Part 5 (1/2)
”I doubt not that Mishrak had a finger in one or two of my journeys before I dusted Turanian soil fro to serve hiain as we once did”
A shadow passed over Raihna's face, and she gripped Conan's hand Then she sain and dismounted ”I e, and I will join you in good time”
Conan watched Raihna stride tohere herthem She was as fair as ever to a man's eye, but it seemed that far more years than before sat upon her shoulders
No, it was not the years It was the weight of being a captain, a weight the Cimmerian had come to know rather better than he wished
If Raihna was southward bound after finishi+ng her work here in this Godless wilderness, perhaps he should join her A captain's burden could be lighter if borne on two sets of shoulders
Aybas had slept ht before had been as hideous as ever a night of sacrifice could be It see htier than themselves, or of their sworn foe, or of both In their fear, they were sending the warriors farther and farther abroad to snatch victiht there had been no less than five victiirl-child years froht to give the chained wretches a chance at a clean death No piper to unsettle the Star Brothers-and Aybas realized more and more that it pleased hi their eyes with fear of the unknown!
The Gods only knew that he hih of that since he took the service that had led hie that heit He also knew that if he fled without finishi+ng the work, he was unlikely to leave the Border Kingdom alive He had come too far to leave his bones in the wilderness out of fear or whih to awaken a dead man, so Aybas listened to the voices with his senses alert He had his sword drawn before he undid the latch to admit a Star Brother Before he sla outside wore long faces
”What has the piper done now? Frightened your pet into a fit?”
The Star Brother glared and estures of aversion Aybas decided to guard his tongue True, Count Syzaoi warriors, but he needed the wizards to keep the warriors willing to do his bidding For that the wizards needed their pet-and their pet needed its horrid food
”Lowlander, we rejoice in the gold your master sends But as for you, we can ill-speak you ine”
Aybas was not sure whether the wizard meant that he would carry tales to the count or cast a spell The Aquilonian decided not to hazard either
”Forgive me I slept ill and have-” not a fever, he would not say that for fear the wizards would try to heal him ”-a flux” Yes, a flux Even here in this wizard-haunted wilderness, they healed fluxes with herbs and omen's simples, not with spells passed down from places and times far better lost to the memory of man!
”Have you summoned the oman?” the wizard asked
”No, but I will do so at once when you have spoken The ills of reat news”
The flattery ended the rites of aversion without gaining a smile The Star Brother inclined his head in what he no doubt thought was a gracious gesture
”The news is not yet great, but soon will be The first band is ready and will do its work tonight, at the hunting lodge”
”Is it known if both Princess Chienna and her son are in residence?”
”Of the princess, we can be certain Of the babe, my Brother see Eloikas's grandson Prince Urras was absent fro from this land, however, seemed more likely to draw the wrath of the Gods than their favor
So he merely hoped that the babe would be absent and that only his ht That would be enough to either bring the old king to heel and win Chienna's hand for Count Syzaainst the count In either case, Aybas would be done izards, if not with the Border Kingdom!
But that happy time was yet to come Now Aybas could not ask even one Star Brother to leave his hut Indeed, the man seemed to have more news, if one could read as much of his countenance as showed above his beard
”Has aught gone ill elsewhere?”
”A band of the Free Friends-” the naht to while away the ti a royal caravan