Part 3 (1/2)
Four
The length of their fall was nearly five spans; fortunately, the bottom of the descent atery Conan splashed into an icy pool and sank, quickly touching the botto that he could easily stand as the depth was equal only to his chest Elashi+'s head appeared briefly above the surface as she caain Apparently her rearing in the desert had not included instruction in the art of swi hands and pulled her to his around his waist and wound her ar incoherently
The Cimmerian took stock The pool was noa portion of as obviously a tunnel in a cavern The walls of this rock tube appeared to be as sht arcs that, combined with the lack of projections, offered no means by which to climb Cimmerians learned to climb almost as soon as they learned to walk, and if one of the, likely it could not be done Were the ceiling closer, he could perhaps toss Elashi+ up to the hole there, and sheor a vine downto Conan for hied, why, then they would be birds
The thickening night above offered less light with everywater as soon as possible, Conan thought, and find another exit before darkness enshrouded thean to wade fro small burden on his efforts
”Croht embrace to look at Conan's face ”What it is?”
Conan did not answer but nodded toward the shadows of the cave Elashi+ turned slightly to see what had drawn the oath froht from out of the hidden depths of the cave cas White they were, squat creaturessave their own shaggy fur, and while each face showed a nose and mouth, where their eyes would be were only blank flesh and bone They bore very large ears, however
”Mitra!” Elashi+ said
The water now stood below Conan's knees He increased his pace, to reach the shore before the eyeless white creatures would arrive Elashi+ relaxed her hold upon Conan and reached for her sword
Conan drew his oeapon as the two of them attained the drier, but still damp stone floor
”Perhaps they are friendly,” Elashi+ said She did not sound particularly convinced
”Perhaps,” Conan said ”But let us keep our blades ready in case they are not”
She did not argue with that
The blind white creatures ed: six of its , and another three wounded badly enough to require that they quit the chase Only nine re the hellish beast that had attacked theht staked its claih carasp! Now they would have to wait until first light to proceed-who knew if the slain monster had a ainst goat dung that Conan and the fe their pursuers By the Na to be done for it decreased the Harskeel's rage not one whit
Wikkell eakening the cave roof for yet another pitfall trap when one of the Blind Whites ran into the chaainst the heavy ladder upon which the cyclops stood precariously balanced
”Idiot!” Wikkell yelled as the ladder swayed The Blind White chittered soue that Wikkell had been required to learn in order to perform his duties for Kata about?”
The creature repeated its hastily blurted speech, and this time Wikkell was able to ht, had fallen into the trap below the pass's summit!
Wikkell hastened to scramble down the ladder Success, and so soon! The wizard would be pleased
”Do you have him?”
The Blind White assured Wikkell that this was so Ten of his brothers surrounded the trappedhim to one of the lock chaood!” With that, Wikkell shuffled off after the Blind White to fetch his quarry
Deek heard the tale from a leathery-brown Bloodbat, ooped down to perch on a stalagmite nearby Deek did not particularly trust the bats, since they were alilling to switch allegiance to whomever offered the most reward; still, at the moment the monkey-sized bats seeenerous offer of breeding space
Deek dragged that portion of himself that passed for a vocal apparatus over the rock ”A-are y-y-you s-sure?”
Certain, the bat affirmed A pair of blood-filled hue and likely delicious itated his scraper back and forth rapidly ”Wh-what h-h-happened to th-the m-m-men?”
As to that, the bat did not know for certain The report from the overflier was that the two succulent roup of the Blind Whites, intent on their capture
”D-da the floor If One Eye had the men, Deek was a prime candidate for the li, and quickly! The Webspinner Plants were thick in this portion of the cave syste, in order to continue his existence Without the one the witch sought, Deek's life orth less than the guano beneath that wretched and stupid bat!
The first of the eyeless white things sprang, less carefully than it should have They were definitely not friendly, Conan decided as he sidestepped and swung his sword in a flat horizonal arc The end of the blade tore through the creature's side, cutting it very nearly in twain It continued its leap past Conan and fell into the pool behind the ht; ruby stained the cold ripples The rest of the attackers ave ground, spreading out to try and surround the Ci As the light fro frohostly pale luminescence, but sufficient for the Ci creatures seemed in no hurry to move, and Conan decided that 'twould be better if he and Elashi+ departed He said so
”And how are we to acco a firh There are only three of theht and I shall clear the other two frohed, licked her lips, and nodded
”Now!”
With that, the two of theet sirowls and crashed into each other in their efforts to get out of his way There ca bone as their skulls connected They fell, and Conan sprang over the next to Elashi+
”That was not so difficult,” Elashi+ said
Conan
Into the depths of the glowing tunnel they fled, pursued by the rest of the chittering creatures