Part 9 (2/2)

Lithe and quick as a leopard, Conan bounded forward, snatching up the scimitar that Ardashi+r had dropped when knocked unconscious A couple of courtiers tried to bar the Cierd's dais, but he easily cut his path through the He bounded up the steps of the dais

As he ca out his own sciht the blade up to parry a terrific right cut that Conan ai's sword snapped Conan's blade cut through thethe spray of bird-of-paradise feathers that rose froerd wore beneath

Though the blow failed to split the king's skull as Conan intended, it threw the Turanian backwards, stunned Yezdigerd fell back over the ar and throne rolled off the dais, down the steps on the other side, and into a knot of onrushi+ng guardse

Conan, beside hi to finish hierd out of the press, and from all sides sword blades and spear points pressed in upon the unprotected Cimmerian

Conan's scimitar wove a lethal net of steel around him He surpassed himself in brilliant swordseon and the aftereffects of the drug he had inhaled, he was fired with vitality If he , to carve a niche for hileeful frenzy A quick slash sent an antagonist tu thrust burst through , and thrusting, he wrought red havoc For an instant, raging like a mad elephant about the dais, he cleared it of soldiers and courtiers except for those who lay in a tangle about his feet

Only the lady Thanara reh, Conan tore the glittering diade that ri a bristling hedge in front of an ordered line of shi+elds Behind them, archers nocked their shafts Noncombatants stood in clu fascinated

Conan flexed his h

Blood ran down his naked hide fro Surrounded and unarth and speed could save him from the thrust of many keen blades all at once

The prospect of death did not trouble him; he only hoped to take as many foes as he could into the darkness with him

Suddenly there caleah the ar three blood-spattered corpses on the floor With a hty bound, the fair-haired northerner leaped to the dais In his left arm he cradled a couple of heavy, round objects-bucklers of bronze and leather picked up from the floor where the victims of Conan's first outburst had dropped the one of the shi+elds to Conan

Their glances met and locked Conan cried:

”Rolf! What do you here, old polar bear?”

”I will tell you later,” growled the northerner, grasping the handle of the other buckler ”If we live, that is If not, I aht and die with you”

The unexpected advent of this forher

”Rush in, jackals,” he taunted, waving his bloodstained scin his soul to hell? Attack, daht to you!”

The steel-sheathed ranks of the Turanian soldiery had halted, foriant barbarians stood back to back, one black-haired and almost naked, the other blond and clad in soers surrounded by timorous hunters, none of whom dared to strike the first blow

”Archers!” cried an officer directing the Turanian troopers ”Spread out, so the shafts shall strike frorowled Rolf ”Had we but stout coats of Asgardean mail

Ah, well, it was fun while it lasted”