Part 28 (1/2)
”Then I wish-may I enter?” Decius chose prudence over rank and turned an order into a question
The tone of the Cimmerian's reply told him that he had chosen wisely
”You ed on the floor, wearing only a loinguard
He was rubbing oil into the various leather items of his harness His sword, already sharpened and oiled, lay on a linen cloth beside his sleeping pallet
”Greetings, my lord Decius,” Conan said ”I fear that my hospitality is poor But what I have is yours”
Decius took that as an invitation to sit ”Captain Conan, I will be brief What I would most like from you is for either you or Raihna to reoi-I like it not”
”Does it matter which of us remains?” Conan asked His tone eneral laughed
”I wasn't planning on courting you, Ci Mistress Raihna until I can be sure I have sorave in the hills”
”Decius, I don't envy anyone the work of burying you,” Conan said
”Your corpse er”
”I thank you,” Decius said ”Now, a little plain speaking Both you and Raihna are seasoned captains We have few To put each of you in danger i's very cause”
”We've the best chance of winning through and bringing out the princess and the babe,” Conan said with a shrug ”If it can be done at all, we're the best to do it If it can't be done, does it hed ”No The doctors say that he will be lucky to see the first snow at best If he loses hope of seeing his daughter again”
Silence said the rest
”I'd not co Raihna behind,” Conan said ”But Marr says that it must be she and I, and no others”
Decius frowned ”Does this mean that either of you has is ?”
”I'm no more a sorcerer than I'm a tavern dancer, and Raihna likewise,”
Conan said ”What the piper sees in us it's one of the things he doesn't speak of What it would take toto spend ti for it”
Decius wanted to curse the Gods, the Pougoi, their wizards, Count Syzahta better man than himself into a pit of veneain
”Eh?” the Ciht to be a farewell for the three of you
Wine,else you desired”
”Don't tempt the Gods,” Conan said He stood up and stretched His head nearly touched the roof of the tent, and his outflung hands did touch either side ”Save the feasting for e're safe in the palace again But if there's any wine in the camp-?”
Decius ree that he had saved for the departure of men on desperate ventures It was buried, and probably shattered by now, beneath the ruins of the palace, along with sothem, Conan, Raihna, and Marr had faced every peril that a land such as the Border Kingdoainst every one of thee