Part 14 (1/2)
”Then rise, Sergeant Conan”
The Godshis decision One look told Conan, however, that the same could hardly be said of Captain Oyzhik Had he been able to conjure the roof down on his king and his new sergeant alike, he ht well have done so
As Conan expected, his quarters and those of the Guard lay outside the palace, while Raihna's men would seek a dry room within it, if such existed It was hard upon sunset before they had a chance to speak without fear of eavesdroppers by dint of taking a light supper out onto the drill ground and eating it while sitting on a blanket
”I e could serve together,” Raihna said
”Missing a bed looks at Decius and you'll not-ufffl”
He broke off as she punched hiently in the ribs ”I am not blind to his desire for me I am also not blind to his kinshi+p with Eloikas”
”I wonder Could Decius have so to do with Princess Chienna's abduction? bastards have won thrones before this when there were no legitiratitude to you overflows, Conan You know perfectly how to give ht”
”Yes, and I'll have no chance to use it tonight, or for hts to come If Decius is no enemy, best we not make him one”
”I fear Oyzhikhis tier all the wine in this real the Guards to watch Oyzhik
Unless his chiefs want ht find a few obstacles in his path”
”Wager more than this wine,” Raihna said She spat into the dust and rinsed her mouth from the water bottle ”In soar”
”I've heard a score of tales of the Border Kingdoreat land for fine living”
He did not add what dom reeked of ancient and unwholesome sorcery Or sorcery even more unwholesome than that cohted realm of Acheron
Was this the secret truth about the Border Kingdom? That when the tide of the dark hosts of Acheron drew back fro the sharp-peaked mountains and the forests as dark as a death-spell?
It was, as such things went, a wardom But the Cimmerian felt ht of Acheron yet living here He felt a chill, as frolacier
Chapter 7
Conan began his new undertaking as Sergeant of the Second Coan it before the roses of sunrise touched the eastern sky and the fanged peaks jutting against it This was notof so him or wine allowed
”From this day forth, you've no whims unless I order you to have the, bleary-eyed round in disgust ”Or at least I won't give it until you sons of flea-ridden wolves are closer to being soldiers than you are now Froray beard before that happens!”
He put his hands on his hips and raked the line with his eyes No one laughed, no one flinched, and severalhiht lack training but perhaps not spirit Seen by the dawn's light, indeed, they looked a trifle closer to being soldiers than they had when he first met them
”Very well Now, let me see your weapons”
Conan remained silent until it becaht their weapons That, and the condition of many of those that were displayed, drew another sulphurous blast from the Cimmerian
He eloquently described the ancestry of soldiers ent about without their weapons He added predictions of the fate awaiting the the favor of Gods sometimes charitable to fools