merely to exercise your horses.”

”I-ah, Master. The soldiers come on. Soldiers and the fighters of the village.”