Part 31 (2/2)

In spite of the steel at his throat, Aybas sht one surprise to hi one to his visitors

”If you seek the freedoiant grunted soht have indicated surprise Aybas could barely make out his face in the dark hut, and in any case, he was no longer looking at the giant

Behind the giant stood a fair-haired woarb and appearance Beside her-and here Aybas had to s-stood a iant but who exuded a power that had little to do with his stature

A set of silver-adorned pipes dangled at his waist Aybas did not need a second look at those pipes for them to tell him more than he wanted to know about the man

Marr the Piper, who had toyed with the spells of the Star Brothers like a playful cat with aEloikas

”Then we couide us to the house of the princess,” the giant said

”I will do as much or more on one condition,” Aybas said

The sword point pricked harder Another twitch of the giant's wrist and Aybas's life blood would stream over his pallet ”Wait! Hear the condition first! It ”

”It end that the piper of the end

”We iant's sword point drew back, but the look on his face wasthan the sharp steel With his eyes now fully waking, Aybas saw that the giant had the look of Cimmeria about him Perhaps he was the new captain of the Guards of which rumor had spoken? If so, he would have no reason to love Oyzhik

”You are here out of loyalty to King Eloikas, to save Chienna from the Star Brothers and fro another service”

”How?” The Cimmerian, it seemed, was not one to waste words

”Oyzhik is a traitor to the king, to be sure He also knows a good many of Syzambry's secrets He has not been rewarded for his treason, either The Star Brothers hold him close captive, ready to sacrifice hiht he not reveal ratitude?”

”Oyzhik has as ratitude in hi pardoned hirowled ”Have your wits flown after this one's?”

”No,” the wo that if we can win a second victory without losing our first-”

She seemed to have decided From the look on his face, the piper was of the saue

The hut door swung open, and Wylla entered as silently as sh to bring them, but he will meet us at the house of the princess”

”Is anyone suspicious?” Conan asked

”I saw none of the Star Brothers or their faction,” Wylla said ”I think that if they suspected aught, they would be abroad”

”Likely enough,” Conan agreed He looked upward, apparently calling on the Gods for patience with fools, and wisdom to tell fools from wise men Then he looked at Aybas with a face that htmare

”We'll take your oath to aid us Break it, or even bend it, and you'll die ten tioi take you”