Part 24 (2/2)

”There'll be none of that, for three reasons One is that ant the villagers' friendshi+p Or at least we don't want the to Syzambry with tales of our whereabouts The second is that we can scrape by with gah to find the king?” so or his grave,” Conan said ”As long as King Eloikas lives, our oath as Guards binds us to his service If he's dead, our oath binds us to rescue his heir and put him on the throne”

The silence that last vow produced was so co tree Conan rested a sooty hand on the hilt of his broadsword

”The third reason for leaving the villagers in peace is that anyone who doesn't answers to me, and to my friend here” The sword leaped froht, and returned to rest in a single fluid motion

The band resumed its march in a more sober mood Even Raihna seemed to have been affected by the Cimmerian's words when she dropped back to ith hian

”Hsst!” He put a finger to her lips, and they slowed their pace until the last of the rear guard was beyond hearing

”Why not, by Crodooi If Eloikas isn't dead, Syza as the princess and babe are in the hands of the wizards”

Conan did not add that he would have risked his life to snatch a sculleryin their toils see an honest man shouldn't wish on his worst enemy

”And if Syza that ru the countryside for us?”

”We don't kno many men he has left,” Conan said ”Besides, I hate to speak well of that otten son of a Kushi+te carimaced ”You're full of cheery counsel this-”

The reproof died on her lips Faint and far, but beyond , they heard it

The pipes

Conan's hand went to his sword again He did not draw He took a deep breath instead, then let it out with the curses in his mind unuttered

But they echoed within his skull as loudly as they could ever have echoed fro jester Show yourself, you goat's-kin

Show yourself, and show your true colors if you bear any!”

The Star Brother Forkbeard stared at Aybas The wizard's face held every emotion that Aybas had ever seen on a human countenance save one: it showed no surprise

Aybas did not pray Prayers to lawful Gods seerotto, with the s heavy in the air He only corace him

If Aybas had doubted before that the wizards ate flesh froer What he had seen in the shadowy corners of the grotto and what he smelled with every breath he took could not be explained in any other way

Aybas's throat contracted and his stomach twitched The Gods showed so down at the rough-hewn oak table before hile for self-coain at the Aquilonian, he looked with a face twisted by fury and frustration His hands slapped the table, ed on the floor It rolled again until it reached Aybas's foot The Aquilonian forced himself not to flinch when the bowl touched his skin

”Aybas,” the wizard said No ”lord,” and the name itself sounded like a curse