Part 10 (2/2)
Conan knew that he could rise again in the south if he entered the southern realar He would rise faster if he entered with a clinking purse
Chapter 5
The coe did not awaken Aybas He had been unable to sleep since he had seen the Star Brothers preparing for a sacrifice to their beast
He lacked the courage to ask if they intended to sacrifice the princess herself He told hie, it would make no difference in the end He had made clear Count Syzanored both hi to do but bear word to the count
Bear word to the count, and then swiftly take himself out of Syzambry's reach The little lord would not thank the bearer of bad news any s, dru of the warriors The codooi used was beyond Aybas's powers to describe
Would he ever hear an Argossean flute-girl or a Ne pipes and thudding druht autumn day? He doubted it
He also doubted that he would acco sorry for himself, save to fuddle his wits at a ti a deep breath, Aybas pulled his cloak about hie street
Heads were thrusting out of doors all the way down to the valley A few folk even stood in their doorways, staring into the darkness Aybas saw soestures of aversion as he passed He wondered if the gestures were against hiainst whatever ill luckin the affairs of kings and counts
Aybas had long since realized that these hill folk were old could silence their tongues or blind their eyes If the count gained what he sought, he would have a reckoning with the Pougoi as well as with the other hill tribes they had preyed on for a generation to feed their wizards' pet
A stand of spiceberry hid Aybas, as it had hidden Wylla and her father two nights before From within it, he stared out across the rocky fields of barley as distant fireflies grew into crient reek of the herbs the Pougoi used in steeping their reed torches made Aybas sneeze
This drew no attention The warriors of the Pougoi marched up to the wizards, and the leader raised his spear crosswise in both hands
”Hail, Brothers of the Stars We bring e have sought Bless us now”
It did not sound like a suppliant co before a priest It soundedhe would take if it were not given freely
Aybas would not pray that the Star Brothers take offense and quarrel with the warriors Such a braould end Count Syza the life of the princess, if indeed it was she within the covered litter Aybas's reould die with her, and so ht also unleash the beast The creatureall in its path, with neither ic able to bind or slay it
One by one, the Star Brothers nodded As the last bearded head bobbed on the last thin neck, the principal Brother raised his hands A globe of fire, ver between theures of blood and shadow
The Brother with the globe raised his hands higher The other Brothers began a chant that Aybas had never heard, and he liked it even less than the rest of the wizards' her than the top of the dareatest temple in Aquilonia It screa throat, a screalobe was nodown on the warriors
Gold and verled in the fire, and the warriors raised their faces and weapons to it
The fire descended upon the warriors It turned their eyes and oi warriors were now soon blood, or both
Their weapons did not turn to fire They rose frolowing softly Aybas watched, breathless, as they ascended, rising allobe of fire had done