Part 3 (1/2)
Boros set his tankard doith obvious reluctance ”The word is just now spreading Last night it was Slit his wrists in his bath Or so they say”
Conan grunted ”Who will believe that, and him with the best blood claim to succeed Valdric?”
”Folk believe what they want to believe, Cimmerian Or what they're afraid not to believe”
It had had to cos in plenty, wives, sons, daughters Sometimes demands were made, that an alliance be broken or a secret betrayed; sometimes there was only silence, and fear to paralyze a noble in his castle Now began the assassinations He was glad that a third of his Free-Co a patron in that fashi+on would be ill for a company's reputation
”'Tis all of a piece,” Boros went on unsteadily ”Sohts atop that accursed ht And this tiain We need Moranthes the Great reborn It would take hi order now”
”What are you chattering at? No matter Who's next in line after Tiberio? Valentius, isn't it?”
”Valentius,” Boris chuckled derisively ”He'll never be allowed to take the throne He's too young”
”He's a rily He knew little of Valentius and cared less, but the count was a full six years older than he
Boros smiled ”There's a difference between you two, Cimmerian You've put two hard lifetimes' experience into your years Valentius has led a courtier's life, all perfu,” Conan barked How had the other hts? A fast rise had not lessened his touchiness about his coht hi for the position he held But he had better to do with his tie There was that auburn-haired wench, for instance ”The rest of the wine is yours,” he said snatching up the sack with the bronze in it, he stalked away fro into his wine
The girl had not ed her stance in all the ti her Her heart-shaped face did not change expression as he approached, but her downcast eyes, blue as a northland sky at daidened like those of a frightened deer, and she quivered as if prepared for flight
”Share so to a table nearby The girl stared at hi even wider, if such were possible, and shook her head
He blinked in surprise That innocent face ht belie it, but if she wanted directness”If you don't ine, how does two silvers take you?”
The girl's mouth dropped open ”I don'tthat is, II , her voice was a soprano like silver bells
”Three silvers, then A fourth if you prove worth it” She still stared Why was he wasting time with her, he wondered, when there were other wenches about? She reirl's hair was not so red, nor her cheekbones so high, but she recalled to hied to disrupt his life-every time their paths had crossed Karela was a wo up old ruffly, ”if you don't want my silver, say so, and I'll take asped It was an obvious effort for her to get the word out
”Innkeeper,” Conan bellowed, ”a rooe on her cheeks
The spidery tapster appeared on the instant, a long hand extended for coin ”Four coppers,” he growled, and waited until Conan had dropped theht”
Conan caught the furiously blushi+ng girl by the ar wooden stairs after him
The room hat he had expected, a small box with dust on the floor and cobwebs in the corners A sagging bed with a husk-filled ed stool, and a rickety table were all the furnishi+ngs But then, What he was there for went as well in a barn as in a palace, and often better
Dropping the sack on the floor with a thuirl's shoulders As he drew her to him he peeled her silken robes from her shoulders to her waist Her breasts were full, but upstanding, and pink-nippled She yelped once before his mouth descended on hers, then went stiff in his ar a statue