Part 17 (2/2)
”P-p-point i-it a-at th-the all o-over th-there and p-p-push th-the l-lever,” Deek said
Wikkell did so, and the thing spat a fine strand of white thread into the still air The thread's end touchedthe wall, anditself into a bizarre tangle that forinal position and the flow ceased abruptly, breaking contact with the ether impressed ”So? It makes a spider's web That is hardly h i-i-it”
Wikkell did so and quickly becales only entrapped him more, until after a ht, I aet out of this?”
”R-r-reverse th-the l-l-lever”
Wikkell an to flow back into the little block of wood Within a fewthe cyclops free to ain
”I-it i-is n-n-not th-the m-m-most p-powerful sp-spell,” Deek said, ”b-but a-an-anyone c-can o-operate it, i-it r-requires n-no sp-special kn-know-ledge”
”A distinct advantage,” Wikkell observed ”Can we do so well at the wizard's quarters, I should think we could ument to our people”
”Th-then l-l-let u-us pr-proceed”
The two of them did just that
The Harskeel could smell success One of the bats had only just returned with the inforht were but a few moments' walk ahead The te to spoil its chances Better to proceed carefully, then attack at the most propitious moment
As the Harskeel crossed a wide patch of rocky floor, it chanced to glance down at the pebbles that littered the area Odd, how they glittered in this cursed green light It bent and fetched up one of the stones
Surprised, the Harskeel stopped and stared at the rock Aye, rock it was, but hardly one that should be casually found upon a cavern floor Unless it uess-unlikely, since the Harskeel had soy-this jewel, easily the size of its little fingertip, was nothing less than a finely cut ruby
Further examination showed that the majority of the stones scattered at its feet were also various gems of no small value Never one to pass up wealth for little work, the Harskeel allowed that it could pause in its chase long enough to collect the valuable ly, for certainly no one would deliberately leave such objects behind It would take but a moment or two, and surely the Harskeel could spare that iant creature soared on leathery wings, flying with great speed and grace, hurrying to arrive at its destina tion before the
Inside the cloak, Chuntha felt the power of the thing whose kind had ruled the air millions of years beforeof flight the sensual nature of it could easily becohed the thrill for her There were better ways to achieve wars than to chance the final dance with death
As soon as she collected her barbarian, the witch thought, she would show one of those ways to him
True, he would not survive the encounter, but ah, he would enjoy his final moments of ecstasy
Twenty
As Conan led his friends doinding tunnel with a high ceiling, soe happened
Behind him, Lalo said, ”I fear yon lout leads us to certain doom”
This insult was but one of a more or less constant streanore them Only this time there came another sentence almost immediately upon the heels of the statement, as if it were an echo:But would that I were Conan and ready to face whatever e
Conan paused and turned to Lalo ”What was that?”
”Pray what is the ed, so that you are now deaf as well as harebrained?”
And again the voice softly followed:Would that I could speak my admiration of you, Conan, and not be forced to vilify you with every passing moment
It came to Conan then that the voice he heard, which was h his hearing but had arisen from within his head, much as the voice of the Webspinner had done earlier
”Nothing, neverback to the path ahead What sorcery was this? He had heard Lalo speak, but he was certain that the speech within his head was in fact what the grinningwhen he hadwas definitely aht it prudent to avoid s
A few otiated a steep spot on the cavern floor, she slipped and fell, landing solidly but unhurt upon her ample backside Her cloak and undershi+ft slid well back, revealing her slis almost to their juncture Conan admired the view
Elashi+ looked up and saw Conan s else?”
But following her speech caain:Ah, would that we had a few ether, Conan, my ram All of this excitement has stirred my lustsConan blinked, certain that the others must have heard her, but it seemed apparent froht the second portion of Elashi+'s speech Or, Conan was convinced, her thoughts
How could he hear these things? Had some kind of spell been cast upon him?
Upon reflection, that made no sense he could discern What would be the purpose of such a geas?
Certainly it was to his advantage, not to that of any of his opponents To knohat a ht say, was a powerful tool
Well That it had happened see Worry about hohy could be left for when there was more time to ponder upon the cause If you were tethered by a thick rope and a man handed you a sharp blade, you did not bother yourself with the origin of the iron or the name of the smith who hadif not pragmatic
And perhaps it would be better not to mention this new talent to the others just yet
”They are just ahead,” Red said to the Harskeel ”All four of the”
”Are your fellows ready to attack?”
”We would have an end to this and receive our promised bloodspell Yes, we are ready”
”Good Then let us finish this unpleasant business”
The Harskeel increased its speed toward the turning, not more than twenty paces distant
Still draped in the hted in front of her quarters and the two startled guard worms