Part 45 (1/2)

Conan had to lean on his weapon for ato his knees He used that oi and Guards were swar sure that deadprisoners

Conan was glad to see that the discipline of the Guards was holding

Even the newest recruit could call himself a veteran and a soldier after this day

Thyrin leaped onto a wagon next to Conan, then ju his tribe's honor seemed to have taken twenty years from Wylla's father

”Marr lives!” he shouted ”He will not pipe again, but he lives!”

”Good,” Conan said The word did not co of a sorcerer as living instead of dying

”See Marr to safety,” Conan said ”When Syzambry learns that we are in his rear, he will be desperate I want us ready to ht call thehting before they could call the round helped hi directly to his front

Most of all, the one er who had returned from the left had said that the royal flank was open

But as he seeing to his rear? The arbed like Pougoi warriors, and others like his own levies

He saarrior leap from a stump onto the back of a dis arer draiftly across a bare throat

”Treachery!” the count screaoi!”

He hoped that enough of the loyal men in his rear yet lived to hear him and obey Otherwise, he had the tribesmen and-Gods deliver him!-the Star Brothers squarely behind hiht burden so that even after a long fight, the roan bore him forward rapidly

His swift movement drew the eye of a tall, black-haired man who had stepped unseen from the shelter of the trees

Aybas needed the boulder at his back that he ht stand Soon he would be unable to stand even with its aid He had tounds to ainst the five men he'd slain this day, and one of those wounds would ere long send him to join the slain

A bear reared itself before Aybas Had the ic of the piper or the Star Brothers sent the animals of the forest into the battle on one side or another?

Aybas sat down He could not run froave him a moment's clear vision He saw that the bear was Captain-General Decius's banner and that Mistress Raihna held it

”Lord Aybas!” Decius called ”Be at ease We have brought up ht us the time to make it so

Lord Aybas!”

Decius's voice took on a questioning note as he called the name several times more The man so addressed did not hear hi him by his birth na”

Conan round between hiht

The su his sword-belt aside but wasted no tih to matter