Part 22 (1/2)

Chuntha knew of several ways to the surface She regretted that she would not be able to return to her chambers to retrieve certain of her favorite possessions, but she also considered herself lucky to have made her escape so easily True, she could have withstood a lengthy attack provided she had been able to see it cooodly nuain, it did not matter if she killed hundreds of the along, praying to assorted dark deities that the spell would hold until she could ood her escape, Chuntha could not help but feel curious as to just how Conan had inspired this revolt

One of the hidden exits to the world above lay not far from the wizard's quarters It was, in fact, the closest of such egresses, and the witch felt she ht chance it in her present form Why not? It would warm her black soul to see if the wizard had troubles as bad as her own

The reptile that was also a witch altered its course when it cae tunnel

Katamay Rey reached his chambers' entrance and looked out

What the wizard saw filled him with utter surprise and shock: a horde of Blind Whites advanced toward him, and behind them, a flock of Bloodbats darkened the air with their numbers

By Set's scaled scrotuuards normally posted were nowhere to be seen

Rey ducked back inside, feeling a moment of panic He had not survived all these centuries by being entirely stupid He was about to come under attack, and if he wanted to live to see , and quickly! Over the years he had perhaps grown a bit arrogant, he realized Hundreds of years past, when first he had arrived at the caves, the wizard had been more cautious He had set traps to protect hi decades and centuries, he had alotten about his protections Many had fallen into disrepair or, in the case of those involving ic, lost their potency But there remained one he had never deactivated

Rey hurriedly rehearsed the words of the old spell, trying to be certain he recalled them correctly He stepped back out into the hallway and faced the onco horde The Whites could not see per se, but they were aware of hi and s The bats flew right behind the wave of running Whites

Rey spoke aloud the words of the ancient spell, gesturing at the ceiling of the corridor as he did so

Suddenly the tunnel was filled with the roar of uncounted tons of rock breaking loose fro The noise of the avalanche was followed immediately by the screams of those below The roof did not entirely collapse, nor did the rocks that fell do so all at once, but the position of the attackers made it quite impossible for them to escape the cascade of rocks that showered down upon therit flew Moans arose fro speech Red splashed and coated the walls It was a hard rain indeed

When the last rock dropped, what remained was a corridor now somewhat shallower on the bottom and deeper at the top than before The new floor was thatTwo or three Whites had avoided the trap, and several bats flew around in dazed circles, but the attack was broken

Rey grinned, pleased with hiin cli over the rockfall Set and all the demi-demons!

Twenty-five

The fire that had burned the pile of clothing had begun to die dohen from it there came apop !

Elashi+, Lalo, and Tull all turned at the sudden sound and stared at the fading light of the s

”What was that?” Tull asked

Elashi+ shook her head

Lalo said, ”That vial you tossed into the clothing I think perhaps the fire has opened it”

No sooner had Lalo said this than a poisonous-looking black vapor arose fro fire The tendrils of black appeared to be unaffected by the fire's heat-and it looked nothing at all like nor black swirled up and began toas if to some unheard rhythm

”Uh-oh,” Tull said ”I like the look of this not at all” ”What can we do?” The wizard has threatened to blast us if we move from this chamber,” Elashi+ said

”Better the de at theslowly toward theht have his hands occupied at the ue with Lalo's assess in size; already it blotted out half of the chamber

The three scra the corridor next to Wikkell and Deek Ahead, the ceiling had just fallen in with a sound like constant thunder, burying the advance ranks of Whites and bats The wizard was not without his defenses, so it seemed The Cimmerian sheathed his sword in order to better cla the floor

The witch as a flying reptile approached the scene of carnage and flapped down to perch on a shelf high above it all My, my That bastard -icked beast have perforrinned Chuntha decided that she could tarry here for a bit and watch It seeet his just due, and this was too good a show to miss

Rey's skills had fallen into disuse over the years, but there had been a tied up old curses and conjurations fro for one that would put a decisive end to this attack There was a deo As he recalled, the dee

Yes, he would set the demon upon the blasted worms and traitorous cyclopes and see how they enjoyed that!

Could he but recall the words of the damned spell in time

Tull, Elashi+, and Lalo ran into the antechamber and skidded to a halt The wizard was not to be seen

”Outside, heat the door

”We cannot go out there,” Tull said

”Well, no doubt the black vapor behind us will stop at the open doorway through which we have just passed,” Lalo said, his voice heavy with irony

Elashi+ shook her head Lalo was right What were they going to do?

Chuntha's observation post gave her a good view of the proceedings below; That bastard, give his left up his sleeve The witch watched with respect as the air began to swirl inside the hastily sketched pentagram on the floor in front of the entrance to the wizard's cha, he was, and she doubted that such an act would do the attacking rebels any good whatsoever

Wait-as that?-no,as that? Conan! Cli over the fallen rock, in company with the cyclopes and wore was such that she nearly took to the air, intending to dive down and rend the cursed barbarian into tattered and bloody flesh But no Wait a ht No point in being foolish