Part 18 (2/2)

Neither could be said to the count's face by one ished to see another sunrise So the Aquilonian ed

”They will not release Oyzhik, that I can pro the Pougoi from their ancestral lands and into this valley These folk have a long memory”

”But the lowlanders have a short one,” Syza ”When they see Oyzhik go to the beast for his treasons, they will forget how I gained the throne They will think there may be some truth in what I say, that I stormed the palace to save it fro died and the princess needed consoling These areand not ht ofjourney from his father's estate to this wretched valley Coues were those of a child cheating at a game of toss-pebble Yet this child had the power of life or death over Aybas, and would toss hihts Aybas feigned good cheer when he next spoke

”May it be so, my lord No may I next serve you?”

”I shall depart to join my men at cock crow Is it prudent to find , I fear,” Aybas replied, praying that the Gods had not granted Syzalimpse of Wylla

”I supposed aswith your life until I coood service”

Syzambry spoke as if ”my” should in truth have been the royal ”Our”

Aybas bowed and re until the door sla

It was of plain leather, bound shut with an iron band The runes on the band were such that Aybas did not care to look at thele oil lamp, he could see that they were kin to the runes on the face of the da heavy, as stone, but he would not even think of opening it

Count Syzaoi wizards' ic to lift him to the throne The Aquilonian was also sure that the count was quite without real knowledge of what he was using-or of what its real ht ask of him as their price

Chapter 9

Conan awoke in darkness, at first not sure why he had awakened It enerous in size It ht have been comfortable for the Cimmerian when he first left his native land For him now, it was a minor torture, and only his ability to sleep anywhere allowed hiht, he had sworn a solemn vow to see the palace carpenter about a new bed He was even prepared to endure theto share the bed with

Conan set feet to the cracked tile of the floor, drew on breeches, belted on his sword, and listened Nothing uncoainst stone; sohtmare or in passion; e that he had awakened for soood reason remained with Conan All of the instincts that had kept his They would tell hie of the danger

He drew on his shi+rt and thrust both daggers into their sheaths He thought of taking his bow, but in the end, he left it with the bearskin and riding cloak piled at the foot of the bed

Conan knew that danger stalked the palace Others did not Seeing hi about full-arnorance and fear together were the sparks to ignite a panic, which could leave the palace defenseless

Conan's grihts went no further Horns and drums sounded in the distance and were echoed closer at hand from within the palace Also froes and war cries reverberated

Conan heard toothe palace folk let fear master them

The Ci in the next cha, and as needs be, dragging the men off their pallets and into their war harness

The sergeant raised a hand as Conan appeared ”I have sent a er to the barracks The men there are to rally on the palace,” he said