Part 18 (1/2)
”Good news,the rest of the traps where they'll take Syzambry's men, not us!”
”I'd work here a moon and more if it'd build a trap for the count hiet that chance, but to to bundle up pry bars and hammers
As the tools clinked into the baskets, it caht have another reason for not taking the field Eloikas's handful of good ht chase the count's retainers all over the hills for ainst the count hireat ambitions escaped, he could find another army If he died, his cause was finished And what better way to kill him than to let him come to the palace, as he must if he wished the final victory?
Perhaps there was nothing wrong with either the captain-general's wits or his loyalty It did notiainst all of his instincts for taking the fight to the foe
Outside the chief's hut, thunder rolled Aybas, peering through the chinks between the logs, saw no lightning, so he kneas the witch-thunder again
Had he doubted, the sounding of horns and dru
Count Syzaht it-die away before speaking He did not take his eyes off of Aybas and Oyzhik, sitting together-on the straw at his feet
If Aybas had not long since given over flinching at the witch-thunder, he would have nerved himself to sit still under the count's scrutiny
Oyzhik was clearly as uneasy as a ht did not keep the sweat from his brow Rather than seem less brave than Oyzhik, Aybas would have clirip of the beast
”The Pougoi can be trusted?” Oyzhik asked for the third ti that had no name flickered across Syzambry's face In the dimness, Aybas could not read the little count's countenance, nor did he really wish to try
”They can be trusted for all that I have asked them to do,” Syzambry replied
Aybas had the sense not to ask Syzaoi were expected to do to help lift the count onto the throne In any case, there would not have been tiive one
Heavy footsteps thudded on the beaten earth outside, and the door opened with squeals and groans Half a score of Pougoi warriorsup the rear The warriors carried spears and stone-headed axes, the wizard a leather sack
”Him,” Syzambry said The warriors surrounded the seated men The count motioned Aybas to rise and step forward Aybas coether, and obeyed
Oyzhik's mouth opened, but before he could cry out, four warriors were upon his bound his wrists and hobbled his ankles Then the warriors gripped the thongs and Oyzhik's travel-stained clothing and dragged him out of the hut
Aybas remained motionless until the heavy tread of the warriors faded into the night Stepping back and looking nowhere and everywhere, he said quietly: ”Decius would have givenexcept hisleathers and shrugged ”If our lord captain-general had blood instead of hts Had he done so, I would have served hiladly serve anotherand prayer
”Is Oyzhik to go to the beast?” Aybas asked
”You presu,” Aybas said, ”least of all your judgment Were it not sound, ould hardly be so close to your victory I oi are uneasy about the sacrifices to the beast”
”They are cowards,” Syzah cowards, the best arht become a rabble It could also be said that anyto the valley could be excused for wishi+ng himself elsewhere