Conan The Relentless

Roland Green

Contents

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20

PROLOGUE

Night in the wilderness of the Border Kingdom was not only the absence of light. Darkness was apresence in itself, which reached out to suck a man in until he could never return to the world of light.In that darkness, the man who called himself Lord Aybas awoke slowly and reluctantly. In anotherlife, under another name, he had been fit to drink and wench until dawn tinted the sky, then rise to do aday's work.Now he was older. His name was different. The chief he obeyed was likewise different, and washarsher than any Aybas had served back in Aquilonia. Also, it was more often than not an uneasy sleepAybas had here in the wilderness, on beds of cut branches or piled reeds, or even of leaves strewn onthe sullen rock of the mountains.Yet the true reason for Aybas's slow awakening lay elsewhere. It was a sound that he heard, ridingthe night wind as harshly as a troop of cavalry in a stone courtyard. He knew what followed on the heelsof this sound. If he could sleep, he would not hear it and memories of what he heard would not troublehis dreams.The sound grew louder. It was not a roar, or a growl, or a hiss, or a rumble like that of a greatgrindstone hard at work. It had something of all of these in it, but more that was its own.It also had much in it that was not of the lawful earth or of any of its gods. Called on to put a nameto these unearthly sounds, Aybas might have called them slobberings, or suckings.He would also have prayed not to be asked to tell more. He could not, without revealing that heknew what those sounds meant. That was knowledge cursed alike by gods and men, neither of whomseemed to care much what happened in this wilderness.At last Aybas threw off his sheepskin and stood. He would not sleep again tonight, unless the causeof the sounds did. The wizards might send it back to sleep, or at least silence it before dawn. They mightalso keep it awake and at its work until the sun shone even into the deepest parts of the gorge and thevalley.Even if he could sleep through the grisly uproar, it would not be an untroubled sleep. He had seentoo much of what those sounds meant to ever forget any of it. Aybas's memories of what he had seensince he came among the Pougoi tribe would die only with him.Even if it would cleanse his mind, death was not something he sought. To avoid it, he had fled hisnative Aquilonia, changed his name, sold sword, honor, and everything else for which he could find abuyer, to end here in the Border Kingdom.In tales told to Aquilonian children, the Border Kingdom was next to Stygia as a place whereanything might happen, little of it clean or lawful. Aybas had long since learned that too much truth laybehind the tales told of Stygia. He was now learning the same about of those told of the BorderKingdom.

Boards creaked as Aybas walked to the door of his hut. Like most of the huts in the village, it wasbuilt on a slope so steep that one side had to be braced by entire tree trunks. Otherwise, anything left onthe hut floor would roll merrily down to the low side. One fine night the hut itself might even leap wildlydown the hill to its ruin.The door also creaked as it opened on leather hinges, letting Aybas into the main street of thevillage. The street was actually a flight of steps, some carved from the rock itself, others rough-hewnplanks pegged in place. What level ground the tribe called its own lay on the valley floor at the foot of theslope. Such rich bottomland was too precious to use for huts and storehouses.Aybas had long since decided that if he stayed much longer with the Pougoi, he would find himselfgrowing a tail for the better climbing of hills and trees. Then, if he survived the service of his presentmaster, he could find work as a performing ape such as the Kushite merchants showed at fairs!The village was lit only by the odd torch burning before a hut here and there. Clouds had veiled themoon since Aybas had retired. The wizards who called themselves Star Brothers did their work indarkness, save when they wanted to sow even more terror by showing what they did.Aybas's breath caught in his throat as he saw the door open in a hut just downhill. A girl stoodthere, the shadowy figure of a man behind her. The girl wore nothing above the waist and only a leatherskirt from supple waist to dimpled knees. The hut's torch spilled harsh yellow light on coppery hair andfirm young breasts, and on muscular legs that Aybas had often imagined locked around him…As if Aybas's thoughts had been an unwanted touch, the girl turned. Green eyes met his brownones, and it was the Aquilonian who finally looked down. He was still staring when he heard a gruff voicesay, "Come within, Wylla. There is naught to do, standing here to be gawped at.""It was not that which I came for, Father. I thought—I hoped that if I was out here, the… the folkup yonder might know it. Even take comfort from it.""Hsshht! No gabbling about that where he can hear!" The "he" was as plain as a pointing finger inmeaning Aybas.The Aquilonian waited until the door thumped shut behind Wylla, then let his breath out in a long,gusty sigh. So Wylla was losing her fear of the Star Brothers, at least enough to show pity for theirvictims?This was more common among the Pougoi than either the wizards or Aybas's master cared toadmit. Indeed, if all who had doubted the Star Brothers' virtue—if not their power—had been sacrificed,the Vale of the Pougoi would be very scant of inhabitants.Perhaps it was time to make another example? If it was Wylla, could Aybas come forward andmake a great show of asking for mercy? In return for certain long-craved favors, of course…The thought made the chill mountain night suddenly seem warm. Aybas felt sweat on his brow andwiped it away with a greasy hand. A gust of wind blew down the street, and sparks flew away into thedarkness from the torch outside Wylla's hut.As if the sparks had kindled it, a light shone forth from across the valley. A pinpoint at first, itswelled until it was a harsh blue glow, reaching out to strip the softness of night from the rocky bones ofthis mountain land.It came from beyond a high dam of rocks, logs, and rammed earth. The dam blocked the entranceto the gorge across the valley and held within it a deep lake. On one side of the gorge's mouth, the cliffsleaped upward, to form themselves into a jutting crest shaped like a dragon's head.On the dragon's head, two human figures stood, one tall and one short. The blue wizard-fire glowedon their oiled skins and on the chains that bound them. Bound them for what would soon be climbing upfrom the lake, to seize them at the Star Brothers' command.Aybas decided that it was time for him also to be inside his hut. His stomach was not always fit toendure seeing the wizards' pet feed, and the Star Brothers might see this weakness as enmity.Then, to let Aybas keep the wizards' favor, it would take more gold than his master could afford.With no friends and many foes in this land, it would be time to journey again. Otherwise, he might end up

on that dragon-headed rock, waiting for the mouth-studded tentacles to claim his blood and his marrow—Aybas gagged at the thought and all but spewed. He staggered into his hut and collapsed on hispallet without closing the door. So he heard on the wind the splashing as the Star Brothers' pet heaveditself out of the water, heard the sucking and slobbering as it gripped the rock face and began to climb.He had stuffed rawhide scraps into his ears before he heard the faint high call of pipes.

The fisherman and his son atop the dragon's head were more fortunate. The pipes came to theirears with a sound clear and exciting, like war trumpets summoning cavalry to the charge.The fisherman knew that the pipes could not really be making such a sound. Marr the Piper hadmagic at his command, as much as the Pougoi wizards had.This did not surprise the fisherman. He had known that he risked much when he and his son wentbeyond Three Oaks Hill into a land where the man-hunting Pougoi warriors roamed. He had also knownthat in this land lay pools and streams rich in fat fish; salmon, trout, pike, even fresh-water oysters.Nothing was ever won without danger in this life. Such was the gods' will. The greater the victory,the greater the danger a man had to face to win it. The fisherman did not mourn his own shortened days.He would have given much to have refused his son's pleas to accompany him.Now the boy stood in chains beside him, his days about to end before he had seen his fourteenthyear. He bore himself like a man in spite of the weight of the chains and the agony of the raw welts acrosshis back. He had been plain-spoken to the wizards, and they did not care for that. Or perhaps theythought to frighten the father by flogging the son.No matter. That and all other questions would go forever unanswered as soon as what was climbingthe cliff reached them.It was hard to see it clearly. The wizards' magical light had turned the water of the gorge into bluefire, the mist swirling above it into blue smoke. The creature was larger than any riverboat that thefisherman had ever seen. It had tentacles where no creature outside a madman's dream would have them,and neither legs nor eyes.Its color was that of a fish rotting on a sand spit in the sun; its sounds would have made thefisherman empty his stomach had it not already been empty.It was then that the magic of the piping joined battle with the spells of the Star Brothers. The chainsthat bound father and son writhed like snakes. Then they snapped in the middle, leaving lengths danglingfrom wrists and ankles.The piping also seemed to give the wizards' creature pause. It halted halfway up the cliff. Its callturned to a rumbling hiss, and its tentacles also writhed.The fisherman looked about. There was no way down from the rock; a crevice—too wide tojump— sundered it from the hill. The Pougoi warriors had brought the sacrifices to their rock across abridge of reeds and branches. Now the warriors had drawn the bridge back, and they stood beside thecrevice, bows and spears ready.Down was the only way, and death the only fate, for father and son. The fisherman still called theblessing of his people's gods and the rivers' spirits on Marr the Piper. His spell had given them the choiceof a clean death."My son, it will be upon us soon. Will you come with me?"The boy saw his fate in his father's eyes. The father saw knowledge, obedience, and love in hisson's. "Where you lead, I follow.""I knew your mother and I had made a man."The fisherman gripped his son's hand and they turned toward the valley. Two short steps, a longthird one, and then the final leap out into space.

The fisherman heard the wind in his ears. Its call seemed to him the river spirits welcoming him andhis son home. He heard the outcry from the wizards. It seemed that his balking their pet of its prey wasnot to their liking.Then the rock of the valley leaped up to smash him from the world, and he heard nothing more.

Aybas heard a great deal during the remaining watches of the night. He did not even try to sleep.Indeed, it seemed likely that the din must be waking babies and distracting lovers in Iranistan! Betweenthe howling of the creature, the gabbling of the Star Brothers, the murmur of the Pougoi, and the uproarof stock from cattle down to cats, the valley echoed until past dawn.The one sound that Aybas—and, he judged, others as well—were listening for did not come. Itseemed that the piper had done his night's work and taken his leave.This did not surprise Aybas. Marr the Piper had been a legend in the Border Kingdom for ageneration, even before Aybas had left his native land. It was only in the last year or so that Marr hadseemed ready to contend with the Star Brothers of the Pougoi. There had to be limits to the piper'smagic, although Aybas did not imagine that he himself would be the lucky man to reap the reward fordiscovering them…As the sun rose, the Pougoi drifted away to their huts and pallets or to their day's labors. The firstamong the Star Brothers, the man Aybas called Forkbeard, climbed the street to accost the Aquilonian."This is the third time that Marr has befouled our rites," the wizard said."The other times must have been before I came among you," Aybas replied."You doubt my word?" Forkbeard asked sharply."You put words in my mouth," Aybas said, seeking to mix humility with firmness. "I only wish toremind you that I am newly come among the Pougoi. For what happened more than three moons ago. Imust trust to you and your brothers.""Our folk still will not speak to you?"Aybas shook his head. "About many matters, such as hunting and ale, they are hospitality itself.About your work—" Aybas nodded toward the dam and the gorge "—they are less forthcoming."Aybas waited, praying that the next question would be, "Do these silent ones seem to have aleader?" Instead, the Star Brother only twisted the brass wires that bound his graying beard into its threeplaits. The man seemed genuinely uneasy in mind and weary in body. Perhaps there was more to Marr thePiper than Aybas thought. Certainly it was not the time to enlist Forkbeard in his quest for Wylla. Aybasprayed that the time would come, before he forgot what to do with a woman when he had one in his bed!When Forkbeard spoke again, it was not as Aybas had expected. "We must beat the hills andforests about the valley to find the piper or his lair," the Star Brother said."That will take many men.""I see that you have eyes in your head to know the lay of our land. If your master can send moresoldiers, archers above all, it will aid us greatly."Aybas was torn between surprise and fear. Surprise that one of the hill tribes would gladly invitestrangers into their homeland. Fear of what Forkbeard would say or do if Aybas confessed that the menwere not to be had.His master did not lack fighting men, but for the work he had in hand, he needed every one of them.He would have none to spare for chasing magical pipers up hill and down valley this far into thewilderness.Forkbeard was frowning when inspiration touched Aybas. "My master would gladly send everyman he can spare. But what use is even the best warrior when he does not know your land? I have beenamong you for three moons, and your children still know the land better than I do!""There is truth in what you say," Forkbeard conceded. "But our young men who know the land

have other work. If they must leave it…" He seemed to reach a decision. "Can your master send gold, sothat we may fill our needs that way? Then our young men will be free to hunt the piper."They would also be free to join with the men of Aybas's master when his master's plans came to fullbloom. That plain truth might open coffers, if they were not already empty.If the coffers were empty, Aybas knew that his time in the Border Kingdom was drawing to a close.He had served lords who tried to make fair words and silken promises serve in place of gold and silver.It was poor service, and more often than not, it led unwary folk to unwelcome meetings with theheadsman.If that lay in his future, Aybas would wait among the Pougoi until whatever his masters sent reachedhim. Then he would be sure that enough of somebody's gold found its way into his own purse, to buy hima safe passage out of the Border Kingdom."My masters will gladly send gold or goods, as you wish," Aybas said. "You have only to say whatyou need and my message will depart at once.""No man could do more."Few would do as much, Aybas knew. The Star Brothers could thank their gods that CountSyzambry had sent them a man who had already closed doors against himself in too many lands!

Chapter 1

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Dawn touched a pool of clear, cold water at the edge of the trackless dark forests of the BorderKingdom. Dark water turned briefly rose-hued, then sapphire.A man slipped from the shadows of the forest and crept to the edge of the pool. He moved assilently as a stalking cat, and his wide eyes ceaselessly studied the land about him. Those eyes were of aneven colder blue than that of the pool, an odd match with his black hair, at least to those who did notknow the look of Cimmeria.The man's name was Conan. He had willingly used no other name in all his travels. A name was apotent thing in chill, barren Cimmeria, where life and death marched hand in hand. For the son of ablacksmith, closer to the gods than most, a name was best left untouched.Conan had traveled far from his native village, learning in many lands the skills of slave, thief,warrior, and captain. Now he was bound southward from his native land after sundry adventures that hadleft him wishing to taste civilization again. Women, wine, and gold were hard to come by in Cimmeria.Selling his sword in Nemedia might bring him each in abundance.But to reach Nemedia from Cimmeria, a man who did not wish to cross Brythunia had to brave themountains and brawling tribes of the Border Kingdom. Conan, a hill man born and never one to shy froma fight, had chosen the straightest route south.At this dawn, he had been four days within the Border Kingdom. He had seen little to make himwish to tarry, and last night he had witnessed something that made him wish to hasten onward. Whatcould only have been witch-fire had blazed above the hilltops. It had been a long way off, but had it beenin distant Khitai, it could not have been far enough for Conan's taste. He loathed sorcery with a passion.At the edge of the pool Conan knelt to thrust a leather water bottle beneath the surface. It bubbledbriefly as it filled. Then he tied it once more to his belt and returned to the forest by a different path thanthe one by which he had come.Only when he was safely within the shadowy ranks of the forest giants did he rise to his full height.That was well over six feet, with muscles and sinews to match. A wise man would have given Conan aclear path even had the Cimmerian not carried a well-used broadsword.His garb was a bearskin, leather breeches and boots, and a jacket of mail as well-used as the

sword. A dagger rode on one hip, and a pouch of well-greased cloth held salt, nuts, and the remains of arabbit he had snared the previous night.Being no fool, Conan would not gladly walk when he could ride, and he had begun his journeysouth well-mounted. But he had lost his horse, and nearly his life, in a desperate battle against themonstrous yakhmar , the ice worm he had thought a creature of legend. It had been no legend, as thebones of a girl and his horse proved. Now at least one of the monsters lay dead beneath Snow DevilGlacier, brought down by a gulletful of red-hot coals flung by a muscular Cimmerian arm. Conan was nota man to trouble uncaring gods with pleas for help, but he hoped they had no plans to match him with a yakhmar again!Being otherwise well-accoutred for his journey, Conan had set off for the south on foot. He hadsought a chance to trade for a mount in the villages on the northern frontier of the Border Kingdom, butfound few openings. None would have given him a mount up to his weight, either.Chances to earn a mount were fewer still, and as for stealing one, the villagers guarded their horsesas if each was worth its weight in silver. Also, the folk were by blood more Cimmerian than not. Conanhad little wish to steal from his own people, and no wish at all to do anything that might give him an evilname among them.The deeper he passed into the Border Kingdom, the less he missed a horse. The entire land seemedto be built at a slant. Thrice he saw a patch of level ground large enough to maneuver his formersquadron of Turanian horsemen. The rest of the land seemed to consist of hills either rising to peaks orsloping into valleys, rushing streams with a few quiet pools, and endless forests. In such a land, a hill manlike the Cimmerian could make better time afoot. Also, in a land not without men but seemingly withoutlaw, he was rather harder to see. Twice he had seen the leavings of bandit attacks, once near-skeletons,the other time both living and dead. The living were two men so covered with flyblown wounds that theybegged for the mercy of Conan's dagger. He had granted it.Conan looked up through the treetops at the position of the sun. He had a good half day free fortraveling before he needed to think about food. In this forest, those few hours would not take him as faras a man might wish, but the sun would guide his steps southward. The more he saw of the BorderKingdom, the less he wanted to tarry in it.By mid-morning Conan had learned that the forest he traveled was neither as endless nor asuninhabited as he had thought. Twice he came upon well-worn foot trails, and once he passed a clusterof huts too few to deserve the name of village. A vegetable garden and racks for smoking meat told ofhow the folk here lived.Conan's belly was reminding him that his next meal really ought to be more than half of a rabbit. Hisbelly did not command his wits, however, which told him that he would be quickest out of the BorderKingdom if he passed through it like smoke on the wind, leaving no trace of his coming and no one to saythat he had ever been there.This resolution grew firmer about noon, when he left the trees and saw a wooded valley ahead.High on a crag to the left of the valley's mouth stood a ruined castle. At the foot of the same rockyeminence there straggled an abandoned village.Before the least-ruined hut of the village stood a gallows, the long kind, fit for hanging a half score ofmen at a time. Three nooses dangled in the breeze now, and only two of these held bodies. Well-ripenedones, too, Conan judged as a shift of the breeze brought a whiff of the corpses.He wrinkled his nostrils, both at the stench and at the message he read in the dangling bodies. If twobandits were all that the local lord could bring to justice, it was one more proof that law sat lightly on thisland. Conan was not one to worship the law when it stood between him and easy wealth, but the BorderKingdom seemed to have neither gold nor law.It doubtless had archers, though, so Conan took care not to make an easy target of himself as hecrossed to the mouth of the valley. The bow was not his weapon of choice, but he had learned its wayswell enough in Turan to judge where an archer might lurk.

No arrows or other signs of life came his way before he reached the valley. At the bottom, a streamthat almost deserved the name of a river flowed downhill. Beside it was a trail that clearly had borne shodmounts as well as booted feet, and not long ago.Conan scrambled up the side of the valley as if the trail had been alive with serpents. He would usethe trail if the lay of the land forced him to, but otherwise he would leave it to those who wished to maketargets of themselves. He had long since learned that he would probably not die in bed from the onset ofyears. Likewise, he had learned how not to die young from witlings' mistakes.By mid-afternoon he was well down the valley. He had devoured the rabbit and some wildmushrooms by a small stream. As he washed his hands, he thought he heard a distant bell chiming, butafterward judged it a trick of the wind.A jagged spur of reddish rock plunged down from the crest across his path. It seemed animpassable barrier, and Conan reluctantly decided that he must at last strike downhill toward the trail.He had covered perhaps half the distance when he heard the bell sound again. This time it was notrick of the wind. Indeed, it seemed to come from beyond the spur.A moment later, he heard a bird calling. Or, rather, a man imitating a bird, not so well that Conan'swoods-wise ears could not discern the fakery. Then an answering bird call came from the trees in front ofConan and not more than a hundred paces away.Conan's sword leaped into his hand. Then he looked at the thick-grown trees and sheathed it again.For close work here, his dagger would serve better. There would be such work, he was certain, and he'dwager against the bird-callers.But he'd not put the wager down, though, without asking a few questions first. Dropping to handsand knees, Conan began a slow downhill crawl. He was as he had been by the pool: a stalking cat wouldhave been loud by comparison.Before he'd covered half of the hundred paces, he heard the bell chiming again. This time he knewthe sound for what it really was: a horseshoe striking on rock. Listening intently as the breeze came andwent, Conan heard the clinking shoes of several horses. These mounts, too, were beyond the spur ofrock, but the volume of their chiming was growing steadily louder.Had the horses been his, Conan would have muffled their hooves before taking them through thisbandit-haunted forest. A grim smile crossed his face briefly. Perhaps some of the steeds would be hisafter this fight.The approaching horsemen might well have no better claim to their mounts and goods than didwhoever was stalking them. If the Cimmerian chose, he might assist in a change of ownership. He mightdepart the Kingdom afoot, but with the price of more than one mount in his purse. Then he could beginhis career in Nemedia rather less like a beggar and more like a man whom warriors would trust to leadthem aright.Conan was still cat-silent as he crept down the slope to where he had heard the birdcall. No rollingpebble or snapping twig alerted the men he sought. When he found them, he saw that three of them stillhad their eyes fixed to the front, as though they had no backs that might be vulnerable. The archer amongthem was looking to the side as he thrust his arrows point-first into the soil.None of the men looked as if they had bathed or eaten properly for half a year. Their beards andhair would have done to stuff a mattress, and all of their garb together would barely have made one manfit to appear on the streets of a town. Yet their eyes and weapons were bright, and the Cimmerian knewthat he faced no easy foes here, if foes they were to be.The archer—rising from placing his last arrow to unsling his bow—was the first to see Conan. Hiseyes widened as he saw the Cimmerian loom over him, and he hastened his movement. Unslinging hisbow brought it within Conan's reach. A muscle-corded hand, well-furnished with sword calluses, grippedthe curved ash. The archer tried to free his weapon. He might as well have tried to loose it from the gripof a troll. His eyes widened more."Easy, man," the Cimmerian said. He spoke in a low voice, one clearer than a whisper but carrying

no farther. "Who comes?""A caravan for the king," the archer replied. This drew a glare from one of the others, which fadedswiftly as Conan returned it."What king?" There were some rulers whom Conan had no wish to turn into enemies. There werealso some who had long since put a price on his head."The Border king, of course," the archer said as if addressing a witling.That told Conan little, but perhaps that little was enough. If he would be shaking the dust of theBorder Kingdom from his feet within days, did it matter if he took some of its king's goods with him?"How many are you, and how set?" Conan asked.The bandits looked at one another. The sound of the approaching horsemen was now an almostcontinuous ringing, like tiny forges hard at work."I'll not be your enemy unless you give me cause," the Cimmerian said. "But I'll be no kind of frienduntil I know if you're worth befriending."The bandits looked Conan up and down. One of them shifted position, until a look from bothConan and a comrade nailed his feet to the ground. "Your backs are safe from me as long as mine is safefrom you," Conan added.The sturdiest of the bandits seemed to reach a decision. "Four men on either side of the trail, on thisside of the spur," he said. He jerked a thumb toward the spur."No more?""Half again as many to the other side of the spur. Runs across the valley, it does, with a gap for thetrail. The others, they jump out, drive the caravan through the gap. 'Stead o' safety, they find us, blockingthe trail."Then the first bandits would pour through the gap, taking the caravan in the rear. Unable to move,mounted men lost their greatest advantage in fighting those on foot. Conan himself had learned as much inTuranian service, where light-armed foot frequently overmatched mounted nomads if the foot couldchose their ground."Well and good," Conan said. "Where do you want me?"The bandit leader jerked a thumb again, this time toward the left. Conan understood. That flankwould trap him between the other bandits and the spur. If he had thoughts of treachery or flight, he mightnot live to act upon them.Or so the bandits intended. Conan would not quarrel with their folly, or with anything else aboutthem, unless they gave him cause. Before he took his leave of them, though, he might teach them a lessonor two about judging Cimmerians.The bandits now spread out in a line some forty paces long. The farther end of the line was out ofConan's sight in the underbrush. The bandit leader was just barely in view, and Conan knew it meant thatthe man probably could not see him. A glance also showed Conan several places where, with a fewsteps, he could become as invisible as the air. One of the places, he judged, would not only hide himfrom his new and dubious comrades, but would allow him to see clearly what lay on the trail.It was no part of Conan's plan to follow the bandits into a fight against impossible odds or againstfolk he might not wish to have as enemies.The Cimmerian had just finished settling into place when the bandits beyond the spur launched theirattack. Bloodcurdling shrieks rose, echoed by the screams of horses torn by sharp steel or arrowheads.Those men not shrieking hurled war cries at one another, and more than war cries. Conan heard stonescracking hard against shields.Then he caught a single word in one of the war cries. It was a name, and at the sound of it, Conan'sblood leaped in his veins."Raihna! Raihna! Raihna!"

Chapter 2

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Conan had never known the woman by any name save "Raihna," the name a score of leather-lungedmen were now shouting as a war cry. But he had known her well as battle comrade, shrewd judge ofhorseflesh, cheerful bedmate—and companion on an adventure into the Ibars Mountains that had beenthe stuff of nightmares. If this was the same Raihna. It was not an uncommon name in Bossonia and several other lands.Conan felt no call to bare steel in defense of a total stranger.He dropped his bearskin, shifted his sword so that it would not clatter against the rock, and flunghimself at the face of the spur. Fingers with an iron grip and booted feet found holds, and the Cimmerianswiftly mounted the height. As he climbed, he drew steadily to the right, to where he could catch aglimpse through the gap.The bandits had once again forgotten that they had backs that might be vulnerable, and this timethey also forgot that they had flanks. Conan scrambled up to his intended perch without so much as aglance from below.It was his Raihna. The woman who sat a scrubby but strong-limbed mare in the middle of the fightwore a helmet that covered a good part of her face. Her breasts now strained a much-repaired hauberk.Conan recognized the wide, gray eyes, the freckles on the uptilted nose, and the long, fine neck.Then she shouted a string of orders, and certainty became more certain still. The voice hadroughened a trifle since they had parted, but dust and winters on the road would leave their traces on athroat of brass.A man leaped from a tree onto the rump of Raihna's mount. The mare staggered under the assault,but her rider was equal to the situation. Unable to swing her sword for fear of hitting comrades, Raihnadrove the pommel into the man's face. His short sword grated on her mail; then its point caught in abroken link and drove through. Conan saw Raihna's lips tighten.He also saws her hand rise, holding a stout Aquilonian dagger drawn from her boot. The bandit wasso busy trying to press home his sword thrust that he never saw the steel that opened his throat. His eyeswere wide but unseeing as he toppled off the horse, leaving both Raihna and the mare drenched inanother's blood.Conan sought a foothold with which to begin his descent. He had no bow, nor was he the mostaccomplished archer. Indeed, it would have taken an archer of miraculous gifts to send an arrow into thattangled fight without hitting friend rather than foe.One bandit exchanging swordcuts with a guard saw Conan. His eyes widened and he shook hishead, then opened his mouth to shout. It seemed he could not decide what the Cimmerian might beabout. This moment of doubt ended when the guard grappled him and rammed a short sword upbetween his ribs. The bandit died with his mouth and eyes wide open, his questions about Conan foreverunanswered.As Conan sought his next foothold, an arrow cracked into the rock next to him. He looked downand saw that he could drop the rest of the way in safety. He landed with a force that would have brokenthe bones of a lesser man, but he rolled and came up into a crouch. He heard shouting from the bandits,with the leader calling the archer the son of more fathers than a dog has fleas and other pleasant names.Perhaps the archer had not waited for his chief's orders before shooting. If so, the quarrel betweenthe bandits would give Conan his best opportunity to strike.He would strike, too, for Raihna and her men. Nothing that the Cimmerian believed in, neitherhonor nor gods nor the simple courtesy due a bed-mate, would allow him to do otherwise.He must also strike swiftly. The bandits on the other side of the gap were doing as they intended,herding Raihna's caravan forward—forward through the gap to what she might be thinking was safety,

but to what would instead be more like a killing pen.The caravan guards would sell their lives dearly when they learned the truth, of course. There wouldbe fewer bandits by the time the survivors of the band laid hands on the caravan. Conan intended thatthere would be still fewer, and none of them grasping the king's goods.The quarreling bandits were now making as much of a din as they would in a wineshop in Aghrapur.If the fight beyond the gap had not been making more, they would have given warning of their plannedambush.As it was, the archer was not too distracted to miss Conan's reappearance. He whirled, nocked anarrow, and shot just as the leader clutched his arm. This sent the arrow flying wildly; Conan's leap behinda tree was hardly needed to save his skin.It proved useful, though, in surprising the bandits. They stared about them as if the Cimmerian hadvanished into the air. They were looking the other way when Conan burst from behind the tree, sword inone hand and bearskin in the other.The bearskin flew through the air, wrapping itself about the archer's head and shoulders. He foughthimself clear of it quickly enough to give him a shot at most men.The Cimmerian was not most men, as the archer swiftly and direly learned. As he nocked anotherarrow, Conan's broadsword slashed at his bow. The string parted, splinters of ash flew from the wood,and the archer leaped back, dropping his weapon.He also leaped back squarely into the path of his leader. For a moment, the two men were as one,and that one incapable of moving against Conan. The leader seemed to believe that no man so largecould move fast enough to gain from this situation.In the next heartbeat, he died of that misjudgment. Conan's sword hissed in a deadly arc, endingwith a solid chunk ! as it clove the man's head. He wore a stained leather cap reinforced with rusty ironbars, but Conan's blade sliced through it as if it were parchment. Indeed, it sank so deep into the leader'sskull that for a moment the Cimmerian was not master of his own blade.With desperate courage, the archer drew his dagger and sought to grapple and stab. He grappled,but the stab ended in futility against the Cimmerian's mail. Then Conan's free hand slammed into thearcher's jaw hard enough to snap the man's neck and fling him backward into a tree, thereby cracking hisskull as well.Conan freed his sword, stepped free of the bodies, and faced the next bandit. The man had noweapon fit to face the dark-haired giant he saw before him, and no wish to die before his time. Judgingfrom the crashing in the bushes, his comrade felt likewise.Much to Conan's pleasure, neither of the surviving bandits thought to shout a warning to theircomrades on the far slope. The Cimmerian was free to move against those comrades as he wished.He knelt and examined the bow. It had suffered more than a trifle when his sword knocked it out ofthe archer's hands, but the dead man had a spare bowstring wound about his waist. With swift andsupple fingers, Conan restrung the bow, then drew one of the arrows from the ground and nocked it.The weapon would do well enough. It was not the curved horsebow Conan had learned to use inTuran, nor the stout Bossonian longbow. With the horse-bow, a man could put five arrows into aman-sized target at two hundred paces from the back of a galloping horse, with the last arrow in flightbefore the first struck. With the longbow, Bossonian yeomen could drive a shaft as long as a man's armthrough Aquilonian mail and a hand's breadth into the man under the mail.Conan had no need to do either today. All he had to do was to persuade the bandits across the trailthat enemies now stood where they had thought friends to be. Their own fear would do the rest, as theTuranian High Captain Khadjar had so often told those he thought worth teaching among the captains ofthe realm's irregulars."He who rules his mind on a battlefield will be the victor in the end," Khadjar once said. "He wholets fear rule it will be either a dishonored fugitive or fare for the vultures."Wise words from a wise man, now chasing Picts on the Aquilonian border—if no one had sent

assassins after him. Perhaps Raihna had heard something?Perhaps, but she needed to survive this battle to tell it. Conan jerked the string of the bow to hisear, then shot. The arrow darted through a gap in the trees to vanish in the forest across the trail.It needed two more arrows before anyone over there so much as cried out. Even then, it was acurse on a friend for ill-aimed archery. It was not until the sixth arrow that a scream told Conan of drawnblood.Two more arrows flew, and he was nocking yet another when the bandits did what he leastexpected. They attacked.Not four, but at least twice that many, charged out of the woods. Conan sent the nocked arrow intoone man's chest and he fell, writhing. The others came on. It seemed that they had the wits to know howto set their trap anew. Drive off this foe who had sprung from the earth and they would once morecommand both sides of the trail.The bandits had more than courage. They had luck, at least at first. Conan had no time to even thinkof picking his ground before the vanguard of the caravan spilled through the gap.In a moment, bandits, pack animals, and guards— both mounted and dismounted—were asmingled as a nest of serpents in the Vendhyan jungles. Conan did not dare shoot another arrow. He hadworked upon those bandits' minds, but not as he had intended. If this tangle of fighting men andfrightened animals lasted for more than moments, it would block the gap as tightly as ever the banditscould wish.When one road to victory was blocked, the Cimmerian never hesitated to take another. He flunghimself downhill, leaping bushes and rocks, darting around trees, both sword and dagger gleaming in hishands. Seeking surprise, he uttered no war cry, but the sound of his passage gave warning nonetheless.Fortunately, it was warning to friend and foe alike. The bandits on the trail turned to face him. Theguards had the wits to see this. When Conan burst onto the trail, the guards already thought him likely tobe a friend.This doubtless saved his life in the next moment. He thrust with his dagger at one opponent, but theman lunged for the Cimmerian's legs. The dagger thrust passed over the man, and Conan's sword wasoccupied with another opponent. Caught off balance, Conan reeled.Then a guard vaulted over a pack mule and landed on the back of the bandit gripping theCimmerian's legs. The guard drew no weapon and needed none. Above the din of the battle, Conanheard the man's spine crack and felt his arms ease their grip.Conan stepped clear of the dying bandit and held his other opponent at arm's length for a momentwith deft swordplay. Then his instincts warned of new danger. He feinted at the first man, whirled, andsliced from a bare, hairy shoulder an arm wielding a tulwar. The man shrieked, tried vainly to stanch theblood, then stopped shrieking as his strength failed him.By the time Conan could return to his first opponent, the man was dead. He had backed into easyreach of the guard, who had no lack of weapons or dearth of skill to use them. The bandit lay with agaping neck wound that half severed his head.By now the outpouring of blood was turning the rocky ground of the path into a ruddy ooze thatoffered precarious footing. Conan leaped onto a boulder, then down onto drier ground. This not onlygave him better footing, it put him closer to the foremost edge of the battle.A bandit who thought no foe was within reach learned otherwise as he bent to slit the saddlebags ofa dying horse. He died before the horse did as Conan gripped a greasy pigtail with one hand andrammed his dagger into the man with the other. The bandit fell on saddlebags already half-open andspilling vials and pots whose seals bore runes Conan did not recognize.The guard who'd already fought beside Conan came to join him, and now each man had a safeback as he faced the bandits. One of the bandits who had fled emerged from under a tangle of bushes,his courage renewed, or perhaps hoping for easy pickings.Whether from courage or greed, his return to the battle brought him only swift death. Conan was

ready for the bandit's leap into the middle of the fight. A stoutly booted foot shot up like a stone from asiege engine to catch the man in mid-leap. He doubled up with a sound that was half gasp, half scream.As he toppled to the ground, Conan's sword split the back of his skull.After that the battle swiftly took on the common shape of such affairs: a confused blur of steelflashing and clanging, men shouting and screaming, and bodies writhing or lying still. It began to seem toConan that he had far more opponents than the bandits could have furnished. He had a moment's chillingthought, that new bandits were indeed rising from the ground, or that those he had slain were comingback to life.A moment later he realized that the abundance of foes was owing to the bandits trying to flee pasthim. Raihna, or someone with his wits about him, had blocked the gap and thus the retreat of every foewho had passed through it. The gap was now working against the very men who had thought to use it.Their one remaining, thought was to flee, an endeavor that led them past Conan.This, in turn, led to butcher's work for the Cimmerian. When he finished, he awoke as from a dazeto find himself standing in the trail. He was bloody from chin to boots, his weapons hardly less so, and theground around him a mosaic of blood and bodies.As the battle rage ebbed, he noticed that the surviving guards were keeping their distance from him.One archer had not slung his bow, although he had not yet nocked an arrow. Another, a dark-faced,bearded man, was making what Conan recognized as a sign against the evil eye, over and over again."Raihna!" Conan shouted. The name came out like the croak of a giant frog. The Cimmerianrealized then that he must have been fighting like an Aesir berserker. Small wonder that even those hehad aided were wary of him!"Raihna!" This time the name came out as if spoken in a known human tongue. The guardsrecognized it and stared at him. The bearer of the name also recognized it but did not stare. Under thehelmet, her fair, freckled face had its own share of bloody smears. Now her features were drawntogether in an intent frown.Conan laughed. He could almost hear her wondering, "When in my travels did I meet this giantberserker, that he calls my name as if we were old friend?""Raihna of Bossonia," Conan said more quietly. "I am Conan the Cimmerian. I swear this, by thegods of my own people and by anything else you want me to swear by."He knew much about her that would remove all questions of who he was… and he doubted thatshe would much care for having these matters talked of in broad daylight before her men.Raihna's frown trembled, then vanished. Her full lips trembled also, before curving into a smile. In asingle fluid series of movements, she sheathed her sword, slid from her saddle, and crossed the bloodyground to the Cimmerian."Conan?" She sounded delighted and wondering at the same time."I've no twin brother that I know of, and no sorcerer has ever done much with an image of me.Trust me, Raihna. I am here.""Oh, Mitra!"For a moment it seemed to Conan that Raihna would swoon. He raised a hand, ready to save herfrom this indignity. It would cost her some obedience from her men, that he did not doubt. Without thebattle haze in his eyes, he saw them for a stout band who would not readily take orders from a woman.No, better said: would not take orders from most women.But Raihna was not most women. It hardly surprised Conan to see her with her own band ofcaravan guards in less than two years after she had left Turan as a simple guard in another's band.What did surprise him was that their paths should cross again here, in this dreary wilderness thatcalled itself the Border Kingdom. Yet that was most probably another tale best saved until later.Raihna now seemed to have regained command of herself. She reached up and tugged at a straylock of Conan's black hair."Gods, it is no bad thing to see you again. Better still, when you have put me—us—so much in your

debt. I swear that I will find some way to—""Pay that debt?" Conan said with a grim smile. Again thinking of her authority, he lowered his voice."Best pay it by rallying your men and moving on." He told of his own battle in the trees in a few words,leaving out altogether his first notions about joining the bandits."You have the right of it, Conan. If these wretches have friends, that one you put to flight may sendthem warning. And we are hardly in a fit state to meet them if they come."Raihna seemed to grow a hand's breadth in height, and Conan would have sworn that her eyesglowed. When she turned their gaze on her men and snapped out a half-score of commands, they leapedto obey as if a warrior goddess was among them.Conan resolved to worry less about Raihna's authority among her men and more about his ownwelcome. He would have her favor, but many in the southern lands did not know Cimmerians. Some ofthose, like fools everywhere, feared what they did not know.Seeing that Raihna had matters well in hand, Conan strode off uphill. He returned with the leader'sbody and the discarded weapons of the bandits he had slain."Best not to leave anything lying about that some witling can pick up," he said of the weapons.Raihna nodded, then looked a silent question about the body."He has some rank among these mongrels," Conan said. "There's also a public gallows a bit fartheron, at the foot of a hill with a ruined castle atop it. Hang this fellow up and it might send a message to anyfriends who think of trying us again."Raihna nodded. "You were always a longheaded man for one of your years."Conan laughed. "You make me sound like a green lad!""No," she said, and both her voice and her eyes held memories that made Conan's blood leap. "Nolad." Then she was the war captain again, calling to her men to contrive a pack animal or a litter for thebandit's body.Conan stood apart, smiling. The promise had been made and returned. Now they needed onlydarkness.

Chapter 3

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A few of Raihna's men wanted to track the fleeing bandits."Keep 'em from warnin' their friends, be there any," one man said."And loot anything the friends stole from other caravans, I'll be bound?" Raihna smiled as shespoke, but her voice was as hard as the rock where she sat."Well—I'll not deny that, Mistress.""Good. You're truthful, if not wise. We have four dead and six hurt past fighting again today. Thisforest is no place to be dividing our strength against foes who likely know it well."The man took the rebuke with a shrug and a smile and set to work mending the harness of a packmule. In less time than Conan needed for a meal at a good wineshop, the caravan was on the marchagain. As they retraced Conan's path from the ruined castle and gallows, the Cimmerian rode in the van.Raihna rode in the center, well out of earshot, which denied Conan the chance for a discreet word withher. Not that he would have taken it had they been riding side by side. Every eye and every ear wouldbe needed until they left the forest, and every mouth had best remain closed.

Clouds and the passing of the day had brought twilight to the land before they reached the gallows.It was then that Raihna drew rein beside the Cimmerian and studied the ruined village."I like not the looks of that place, Conan. Know you anything of it, for good or for ill?""You have no one from this realm among your men?""Folk of the Border Kingdom who have won free of it seem not overeager to return, I have learned.I had good men of my own, and no wish to burden them with fainthearts."Conan nodded. One willing man was worth three dragged into an undertaking. Moreover, a nativeof this land could well have been in league with the bandits."Castle or village?" Conan asked."The path up to the castle's too steep for the beasts, and I'll not be dividing the men here, either,"Raihna said."Then it's the village or sleep wet and cold tonight," Conan said, looking at the sky. It had grown yetmore sullen in the time they sat their mounts, watching the bandit's body rise to the gallows."That would ill serve our wounded," Raihna said. She cupped her hands. "Ho! We camp in thevillage tonight. Find the softest stones and the driest mud it offers, and see to the animals. Blue Watchtakes first guard."She turned to Conan. "That means me. The sergeant of Blue Watch is among the wounded. But Iwill not be awake all night."Conan grinned. "You mean, you'll not be standing guard all night. Whether you sleep or not—""You seem sure of your prowess, Cimmerian!""Have I no reason?"Raihna returned Conan's grin. "If you press me for an answer, I would not deny it. But before I seeto the men—what brought you from Turan? The service of spylord Mishrak again?"Conan suggested that Mishrak defiled he-goats and pissed in wells, then laughed. "Not Mishrak,nor anyone in Turan, bade me here. Indeed, the farther the better from Turan for a few years."He told of his final year in the Turanian service and of how it had ended in flight when a high-rankingofficer took offense at the Cimmerian's ways with the man's mistress. He told more briefly of his travelsafterward, north to Cimmeria and then south again."I doubt not that Mishrak had a finger in one or two of my journeys before I dusted Turanian soilfrom my boots," Conan said. "But Crom spare me from ever having to serve him again as we once did."A shadow passed over Raihna's face, and she gripped Conan's hand. Then she smiled again anddismounted. "I must be about my work. You see to our mounts and baggage, and I will join you in goodtime." Conan watched Raihna stride toward where her men were tethering the pack animals and unloadingthem. She was as fair as ever to a man's eye, but it seemed that far more years than before sat upon hershoulders.No, it was not the years. It was the weight of being a captain, a weight the Cimmerian had come toknow rather better than he wished.If Raihna was southward bound after finishing her work here in this godless wilderness, perhaps heshould join her. A captain's burden could be lighter if borne on two sets of shoulders.

Aybas had slept much of the day, for the night before had been as hideous as ever a night ofsacrifice could be. It seemed to him that the Pougoi wizards were in fear of something mightier thanthemselves, or of their sworn foe, or of both. In their fear, they were sending the warriors farther andfarther abroad to snatch victims for their beast.Last night there had been no less than five victims - one a girl-child years from womanhood. Fivevictims, and no piper playing in the night to give the chained wretches a chance at a clean death. No piper

to unsettle the Star Brothers—and Aybas realized more and more that it pleased him to see thosebearded bloodsuckers rolling their eyes with fear of the unknown!The gods only knew that he himself had been doing enough of that since he took the service thathad led him here. What kept Aybas at his work now was the knowledge that he might be near to finishingit. He also knew that if he fled without finishing the work, he was unlikely to leave the Border Kingdomalive. He had come too far to leave his bones in the wilderness out of fear or whim.The knocking on the door of his hut was loud enough to awaken a dead man, so Aybas listened tothe voices with his senses alert. He had his sword drawn before he undid the latch to admit a StarBrother. Before he slammed the door behind the man, he saw that the guards standing outside wore longfaces. "What has the piper done now? Frightened your pet into a fit?"The Star Brother glared and made what Aybas hoped were useless gestures of aversion. Aybasdecided to guard his tongue. True, Count Syzambry needed the Pougoi warriors, but he needed thewizards to keep the warriors willing to do his bidding. For that the wizards needed their pet—and theirpet needed its horrid food."Lowlander, we rejoice in the gold your master sends. But as for you, we can ill-speak you moreeasily than you might imagine."Aybas was not sure whether the wizard meant that he would carry tales to the count or cast a spell.The Aquilonian decided not to hazard either."Forgive me. I slept ill and have—" not a fever, he would not say that for fear the wizards would tryto heal him "—a flux." Yes, a flux. Even here in this wizard-haunted wilderness, they healed fluxes withherbs and wise women's simples, not with spells passed down from places and times far better lost to thememory of man!"Have you summoned the wise woman?" the wizard asked."No, but I will do so at once when you have spoken. The ills of my flesh are of small importance ifyou bring great news."The flattery ended the rites of aversion without gaining a smile. The Star Brother inclined his head inwhat he no doubt thought was a gracious gesture."The news is not yet great, but soon will be. The first band is ready and will do its work tonight, atthe hunting lodge.""Is it known if both Princess Chienna and her son are in residence?""Of the princess, we can be certain. Of the babe, my Brother seems less sure."Aybas would have prayed that old King Eloikas's grandson Prince Urras was absent from the lodgewhere his mother lay. Prayers rising from this land, however, seemed more likely to draw the wrath of thegods than their favor.So he merely hoped that the babe would be absent and that only his mother princess Chiennawould be abducted tonight. That would be enough to either bring the old king to heel and win Chienna'shand for Count Syzambry or to force Eloikas into open warfare against the count. In either case, Aybaswould be done with wizards, if not with the Border Kingdom!But that happy time was yet to come. Now Aybas could not ask even one Star Brother to leave hishut. Indeed, the man seemed to have more news, if one could read as much of his countenance asshowed above his beard."Has aught gone ill elsewhere?""A band of the Free Friends—" the name the bandits of the realm gave themselves "—sought towhile away the time by taking a royal caravan. It would have been a shrewd blow had they done thework and lived to guard our folks' path homeward.""But they did not?""All but a handful who fled died. Those who fled spoke of a giant, conjured from stone and set

loose among them. Our foes seem to have more spells at their command than we had thought.""Or more men?" Aybas withheld a sigh. "Look you, Brother. All the gods be witness, you and yourcomrades know more of magic than I had thought mortal men had it in them to apprehend. But I knowrather more of war and battle as they are waged outside these hills. Rather than fear sorcery, fear lest thecaravan has taken some of the Friends prisoner and forced them to reveal what they know of our plans.Bid the men who take the princess to retreat by a different route, to hide by day and march by night, tospeak to no one, and to delay for nothing save the end of the world!"That will do as much against our enemies as any spell you can cast or any score of folk youmight…"— he would not say, "let your pet slaughter"—"take up.""Will you never be done with insolence, Lowlander?"It was in Aybas's mind to say that his insolence was a child's compared to that of Count Syzambry.But he held his peace. Let the wizards find out what manner of man they had bound themselves to whenthe count ruled in this land. It would be a harsh lesson, and by then Aybas would be well-hidden, farfrom the Border Kingdom."Forgive me again if I give offense. It is not my wish to do so. But it is very much my wish that workso well begun should not fail now through simple mischance.""The message you set forth will be sent, Aybas. Will that content you?""Entirely." Aybas knew that he would not have won more had he offered the wizards the treasury ofthe priests of Set!

The clouds that had loomed overhead through the twilight passed on without dropping more than acupful of rain. Conan saw lightning and heard the crash of thunder to the west as the storm moved on, butthe caravan made a dry camp.Although Conan had no duties once he had unpacked Raihna's baggage, he took his share of thecamp duties nonetheless. It was plain that some among the men had guessed that he and Raihna wereonce lovers. It was plainer still that all wished to know more about this man to whom they most likelyowed their lives.So Conan drank as much as he wished and could have drunk more than was wise. He brought hissword to the armorer to be examined for nicks. Cimmerian work was not often seen by armorers fromthe south, and Cimmerian swords wielded with deadly effect by the sons of Cimmerian smiths hardlyever. Conan and the armorer had a pleasant enough chat over the wine.He helped a groom oil leather saddlebags that showed signs of cracking. He helped two newlyhired boys repack vials of herbs and simples nastily scooped up from the ground where they had fallenduring the fight. He helped another boy with a potter's deft hands for clay mend a broken jug that heldsomething foul-smelling beyond all belief."This will give King Eloikas a great power against his enemies, or so it is said," the potter explained."Phaugh!" Conan said, yearning for fresh air or, at least, the closing of the jug. "What will he do?Invite them all to dine and then unstopper this jug at the banquet? Surely enough, the stink will slay themall." The potter frowned and did not reply. Conan felt a chill of unease deep within. Was King Eloikasdabbling in sorcery? Even if he did so because his enemies had begun it, Conan wanted no part of suchduels of magic. If Raihna was going toward the place of such a duel, he was honor-bound to follow heras far as she went. But he would hope that it was not too far, or that if it was, a stoutly wielded swordcould win him free again.In twenty-three years of life, the Cimmerian had learned that sorcerers seldom made a good end.They also made an even worse end for far too many other folk before they came to their own."Forget that I asked," Conan said. "I bear King Eloikas no ill will. I will even bear his ill-smellinggifts, if I must."

The potter's frown eased. They chatted briefly, and then Conan moved on to the hut where thewounded lay. There were five of them now, for one had died since reaching the village. As Conanentered, the leech was kneeling beside a man who was clearly taking his last breaths.Man? Boy, rather; hardly older than Conan had been when he first felt the lash of the slaver's whip.A boy, dying far from home and clearly fearing that he had not done well in his first and only battle.Conan knelt beside the lad's pallet. "Easy, there. What is your name?""Rasmussen, Cap… tain.""Aesir or Vanir?""Vanir!" Even dying, the boy had the strength for indignation. Conan smiled."Did you… did you see me fighting? Did I do well?" Rasmussen gasped. His northern fairness hadturned the color of fresh-fallen snow. Only his eyes held color now."Twice, when I had time to look about." Conan said. He had not in fact laid eyes on the boy untilthis evening, but this was one of those lies that any honest man would tell and any god forgive."I did well?""Rass, your strength—" the leech began."I… tell me, Captain!""You paid your way, Rasmussen," Conan said. "Few can do more in their first fight, and many donot do as much.""Conan tells the truth," came Raihna's voice from behind Conan. "I made a good bargain when Itook you on."But she was talking to a set face and staring eyes. After a moment, she joined the two men besidethe pallet and with her sword-callused thumbs, closed the boy's eyes. Then she swayed, and Conancontrived to keep her from falling without appearing to do so.Presently Raihna was in command of herself again. No words were needed as they walked back tothe hut Conan had chosen for them. Still in silence, they sat across from each other while Conan pouredthe last wine from a skin into two wooden cups."To old comrades," Raihna said. They clicked cups, then drank. When her cup was empty, Raihnawiped her mouth with the back of her hand and regained something of her old manner. Then she shookher head with a rueful grin."Conan, I wish I had half your skill in telling lies to soothe the dying.""What lies?" the Cimmerian growled. "I said the lad had done as well as any man does in his firstfight. He did not run, and all of his wounds were in front. That is as well as most men do."Raihna shook her head again. "Conan, you were born a hundred years old."Conan threw his head back and his laughter raised echoes in dusty corners. "Tell that to the thievesof Zingara. It was said, when I was learning their craft, that a wise thief would not be caught in the samequarter of the city with Conan the Cimmerian. The great lout would warn his prey, the watch, all soldierssober or drunk, and even the fleas on the watchdogs!""They said that of you?""Not to my face, I grant you. But, in their cups, some forgot that I was hearing. I let it pass."He pulled off his boots. "But telling tales of my past will be dry work with the wine gone. What ofyou? Caravan guarding seems to have done well for you."Raihna's men seemed well-seasoned, save for the lads, and they were certainly well-armed. Theywere also well-furnished with things like purgative herbs and spare boots. Conan had known the lack ofsuch small matters to leave great gaps in the ranks of a company, even if it had no enemy to face.Raihna wore baggy leather trousers—unable to disguise the long, supple legs within—that hungdown over the best sort of Argossean riding boot. The dagger on her belt was of good Aquilonian work,as was the mail now lying in the corner. Her tunic was red Khitan silk, tight enough to set off breasts thatseemed as fine as ever.

"I have been one of the lucky ones," she said. Her tale followed swiftly, for it was a short one.Caravan guarding drew many men, but kept few. They fell to bandits, to disease, and hardship, to thetemptation to steal from the caravans. If they survived all those, they sometimes fell prey to meredisenchantment at discovering that the distant cities of their dreams had no towers of ivory or womenclinking with gold."I survived all the perils and thereby learned to keep others alive as well," Raihna concluded. "Afterthat it was a simple matter to win my own band. It was not so simple to win it a reputation.""Is that why you're here?"She nodded. "King Eloikas had a fair selection of goods to bring home but only ten of his own mento guard it. His steward would not make a free gift to the bandits. Most guards would not give thesteward a civil answer. The Border Kingdom has a reputation as a place of hard rocks and still hardermen." "I've seen nothing to make me doubt that.""Nor have I. But I grew up poor in Bossonia. A land such as this holds few terrors for me, andwhere I would go, my men would follow.""Where are the king's men?""They rode on ahead this morning to warn the captain-general of our coming.""Or so they said," Conan growled under his breath. The unknown captain-general might not be theonly one they had warned. And there was the matter of the stuff of sorcery he had seen in some of thebags. The Cimmerian rose and turned away. Before her men he would uphold Raihna's authority with thelast drop of his blood and the last stroke of his sword. Alone with her, he had to ask a few bluntquestions, the gods grant without making her fling the wine jug at him—He turned back to the woman, and thoughts of serious matters fled his mind like rats from a burningbarn. Raihna had pulled off her tunic, and above the waist she wore only the dressing over the cut on herribs. As Conan watched, she kicked off her boots, then pushed the riding breeches down those longlegs. The breeches were a more practical garment than a tavern dancer's silks, but somehow they cameoff as swiftly."You are as fair as ever," Conan said.Raihna mimed a kick at his manhood. "Shape your tongue to wiser words, Cimmerian. Few womenturn into wrinkled hags in a year. Or spare your words and speak to me without them."She held out her arms. The invitation could not be denied, nor did Conan refuse it.It was long before they slept, and when they did, it was the kind of sleep that is near-kin to death.They did not hear thunder without lightning roll through the hills. Nor did they hear, closer to hand, thesoft but insistent call of pipes.

Aybas heard the thunder. He also heard the cry of the Star Brothers' pet. Where he was, a deadman might have heard it. He was standing at the very foot of the dam.It was a cry unlike any he had ever heard, even from a creature that seemed able to make thesounds of every earthly animal. It was a long, whistling moan, with an ugly bubbling note beneath thewhistle and the moan. It was a sound that no human ears should have heard, a sound from another world,where evil reigned crying out to the world of men. Evil for which no human tongue had words, but whichAybas feared he might soon be meeting.That fear took away much of his pleasure at the news that Princess Chienna and her captors weresafely away from their pursuers. He did not know if the babe was also captive, but from the wizards'refusal to speak of it, he judged not. That made the news even better. Or did, until the thunder rolled andthe beast cried.

It was some consolation for his own fear that the Star Brothers seemed quite as fearful. Perhaps itwas not only Aybas who harbored thoughts of evil reaching out from a world beyond the world, an evilhungry and yearning to feed that hunger, an evil perhaps soon to slip past all restraint.Aybas spoke more sharply than usual when he addressed the Star Brother who seemed to have themost command of himself. "What is this? Is your pet sick?""It is in fear," the other replied. Aybas did not even bother to turn away before making the gesturesof aversion. Whatever could put the wizards' pet in fear was something no man in his senses should notalso fear.Thunder rumbled again, and Aybas and the wizards cringed. But the creature beyond the wall madeno reply to the thunder. Searching the dark sky, Aybas saw lightning flash beyond a distant peak thatbore a rounded bare summit horribly resembling a skull.It was natural thunder, the gods be praised! Aybas stopped his gestures before the wizards noticedthem and took offense. Then he saw that they were too busy jabbering among themselves to notice himeven should he begin beating a drum and chanting war songs!Aybas slipped away and crossed the valley floor toward the village. Halfway across, he saw twofigures half-hidden in a stand of spiceberry bush. The next flash of lightning showed him Wylla's copperyhair and long-fingered hands lifted in prayer. Beside her rose the familiar massive bulk of Thyrin, herfather.Prayer, or some woman's rite? The Star Brothers might be interested to know that Wylla could bedoing that which they had forbidden. This might be Aybas's long-sought opportunity to win Wylla'sgratitude for saving her.Yet somehow the idea no longer drew Aybas onward as strongly as it had, even though thoughts ofWylla still did. Having unnecessary dealings with the Star Brothers was too great a price to pay for anywoman!With victory so close, it was best to bide his time, then speak to Count Syzambry. The count coulddeal with the unruly among the Pougoi should any protest at seeing one of their clanswomen sold awayfrom the valley.Of course, the count might refuse his acquiescence. But even then, Aybas would be dealing with amortal man—an ambitious man, to be sure, one who would stop at little to rule in this wretched land—but not with a wizard, one who sent messages without a messenger and tamed creatures from beyond theworld.

"Mistress Raihna, Mistress Raihna!"The shouting slowly penetrated Conan's ears. He sat up and willed sleep from his muscles and wits.In two swift strides he was at the hut door.Behind him he saw tanned limbs flash as Raihna scrambled into her garments. Conan unbarred thedoor and allowed the man pounding on it to open it a hand's breadth."Mistress Raihna! Mistress Raihna!" the man repeated."Are we attacked again?" Raihna called.The man made no answer. Instead his mouth opened slightly as he stared at the Cimmerian loomingin the crack. The Cimmerian, in the same hut as Mistress Raihna, and not fully garbed.Conan heard that thought as if the man had been shouting it. He saw the man bend to peer througha crack between the door's weathered planks. Then the man straightened abruptly as a large handgripped the collar of his much-mended shirt.Jerking the man to his feet, Conan opened the door wider but stood to block any view into the hut."Your captain has asked you a question, my friend," he said with dangerous softness. "Is it your habit toignore commands from her?""Ghhh—" the man replied. Conan realized that his hand on the man's collar was depriving him of

speech, and he loosened his grip. The man rubbed his neck, started to glare at the Cimmerian, thenseemed to think better of it."There's a Count Syzambry outside the village, ah—""Conan of Cimmeria, once of the Turanian service," Raihna said. She was only just decently clad asshe stepped into the doorway, but she wore sword, dagger, and helmet over scanty garments."Ah, Mistress, Captain Conan. Count Syzambry says that the Princess Chienna was abducted lastnight. He wants to question all of us and search the camp and the baggage.""I'll see him buried in camel dung first!" Raihna snapped."Mistress, he has fifty men with him.""Has, or says he has?" Conan asked.The man looked dubious about Conan's authority to ask, then cringed at Raihna's look andshrugged. "No one has seen more than twenty, and they are still outside the village.""Good. Keep them there until I come," Raihna said."Yes, Mistress."The door slammed behind the man and they heard his feet running off. Conan and Raihna looked ateach other.Even if Count Syzambry had no more than twenty men, that was more than Raihna had. If he hadthe fifty he claimed to have, he might be a worse menace than the bandits.Raihna threw her arms around Conan and let him hold her against his massive chest for a moment.Then she kissed him and stepped back."Guard my back and your tongue, friend. We haven't brought King Eloikas's goods this far to losethem now to some son of a she-ass calling himself a count!"

Chapter 4

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Syzambry was a small man who sat on a square-built roan stallion as if he had grown in the saddle.He wore a plate back-and-breast, an open-faced helm plumed in scarlet, and a well-used broadswordready for a left-handed draw.The helmet hid most of his face but left exposed a bushy dark beard shot with gray, a jutting rednose, and large dark eyes. The count was staring about as if he wished to make folk believe those eyescould see into a man's soul.Conan, remembering some of the mortal men and other-than-mortal beings he had faced, was notmuch bothered by the count's playacting."Temple pageants are this one's talent, not leading fighting men," the Cimmerian muttered.Raihna was close enough to squeeze his arm, feel the rock hardness of its muscles, and whisper inhis ear. "For your life—and mine, Conan—be silent until I give you leave to speak."Conan jerked his head in a nod. Speaking out of turn might provoke Count Syzambry to folly. Or itmight make a shrewder man wonder if he faced dividing foes, whose quarrels he could turn to hisadvantage.Conan now stepped back and studied the count's men without seeming to do so. They were a goodtwenty and more. None of them was as well-mounted as the count, nor as well-armored. Conan sawmuch mail among the men and noted a few unfortunates with no more than boiled-leather jacks sewnwith iron rings.Their weapons were better fitted for battle. All had swords, and most of them had either shorthorse-bows or crossbows. Conan could only guess at their stock of arrows and quarrels. He feared that

they had sufficient to win any fight Raihna's men were foolish enough to provoke.Conan was not the only one to see that. Raihna's men took one look at their visitors, a second attheir captain's gestures. Then they seemed to vanish into the air, to put stout walls between themselvesand the count's men.A man darted out from behind Raihna's hut and came close enough for Conan to hear his whisper."We are gathered in the heart of the village. Shall we start blocking the streets?"Raihna shook her head. "Put the archers where they can see and shoot in all directions. Don't forgetthe castle side of the village, either. If His Bearded-ness has any more men, he may well send some ofthem over the hill to take us in the rear.""The gods be with you, Mistress.""And with all of you, too."The man vanished. Raihna struck her left arm with her right hand. "I wish we had gone up to thecastle. It would be easier to defend.""We'd still be getting the pack animals up the path… if they hadn't fallen off and squashedthemselves like grapes," Conan muttered. "Small use to worry about what might have been.""Another saying of Captain Khadjar?""Any man with his wits about him learns that before he's been in five battles, or he's vulture'sfodder."Raihna folded her arms across her breasts. "Count Syzambry. I am Raihna the Bossonian, captainover this caravan and its guards.""So I have been led to believe. I was also led to believe that you had royal men with you. Whereare they?"Raihna repeated what she had told Conan. Syzambry's laugh was mirthless. Raihna flushed, and itwas Conan's turn to grip her arm."I am Conan of Cimmeria, once of the hosts of Turan, and under-captain to Mistress Raihna. I ask,what is the jest?"Syzambry stared at Conan. His laughter this time was forced as the Cimmerian stared back.Ice-blue eyes caught and held dark ones. It was the dark ones that looked away and a gloved hand thattwitched as if it sought the hilt of a sword."I do not say that you lie," the count said. "But without the royal men watching you, much mighthave happened against the king's good. Against your good, Mistress Raihna, if you value your reputationas an honest captain.""Nothing happened," Raihna said. "Certainly nothing that bears on the matter of Princess Chienna'sabduction. The first we knew of it was when your man summoned my guard.""Yes, and if he had let my men into your camp, we would not be standing here glaring at each otherlike two packs of wolves over a scrawny stag." The count's eyes gave the lie to the soft-seeming words."The guard had my orders, and I have orders from King Eloikas. One of them is to let no onequestion the men or search the baggage unless he bears a royal writ."Count Syzambry sniffed. "A nobleman such as I bears such a writ by birth. You need have no fearof disobeying the king by obeying me.""Forgive me, my lord, if I seem doubtful," Raihna said. "We are strangers in this land. We know notits laws or customs, so we cannot judge the truth of what you speak."Conan saw that she wanted to add, "And we cannot judge whether you are a count or not," butdrew back from such an insult."I am the judge here," the count said. It was next to a snarl. The fingers writhed again. Conan eyedthe distance between himself and the count. The man had made a serious mistake, perhaps withoutrealizing it. He stood between where Conan and Raihna stood and those of his archers who had goodshots at the opposing captains.

With only a trifle of luck, Conan could have the little man off his horse and down in the dust beforethe archers could shoot. If that came to pass, the fight would take a very different path.The count glanced at Conan again. The Cimmerian tried to look as harmless as a lamb and to standas motionless as an oak tree. From the rider's change of countenance, Conan thought he had succeeded.The count opened his mouth to speak. His intended words died unuttered as a pack mule brayed inthe village. Shouts echoed the mules, some of them in voices Conan recognized. Others were the voicesof strangers shouting "Steel Hand!"Conan looked to Raihna. She nodded. He whirled toward the village. The count gave a wordlessyell, and Conan heard crossbows cocking.Conan continued to whirl, scooping up a stone as he did. He flung the stone with the force of asling, driving it into the flank of Count Syzambry's horse. The roan squealed and reared, catching thecount unready. He clutched frantically at the saddle, the mane, the reins, anything that would keep himfrom tumbling to the ground.Meanwhile, Conan's free arm looped around Raihna's supple waist. Snatching her off the ground,he ran for the cover of the village. Behind him, the count was still struggling to keep his saddle, nevermind control his mount."If that little jackal in man's shape shields us for a moment longer—" Conan began. The whistle ofarrows cut into his words. Arrows and bolts began sprouting from walls and kicking up dust.Count Syzambry screamed curses. His mount screamed in pain. Conan judged that some ill-aimedshot had struck home in the roan. The archery slackened but did not cease.Ahead, a vacant hut offered a gaping window. Conan flung Raihna through it like a wharf manflinging a bale aboard ship. Then he followed, landing almost on top of her."Ekkkh, Conan!" Raihna gasped. "Watch my fingers if you want my sword in this battle!" Conanstepped back as Raihna sprang nimbly to her feet and drew her blade. Outside, the archery had endedand the count's curses were dying away.The din from the rear of the village had redoubled. It was still more the hurling of insults and warcries than the clashing of steel. Conan set his shoulder against the sagging door of the hut. Wood andleather gave with a ripping crack, nearly tumbling the Cimmerian onto the ground. Recovering himself, heled Raihna toward the rear of the village.Conan allowed himself only a glance at the fight there, sufficient to tell friend from foe. The men whohad come down the hill numbered at least a dozen; enough to hold Raihna's at bay, not enough to presshome an attack.The attackers also lacked the wits to post flank guards. Conan and Raihna took full advantage ofthis error. They hurled themselves against the flank of the enemy, wielding the flat of their swords likeberserkers. All of Conan's instincts told him to leave foes dying, not merely stunned. But everything hehad learned of warcraft since his youth told him that Count Syzambry would stop at nothing to bring himdown were he to slaughter the count's men.Himself and Raihna and Raihna's men. Alone, Conan knew that he could show all the counts of theBorder Kingdom a clean pair of heels. He doubted that any Border Kingdom lordling's writ ran far intoNemedia or Aquilonia!But with duties to Raihna and her men, Conan was not free to wreak bloody havoc among thecount's men. He had to use his strength and speed to put them in fear without littering the village streetswith their corpses.This he did with terrifying skill. At least it terrified the count's men, who gave way as quickly as ifConan had actually butchered half of them. He cracked heads, broke sword arms, kicked men in thestomach, and punched them in the back of the neck. Beside him, Raihna did the same with somewhatless strength, but hardly with less speed or effect.Together they rolled up the enemy's line as quickly as thieves rolling up a stolen tapestry. Those ofthe count's men who had time to see the fate of their comrades did not wait to meet their own. They

turned and fled out of the village and up the hill.Raihna's archers on the roofs began shooting. Raihna screamed at them to stop. They heard, butthey did not obey at once."No more blood, you witlings!" Conan roared. "No more blood and we can still win free of this!""Tell that to—" someone began.Conan did not spend time in arguing. He leaped high, clutched the ankles of the nearest archer andbrought him down with a crash on the hut's roof. Rotten timbers and thatching gave under the man'sweight and he plunged through the roof in a cloud of dust. From inside, Conan heard curses that provedthe man was shaken rather than hurt."Mistress," a man called in a more moderate tone. "Garzo is hurt to death, and two others haveshed blood. That says nothing of the pack animals hurt or slain. We owe the bastards for that!""We owe King Eloikas the safe arrival of his goods!" Raihna snapped. "We will fight or not as it willhelp us honor our bond. You swore to obey me in that. Will you stand foresworn in the face of theenemy and before a man who knows how to use strength and wits?"This speech drew an eloquent silence. Conan knew that Raihna's power over her men was fraying.He hoped that the last few strands would hold until either Count Syzambry saw reason or the fight beganin good earnest.A whistling warned Conan in time. He flung himself one way, Raihna the other, as arrows from thehill sprinkled the village. More pack animals screamed. A mule cantered down the street, blood gushingfrom its throat. At the corner, it collapsed. A scrubby but stout-legged pony broke into a gallop, towardthe count's men. Arrows jutted from its flanks and rump. As it passed the dying mule, more arrowssprouted from it and it reared, then also collapsed."I'd wager they're trying to keep us here if they can't beat us down," Conan told Raihna."Keep us here until they can bring up more men?""Why not? I'd also wager that if none come before nightfall, we can win clear then. For now, theyseem to lack the stomach for a close fight.""We can hardly win free with the animals to consider.""There are times—""There are times when you are too free in telling me how to do my work, Conan!""Truth is truth, whether I speak or stay silent."Raihna shook her head as if that could make matters otherwise. Then she wiped her eyes with atattered sleeve. The movement lifted breasts that her garb hardly hid. Bruised, grazed, and dusty as shewas, Raihna could have walked into any tavern and danced her way to a purseful of silver.The archery now slackened from both the hill and the valley side of the village. Conan swung himselfonto a roof and lay low enough to be invisible, high enough to see clearly.The count was waving his arms so wildly that he seemed to have more than two. After a momentConan realized that Syzambry had the wits to know what he faced here: men who could defendthemselves well enough if they had warning of an enemy's plans. Commanding his men by silent handsignals, Syzambry must be hoping for surprise.That he was planning on attacking at all raised Conan's hopes. Syzambry's men from the hill had losthalf of their strength and were past fighting, or they were still fleeing. The count had barely the means withwhich to attack a foe standing on familiar ground, well-armed and under captains who knew their work.Conan remained on the roof for some time. The vermin swarming in the thatch left their customaryhaunts for tastier prey. They drew no response from the Cimmerian, not even a twitch. He had learnedthe art of silence and stillness while fighting the mountain tribes of the Turanian frontier. Against them, tomove was to die.A whistle, a thump, and the smell of smoke at last made Conan move. Looking to the right, he sawsmoke curling up from the thatch of the next hut.

Fire arrows!Briefly, Conan cursed Count Syzambry's wits and the scantiness of last night's rain. If the ancientthatch of the village had been well-soaked, the count could never have used this trick. As Conan finishedcursing, three arrows plummeted into the thatch of his own hut. All three of them must have struck a drypatch; for flames rose almost at once, then leaped toward the Cimmerian fast enough to singe his hair;Conan rolled toward the edge of the hut. The thatching sagged under him, and he heard a mutedcrack of wood. Then a roof beam gave way, and burning thatch, unburned thatch, timbers, and Conancrashed to the floor of the hut.The Cimmerian leaped to his feet, beating out smoldering patches on his clothes and in his hair. Ashe finished the work, Raihna appeared. Her light linen trousers now covered less than did mostloin-guards, and her shirt consisted of rags that threatened to part company with one another at anymoment.Her garb might be in disarray, but her wits were not. "I have the men gathering the most importantgoods now. They know what those are." For a moment, her lips trembled. "You were right. We shallappear before King Eloikas as little more than beggers and pray—"She could not go on. Conan wanted to hold her but doubted that they had the time, or that shewould take comfort from it."Raihna. We'll need a rear guard to hold the village while the rest of the men go over the hill. Thatwill have to be the way, so that Syzambry's mounted archers can't follow. Give me two or three men, onean archer, and I'll make that rear guard.""Conan . . ." She stared at him as if he had started speaking in Khitan, or had turned into a dragon."In Crom's name, we haven't the time for arguing!" he almost shouted. "I'm the best man for thework. Give me some good men at my back and flank and I'll do it."Raihna's hand came up. For a moment, Conan braced himself for a slap. Then her hand came therest of the way and lightly brushed his cheek.They were standing there, knowing that time and foes pressed, when deep-toned war trumpetssounded outside. First, one in the far distance, beyond the hill. Then another, answering it from closer by.Finally, two more, which grew louder as they sounded.By the time the last trumpet blast died, Conan heard the sound of many horses, swelling rapidly. Hepushed Raihna lightly on one bare shoulder."Time for you to run and for me to fight. I think the count's friends are coming."

Decius, captain-general of the Hosts of the Border, knew what might come of sounding thetrumpets. If Count Syzambry was at the village and had the wits to heed the warning, his men could showDecius's men a clear pair of heels.The captain-general prayed to every lawful god, however, that Syzambry would be driven todesperation instead of to flight. If the count hurled his men into the village so that Decius could catch themred-handed—King Eloikas would not much care for a battle if Syzambry escaped. But if the battle put an end tothe count and his scheming and treachery, the king would forgive his captain-general much more thanthat. Decius leaned forward in his saddle, then drew himself upright. A captain-general could not appearuneasy, not when he led no more than a score of men toward battle against perhaps twice their number.The villager who had warned of Syzambry's march might have miscounted, but Syzambry could indeedhave fifty men.As the trumpets sounded again, Decius nodded to his banner bearer. The banner of the Silver Bearrose and stood out in the wind. Decius nodded to his squire, riding almost boot to boot with him, and thelad handed over his master's shield.

The stout oval of metal-rimmed oak settled on Decius's arm like a familiar friend. He did not drawhis sword. It was not yet. time to be reduced to guiding his horse with his knees, not over such roughground.A final blast on the trumpets echoed from the hillside. The captain-general's men spurred theirhorses to a trot as they rounded the final bend in the trail.Before them stood Castle Dembi and the equally ruined village at the foot of its hill. Half of the hutsin the village seemed to be aflame. On the hillside sprawled the bodies of men and animals. A column ofheavily burdened men on foot was scrambling past the bodies.Decius reined in before the ruins of the village shrine. The ground about him showed the traces ofmany shod horses. A cloud of dust on the trail leading into the forest showed where the horsemen hadgone. "Who comes here?" a rough voice shouted from the village.Decius was not accustomed to being so addressed, not since he had won his spurs at seventeen.But if whoever shouted had just survived a fight against Syzambry's minions, he had good cause forsuspicion."Servants of King Eloikas," Decius replied. He would not name himself lest it provide Syzambry'srear guard an easy victory."Advance and be recognized." The voice was still harsh, but now it sounded like a seasonedcaptain's.Decius dismounted, threw his shield in front of himself, drew his sword, and advanced past theshrine. He had taken five steps beyond that when the voice came again."Far enough, thank you.""Easy, Conan," came a second voice, which Decius would have sworn was a woman's. "He bearsDecius's Silver Bear, quartered with the arms of the kingdom. I'd wager it's Decius himself."What sounded like a brief dispute followed, too low-voiced for Decius to understand. Then twomen— no, one was a woman—strode from a hut to face him.The man overtopped Decius by nearly a head. He wore a sooty shirt and breeches, boots, and aserviceable broadsword. The woman—"Mistress Raihna! It was you, then?" The villager had also spoken of a caravan sheltering for thenight at Dembi village. Catching Count Syzambry looting any caravan could mean the end of the man.Catching him looting the long-awaited royal caravan guarded by Mistress Raihna's company—"It is," the woman said. "Does that displease you?"Decius realized that his disgust at driving Syzambry into flight must show on his face. "It does notdisplease me at all, Mistress Raihna."He wanted to add, "Nor do you," which would have been the truth, but perhaps one best left toanother time. The description of Raihna he had from the steward had said that she was fair to the eye, butnot how fair. That was easy to judge now, considering how little she wore.As Raihna had the reputation of a captain with her wits about her, Decius was certain that this wasnot her common fighting garb. But there was no denying that in it she both drew and pleased the eye. Fora moment, Decius wished the black-haired giant standing at Raihna's shoulder anywhere but here."I only wish that Count Syzambry had not fled at our trumpets. I had hoped to drive him into a final,desperate attack. Then—""Well, the gods be thanked you didn't," the giant growled. "You'd be laying out our bodies how, aswell as our men's.""Who are you?" Decius asked. Ceremony seemed wasted on this man."Forgive me, my lord," Raihna said. "This is Conan the Cimmerian… in this band, captain underme." The last words drew a few bawdy laughs from Decius's men. Neither Conan nor Raihna replied,

although Decius saw Raihna's nostrils flare. Her nose, he observed, was as well formed as was the rest ofher. "Well, Captains," Decius said, "I trust that it was Count Syzambry who fled?""If he's a small man with large pride whose men shout 'Steel Hand" as a war cry—" Raihna began."You have met Syzambry. Tell me more."The tale went swiftly, and Decius found himself listening carefully to Conan even while he observedRaihna. The Cimmerian seemed to have his wits about him more than most, for all that he could not haveseen twenty-five summers. But then, it was battles rather than years that seasoned a captain. Deciusknew that well—indeed, better than a reasonable man could wish.When they finished talking, Decius saw that his men were looking at Conan and Raihna with openadmiration. He would have done the same had he not had duties to his king."Well, call your hill-climbers back," Decius said. "I think we can be out of here before noon.""We no longer have all of our mounts or pack animals," Raihna said."You just told me that," Decius said, letting impatience creep into his voice. "If some of your men, aswell as mine, can walk, we shall be able to carry all the packs.""And the wounded?" It was the Cimmerian who spoke, in a voice like a grindstone sharpening awar ax."They can wait until I reach a castle that has men to spare. There are several on the—""No," Conan said, more politely than before. "Raihna, if Decius insists, I will stay behind with thewounded. Otherwise, Syzambry will be sending men back to cut their throats or to torture knowledgefrom them."Decius decided that the Cimmerian had passed the test. The man could have proposed that thepacks stay behind, perhaps with himself as guard. Or he could have been careless of the wounded.He had done neither. He had not only his wits about him, but some notions of honor. Raihna hadnot brought a cuckoo or, still worse, a serpent, into the Border realm. Too many men had come wearingfairer guises than the Cimmerian and left red ruin behind them."If most of us walk, your wounded can ride as well," Decius said. "This will mean camping tonightrather than reaching a castle.""I am sworn to my men and they to me," Raihna said firmly."And I am sworn to Captain Raihna," Conan added.Decius would have given a good sword to know by what oaths the two were sworn to each other.No look had passed between them to hint that they were lovers, but the captain-general would havewagered the same sword that they were. This displeased him, although he could not have said why.

Conan and Raihna walked in the rear of the united bands when they marched out well before noon."King Eloikas made no bad choice when he gave Decius his banner," Conan said."You think so?" Raihna replied. "When his eyes were on me as they were?""A man can be a good captain and also a good judge of women," Conan told her. He did not quitetouch her. "Otherwise, where were we last night?" he added softly.Raihna colored briefly, then laughed. "I stand rebuked. But truthfully, King Eloikas must have madesome bad choices—or else had bad luck—to be afflicted with folk like Count Syzambry.""Had you heard of him before you came north?"Raihna colored again, and this time her calm did not quickly return. "I—we were eager to start.Eager to make our name. We were told that… that the Border Kingdom had powerful robber lords. Butwe did not think… we did not think that they were more than what is commonly found in wild lands."Conan saw pain and shame on Raihna's face. She would not make that error again. Besides, hewanted no more rebukes for telling her how to do her work.

"If I make no mistake, Syzambry is one who fears neither god nor man nor King Eloikas," Conansaid. "That sort is less common, and always worse."Raihna's face twisted briefly into a mask that might have frightened children into fits. Or the mask ofa child who had been that frightened—by what, Conan did not care to ask.He knew that Raihna had left Bossonia in haste for reasons of which she did not care to speak. Hehad met her when she served as bodyguard to the sorceress Illyana on their quest for the Jewels ofKurag. What she had done between leaving Bossonia and taking service with Illyana was a mystery thatshe chose to leave dark.So be it. Raihna was bedmate, battle comrade, and captain fit to follow. That was enough to tellConan that whatever happened to her had not turned her wits. More than that he would not ask of man,woman, or god.But he would ask a few questions of King Eloikas, or of someone close enough to him to know theanswers. As long as he was sworn to Raihna, Conan cold not return to the road south. He was bound tothe Border Kingdom, and if need be, to the fight against Count Syzambry.Such a fight was always chancy, more so than a pitched battle by daylight against an open foe. Outof such a fight, though, a shrewd man might snatch something worth having.Conan knew that he could rise again in the south if he entered the southern realms as a beggar. Hewould rise faster if he entered with a clinking purse.

Chapter 5

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The coming of Princess Chienna to the Pougoi village did not awaken Aybas. He had been unableto sleep since he had seen the Star Brothers preparing for a sacrifice to their beast.He lacked the courage to ask if they intended to sacrifice the princess herself. He told himself thateven if he possessed the courage, it would make no difference in the end. He had made clear CountSyzambry's wishes many times over. If the Star Brothers ignored both him and the count, there wasnothing to do but bear word to the count.Bear word to the count, and then swiftly take himself out of Syzambry's reach. The little lord wouldnot thank the bearer of bad news any more than would most ambitious men.Gongs, drums, and that hideous wooden trumpet signaled the coming of the warriors. The commonbattle trumpet of the Border Kingdom was an offense to the ears. What the warriors of the Pougoi usedwas beyond Aybas's powers to describe.Would he ever hear an Argossean flute-girl or a Nemedian lyre-maid again? Would he even hearthe wailing pipes and thudding drums beating for the march of the Aquilonian foot on a bright autumnday? He doubted it.He also doubted that he would accomplish much by feeling sorry for himself, save to fuddle his witsat a time when he needed them clear. Taking a deep breath, Aybas pulled his cloak about him andstepped into the village street.Heads were thrusting out of doors all the way down to the valley. A few folk even stood in theirdoorways, staring into the darkness. Aybas saw some of these make gestures of aversion as he passed.He wondered if the gestures were against him, against the Star Brothers, or simply against whatever illluck might come to the Pougoi through meddling in the affairs of kings and counts.Aybas had long since realized that these hill folk were more longheaded than Count Syzambryrealized. No amount of gold could silence their tongues or blind their eyes. If the count gained what hesought, he would have a reckoning with the Pougoi as well as with the other hill tribes they had preyed onfor a generation to feed their wizards' pet.

A stand of spiceberry hid Aybas, as it had hidden Wylla and her father two nights before. Fromwithin it, he stared out across the rocky fields of barley as distant fireflies grew into crimson-huedtorches. The pungent reek of the herbs the Pougoi used in steeping their reed torches made Aybassneeze.This drew no attention. The warriors of the Pougoi marched up to the wizards, and the leader raisedhis spear crosswise in both hands."Hail, Brothers of the Stars. We bring what we have sought. Bless us now."It did not sound like a suppliant coming before a priest. It sounded more like a captain commandingsomething he would take if it were not given freely.Aybas would not pray that the Star Brothers take offense and quarrel with the warriors. Such abrawl would end Count Syzambry's hopes by ending the life of the princess, if indeed it was she withinthe covered litter. Aybas's reward would die with her, and so might he.The fall of the Star Brothers might also unleash the beast. The creature might rampage through thehills, devouring all in its path, with neither men nor magic able to bind or slay it.One by one, the Star Brothers nodded. As the last bearded head bobbed on the last thin neck, theprincipal Brother raised his hands. A globe of fire, vermilion flecked with gold, sprang into being betweenthem. It turned wizards and warriors alike into figures of blood and shadow.The Brother with the globe raised his hands higher. The other Brothers began a chant that Aybashad never heard, and he liked it even less than the rest of the wizards' music.The globe leaped into the air and rose higher than the top of the dam, higher than the uppermostpinnacle on the tower of the greatest temple in Aquilonia. It screamed as it soared, a scream that seemedto come from a living throat, a scream that the beast echoed.Then the globe was no more, and fire was raining down on the warriors. Gold and vermilionmingled in the fire, and the warriors raised their faces and weapons to it.The fire descended upon the warriors. It turned their eyes and mouths to pools of fire. To Aybas, itseemed that the Pougoi warriors were now some man-shaped breed with cat or dragon blood, or both.Their weapons did not turn to fire. They rose from their wielders' hands, as gently as soap bubbles,glowing softly. Aybas watched, breathless, as they ascended, rising almost as high as the globe of fire haddone. When the weapons finished rising, they bobbed about for a moment like twigs in a swift-rushingstream. Some of the spears turned end over end. Some of the swords danced as if sorcerous handswielded them.One sword clashed in midair with a battle-ax. The sparks they struck from each other poured downupon the torches. As if the sparks had been water and not fire, the torches died.Crouching like an animal on all fours, Aybas briefly shut his eyes. He did not see the glow die fromthe weapons and all of them plunge out of the sky and into their masters' hands.He did hear the crunch , like a rotten melon bursting, as the battle-ax clove the skull of its owner.He also heard the scream as another warrior's spear plunged through his outstretched hands and droveinto his belly.Every mortal ear in the valley must have heard that scream, and likewise the beast's reply. Aybaswould have sworn that the sounds of slobbering and sucking could not roll like thunder if he did not hearthem do just that. A moment later he realized that he was also hearing witch-thunder, which had comewithout lightning several times before and considerably frightened the wizards.Both wizards and warriors seemed stricken mute and motionless by the uproar. One warrior finallybroke into movement, bending over his screaming comrade and silencing him by cutting his throat. Assilence returned, another warrior opened the curtain of the litter.The woman who stepped forth moved with the grace of a queen, for all that she was barefoot andwore only a soiled nightshift. Her dark hair would have flowed down upon her shoulders under othercircumstances. Now it made a bramble-bush tangle. Bloody streaks on neck and ears told where jewelry

had been savagely wrenched off.On one slim arm rode a swaddled bundle. Aybas uttered a short prayer that the bundle was onlyclothing that Chienna had been allowed to bring away. Then the bundle wailed and the princess changedher grip that she might soothe her baby.Aybas felt strangely calm. Prince Urras's crying was the first wholly natural, wholly human soundthat he had heard in this valley in many days.Then the drums and that hideous raw-throated trumpet raised their din again. Aybas realized that itwas time that he make himself seen, even at the side of the Star Brothers. It would not do to let thewizards wonder if Count Syzambry truly valued the princess. Death would come to her very swiftly ifthey began to doubt that.Aybas rose, brushed dirt and the dust of spice-berry flowers from his clothes, and strode towardthe Star Brothers with his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Princess Chienna took no comfort from seeing a man in civilized garb approaching her. She had twocauses for this.One lay in heeding Decius's wisdom, likewise that of her father and of her late husband, CountElkorun. All three had said that false hope in a desperate situation brings deeper despair. Since despairwould slay her child as well as herself, she would fight it as long and as fiercely as possible.The other reason for denying herself hope came from no one's counsel. It came from knowing that aman such as she saw before her could only be serving her enemies. Count Syzambry, most likely, oranother lordling in the tumbledown alliance the count had raised against her father.Their alliance would fall, the princess was sure. She was not sure that she would see its fall withliving eyes, but she swore now to all the gods that she would see it from beyond death if she had to.As his mother's rage touched him, Prince Urras forgot that he had been soothed into silence andbegan squalling again. With a fierce will, Chienna calmed herself and began rocking the baby in her arms.He went on squalling. She decided that he was probably hungry."Is there a wet-nurse among you?" she asked. She wanted to say, "in this accursed pesthole of avillage.""I will inquire, Your Highness," the man said.Chienna hid surprise. By the Great Mother's Girdle, the man knew the forms of courtesy!"Do you that," Chienna said graciously. She bounced the baby up and down. "He hungers, and I amsure it is no part of your plan to encompass his death.""None of mine," the man said. He was clad in a mixture of new hill-folk shirt and cloak and the ruinsof civilized breeches and boots. His sword seemed a new one that had seen much hard service in littletime. And was there a slight emphasis on the word "mine"? Chienna dared a look at the… the StarBrothers, they called themselves. The hill wizards, the villains of tales that had been old when her nursewas a babe.Yes. They seemed to be displeased with the man, as if he had spoken out of turn.A dispute between them? Not likely that it was open enough to give her any advantage, but it mightbe made worse. Not at once; all those who had taught her war craft had counseled against attackingbefore knowing the battlefield or the foe.Afterward, though… She remembered Decius saying, "Nothing is worse than sitting and letting thefoe do as he pleases. Even if you can strike only the smallest of blows against his weakest part, strike it!"The captain-general would in time know that he had taught her well, although it was unlikely that shewould tell him herself.The man raised his voice. "Ho, summon a wet-nurse for the babe! At once!"

The princess noted that the wizards again looked displeased. But their displeasure did not stop theman, nor several warriors. The warriors ran off toward one side of the valley as if the ground wasspewing flames at their heels.The man stepped forward. Closer at hand, he showed a pinched, pale face above a scraggly brownbeard shot with gray. Yet there were good bones in the face and in the hand he raised in greeting. Anobleman who had come by long and sorry roads to this wretched place, she would wager."I am Aybas, formerly of Aquilonia." The accent was not only Aquilonian. but courtly. "The warriorswill see to it that your babe suffers for nothing. Can I do aught for your comfort?"Short of releasing her, or at least taking the hobbles from her ankles, she could think of nothing.Chienna shook her head."Then I might suggest. Your Highness, that you sit on the softest rock you can find." He smiledfaintly before his face and voice alike turned hard. "The Star Brothers wish to show you the powers theycommand to punish those who disobey them or make themselves enemies."Aybas pointed upward, toward the dam of rock and earth that blocked the mouth of the gorge tothe left. As he did, something rose above the top of the wall. Something that writhed like a snake but waslonger than any snake Chienna had ever seen.A second writhing thing joined it, then a third, then too many too quickly to count. A body not meant to be described in human tongues followed, climbing the vertical cliff above the wall. Waterpoured from it as it rose, and it made sounds even less fit to describe.Prince Urras sensed his mother's fear by her quickened heartbeat and wailed louder yet. Theprincess sat down, forswearing dignity for the sake of her babe. She rocked and dandled and bouncedhim, but nothing soothed the infant.Yet all was not lost. She did not dare to close her eyes to shut out the scene on the rocky crag thatwas shaped like a dragon's head. She knew that to do so would mean punishment, and punishment sosoon would take strength she might need later.She was not forced to hear the cries of the sacrifices, however. Her babe's wailing drowned themout.

Wylla heard the end of the sacrifice from her perch on a branch high above the valley. Once againshe thanked the gods that she had told no one of this dead tree and the view it gave her. She could seemuch, without ever being seen.One day a strong wind would bring the tree down, and then she would need to seek anothervantage point for spying on the wizards. Until that day, she would use this perch, with the knowledge ofno one else in the village, not even her father.She waited until the last trace of the beast vanished in the mist gathering over the gorge. That mistalways seemed to come after the beast fed. Was it part of the Brothers' star-spawned magic?She did not know. She could not even be sure that the woman and babe she had seen werePrincess Chienna and her son. She only knew that she had to bear the news of what she had seen swiftlyout of the valley, to where Marr the Piper waited.She would not have to go far. The pipes had not sounded tonight, but the thunder and the havocwrought on the weapons told of Marr's near presence.Wylla wore a warrior's cloak, the shapeless dress of the Pougoi women, and hard-soled leathershoes beaded with colored stones from mountain streams. She cast aside the cloak, then drew the dressover her head.Under the dress she wore only a birdskin belt, with a dagger of finely shaved mammoth ivory thrustinto it. The starlight played delicately over her body as she stood for a moment naked in the night.Then she bound her cloak about her loins, knelt, and took several deep breaths. As Marr hadtaught her to expect, the life force flowed into her, making her blood tingle.

When it seemed that her limbs would take fire in the next moment, she leaped up and began to run.From far ahead in the darkness, the pipes called softly.

Chapter 6

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Close to the time that Wylla met Marr the Piper, Conan met King Eloikas's Palace Guard.The caravan and Decius's men had camped for the night about double bowshot beyond a smallvillage in the lee of a thickly forested ridge. The village was inhabited, but it was hardly less ruined thanthe Dembi village where they had fought two days before.The villagers' surly looks would have told Conan of years of hard living had their rough huts andscanty garb not done so. A few chickens and some half-ground barley were the best that Decius's coinscould pry loose from them.If this was the common run of folk in the Border realm, Conan decided, he was not going to profitmuch from it. King Eloikas's gratitude would feed no horses and burnish no armor. That needed gold,something that the Border Kingdom seemed unlikely to offer.So be it. Honor bound him to Raihna's side as long as she needed him. He could contrive someother way of filling his purse or take his luck in Nemedia with an empty one. He had wrested gold out ofpoorer lands after entering them with no more than his sword and the clothes upon his back.Conan was inspecting the sentries when the Palace Guard appeared. Decius trusted the caravanmen to share the watch with his men, but not Conan to keep a watch by himself. The Cimmerian hadjudged it best to hold his peace on the matter.Decius's men were clearly masters of their craft. Conan was advising one of Raihna's archers tohide himself better when the wind had borne to the Cimmerian's ears the clatter of hooves and the thud ofboots. He had waved both pairs of sentries into hiding, seen both obey, and strode up the path towardthe sound.A hiding place in the roots of a great gnarled oak offered itself. Conan crouched there, cupped hishands, and hailed the newcomers."Halt! Who is there?""The Palace Guard, Captain Oyzhik commanding.""Advance and be recognized."Conan heard one of Decius's men scuttling off to summon his chief. He also heard the hooves andboots fade raggedly into silence.The Cimmerian's keen night sight pierced the darkness. He recognized the royal banner, a sadlytattered one drooping from a crooked lance. He also recognized a company that numbered a handful ofveterans and a great many new recruits. He had seen enough of both in Turan to be able to tell the onefrom the other, even in the darkness.The man who had replied, naming himself Captain Oyzhik, was also a type that Conan recognized.Too bald and too fat for his years, he wore fine armor and sat a horse worth as much as three ofDecius's. But the armor was undented and the sword slung across his back showed gilding and jewelsthat could not have survived a single real battle."Captain Oyzhik," Conan shouted. "Captain-General Decius has been summoned. I ask you to holdwhere you are until he comes.""My men have traveled fast and far on urgent orders from the King's majesty," Oyzhik replied. Hisvoice was as round as the rest of him. "They must have their shelter at once."Conan doubted that such a mob of old men and boys could have traveled fast or far had a god

commanded it. Oyzhik no doubt wanted to get his plump arse out of the saddle and into something morecomfortable.The Cimmerian laughed softly. Oyzhik had a surprise coming if he thought the caravan's campoffered what could be called "comfort" in any tongue Conan knew.The sound of a firm stride coming up the trail warned Conan that Decius was at hand. TheCimmerian rose to greet the captain-general, then fell behind him as Decius went to meet the PalaceGuard."What brings you here, Oyzhik?" Decius asked."Tales came of Count Syzambry's friends and allies gathering men. We did not know what strengththe caravan might have. So King Eloikas decreed that the palace would bar its gates and send forth theGuard to be your shield at the end of your journey."Conan hoped that King Eloikas had been speaking for the ears of the doubtful rather than out ofany real belief that this Guard could defend an apple orchard from a band of small boys. Serving a masterwho had neither silver nor wisdom in war could end in filling a rocky grave in this godless land."We thank you, Oyzhik," Decius said. "Captain Conan, return to the camp and wake Raihna andmy second. We break camp and march at once.""At… night?" Oyzhik's question came out more squeak than words, as high-pitched as if he hadbeen gelded."We are now in good strength, Oyzhik," Decius said. "The trail is clear, or you would not be withus. And our foes will not be expecting us to march by night, so it is the wisest thing we could do."To Conan, struggling to choke back laughter, a night march seemed to have another virtue. It mightcause the plump Guard captain to fall down in a fit, or at least to faint from weariness.The Cimmerian held his peace, though, until Decius dismissed him. Then he hastened down the trailtoward the camp. When he finally saw the campfires glowing ahead, he let out such a roar of laughter thathalf the men jerked awake at once.Raihna thrust her head out of the tent they shared. "Share the jest, Conan, if it is so fine."Conan merely shook his head and laughed harder. It would not do to insult the Palace Guard beforethe captain-general's men."An old tale, Raihna. But the new one tonight is that Count Syzambry's friends may be waiting forus. The Palace Guard has come out, and Decius wants us on the march before he can take a deepbreath!"Raihna's head bobbed and vanished, and all around him Conan saw and heard men garbing andarming themselves.

Conan's first sight of the palace of King Eloikas made him wonder if it was worth guarding.He had seen mere noblemen keep larger hunting lodges, and not only in wealthy lands such asTuran. He had known of Vendhyans who would not have housed their tiger-hunters in something sowretched.The gates hung ajar. The outer wall crumbled so that in some places an agile man might havewalked over it upright. Holes gaped in every roof that Conan could see, and he did not doubt that undereach hole was a puddle of muddy water from every rain in the last ten years.A beaten-down patch of earth set about with thorn hedges might have been a drill ground. Acollection of huts that a swineherd would have disdained might have been a barracks. Otherwise, Conanhad no idea of where the Palace Guard lived, or of where Raihna's men might find quarters.Since Decius's men joined them, he had heard muttered tales of "the secret hoard" of the Borderkings. Some folk, it appeared, believed that the palace was so wretched because Eloikas was saving hisgold for a time of need.Conan would believe in that hoard, as he would believe in the will of the gods, when he saw it with

his own eyes. For now, he suspected that the cache was so secret that even King Eloikas had forgottenwhere to lay hands on it.Oyzhik hurried into the palace to report their arrival to the king. Conan and Raihna busiedthemselves with their men and beasts. They were careful to avoid the boggy fields and wretched hovelsstretching downhill from the palace. They were likewise careful to keep the caravan beyond bowshot ofthe brooding forest uphill. The forest held trees Conan had never seen before, in shapes he did not wishto see again, and no birds sang within it.Conan let Raihna stand close to him, but he laid no hand on her. Both were aware of Decius's eyesupon them, more especially upon Raihna."This land pleases me less with each new turn of the trail," Raihna said. "Will you come with me andmy men if we choose to leave at once?""Best wait for your pay if you want—forgive me, that's telling you your work again."It was also not noticing her unease, bordering on fear. Gratitude for that shone in her smile. "Unlessthat means waiting so long that it will buy nothing but a burial shroud, and a poor one at that!" she said.Then, "Conan," Raihna went on, raising her hands as if to grip his shoulders, "if we leave, would youcome with us as far as the nearest civilized land? I think you have hopes to win something in this land—""An empty belly and an untimely grave? That's what this land seems to promise. Raihna, I said inplain words that I would be at your side wherever you went. Does a shield jump off of a man's armbecause it thinks he's overmatched?"Raihna might have embraced him in spite of Decius's presence, but at that moment a palace servantappeared in the gateway, Oyzhik behind him."Captain-General Decius. Captain Raihna, Conan of Cimmeria. You are summoned to audiencewith His Sacred Majesty, Eloikas, King of the Border. Fifth of That Name."

The outer parts of the palace were much as Conan had expected: courtyards where weedssprouted as high as a man's waist and trees overtopped what was left of the walls; chambers all but opento the sky, with stagnant marshes where once gentlefolk might have taken their pleasure on silk-swathedcouches, drinking perfumed wine from gilded cups. One chamber still had much of its fine tile floor intact,and Conan had to call his men away from gaping at it as though it were a rare and wondrous treasurefrom a distant land.How much of this they passed, Conan did not know then or afterward. He knew that he wasbeginning to feel an itch between his shoulders that no scratching would soothe. With every step he wasfarther from even the modest protection that Raihna's men might offer him and deeper into a place wherefoes, human and magical, might wait.Some of them at least, he vowed, would live only as long as he needed to teach them not to laytraps for a Cimmerian. Or a Bossonian swordswoman, he added, taking in how Raihna's face also grewmore somber with each step.A final step took them around a corner, and both Conan and Raihna stopped as if they faced a pitof fire. Beyond them lay a courtyard clean of dust and weeds alike. Opening off of it were chambers thatseemed at least fit to belong to a decent merchant's home.Every door of these chambers was guarded, and the guards were also unlike what Conan had seenso far in Eloikas's palace. Most of them were past youth, but not past bearing good armor and stoutswords or bows, with an occasional halberd to season the mix. Conan judged them with a soldier's eye.He would wager that most of them were of a type he had met before, those who might have lostswiftness but had gained experience and would not be opponents to take lightly.The guard with the most ornate halberd brought it up in salute."Hail, Decius. His Majesty awaits."The captain-general nodded and fell back. Guards took their place around Conan and Raihna, so

close that the two could not have drawn a weapon freely had they wished to. Thus hemmed in, theyentered the throne room of King Eloikas.The throne room was about the size of the dining room in a good inn, and so clean that one mighthave eaten off the floor. One could see that here, at least, silver was spent to keep the dust away, thetapestries mended, the paint of the murals fresh, and the gilding of the bronze throne unscarred.One could also see, as Conan did at once, a strong resemblance between the man who sat on thethrone and the captain-general who knelt before it. Conan and Raihna followed Decius's example, but theCimmerian did not take his eyes off their two hosts.If they were not father and bastard son, Conan swore, he would drink nothing but water for a year.Both were of medium height but of soldierly bearing. The king was somewhat scanter of hair, and thatmore gray than black, but the chisel-shaped nose, high cheekbones, and wide gray eyes were commonto both.Conan was so intent on discovering further resemblances between Eloikas and Decius that thecommand to rise caught him unaware. Raihna had to dig at his ribs with her elbow to bring him to his feet,a gesture that drew a royal laugh.It seemed the laugh of a man who had found little to laugh about for far too long but who had notaltogether lost the habit. In spite of his suspicions, Conan found himself warming to Eloikas.Decius presented Conan and Raihna in a few soldierly words. They knelt again. Eloikas greetedthem in still fewer words, then bid them rise."Mistress Raihna, you have Our gratitude, and you will have your promised fee and more. You havenot only brought Us what We put in your charge, which will strengthen Our blows against those whohave taken Our daughter and heir… but you have struck shrewd blows yourselves against Our commonfoes. It is Our wish, Mistress Raihna, that you and your men remain within Our realm to aid us in strikingfurther blows. We expect to be able to reward such service most generously."Eloikas then folded his hands across a belly remarkably flat for a man of his years and clad in a robeof Brythunian style much patched and dyed over many years. His gaze passed over Conan's head andseemed to fix itself on some detail of the mural on the wall behind the Cimmerian.Conan could tell that Raihna would have given half of her pay to be alone with him, able to speakfreely. She also seemed to be gazing at something far away, then drew herself up."Your Majesty, I am honored by your confidence. But I beg you to answer two questions."Captain Oyzhik hissed like an outraged goose, but Decius waved him to silence. Thecaptain-general did not, however, take his eyes off the king. Nor did he fail to make certain subtlegestures to the guards. The guards held their places, but their hands crept closer to their weapons.Eloikas nodded, and Conan saw Raihna quiver like a released bowstring. "Our gratitude to youextends to answering many questions. But let Us hear your first two."Raihna wasted no words. She wanted to know if her caravan fee would be paid at once so that shecould divide it among her men. Some had not been paid since long before they joined her company, savein clothing with which to make themselves decent and weapons with which to make themselves fit forbattle."I would judge also that some may not wish to remain in Our service and that you wish them totravel safely," Eloikas said.This time Raihna's reply was as swift as a runner's start. "I cannot swear to that, Your Majesty. Butif there are such men, would you ask me to hold them in your realm against their will?""We would not. We suspect that if We did, We would hear plain words on the matter from LordDecius."The only word for Eloikas's look at his captain-general was "fatherly.""Your Majesty is gracious," Raihna said. "I would also beg that you consider taking myunder-captain, Conan of Cimmeria, into your service."This time Eloikas's look was that of a king asking advice of a trusted counselor. The captain-general

shrugged."Conan might have my voice in less troubled times. As matters stand, when a stranger might havemore than one allegiance—"Now it was Conan's elbow that prodded Raihna's ribs. Her outraged look did not turn intooutrageous words."Your Majesty, if I may speak for myself… ?" Conan said.Oyzhik hissed again. "Who asked you—?" he began."Peace, Oyzhik," Eloikas said. "Even a condemned man may ask one final favor of the judge.""Your Majesty, before you condemn me to leaving Mistress Raihna's service, to which I am swornuntil she sets me free, please hear from my own lips what I did.""You may speak."Conan obeyed. His account of his deeds since entering the Border Kingdom was as plain as ahalberd head. No gilding that he could give it would make it more convincing. He could hope for no moreor no less than persuading the king that he was not in Count Syzambry's service and never would be.When Conan finished, the king nodded. "You speak very freely before a king.""Your Majesty, I've faced men, and more than men, far more to be feared than just a king.""And learned flattery from them?""Call it what you will, Your Majesty. I call it the truth."Eloikas laughed softly, but it seemed that his eyes were not altogether dry. The silence lasted somegood while until the king spoke again."We think that this Cimmerian can be trusted sufficiently to be offered a post in Our service.Oyzhik, you have spoken often of needing more seasoned soldiers in the Guard to instruct the recruits."Oyzhik was silent. He looked ready to deny that he had ever said any such thing until he sawDecius's eye upon him. The captain-general might have been shouting, "Lie at your peril!""It is true that I can instruct the recruits only by plucking the ranks of the veterans," Oyzhik saidsullenly."Then We think the favor of the gods is evident in sending Conan the Cimmerian to Our realm.Conan, if it pleases Mistress Raihna, would you become Sergeant of the Second Company of OurGuard?"Conan looked a question at Raihna. She nodded.Conan knelt again. "I accept with pleasure, Your Majesty. By all the lawful gods of this and otherlands, I swear that you'll not regret this decision.""Then rise, Sergeant Conan."The gods might keep King Eloikas from regretting his decision. One look told Conan, however, thatthe same could hardly be said of Captain Oyzhik. Had he been able to conjure the roof down on his kingand his new sergeant alike, he might well have done so.

As Conan expected, his quarters and those of the Guard lay outside the palace, while Raihna's menwould seek a dry room within it, if such existed. It was hard upon sunset before they had a chance tospeak without fear of eavesdroppers by dint of taking a light supper out onto the drill ground and eating itwhile sitting on a blanket."I wish we could serve together," Raihna said."Missing a bedmate already?" Conan jested. "Cast one of your languishing looks at Decius andyou'll not— ufffl" He broke off as she punched him urgently in the ribs. "I am not blind to his desire for me. I am alsonot blind to his kinship with Eloikas.""I wonder. Could Decius have something to do with Princess Chienna's abduction? Bastards have

won thrones before this when there were no legitimate heirs.""My gratitude to you overflows, Conan. You know perfectly how to give me a sound sleep atnight.""Yes, and I'll have no chance to use it tonight, or for many nights to come. If Decius is no enemy,best we not make him one.""I fear Oyzhik more.""An open enemy's easier to watch than one biding his time. Turan taught me that, if nothing else.More-over, I'd wager all the wine in this realm that Eloikas or Decius have men among the Guards towatch Oyzhik. Unless his chiefs want me dead, Oyzhik might find a few obstacles in his path.""Wager more than this wine," Raihna said. She spat into the dust and rinsed her mouth from thewater bottle. "In some lands, this would not pass even as vinegar.""I've heard a score of tales of the Border Kingdom," Conan said, "but none of them ever claimedthat it was a great land for fine living."He did not add what most of the tales did say: that the Border Kingdom reeked of ancient andunwholesome sorcery. Or sorcery even more unwholesome than that commonly found, at least since thefall of the nighted realm of Acheron.Was this the secret truth about the Border Kingdom? That when the tide of the dark hosts ofAcheron drew back from civilized lands, some of its leavings remained here among the sharp-peakedmountains and the forests as dark as a death-spell?It was, as such things went, a warm night for the Border Kingdom. But the Cimmerian felt morethan an itch between his shoulder blades at the thought of Acheron yet living here. He felt a chill, as fromthe breath of the wind off of a Hyperborean glacier.

Chapter 7

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Conan began his new undertaking as Sergeant of the Second Company of the Palace Guard thenext day.Indeed, he began it before the roses of sunrise touched the eastern sky and the fanged peaks juttingagainst it. This was not much to the liking of some of the recruits, who had been accustomed to risingwhen whim or wine allowed."From this day forth, you've no whims unless I order you to have them," Conan roared at thestaggering, bleary-eyed men. "I'll not give that order."He spat on the ground in disgust. "Or at least I won't give it until you sons of flea-ridden wolves arecloser to being soldiers than you are now. From the looks of you, I'll have a long gray beard before thathappens!"He put his hands on his hips and raked the line with his eyes. No one laughed, no one flinched, andseveral men looked him in the eye as if daring him to put them to the test.Good. They might lack training but perhaps not spirit. Seen by the dawn's light, indeed, they lookeda trifle closer to being soldiers than they had when he first met them."Very well. Now, let me see your weapons."Conan remained silent until it became clear that fewer than half of the men had brought theirweapons. That, and the condition of many of those that were displayed, drew another sulphurous blastfrom the Cimmerian. He eloquently described the ancestry of soldiers who went about without theirweapons. He added predictions of the fate awaiting them, barring the favor of gods sometimes charitableto fools.

When Conan told the unarmed to run back to their quarters and bring their weapons, most of themactually ran.The first day was a tale of errors and omissions, intermingled with minor catastrophes and follies. Bythe second day, the Second Company had mustered its wits and concluded that its new sergeant wasserious.By the third day, it dawned upon them that neither Captain Oyzhik nor the captain of the SecondCompany was going to lift a finger to save them from the Cimmerian. The choice was either mutiny orobedience. Somewhat to Conan's relief, those who favored obedience outnumbered those who favoredmutiny. He suspected that a reluctance to face Decius's seasoned veterans had something to do with thematter.After the third day, Conan's work with the Second Company marched forward swiftly and, for themost part, steadily. It was work he knew well, having learned it from a master, High Captain Khadjar inTuran. It was work that needed doing if the Second Company was to be worth even its scanty rations.Most of all, it was work that Conan enjoyed and that the men of the company came to enjoy also.They were not so lost to pride that being a company of soldiers instead of a rabble did not put heart intothem. By the fifth day, Conan had appointed four under-sergeants from their ranks. Three of them weremen who had on the first day brought clean weapons to muster; the fourth was the one who had firstreturned from quarters with his.By now, Conan had concluded that nothing could be expected for good or ill from either Oyzhik orthe company's captain. The latter spent most of his time in his quarters and most of that time either drunkor sleeping. It passed belief that anyone could stomach enough of the Border wine to fuddle his wits, butit seemed that the man was made of stout stuff.As for Oyzhik, it was said that he was being kept busy strengthening the palace's defenses againstan attack by Count Syzambry. This left the captain-general's men free to take the field against the countand on the trail of the lost princess.Conan might have believed those tales except that Decius seemed to be present at the palacealmost every day. He seldom missed spending at least a moment with Raihna, either—or so theBossonian told Conan."I no longer wonder why you suspect Decius," Raihna added. "I sleep no sounder because of it, butthat is hardly your fault."Conan grinned, and as they were alone, slapped her smartly on the rump. Raihna was no womanfor sleeping alone unless she had to. But with so many doubtfully friendly eyes around and about, a coldand narrow bed was also the safest.Some of the village girls had eyed the Cimmerian's massive frame with open approval. But Conanhad soon thereafter seen soldiers of both the Guards and Decius's troops eyeing him in a ratherless-than-friendly fashion. Clearly, bedding one of the girls would be poaching. Conan could live with acold bed if it meant a safe back.He also kept a watchful eye and a keen ear for any opportunity to win enough gold to free Raihna'scompany from any need to remain in this land. Once the need for gold no longer bound her men toEloikas's service, they would hardly let another sun set before they marched south.

It was the eighth day of Conan's service in the Border Kingdom. The sun was well up, and he waswatching over an archery match. Not all of the Guards had bows, and not all of those who had bows hadany skill with them.Conan, however, had gone to Turan barely knowing the point of an arrow from the fletching. Littlemore than two years later, he was an archer fit for the battlefield. He vowed that every man of hiscompany could achieve at least that much mastery of the bow. Then the company could hurl forty arrowsat a single command, two hundred paces in any direction.

That would be no small gift to King Eloikas, Conan judged. Archers would be useful in every kindof fighting the king faced, beginning with the defense of the palace against Count Syzambry.The contest was not yet half done when Kalk, the senior sergeant, approached Conan. "SergeantConan, I have sighted men skulking up toward the ridge. I am sure they are none of ours."Conan turned his eyes toward the hillside, which sloped up toward a knife-edged ridge. The slopewas covered with small trees or large bushes. Call them what one would, they were abundant enough tohide a company."We need not raise the alarm yet," Conan said. "Pick five men and tell the rest to continue thecontest. Then meet me here, and we'll go teach these uninvited guests better manners."Kalk nodded, then remembered to raise his hand in acknowledgment and respect. He also seemedto be smiling as he turned away.Kalk was like many of the recruits of the Guard, fit to learn the arts of the soldier if someone wasready to teach him. Oyzhik never had been, and Conan wondered how many Guards had died throughOyzhik's sloth. Their kin would owe Oyzhik a blood-debt, that he knew.Conan led the six men toward the hill as the sun finished burning off the mist. When they struck thesteepest part of the slope, he allowed Kalk to take the lead. Careful not to be noticed, he dropped backto the rear. From there he could study the ground both uphill and down. He also had no man at his back.The recruits set a good pace in mounting the slope. The Border Kingdom was home to all. Aschildren, they had climbed its hills, and as men, they could teach even a long-limbed Cimmeriansomething about moving on rough terrain.Beyond the line of the ridge, the ground plunged away into a cliff. Only a bird, or perhaps an ape,could descend the drop. The cliff was so high that the stream below was a silver thread winding throughgray rocks dwarfed to pebbles and dark green trees that might have been flowers in a garden.The slope behind Conan lay silent in the sun. If the skulkers were not Kalk's fancy, they had eitherdeparted or lain quiet as the Guards passed them.Conan frowned at Kalk. The sergeant spread his hands. "It was not the sun," he said mildly."I didn't say it was," Conan replied. "We'll spread out as we go down. Grow eyes in the backs ofyour heads and ears in your arses and we may find something."Six men was a jest for a real search of the slope. Sixty would not have been too few, and threetimes that many might not have been wasted.The men had finished spreading out along the ridge line when Kalk shouted."Sergeant Conan! I was not deceived. Come and look just below the top of the cliff!"Conan thought of drawing his sword but realized that he would need both hands for a secure grip.He stepped cautiously toward Kalk, but no caution could have saved his ankle from the snare Kalk hadset the night before.What caution could not prevent, strength and speed did. As he felt the leather thongs coilserpent-like around his ankle, Conan flung himself backward, away from the cliff. With his sword still athis waist, he had both hands free to break his fall.The Cimmerian landed, rolled, then lashed out with his feet. The savage lunge of powerful legssnapped the thongs like twine before Kalk could draw his steel. The sergeant's blade was still comingclear when Conan's feet lashed out again.This time one boot drove against Kalk's knee. He screamed at the pain of his ruined kneecap, thentoppled sideways over the cliff. Kalk went on screaming all the way down, until the scream ended in adistant sound, like a ripe melon flung down on a stone floor.Conan did not wait to listen to the would-be assassin's fate. Kalk had friends, and the Cimmerianhad other matters at hand.He dealt with two of the friends in a flurry of steel striking sparks from steel, then slicing flesh. Bothmen were down and bleeding when a shout made Conan turn.

One of the Guards was grappling with an archer who had an arrow nocked to his bow. Conanhurled himself at the men as his ally drew a dagger and stabbed the archer in the thigh. The manscreamed but lashed out with his bow. The other man fell backward, to land on the very edge of the cliff.Then he was over the edge as the stone under him crumbled. Conan was barely in time to grab thehand that was the only part of the man visible. The man's bloody fingers made Conan's grip uncertain,and he shifted to using both hands. Thus he pulled the man up until he could firmly grip a wrist. Then thesound of boots in dry grass drew Conan's attention to his rear.The archer had retrieved his bow and arrow and lurched to a sitting position. Well beyond the reachof Conan's sword, he was trying to draw and shoot. If he succeeded, the arrow could hardly miss a vitalspot. Conan knew that his death might be no more than a few score heartbeats away. But he did not haveit in him to send the man who had saved him plunging after Sergeant Kalk. That might not save him either.What saved Conan was a man who burst from undergrowth the Cimmerian would have sworncould not hide a squirrel. The man jumped on the archer, lashing out with hands and feet. The archerseemed to leap upright, then to topple. When he came down, he landed squarely on Conan's rib cage.The Cimmerian's breath came short, and for a moment he had to fight for his grip. Then he saw, withstaring eyes and doubting mind, who had come to save him.The man wore sun-bleached leather leggings and a sweat-stained linen jerkin. He looked twentyyears younger than usual, but he was nevertheless Captain-General Decius."If dangling your friends over the edge of a cliff is sport to you, Conan, no wonder you walk alone."Decius knelt and caught the loyal Guard's free arm. The double pull had him safe in anothermoment, whereupon he fainted.Conan rose cautiously and retrieved his sword. "So this is where you've been in days past, whenyou were not flattering Raihna?""Here and there and other places like it," Decius said. "My men are out and about, however. I meanno insult, Conan, but I can trust my sergeants more than yours."Conan remembered his glimpse of Kalk's body, bent backward over a blood-spattered stone. "ByErlik's brass tool, I should hope so!"While they spoke, Decius tore strips from the archer's shirt and bound his bloody thigh. Now hewiped his hands on the remnant of the shirt and stood."He will do long enough for questioning. I doubt that we will learn many of Oyzhik's secrets fromhim, but Kalk is silent forever.""I didn't send him—" Conan began, then realized that Decius was smiling. The smile broadened, andConan knew that his own face must have said more than he wished."I have shared your doubts about Oyzhik, Conan, if you were wondering. As for your doubts aboutme—" Decius shrugged."I'm done with those," Conan growled. He thrust his sword back into its scabbard with a thump."What of your doubts about me?""I have none," Decius said. "Not anymore. But… I do have a favor to ask of you."The words came out strangely, and Decius's look was stranger still. He was sweating even morethan the sun could explain and seemed unsure of what to do with his hands.Conan knew a moment's unease at not knowing what the favor might be. Then he decided that thegods forbid he should be ungrateful to the man who had saved him from joining Sergeant Kalk on therocks below."You can ask, although I don't promise to grant," the Cimmerian replied."What lies between you and Raihna?" The words came out in a rush as if Decius feared his voicewould betray him otherwise.Conan wanted to laugh. Decius was not much younger than the Cimmerian's father would have

been were he alive. He was also a widower who had buried three sons as well as his wife. Yet thecaptain-general was asking as if he were a love-stricken youth.He would also be as easily hurt as any such youth, and he would not forget such an injury. Thatthought made it easier for Conan to find words."By all the lawful gods of this realm and my homeland, I swear that Raihna and I are not bonded,hand-fasted, betrothed, dedicated, wed, married… have I left anything out?"Deeius smiled uncertainly. "Not to my knowledge. But… you are bedmates?"Conan swallowed a peevish reply to the question. Decius had not only saved him from Kalk's fate,he had done so at the risk of meeting it himself. Decius might not have come to the hill alone, but he hadsurely hidden himself far beyond help by any companions. That courage called for at least a civil reply tothe man's uncivil question."We have been, and may be again. It was the choice of both of us.""Well, then," Decius said. Relief seemed to leave him speechless and unsteady on his feet for amoment. "Then—it is much to ask you, Conan—-but will you press my suit with Mistress Raihna?"Conan silently invoked the names of a number of gods of love and desire. All of them seemed tohave led Decius's wits astray. He hoped they would shortly lead them home again. Meanwhile, he couldat least answer this question from sure and certain knowledge."I will not, and for two good reasons. One is that the lady would not think the better of you forlacking the… for not speaking for yourself. The second is that I doubt you saved my head today so thatRaihna could break it tonight!""I suppose that is the best I can hope for," Decius said. He cupped his hands and gave a war crythat had either no words or none that Conan understood.Three heads popped up from the scrub and three hands rose beside them. Conan judged distancesand saw that Decius had not in fact put himself beyond help. His men had stayed hidden while theircaptain-general inquired if Raihna was a free woman!So Decius was not altogether foolhardy. Conan still muttered another prayer that the love godswould undo their work on Decius's wits. The Cimmerian had never heard of good coming of mixing loveand war, least of all for captains with other men's lives in their hands!

"So Oyzhik has fled," Raihna said grimly. "Do we have much to fear from those he may have leftbehind?""Oyzhik was a fool and likely to choose other fools to do his work. We have more to fear if CountSyzambry chose them," Conan said. He drained half his cup of wine at a gulp, as if this could wash thewords from his mouth.At least it was wine good enough for a man's tongue and belly instead of for scrubbing the jakes!The wine was one of the fruits of Conan's work the day before, along with the furs on Raihna's bed andthe embroidered Khitan-silk chamber robe she wore."We'll learn more in the next day or two," Conan added. "My company has the work of studying allthose traps Oyzhik promised to set. We know that he planned to either make them harmless toSyzambry's men or to turn them against us. Beyond that, we've yet to learn."Conan poured more wine into Raihna's offered cup. "Decius simply wanted to ruin all the traps. Hesaid they were no honorable way of fighting. I told him that Syzambry had already pissed into the windwhat honor he had. Didn't we owe the king and the princess at least the knowledge that we gave the sonof a hundred fathers a decent fight?""Decius seems to know what—""In Turan, Decius would be called a child! Pitied or ignored until he offended someone who'dsquash him like a cockroach!""Conan, I think the wine speaks now, not your heart. I was going to say that Decius seems to know

what will let him sleep of nights. So do you. Or was it another Cimmerian named Conan whom Deciussnatched from death today?"Conan confessed his guilt and begged for mercy. Raihna laughed. "I will grant it if you pour yourselfmore wine and join me in a toast." He obeyed and she raised her cup."To Captain Conan and the Second Company of the Palace Guard of the Border Kingdom! Maythey both continue to rise!"Conan drank, but not without some doubts. Giving him the Second Company was just and wise, ifthe men would obey him. Making the company's old captain chief over the Guard in Oyzhik's place wasnot so wise, unless one believed that the honor would sober the man.Decius would surely end having to be captain over the Guard as well as his own men. As good acaptain as he was, he still lacked the art of being in three places at once, or of doing without sleep, food,and visits to the jakes! The best captain could not defy nature without someone paying a price, mostcommonly in blood.It was also somewhat in Conan's mind that Decius was following in an ancient tradition. If youwished to court a woman, and had it in your power, you advanced, honored, or enriched her kin.Well, Decius would learn that he could not follow that path very far before he ran afoul of worsedangers than any of Oyzhik's traps. Raihna's tongue would be the first, but hardly the last.Raihna had stood beside Conan while they drank. Now she rested one hand on his right arm andleaned gently against him. Not much to Conan's surprise, it seemed that she wore nothing beneath thechamber robe. He slipped a hand under the garment and found that he'd judged rightly. The handwandered up across a firm flank, then climbed a supple back.Raihna turned, opened the robe, and slipped out of it. It made a blue and gold pool as she climbedonto Conan's lap. Then she let out a yelp of mock fear as the Cimmerians' massive arms caught her upand flung her across the room onto the bed."I think it's lying down that was on your mind, woman!" Conan said. Raihna laughed, and she wasstill laughing when her arms and lips welcomed him to her bed.

Chapter 8

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Good wine and long loving meant late sleep for both Conan and Raihna. It was as well that thesummons to an audience with King Eloikas came well into the morning and that the audience itself wasnot before noon. The Cimmerian and the Bossonian alike were able to break their fast and garbthemselves in their best without haste.King Eloikas greeted them with something very like a smile. Decius, standing beside the throne, hadhis face set in a blank mask, but Conan judged that he was not displeased either. The captain-general'seyes followed Raihna, however, from the moment she entered to the moment that Eloikas bid her stepback while Conan knelt before the throne.Decius handed the king a linen rag. Swift movements told of strength in the royal hands as theyopened the bag and drew forth an elaborate necklace. It was made of links of heavy gold, with amedallion in the center in the form of a comet. The head of the comet was a great polished blue stone, setabout with fresh-water pearls."This is the ceremonial necklace of a captain in Our Guards," Eloikas said. "Oyzhik fled with his,and I would not shame you by giving it to you even had he left it behind."For a moment Conan would have sworn that the king's eyes glistened. "This was the necklace of myson, Prince Gulain, when he had a company of the Guards. It was not buried with him, because the godssent me a vision that it might be needed for a worthy man."

The royal eyes were definitely moist now, and Conan noted that Eloikas had dropped the royal"we." The Cimmerian had heard more than a few tales of the valor and wisdom of Prince Gulain,Chienna's brother, who had met his death in a riding accident. So Conan replied with an easy mind and aclear voice."Your Majesty, I pray that I may be worthy of this honor. I know that I walk in the footsteps of abetter man. But I think I can give your enemies some sleepless nights and busy days, with the help ofsome other good men—and women." He nodded at Decius and Raihna.This speech went over well, although Raihna had to stifle giggles when they were alone. "Anyonewould think you had been raised at some court and were a royal page in your childhood," she said at last.Conan snorted like a mired ox. "Say rather that I know what will help keep daggers out of myback. The fewer tongues that wag about my new rank, the fewer daggers behind me. We'll have all wecan handle with the ones in front!"It would not do to tell Raihna some of his other thoughts. Such a necklace told its own tale. Thehoard of the Border kings might not be altogether wine-flown babbling. Good service might bring moreof that hoard into the Cimmerian's hands.Nor might that be the only gold to be won in these mountains. Conan would not steal a rustyhorseshoe nail from Eloikas or anyone sworn to him, but Count Syzambry and his friends were anothermatter. Their coffers were fair game and might repay a visit, if the chance came.What might happen if the little count had all that the sorcerous allies' rumor gave him was anothermatter, of course. But Conan would think of that when he had to. Sorcerers appeared more often in talesthan in truth, and quick wits and a well-wielded sword lost little power even when a sorcerer did appear.

Aybas did not bow before Princess Chienna. That was against the custom of the Star Brothers fortheir prisoners. In vain Aybas had railed at them, pointing out that the princess was more CountSyzambry's prisoner than theirs.Worse than in vain, Aybas realized. He had made the wizards yet more suspicious of him. Theywould be less charitable toward him now in other matters—such as that of Wylla.If Aybas wanted the wench, he would have to hunt her down himself. The Star Brothers would nowmost likely send her straight to the beast and be done with her. If he offended them further, Aybas wouldbe lucky not to follow her!Meanwhile, Aybas's not bowing clearly offended the princess. "I hear Aquilonia in your voice,Aybas," she said. "I was taught that Aquilonia was a land of civilized manners. Before a princess, acommon man, or even a noble, showed more courtesy than seems to be in you."Drawn up to her full height, she was as tall as he and hardly less broad across the shoulders. Thatshe was fair to look at did not make Aybas less reluctant to step too close to her. Her ankles were stillhobbled, but he did not care to test the strength of those arms, for all that scant rations had thinned themand dirt caked their skin."Your Highness," Aybas said. The title at least had not been forbidden, or if it had been, then foronce he would say curse the Star Brothers! "I fear that those who rule here in the Vale of the Pougoirecognize no rank save their own.""Not even that of Count Syzambry?""Why do you name the count, Your Highness?""Because I am not such a fool as to think that you and the wizards contrived to bring me herewithout his help. You both serve him. The wizards because they think he will enrich the Pougoi, you…the gods only know your reasons."That was too close to the truth for Aybas to keep his countenance. The princess pressed heradvantage, "I think you can trust neither the Pougoi wizards nor the count to keep any promises theyhave made to you. My father and I, however, are more honorable. What—"

"Enough!" Aybas's hand came up as if it had a will of its own. Had the princess spoken anotherword, he might have actually struck her."There will be no punishment for this rebellion," Aybas said, praying that this was a promise hecould keep. "But I will not come here alone again." That was a promise he would have to keep, or hewould be closer to the chains on the rock and the sucking mouths of the beast's tentacles than he caredto think about.The princess tossed her head like a fly-beset horse and looked meaningfully at the door. Aybas wasthrough it and bolting it behind in between two heartbeats.Outside, he found himself sweating, even in the chill of the mountain evening. At least he would haveproved his loyalty to any unseen eyes or ears. Beyond that, no good would come of making an enemy ofPrincess Chienna."But what other path is there for me, oh gods?"Neither the skies, the wind, nor the rocks beneath, answered Aybas's cry.

Conan had hopes of taking the Second Company out into the field to put a final polish on its newskills. Decius had other plans."If Syzambry has half the men we think he does," the captain-general said, "we have no hopeagainst him in the open. The more we guard the palace, the less harm he can do.""The more we guard the palace, the more we leave the count a free hand everywhere else," Conanreplied. "I'm a stranger here. I don't know how many friends Eloikas has outside the palace—""That's King Eloikas to you, Cimmerian," Decius snapped. "And you say truly, you are a strangerhere." "A stranger who's seen his share of battles and intrigues," Conan reminded the older man. "Such ashare that His Majesty made me captain over a company of his own Palace Guard. Did you argueagainst that, or are you regretting it now?"That was pushing a man of higher rank rather hard, but not harder than necessary, or so it seemedto Conan. If Decius was letting a boy's passion for Raihna addle the man's and the captain's wits—Decius shook his head. "I spoke for you then, and I will speak for you now whatever you say tome. Just think before you speak, if you have it in you to do so."Conan gave Decius a tiger's grin. "Well enough, my lord. I think that His Majesty must have somefriends in this realm. Otherwise, Syzambry would have plumped his arse down on the throne years ago.""Not unlikely.""Cursed near certain, I'd say. Now, what will these friends say if they see us hiding in the palace likea mole in its burrow? I know the king's no coward. You know the king's no coward. What about ourfriends? Even if they think that the king's worth helping, what will they do if Syzambry's men are free toroam the land? If any of our friends so much as give the count a sour look, they'll be dead, or running fortheir lives. Running to us for help, when we've enough to do for ourselves."Decius looked the Cimmerian over with great care, as if the younger man had just grown bright-bluescales or a long, spiked tail. Then he shook his head again."Conan," he said, "if you ever 'plump your arse' down upon a throne, I would not like to be the mancalled on to move you from it."Conan shrugged. "I've seen a few men win thrones or lose them. I'd be a fool not to learn from that.One thing I've learned is that a throne makes a man a big target, and a sitting one. The day my arse and athrone do make friends, you can call me a fool!""Small chance that either of us will ever have the chance," Decius said. "But it is more than likely thatCount Syzambry will be visiting us soon. Your company's work for now is to make sure that ourhospitality is worthy of him. We will speak later of taking the field again.""Later," it seemed, might be in the next age of the world for all Conan heard of the matter in the next

few days. He had little time to concern himself with it, however, for the work given to the SecondCompany kept captain and men alike as busy as galley slaves.Oyzhik's traps were many, but for the most part they were poorly made, and too often poorlyconcealed. Conan wondered if Oyzhik had planned this to be sure that his master's men would not springthe traps even if he could not wreck them on the night of the attack.Be that as it may, one cunning and well-concealed trap was worth a dozen that any child couldavoid. Conan made sure that no child would find any of the ones he set. Some were Oyzhik'sdeadfalls—pits, hidden crossbows and the like—done over with greater skill and bloody intent.Others were altogether new. Conan had to be cautious there. The palace was vast, built in dayswhen the Border Kingdom bore another name and its main defense lay with armies that marched whereother realms now held sway. It was also ancient, and it had been several generations since the Borderkings had had the gold to pay masons to repair sagging arches and cracking walls.There were parts of the palace unvisited by any living man. Conan judged that the count would seekentry by these long-unused paths, and he gave most of his attention to them. Care was needed to avoidleaving suspicious traces. Still more care was needed to avoid bringing entire corridors or chambersdown on the heads of the workers instead of on the count's men.Raihna visited Conan one day during the noon meal. She found him stripped to a loinguard, sword,and a liberal coating of dust and plaster, sitting with a company of Guards similarly clad. The fruits of theirmorning's labor yawned before her, a pit with a spiked log in the bottom."When we've closed the pit, we'll lay on another surprise," Conan said, pointing toward a side hall."An old catapult cord with a trip release and a barrel of tar. We'll have a lighted candle in a clay pot setinto the barrel. When the barrel breaks and spills the tar, the candle falls into the tar and the wholechamber's ankle-deep in flames."Several of the Guards cheered at the picture. Others called greetings to Raihna, inviting her to jointhem at their work—"—'specially if you get into our workin' garb," one added.Raihna clapped her hand to her sword hilt and stepped back, nostrils flaring in mock fury. She set aboot heel into a pile of rubble, and dust flew up like smoke from a fire. She took in a good breathful,coughed, then began sneezing.Near the ceiling, a crack appeared in the wall to the left. It ran as swiftly as a hare fleeing a fox,down the wall to the floor. Then a slab of wall gave a mighty groan and topped outward, crumbling as itfell. Part of the ceiling followed, but only after Conan and Raihna and the workers were safely clear ofthe fall.As the dust settled, Conan looked at the pile of rubble, then spat to clear his throat. "Well, men," hesaid, "I've been warning you that a sneeze could bring this ruin down on our heads. Now you see that Iwas speaking the gods' own truth."Some of the men still made gestures of aversion, but most of them laughed. Since none of themwere under the rubble, they could turn it to a joke.The men salvaged such of their food as wasn't buried or too dusty to eat and resumed their meal.Conan led Raihna aside into an empty chamber with a stone bench built into one crumbling wall. Thebench creaked as they sat down on it but did not tumble them to the floor."I'd best see Decius about going on with this work," the Cimmerian said. "We've already laid trapsin every part of the palace that's not this ruined or worse. If we go on into the old warrens, we'll have theplace down on our heads before Syzambry comes to take them!""Let me speak to Decius first and see how the land lies," Raihna said. "He has heard enough aboutyour notions of going into the field against our enemies. He will not be gracious if he thinks you are puttingthe matter forward again."Conan cursed—softly, out of fear of provoking another collapse. When he spoke, it was also softly,but more out of fear of listening ears.

"Mitra bury Decius in mule dung!" he said. "There's as much sense in striking first as ever there was.And as little sense in waiting like rats in burrows for the ferrets to come down and snatch us!"Raihna put a hand on Conan's arm. "I think you do him an injustice, Conan."The Cimmerian shot Raihna a sharp look but said nothing. With another woman, he would havereasoned that Decius had begun to turn her head. With Raihna, he knew that he would hear what shebelieved to be sense, even if he did not agree with it."How?""The Palace Guards are not fit for the field. He would be taking his own men and them only on anysuch raid. That would make the Guards stronger."Conan nodded slowly. He had seen enough intrigues in Turan to know that Decius was not startingat his own shadow. But—"Does he fear the captains, me among them, or the men, or what?""The men Oyzhik may have left behind and whom you might not discover in time. He trusts yoursword and your honor, Conan, but he also knows that you are a stranger here.""Yes, and men who might have been loyal before they saw a stranger made captain can turn totreason overnight." Conan wished greatly for some wine to wash both dust and the taste of plots from hismouth. He had to content himself with spitting again.Then he rose. "Perhaps Decius has the right of it. But I still won't put my company at hazard fromthis tumbledown palace. Loyal men or not, they don't deserve to be squashed like grapes in awinepress!"Raihna squeezed his hand. "I'll say as much, and you'll lose nothing with Decius by his hearing it.That I can swear."She strode off, as graceful as ever, leaving Conan to ponder briefly how she could be so sure ofDecius's goodwill. Of course, women had their ways—And if he gave way to jealousy over that, he'd deserve to have the next piece of ceiling drop on hishead, for all the use he was making of it! Raihna would go where she pleased, and he could no morechain her than he could command the mysterious thunder that had now begun to roll through the hills atleast once a night.That thunder was worth a thought or two, for it reeked of sorcery. What Raihna might do to sootheDecius had naught to do with such matters.Conan walked back to his men. They were already at work again, although slowly and castingdoubtful looks at the walls and ceiling."Good news, men. We're done for the day. Decius is thinking about putting the rest of the trapswhere they'll take Syzambry's men, not us!""I'd work here a moon and more if it'd build a trap for the count himself!" one man shouted. Othersnodded."You may get that chance, but tomorrow," Conan said. He set the example by starting to bundle uppry bars and hammers.As the tools clinked into the baskets, it came to the Cimmerian that Decius might have anotherreason for not taking the field. Eloikas's handful of good men might chase the count's retainers all over thehills for many days without ever coming up against the count himself.If the little man with the great ambitions escaped, he could find another army. If he died, his causewas finished. And what better way to kill him than to let him come to the palace, as he must if he wishedthe final victory?Perhaps there was nothing wrong with either the captain-general's wits or his loyalty. It did notmake Conan any happier to think about being immured in this crumbling palace against all of his instinctsfor taking the fight to the foe.

Outside the chief's hut, thunder rolled. Aybas, peering through the chinks between the logs, saw nolightning, so he knew it was the witch-thunder again.Had he doubted, the sounding of horns and drums from the village would have ended his doubting.Count Syzambry let the thunder—and the din of the Pougoi trying to fight it—die away beforespeaking. He did not take his eyes off of Aybas and Oyzhik, sitting together-on the straw at his feet.If Aybas had not long since given over flinching at the witch-thunder, he would have nerved himselfto sit still under the count's scrutiny. Oyzhik was clearly as uneasy as a man on hot bricks, and the chill ofthe mountain night did not keep the sweat from his brow. Rather than seem less brave than Oyzhik,Aybas would have climbed the dam and cast himself into the slime-dripping grip of the beast."The Pougoi can be trusted?" Oyzhik asked for the third time.Something that had no name flickered across Syzambry's face. In the dimness, Aybas could notread the little count's countenance, nor did he really wish to try."They can be trusted for all that I have asked them to do," Syzambry replied.Aybas had the sense not to ask Syzambry what the Pougoi were expected to do to help lift thecount onto the throne. In any case, there would not have been time for an answer even had Syzambrywished to give one.Heavy footsteps thudded on the beaten earth outside, and the door opened with squeals andgroans. Half a score of Pougoi warriors marched in, with one of the Star Brothers bringing up the rear.The warriors carried spears and stone-headed axes, the wizard a leather sack."Him," Syzambry said. The warriors surrounded the seated men. The count motioned Aybas to riseand step forward. Aybas commanded his legs to uphold him and his knees not to rattle together, andobeyed.Oyzhik's mouth opened, but before he could cry out, four warriors were upon him. A leather gagstifled his cries, while leather thongs bound his wrists and hobbled his ankles. Then the warriors grippedthe thongs and Oyzhik's travel-stained clothing and dragged him out of the hut.Aybas remained motionless until the heavy tread of the warriors faded into the night. Stepping backand looking nowhere and everywhere, he said quietly: "Decius would have given much to see that.""Pah!" Count Syzambry moved nothing except his mouth. Then he crossed his thin legs in their dyedriding leathers and shrugged. "If our lord captain-general had blood instead of milk in his veins, he wouldlong since have taken his rights. Had he done so, I would have served him gladly."Aybas thought that Count Syzambry would gladly serve another man the day vultures gave overtheir lives to fasting and prayer."Is Oyzhik to go to the beast?" Aybas asked."You presume to question my judgment?" Syzambry purred."I question nothing," Aybas said, "least of all your judgment. Were it not sound, we would hardly beso close to your victory. I merely remind you that too many among the Pougoi are uneasy about thesacrifices to the beast.""They are cowards," Syzambry snapped.It could be said that with enough cowards, the best army might become a rabble. It could also besaid that any man who had watched the princess's coming to the valley could be excused for wishinghimself elsewhere.Neither could be said to the count's face by one who wished to see another sunrise. So theAquilonian merely shrugged."They will not release Oyzhik, that I can promise you," he said. "His kin played no small part indriving the Pougoi from their ancestral lands and into this valley. These folk have a long memory.""But the lowlanders have a short one," Syzambry said. He seemed to be almost grinning. "Whenthey see Oyzhik go to the beast for his treasons, they will forget how I gained the throne. They will thinkthere may be some truth in what I say, that I stormed the palace to save it from Decius and Oyzhik, that

the king died and the princess needed consoling. These are matters of ill fortune, of the gods' doing andnot mine."Aybas thought of men he had seen and heard in his long journey from his father's estate to thiswretched valley. Compared to some of them. Count Syzambry's intrigues were those of a child cheatingat a game of toss-pebble. Yet this child had the power of life or death over Aybas, and would toss himaway like a pebble if he ever guessed the Aquilonian's thoughts. Aybas feigned good cheer when he nextspoke."May it be so, my lord. Now, how may I next serve you?""I shall depart to join my men at cock crow. Is it prudent to find me a woman?""None you would think pleasing, I fear," Aybas replied, praying that the gods had not grantedSyzambry a glimpse of Wylla."I supposed as much," the count said. "Very well. Then guard this bag with your life until I come forit. Farewell, and my thanks for good service."Syzambry spoke as if "my" should in truth have been the royal "Our." Aybas bowed and remainedbowing until the door slammed, then knelt to study the bag.It was of plain leather, bound shut with an iron band. The runes on the band were such that Aybasdid not care to look at them too closely. Even in the dim light of the single oil lamp, he could see that theywere kin to the runes on the face of the dam. He could also feel that the bag held something heavy, asstone, but he would not even think of opening it.Count Syzambry was now quite without restraint in using the Pougoi wizards' magic to lift him to thethrone. The Aquilonian was also sure that the count was quite without real knowledge of what he wasusing—or of what its real masters might ask of him as their price.

Chapter 9

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Conan awoke in darkness, at first not sure why he had awakened. It might be only the bed, whichwas stoutly built but overly generous in size. It might have been comfortable for the Cimmerian when hefirst left his native land. For him now, it was a minor torture, and only his ability to sleep anywhereallowed him to endure it.Before retiring tonight, he had sworn a solemn vow to see the palace carpenter about a new bed.He was even prepared to endure the man's witless jests about who Conan might be planning to share thebed with.Conan set feet to the cracked tile of the floor, drew on breeches, belted on his sword, and listened.Nothing uncommon reached his ears. A slop-pot gurgled, then banged against stone; someone cried outin a nightmare or in passion; mice or rats scurried in a corner.The knowledge that he had awakened for some good reason remained with Conan. All of theinstincts that had kept him alive now called warnings. They would tell him no more, so it was best to seekout true knowledge of the danger.He drew on his shirt and thrust both daggers into their sheaths. He thought of taking his bow, but inthe end, he left it with the bearskin and riding cloak piled at the foot of the bed.Conan knew that danger stalked the palace. Others did not. Seeing him roaming about full-armedwould only raise questions he could not answer. Ignorance and fear together were the sparks to ignite apanic, which could leave the palace defenseless.Conan's grim thoughts went no further. Horns and drums sounded in the distance and were echoedcloser at hand from within the palace. Also from within the palace, shouted messages and war criesreverberated. Conan heard too many screams as the weaker among the palace folk let fear master them.

The Cimmerian had no need to wake the portion of his company lying in the next chamber. The firstsergeant was already cursing, kicking, and as needs be, dragging the men off their pallets and into theirwar harness.The sergeant raised a hand as Conan appeared. "I have sent a messenger to the barracks. The menthere are to rally on the palace," he said."Good. But send a second man in case the first meets with ill luck. I am going to Decius. Ourrallying point is the Chamber of the Red Fish.""So be it, Captain Conan."Conan thought of giving a second rallying place, outside the palace. But that would be admittingdoubts about the outcome of the battle before it had even begun, an admission that stuck in his throat.In silence the Cimmerian stalked toward the Chamber of the Red Fish. Taking its name from themosaic in what had once been an ornamental pool, the chamber could be defended by a handful against astout band. It also had a staircase, battered by the years but still fit to let a nimble man climb to the roofand look about him.Conan reached the chamber to find that half of Raihna's men were already there. Leaving them tobuild barricades of stone and ancient furniture, Conan scrambled up the stairs.The horns and drums in the distance were silent now. Darkness hid whatever they had been rallying,be it men or monsters. Conan looked at the sky, where lowering clouds veiled the moon more often thannot. He half-expected to hear the witch-thunder.Instead, he saw a pinpoint of ruby-tinted light spring to life in the darkness downhill from the palace.The pinpoint grew into a ball of fire, and its color changed from that of rubies to that of old wine.By that light Conan saw what seemed a mighty host drawn up before the palace. A second lookshowed him that it was not mighty, and indeed barely a host.Count Syzambry was well to the fore, mounted on his roan stallion and surrounded by sometwo-score riders. Many more men stood behind the horsemen, most of them archers, bearing scantyarmor and few weapons save their bows. A final band of perhaps three-score had surrounded the hutsand the remainder of the Palace Guard there. From the way they kept their distance from the huts, itseemed that the Guards were neither asleep nor yielding.That was enough for Conan. Syzambry might command sorcery, but all it had done so far was toreveal how few men he had. They were no band of beardless boys, but neither were they the predestinedvictors of tonight's battle.Now, if only the Guards in the barracks could strike into Syzambry's rear at the moment his menwent forward—The globe of light had turned the hue of old blood. It spread so far that Conan could barely makeout the count. Then the little man flung his hands wide apart and something fell smoking from the globe oflight. A vagrant breeze brought the Cimmerian the smell of heated metal and burned grass. An angry hissrose, along with clouds of smoke and steam, as what had fallen struck a puddle.Then the globe of light shrank back to barely more than a pinpoint. The smoke curled up to form astalk swaying in the breeze, the light bobbing at the end of it like a flower.The earth quivered. Smoke and blood-hued light began to move toward the palace as if drawninexorably forward by something just out of human sight.Not quite out of sight, either, as Conan saw in the next moment. What drew the fire-flower after itwas also making a furrow in the earth, an arm's length wide. Smoke poured out of it, stones and earthflew to either side, and the quivering of the earth doubled and redoubled.Conan abandoned thoughts of rallying the Guards to surround Syzambry's men. The first task for allof the king's captains now had to be keeping their men clear of this sorcerous monstrosity rumblingtoward the palace. If that meant leaving the palace so that it would not topple on their heads and burythem in the ruins—

One of the barracks huts did collapse, the sound lost in the rumble of the ravaged earth. Dust andsmoke swirled up, and Guards poured out like ants from a kicked hill. They came with their weapons inhand, though, and dragging or carrying wounded comrades.Conan forced himself down the stairs. For better or worse, the Guards caught in the barrackswould have to make their own way tonight. His battle would be here, so far as a man could fight sorcery.The Cimmerian was three steps from the floor when the earth heaved fiercely. The steps cracked.So did a section of wall and several sections of roof. Conan leaped as the stairs sagged under him,leaped again to avoid falling stones, went down, caught himself on his hands, and ended kneeling atRaihna's feet.She had a grin for him, but he could see that she was trying to hearten herself as well as her men.He returned the grin and sprang to his feet.Most of the men who'd been in the chamber when Conan climbed up were there when he camedown. Few had fled, and Raihna had brought the rest of her band with her. But there was more than oneman who had remained because falling stone pinned him to the floor.Conan gripped the nearest such stone, wrapped his massive arms around it, and heaved it clear. Inthe last moment of silence before the fallen men began screaming, Conan heard his own breath cominghard. He also heard, so faint that it might have been a trick of the night wind, the distant trill of pipes.

The pipes were indeed distant and faint. But to Count Syzambry, they might have been shrilling inhis ear.He knew what they meant. He also knew what the Pougoi wizards had said, so many times that hehad become weary of hearing even the truth."Let fear break your will, and your will drags down our power with it. Wield what we have givenyou without fear, and it will do what must be done. We cannot keep our promises to a man who lets fearrule him."That was as close as any man had come to calling Syzambry a coward since he had been oldenough to know that he could have blood for such an insult. He let it pass, for he did not doubt that thewizards spoke the truth and that all of his schemes would fail if his courage faltered.So the count willed himself to shut the piping out of his mind even if he could not close his ears tothe distant, silvery voice. He would not let it surround him, enwrap him like swaddling clothes on a baby,echo within his skull until all awareness of anything but the pipes fled—Between one moment and the next, Count Syzambry knew that he had won the first victory. Thepipes now seemed a long, wailing lamentation for the dead and the dying, for the doomed who knew nottheir fate. They did not master the count's thoughts.Instead, the power flowing from the pipes turned against the Pougoi magic unleashed against thepalace. The furrow had almost reached the outer wall of the palace when the earth itself heaved up intoanother wall. Stones poured down from the new wall and into the furrow.The furrow vomited smoke, so thick that it seemed almost solid. The stones flew out as fast as theyfell in, and so violently that some of them nearly struck Syzambry's men. Horses reared, their panickysqueals lost in the din of the tormented earth, and even men began to turn pale faces toward one another.Syzambry once more found himself battling fear that threatened to eat not merely his magic, but hisvery wits from within.Furrow and earthen wall now seemed to fling themselves at each other like maddened monsters.Stones flew high over the ranks of Syzambry's men, dropping among the Guards' huts.One smashed a hut to rubble, and the count thought he heard the cries of men trapped within. Hewould have prayed that the stones bury the rest of the Palace Guard, except that praying to god, or evento demon, seemed unwise in the presence of the star-magic.

Syzambry forced himself to look beyond the duel of magic, trying to pierce the palace's veil of dust.In places, the night breeze had torn the veil, and there the count saw what made his heart leap.The palace was crumbling before his eyes. It could hardly have been crumbling faster had it bornethe full weight of the sky-magic. Walls sagged, roofs gaped, whole chambers opened themselves to thesky in the moment before they crumbled into rubble. More dust streamed up, renewing the veil until thecount's eyes could no longer penetrate it.They had no need. There must be defenders ready within the palace. But those defenders wouldhave to fear peril not merely at their flanks and rear , but from the sky above and the earth below. Theywould be in no condition to make a determined fight.The wizards had said that the count's will was all that mattered, not where he stood. What betterway to steel his will and that of his men than to lead the way into the palace?Count Syzambry flung the reins of his mount to the horse-holder and scrambled from the saddle.The earth rocked under his feet like the deck of a boat in a flood-swollen river, but he would not lethimself fall.Instead, he drew his sword with both hands, tossed it, caught it by the blade, then raised the pointtoward the palace."The gods themselves cast down Eloikas and all his men! Follow me!"For a heart-stopping moment, Syzambry heard nothing save the roar of the embattled earth. Then,behind him, blades rasped from their scabbards and the war cries rose."Steel Hand! Steel Hand! Forward, the Steel Hand!"

In the palace of King Eloikas, chaos reigned. Chaos past description of belief, even for seasonedwarriors such as Conan and Raihna.Not that either of them gave a thought to describing what was happening about them. Their thoughtswere wholly aimed at keeping their men from being caught under the falling rubble.Then they heard the war cries, louder even than the rumble and crash of stone and the roar of thetormented earth. Out of the thundering darkness, out of the blood-tinted clouds of dust, CountSyzambry's men swarmed to the attack.If they had begun in any sort of order, they had little or none by the time they came within sword'slength of Conan. Their order had not survived scrambling over the upheaved ridge of earth. From thescreams heard even over the war cries, it seemed that some of the men would not survive either.Conan wished that the palace's unknown ally were not using sorcery nearly as dreadful as CountSyzambry's. Defending a place by casting it down upon its defenders was to Conan neither honorablenor wise.At least the sight could leave the men under Conan and Raihna no doubt that any chance of safety,let alone victory, lay to the fore. To the rear lay only a palace sinking into ruins even as they watched. Tothe fore lay a human foe, and above that foe, the open sky."Eloikas!" Conan roared, his voice rising over the battle din. He hurled himself forward. As alode-stone draws iron, so the Cimmerian drew after him the men who saw him. Raihna was not farbehind Conan, and she did as well with those who saw her.Count Syzambry's men were scattered, unsure of their footing, and, in places, actuallyoutnumbered. They had better armor and weapons, and more skill, but at first these were not enough.Nothing save massed archery or overwhelming numbers would have been enough against theCimmerian. His broadsword hummed through the air, clanged against armor and other blades, and toreflesh and bone with slaughterhouse sounds. When the fighting grew too tangled or opponents too closefor proper sword work, it was the turn of his dagger or massive fist.Together, the Cimmerian's weapons stretched half a dozen foes helpless on the ground before anyof the men following him reached an enemy. When they did, it was with hearts raised by the sight of

Conan's work, against foes equally cast down.The count's men were actually withdrawing when their lord scrambled over the ridge and saw whatseemed to be rout and ruin. He heard war cries giving way to shouts of warning, even to stark terror.He saw the Cimmerian storming forward like an elemental force of nature.He shouted an order, and the top of the ridge sprouted his archers. They cocked or drew, andarrows and bolts sleeted down into the ranks of the palace's defenders. Now the warnings and screamswere not only from the count's men. Beneath his dust-caked beard, he smiled.Conan had hoped that in the dust and confusion, the count's archers would be holding back for fearof hitting comrades. They were doing this, to be sure, but they were also bringing down too many of theGuards. The Guards would be spent and broken before "friendly" archery wasted the count's ranks.The Cimmerian judged as best he could the distance to the count. If a man could just cross thebroken ground and scale the slope to bring the count down—Arrows thudded into the earth and tinged off chunks of rubble by way of a warning. The archershad picked the Cimmerian out of the ranks of his men. If he tried to grapple the count, he would be anarrow-sprouting corpse long before he covered half the distance.Conan withdrew, more slowly than he had advanced in spite of the arrow hail. It was against hisnature to retreat at all, ten times over to start a panic among his men.The Guards' archers went to work as their comrades retreated. Caught standing in the open, withonly luck and armor between themselves and steel-tipped shafts, many of the count's archers quickly laysprawled on their high ground. The rest hastily sought the protection of the reverse slope, and not all ofthe count's curses and entreaties could bring them back.Thus Conan and Raihna, and more than half of their men, returned to such safety as the palace stillprovided. In the swirling din of the fight, Conan had not noticed that the duel of earth-magic seemed tohave ended. But as he helped Raihna bandage an arrow gash in one of her arms, he realized that theearth was both still and silent. Also, the palace was no longer raining stones and tiles!"What now?" Raihna asked, gritting her teeth as Conan tightened the bandage to hold the lips of thewound together. "We've barely won a skirmish, let alone a battle.""I'll wager that's more than Syzambry expected," the Cimmerian grunted. He would have given halfthe hoard of the Border realm, if he'd possessed it, for some wine to rinse dust and grit from his mouth."If the lads in the barracks have held their ground, they're in the count's rear," Conan went on."Curse it! I'd deal with a sorcerer myself, if he could just take a message to—"Raihna put a hand on the Cimmerian's arm and pointed. One of Decius's under-captains waspicking his way cautiously through the rubble. He kept looking up to see what was about to tumble onhim, and each time he looked up, he stumbled on something that had already tumbled down.At last Raihna took pity on him, scurried down the hall, and led him the rest of the way. Behindwhat had once been the wall of a sculpture gallery, the three leaders took counsel."Decius wishes you to bring your men back to join his so that we may retreat as one—" themessenger began. He said no more before a Cimmerian roar interrupted him."Has Decius turned—lost his wits, or sent a coward as his messenger?" Conan thundered thequestion loud enough to raise echoes and bring down loose pebbles from half-ruined walls.Raihna gripped his arm again, and this time she put her other hand over his mouth. "Conan, for thelove of the gods! You want to tell Decius, not the count!"The messenger had turned pale at the Cimmerian's look, and he still had a corpse's hue as hecontinued."Captain Conan, the lord captain-general did not ask. He commanded.""I don't care if Mitra and Erlik together are commanding it," Conan snarled. "We've a good part ofthe Guard out there, and the gods only know how they're faring. If they could break out into Syzambry'srear—"

"King Eloikas cannot move as fast as one might wish," the under-captain said doggedly. "He mustleave the palace now, to escape the men Count Syzambry is bringing against our rear."Perhaps it was just his blood being roused, or the fact of the sorcery so close at hand. Conan stillthought that the man knew something he was not saying about Eloikas's reasons for this hasty departure."I wasn't asking the king to lead our charge himself," Conan said. "Only to remember men sworn tohim, and to make one last try for victory. We can still bring down the count. If we can't do that, we canhurt his men and slow their pursuit.""Perhaps—" The messenger seemed torn between fear of Decius and the king and fear of Conan.Or was it knowledge that the Cimmerian's counsel held wisdom?"Raihna," Conan said. "Gather a half score of archers and hold them ready. I'm going to climb ashigh as I can to see how the men in the barracks fare. If they've fallen or fled, we'll do as Decius wishes."The messenger opened his mouth to argue, then saw Raihna's hand rest lightly on her sword hilt. Hismouth shut again, with an audible click.Conan saw on Raihna's face a wish that he send someone else. He also saw the knowledge thatnothing she said would lead anywhere, save perhaps to a quarrel in their last moments of life. Conanwould not readily ask a man under him to go where he would not, still less when the man was barelyfledged as a soldier.Conan dropped his bearskin and slung on a quiver and bow. He kicked off his boots, to bring toesas well as fingers to his climb. Then, as the archers gathered, he picked his stretch of wall.As Raihna raised her hand, he stepped to the base of the structure. The hand came down, arrowshissed into the night, and Conan began to climb.

Chapter 10

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Count Syzambry was no man to admit failure, let alone defeat. He could alter his plans if they wenttoo plainly awry.The way in through the front of the palace would need more men than he had in hand. He must notonly beat down the king's men, including that black-haired giant who seemed to be worth half a companyby himself. He must also face losing men to falling walls, traps, ambushes, and the gods only knew whatelse as he made his way through the palace.If he held the defenders he faced, the men he had to the rear of the palace would close the trap.Even holding where he was promised stout fighting, but not beyond what he could ask of his men.Syzambry's decision had come swiftly. His orders were swifter still.."Bring half the men from the Guards barracks into line. Move the rest so they stand between ourrear and the Guards. Then every man prepare to advance."Some thought him mad, or at least foolhardy. He could see it in their eyes. But they remained silent,so he need not fear losing any fighting man by summary execution for disobeying orders.Weakening the watch on the Guards' barracks might let their survivors escape. Every servant of theking who lived through this night would be one more to hunt down later. The Pougoi warriors had refusedto march with him against the palace, but they would not scruple at hunting down royal soldiers. If theydid, the Star Brothers would remain them of the need to feed the beast.

Conan was perched as securely as the wall allowed before Raihna's archers had time to shoot threetimes. As the third flight of arrows whistled toward the enemy, he saw that Syzambry's archers were notshooting back.

Indeed, it seemed that the count's men had abandoned the fight, though not the field. Conan strainedeven his excellent night sight, trying to make out what might be happening beyond that magic-spawnedearthen bank.The dust was still settling, but the magical light was altogether gone and the moonlight turned fitfuland dim. Conan would not have light at the price of another duel of sorcery, but he misliked planning hisbattle like a blind man groping in a rat-infested cellar.The Cimmerian realized that what his eyes could not provide, his ears might. Cautiously he stoodupright, unslung the bow, and nocked an arrow. Drawing back to the ear, he sent the shaft whistlingtoward the Guards' barracks.Five arrows drew enough noise to tell Conan that the count still had men watching the barracks.The Guards must yet be there, or perhaps had left so cunningly that the count's men had not heard them.The count was also moving men toward Conan's right. Had fresh men joined him, or was hedrawing men from before the barracks, or both? In either case, the count's men would not likely bethinking of attacking, but of keeping up with their comrades.Now would be a good time to surprise them, and surprise could be half of victory.Conan waved Raihna and the under-captain who'd brought Decius's message over to where theycould hear the faintest of whispers. They listened to him in silence, although doubt showed on the man'sface even in the darkness."What of Syzambry coming behind us, between us and Decius?" he asked when Conan was done.Conan decided that he had thought worse of the man than he deserved. "You should return toDecius and warn—"The under-captain shook his head. "One of your men can take the message as well. I will not runfrom this fight. Also, I know where we are to meet Decius and the royal party, if we both win free of thepalace."Conan was certain now that he had doubted the man's courage without cause. "Very well, then. Butif you want to test your steel against the count's, then tell me and Raihna of the meeting place. Then youcan go to the gods leaving everything behind you fine and tidy!"The under-captain grinned as Conan tossed down his bow and quiver, then followed them in apanther-like leap.

Count Syzambry cursed the unknown archer, but did so silently. More silently than his men hadendured the arrows plunging among them, at any rate. Two men had died screaming, and the unhurt weremore than a trifle shaken.Useless to tell them that the dead were unlucky, victims of a man who could no more see his hand infront of his face than they could. Too much sorcery wielded by friend and foe alike had unsettled his men.Nothing but a hard, close fight with honest steel against opponents of flesh and blood would bring themback to their manhood—A whisper crept along the ranks of the count's men, to reach the count where he crouched behindthe crest of the earthen bank."The king's men are moving. They know we are coming. They are setting a trap. If we advance, itwill be to our death."Count Syzambry replied with a whispered threat of horrible punishment for cowards.Silence fell on his ranks. The count turned his eyes to the front. The palace lay before him, a mazeof shadows that might conceal anything and certainly hid a determined foe. His men would need torchesto shed light as they fought their way into the palace.The maze of shadows seemed to be even more tangled now. Indeed, some of the shadows were—moving?"Steel Hand! Cry!" The count kept his voice from screeching like a woman's. But he had to take a

deep breath before he could shout again. "Up! Up and on guard! They're coming out!"

The enemy's giving the alarm did not slow Conan. Nor did recognizing Count Syzambry's voice.The Cimmerian had time for a brief thought that the count must be almost within reach if his words cameso clear.Then chaos erupted again.Half of Conan's men were not as battle-seasoned as the Cimmerian. Some stood gaping, otherscried out, a few began to run. Altogether, they brought the advance to a noisy halt.At the same time, fire arrows began to plummet onto the Guards' huts. The uppermost layers of thethatch were as dry as tinder and took fire as readily as straw. In moments, flames were creeping acrossthe roofs of half the huts that had survived the shaking of the earth.Somewhere among the count's men was a captain who wanted light at all costs. He was gaining it,but the cost included revealing his own men to Conan and the archers at his command.These archers needed no orders to begin shooting at the men who menaced their comrades. Theyshot, in fact, with such zeal and so little aim that they were as great a menace to friend as to foe.Conan left to Raihna the task of bringing the archers to order. He sought to form his men into a solidband that could strike a shrewd blow. The light from the burning huts had shown him what he hardlydared believe: the count at the near end of the earthen bank, with barely a handful of men about him."Haroooo!"It was the under-captain shouting as he plunged forward up the bank. He continued his wordlesscries until he was almost within sword's reach of Count Syzambry. Then his steel blazed in the firelight."I am Mikus, son of Kiyom, and I am death to traitors and rebels against King Eloikas Fifth of—aarrgghh!"The count had stood as death closed with him. Not so one of his guards with a short lance slungacross his back. Its blade sparkled in the firelight, vanished into Mikus's belly, then burst forth bloodyfrom his back.Ere the sword fell from Mikus's limp fingers, Conan was charging up the slope. Before he reachedthe top, the count vanished, and in his place stood a dozen of his men. They made a wall of steel, armorand blades alike, between Conan and Syzambry.Still, Conan hacked three of them out of the fight, two dying on the ground and the thirdwithdrawing with a useless arm and dragging leg. But the others were hemming him in, and arrows beganto fly as the count's archers found a target.The archers did not cease shooting as Conan plunged downhill. Indeed, they did not cease shootingafter Conan reached safety and the count's men came downhill in pursuit of the Cimmerian. The archersmade better practice against their friends than against their foe, or perhaps the nine men made a largertarget than a single Cimmerian.Regardless, it seemed for a while that the next battle would be between the count's archers and thecount's men-at-arms. While the count's captains sought order, Conan was doing the same among his ownmen. Only then could he study his intended battlefield.The huts were now well ablaze, and the count's men who had watched them were now falling backon their comrades. From the far end of the huts, figures darted off into the darkness, the last of theGuards taking to their heels.Conan cursed, not much caring who or what heard him. If the Guards had not been fleeing, theycould have given him the strength for an attack. As it was, by the time the Guards rallied and returned tothe attack, Syzambry's men would be in the palace.The Cimmerian cursed again, this time softly. He was cursing himself more than anything else.Decius might well have had the right of it, and Mikus had shown both sense and courage. Compared tothem, Captain Conan of the Second Company had not made such a great name tonight!

Little to be done about it, either. If only the united strength of King Eloikas could face Syzambry,then best unite that strength as quickly as possible. The palace could always be retaken once Syzambry'shost was gone. If the king lost his fighting men, however, he lost everything."Where now, Conan?" It was Raihna, and for a moment the Cimmerian's tongue could not shapeitself to the only sensible words."To the meeting place with Decius. He may not thank us for this night's work, but we'll be there forhim to say so!""As the gods will. Who takes the lead?""I'll take the rear. My night sight's the keenest and we'll need it against pursuers."Raihna loped off toward the front of the line. Conan waited until the last man was past the midpointof the huts before he rose from his hiding place to join the retreat.As he did so, he heard the rumble and crash of falling masonry from well within the palace. Amoment later he heard shouts and screams.He did not know if the commotion was due to one of the traps or merely to a careless warriorleaning against a weakened wall. It did not matter. Every one of Syzambry's men who found a graveinside the palace would be one less to fight the next time battle was joined.

The scream from within the palace echoed in Syzambry's mind. He wanted to echo it.He bit his lip, and the scream died unborn. The swordcut he had suffered from that young foolMikus's blade was not the first battle wound he had taken. It would not be the last, even though victorywas dawning before him. No usurped throne was ever held without fighting.But gods, the pain! No wound had ever hurt so much. The count would have prayed that no woundwould ever hurt so much again, but he doubted that his prayers would be answered. He could not evenshape his lips to the proper names of the lawful gods.Chills gripped his heart and belly, almost making him forget the pain. Had magic entered into him somuch that he was unclean in the sight of the gods? Had he done what was forbidden and now was cursedwith this dreadful pain from a simple sword-cut, and might he be cursed with worse—?Count Syzambry still did not scream, but he groaned.From what seemed a vast distance away, a voice that might have been a ghost's uttered soundswithout words. Count Syzambry thought he heard what might have been "sleeping draught." and even"Pougoi magic."Pougoi magic. Yes. That was it. The magic of the tribe's wizards was making him hurt so much. Thesame magic would take away the pain.It would take away the pain or he would not be the friend the Pougoi expected. It had been hisintention to arm the Pougoi and use them to uphold his throne. He would still do that if their wizardswould heal him. If they did not, he would say nothing.But he would heal himself, or seek the aid of the leeches and surgeons. The healing would takelonger that way, but vengeance lost no sweetness with the passing of time.Yes, the time would pass, his wound would be gone, and he would use the power of the throne toarm all the enemies of the Pougoi. Then those enemies would fall upon them and cast them down, eventheir beast.It would not do, after all, to leave the beast alive and a prey to someone who might think he wasmeant to rule in the Border Kingdom.A voice spoke again, with nothing remotely like sensible words. A rim of cold metal pressed againstthe count's battered lips. He smelled herbs and strong wine, then tasted them as the cup was tilted totrickle the potion into his mouth.For a moment he thought he would choke. He did not, and the cup was empty almost before hebecame used to the harsh taste. He was already sliding down into sleep as the cup left him, although even

after he slept, it was a while before the pain no longer troubled his dreams.

The last sounds from the battle of the palace were long since left behind. Nothing but the sounds ofthe night disturbed the march of Conan's band of survivors. The night breeze whispered across the barehillsides, and in the forests below, the night birds called to one another.Once a wolf howled, long and harsh. The reply came not from another wolf but from something thatseemed as vast as a mountain and growled like the heaving earth during the battle. Conan saw thefear-stricken looks on his men's faces and growled curses under his breath.As they skirted a field of straggling grain, Raihna dropped back to walk beside the Cimmerian."The gods seem far away tonight," she said. Her face was such a mask that it seemed the movementof her lips would crack it.Conan lifted a hand to wipe blood-caked dust from her cheek. "They're never as close as thepriests seem to think. We're alive without their help, so I'm wagering on our—""Hsstt!"Raihna did not grip Conan's arm this time. There was no need for it. Both had seen alike: a line ofshadowy figures straggling out of the forest. The faintest of moonlight was enough to reveal swords andspears, as well as ragged clothes, scanty armor, and no banner or device that Conan recognized.Raihna ran like a doe up to the head of the line, waving the men to a halt as she went. They halted,not without a clattering of weapons and thumping of boots that would have alerted trained men below.The men below, Conan judged, were even less battleworthy than the recruits of the SecondCompany had been. He saw them staggering with weariness, sometimes falling out of line to drink fromleather jacks. He saw them alternately gathered into ragged clumps like bunches of grapes or strung outlike a serpent. He saw all of this as he walked along the line of his band, warning the men to be silent, butready."I'm going down when they're all in sight," he told Raihna at last. "When you see me draw my swordor hear me shout Count Syzambry's war cry, come at a run!""Count Syzambry's—?" Raihna began, but she was talking to the Cimmerian's broad back as hestrode downhill.Conan was not so foolhardy as to walk up to the newcomers without marking each rock and stumpthat might hide him as he went. There were enough of those, so that with the favor of the gods—"How goes the fight at the palace?" someone called, sounding as if he had already emptied morethan one leather jack of something stronger than water.Conan was silent for another moment as he studied the hundred-odd men before him. Most of themwere the rabble they had seemed, but here and there, he noted, was a man who carried himself like aseasoned free lance.King Eloikas had hired no free lances. Count Syzambry, however—Conan's sword rasped free and leaped high, opening the throat of the nearest free lance. At thesame time, he roared, "Steel Hand! Steel Hand! Steel Hand!"From uphill, Raihna replied, her voice as shrill as any she-demon hovering over a battlefield tosnatch the spirits of the dead and dying. After a moment other voices took up the cry, and with theirenemy's war cry on their lips, Conan's men thundered downhill to join him.They arrived just as the foe realized that they were in a battle, even if they were a good way fromthe palace and the attackers had feigned friendship! Whoever was in command began shouting orders,and some of his men seemed to obey him.The real peril to Conan was the free lances. They were rallying around the body of his first victim,half a dozen or more. Conan had a busy time of it, working hard with both sword and dagger to keep thefree lances from creeping around his flank.Then Conan's men struck the ranks of their foes, which in a moment ceased to deserve the name.

Eloikas's men had speed, the slope, and an ordered line on their side. They also had a king slain, ordriven into the wilderness, to avenge, and their own reputation to restore.Syzambry's rabble vanished like a dancer's silken veil flung into a blacksmith's forge. Flight did notsave a good many of them. A score or more died in the first shock, and as many more died with woundsin their backs. The Guards' blood was up, and they were a pack that no hunter could easily call off fromtheir prey.Conan did not try to. He held the free lances in play until Raihna joined him, turning their flank asthey had sought to turn Conan's. Two men died with Raihna's steel in their back before the rest knew ofthe fresh danger. Then the four survivors divided, two against each opponent.Two skilled free lances was no light matter even for the Cimmerian. When one of them was almostas big as he, it was a serious affair. Conan had the edge in speed, though, and he used it to hold bothmen at a distance while he sought an opening.It came when the larger free lance crowded his comrade away from Conan, jealous of the right todeal the Cimmerian what he thought would be the final stroke. This left a gap between the two men.Conan hurled himself into it, feinting with his dagger to draw the smaller man still farther out of position.The feint succeeded. Facing only one dangerous opponent now, Conan beat down the larger man'sguard, hammered his sword from his hand, then chopped the hand nearly from the wrist. The man reeledback, gaping at his spouting arm and dangling hand. He was still gaping as Conan slashed him across theface, and he fell back screaming and spitting blood and teeth.Conan whirled, certain that the smaller men would have returned to the fight. Instead, he saw atangle of arms and legs as four of his Guards swarmed over the free lance."Don't—" the Cimmerian began."Conan!" It was Raihna, putting into his name the cry for help she was too proud to utter.Conan wasted no time in joining Raihna and her opponents. Nor did he waste the opportunity onefoe's back gave him. He leaped, jerked the man's head back, and heaved him off his feet. The man wentdown with a thud and a clatter of armor, and Conan finished the hapless fellow's fighting by hammeringhis head on the ground.By the time Conan knew that they had a prisoner, Raihna had opened a safe distance from hersurviving foe. The man had a longer blade than she, though, and seemed to have no purpose left in life butto sink it into Raihna's flesh.He signally failed in that purpose. At the sound of Conan's footsteps, he left an opening for Raihna.Her sword opened his neck, and his head wobbled as strength left him. Then he toppled, and Raihna'sdagger ended his last writhings.The mask was gone from Raihna's face as she rose to face the Cimmerian, her expression like ashe-wolf that had just brought down the finest stag in the forest. Rents in her clothing showed moreblood-smeared skin than before, and her breasts rose and fell with her panting.She stepped forward and for a moment stood in the circle of Conan's arms, sword still in hand.Then she threw her head back and brushed sweat-matted hair out of her eyes."Time enough when we make camp, my friend. Now tell me, why did you shout Syzambry's warcry?" "If they were his men, as I thought, they'd lose time guessing who we were. I reckoned that the mencould put that time to use.""You reckoned right. But what if they'd been friends?""Then they'd have offered proof and joined with us. Either that or run off, and if they ran, at leastthey'd be clear of the palace. There's nothing there for any man loyal to King Eloikas save a hard death."Conan felt Raihna shiver as the truth of his words struck home. Then she kissed him, stepped free,and cupped her hands."Ho, the Second Guards! Rally to Captain Conan! We've not done with this night's work!"

They had not, Conan knew, and the end might yet be death for all. But Count Syzambry had lost ahundred men, dead or taken or driven into flight. They were a rabble, but even a rabble could be a loss ausurper might not bear easily.

Chapter 11

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At most times, Conan would not have asked of his Guards an all-night march after two battles.Moreover, some of the Guards bore wounds that would have commonly put them in bed. Others wereborne on crude litters by comrades who would not abandon them to wolves, bandits, or the scantymercy of any men Count Syzambry might have still roaming the palace precincts.So the march continued until dawn, although it ended with some of the men stumbling along moreasleep than awake; a hand on the shoulder of the man ahead was enough guidance. And by the gods'mercy, they were out of the worst hills.In an empty village on the edge of a wilderness of virgin forest looming higher than temple towers,they met the Guards who had fled the burning huts. They were some seventy strong—most of themarmed and only few wounded—under the command of the veterans.The sergeant of the First Company raised a hand as Conan strode up. "Hail, Captain Conan. Iawait your orders. You are the only captain of Guards here."Conan wanted to order the sergeant to put his men on guard so as to let the Second Companysleep, captain and all. He judged it more prudent to listen to the man's report.It was simple. Once away from the palace, the sergeant had looked about for a captain to rally themen. Not finding one, he had taken the command himself. The men had formed up and marched in fairlygood order until about the hour of false dawn, when they came upon the village."It was already deserted, so we saw no harm in settling down.""It was?" Conan had little stomach for a quarrel with a man who might be valuable help in days tocome. He also had little stomach for serving with a man who had robbed his own countryfolk."By the Red Rock, I swear it."The ancient throne of the Border Kingdom was something that few men would invoke to uphold alie. It seemed best to leave the matter."Truly, Captain Conan, they had gone with just what they could carry on their backs, and not muchof that," the sergeant added. "We saw some men with spears who might have been the rear guard, butthey weren't after staying to answer questions. I would not send the men running about the forest afterthem, either.""Wise of you."Returning favor for favor, Conan told the story of the Second Company's adventures. "I'd wagerthat the village folk ran when the rabble we fought came by. We'll have some more of the truth out of theprisoners, with luck."The sergeant led Conan to a hut that had a straw-stuffed mattress in one corner. "Fear it'srat-ridden, too, but—"Conan lifted the sergeant's jaw with one hand to cut off the flow of apologies. "Sergeant, if the ratsaren't bigger than I am, I can face them."The Cimmerian remained on his feet until the two companies of Guards had divided sentry duty.Then he kicked off his boots and crawled under the molting sheepskins on the bed.His sleep was sound, though not unbroken. He awoke to find that he was sharing the bed withRaihna. She had taken off rather more than her boots, and as if that message might be too subtle, shethen embraced him and drew him hard against her.

Both slept even more soundly afterward, but when the pipes sounded again, the notes were so faintand distant that even the sentries doubted that they heard anything. The sergeant heard nothing at all, andhe misliked waking weary captains at the best of times. Conan and Raihna were allowed to sleep until thesun was far toward the west.

Aybas wished that last night's dream would depart from his memory. Even more, he wished that hehad never had it in the first place.Both wishes, he knew, were futile. His wish to be of service to Princess Chienna was not so futile, ifhe did not let the dream unman him.It still would not leave him. Random fragments of it would return unbidden, no matter what he wasdoing. Now he was standing at the princess's door, and he was reliving the moment of the dream whenhe leaped from the cliff after her falling baby.He remembered the wind bearing him up, but also blowing him away from the babe. He reachedout his arms to grip one tiny foot, but the tentacles of more beasts than all the wizards of the world couldkeep were also reaching out, clambering from livid swamp and flames the colors of burning rubies andsolid rock blacker than a starless night—"The Princess Chienna bids you enter."The voice and accent were a hill woman's, but the words were those of a royal maid of honor.Aybas had fought fear. Now he fought laughter. The princess exacted proper service and obedience sofirmly that the idea of refusing never came to anyone's mind.Anyone's, that is, except the Star Brothers—and Aybas was here tonight in the hope that he couldmake even the wizards' whims miscarry.The door swung open on its leather hinges. Rush tapers cast a fitful light but showed the princessseated on her usual stool. She wore Pougoi dress now, even to the leggings and the bird-bone combsthrust into her long black hair. But she sat as if in her father's hall, receiving a guest of state while clad insilk and cloth of gold."I would bid you welcome, Lord Aybas, if I thought anyone coming in the service of your masterdeserved such a greeting.""Your Highness, I—" Aybas looked at the serving woman, who made no move to leave."I would have her tell you her own story if we had time," the princess said, "but, in brief, she is kinto a warrior who died on the night of my arrival. Who died of the miscarrying of the wizards' magic. Youmay speak freely."This command rendered Aybas briefly mute. If it had reached the princess that he was no greatfriend to the wizards, had it reached other ears as well?If one could be hanged for stealing a cup of wine, why not steal the whole barrel? Aybas nodded."I understand that your son has been wet-nursed by women of this tribe. Now, by the customs ofthe lowland, that makes him nurse-brother to the Pougoi. By the customs of the Pougoi, a nurse-brotheris next only to a blood-brother in kinship.""So I have heard," the princess said. Aybas was sure that she was hiding ignorance, since few of thelowlanders thought it worth learning much about the mountain tribes. The Border Kingdom might bemore peaceful if it was otherwise, Aybas thought.But ignorant or not, the princess was playing her part well. Aybas judged it time for the next sceneof the pageant."A nurse-brother of the Pougoi is under Pougoi laws in many ways. Among these laws is one thateven the wizards have obeyed since the first days of their star-magic. Man, woman, or child, one of thePougoi may not be sacrificed unless he gives consent or has committed a great offense.""A babe at the breast can consent to nothing!" the princess snapped. Then she smiled. "Exceptperhaps to go to sleep before driving his nurses and mother distracted with his crying."

Aybas held his peace until he was sure that no more would follow. The princess was silent, but hesaw her face grow taut as she struggled to hide her fear for her babe.Then the struggle to hide fear turned into a struggle of another kind. Aybas could read her thoughts,almost as if they had been carved out of the air in runes of glowing fire: If I admit that Prince Urras isbound by any laws of the Pougoi, this may cause some to doubt his right to the throne. There arealready many who fear the reign of a babe. There will be more if they think he must do thebidding of a louse-ridden, rock-scrabbling mountain tribe. Yet if I call my son one of the Pougoi,the wizards cannot sacrifice him without defying their own laws. Their own folk will draw backfrom them. And if my son cannot be sacrificed, then the wizards' greatest strength against me is abroken reed! "Indeed," Aybas whispered in agreement to the princess's unspoken wisdom. She herself was safeas long as the count intended to wed her. Her son, heir to the realm, had always been in a different andworse circumstance.Without words, Aybas prayed that she would see the way to what must be done."The customs of the Pougoi have always been held in honor by me and my kin," the princess said asif speaking to the whole court. "Therefore it is only fit and proper that my son be proclaimed anurse-brother of the Pougoi. He shall have the rights of any Pougoi male child of his age, and he shallassume his lawful duties when he is of age."The servant appeared to be ready to fall down in a fit, and for a moment Aybas grew fearful. Thenhe realized that she was only trying to hold in wild laughter. The idea of a royal princess claiming to honorthe hill tribes was too much for her."Mistress—ah?""Myssa," the woman said as she realized that Aybas was addressing her. "I bear witness to thisoath. I will stand, speak, and shed blood to uphold it."Aybas wondered whose blood she was swearing to shed but decided that his ignorance was bestnot revealed. He had not inquired too closely into the customs of the Pougoi after he had learned of theone that might save Prince Urras."Very well," Aybas said. "I swear to lay this matter before the lawful men of the tribe, for hearingthis oath according to custom. I also swear to regard Prince Urras as a nurse-brother of the Pougoi fromthis moment forth."That could prove an unfortunate promise should a direct command concerning the prince comefrom Count Syzambry. Aybas, however, had little fear of such a command being issued at any time soon.He had overheard enough about the count's wound to doubt that the man would be ordering more thanan empty chamberpot for some while. The man might even die.Then it would be well for Aybas if he had Chienna's goodwill. Count Syzambry would have merelycast the realm into chaos rather than usurping its throne, and an exile who wished to survive that chaoscould not have too many powerful friends.With some of his most courtly phrases, Aybas bowed himself out. It was full dark now, and hestumbled twice before his night sight returned.The dream did not return, however. This was a blessing Aybas had not expected. Perhaps he hadfound favor in the gods' sight?Perhaps. But the Star Brothers were closer than the gods, and they would need much morepersuasion than Chienna. As he ascended the village street toward his hut, Aybas began to rehearse in hismind a speech to the wizards.He was so caught up in it that he stumbled twice again. He also passed Wylla as if she wereinvisible, and he did not hear a single peal of the witch-thunder that rolled across the sky as he reachedhis hut.

Conan marched his men and Raihna's hard for the next two days. He turned a blind eye to theGuards who slipped off during each night, and sometimes by day, when forest or rough ground hid themswiftly.Raihna fretted both at the deserters and at Conan's apparent complaisance. "If this continues, wewill have none but a handful of veterans in ten days.""We will still have your men.""Of course." But she was near to biting her lips as she said it. Conan would not press her, since thetruth would be out sooner rather than later if their roaming the hills continued."We've no place to go until we know if the king and Decius won free of the palace," Conan said."The men understand that. They also know that if Syzambry wins, anyone still mustered as a Guard willhave a short life and a long death. A man who has drifted homeward to get in a crop and be a peacefulfarmer—he may save his kin, if not himself."The Cimmerian did not add that Raihna should have known this herself. The daughter of aBossonian yeoman (at best) must have lived all her girlhood knowing that an extra pair of hands at theharvesting could mean life or death for a family through the winter.After a moment, Raihna knew what Conan had not told her. She blinked, then rested a hand on hisshoulder."Forgive me, Conan. I fear that I am too ashamed of how I have misled my men to have all mywits." "Well, chase them down and bring them back," he said, slapping her on the rump. "You muster apretty fair strength of them when they're all present."Conan did not look the other way when some of the Guards talked openly of looting villages andfarms."There'll be none of that, for three reasons. One is that we want the villagers' friendship. Or at leastwe don't want them running to Syzambry with tales of our whereabouts. The second is that we canscrape by with game, fish, and berries for a while longer.""Long enough to find the king?" someone asked, from safely back in the ranks."The king or his grave," Conan said. "As long as King Eloikas lives, our oath as Guards binds us tohis service. If he's dead, our oath binds us to rescue his heir and put him on the throne."The silence that last vow produced was so complete that a snapping twig sounded like a falling tree.Conan rested a sooty hand on the hilt of his broadsword."The third reason for leaving the villagers in peace is that anyone who doesn't answers to me, and tomy friend here." The sword leaped from its scabbard, flashed in the sunlight, and returned to rest in asingle fluid motion.The band resumed its march in a more sober mood. Even Raihna seemed to have been affected bythe Cimmerian's words when she dropped back to walk with him in the rear guard."Will you really—?" she began."Hsst!" He put a finger to her lips, and they slowed their pace until the last of the rear guard wasbeyond hearing."Why not, by Crom? If Eloikas is dead, the babe is king of the Border Kingdom. He deserves abetter court than the Pougoi. If Eloikas isn't dead, Syzambry still has a hold over him as long as theprincess and babe are in the hands of the wizards."Conan did not add that he would have risked his life to snatch a scullery maid or a spitboy from thehands of the Pougoi wizards. Being in their toils seemed something an honest man shouldn't wish on hisworst enemy."And if Syzambry's dead?"Conan jerked his head, dismissing that rumor."But if he is alive, wouldn't his men be scouring the countryside for us?"

"We don't know how many men he has left," Conan said. "Besides, I hate to speak well of thatmisbegotten son of a Kushite camel thief, but he'll be a hard man to kill."Raihna grimaced. "You're full of cheery counsel this—"The reproof died on her lips. Faint and far, but beyond mistaking, they heard it.The pipes.Conan's hand went to his sword again. He did not draw. He took a deep breath instead, then let itout with the curses in his mind unuttered. But they echoed within his skull as loudly as they could everhave echoed from the hills."Show yourself, you whistling jester. Show yourself, you goat's-kin. Show yourself, and show yourtrue colors if you bear any!"

The Star Brother Forkbeard stared at Aybas. The wizard's face held every emotion that Aybas hadever seen on a human countenance… save one: it showed no surprise.Aybas did not pray. Prayers to lawful gods seemed themselves unlawful in this damp grotto, withthe smell of the beast hanging heavy in the air. He only commanded his stomach firmly not to disgracehim. If Aybas had doubted before that the wizards ate flesh from their star-beast, he doubted it nolonger. What he had seen in the shadowy corners of the grotto and what he smelled with every breath hetook could not be explained in any other way.Aybas's throat contracted and his stomach twitched. The gods showed some mercy, even ifunasked. Forkbeard was looking down at the rough-hewn oak table before him and saw nothing ofAybas's struggle for self-command.When the wizard looked again at the Aquilonian, he looked with a face twisted by fury andfrustration. His hands slapped the table, making a bronze bowl topple over and roll until it clanged on thefloor. It rolled again until it reached Aybas's foot. The Aquilonian forced himself not to flinch when thebowl touched his skin."Aybas," the wizard said. No "lord," and the name itself sounded like a curse."I am here, Star Brother, and at your command.""At… at… my—?" Forkbeard's fury altogether took possession of his tongue, and he sputteredinto silence. Aybas thought of asking forgiveness for unintended offenses, but he also lapsed into silence.He much doubted that he could utter such words and still command his face.With neither man able to break it, the silence drew on. It began to seem to Aybas that the rocksoverhead would crumble with the passage of the years and allow the lake and the beast to come roaringinto the grotto."Aybas," Forkbeard snapped then. "Did you speak to anyone of this notion that Prince Urras isnurse-brother to the Pougoi?""Other than to the princess and her servant, I spoke no word to any living creature, or even to theair. I do not know what the women may have said, where, or to whom. But my tongue has beenguarded, and I will swear it by whatever you hold most sacred.""That would not be lawful, since you are not a Star Brother." The wizard seemed to be speakingmerely to avoid looking witless. Then he sat down abruptly and twisted his beard with the fingers of bothhands."Perhaps you are blameless. But your… the scheme… this truth… it has escaped to the warriors ofthe Pougoi. They think it the truth. They think well of a future king of the Border being nurse-brother tothe Pougoi."Forkbeard did not add, "They think ill of sacrificing him to the star-beast." He did not need to. Thevery air shouted it in Aybas's ears. He was hard put not to grin in triumph.To give his mouth some occupation, Aybas inclined his head and spoke. "I rejoice that there is

peace between the Star Brothers and the warriors of the Pougoi. Great will be the Pougoi when theirstrong right hand and their strong left hand wield the same weapon."Forkbeard shot Aybas a look that made the Aquilonian wonder if he was suspected of jesting. Thenthe wizard rose."You speak the truth. The warriors are our right hand, and the left and the right hands cannotquarrel without leaving the Pougoi helpless in the face of their enemies."Those might just be the words flung together to sound well, but Aybas thought he heard more inthem. Certainly he had not had any messages from Count Syzambry since the night the palace fell and theking fled. Indeed, he had not even heard of any messages.Had Syzambry perhaps not survived the moment of his victory? Or was it merely that some aspectof the piper's magic kept messages from passing between the count and the Star Brothers? How muchmagic did that cursed Marr have at his command?"Prince Urras is nurse-brother to the Pougoi," Forkbeard said. "This shall be proclaimed so that allmay know it. Go in peace, Aybas, but guard your step and your tongue. You are no nurse-brother toanyone, save perhaps a flea-ridden bitch weaned on…"The wizard went on at some length in describing all the various unlikely and unclean animals thatwere near-kin to Aybas. Aybas submitted to the insults with dignity and did not laugh aloud until he wasfar across the valley toward his hut. Then he laughed until he had to lurch to a stump and collapse upon ituntil his breath returned. As it did, so did a clear mind.Who had spread word of his strategem among the warriors of the Pougoi? He knew none whom hecould trust with the matter, and he doubted that the princess did either. She was a shrewd woman,notwithstanding that she was young enough to be Aybas's daughter. But shrewd enough to understandthe ways of the Pougoi after only a few days' captivity among them? Aybas doubted that miracle.Then the name burst into his mind like a thunderclap.Wylla!She had heard, perhaps by magic, perhaps by being in the right place with a ready ear. Her fatherwas not least among the Pougoi warriors, in spite of his advanced years. He would surely listen to her,would know warriors whom he could trust with anything, and would speak to them. With law andcustom giving them a weapon against the Star Brothers, the warriors could be counted on to finish thework that Wylla had begun.Aybas knelt and rested one hand on the stump, placed the other over his heart. For the first timesince he left Aquilonia, he swore an oath by the gods of his childhood, in the manner he had been taughtas a boy.He would speak no word and do no deed to harm Wylla, and he would guard her from the wordsand deeds of others as best he could. He would not touch her without her consent, nor allow others todo so.If he was forsworn in this, might he end his life here in this valley, without name or honor or any fitprayers and sacrifices.

It was the fourth day after the fall of the palace and the flight of the king.Rumors flew now like geese bound south in the autumn. It was said that Syzambry was ensorceled,dying, dead, sick abed, or all of these at once. Conan wondered aloud how much truth there might bebehind all these words, thinking to keep his men from hoping for too much.To Raihna, he spoke his mind more freely. "Something has gone awry with Syzambry or his plans orboth. I'd wager my manhood on that. But what it might be, and what good we can take from it—" Hethrew his hands into the air,Raihna slipped down off the boulder where she had been perched whetting her dagger. "I'll prayyou do not lose the wager, if that is the stakes."

"What, no thoughts of Decius?""A woman can think of a score of well-looking men, Conan. But she can only bed one who ispresent."Conan put an arm across Raihna's shoulders, but she slipped from under it and darted down thepath. "There's a pool down there where the stream makes a bend. Race you to a bath."Raihna had a head start, but Conan's long legs quickly made up the distance. They finished the racerunning side by side, with Conan's arm around Raihna's waist.They were splashing in the pool when Conan thought he heard a footfall. He took his eyes fromRaihna's sun-dappled shoulders and freckled breasts and studied the trees around them.The mountain wind gave a stately motion to the branches high aloft. Conan did not think he'd heardthe sound of either wind or forest. A deer, perhaps, since he and his companion were farther from themain camp than usual, and upwind of it as well.Nevertheless, Conan reached down to be sure that the well-greased dagger on his ankle was stillthere and drawing freely. As he did, Raihna popped up directly before him and threw her arms aroundhis neek. She not only pulled his head down between her breasts, she pulled him off balance. He tumbledforward, and they both went down to the bottom of the pool in a warm tangle.When they rose, Conan could see in Raihna's eyes the thought that they were now clean enough.He drew her against him, then looked beyond her for a soft patch of ground. He found it, but he alsofound something that drove all thoughts of bed sport out of his mind.A man was standing on the patch of needles. He was not a man easy to describe, save that he wasshorter than Conan and slighter of build. But then, so were most men.His garb was more uncommon. He wore a loose tunic and looser trousers, homespun and dyed inmotley green and brown. A leather sack swung from one shoulder, and he held a long staff ofwell-seasoned wood in his left hand. He seemed to be unarmed, but wore on his belt what drew and heldthe Cimmerian's eyes: a set of pipes, seven of them, the shortest no longer than Conan's thumb, thelongest nearly half the length of his forearm. Pipes carved with vast care and cunning from some darkwood, then given silver mouthpieces and silver bands. Bands of silver spun as fine as thread and thenbraided and knotted—"I crave pardon if I surprised you," the man said. "I am Marr the Piper.""Tell me something my own eyes can't," Conan growled. He was edging toward the bank of thepool, moving slowly, refraining from any sudden gesture that might surprise or alarm this visitor. Hewished that Raihna had not kept him from drawing the dagger from his ankle.He could not wish more of Raihna. She was standing waist-deep in the pool, making no effort tocover herself as she wrung water out of her hair. She bore no weapon, but a woman like her waswell-armed enough without steel as long as she was also without clothing. A man's body might be safefrom her, but his mind—Conan reached the bank. With a single lunge he was out of the water and gripping his sword. Marrlooked his way. "That will not be needed.""Needed, or useful?""Why do you think it might not be useful?""If you aren't a sorcerer or near-kin to one—""Whatever else I may be, I arn no enemy to you or your friends." Conan did not lower the sword,but when he spoke, his voice was less harsh. "That will take some explaining.""If we have the time—""We'll take the time, my friend. Either that or you'll take your leave."The piper looked from Conan to Raihna, found no more mercy in her face than in the Cimmerian's,then nodded. "Very well. You have been witness to much of my work. Then I heard you, Conan,summoning me to show my colors—"

"What!" The word shot like an arrow from both Conan and Raihna's lips. It raised echoes from therocks. Marr shook his head."If you break in on my speech at every other word, we shall be here too long. Far too long, when Ican lead you to Decius and the king."This time neither Conan nor Raihna said a word. They merely stared at each other, then at Marr.When it seemed to Conan that both he and Raihna were seeing and hearing the same thing, he nodded toher. She climbed out of the water, silver drops beaded on her skin from forehead to toes. Conan cast hersword down to her and bent to don his clothes while she stood guard, then returned the favor.When they were both garbed, they turned to find the piper sitting as if he had been turned to wood.Only the play of a thin smile on his face told them that he lived.Conan sheathed his sword and glared at Marr. "As you can see, we'll not tarry here. You sayDecius and the king are safe?""Alive, I said. I did not say safe. I do not know what dangers might beset them, either.""Be that honest with one more question and we can strike a bargain, sorcerer or no.""What kind of bargain?""Answer the question first," Conan growled. He liked men who talked in riddles about as much ashe liked sorcerers."Ask, and I shall answer." The piper's voice itself had a musical quality to it that made it unlike anyhuman voice that Conan had ever heard—man's, woman's, or child's."Can you read a man's thoughts?""When he wishes me to read them, as you did when you asked me to show myself, I can read themat some distance.""But not when he wants to keep them to himself ?""No."Something in the man's tone hinted that it was a matter of "would not" rather than "could not." Yet—curse it, trust had to begin somewhere! The closer and the sooner the better, if indeed this woodlandwizard could pipe them along a path to Decius and Eloikas!Conan ran fingers through his mane of black hair, wringing out the last water. "If you told the truth,here's my bargain. You guide us to the king and Decius. Guide us as if you were a common hunter orcharcoal burner who knew the land. Not a breath, not a blink, about magic, and that means keepingthose pipes out of sight!""You bargain hard, Cimmerian.""I've more than a hundred good men that I don't want scared into flying for their lives. Them Iknow. You could be much or little. Even if you're much, we haven't forgotten the chaos you sowed at thepalace.""I will prove that I am much before we find Decius and Eloikas. What will you do when I have ledyou to them?""Speak for you to them, and leave the rest to them."It was clear that the answer did not altogether content Marr. Conan wondered if Decius andEloikas knew something about the man that he did not. Most likely they did. But they could not tell himwhat it was unless he put himself in the piper's hands long enough to find them.After a moment, the piper nodded. He swung his pack down from his shoulder, drew out a dagger,some bread, and a linen bag with runes embroidered on it in blue thread. He thrust the pipe into the bagand the whole affair into the sack, then cut the bread with the dagger and handed each of the others apiece."If this is to be binding—" Raihna began."Of course. Salt." The piper held out both hands, palm upward. In an eyeblink, his palms turnedwhite with salt. He shook it on the pieces of bread, then motioned the others to eat.

Conan ate, but the bread kept wanting to stick in his gullet. If the man could conjure salt out of theair, did it matter if his pipes were hidden?

Chapter 12

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Count Syzambry awoke to pain that was hardly greater than what he had endured several timesbefore. He still lacked the strength to do more than mutter answers to the surgeon's questions. Hecontrived not to cry out, or even to groan, when rough hands heaved him about like a sack of barley asthey changed his bedclothes and dressings.Cleaned and somewhat restored by a cup of broth and a draught of poppy syrup, the count lay as ifsenseless. He feared there was no other way of bringing those about him to talk freely. The surgeons andguards had ignored a direct order to do so.What he heard was less than soothing. It seemed that nearly five days had passed while he layunwitting. His wound was grave, and it was not healing entirely as the common run of such wounds did.No one said the word "magic." Syzambry hoped that this came from having found no traces of itrather than from fear of the word. If he needed to seek the aid of the Pougoi wizards, he did not want thefears of his men standing between him and the cure he needed to reach for the Border throne.Even when he was healed, the battle would be longer than he had expected. King Eloikas,Captain-General Decius, and a good company of fighting men had fled the palace in two bands. Theearth-magic had bought them that much time.To be sure, the two bands together were only a few hundred men. But they had already cut topieces one company of free lances that Syzambry had expected to be ready to hand for harrying thecountryside. Now his men were hard-pressed to hold the ruins of the palace and the land about it.Beyond where the count's writ ran, the countryside was not rallying to Eloikas. It was not rallying tothe count, either.He could not strengthen his hand, to be sure. He could strip not only his own lands, but the lands ofevery man who had sworn or promised or even hinted allegiance. Strip them of even the boys and thegraybeards, strip them of even rotten bows and rusty swords that might avail against bandits.Strip them, indeed, so that they would be naked to any blow that Eloikas or Decius might chose tostrike.Another source of strength lay in free lances. Word could go out that there were rich pickings in theBorder Kingdom for those who would come to follow Count Syzambry's road to the throne. The freelances would come.They would also come expecting ready gold, and unless he found Eloikas's hoard, Syzambry wouldhave no such thing.The groan that he had been holding back finally escaped Syzambry's lips. It was not the pain of hiswound, but fury at what that wound might do to his ambitions. It would keep him chained to a bed or, atmost, a litter, when swift movement alone would save him. How else to save his cause with his loyalhandful but to lead them swiftly against his foes, sword in hand?He groaned again, but more softly, even to his own ears. Perhaps the sleeping draught was takinghold, easing the poisonous thoughts from his mind…He fell asleep wishing that it could leech the poisons from his body as easily.

Captain-General Decius awoke in his tent to hear the sentries bawling like branded calves. His firstthought was that Syzambry had found the royal camp and was hurling his men at it in a final desperate

effort.Decius rolled out of his blankets, jerked on breeches over his loinguard, and left the rest of hisharness save for helmet and sword. He plunged out of the tent, nearly sprawled on his face as a toecaught a rope, but saved his skin if not his dignity.He thereafter walked a trifle more cautiously, though not less swiftly. His men and the handful ofGuards and armed servants were turning out as if half of them had not spent the night on sentry duty. Hisplace was at their fore.Decius reached the head of the path immediately behind the first half-dozen men. He waited long:enough to be aware of the chill dawn breeze on his bare chest, then ordered one of the sentries to take amessage to the king."Tell him that a strong band of strangers is close at hand. Scouts will go out to learn more. All of themen are on duty and ready for battle."He did not add that he would lead the scouts himself. Eloikas would most likely forbid it. Thatwould waste the time needed to choose another man, when they might have no time at all to spare."That all, lord?" the messenger asked."Isn't that—?" Decius snarled, then caught himself. "Tell the king that the moment we know more,he shall know it—"Decius broke off because his jaw had sunk onto his chest. Nor was his the only jaw agape.Captain Conan of the Second Company was striding up the path, looking weather-worn and leanerthan before, but alive and ready for battle. Behind him, shapes in the dawn and clatters and clangs fartherdown the path told Decius that Conan had a following.Decius mustered his wits. "Well, Captain Conan. You—" He decided that "you finally stoppedrunning" would be a mortal insult, and possibly a false accusation as well. "You have come, I hope, togive some explanation of your conduct?""That, and more," Conan said. He seemed as impervious to Decius's scorn as a castle keep to achild's arrows. "My conduct includes chopping a band of Syzambry's free lances to rags, as well as someother matters best not talked of before everybody. When you've heard them, I think you'll say I'veexplained enough."Decius began to believe that the Cimmerian spoke the truth, and not only because of his assuredtone. The royal party had heard rumors of the shattered free lances, as they had heard tales ofSyzambry's having been wounded almost to death.A figure behind Conan removed a helmet and shook the tangles out of fair hair. Decius's heartleaped within his breast, and he could no longer command his face."Welcome, Mistress Raihna."Her smile made the captain-general's heart leap again. Then a man clad in green and brown, with asack over one shoulder and a staff in hand, stepped through the ranks of Conan's men. From the mannerin which they gave way for him, Decius judged him to be one who had served them well."This man is a woodcutter who guided us to your camp," Raihna said."He knew where we were?" one of the sentries growled. His hand was not far from his bow."Peace," Conan said. "The woodcutter's a loyal man. Hot pincers and the rack together wouldn'tgive his knowledge to Syzambry."Decius was willing to take that on faith. What he doubted was that this man was a woodcutter, oranything else that it was wise to speak of before others. Conan and the "woodcutter" were indeed goingbefore the king, although they might not care for what came of it.Decius called the eager sentry over. "Go to His Majesty. Tell him that Captain Conan has returnedwith survivors of the Second Company and knowledge he wishes to lay before the king."As the man scurried off, Decius resumed his contemplation of the "woodcutter." This was not aspleasant as the contemplation of Raihna would have been, but duty before pleasure. The woodcutter

stood as if it was nothing new for him to be inspected like a pack mule or a bale of cloth.He continued to stand under Decius's scrutiny until the messenger returned with the summons of theking. By then, Decius had decided that the man would reveal nothing he did not choose to… whichmeant that it would be well to deal generously with Captain Conan, unless he had done somethingaltogether disgraceful. Generous dealing might open his mouth, at least!

The tent of King Eloikas had three walls and a roof, made of stout cloth dyed with herbs until itshared the color of the forest floor. The rear of the tent was the solid rock of the base of a cliff. In thatrock was a narrow cleft: the king's path to Safety in the last extremity should the camp be falling to hisenemies.To Conan, the rock cleft seemed more like a path to a quicker and more merciful death for Eloikas.The Cimmerian doubted that the king could survive a long scramble through the bowels of the hill.Eloikas had looked a hale sixty when Conan had last seen him. Now he looked a feeble and sicklyseventy, and his hands were so thin they seemed almost transparent. His lips held a bluish tinge, and hisbreath came with a painful effort.He still commanded, for which Conan was grateful. The Cimmerian told the tale of his journey fromthe palace briefly, so as not to tire the king. Whatever Conan had done, or what might be done to him, hesuspected that what Marr the Piper had to say would prove of importance.Decius, he suspected, was not of the same mind. The Cimmerian no longer doubted thecaptain-general's loyalty. He had, by all accounts, fought too hard and endured too much in Eloikas'scause to be any kind of traitor.But a man smitten by Raihna and seeking a chance to disgrace a rival—the captain-general mightstill be so described. Men could make as great mischief out of jealousy as out of treason, as Conan knewall too well. Were matters otherwise, he might still be a captain in the Turanian service instead of climbingthe hills of the Border Kingdom.The captain-general heard Conan out in silence, then waited while the king asked a few shrewdquestions. Etoikas's body might be failing him, but his wits were not."It seems to Us that you have done good service, and that your skill and loyalty are not in doubt,"Eloikas said at last. "Lord Decius, do you have aught to add to what We have said to this worthyCimmerian?"In his mind, the worthy Cimmerian performed rites of aversion to keep Decius's mouth shut. Therites, the tone of the king's voice, or perhaps merely Decius's good sense, did the work."No, Your Majesty. Few men could have done as well as Captain Conan. Fewer still could havedone better.""Thank you, my lord," Conan said with elaborate politeness. "The woodcutter who guided us here iswithout, along with Mistress Raihna. May I have the king's leave to bring them within? I believe that theking himself should hear the woodcutter's tale."That tale was shorter than Conan had feared it might be, for Marr entered the tent with his pipes onhis belt. Conan heard Decius suck in his breath, and the king's eyes widened."I had thought I was unknown," the piper said calmly, sitting down without asking leave. "It seemsthat my knowledge was not complete.""Your pipes have been a legend in the land since before my daughter was born," Eloikas said. Hewas trying to seem at ease, but Conan noticed that he said "my" instead of the royal "Our.""You yourself are not much less of one," Decius added. "What brings you here, piper? Considerthat your magic shook down the palace and slew a good number of the king's men, and give a civilanswer!""He will give no answer at all unless you are silent," Raihna said. Her eyes locked with thecaptain-general's, and it was not the woman who looked away.

Marr sighed. It was the most human sound Conan had heard from him yet. "I have walked a longroad to come to a place I had hoped never to see. I beg you not to make the road longer."He touched his pipes. "May I play a trifle? I think I know a tune or two that will make matterseasier among us.""A spell-weaving tune?" Decius muttered. But Eloikas looked at the Cimmerian and Raihna ratherthan at his captain-general. The two outlanders shook their heads. Eloikas nodded, and Marr began toplay. Afterward Conan remembered few of the sensations that flowed through him like an undergroundstream as the piper played. One was surprise that the music sounded so much like common piping thatany shepherd lad might have played to soothe himself when twilight drew near and the wolvesapproached.Another was an amazing sense of being at peace with himself and every other creature in the world.He would not have embraced Count Syzambry as a brother, but the count would have been safe fromthe Cimmerian's steel while the music played.Much beyond that, Conan could not have found words to name what he felt. He only rememberedclearly that when the music ended, all of the people in the tent looked as if they had just waked from ahealing sleep.Marr wrapped his pipes and returned them to their bag. "I have done as much as I can for now," hesaid. "I would rather hear Captain Conan speak. I am sure that on the road here he has devised a plan torescue Princess Chienna and Prince Urras."Conan muttered something best not said aloud in the presence of either kings or sorcerers. Trust asorcerer to call for a miracle and then lay the burden of its performance on a common man's shoulders,with royal wrath awaiting failure!Yet it seemed to Conan that he had more thoughts on the matter than he had suspected. It alsoseemed that they came to his lips more swiftly than usual. Had Marr put them there? Or had the pipermerely made it easier for Conan to say what was already in his mind?

The smells of woodsmoke, heating stew, and pine needles reached Decius's nostrils as he strodethrough the camp. As he approached the Cimmerian's tent, the aroma of leather and oil joined the others."Captain Conan," Decius said. "Are you alone?""Yes.""Then I wish—may I enter?" Decius chose prudence over rank and turned an order into a question.The tone of the Cimmerian's reply told him that he had chosen wisely. "You may."Conan was sitting cross-legged on the floor, wearing only a loinguard. He was rubbing oil into thevarious leather items of his harness. His sword, already sharpened and oiled, lay on a linen cloth besidehis sleeping pallet."Greetings, my lord Decius," Conan said. "I fear that my hospitality is poor. But what I have isyours."Decius took that as an invitation to sit. "Captain Conan, I will be brief. What I would most like fromyou is for either you or Raihna to remain behind. Both of you going into the jaws of the Pougoi—I like itnot." "Does it matter which of us remains?" Conan asked. His tone made Decius wary; thenunderstanding dawned. The captain-general laughed."I wasn't planning on courting you, Cimmerian!" Decius said. "Nor will I be courting MistressRaihna until I can be sure I have something to share with her besides an unknown grave in the hills.""Decius, I don't envy anyone the work of burying you," Conan said. "Your corpse might bite thegrave digger.""I thank you," Decius said. "Now, a little plain speaking. Both you and Raihna are seasoned

captains. We have few. To put each of you in danger imperils the king's very cause.""We've the best chance of winning through and bringing out the princess and the babe," Conan saidwith a shrug. "If it can be done at all, we're the best to do it. If it can't be done, does it matter how manycaptains the king has?"Decius sighed. "No. The doctors say that he will be lucky to see the first snow at best. If he loseshope of seeing his daughter again…" Silence said the rest."I'd not complain about taking one of your veterans and leaving Raihna behind," Conan said. "ButMarr says that it must be she and I, and no others."Decius frowned. "Does this mean that either of you… has… is… ?""I'm no more a sorcerer than I'm a tavern dancer, and Raihna likewise," Conan said. "What thepiper sees in us… it's one of the things he doesn't speak of. What it would take to make him speak, Idon't know, and I'm not going to spend time in searching for it."Decius wanted to curse the gods, the Pougoi, their wizards, Count Syzambry, and everything elsethat had brought matters to this pass. He had the sense of throwing a better man than himself into a pit ofvenemous serpents, with scant hope of seeing the man climb out again."Eh?" the Cimmerian said."I was thinking that there ought to be a farewell for the three of you. Wine, meat, music, anythingelse you desired.""Don't tempt the gods," Conan said. He stood up and stretched. His head nearly touched the roofof the tent, and his outflung hands did touch either side. "Save the feasting for when we're safe in thepalace again. But if there's any wine in the camp—?"Decius remembered a jar of the best Nemedian vintage that he had saved for the departure of menon desperate ventures. It was buried, and probably shattered by now, beneath the ruins of the palace,along with so much of the past.

Chapter 13

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Among them, Conan, Raihna, and Marr had faced every peril that a land such as the BorderKingdom could offer. Had they provided themselves against every one of them, they would have neededa pack train for their baggage."We'll see about a riding mule for the princess when we come out," Conan said. "Best we go intraveling light and fast. Syzambry may still die, but he may also heal. By his own strength, perhaps, orwith the help of the Star Brothers.""The Pougoi wizards have no healing magic," the piper said. "Their star-magic is—""Who asked you?" Decius said. He was sitting by the tent entrance as the three travelers packed.Conan judged that this was to avoid the king, and also perhaps in hope of Raihna's defying Marr andremaining behind.He was hoping that pigs would fly, Conan knew.Nothing save a threat to her guards would force Raihna to turn back. Decius was too honorable touse that trick."No one asked me," Marr said. "But then, does a wise man wait to be asked when there is truth tobe spoken?"It was in Conan's mind that a man who wanted his teeth in his mouth and his bones unbroken mightknow that truth was not always welcome. He remained silent and studied the stitching of his swordscabbard. It would not last beyond this journey, but it would do for that.

In time, all the work was done, some of it twice over. Conan stepped outside to permit Decius andRaihna to say what they wished. He bid Marr to follow him.It was nearing twilight, for the three would-be saviors of the princess and her son intended a nightdeparture. If any unwanted eyes or ears were close at hand, the night and Marr's pipes should makethem blind and deaf."Who are you, Cimmerian?" the man asked. In the fading light, his face might have been that of ayouth or an ancient. Only the eyes denied the youth. They were wide and dark, and clearly had seenmuch commonly hidden from men."My true name is the same as I am called," Conan said. "If sorcerers have tried to use this againstme, nothing has yet succeeded. Are you hoping to better them?""That was not my question," Marr said. "Who are you, to be here now, embarking on this ventureladen with risk?"Conan shrugged. "I suppose no more than a man who won't run from a fight when his friends arealready in it.""On the rock of such strength, mountains have broken and kingdoms fallen. Am I one of thosefriends?""You will be if you stop talking in riddles and stop asking questions you don't need answered.""Who are you to judge which questions need no answers?""Crom! I'll certainly be no friend if you talk like a sorcerer or a priest, full of mystical wind thatblows you where no one can follow. At least no one with his wits about him. Now, for the lasttime—what do you need to know for this journey?""Nothing that I do not know already, in truth. Forgive me. I did not mean to give offense. I was onlylooking beyond this journey.""The time for that, my musical friend, is when we've done with the journey and are safe home withPrincess Chienna! Now, instead of tempting the gods, do you want to join me in a hunt for some wine?I'll not leave with a dry throat, even if I have to wet it with that vinegar they call wine hereabouts!"

They traveled throughout the first night and lay up during the day, keeping no watches and buildingno fires."If Syzambry has put so many men on our trail that they can find three people with no smoke toguide them, the king's cause is already lost," Conan said. "I'll wager it needs us rested and fit when wereach the valley."It was in Conan's mind that they would need more than strength when they reached the Vale of thePougoi. They would need a wonder or two from Marr's magic or somewhere else.Until now, the piper had been so unlike the common run of sorcerers that Conan could havedoubted he was one were it not for the pipes. Yet even the most honorable intentions had not kept LadyIllyana from becoming the slave of magic, rather than its mistress.A sharp eye and sharper steel might still be needed against Marr the Piper and all his works.The second night and second day repeated the pattern of the first. Breaking camp in the twilight,they heard the sound of men on the march, and Conan went to scout. He returned to report that theywere a band of peasants."They made enough noise that I could have ridden up on a dragon before they saw me," Conansaid. "So I lay close and watched. They were forty or more, but wearing only their work clothes andarmed only with their farming tools. Oh, a man or so had a sword that his grandfather might have carriedas a free lance. But nobody had provided them arms or harness.""That gives hope," Raihna said. "If Syzambry had called them out, surely he would not have leftthem a rabble.""If he had spare arms, perhaps not," Conan said. "But they could be rallying to Syzambry of their

own will. Hoping to spare their villages, likely as not."Raihna spat. "They are fools, then. They rush to embrace a man who will be as grateful as a hungrybear.""They do not know that," Marr said. "They are desperate, and that fogs the wits. Or have you comeso far from your village that you forgot that?"Raihna gasped and glared. Conan stared hard at the piper. The Cimmerian's look said plainly: "Ihave told you nothing about Raihna's birth. Have you been reading her thoughts against her will, as yousaid you could not do?"Marr looked away, then lifted his pipes. Conan raised a hand, ready to snatch them. Now theCimmerian's look said, "Earn your pardon with words, not with your magic.""Mistress Raihna, forgive me for calling you a witling," the piper said. "You are no such thing. But Ihear Bossonia in your speech, and I know something of that land.""If you thought it bore witlings, you did not know enough," Raihna muttered, but she seemed eased.Presently the sound of the marching peasants died away, and they resumed their own march throughthe silent forest as night came down.

The would-be rescuers neither heard nor met any further bands on their journey to the valley. Thiswas not altogether by chance. Marr knew every hill, every valley, and it sometimes seemed to Conan,every tree in the forests. He knew which drew hunters and woodcutters, even in troubled times likethese, and which were left to the birds and the wolves."There was once a good number of bears in these forests," the piper added. "But most of themwere hunted out some generations back. I know of two villages where they go in fear of the beasts, so afew may still den up and live off deer and the odd sheep.""So? We're not here to hunt animals for the royal menagerie," Raihna said."I do not babble without cause," the piper said. "One of those villages is close to our path.""Then take us wide of it, for Crom's sake!" Conan snapped. It was the fifth day of their journey.Marr talked less in riddles than he formerly had, but when he did, Conan had less patience with him. Hewould gladly match steel against half of the warriors of the Pougoi, or strength against the wizards' beast,simply to end this skulking about in an inhdspitable land."I cannot lead you too wide of it," the piper said, "unless you wish to pass through the BlastedLand.""From what I have heard of that land, I'd take my chances with the bears and the villagers both,"Raihna said. Conan nodded in agreement."Wise," Marr said. "The Pougoi watch the farther side of the Blasted Land, and few escape theirsentries, if they cross the Land at all without taking the bone-burning sickness.""We'll fight neither beasts nor wizards with our bones turning to water within our flesh," Conangrowled. "Lead as you wish."

The floor under Count Syzambry's feet was shaking. Had unfriendly magic conjured up anearthquake?No, it was his body swaying and his legs threatening to give way under him so that he would topplelike a tree overborne by a high wind. He gripped the bedpost with one hand and held out the other."My sword!"Zylku, the surgeon's apprentice, stared. One of the men-at-arms lifted the count's blade from thebench at the foot of the bed."No. We cannot be sure that steel—""I am sure that steel in my hand will do much good," the count said. His voice rasped and croaked,

but he still forced some authority into it. It was another gift that was returning, like being able to stand onhis own feet."Much good," the count repeated. "Beginning with ending your babble." His hand gripped thesword. For a moment, the grip was firm. Then the weight of the sword jerked it from his fingers, nearlyoverbalancing him at the same time.Syzambry's blade clattered to the floor. He did not dare meet Zylku's eyes. He would see triumphin them, and Zylku might see tears of rage in his."Steel in my hand will do much good when I can wield it as I once did," the count said. "It seemsthat the time is not now." He commanded himself to stare at Zylku. "Summon your master and bid himprepare an answer. How long will I be lame and halt, unable to lead my men against my enemies?""A horse litter—" Zylku murmured."I said lead!" the count thundered. The strength of his voice surprised himself as well as those in thebedchamber. "A horse litter is for women, babes, and others who must remain behind when battle isjoined. A leader rides or he does not deserve the name!""I will obey," Zylku said. "I will also ask certain folk I know who have arts other than those ofcommon surgeons.""Indeed," the count said. "And what do you ask in return for this, as I doubt not you risk the wrathof your master?""Your silence about my asking, yours and your men's," Zylku replied. "Also, such reward as youconsider fit should Ilearn anything that serves to restore your health. I will trust to your justice.""You may do that," the count said. "Only remember that my justice can mean a sharp sword forthose who have deceived me.""Dead or alive, my Lord Count, I will not deceive you," Zylku said. "By anything you hold sacred, Iwill swear it."The count was not sure that he held anything sacred within his heart of hearts, save well-wieldedsteel. Steel that, the gods willing, he would one day soon be able to hold again. If Zylku brought that daymore swiftly, he could name his own reward!

It was the sixth night of the journey, and if Marr knew one rock from another, it was the last night.Conan would be glad if Marr's knowledge proved true, even if it made the man prouder than ever.The Cimmerian did not care to tarry long here; the place was too close to the Blasted Land forcomfort. Even in the darkness, he could see that the trees had unnatural shapes. The bird sounds werefew and furtive, the insects altogether silent. Nothing else was to be heard, not even the sigh of a nightbreeze.All three travelers were walking catfooted, trying not to dislodge a single pebble or break thesmallest twig. The Pougoi did not watch this land, Marr had said. The villagers themselves drovestrangers away. Yet any place so close to the Blasted Land had its watchers, who were neither wizardnor human.That was all the piper would say. Nothing that Conan dared do would move him to speak further.He would not even say if these watchers could be dangerous, although in that matter Conan needed noadvice. He would reckon on the worst and advance steel in hand.The piper was leading. Now he was bearing to the right, past a vast twisted oak tree that seemed tobe lifted half off the ground by a dozen-roots thicker than a man's body. Enough moonlight crept throughthe clouds to show that fallen acorns lay about the base of the tree. Among the acorns lay the skeleton ofwhat might have been a wild boar, except that no boar ever had such splayed hooves or such a bulgingskull…Conan remembered the tales of the Blasted Land.It came to be in a single night, when the Star Brothers' beast rode down from the sky in a giant

stone. Fire and shards of the sky-stone cut a swathe across the land, wider than a man could ride in asingle day. Within a year, the beasts and growing things returned, but they were horribly changed andmisshapen.The piper raised his hand. Raihna and the Cimmerian stopped and waited while their guide vanishedinto the darkness ahead. Enough time seemed to pass for Prince Urras to grow to manhood before thepiper returned."I can see nothing," he whispered, "but I sense the thoughts of one who watches. He either cannotshield his mind or does not care to," Marr added at Conan's frown."Man or beast?" Raihna asked.The piper shrugged. "I would wager that it has some of each in it. One thing is certain: it has sensedour thoughts and is tracking us by them.""I am in ecstasy," Raihna said. She tested the draw of her sword and dagger. "Do we wait forhim—it— to come, or do we go to meet it?"Conan studied the ground. "Unless our friend can fly, here's as good as any. Better than some—nostumps or potholes that I can see."The piper seemed about to speak when part of the darkness ahead began to move. At first it wasonly a small part, and without shape. It grew rapidly, however, and took on a familiar and terrible formalmost as swiftly—that of a gigantic bear, brown with a ruff of silvery fur almost as thick as a lion's mane.The moonlight showed that its muzzle was grizzled as if with age, yet its coat was thick and showed nowounds or bald spots. The muzzle was shorter and the skull broader than Conan had ever seen in a bear.Conan and Raihna unslung their bows. The piper fell back, to stand behind them. He drew his pipesbut did not put them to his lips.As Conan and Raihna nocked their arrows, the bear plunged off the trail. When it found noshadows large enough to hide itself altogether, it became a moving, difficult target. Conan tried to judgeits path by the sound of its footfalls, but he heard too little. It seemed that the bear had the cunning towalk lightfooted on uncertain ground.Had Conan and Raihna carried more arrows, they would have shot anyway, trusting to wound thebeast. Decius had been able to find barely two dozen shafts apiece for them, however. Some of thosehad already been spent in bringing down meat for the pot.Conan had faced enraged bears and seen what they could do. He had also seen how many arrowsthey could take without mortal hurt. He would shoot if the bear offered a vital spot, but not otherwise.Now only the faintest of scrapings and the swiftest of moving shadows told Conan of the bear'sprogress. It seemed that it was moving around toward their rear, perhaps cutting across the trail towardthe oak tree.For a long moment the silence was complete. Then the crackle of splintering wood rent the night.Conan tried to pierce the darkness, but the moonlight refused its aid. He could only make out the oaktree shaking, as if a strong wind were blowing.Then the moon came out, Raihna gasped, and even Conan gritted his teeth. The bear had torn abranch from the oak tree, as long as two men and as thick as Conan's arm. Now the beast rose on itshind feet, holding the branch in its forepaws.In its hands . The moonlight showed unmistakable thumbs, for all that they bore claws as long asRaihna's dagger.Creature of magic or creature of twisted nature, the bear was still offering Conan that long-soughtvital target. An arrow leaped to his string, then flew straight at the beast. It pierced deep through theshaggy brown coat and into the left shoulder.The bear's roars filled the night as if there had been no such thing as silence since the world began.It shifted its grip on the branch to pluck the arrow from its flesh. Conan put two more arrows into thebeast; then it lowered its head, shuffled its feet about like a runner seeking the best start, and lungedforward.

The bear's three human opponents scattered like chaff in a whirlwind. They had no choice. EvenConan could no more match the bear's strength than he could that of an avalanche. Against such anopponent, he had to keep his distance and wear the beast down, giving as many wounds as possible andtaking none. Many slight wounds could sap the strength of any creature. There could be no such thing asa slight wound for any human, not from this monster.Raihna was bolder. She lunged in under the bear's guard and slashed at its hind legs. The brokenbranch hummed and the end crashed down. Raihna leaped back and to one side, avoiding a stroke thatwould have shattered her skull.She did not avoid a patch of rough ground that threw her off balance. The bear stepped forward,raised the branch high, and struck again. Raihna went down, but in going down, she landed on her rump,legs raised.Those long legs were made for more than wrapping around a man during bedsport. They held fine,hard muscle, and all that muscle now drove Raihna's boots into the pit of the bear's stomach. The beastoutweighed her ten to one, but even its stout hide could not altogether cushion such a blow.The bear grunted and the branch wavered. Raihna rolled away, cutting at the bear's left ankle as shedid so. Her eye was true. Her blade caught the hamstring. The leg gave under the bear's weight, and thebeast toppled onto all fours. The branch came down with it, catching Raihna across one ankle. She didnot cry out, but Conan saw her wince.He also saw that opportunity was knocking. For a moment, the bear was torn between theweapons of a thinking creature and those of a beast. Instinct overwhelmed thought. It lunged for Raihnawith its jaws.As it did, the branch lifted, freeing Raihna. She rolled and slashed again. This time her sword caughtthe bear across the muzzle. The creature roared to make the hills shake and turned toward Raihna as sheleaped to her feet.As she did, Conan leaped onto the bear's back. His free arm curled around the shaggy throat,squeezing like a great snake of the Vendhyan jungles gripping a particularly succulent pig. His swordslashed down. Fur and flesh gaped, and the bear's right fore-paw dangled limply.The roars the bear had uttered before seemed like silence compared to the thunder now.It needed more than noise to disquiet the Cimmerian when he was grappling with a foe. When thebear tried to shake off the impudent nuisance clinging to its neck, it was too late. Conan had his daggerdrawn, and he thrust it deep into the bear's throat. Blood flowed. He thrust again; more blood flowed,and Raihna took the opportunity Conan had given her. She ran in, thrusting hard, and her sword foundthe bear's heart.The slayers barely had time to leap clear before the creature toppled. The massive paws scrabbledat the rocky ground a few times as blood pooled under the throat and chest. Then it lay still.Before he stood up, Conan counted and flexed his limbs to be sure that all of them were stillattached and fit for use. He had grazes, bruises, and sore spots all over from this briefest of grapples withthe bear.Raihna looked in much the same case, with the addition that her trousers were largely gone, andalso one sleeve of her shirt. One cheek was going to be a single giant bruise by morning, and she favoredone ankle.Conan caught her by both hands, then embraced her and lifted her off her feet. "Thank the gods thatit was a short fight," she said when her breath returned. "A long battle against that creature and we'd noneof us been fit to fight again, or even to travel.""Save Marr," Conan said, looking about for their companion. He was nowhere in sight, but Conanthought he heard a distant trill of pipes.Had the piper fled after leading them into a trap? That was Conan's first thought, and an ugly one,too. Raihna seemed to read that thought on the Cimmerian's face."Is it worth searching for him?" she asked. She sheathed her sword with a vigorous thrust. Conan

judged that it would be drawn as swiftly if she met the piper again."Not at night," Conan said. "We'd do better to find a place to sleep. Without a guide, we'll have tocover the last of the journey by day, or risk going astray.""At least we can have bear meat for breakfast," Raihna said."That would not be wise," came a familiar voice, seemingly from the air above them. Conan whirled,sword flying clear."By Erlik's brass tool—!"Marr slipped down from the oak tree and almost sauntered toward them. He might have taken aCimmerian fist in the teeth but for Raihna. She gripped Conan's arm and pointed. Conan followed hergesture, and stared.A youth—no, a woman hardly more than a girl— was following the piper. She wore her hair inPougoi braids, and her face was either filthy beyond belief or smeared with dirt to make her harder to seein the dark. Even in the darkness, Conan noted her easy grace of movement and the fine figure under thetunic. "Forgive me," Marr said. "Captain Conan, Mistress Raihna, meet Wylla. She is of the Pougoi, and afriend to us.""Then she can share the bear meat, after you explain where you were during the fight," Raihnasnapped. "We are waiting." She crossed her arms over her breasts and glared."To eat the flesh of that bear is not proper," the piper said. "The bear has a man's cunning.Therefore it would be as eating human flesh—"Raihna gagged, and Conan nodded. "I see you agree with me, Captain," Marr said. "Good. As forwhere I was—I had to play my pipes. Otherwise, the bear's thoughts might have reached the StarBrothers. That could have been like sending a letter warning them of our coming. By the time I knew Ihad blocked the sending of the bear's thoughts, I sensed Wylla's approach. I had to go on playing so asto guide her safely to us and to shield her from the bear's knowledge."Conan nodded, feigning more understanding than he actually felt. Still, it began to seem that thepiper's magic might be of a kind he had never heretofore met, or even heard of. It was magic to preventwhat might otherwise happen rather than to cause unnatural events such as rivers flowing backward,mountains splitting, or dead gods waking up to ravage the world of men.No doubt such magic could in time corrupt its wielder, as with any sorcerer. But the corruptionmight come more slowly. Slowly enough, perhaps, for Conan and Raihna to use Marr's aid in rescuingthe princess and making a safe escape."We had best move to a safer place, as you suggested," the piper continued. "Then, before wemove on, we must consider fresh ways of rescuing the princess. Wylla has brought news that I did notexpect.""I thought that our old scheme was good enough," Conan said. "Unless your ankle will keep youfrom climbing the valley walls," he added, turning to Raihna."Climbing down, no. Climbing up—" She shrugged. "That monster on my trail may count for morethan a sore ankle.""We may need to do much less climbing than we expected," the piper said. "Wylla thinks that wehave a friend among the Pougoi." The woman whispered to the piper, and he nodded. "Or at least a manwho is no enemy to the princess, even if he serves Count Syzambry.""What?" Conan would have bellowed louder than the bear had Raihna not put a hand over hismouth. More quietly, he said, "This demands even more explaining than your climbing trees to makemusic while we fought the bear!""I shall explain when we are a safe distance from here," Marr said. "The thoughts of the bear maynot have reached the Star Brothers. Indeed, I believe they did not. I am less sure about the bear's kin.Do you fancy a fight against them?"

By the time Wylla and Marr finished telling of "Lord Aybas" and his curious conduct, it was too lateto reach the valley before daylight. The four travelers covered some two thirds of the distance, then founda sleeping place in a stand of fir trees so dense that an army might not have discovered them.The tale would have been longer still and much less convincing had Wylla not decided that Conanand Raihna could be trusted. So she revealed her knowledge of the lowland speech and told most of thetale herself. This, in turn, left Conan and Raihna more willing to believe it.Not that the tale was easy to believe at best, as Raihna made plain when she and Conan wereclearing a place for their blankets. "Aybas may be playing some game too deep for Wylla to understand,it seems to me," she said."Then it would be too deep for our musical magician, and if he's not a master of intrigue, I'm aStygian," Conan said."He may know only what Wylla has told him," Raihna suggested."True enough," Conan replied. "But we can't turn about and run for home with our tails between ourlegs after coming this far. We'll go on down. If it's a trap, we can at least cut Aybas's throat in due time.""Yes, and Wylla's." Raihna embraced him. "It does you honor that you'll not harm a woman. ButI've sworn no such oath, and if Wylla betrays, us, she'll go with us. I've always fancied having a servingmaid, in this world or some other."Conan returned the embrace, but he could not entirely avoid the thought that any man who made anenemy of Raihna would be lucky to live long. Did Decius know this small truth about the lady he wascourting?

Chapter 14

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Aybas awoke, at first certain that a new nightmare afflicted him. A giant loomed over him, so blackthat he seemed to devour light except for his eyes, which gleamed an icy blue. Others were present in thenightmare, but Aybas could make out only little of them.Then he sensed cold steel against his skin and a sharp point at his throat. Either the demons whorode by night had new powers over the minds of men, or he was no longer asleep.Aybas chose to think himself awake, and he asked a question that could at least do no harm: "Whatdo you want of me, friends?""Hah!" the giant said. "Leave the last word off your tongue or give over pandering for a usurper."That made it evident who the visitors were: folk loyal to King Eloikas. And that told him that theywere no friends of his, and most likely why they were here.In spite of the steel at his throat, Aybas smiled. The night had brought one surprise to him. Now itwas about to bring one to his visitors."If you seek the freedom of Princess Chienna, I am yours to command."The giant grunted something wordless that might have indicated surprise. Aybas could barely makeout his face in the dark hut, and in any case, he was no longer looking at the giant.Behind the giant stood a fair-haired woman of mature but still great beauty, for all her warrior's garband appearance. Beside her—and here Aybas had to swallow—stood a man who seemed small besidethe giant but who exuded a power that had little to do with his stature.A set of silver-adorned pipes dangled at his waist. Aybas did not need a second look at those pipesfor them to tell him more than he wanted to know about the man.Marr the Piper, who had toyed with the spells of the Star Brothers like a playful cat with a mouse,

had come in the service of King Eloikas."Then we command you to rise and guide us to the house of the princess," the giant said."I will do as much or more on one condition," Aybas said.The sword point pricked harder. Another twitch of the giant's wrist and Aybas's life blood wouldstream over his pallet. "Wait! Hear the condition first! It may be worth the hearing.""It may," Marr said. Aybas almost smiled. He had heard the legend that the piper of the mountainswas mute save for his music. So much for the legend."We must rescue Captain Oyzhik," Aybas said.The giant's sword point drew back, but the look on his face was more frightening than the sharpsteel. With his eyes now fully waking, Aybas saw that the giant had the look of Cimmeria about him.Perhaps he was the new captain of the Guards of which rumor had spoken? If so, he would have noreason to love Oyzhik."You are here out of loyalty to King Eloikas, to save Chienna from the Star Brothers and fromCount Syzambry alike. Save Oyzhik and you may do the king another service.""How?" The Cimmerian, it seemed, was not one to waste words."Oyzhik is a traitor to the king, to be sure. He also knows a good many of Syzambry's secrets. Hehas not been rewarded for his treason, either. The Star Brothers hold him close captive, ready tosacrifice him to the beast at a whim. If saved, might he not reveal much of what he knows, out ofgratitude?""Oyzhik has as much gratitude in him as a turnip," the woman said. "But if the king pardoned him aswell—""Raihna!" the giant growled. "Have your wits flown after this one's?""No," the woman called Raihna replied. "Merely thinking that if we can win a second victory withoutlosing our first—"She seemed to have decided. From the look on his face, the piper was of the same mind. TheCimmerian was not, and he seemed ready to argue.The hut door swung open, and Wylla entered as silently as smoke. "I have warned my father. Hetrusts no one else enough to bring them, but he will meet us at the house of the princess.""Is anyone suspicious?" Conan asked."I saw none of the Star Brothers or their faction," Wylla said. "I think that if they suspected aught,they would be abroad.""Likely enough," Conan agreed. He looked upward, apparently calling on the gods for patience withfools, and wisdom to tell fools from wise men. Then he looked at Aybas with a face that made theAquilonian wish that this were a nightmare."We'll take your oath to aid us. Break it, or even bend it, and you'll die ten times over before thePougoi take you.""I expect no less."The rescuers certainly had not expected the oath that Aybas swore. He swore at length and bymany gods, partly to ease their minds, but more to ease his own. This was the first time he had usedsome of the sacred names since he was a child, and why not? This was likely enough the last oath hewould swear as a living man, and the first in twenty years that he had no intention of breaking.Of course, if the tales of Syzambry's being dead, or at least crippled, were false, this change ofallegiance held peril. A fleet pair of heels could still take him to safety, however. The count would haveample occupation while dealing with enemies closer at hand even if he did gain the throne.

Much to Conan's disgust, Oyzhik and the princess were held as far apart as the valley allowed. Therescuers would have to divide their forces and meet at the foot of the cliff for the final scramble to safety.

Aybas and Marr had to go for Chienna. Without Aybas, she might need calming by the piper'smusic, as her babe surely would. Without the piper, there would be no calming either of them.Oyzhik, however, was held so closely that a single man—even Conan—could fail. Wylla swore tofind her father and bring him to the wizards' prison instead of to the princess's hut.Conan would have cursed Aybas, Oyzhik and the Star Brothers alike had he not feared delay ornoise. It might have been simpler to refuse Aybas's oath and to silence him. But they had chosen to takethat oath, and now, to Conan's mind, they were bound as closely as their new friend. A world whereoaths could be cast out with the chamberpots onto the middens was a world doomed to the rule of thelikes of Count Syzambry and the Star Brothers.As silent as a falling rose petal, at one with the shadows, the Cimmerian made his way down acrossthe valley toward the Star Brother's lodge. Mist curled over the edge of the dam, and a faint breezebrought the reek of the beast to Conan. His face twisted at the foulness, and he would have known then,had he not been told before, that the creature was not of the world of men."Hssst!""Five?" Conan asked. If the reply made ten, he had met Wylla's father."Five," came a gruff voice. Then a shadow that Conan had taken for a bush began to move towardhim. At length it turned into a man nearly as large as the Cimmerian himself. Grizzled hair and a shortbeard made him resemble a patriarch, but the Cimmerian's eye made out a warrior's muscles and sinewsunder the man's scarred skin."Well met, Conan of Cimmeria," the man said. "I am Thyrin, father to Wylla.""I am Captain Conan of the Second Guards, father to none that I know of," the Cimmerian replied."Is your daughter with you?""She wished to join us, but I bid her join the others. She can tend the babe if no more, and withthem, she will be closer to safety."I like not this care for Captain Oyzhik, Cimmerian. Did my daughter not say that he will do ourenemies more harm alive than dead, I would spear him in a moment. It will be a chancy affair, making ourway to safety with a man such as Oyzhik.""I am of your mind. At least Marr will try to keep the alarm from being raised. Lead on, Thyrin."

Aybas was prepared to march straight up to the princess's lodgings, trusting to his standing with theguards. Raihna counseled greater caution."If I were the Star Brothers—""You could never render yourself so ugly of either body or spirit," Aybas said.Raihna seemed to be glaring and smiling at the same time. "There is a place for the gallantries of theAquilonian court, and this is not it. If I were the Star Brothers, I would have my most trusted men aboutthe princess now, especially with the tales being rumored of Syzambry's troubles.""It is the habit of the Star Brothers to have their most trusted men guarding the sacrifices," Aybassaid. "Conan and Thyrin are the ones most in need of caution.""You did not tell us that!" Raihna exclaimed."You did not ask it of me," Aybas replied blandly."If you have the wits of a louse, you should know what to tell us without being asked!" Raihna said."Here, now, Mistress—" Aybas began, swallowing indignation as he saw Raihna reaching for hersword."Peace," Marr said. "I can work against the wits of any or all of the guards as needs be. Also, nodoubt the Star Brothers think that the princess needs less guarding, being a mere woman."Raihna mimed running the piper through, and Wylla, recently rejoined with the other three, pulled along face. Then she stuck out her tongue at both men. The unease dissolved in soft laughter.

It was good tidings that Oyzhik was lodged in a hut apart from the common lodgings for thesacrifices. No doubt the Star Brothers did not wish anyone to bear reports of his being ill-treated toCount Syzambry or the captain's friends.No doubt, too, that the Star Brothers intended to keep Oyzhik captive until his fate was decided.His hut was backed against the cliff, and four guards stood before it. Two had bows, two had spears, allbore swords—uncommonly complete arming for the Pougoi, even among the Star Brothers' chosenwarriors.It did not help matters, either, that the hut was less than a hundred paces from the principallong-house of the Star Brothers' guards. If the four on duty did not die silently and swiftly, they wouldhave help from a score of their comrades before Conan and Thyrin could free Oyzhik."Are the sacrifices fettered?" Conan whispered.Thyrin shook his head. "Only for punishment, and they would not dare punish Oyzhik in any waythat left marks."The underbrush and shadows could have hidden a score of men the size of Conan and Thyrin. Onlyguards making the rounds could have discovered them, and these guards stood before the door liketemple images.Conan's night sight, with a trifle of help from the moon, soon revealed a climbable path up the cliff.It did not offer a road out of the valley, not when they would have Oyzhik as a burden. It could take agood climber like the Cimmerian to the roof of the hut."I'll climb," Conan said. "When I'm nearing the hut, I'll wait for moonlight, then wave. You goforward and keep the guards busy while I reach the roof. Then you can hide so that the Star Brothers—"Thyrin's glare would have shattered stone. "Doubt not that my honor equals yours, Cimmerian. Ifyou must doubt my honor, at least do not doubt my wits. Wylla and I will face outlawry at best for thisnight's work, whether anyone sees us or not."There seemed no more to be said, so Conan faded into the shadows until he reached the foot of thecliff, where he waited for the moonlight to give him a good view of his first few hand and footholds. Thenhe began to climb.

"What, ho, friends," Aybas said. "Is the princess within?"The two spearmen at the door laughed coarsely. "Where'd she go without passing us? She knowswhat'd happen if she tried, too. Too fine-bred to have a taste for our kind, she is, like all thelow-landers."One of them caught sight of Raihna. "Or maybe there's some lowlanders as might fancy a hill man?"Raihna's smile was feigned, but only her comrades knew it. "I am sent from the lowlands, indeed. Iserve Count Syzambry, and I am come to examine the princess with a woman's knowledge of her fitnessto bear his sons."Aybas strangled laughter. Any woman less resembling a midwife than Raihna, he had yet to see.Before the guards could voice doubts, Raihna added, "I am also come to reward those who have servedthe count well."The sway of her hips as she spoke would have made most tavern dancers jealous. The guardscould not but see what reward she was promising, and Aybas doubted that they were eunuchs.While the spearmen stared at Raihna, Aybas and Marr moved. Each stepped behind a guard, eachdrew a short club from his belt, and each struck their man a shrewd blow where the skull joins the neck.The guards dropped as if poleaxed."Lift them onto the bench here," Aybas ordered. "They often sit down while on duty. Wylla, youremain here as sentry. Make it seem that you and the guards are… ah, enjoying each other's company."

Wylla stuck out her tongue again, but she also drew off her tunic and pushed her trousers low onher hips. The splendid breasts and supple waist thus revealed made Aybas pray that Wylla at least wouldlive through the night. She was not for him, that was certain, but still, she was too young to die for thefolly of others.While Marr and Raihna heaved the guards onto the bench, Aybas knocked on the door. As Wyllasat down on the bench with her arms about the two guards, Aybas heard a noise from within the hut."Who is there?""By Mitra's beard, it is Lord Aybas. I bear dire news."A squeak like a trapped mouse was all that Aybas had of reply. He cursed softly."Must I tell it for all the Pougoi, and perhaps the Star Brothers, to hear? Or may I enter and speakprivily?"After a moment that seemed to pass like the melting of a glacier, Aybas heard the bar lift. He thrustthe door open and strode in, past the waiting woman. She let out another squeak, then was silent asRaihna put a hand over her mouth and showed her the dagger in the other.The princess was still awake. The babe was sleeping, until the moment when strange folk burst intohis mother's chamber, at which he awoke with a wail fit to rouse sleepers all over the valley.The piper's music whistled softly. Then it seemed to sing with no words, but soft and soothingnevertheless. The wails diminished, and at last ceased. As the princess picked up the babe, his eyesdrifted shut and he slept again."He has taken no harm?" Chienna said, shifting him to one arm. The other was clenched at herwaist, and she seemed to wish it held steel."Here, Your Highness," Aybas said. He drew his second dagger from his boot and handed it to theprincess. She stared at it, then at Raihna, and nearly dropped the sleeping baby."He will come to more harm from being dropped than from my music," Marr said. "He only sleeps,and will sleep until it is safe for him to wake.""Safe… ?" Princess Chienna appeared to be mazed in her wits. Aybas gritted his teeth. Why didwomen of sense seem to lose that sense at precisely the worst time?"Your Highness, I… we are come to take you and Prince Urras to your father. The king is alive andwell, although in hiding. With you and your son by his side, the realm will rally to his banner."The princess shook her head, making her long black hair dance about her shoulders, white andgleaming where the bedgown revealed them. The gesture seemed to end her confusion."Allow me to don suitable apparel, then, good people," she said with regal dignity. "It will be neitherseemly nor safe to walk through the mountains in my night shift."With an imperious gesture, she summoned her waiting woman. Raihna released the servant, and thetwo women vanished into the bedchamber, leaving Raihna holding the baby. As if by instinct, she begangently rocking him, and her face as she looked at the sleeping prince told Aybas a whole tale of mattersthat would never reach the Bossonian's lips.The princess and her waiting woman were out of the bedchamber in less time than Aybas wouldhave given to carving a joint of good beef. It only seemed like sufficient time for the moon to set anddawn to break across the mountains.The princess was dressed in a Pougoi warrior's attire, with an arrangement of leather thongs andfleeces across her back for the babe. Aybas had not known that she possessed either, and his opinion ofher and her house rose further.Very surely, he had wagered on the wrong horse whilst serving Syzambry. If he gained no otherreward from his change of allegiance, he would at least die with a better opinion of his own judgment.Aybas stepped to the door. Wylla now had one of the guards' heads lolling on her breasts. Theother had fallen off the bench. She had undone his trousers to give him a more convincing appearance ofrevelry.

"Is all well?"Wylla shrugged, which lifted her breasts most interestingly. It also sent the guard sprawling off thebench to join his comrade.Aybas took the shrug for "yes" and motioned the others to come out. The princess held back. TheAquilonian started to address her in terms unfit for royal ears when he saw that she was pointing at herwaiting woman. The piper nodded and began to play.The music could not have reached even into the bedchamber, but Aybas felt it in his bones. Theywere turning soft and warm, like fresh porridge, within him. His eyelids were vastly heavy; he needed togrip a post of the porch to uphold himself—The music ended abruptly. Aybas stood unaided, opened his eyes, and saw the waiting womansprawled on the floor. He made a gesture of aversion."It was either my music or a blow," the piper said. "Or leave her to face sacrifice to the beast."Aybas swallowed whatever he had begun to say. He held out a hand to Wylla, and she took it. Herealized that this was the first time he had ever touched her.Then such thoughts flew from his mind as he heard the drums and trumpets of the Star Brotherssounding the alarm to the valley.

Conan covered the last few paces of his path along the cliff in a brief space of darkness as cloudshid the moon. When light returned, he lay on the roof of the hut, watching Thyrin approach the guards."Ho, friends. How fare you this night?" Thyrin greeted the men."Well enough," one of the archers grunted. "What of you, to be about the camp at this hour?" Thesuspicion in his voice shouted to the Cimmerian.Suspicion had not yet led to drawn weapons when Conan struck. His first weapon was a fist-sizedstone, flung hard at the back of the archer's head. The man wore a helmet, but the force of Conan'sthrow would have cracked an oak plank. It pierced the helmet, shattered the skull within, and flung thearcher forward against a comrade.Thyrin's sword whirled. The second guard's chest gaped. He dropped his spear and clutched at thewound with both hands. His mouth was still open in a soundless scream when a second swordcut swepthis head from his shoulders.Conan leaped from the roof onto the remaining guards. They were standing so close that he drovethem both to the ground with force enough to leave them half-stunned. He finished them with his dagger.Conan's dagger also made quick work of the knotted thong that held the bar of the hut door inplace. As he heaved the door open, it groaned. Conan wrinkled his nose at the reek from within."Stinks like the Aghrapur stews in here," he muttered as his eyes tried to penetrate the mephiticgloom and reach Oyzhik. When they did, the Cimmerian muttered again, and in soldier's language.Oyzhik lay sprawled on foul straw, an empty wine cup by his outflung hand. All the smells told aplain tale of how he had been spending his captivity. At least he would give no trouble; Conan onlyhoped that the man had not altogether drunk away his wits.The Cimmerian had to stoop to enter the hut, stoop further to lift the drink-sodden Oyzhik onto hismassive shoulders. As he rose and turned toward the door, he saw Thyrin pointing with one hand andgesturing for silence with the other.From the doorway, Conan saw the danger. A band of guards was marching from the longhouse,past the watchfire. Conan counted at least four of them, no doubt the relief for the guards just slain.There was no way past the men without a fight. So best to begin it on his own terms and at his owntime. Without ceremony, Conan slid Oyzhik to the ground and drew his sword."Hayaaaaahhhhh!"The guards heard a war cry more dreadful than any they had ever imagined. They saw a giant figure

hurling itself at them, and panic chained their limbs. Then the giant was among them, wielding a swordthat seemed longer than a man was tall, at least to those who lived long enough to see it at all.Two of the guards did not. They died at once, their skulls split from crown to eyebrows. The othertwo were killed as they ran. One of them screamed as he died. It was the scream, joined to Conan's warcry, that brought other guards to the longhouse door.They did not advance into the open, however. To their sleep-muddled vision, the enemy seemedmore than human. They were certain that the Hairy Man of the Mountains had come out of legend toavenge their abandoning his cult."The Star Brothers lied!" one man screamed."Forgive us, oh Great Hairy Lord!" another wailed.Conan did not stop to correct their mistake. He lunged at the door, slammed it in the faces of thebemused guards, and wedged a long of firewood under it. Then he caught up a burning brand from thewatchfire, whirled it about his head, and flung it high into the dry thatch of the longhouse.By the time he rejoined Thyrin and Oyzhik at the hut door, the roof was well alight. The crackling ofthe flames mounted as Conan heaved Oyzhik onto his shoulders again.When he straightened, the thunder of drums and the cry of trumpets had overwhelmed the crackleof flames. Thyrin cursed."I prayed for silence, but the gods—""Leave the gods well enough alone," Conan snapped. "How fast we can run matters more now.""I am no cripple, Cimmerian," Thyrin said. "But I warn you. The paths through the village or to theway you entered the valley will be guarded now. There is another way out, and indeed an easier one forwomen or those carrying burdens—""Then lead me to it," Conan growled. He thought of handing Oyzhik to Thyrin to silence the man,then thought better of it. Conan was younger, and also less likely to drop the prisoner into a well "bymischance.""I will, but I will also pray to the gods that Marr the Piper knows of the way and is bound for it evennow." "One more riddle—" Conan said."No riddle," Thyrin said. "Simply the truth. The way is easy enough once one is on it. But to reachthe foot of it, one must cross the dam that holds in the beast's lake. The top of the dam is but a man'sheight above the water, well within the reach of the beast."Conan's horror of sorcery made his heart leap for a moment. Then he shrugged, settling his burdeninto a more bearable position."I've been in reach of worse than your star-beast and cut my way out again," he said. "Lead whereyou must, my friend."

Chapter 15

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It was not long after the alarm was raised that Aybas knew their retreat was cut off. At least theprincess would not have to struggle with the cliff while carrying the babe on her back.When he learned of the other way out of the valley, Aybas nearly lost hope altogether. Now theyfaced an easy climb, but to reach it, they had to pass close to the worst of all possible foes. The beast ofthe Star Brothers would surely be awake and hungry before they could be out of its reach."Perhaps," Marr said. "But think on this. If we are beyond the beast before it wakes fully, it will be agood rear guard to us. Not even the Star Brothers can altogether master the beast when it is fully awake,

hungry, or enraged.""How do we keep it from awakening before we are safely past?" the princess asked.'"I have knowledge that may help us," the piper said, touching the pipes at his waist.The look on Chienna's face reminded Aybas of the Cimmerian's countenance when magic wasmentioned. It was dawning on her just how wholly at the mercy of sorcery they were on this night. Aybasdid not doubt that his own face mirrored the princess's.For two moons he had dreamed of finding a place beyond the reach of the Star Brothers and theirevil magic. Now he might be on his way to such a place. But the road to it would lead through still moremagic—magic that might in the end be as unclean as the Star Brothers'. So be it. The alternative was toremain in the valley until the Pougoi killed him. Aybas believed that he had some punishment yet to comefor serving Count Syzambry, but he would rather it did not come tonight."Very well," he told Marr. "You take the lead. Raihna, guard Marr. Wylla, guide us as needed.Princess, see to your babe before all else. I will guard the rear."How easy it was to once again give orders instead of take them. Aybas knew that if he livedthrough the night, he would be fit for at least a captaincy in the hosts of the Border Kingdom.

The dam loomed against the stars, ten times Conan's height. He studied the dam's face, finding nostairs but sufficient hand and footholds for swift climbing."By Erlik's beard, how did the Pougoi find the hands to build this?""The Star Brothers found their beast," Thyrin said. "It gave them knowledge. They used thatknowledge to raise the stones of the dam, and more knowledge to bind the stones together."The near presence of so much magic made the night seem even colder. Conan rested his hand onhis sword hilt for the reassurance that honest steel could give."It is also said that the beast itself labored on the dam," Thyrin said. "But that is a tale at best. Nonebut the Star Brothers were close to the dam while it rose… or at least none who lived to tell of what theysaw." "Sorcerers like their secrets to die with them," Conan said. "Even if that's not one of the laws ofmagic, they all act as if it were!"The two men fell silent in their hiding place behind a pigsty. It smelled no sweeter than any otherpigsty, but that would drive away the odd passerby. The pigs were awake, grunting and squealing inunease at the alarm. Their noise would hide any small sounds that Conan and Thyrin might make as theywaited.Conan hoped that the waiting would not be long. They were in a race with the warriors, the StarBrothers, the beast, and the princess and her rescuers, all of them striving for victory—which meant lifeitself. The mist over the dam swirled thickly. Conan heard the surging of mighty waters against the damand thought he saw something rise into the mist. It might have been a trick of the vapor. It might also havebeen a tentacle.If it were a tentacle, it was as long as a small ship and as thick as a man's body. It also seemed tohave gaping, sucking mouths scattered all along its length.

Darkness hid Aybas's party most of the way to the dam, and they hardly needed silence. The wallsof the valley caught the sounds of the drums and the trumpets, to say nothing of the cries and screams ofthe Pougoi. They cast the noise back and forth, raising echoes that thundered among the rocks until itseemed that they were thundering in Aybas's very head.Aybas ceased to worry about being heard. Two-score oxen could have marched across the valleyunnoticed amid this uproar.

He began, rather, to worry about the valley itself. Behind the dam, he knew, was a lake largeenough to drown the whole valley if the dam ever released it. He had heard of loud sounds shatteringrock and unleashing snowslides, unaided by any magic.He hastened forward to speak to Marr, passing Chienna on the way. The princess was stridingalong with grim determination, for all that sweat sheened her face and matted her hair. She might not bebred to the hill life, like Wylla, but she would be no burden tonight!As Aybas overtook Marr, he saw the man lift the pipes to his lips. Their music went unheard in thedin filling the valley, but Aybas felt every hair of his head and beard prickle like the quills of a hedgehog.They were still prickling when the piper led them up to the base of the dam. They rose even higherwhen two vast figures loomed out of the darkness, until Aybas recognized Conan and Thyrin.Wylla gave a faint cry and hurled herself into her father's arms. Raihna looked as if she wanted todo the same to Conan, but the Cimmerian appeared as grim as his cold northern god Crom."Best save the greetings and tales until we're safe away," he said. "We've seen no warriors on ourtrail. What of you?"Aybas and Raihna shook their heads. Conan seemed to ease a trifle."Friend Marr, if you can tame the beast, now's the time to prove it. Raihna, you stand with me andThyrin."Aybas began to protest against having laid upon him the burden of taking Chienna to safety if therear guard fell to the beast. He did not think himself equal to it.Yet he had given his oath to the Cimmerian. The Cimmerian, in turn, was giving his trust to Aybas,trust in the Aquilonian's prowess as well as his honor. Aybas had betrayed much in his life, but he wouldnot of his own will betray that trust. The Cimmerian, Aybas decided, could have given lessons to many ofthose whom Aybas had served on how to be a captain in war.Marr nodded, then looked at the sprawled figure lying beneath a bush. "Is Oyzhik fit to walk?""With a barrel of wine in him?" Thyrin growled. "We have no time for jests.""As you say." The piper began to play again. This time Aybas heard the music: sharp little notes witha weird tone to them, sounding as if they came from a vast distance.Whatever they were, they had power over Captain Oyzhik's limbs. They writhed, then lifted him tohands and knees, and finally onto his feet. His eyes were wide open but unseeing, and he lurched like anill-constructed puppet in the hands of an ill-taught puppeteer.The piper stopped playing, and Oyzhik sank to his knees. But it was only to spew, which he didthoroughly and foully. Aybas stepped back to save his boots and saw the Cimmerian doing the same. Itwas hard to judge which disgusted Conan more, the drunken Oyzhik or the piper's magic.As Aybas heaved the pale Oyzhik to his feet, the drums and trumpets suddenly died. Then a singletriumphant, brazen call rolled down the valley. Aybas heard shouts and saw Raihna pointing. His eyesfollowed her hand.The longhouse of the Star Brother's guards was still blazing, and the fire lit the path leading towardthe dam. On that path a score of figures ran, the light glinting on spearheads and drawn blades.

"They've rallied!" Conan exclaimed. "Marr, start Oyzhik climbing. Raihna, Thyrin, we form the rearguard."The piper spoke sharply in Oyzhik's ear. Oyzhik almost raised a hand, then turned and all but threwhimself at the face of the dam. He fell twice before he found his balance, then swarmed up the rocks andlogs with the skill of an ape.Chienna and Wylla followed. A jutting stub of branch ripped one leg of the princess's trousers fromthigh to ankle, but she ignored it. Conan noted the fine limb so exposed, and also that the princess was astall as Raihna and not much less broad across the shoulders.A trifle thin-flanked for his taste, perhaps, but she would have been a daunting bride for a little man

like Count Syzambry. Indeed, Conan wondered if the count would have survived his wedding night.Aybas, Wylla, and the piper began their climb, Marr gripping his pipes with one hand and seekinghandholds with the other. He made heavy going of the dam face that way, and Aybas and Wylla finallydropped back to help him along.Now the vanguard was away, safe from all but the beast. Conan nodded to Raihna. She leapedonto a boulder, an arrow already nocked. The shaft whistled toward the line of running men. Before itstruck, another was in the air.Then a huge hand gripped Raihna's shoulder. Conan glared at Thyrin and drew his sword. Theother man shook his head."Forgive me, Mistress Raihna, Captain Conan. But these are my folk, some of them warriors I havetaken into battle. If the Star Brothers have led them astray, perhaps I can lead them aright.""And perhaps mares will give wine instead of milk," Raihna snapped. "Let go—""Speak, Thyrin," Conan said. "But swiftly."Thyrin cupped his hands, and his voice made the drums and trumpets seem like a hush."Warriors of the Pougoi! Tonight's work means no harm to you or any of yours. We mean to endthe unclean work of Count Syzambry among the tribe, and nothing more. What that demands, we shalldo. More than that, we shall not do. Go from this place to your homes, guard them, and leave us tocleanse the honor of the tribe."The line of running men slowed. Thyrin roared on, telling more of the wickedness of CountSyzambry and the shame brought on the Pougoi by their taking his gold. He did not mention Marr thePiper, the Star Brothers, or much else about what was afoot.By now the line of running men was writhing like a broken-backed snake. Some of the men werestanding still, others advancing at a walk. A few seemed to be arguing.Conan also had his bow drawn and an arrow nocked. If Thyrin's notion of talking wits into witlingsfailed, he and Raihna could have ten arrows into their ranks before they moved again.Suddenly the shouting was from the warriors, not from Thyrin. Two of them were grapplingstanding; others were down on the ground. Steel flashed, and someone thrust a spear down from over hishead into another man's belly. A bubbling scream split the night.Thyrin grunted, then slapped Conan and Raihna each on the shoulder. "Fare you well, if we do notmeet again," he said.Raihna's mouth opened into a silent circle. Conan understood. "Bring any men you can rally to adead man-bear by a many-rooted oak tree hard by the Blasted Lands," he said. "We'll lead them toEloikas.""You'll lead them nowhere unless Her Mightiness pardons the whole tribe," Thyrin said. "It's out ofdishonor that I lead them, not into Eloikas's service." Then he was running toward the brawling warriorsbefore Conan could think of any more advice, let alone give it.Raihna cursed Thyrin as she and the Cimmerian began their climb to rejoin their comrades. Conansaid nothing. He knew more than she did of what Thyrin might think he owed his tribe, for all that theyhad wandered down many dark paths lit only by the false light of sorcery.They were less than halfway up the dam when the witch-thunder rolled across the valley. Confinedbetween the rock walls, it might have been the world cracking apart. Raihna clapped her hands over herears, and Conan felt as if hot needles were being thrust into his ears.They reached the top of the dam, however, just as the witch-thunder sounded again. This time itfound an echo. From the water beyond the dam there began a long, low hissing.It went on as Conan and Raihna ran along the top of the dam, which was three hundred paces long;their comrades were barely halfway across.As they overtook the others, the hiss turned into a scream. The scream turned into a roar, and thelake seemed to catch fire, spewing out shades of crimson and sapphire, emerald and topaz. Its surface

heaved and bubbled, then began to steam like a boiling cauldron.Marr was playing his pipes through all of this, as Conan saw. But his music would have been as achild's cry against the shouting of an army when matched with the roaring of the beast.Unheard though it might be, the piping seemed to be fulfilling some of its promise. The beast wasawake, aware, and furious. That the lake was turning into a cauldron proved that.Yet the tentacles—indeed, as long as a ship and as thick as a man's body—came nowhere near thepeople scurrying across the top of the dam. They reached high enough into the air to have plucked menfrom the top of pine trees or temple towers. They could easily have swept Conan and his little band intodeath in any eyeblink.They did not, and Conan began to feel almost at ease with the presence of Marr and his spells. Itwas not a feeling that he expected to last. No doubt the piper would turn against them in the end, or beturned against them by his magic. Also, Conan would feel still more at ease when they were safe awayfrom the beast, for all that the piper's magic had mastered it for now.Conan and Raihna overtook the others fifty paces from the end of the dam. Wylla stared at them."Where is my father?""He hoped to win the Pougoi away from Count Syzambry," Conan said.Wylla crammed one fist into her mouth to stifle a cry and struck Conan in the chest with the other.Aybas put an arm around her shoulders."He saw his duty and we see ours," he said. "Both see clearly, even if not alike."Seen from close at hand, the piper appeared to be on the verge of collapse. Oyzhik looked like awalking corpse. Only the princess was bearing up well, she and her still-sleeping babe. Conan had to laya hand across the babe's chest to be sure that he was still breathing.Then, beneath them, the dam shuddered. Conan felt more than heard stones moving, and sawnothing at all. He had been in too many earthquakes, however, to ignore the sensation."Run!" he shouted, loud enough to pierce even the outcry of the beast. "Run for your lives! The damis breaking!"He did not need to repeat the warning. The next shuddering joined his words to give wings toeveryone's feet. Even Oyzhik reached the far end of the dam at a stumbling run, and the princess mighthave been racing for a purse of gold.The path up the cliff lay before them. It was indeed as easy as promised. A child of six could havefound a way up it.So could any number of Pougoi warriors if Thyrin could not keep them off of his friends' trail.Conan studied the cliff, seeking a place where he and Raihna could make a stand against greaternumbers. With bows, they could even make their stand beyond reach of the beast's tentacles… at leastuntil their quivers were empty, or until the Star Brothers' spells overcame the piper's and sent the beastclimbing up the cliff, as it did on the nights of sacrifice—The dam shuddered for a third time, and this time the shuddering did not end. Conan not only feltbut saw rocks moving, and some the size of a man tore entirely loose and crashed down the face of thedam. Dust poured up from long cracks forming amid the stones."What keeps you, Conan?" a voice shrieked. "Are you going to spit the beast and roast it for trailrations?"It was Raihna, all but screaming in his ear. Conan flung her up onto the path, then leaped himself.The solid rock of the cliff was now shaking under his feet, and he nearly fell as he landed.He did not fall, however, and both he and Raihna overtook the others in moments. None of thempaused until they were halfway up the path. Then they stopped to look back.No one would be pursuing them across the top of the dam any too easily, even should the beast diein the next moment. A gap wider than a royal road lay open in the top of the dam, and water wasfoaming through it. Mist seemed to rise even from the foam, and the lake itself was all but invisible.

The fires beneath the water tinted the mist in rainbow hues. Conan thought the beast seemed lessfierce now, but certainly the ghostly shapes of monstrous tentacles still danced through the mist atintervals.Conan turned to speak to Marr. He did not expect an answer, or even wish the man to ceasewhatever magic he was working against the beast. He did want to assure himself that the piper still heardhuman voice, thought. Conan opened his mouth, but before words reached his tongue, the piperstaggered as if struck on the head. Then he toppled sideways. Only Conan's hand gripping his tunic kepthim from falling, and had he fallen, he would have rolled off the path and down the cliff toward the lake.Screams told Conan that others had not been so fortunate. He clutched Wylla's ankle as shesprawled face down, then held on until she dug in fingers and toes so as to keep her place.Raihna needed no help, and Aybas had fallen sitting. He was cursing and rubbing his rump, but noman cursing so loudly could be hurt.Oyzhik was doomed. Barely aware of the world around him, sensible only through the piper'smagic, he had no hope when that magic ceased. Conan saw the traitorous captain roll down the hilltoward a vertical drop, arms and legs outflung like those of a child's doll.The captain never took the final plunge. A tentacle lunged out of the mist. Even its tip was enough towind around Oyzhik three times. Conan saw blood spurt as the appendage crushed his chest and belly.Mouths opened in the tentacle to suck in the blood. Then tentacle and prey vanished into the mist.As Oyzhik vanished, Conan realized that he had not seen the princess or her babe. He bracedhimself against a stunted tree and examined the slope. At least there was no place where falling rockscould have crushed them. The Cimmerian also saw no place where they could have fetched up safe oncethey began rolling—A dark-haired head seemed to rise from the ground, and a long, shapely arm waved frantically.Conan thanked the gods that his eyes had deceived him, and he plunged down the slope.He reached the princess only a few paces ahead of Raihna. They were both ready, swords drawn,when another tentacle took shape out of the mist. The beast roared almost as loudly as before, sensingprey. Then it roared louder as both Conan and Raihna slashed at the tentacle. The beast was flesh andblood. It could feel pain and cry out.Conan and Raihna gave the creature a good deal of pain in the next few moments. Conan had neverswung a blade so fast or so hard in his life, for all that each blow jarred his arm from wrist to shoulder.The tentacle was writhing now, in rhythm with the roars of the beast. Greenish ichor spurted fromthe wounds, and yellow foam drooled from the mouths, inundating the Cimmerian's arm, making his gripon the sharkskin hilt of his sword uncertain. The stench made the pigsty seem like a lady's perfumeddressing chamber.Then the last rag of flesh that held the end of the tentacle to the main body gave way under a furiousstroke from Raihna. The main body of the tentacle drew back, and not only mist but foam spewed upfrom the lake as the beast roared.The princess was handing something up over the edge of the drop, a fleece-wrapped bundle thatConan realized carried Prince Urras, awake now that Marr's spells no longer held him asleep."Hold on to him and I'll pull you both up!" Conan shouted."Mistress Raihna! Take the babe!" The princess was adamant, and Raihna responded to herappeal. Before Conan could reach for Chienna's hands, Raihna knelt, picked up the babe, and darted upthe slope.Conan knelt in turn, gripped long-fingered hands, and heaved. The princess was no dainty courtlady, and it burdened even the Cimmerian's muscles to haul her bodily onto more level ground.It also did Chienna's attire no good. Conan had seen tavern dancers at the end of their dancewearing less than she wore now. He had also seen tavern dancers less worthy of being so clad. With thegreater part of her clothes in rags, she no longer appeared so thin-flanked.The princess seemed to want to throw herself into the Cimmerian's arms, but she only gripped his

shoulders with both hands and laid her head on his chest. They were standing thus when Raihna's voiceshrilled from above."It's coming again!"Conan contemplated the tentacle reaching for them. He contemplated the battered sword in hishand. He contemplated the princess and gave her a firm shove on the rump with his free hand. Shescrambled up the slope toward where Wylla held her babe as Raihna leaped down for a last stand besideConan.Then the ground upended both Conan and Raihna as if they were children tossed in a blanket. Theyfell and landed sprawling, but not rolling. The tentacle waved in the mist, groping, then stretched out its tiptoward them. Conan lurched to his feet, shouting curses and calling on every god he thought might let himdie like a warrior.The rainbow colors in the mist and the fire in the lake died. A vast roar that made the beast's cryseem a pitiful mewling filled the night. The mist rose higher yet, but not as thickly as before. Through thebase of the cloud of mist, Conan saw the dam crumble.The water of the lake thundered into the valley in a solid white wall. It moved faster than a gallopinghorse, as fast as a flying hawk. Conan knew trial fie was seeing the death of the Pougoi.He also saw the beast, although dimly because of the mist. A vast, carapaced shape festooned withtentacles swept into view, then washed through the remains of the dam and down into the valley.Conan did not see the beast after that, although he knew the moment of its death… knew it becausethe ground shuddered again, and a roar that was almost a scream tore at his ears and a stench like all thegraves of the world opened at once filled the night.How long the Cimmerian gazed into the mist that shrouded the dying valley, he did not know. Hewas recalled to knowledge of the world and work to be done by Raihna's hand on his arm."Conan. The rock has crumbled to within an arm's length of your feet. If any more falls, you maywell fall with it."Conan looked down and saw that Raihna was right. He shook off both her arm and hisbemusement and began to climb."That settles the matter of pursuit, to be sure," he said when halfway up the cliff. "I only wish I knewif the Star Brothers drowned along with their tribesmen.""Pray that they did," Raihna said. "I doubt if Marr could spellbind a stray puppy, and we've notheard the last of Syzambry's men."The piper was at least in his right senses and sitting up when Conan and Raihna rejoined theircomrades. He held Wylla close to his chest while she alternately wept and keened for the dead.Aybas was wrapping his cloak about the princess. Above the waist, she was still more unclad thannot, but below the waist, she had made herself seemly, if not regal. She was letting the babe suck on oneor her fingers, and that seemed to have soothed his cries."Best we find a milch goat or a ewe and soak a rag in the milk," the princess said. "Urras has thrivedon becoming a nurse-brother to the Pougoi. He may not do so well on the road home.""Milch goat? ! ' Conan echoed. He realized that he was still a trifle bemused. He hoped that it wasonly from being too close to such a mighty duel of magic."Conan," the princess said, "I could hardly ask you to carry off a wet-nurse. But every patch ofhillside about here has its goats. Any who are not good for my babe's milk will surely be good for ourrations, will they not?""Certainly, my lady—I beg your pardon, Your Highness.""No pardon needed, Conan. You and your comrades—I would not have asked of anyone sworn tome what you have done of your own will." She looked up at the sky, where stars now shone dimly as arising wind blew away clouds and mist alike."The night is half gone, I fear," she added. "Best we use what is left of it to put some distance

between ourselves and any of the Pougoi who may yet live."Conan hoped that the princess would leave the swordplay to those better fitted for it. Otherwise, hewould not quarrel with her apparent wish to command on the march homeward!He looked down into the valley. Mist still rose in random wisps, but a great sheet of water gleamedbeneath it. Here and there, huts and high ground jutted above the flood, and on one patch of high ground,Conan saw tiny figures moving.Of the beast, the Star Brothers, or Thyrin, there was no sign.Conan rose, stretched to ease cramped muscles, then turned to Raihna."Raihna, which of us is the better goatherd, do you think?"

Chapter 16

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A pallid dawn found Conan and his companions a fair march on their way home."The palace is no more, Your Highness," Conan said. "Your father makes shift with a tent in thewilderness. I fear it is a poor homecoming we offer you.""Captain, anyone would think that you had spent as much time about courts as Aybas here,"Chienna said. Free of the Pougoi, she smiled more readily. That smile made her face more than a triflecomely, with its high cheekbones and straight nose."I know how to tell the truth to princes," Conan said. "Or at least the kind of princes who care tohear it. Some don't, and those I don't speak to at all if I can avoid it.""Our house has always kept an ear open for the truth," Chienna said. "And we have always calledthe whole Border Kingdom home. We will not be homeless until we set foot in another realm, and bothmy father and I will die before we do that."It seemed to Conan that Count Syzambry might yet have something to say about the royal family'sgoing or staying, let alone living or dying. But the quicker the princess and her son returned to Eloikas,the quicker the king would rally such allies as he might yet have. Had he enough, Syzambry might havenothing whatever to say about anything, including his own life or death.Conan earnestly hoped so. Falling to Syzambry would be like being stung to death by vipers, oreven being gnawed to bloody shreds by rats. 'Twas no death for a warrior, no death for anyone—man,woman, or child—who could feel shame.

Conan's band was two days on its homeward journey when they saw the traces of a fair-sizedcompany of men."Pougoi," Marr said after studying the footprints. "Warriors in some number, but not all warriors. Isee women and children among them."He rose and contemplated the wooded ridges rolling away to the west. "Trying to put a gooddistance between themselves and their valley, I should judge. But not going toward the royal camp,unless they should stumble on it by accident.""If they do, we can leave them to Decius," Raihna said. "What danger are they to us?""If they've women and children to lead to safety, they may not fight unless we force them," Conansaid. "They might also be readier to fight us than most," Chienna said. "Vengeance can make wiser folkthan the Pougoi—forgive me, Mistress Wylla—forget good sense."Wylla was so stunned at an apology from a princess of the house that had been long an enemy to

her tribe that she could only stand slack-jawed. Marr put an arm around her and bowed to the princessas thanks for both of them."I can contrive with my magic that they do not come near us," the piper said. "But the Star Brothersmay yet live, some of them, and march with their tribesmen.""Would not their power have died with their beast?" Aybas asked. From his voice, it was clear thathe most earnestly hoped so. He could not have hoped so more earnestly than Conan, but hopesharpened no swords."What could live Star Brothers do without their beast?" Conan asked."At the very least, sense that my magic was at work," Marr replied. "If they know that, they mightfind ways to let Pougoi scouts search for us with clear eyes and ears.""Then let us trust to woodcraft and swift marching," the princess said decisively. "I have no morequarrel with the Pougoi, if they find none with me."In that, she spoke for all of them. She spoke, indeed, loud enough that an unseen listener heard. Heheard clearly, but they did not hear his bare feet on the forest floor as he returned swiftly to his comrades.They met the listener and half a score of his comrades toward mid-afternoon. Prince Urras wassucking a rag dipped in the last of their goat's milk when Raihna's shriek brought them to their feet and toarms. "Pougoi!"Conan was the first to join Raihna at her sentry post. She was already behind a well-placed tree,bow ready, and the Cimmerian found another such from which to watch the warriors approach.He counted ten of them, all with swords or spears in hand, the points held downward. The archershad their bows strung but over their shoulders, and at the rear of the line—"Father!"Wylla's shriek made Raihna's seem a whisper. The Pougoi girl dashed down the path and flungherself into the arms of the tall man at the rear of the warriors. He bent to kiss her forehead, but Conansaw that the seamed, leathery face and grizzled, shaggy beard were not quite dry.Conan stepped from his hiding place. "Greetings, Thyrin. It's good to see you and to know that notall of your folk died along with the Star Brothers and the beast."Thyrin gently pushed Wylla away, and his look of joy gave way to a bleaker face. "Would that theStar Brothers were dead. Two of them live, their powers yet in them, and they still have warriors at theircommand. Not as many as I did when I defied them, but enough so that if they find other friends—""Such as Count Syzambry?" came the voice of the princess.Thyrin and Chienna stared, each trying to take the measure of the other. Neither the green eyes northe brown ones fell, but it was the princess who spoke first."I do not know whether it is fit and lawful by your customs for you to have a pardon from myhouse. But if it is, you shall have it. Indeed, you have it now. Moreover, you shall have land to call yourown, better land than you lost, if you do my house this one service."The Pougoi were so silent that the faint breeze in the high pines sounded to Conan like the roar of agale. Thyrin coughed."Where is that land to come from?""When Syzambry falls, his friends will fall with him. Their lands will be the gift of the throne to ourfriends who have stood by us. I do not know where your new lands will be. I only say that if you standby us, and if I live, you will have them."This time the silence was swiftly broken by a warrior asking the question that Conan saw on allfaces. "Stand by you, Lady Princess? That means we fight your enemies? Fight the little count?""What greater enemy does my house have? What greater enemy can it have? If you live to see thesons of your sons' sons, you will not see a more evil man than Syzambry!"

Thyrin asked that the warriors be allowed to draw apart and take counsel with one another. Thiswas granted. They soon returned, and most of them were smiling."Do we swear all together, or each man alone?" the warrior who had asked the great questionwondered."As your laws and customs bid you," Chienna replied. "I will have no friend swearing an oath thatcomes strangely to his lips."That drew cheers, which lasted until Raihna could endure them no more. "Be silent!" she cried. "Orwould you let the whole realm know where we are?"These words drew no cheers but, instead, a few sour looks and some muttered curses from thosewho still had breath to utter them. Conan stepped forward."Lady Raihna and I are both captains in the Palace Guard," he said. "By your oath to the royalhouse, you also swear to obey Captain-General Decius and any captain speaking for him. Yet no captainof the royal service will ever command you save through chiefs you choose yourselves." The Cimmerianended by making suitable gestures of honor at Thyrin.The princess beckoned Conan to her. Tall as she was, she needed to rise on tiptoe to put her mouthto his ear. "I think I have just been told how to lead the Pougoi, Captain Conan. Is that not so?""Forgive me if I presumed, Your Highness, but—""You were in haste and could not wait for my permission? My father and Decius have told me howoften this excuse is given, by both good captains and bad."Conan was silent, keeping his gaze turned toward the Pougoi. Then he heard a soft laugh."You are a good captain, Conan of Cimmeria," the princess said, "and therefore much may beallowed you. Bring the Pougoi forward and let us have the oath-taking. Then they can go and bring uptheir comrades and kin and we can all sleep at ease tonight."The oath-taking went swiftly. Conan had expected nothing else. Nor did he doubt that the rest ofthe Pougoi who followed Thyrin would be as swift in declaring their new allegiance.Some, doubtless, were of the faction Aybas had described, and always kept apart from theintrigues of Syzambry and the Star Brothers. Some might be seeing the world with fresh eyes. Nonecould doubt that the Pougoi had little future unless they sought new allies. Homeless, their war strengthshrunken, their women and children helpless prey, they could not hope to face the other tribes whom theyhad made into mortal enemies. The raiding for sacrifices had gone on for too long to be easily forgiven.Conan only hoped that the Pougoi would not use their new place as upholders of the throne as yetanother weapon against their enemies. If they did, the throne would have peace with one mountain tribeand blood-feud with half a dozen others.The Cimmerian thanked the gods that it would be Eloikas and Chienna who faced that problem, nothimself or Raihna. If Aybas wanted to stay and be embroiled in it, good luck to him—and, indeed, theAquilonian exile's experience of intrigues might make him a wise counselor to the Border throne.First, however, came the task of being sure that there was a Border throne for Aybas to counsel!

A band of more than a hundred, with fifty fighting men, was harder to hide than Conan's handful. Italso had less need to hide. Nothing save Count Syzambry's host—if he yet had one—or Decius and theGuards could meet them in open battle.Ambushes were another matter, and the Star Brothers' magic was another still. So Conan decidedthat the newly united, newly sworn allies would move by day and sleep by night. Since it was near sunsetby the time the last oath was taken, that meant they would begin the last part of their journey on the nextday. A cluster of huts too small to deserve the name of village offered shelter to the women and childrenand the princess. The huts were filthy but intact, and they had the look of having been abandoned only afew days before. Why the inhabitants had fled, and whither, Conan did not know. Nor did he care to

speak of these questions where anyone less clearheaded than Raihna or Thyrin might hear.At the end of the oath-taking, Thyrin gave chief's gifts to Conan's party. One gift was the use of awet-nurse for Prince Urras for as long as he needed one.The other was a tent for the use of Conan and Raihna."You may share it if you wish," Raihna told Aybas. "One or the other of us will always be on watchtonight."Conan said nothing but considered that Raihna might have told him first if it was her notion that theysleep apart. They would be doing that enough when they rejoined Decius. Raihna was too much womanto let slip away without one final, hot tumble.Aybas shook his head. "Thyrin has offered me the hospitality of his tent as a peace offering." Helowered his voice and looked toward Wylla, standing close to the piper. "Also, she is sleeping under thestars with him, so it matters little where I sleep.""Not so," Raihna said. "Sleep where you will wake with a clear head. We need your witsuntouched. Aquilonia's loss has been our gain."Aybas's face told plainly of how long it had been since he heard such praise, but he was equal to theoccasion. He bowed, kissed Raihna's hand, and withdrew."Who takes first watch?" Conan asked."Let it be me," Raihna said. "For one night, you should spare yourself.""When has a woman ever made me weak, Raihna? Even you, and I have known few women—"She punched him lightly in the ribs. "As you say, you have known few women if you think that nonecan weaken a man for serious business. Go and sleep, Conan."Conan raised his hand in mock respect. "I think I should never have named you 'Lady.' What next?Wedding Decius, so that you have the rank in truth?"Raihna turned away quickly, still smiling. Yet it seemed to Conan that the smile was thinner thancommon for her.

Neither Raihna's smile nor anything else kept the Cimmerian from plunging into a deep sleep themoment he lay down. He had lightly oiled his blades and sworn to find the Pougoi smith at first light. Thesword, at least, would not be fit to cut mutton without some skilled work.Then he had removed his boots, wrapped himself in his bearskin, and lain down on the pinebranches covering the floor of the tent. The heady smell of fresh-crushed needles was the last sensationhe remembered… before he awoke to discover that he was no longer alone on his bed. Indeed, he wasno longer alone within the furs. Someone had thrown them back and crawled under them with him.The "someone" was a woman, and she was not asleep. She was feigning sleep, but Conan's earswere too keen to be deceived.She was also clad only in her own skin, and that was not feigned. Conan ran a hand down asmooth back and gently patted firmly muscled hindquarters. It seemed that Raihna had decided againsttheir sleeping apart after all. Having had her jest—The woman rolled over and drew Conan firmly into her arms.No man to refuse an invitation so plainly offered, he made quick work of his own garments andreturned the embrace as heartily as it had been given. Pressing Raihna down onto the furs, he twined hisfingers in her hair and kissed her soundly. Meanwhile, her own hands were at work, making Conan'sroar—Until he felt the hair, which was as fine-spun as silk and flowed down past the woman's shouldersnearly to the small of her back.Not Raihna's hair. Raihna's thick, fair hair ended hardly lower than the back of her neck.Conan did not cease his kisses; nor did the woman—he could no longer call her Raihna—cease her

pleasant activities. But with a free hand now here, now there, the Cimmerian quickly made himself apicture of his companion.Beyond doubt, not Raihna. As tall and as broad across the shoulders, but not as well-fleshed. Addthese discoveries to the long hair, and who was he holding in his arms?Conan's knowledge came to him with a laugh that the woman took for a sign of pleasure. Sheredoubled her efforts, not that any such was needed to make her a welcome bedmate.So he had Princess Chienna. Very well. He was a man with a fine woman in his bed, and when thatwas so, there was neither rank nor royalty nor anything else—except for the rites that had begun longbefore men and women wore crowns, or anything else.The rites consumed much of the night and gave much mutual pleasure. The princess at last fellasleep, and Conan wondered if he should awaken her and warn her that Raihna might be returning fromher watch.Then it struck him like a thunderclap. Raihna and the princess had contrived this between them,as—a jest, to say no more.Why? Bedding royal maidens courted death in most realms, but Chienna was no maiden and,indeed, no woman to be told where she might make her bed. Conan had no fear that the jest would turndeadly.He still would be glad to know whence the intrigue came. Yet it seemed that the answer would needa potent spell, to let him understand the thoughts of women. A potent spell, and like a cloak of invisibility,or an invincible sword, likely to be more perilous than helpful in the end.At least he need have no more fear of what Raihna might say should she find them together. Conanpiled the furs over them again and drew the princess into his arms. She deserved to sleep warm tonight, ifon no other night!Furs and princess together so warmed Conan that his second sleep was as deep as his first. Heawoke to find the princess gone and Raihna in her usual place. She looked very fair in the pale light ofearly dawn, but it was not in Conan to wake her.The camp began its greetings to the day with the scrape of flint and steel kindling cook fires, theclash of pats and knives, the wails of hungry children. The night sentries came in, the day sentries wentout, and Conan heard a familiar voice raised in protest.It was Aybas, complaining to all who would hear— and some, it seemed, who would not—that hehad barely slept last night. Thyrin snored.It was then that Conan's laughter shook the tent and awoke Raihna.

Chapter 17

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Pain still troubled Count Syzambry day and night, likewise weakness and nightmares. He was notungrateful to Zylku the apprentice for his work with the potions he had found in the ruins of the palace.Without Zylku, both the pain and the weakness would have been impossible to conceal, and themustering of men to his standard impossible to accomplish. So in spite of the pain, he slept well the nightbefore the Pougoi came to his camp.The sentries were among the best of his men-at-arms. They sent word of the coming of the Pougoi,then stood to arms instead of fleeing. Syzambry resolved to honor them for that, the more so when helearned that among the Pougoi were two of the Star Brothers."Star Brothers," he said as they were ushered into his tent. "I hope it is good tidings that you bringme here, on the eve of final victory.""The tidings could be better, and likewise worse," the elder of the two Star Brothers said. He had a

beard bound with brass wire into three plaits and a fluent command of the lowland tongue."We have come without our beast, which cannot live away from the lake we made for it. We havealso come with only part of the warriors of the tribe. The remainder were needed to guard our womenand children from those tribes that would use a time of weakness to avenge themselves for our service toyou." Syzambry had a sense of being told both less and more than the truth. The courtly manner of theStar Brother did not ease his mind. The wizard seemed to have spent much of his life winning allies bytelling them what they wished to hear."How many warriors have you brought, and what chiefs?" Syzambry asked. That should smoke outsome of the fleas at least—"Fifty warriors, among the best of the tribe, but no chiefs whose names you would know.""Then who will lead the warriors in the final battle?""We shall stand close to the forefront of the battle," the younger Star Brother said. "As we shall alsobe among the warriors, what we say, they will hear easily.""I am sure they will," Syzambry said. Pain throbbed in his head, not from any wound but from theold sick headache that came from rage at fools. "But will they hear the commands of men wise in war? Idoubt not your intent, but have you ever fought in such a battle as this will be?"The two Star Brothers could do no more than shake their heads."I thought as much. Will you grant that I may place one of my own captains over your warriors? Itwill be prudent for you as well as for them.""You doubt our courage?" the elder asked, bristling."I doubt that the greatest sorcerer in the world can cast a useful spell when he is trying to keep steelfrom entering his guts," Syzambry said. He tried to keep his voice level. From the look of the StarBrothers, he had not succeeded, but they recognized his authority."Good. Then I will chose a captain within days, and you may come to know him before we march.Is there more?"The wizards shook their heads and withdrew. Syzambry waited for a decent interval, thensummoned Zylku and told him of the meeting with the Star Brothers.The man listened in silence, but his face grew pale. "You want me to spy on these ragged-arse hillmen?""I want you to sit down with them and some good wine first. Drink lightly, see that they drink deep,and listen. Listen, and what you hear, tell me. You are no soldier, but you are something at times worthmore—a man with keen eyes and ears, and a mouth he can keep shut. Also, I think you understand moreof magic than you admit."Zylku's face said nothing to these last words, but he nodded. "Ah. You smell something, too, aboutthe Pougoi coming in like this?""You presume greatly to hint that I am a witling.""Forgive me, my Lord Count.""Earn your forgiveness, by learning what the Star Brothers are hiding."It might be risking much for little to offend the Star Brothers, and doing so for no more thansatisfying curiosity. Yet Syzambry was certain that more was amiss with the Pougoi than the StarBrothers had told him.He was almost certain that Eloikas and his minions had a hand in it. And if it was something thatmight give new strength to the flagging royal cause and make it more formidable on the day of battle—Syzambry cursed and smote the tent pole with his open palm. The shock awakened pain in severalplaces; he stifled a cry.When he was crowned king, the count decided, his first command would be that all who wished theroyal favor would wait on him in his bedchamber. Especially Princess Chienna, and she would wait on

him in very particular ways.

When Conan returned leading a host of Pougoi, Decius would have sympathized with CountSyzambry. The captain-general did not doubt Conan's tale, marvelous though it was. He did doubt thePougoi's change of allegiance. Doubted it aloud and often, until at last Princess Chienna summoned himand bid him hold his tongue."These folk have no home and no retreat," she said sharply. "They can go forward only to doom atthe hands of the tribes they have fought, or to some safety in friendship with us. Safety for those warriorswho survive a battle that you yourself tell me will be a slaughterhouse. Safety, also, for their women andbabes.""You almost persuade me," Decius said. "Yet this matter is so grave that if King Eloikas—"For a moment, Decius was sure that Chienna was about to strike him with an open hand. Then herfingers closed on the hilt of her dagger. When she spoke, her voice would have curdled milk."Decius, I am neither queen nor regent as yet. But if you trouble my father with this, I will find someway to repay you, outside the law if I find none within it. Go and make sheep's eyes at Mistress Raihna,or grant Lord Aybas his captain's warrant, or do anything that is of use! But do not trouble my father, orI will do more than trouble you!"Decius bowed and took his leave. In truth, the princess had the right of it. King Eloikas's heart wasweakening. It would be a marvel if he lived to see the day of victory.If it came. The ruin of the Pougoi, their beast, and the Star Brothers had dealt a shrewd blowagainst Count Syzambry. It had by no means ended the war.Men were coming in from towns and villages the count had looted to support his host. But few werewell-armed, and fewer still knew their way about a battlefield. Aybas would have his captaincy and moreif he wished it, not because Decius altogether trusted him, but because beggars could not choose. Adozen captains and three hundred harnesses would have been more to Decius's liking.There were tales as well that some of the tribes who no longer feared the Pougoi might take a handin the war. But on which side? If they did come to the royal camp, would they keep the peace with theirenemies for generations ? Perhaps it would be better for the royal cause if the tribes remained in theirhills. A score and more such questions marched and countermarched through Decius's mind as hewalked from Chienna's tent. By the time he reached the edge of the camp, he decided that he wouldindeed visit Raihna. Not to "make sheep's eyes at her"—in his dreams, he was doing far more—but totake counsel from her. Also from her Cimmerian, and even from Lord Aybas and Marr, if they could bebrought to speak—A drum began to beat somewhere behind him. Decius turned and saw Conan himself striding downthe slope. His face was hard, and only the icy-blue eyes seemed to live."My lord captain-general. You are summoned to Her Highness."A cold hand gripped Decius's heart. Foreknowledge came, so he felt no surprise when Conanadded:"King Eloikas has just died. As chief among the nobles present, you—""I know the laws and customs of the realm, Cimmerian. Believe me, I do."Decius's voice nearly broke on the last words. He wanted to cry "Father!" so that the stars and themoon would hear him.The Cimmerian had the grace to look away until the captain-general regained command of himself.When he had done so, the two warriors began retracing their steps up the hill toward the royal tent.

Count Syzambry shifted restlessly in his padded chair. He had spent the whole day not merely out

of bed, but at work, save for the short sleep that his surgeon urged upon him in the afternoon. Anafternoon nap, as if he were a child still in smallclothes!Perhaps he no longer needed that nap. Perhaps it was that which kept him awake now, growingmore restless and uneasy as the sun slipped below the mountain peaks. The sunset gilded some of thesnowcaps on the highest peaks, turned others crimson. The breeze had died with the coming of twilight,and the count felt as if the world were holding its breath in anticipation.Anticipation of what? He knew what he awaited, at least. Tonight Zylku should return from amongthe Pougoi. Perhaps he would even return with the truth about the state of the tribe.From the scouts who watched the royal camp, Syzambry had learned that at least some of thePougoi had turned their colors. They were led by a man who might be Aybas—and if Aybas had turnedtraitor, Syzambry could not think of a death hard enough for him!At least the turncoat Pougoi had no beasts or Star Brothers with them as far as the scouts couldjudge. There was no approaching the royal camp closely, by night or by day. The scouts who tried tohad never been seen again, save for one who was found gelded, disemboweled, and otherwise turnedinto a direful warning.After that, the scouts kept their distance, and much of what they brought back was rumors or, atbest, tales. One tale ran so far as to say that King Eloikas was dead. If so, should Syzambry offer peaceon terms of being named regent for Prince Urras?Syzambry looked at that notion now from one side, now from another, as color left the world andnight swallowed the camp save where watchfires sparked with saffron flames or crimson coals. It was fulldark by the time he judged it best to hold his tongue for now. When he knew his own strength, as well ashis foe's weakness, the time might be right for making nimble tongues do the work of sharp steel.Where was Zylku? The count would not know his own strength until he knew the state of thePougoi, and he would not know that until the man returned.Boots scraped rocky ground. Swords and spears clattered and clanged. The count's guards werealert. The count himself drew his sword and laid it across his knees as his servant opened the tent flaps.A dark shape emerged into the circle of the watch-fire: Zylku, looking much the same as he hadthree days ago, save for an unshaven countenance and a dark cloak thrown over his garments. Hestepped lightly toward the watchfire.The count leaped from his chair, raising his sword to the guard position. In the fire's light he saw thatthe agent's feet were bare. Bare—and bloody, as if he had run barefoot for days over sharp stones.Syzambry's breath hissed out in alarm. Otherwise, he would have called the sentries. They neededno calling, though. They had seen the same as their lord, and they stepped forward to do their duty.The first two guards to reach the agent gripped him gently by the arms, as they would have donewith a harmless madman. With the strength of ten men, Zylku gripped the guards' throats. With thestrength of twenty, he slammed their heads together. The crack of shattered skulls was loud enough toraise echoes. Then, for good measure, Zylku's fingers closed on the men's throats and crushed theirwindpipes. They were dead twice over when he flung them violently away from him, to crash into theircomrades.The guards' oath to their lord, and perhaps fear of his wrath, held them at their posts. They did not,however, again advance upon Zylku. As what had been a man ambled toward the fire, they ran hastily toform a wall of flesh and steel before their lord."Lift me up, you fools!" the count stormed. He hated any order that would remind others of his lackof stature, but he had no choice. All he could see before him was a line of jerkined backs and helmetedheads.Two of his servants lifted the chair. They staggered under its weight. Two guards ran back to jointhe servants. They were eager to be as far as they could contrive from Zylku.The four men together bore chair and count out of the tent and raised Syzambry until he could seeover the heads of his guards. He swallowed a cry of horror when he saw clearly, and his limbs

responded to an urge to leap in panic from his chair. The chair swayed, the men struggled to uphold it,the count clung desperately to both his dignity and the arms of the chair, and the guards tried to look in alldirections at once.Chaos threatened, but it did not quite prevail. The count settled back on the cushions and forcedhimself to stare at the sight before him.Zylku stood in the fire, whose flames leaped as high as his knees. They had already burned theboots from his feet, and now they were turning the flesh on his bones to charcoal. He seemed to feel nopain, though, but stood as if his feet had been in a warm bath, scented with healing herbs—The man's mouth opened and he spoke. Or at least words came forth. Count Syzambry did notcare to think about who in truth had put the words in Zylku's mouth."Count Syzambry. This time it is not you who pays the price for seeking unlawful knowledge of oursecrets. Nor will it be you unless you further fail to heed such lessons. There will be a lesson each timeyou seek what you may not know. Each time that lesson will cost the life of a man under you. Think.How many such lessons will the courage of your men endure?"Then, at last, the spell that had bound Zylku broke. All the pain of being burned alive struck him in asingle moment. Count Syzambry would have sworn that no such scream could issue from a human throat."Kill him!" the count howled, nearly as shrill as the wretched man himself. The order was notneeded. Half a dozen spears were in Zylku's breast before he could scream a second time. There wouldhave been more had several guards not dropped their weapons to clap their hands over their ears. Onefell to his knees, spewing.As Zylku died, so did the fire. The count thanked the gods for the darkness, which hid his ownpallid and fear-twisted countenance from his men. He hoped that the gods were still present in this land tobe thanked.At least his guards and servants were present and in command of their limbs and senses. They didtheir duty so that when the count's wit returned, he was wrapped in furs and in his bed, with a leechattending him.Syzambry listened with but half an ear to the leech's earnest mutterings about bleeding and purging,green bile and wind. His thoughts were elsewhere, pursuing the mystery of who had ensorceled Zylkuand sent him to his dreadful death.No one but the Star Brothers and the royal house could have secrets they would kill to guard. Theroyal house had no magic at its command, unless the piper still served them. The Star Brothers had magicmore than great enough for this dreadful work, even without their beast.Yet the Star Brothers were his allies! The count almost choked on the word. Was this a way totreat an ally, one who had promised to raise them and their folk high in the Border Kingdom?Slaughtering a trusted man, sowing fear among the soldiers, and unsettling the count's own mind?The Star Brothers had done it, though. Perhaps they were like their hill folk after all, with no senseof honor outside the tribes. Perhaps they did not care what they did, because the secret they wished toprotect was that they could prevail without Count Syzambry's aid.With the fire gone, the night could not have been darker. It seemed colder, though, and the countdrew the furs more tightly about himself as the chill seemed to strike at his wounds. Amidst the throbbingpain, the thought of offering peace to the royal house came again.

"Tell your master that peace shall come only when he offers his sword to Our service withoutconditions," Queen Chienna said.Decius smiled at the look on the faces of the handful of surviving court officials. The royal "We" wasthe prerogative of a reigning monarch, not of a regent for an underage king. Nor had it escaped theirattention that Urras was still called "Prince."It seemed that the matter of a regency would not arise for some time, mostly likely not until after the

decisive battle against Count Syzambry. This did not displease Decius in the least.To be sure, as captain-general, he would have been a leading member of any Council of Regency.But there would have been others, more each day as nobles with more loyalty than strength rallied to theroyal standard.Some of these nobles considered themselves well-versed in war. They would not seek Decius'soffice, but neither would they cease to advise him how to conduct it. As for what they would say toConan being captain of the Guard, or to Raihna and Aybas being captains at all, or Marr the Piper's verypresence in the camp—Decius was happy that he would not have to listen to any of it.All he would have to listen to was Chienna saying, "We wish it done," or "We do not wish thisdone," and then obey. It was enough to make a man not merely believe in the gods, but to be convincedthat they had some concern for justice and decency among men."May my master not even expect a pardon?" Count Syzambry's messenger queried.The queen's eyebrows drew together in a way that Decius had seen a hundred times, ever since shewas a child. No furious words followed, however. Her dignity was indeed regal as she merely said: "Ourwords were simple. 'Without conditions.' Are you or your master deaf, that you cannot understand?"The messenger seemed to at least understand that he would gain no more by staying, and perhapslose the chance to make a dignified withdrawal. He made it, and shortly afterward the clatter of hoovestold of his departure.Decius made the rounds of the sentries, told them to keep a watch for the return of Conan's pickedmen from their training march, then had a brief audience with the queen. She was trimming her toenailswith a soldier's knife as they spoke, but it seemed to Decius that she was more graceful than ever."We did not ask your advice before refusing the count's offer," she said. "For this, We ask yourforgiveness. Do you think it was worth more of a hearing than We gave it?"Decius's laughter was a harsh bark. "Count Syzambry is trying to enlist your aid to save a lostcause.""Or the tales may be true, that he has Pougoi allies as well and fears them as much as he does Us,"Chienna pointed out.Decius's dignity would not allow him to gape, but his face revealed enough to make the queen laugh."Decius, I should be angry at your thinking I am not old enough to hear such things. Remember, I amQueen of the Border, a poor queen, perhaps, but all the realm has—unless you think that CountSyzambry really should rule?"Try as he would, Decius could not laugh at that jest. "Captain Conan would be ten times fitter forthe crown than Syzambry.""At least," the queen said. She put the knife away and drew her stained robe down over her barefeet. "We are well pleased with your service and value your counsel. May We always be able to trustthem as We do today."Decius bowed himself out, thinking that wishes, even royal wishes, could not bind the gods. He wastwice Chienna's age and would be fortunate indeed if he lived to teach Prince Urras the art of war.Perhaps he should marry again. After burying a wife and three sons, it might be tempting fate, buthis children and Urras might grow together. The prince would need friends and playmates, certainly,and—"My lord Decius. Do you wish to be alone?"It was Raihna, who had come out of the darkness beside the path as silently as a cat. Decius startedto nod, then knew that in his heart he did not wish to be alone."Mistress Raihna, in truth I would enjoy your company."They walked side by side to the captain-general's tent. They were a sword's length apart, andRaihna's garb was no more revealing than usual, yet Decius had never been so aware of her as a woman.They sat on furs just inside the mouth of Decius's tent. The captain-general sent away his

bodyservant and drew a skin of wine from under the furs."Poor hospitality, I fear.""No hospitality is poor when the host is a treasure."Decius hoped that the firelight did not reveal him flushing like a boy. He sensed that there was morethan Raihna's nimble tongue in that praise.Raihna drank deeply, then handed the skin to Decius. In doing so, she let some drops fall on hiswrist. "Forgive me, my lord. Here, let me…"She put her mouth to his wrist and began licking off the wine.That Decius had been long a widower did not make him a fool. He put both hands under Raihna'schin and lifted her face to receive his kiss. Her mouth bloomed under his, and her arms went around him.It was amazing how swiftly the lacings of armor could be undone by skilled fingers. There wasnothing amazing about what followed, unless it was that Raihna was even fairer to look at than Deciushad suspected.It was not until Raihna was sleeping in his arms that Decius realized they had not closed the tentflaps. They had been tumbling in the furs, clad only in the firelight, in full sight of anyone who wished towander by. Had Conan chosen to pass along this path—No. Decius would take the word of both Conan and Raihna that the woman was her own mistress.After that, he would take her into his arms again, if she was willing.He dared not think about taking her to wife, not until the battle was won. That would be temptingthe gods, and for now, they had given him enough and to spare. His thought on leaving the queen hadbeen a true one: the gods did have some care for humans.

Conan returned to the camp at dawn. The men he was taking against Count Syzambry had neededlittle more training, save at setting ambushes by night. This he had given them, and they now knew asmuch as he thought necessary.The Pougoi was masters of them all in the art of night fighting, he knew. But the queen did not careto send the tribesmen far afield and out of reach of her loyal men. Thyrin had borne this with more gracethan Conan expected, although no one could call the man pleased. The gods willing, he should even beable to keep the peace among his warriors—It was no great surprise for Conan to find that Raihna was not in his tent. It was somewhat more ofa surprise to see that her clothing and weapons had likewise departed. It was a considerable surpriseindeed to find Wylla asleep in the furs.At least the hair spread out over the furs was the color of Wylla's, and the shapely bare arm thattrailed off onto the floor of the tent was that of a woman as young and comely. Conan removed his bootsand crept on hands and knees to the furs. Kneeling, he gripped the furs with one hand and poised theother over the arm.Then he snatched the furs away. The morning light proved what he had suspected. Wylla lay there,as bare as a newborn babe and much more pleasing to look at. She also lay so deeply asleep that Conanrealized other measures than removing the furs might be called for.He bent over, ready to kiss her.Her arms took on a life of their own, leaping up to twine round his neck. She embraced him sotightly that she lifted herself clear of the furs, pressing her whole length against him. Conan felt everycurve, and the heat of her blood flowed into his.Wylla began to croon softly as Conan returned her embrace. Conan knew a moment's unease at thesinging, but he soon passed beyond caring about such matters. Wylla saw to that.The song ended as Wylla curled against him, taking and giving warmth, one hand still twined in theCimmerian's black hair. The silence lasted until Conan's laughter broke forth.

"What is the jest, Conan?""I hope it ends as a jest, you being here.""You fear Marr?""I fear offending any man who had that power.""It shames both him and me to say that you need fear anything from this—" she patted the furs."You and Raihna.""Eh? Oh, that we are both our own mistresses?""Yes. Although I do not think that Mistress Raihna will be so free for long. Not if Decius lives—"Conan's laugh was louder this time. "I won't ask where Raihna spent the night, because I think Iknow. But I will ask this. Did she—?""Send me? Of course. She said that Decius was not made by the gods to be as alone as he was.You were, but no man should be without a woman on the eve of what might be his last battle. So I came,and you were not.""Suppose I turn you over my knee for speaking ill-omened words about last battles?""Oh, if that is your pleasure—" She wriggled, raising herself so that he could pull her over his knee ifhe wished. At the same time, her hands danced along Conan's limbs in a way that could have only oneconclusion. This time Wylla fell asleep when they were done.Conan did not sleep. Quietly he slipped from under the furs, garbed and armed himself, and went tofind his rest under a pine tree just inside the sentry line.He would not ask the gods to let him understand women, even if they could give him that power.But would it be too much to ask that women should not understand him as easily as Raihna seemed to?

Chapter 18

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The scout was looking over his shoulder when his time came, not ahead as he should have been.Small shame to him, however. He was an honest trapper's almost equally honest son, who had takenservice with Count Syzambry many years ago.He had not imagined then that he would end as the scout for a host led only in name by the count.He had not imagined that the Pougoi wizards, the Star Brothers, were even real, let alone that they wouldcome forth from their valley.As for believing that they could put fear into the count and all his host—a thousand men or more—the scout would have called it madness. He would have suggested that the speaker needed physicking, torestore his wits.And if by some chance he had believed that he would end serving the Star Brothers, he would havefled the Border Kingdom as fast as his feet would carry him. Indeed, he would have crawled, if need be,to put distance between himself and those monster-worshipers.Not having fled, or even left the count's service, the scout was now bound to his master and hisduty. Bound as with bands of iron by loyalty to his comrades, oaths to the count—and by stark terror ofthe Star Brothers.It was that terror that made the scout look back over his shoulder at the wrong moment. He hadjust decided that no spy for the wizards followed close on his heels when a hand like steel closed on hissword arm.The scout tried to whirl around, cry out, and draw his sword with his left hand. He accomplishednone of these. Another hand clamped itself over his mouth, both hands jerked, and he soared through theair into the bushes as his sword flew out of his hand.

Conan tapped the scout's head gently against a fir trunk, and the man went limp. The Cimmerianlistened to the man's breathing, judged him fit to travel, and slung him over his broad shoulders.Carrying his prisoner as he would the carcass of a deer, Conan loped away from the trail and deepinto the woods. Only when he was beyond any human senses did he turn west, toward the royalvanguard that awaited him.

Count Syzambry was short of stature, not of sight. He was also a warrior of great experience andproven courage.So he rode forward when a messenger from his scouts came to tell of the missing man. He sent themessenger ahead again, with orders for the scouts to hold where they were. Then he rode swiftly with asmall escort to join them.After joining the scouts, Syzambry dismounted. He needed help to do so, which his men gavewillingly, but he no longer had to stifle gasps of pain. After he had examined the ground closely, heneeded no help in climbing back on his mount.Some of the aches and pains had to be stiffness from being too long in the saddle. He had notridden for so long that he had almost forgotten something he learned as a boy!He laughed, which seemed to hearten his men. Those who served him out of loyalty rather thangreed or fear had felt for their lord's pain and weakness. They were glad to see him leading as he haddone before.It gave them more hope of victory and less fear of the Pougoi wizards. They had no fears of theroyal host. What could a ragged band of fugitives half their strength, fighting on behalf of a woman, reallyhope to do?The count's laughter ended quickly as another messenger cantered up. This one was of the Pougoi,and the Star Brothers spoke through his mouth. They also heard through his ears but did not, to the bestof Syzambry's knowledge, see through his eyes."Hail, Brothers. I wish I had better news," the count said."What is it?" The Star Brothers had learned enough of war in recent days to know the value of time.Syzambry explained what the disappearance of the scout might mean. "Of course, he may simplyhave fled in fear," the count ended. "If so, I give you leave to hunt him down as you wish."That was an invitation for the Star Brothers to use their magic to bring the scout to heel. The counthad offered such invitations several times since his host marched. Each time, the Star Brothers hadrefused. They either had less magic than they claimed, or they feared the spells of Marr the Piper morethan they admitted.It hardly mattered. If the Star Brothers could remove Marr from the balance of the coming battle,the count was sure of victory. Then, before the wizards could become suspicious, it would be time tosettle with them."We do not wish to spend our strength against a single common man," the messenger replied. "Hisdeath would prove nothing, except our presence with this host."At last, something like a reason for the silence of the Star Brothers! Syzambry doubted that theroyal captains were ignorant of the Star Brother's presence. If they had been, the scout would tell themsoon enough, and it would need no magic to loose his tongue. Hot irons would serve as well.Still, if the Star Brothers wished their presence concealed to the last, it did Syzambry no harm tohumor them. The more they thought he did their bidding, the less they would be on their guard after thebattle."Very well," Syzambry said. "I judge that we should slow our advance, however. The scouts mustwalk two, even four, in company, with archers close at hand. Also, I think I shall send more scouts out toeither flank. A royal captain has thought to snatch a man of our vanguard. His next scheme may be toambush it. If we can find the rear of those ambushers before they find our flank—"

"Such matters of war we leave to you," the messenger said.That was exactly where they belonged, the count considered. If the Star Brothers ever tried to takethe command of his host from him, he might have to fight a battle to his rear as well as to his front.

Conan had seen councils of war meet in better heart. Most of those, however, were composed offools who did not know the chances of the forthcoming battle. A few had met before battles where theodds were so much in their favor that only a fool could waste strength in worrying.None of the men and women here in the royal tent were fools. All of them knew that tomorrow'sbattle was one against long odds, and that it could go either way.They also knew that, win or lose, it would bring a decision in the war in the Border Kingdom. Theland would not be harried for years by the contending hosts, until no babe could be born or cropharvested in safety."Rather than bring that fate to the land, I would flee to the Black Coast," Chlenna said. "I wouldeven drive my dagger into my own breast and dash Prince Urras's brains out on the nearest rock."Decius flinched at hearing such words from Chienna, and he shot an anguished look at the womanhe might have loved. Would have loved, save for the whim of the gods that made her his half-sister.Conan hoped for Decius's sake that he would soon grow used to plain-spoken women of iron will.The captain-general seemed resolved to wed one, and she would not change to please him or any man."Let's not be burying our cause before it has stopped breathing," Conan said. "With all due respect,Your Majesty.""How much respect do you think is due a queen, Captain Conan?" Chienna asked. Her face washard, but Conan thought he saw a hint of a smile at one corner of her mouth and more than a hint oflaughter in her wide eyes."As much as she earns," Conan said, and this time not only Chienna but the rest of the councillaughed aloud.Talk turned swiftly to the morrow's battle. Knowing that the Star Brothers were among the count'shost somewhat confined the scope of their plans now.Marr the Piper had to be protected. He was confident that he could hold back the Star Brothers'spells; he was not sure that he could leave the Star Brothers helpless against a well-wielded sword.As for striking down them or anyone else with his magical piping—"The gods did not make me fit to do that," Marr said firmly."Fit, or willing?" Decius asked."Peace, my lord Decius," the queen said. "Thyrin, you seem eager to speak.""Marr is telling no more than the truth," the Pougoi chief said. "His spells are not to be wielded as asword, like those of the Star Brothers. They are more kin to a shield, or to a good leather helm."Conan hoped that Marr's piping would be more like iron than leather. Leather helms had a way ofletting the skull within them shatter at a shrewd blow. If he was going to fight with magic as a friend aswell as a foe, Conan wanted the friends to overmatch the foes.He also wanted to know if Thyrin was telling the truth or merely favoring Marr in the hope that hewould finally declare for Wylla. Having his daughter wed to the legendary Marr the Piper could makeThyrin mighty in the land, not just among the Pougoi.He would certainly be undisputed chief among any Pougoi who lived to see tomorrow's sunset.As to how they would array the royal host—if five hundred men deserved that title—much wouldhave to wait on the morrow. They could resolve to march in such order that the arraying would be swift.It would also be as well if Queen Chienna were in a safe place, or at least in a well-guarded one."Give the queen first claim on any men we can spare from the fighting line," Marr said. Wylla threwhim a stricken look, and he patted her hand.

"No, this is not folly. I am no great warrior, but I am fleet of foot. What my spells cannot turn aside,I wager I can outrun."This was wagering the fate of the Border Kingdom on Marr's feet, but little save a dry throat wouldcome of stating what all knew. Conan was silent.As if she had read the Cimmerian's thoughts, Chienna rose. "Good people, We judge this council tohave done all it can. Mistress Raihna, will you do Us the favor of pouring the wine?"

Count Syzambry would not have fought on this day, or on this ground, had he been free to choose.He was not. His scouts had advanced unmolested until they came up against the royal vanguard.That it was the Palace Guard was no surprise. That the giant Cimmerian was captain over it was. Thatgiant would be shorter by a head by sunset, Syzambry resolved.First, though, he had to win the battle, and to win, he had to fight. He could not fight on ground thatwould let him array his whole host, not without retreating. That would dishearten some of the weaklings,and perhaps provoke the Star Brothers. Their silence since dawn was a blessing from the gods;Syzambry would not cast it aside now.So it would be here—in this vale—where, at best, half of his men could form line at once. This wasnot altogether to his disadvantage, as his foes would also suffer. The ground would slow any attack, treesprotect the count's archers, and a few level patches give his mounted men room to charge.Syzambry summoned his messengers and watched them ride out. They did not have far to gobefore they vanished, not only among the trees, but into the mist. Syzambry had cursed the mist withouteffect, except that it now seemed to lie in patches rather than equally everywhere.At least the Pougoi and their Star Brothers were safely in the rear. In the middle of a circle ofbaggage carts defended by their tribesmen, the wizards could conjure as they pleased with what effectthey might contrive. They could not distract a man trying to win a realm.One of the messengers was riding back, faster than he had ridden out. He reined in his latheredhorse and gave a salutation that was all but a wave."The royal host is upon the field!""Where?""There!" At first the count saw nothing save a patch of mist, thicker than most. Then he saw that atthe heart of the mist were marching men. The Palace Guards were taking the field, the giant at their head.Syzambry recognized the flowing black hair, for the man was bold enough to face him bareheaded!Well, it would hardly matter whether the head was bare or helmeted once the count had it on alance outside his tent.

Chapter 19

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This was the kind of battle that Conan liked less than most.The two hosts were simply flinging themselves upon one another, with less art than pit-wrestlers forall that the combat was deadlier. Perhaps there was no blame to the captains on either side, for theground was broken and the mist made seeing what one was about no easy matter.That was certainly true enough for Conan. He saw the veterans of the Palace Guard with theirspears and the newer men with their swords holding their place against Syzambry's levies. He saw Raihnadashing back and forth, encouraging both her men and some of Decius's.Every man with a bow had brought it to the field, but Conan was allowing only the best of hisarchers to shoot. Arrows were too few to be flung wildly into patches of mist that might hide enemies.

The Cimmerian thought he saw blue fire dancing from the treetops and in the heart of patches ofmist, as Marr and the Star Brothers dueled. He also thought he saw Thyrin and the Pougoi to the right ofthe Guards instead of to the left, where they belonged. Perhaps they had only lost their way in the mist,not being accustomed to fighting in orderly array.Thyrin stepped into view from a mist-shrouded clump of fir, but Conan did not ask the man abouthis tribesmen. How many men were fighting here today, Conan did not know; he only knew how muchnoise they made. The host of Turan at the charge could hardly have outshouted them. Any question toThyrin and any answer from the man would be lost in the din."Steel Hand! Steel Hand!"This time the levies shouted the count's war cry as they advanced, not their own lord's. Conansought for the count's standard in the misty woods beyond the levies and found nothing. A pity, becauseputting an end to the count would put an end to the war.No. The Star Brothers had to meet the same fate as the count, their Brothers, and their beast. Theycould not be allowed to wreak more havoc.Their deaths would leave Marr the Piper the only sorcerer in the Border Kingdom, to be sure. Thatwas one sorcerer too many , and a good reason for Conan's being on the way south once the battle waswon. But at least Marr was not one to run wild and wreak havoc, unless provoked. Chienna and Deciuswould have the task of not provoking the piper.Conan's own task suddenly presented itself as meeting four of Syzambry's levies. All had swords,two bore shields, and one carried a long dagger that he wielded in combination with his sword. Conanjudged him the most dangerous and moved first against him.The two-blade fighter was a small man who, until his last day, had won as much by swiftness as byskill. He had never faced Conan's combination of speed and length of reach.The Cimmerian's blade struck his opponent's dagger out of the hand holding it and went on to gashthe arm. The man had the courage to close and the speed to make that a wise move.Conan took the swordcut on his chest and felt mail links drive through his arming doublet into hisskin. His reply crashed through the small man's guard and laid open one whole side of his face.That would have to do for the man, with three other opponents to face. Conan saw one back awayfrom the fight at the sight of his leader wearing a bloody mask, but the other two came on. They seemedto have fought together before, and both fought well enough that the Cimmerian had a moment's need forcaution.Then his blade crashed through the guard of the man to the right, and he kicked upward at the manto the left. His boot caught the man in the groin and lifted him clear of the ground. At the same time,Conan's steel chopped through the other man's arm just below the elbow.Screaming, the one-armed man fled into the mist, seeking to spend his last moments among hiscomrades. Conan faced the small man again just as pain and bleeding drove the other to his knees. Thesword stroke that clove his cap and skull together was a mercy.Conan saw the last of the four men writhing on the ground and a Guard recruit with a spear standingover him. As the Cimmerian watched, the spear-head dipped, then thrust in deep. The man's breathbubbled in his throat, he clutched at the spear shaft and writhed, then his limbs went limp and the life wentout of his eyes."Back to your place!" Conan shouted at the recruit. "And where did you find that spear?""The man who held it before me is dead," the recruit shouted back, eyes wide with battle-rage anddefiance. "I will be dead, too, before I put it down."Conan cursed under his breath. If the line of spears was falling into the hands of the recruits, theGuards might not hold much longer. When they ceased to hold, so would the right flank of the royalarmy. It seemed time for a messenger to seek out Decius. This butting of heads like two rams had gone onfor a good while, with no great harm to the royal cause. It had drawn the whole royal host into the battle,

though, and Conan doubted that Syzambry was in the same case. He might have men to spare withwhich to seek a flank. Best that the royal army find his flank before he found theirs."I will take your place," Conan shouted to the recruit with the spear. "You run to the captain-generaland say to him—"Conan's message died on his lips. Wylla ran out of the mist and the witch-fire clad only in her skinbelt and ivory dagger. Her face silenced Conan's impulse to fling her over his shoulder and carry her tosafety."Conan! Marr says that the count has the Star Brothers and their Pougoi to his rear. He wants myfather and his warriors to strike them. With his pipes warding off the star-magic—""Crom!"The Pougoi advance would uncover the right flank of the Guard, already at full stretch. It might sowhavoc in the count's rear. It might also slay all of Thyrin's Pougoi, and even Marr.There was only one way to stave off this disaster. The Palace Guard must charge with the Pougoi.Struck in front as well as in flank, Syzambry's wing might falter and fail. Certainly it would be launchingfew attacks of its own until the fate of the royal charge was decided.Conan said no prayers. This was a moment when only one god existed for a Cimmerian, and cold,grim Crom was not one to listen to mortal mewlings. He called a warrior to do his best and to accept hisfate if that best was not good enough.Which was at least as much justice as Conan expected he would receive from Decius. Captainswhose battle plans were cast to the four winds by footloose underlings were not often even-tempered.Conan sheathed his sword, cupped his hands, and ran along the line of the Guards, shouting therally.

Count Syzambry had no idea of what might be happening on his left. The mist and the ground hid it.What noise he could hear hinted of a royal attack. Perhaps even one in some strength, for a messengerhe had sent to learn what might be happening had not returned.Yet the attack could not have the strength to drive far into his rear. Even if it did, the Star Brothersand Pougoi together would be a tough nut for any royal handful to crack.The count's gaze returned to his front, where he could see more clearly. What he saw there washeart-lifting. The royal host was spread thinner than he would have dared believe possible. Decius wasno fool; he knew the need to keep a flank strong.Nor were the royal men—the Palace Guard, it seemed—dead at their posts. There were too manybodies of Syzambry's men lying among the rocks and bushes, but far fewer of the Guards. In dying, hadSyzambry's men broken the Guards?The count's breath came quickly, for all that it made his ribs ache beneath his blued-steel armor. Hehad few men in hand save his mounted men-at-arms, and none too many of them. Also, they werescattered and would need summoning were they to charge in a mass behind him.But if they charged as he knew they could, the battle was won. Won, moreover, with little owing tothe Star Brothers.The count raised the mace topped with the steel hand that was his mark of captaincy. Messengerssitting at the head of their horses leaped up and began to mount.Now Queen Chienna would see who had the skill in war to rule this land.

Aybas had no particular place in the battle line, being a captain without a company of his own. Hehad no doubt that he was not yet altogether trusted.He had made friends with a village head man who led the peasant levies, however. Decius hadplanned to keep them in the rear of the line, but when the Pougoi ended on the far right flank, the

captain-general had to devise a new array. This brought the levies forward into the line, and it was withthe levies that Aybas stood when Count Syzambry charged.It was like no charge that Aybas had ever seen, or even imagined. The fifty or more armoredhorsemen seemed to trickle forward, like drops of water flowing down the silver face of a mirror. Theyformed no line, and few seemed to have proper lances to make such a line deadly even if they formed it.Yet they were coming on swiftly, and if they had few lances, they had swords and maces inabundance. If they reached level ground in the midst of the royal line, they would pierce it like an arrowthrough silk.They could also be stopped short of the line and level ground if one could deny them a little hillock ahundred paces ahead. Aybas looked along the line of peasants, saw the fear already in their faces, andknew that he must command a charge.Whirling his sword over his head, he gave the war cry of the house into which he had been born."Wine of Victory!"Then he charged, one man against fifty. He did not expect to reach the hillock alive, but somehowhe did. He did not expect the levies to follow him, nor did he dare to look back, but somehow he wasnot alone when he started climbing.Before he could draw breath, he found himself among the boulders with fifty men around him, all ofthem cheering as if the battle was already won. Two were beating on the helmet of a fallen horsemen withtheir felling axes."Leave be!" Aybas shouted. It was unknightly to abuse a fallen foe, as he had learned in boyhood.It was also foolish to give attention to a harmless foe when there were many still fighting. That Aybas hadlearned in manhood, from many rough teachers.His shouting brought the levies around to face their front just in time. A bold horseman was spurringup the hillock. Aybas knew that his reprieve was about to end as he dashed forward.The man whirled his mace in a fine gesture, then brought it down. He would have been betteradvised to forgo the gesture.Aybas leaped up with a speed he had hardly known he had in him and caught the shaft of thedescending mace. At the same time, he slashed hard at the man's leg and heaved himself backward.His blade only clanged on armor, but the rest of Aybas's attack carried through. The man flew outof his saddle, too surprised to even cry. He struck the ground headfirst, sprawling beside Aybas with hishelmet flattened and his head at an impossible angle to his neck.Aybas leaped again and caught the reins of the dead man's horse. The stirrups danced wildly,almost defeating his efforts to mount. At last he succeeded, and the levies greeted him with a wild cheer.Syzambry's horsemen did not cheer. Indeed, it seemed to Aybas that they were no longer chargingand were even looking to their rear. It was hard to make out what they might be looking at between theforest and the mist.It seemed, however, as if someone had flung himself against Syzambry's rear and was giving it afight for its life. A moment later, Aybas's ears told him more than his eyes did as a peal of Marr'switch-thunder rolled from the forest.

Within the forest, the witch-thunder made Conan deaf for a moment. He did not care. For now, heneeded only his sword, and his eyes to guide the blade. Also, perhaps, his legs to bring him to closequarters with the Star Brothers.Not that there were no foes ready to hand. As the Guards and the Pougoi hacked their way intoSyzambry's rear, they met every sort of soldier the count had not put into his battle line. They also metmen who could not be called soldiers by any conceit. Most of these fled, and this was as well. Conanhad no love for killing men as helpless as babes. There were enough foes worth a man's steel already,and the day was not yet won.

Conan cast a look behind him. Marr the Piper was running with the soldiers, playing as he ran. Hiseyes were wide but unseeing, and Conan would have sworn any oath asked of him that those eyesglowed blue.Magic, surely! But without magic, how could the man both play and run, and without the piperclose, how could Conan face the Star Brothers?The Star Brothers were also close, more so than Conan realized. He burst through a line ofdwarfish ash trees to face a circle of baggage wagons swarming with Pougoi warriors. In the middle ofthe circle stood two Star Brothers, chanting so loudly that Conan heard them even over the piping.A roaring Cimmerian battle cry eclipsed both piping and chanting. Guards and Pougoi swarmedthrough the trees to join Conan."Archers!" Conan thundered.Every one of his men who had a bow seemed to nock and draw in a moment. Arrows skeweredtwenty Pougoi and as many baggage animals. The shooting would have won no prizes in Turan, but thiswas not Turan. Conan's archers had all the skill they needed against the target before them.Before the Pougoi could recover, Conan was leaping forward. Also, those of his men who borecrossbows had time to nock and shoot. Some of their bolts pierced dead men or baggage animals.One bolt, unheralded, pierced a Star Brother's thigh. He broke his chanting to scream and lurchedagainst his comrade.The star-spells did not break, but their masters no longer commanded them. Some of the Pougoiclosest to the Star Brothers grew old in an instant, their faces as wizened as babes and their heads eitherwhite or bald.Their comrades stared at them, then stared at one another. The berserk spells were striking wildlyand doing worse than aging those within reach.Conan saw a man with all of his guts, and his heart and lungs as well, on the outside of his body. Hesaw a man suddenly grow purple scales with green spots, and claws on both hands and feet. He retainedhis thumbs, however, and came at the Cimmerian with a battle ax.Conan leaped back before the lizard-man's rush. He wanted space between himself and the spells.He also wanted to give his archers another clear shot. He would ask no man to face these abominationshand-to-hand.Now some of the baggage animals were also developing scales. Others grew batlike wings, whichbeat frantically and knocked down most of the Pougoi not ensorceled into something other than human.The few left human and on their feet leaped from the circle of baggage wagons and ran screaming inmortal terror. Blind with fear, most of them ran straight into the ranks of their fellow tribesmen. Thyrin'smen laid on with a berserk fury, as if every servant of the Star Brothers they killed was one morecleansing of the tribe's honor.The sound of a cracking and crashing rose above the din of magic and fighting men. A huge pinebeyond the ring of wagons swayed, jerked roots loose from the rocky soil, then toppled. It came downwith a crash that made every other sound before seem like a mother cooing to a babe. It smashedwagons, beasts, men and not-men with blind impartiality.As the echoes of the forest giant's fall died away, so did the piping. Conan felt a sharp pang ofdoubt that he would not yet call fear. Then Marr the Piper thudded down at the Cimmerian's feet as ifhe'd leaped from a high wall. In one outflung hand he gripped the shattered pipes.Conan had one moment of seeing his death waiting; then he saw his duty just as clearly. He leapedonto the trunk of the fallen tree, bare for most of its hundred paces. Running as fast as on level ground, heleaped down beside the Star Brothers.The one with the bolt in his thigh lay twitching feebly in a pool of blood. His comrade was stillupright, though ashen-faced and chanting softly.Conan's sword leaped at the wizard's bearded head. Leaped, then rebounded as if it had struck acastle wall. Five times Conan struck, with the same futile results.

The sixth time, the chanting grew louder and his sword not only rebounded, but flew from his hand.Conan stooped to retrieve it, but as he gripped the hilt, the blade began to smoke. A moment later thewhole weapon was too hot to touch, and the sharkskin binding of the hilt was on fire.Conan did not wait for the sword to turn into a puddle of molten steel. The last Star Brother wasbuilding a new spell, and there was no Marr the Piper to content with him… only a Cimmerian ready totrade his life for the lives of those he led.His sword useless, Conan snatched up the first weapon that came to hand, the shattered tongue ofan ox-wagon. Wielding it as he would a quarterstaff, he lunged at the Star Brother. The weapon passedthrough the spell's barrier and drove hard against the Star Brother's ribs. All the breath hfffed out of him,and he flew backward to lie sprawled and writhing.Whatever power the spell had against iron, it had none against wood. Conan lunged again. This timethe splintered end of the wagon tongue drove deep into the Star Brother's chest. His last spell diedun-uttered on his lips as he coughed blood onto the three plaits of his beard, looked for one last time atthe sky, and lay still.Conan had to lean on his weapon for a moment to keep from falling to his knees. He used thatmoment to look about him.Pougoi and Guards were swarming all over the wagon circle, making sure that dead men andnot-men stayed dead. A few were binding prisoners. Conan was glad to see that the discipline of theGuards 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 jumped down beside the Cimmerian. Cleansing histribe'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 come strangely to his lips, even though he was speaking of asorcerer who was living instead of dying."See Marr to safety," Conan said. "When Syzambry learns that we are in his rear, he will bedesperate. I want us ready to meet him before then."Though the new recruits might call themselves veterans and soldiers now, there would be morefighting before they could call themselves victors.

Count Syzambry was bearing more and more to his left. The ground helped him. So did the fight theroyal host was making directly to his front. Most of all, the one messenger who had returned from the lefthad said that the royal flank was open.But what was he seeing to his rear? The mist and the trees as before, but also running men. Mengarbed like Pougoi warriors, and others like his own levies.He saw a warrior leap from a stump onto the back of a dismounted man-at-arms. Mail was noproof against strong arms that jerked a head back or a sharp dagger drawn swiftly across a bare throat."Treachery!" the count screamed. "The Pougoi are turning against us! Kill the Pougoi!"He hoped that enough of the loyal men in his rear yet lived to hear him and obey. Otherwise, he hadthe tribesmen and—gods deliver him!—the Star Brothers squarely behind him.Syzambry spurred his horse. He was a light burden so that even after a long fight, the roan bore himforward rapidly.His swift movement drew the eye of a tall, black-haired man who had stepped unseen from theshelter of the trees.

Aybas needed the boulder at his back that he might stand. Soon he would be unable to stand evenwith its aid. He had two sword wounds to match against the five men he'd slain this day, and one of thosewounds would ere long send him to join the slain.

A bear reared itself before Aybas. Had the magic of the piper or the Star Brothers sent the animalsof the forest into the battle on one side or another?Aybas sat down. He could not run from the bear even if it were a foe. Sitting gave him a moment'sclear 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 men to join yours. The flank is safe.You bought 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 soaddressed did not hear him. He heard instead his mother, calling him by his birth name."Peace, Mother," he said. "Peace. I am coming."

Conan measured the space of open ground between himself and Syzambry. He also counted thearchers in sight.The sum of both was good. Conan flung his sword-belt aside but wasted no time removing his mail.It would not slow him enough to matter.Then he hurled himself out of the trees, his long legs devouring the ground. He drove into the rear ofSyzambry's guards before any of them knew that an enemy was at hand.Then he leaped. He leaped onto the rump of the count's horse, and one hand snatched at the reins.The other arm went around the little count's throat."Ride toward the Silver Bear or I'll have your wind here and now!" he commanded.Syzambry raised both hands, but one of them held a dagger. Conan dropped the reins and grippedthe count's mail-sleeved arm, twisting fiercely. The count gasped and the dagger fell.But the Cimmerian was alone in the midst of enemies. The disarmed count might be a shield againstarchery, but the sheer weight of numbers—It was the sheer weight of numbers that prevailed as the Silver Bear rolled forward. Conan sawRaihna striding beside Decius and holding the banner high above a head as fair as ever, if filthy and drawnfrom the battle. Behind the banner streamed fifty-odd of Chienna's best fighting men, horse and foot allcharging together.Count Syzambry had no more than twenty men around him. A moment after Decius struck, he hadten. Then those ten were throwing down their weapons and raising their hands, crying for mercy."You may have it, but that's for the queen to say," Decius snapped. "For now, off of your mountsand down on your knees. Conan, need you fear that we would give you no trophy of your valor, that youneeded to snatch this one?""I've a taste for gifts that will please queens," the Cimmerian said, grinning. "Think you that this willplease Chienna?"Syzambry said something more than rude. Conan tightened his grip, and the count returned tosilence."More than likely," Decius said. "What else have you done since you and our whole flank vanishedinto the woods?"Conan waited to speak, because he saw Queen Chienna riding up with her handful of Guards. Shewore armor and leather breeches, and it seemed to Conan that perhaps the Border Kingdom had foundits warrior-ruler after all.Then he told of his day's work, and as he finished speaking, Thyrin came up to say that Syzambry'smen were yielding. By the time the work of disarming them was done, it had begun to rain.The rain did not silence the cries of the wounded and dying. It did hide the chunnnkkkl as an axtook Count Syzambry's head from his shoulders and toppled it into the mudIt was not Conan's hand wielding the ax. He thought headsman's work beneath him but did not sayso. Instead, he said that Syzambry should die at the hand of one of those he had offended and of his own

land.

The head man of the peasant levies, who had lost half of his family when Syzambry burned hisvillage, did the work well enough.It was not beneath Conan, however, to lift Aybas's body onto the bier for the dead of the royalhost. What sort of name Aybas had left behind on his travels, Conan did not know. The man would leavebehind a honorable name in the land where his travels ended.

Chapter 20

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It was just past dawn on the eleventh day after the battle, with the promise of a day perfect fortraveling fast and far. Conan's own restlessness had touched his roan stallion, once Count Syzambry'smount. It was pawing the ground gently, but persistently. From time to time it raised its head and snortedat the Cimmerian as if to say, "Will you never be done with your nattering?"Conan threw a baleful glance at his mount. He would say a proper farewell to Decius and Raihna orthe beast could start the journey south without him!"The queen spoke well of you again lat night," Decius told him."Indeed," Conan said. He wondered how much Decius knew of the reasons Chienna had to speakwell of the Cimmerian. "I hope she's not still after having me as chief of the Guard?""No," Decius replied. "The gods be praised, she understands that after your… disobedience, thatwould be impossible. She suggested that you share the post of royal huntsman with Marr. That will giveyou quarters in the palace—""What palace?" Conan said. All three laughed, and even the horse nickered softly. The BorderKingdom might be at peace after Syzambry's death, but peace would rebuild no ruined palaces nor payany royal servants' wages.That was first among the reasons Conan was departing to resume his journey to Nemedia. It waslikewise the reason why he was taking little save the horse, a new sword, enough armor to discouragebandits from thinking him easy prey, and enough silver to purchase food for man and beast."Marr seemed willing to share the work," Raihna added. "After the betrothal ceremony, we bothswore to carry the queen's offer to you. What answer shall we carry back?" She smiled as she had sooften done before when she already knew what Conan would say."Tell her that you last saw me spurring desperately—no, I'll not insult her. Say that I cherish thehonor of having served her well, which is enough reward for one like me." To lighten everyone's spirits,Conan changed the matter of their talk. "I trust that the betrothal went well enough. Thyrin held hispeace?""He did," Raihna said. "I know not if he is truly happy with his daughter marrying merely the royalhuntsman, not Marr the Piper. I do know that Wylla had words with her father two nights ago. She said,'Marr has lost his pipes and with them, their magic. He still has what he needs to make the magicbetween men and women.' I do not think Thyrin has been speechless for so long since his manhoodordeal!""Trust Wylla to see to the heart of things," Conan said. A retired sorcerer and a wild girl from thehills were an odd match, but Conan had seen odder. Such as a warrior noble of the Border Kingdomand the daughter of a Bossonian yeoman who would now be the first lady of the realm next to QueenChienna…"You will not even stay for our betrothal?" Decius asked."Could you swear that Queen Chienna would not use the time to scheme some new way of keepingme here?"

"I would rather swear to fly to Dembi Castle by waving my arms," Decius replied."Wise of you," Conan said. "I will return for the queen's betrothal if I hear of it in time to make thejourney. That I swear. I also advise you to start hunting a suitable husband for her.""Indeed," Decius said. "We will need a man of proven valor and keen wits to stand beside Chienna.It will also be best if he is tall of stature and black-haired."Conan's mouth opened. Decius's face was a mask, the mask of a man holding within himself somuch laughter that if he let it out, he would laugh himself into a fit. Raihna looked at her betrothed and herface twisted and turned red.Then the three of them let out all the laughter inside until it echoed from the rocks. By the time theechoes had died, Conan was spurring his horse downhill. On level ground, he let the mettlesome beastout to a full gallop, and by the time he turned to look behind him, Decius and Raihna were gone.

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