Part 21 (2/2)

Conan struggled toward his uards, by means of whom he still hoped to clear the square Then, over the heads of the uards with his back to the platforht at the queen, wholorious body as if through butter As she slumped in her seat, a dozen more spears found their uardsmen joined the rest of the tribes caste

Mo another horse, appeared at his dwelling He tied the ani of coins out of its hiding place

”Let's go!” he barked at Diana ”Grab a loaf of bread! Where in the cold hells of Niflheim is my shi+eld? Ah, here!”

”But don't you want to take those nice things-”

”No tiirdle while you ride behind me Up with you, now!”

With its double burden, the horse galloped heavily through the Inner City, through a rabble of looters and rioters, pursuers and pursued

One man, who leaped for the ani of bones; others scrareat bronze gates they rode, while behind them the houses of the nobility blazed up into yellow pyra flashed, thunder roared, and rain ca down like a waterfall

An hour later, the rain had slackened to a drizzle The horse h the darkness

”We're still on the Stygian road,” gruaze ”When the rain stops, we'll stop, too, to dry off and get a little sleep”

”Where are we going?” said the high, gentle voice of Diana

”I don't know; but I' with these people; they are as hidebound and as thick-headed as the barbarians of my own north country-the Cimmerians and AEsir and Vanir I am minded to have another try at civilization”

”And what about me?”

”What do you want? I'll send you home or keep you with me, whichever you like”

”I think,” she said in a s, I like things as they are”

Conan grinned silently in the darkness and urged the horse to a trot