Part 40 (1/2)
Eremius might be easier to persuade than the normal run of sorcerers.
Then he kissed Caraya, forcing himself not to take her in his arms.
With eyes stinging from more than the dawn breeze, he rose and turned his face toward the mountains.
It took the rest of the night to put the camp in order, count the dead, care for the wounded, and scout the surrounding hills. Only when all the scouts brought back the same report, of a land empty of demons if not of their traces, did Khezal call his council of war.
”I'd say we won a victory, if we hadn't lost three to their one,” he said. ”Perhaps they carried off more dead and hurt, perhaps not. Also, I'd wager that was a retreat ordered by whoever gives those monsters orders, not being driven off.”
”You see clearly, Captain,” Illyana said. She was paler than Conan cared to see, and from time to time a spasm would shake her body. Her voice was steady as she continued. ”The orders were given, because of the fight we gave the Transformed. Had the full powers of our enemy been unleashed, we could not have done so well.”
”Then we have you to thank for a fair number of lives, if you set bounds on the master of the Transformed.”
Illyana shuddered. ”Forgive me, Captain, but I cannot accept that praise. I did what I could, and I know I had some effect. Yet I could not use all the strength of my Jewel. We owe our lives in great part to the fact that neither could Eremius.”
Khezal looked at the ground as if he expected monsters to erupt from it at any moment. Then he stared hard at Illyana. ”I feel I am being told other than the truth. That is not well done.”
”There are matters you and your soldiers could not understand without-”
Raihna began. Conan laid a hand heavily upon her shoulder and Khezal glared. Between them she fell silent.
”Captain, I do not know as much as I might in a day or two,” Illyana said. ”When I know it, or learn that I shall not know it, then will be the time for us to speak frankly. I shall hold nothing back. By the Seven Shrines and the bones of Pulaq I swear it.”
”A cursed lot of good your hesitation will do us if the Transformed attack again!”
”They will not, if we return to Fort Zheman.”
”Retreat with our tails between our legs! Who's the captain here, Lady Illyana? I don't remember seeing your commission from King Yildiz-”
”You may remember seeing one from a certain Lord Mishrak,” Conan growled. ”Or did some buffet on the head last night take your memory?”
The silence gave Conan time to reach for his sword, time to fear he might need to draw it. Then all Khezal's breath left him in a gusty sigh.
”Don't tell anyone, but I've been thinking of returning to the Fort also. There are too cursed many villagers to guard in the open field.
Behind walls, at least those monsters will have to climb to come at us!”
Eighteen --------.
THE TOWER OF Fort Zheman had thrust itself above the horizon, when Bora rode up on Windmaster.
Raihna patted the gray's neck. ”A fine steed. I am glad he is in fettle again. Also, that he still has a master worthy of him.”
All were silent for a moment. Kemal had survived the battle, but with wounds that took his life before dawn. He had some measure of good fortune; he was senseless and felt no pain.
”Thank you, Raihna,” Bora said. ”But I did not ride up here to seek praise for Windmaster. I seek Yakoub. He seems to have vanished.”
Conan and Raihna exchanged looks that did not include Illyana. This was no matter for her, they had both agreed. Moreover, she was in the saddle at all by sheer force of will. The less she was troubled without cause, the better. ”I thought you did not much care for him,” Conan said.
”I did not and I do not,” Bora replied. ”My sister Caraya thinks otherwise.”
”You're the head of the family, until your father is freed,” Conan said. ”I thought that gave you the right to say yea or nay to anyone's courting your sister.”