Part 43 (2/2)

”As indeed I should. You have brought me your own skills, which are considerable. You have also brought me news which is still better. The Jewels of Kurag are about to be reunited.”

Eremius turned his back, in a manner that told Yakoub the matter was settled. Not wis.h.i.+ng to provoke the sorcerer into using magic to frighten him, Yakoub departed.

He had wondered then and he wondered now what afflicted Eremius. Was it as simple as not wis.h.i.+ng to give his human fighters a weapon that could strike down the Transformed from a distance? If so, what did that say about Eremius's trust in the humans, even when he had made them nearly witlings to keep them from rebelling?

Or had Eremius given over thinking like a captain of human soldiers, and become entirely a sorcerer who might soon have the Jewels of Kurag in his power? If half of the tales about the Jewels Eremius told were true, it was no surprise that Eremius had fallen into this trap.

A trap it was, however, and one that Yakoub son of Khadjar must dig him out of!

Yakoub looked back at the running men. Most were pacing themselves as he had taught, rather than exhausting themselves in a swift frenzy. He increased his own pace, to put himself well out in front.

When he had done this, he suddenly whirled, staff raised. Without waiting for him to single out a man, the nearest five all raised their staves to meet him. He darted in, striking shoulders, thighs, and s.h.i.+ns in rapid succession.

Doggedly, the men fought back. Yakoub took a thrust to his knee and another close to his groin.

I would do well to wear some padding the next time. These men are indeed learning.

Then a staff cracked him across the shoulders. He whirled and leaped.

The other runners had come up behind him.

For a moment fear and rage twisted his face. Those fools could have killed him by accident!

Then he realized that the men who had come up behind were smiling.

”We did as we would have done with a real enemy,” one of them said. ”We came up behind him while others fought him in front. Is that not what is to be done?”

”Indeed it is.” Not just padding, but a helmet as well. He clapped the man who had spoken on the shoulder. ”You have done well. Now let us finish our run.”

Yakoub waited for all the men to pa.s.s before he began to run again. For today at least, he would be happier without any of them behind him!

For the days to come, though, he saw much pleasure. He had often heard his father speak of how the G.o.ds gave men no greater joy than teaching the arts of the soldier. He had not understood how true this was, until today.

”Conan, will Dessa come to any harm-as she is now?” Ma.s.souf still could not bring himself to say ”as a tavern girl.”

Conan shrugged. The truth would depend on what she was made of. He did not suppose Ma.s.souf would enjoy hearing it. The young man had not given up Dessa so completely that he refused to worry about her.

Even for a man not careless of his life, being worried about someone else was a good way to get killed. As he was, Ma.s.souf was less than ever someone Conan cared to have at his side in a fight.

”If she lived as well as she did at Achmai's Hold, I doubt that anywhere in Turan will hold many terrors for her.” A thought came to him. ”I have a friend in Aghrapur by the name of Pyla. She is also a friend to Captain Khezal. If we both urge her to help Dessa find her feet in her new life, I am sure that help will come.”

It might need a trifle of silver, because Pyla did little even for friends without asking payment. Besides, launching Dessa properly would not be cheap.

Worth it, though. If Dessa began her career known as a friend of Pyla, she would have few enemies. The rest could be left, as he had said several times, to the girl's natural talents.

Remembering those talents made Conan's blood race. He muttered a polite farewell to Ma.s.souf and returned to the pool. The stone where he had been sitting was wet and dark. There was no sign of either woman.

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