Part 13 (1/2)

Albiona shuddered and turned pale, shrinking back Every fiber in her vigorous young body quivered with the urge of life Valerius was young, too, and handso with herself for life But she could not speak the word that would ranso ax She could not reason the ht of the clasp of Valerius' arreater than the fear of death She shook her head helplessly, compelled by an impulsion more irresistible than the instinct to live

'Then there is no more to be said!' exclaimed one of the others impatiently, and he spoke with a Nemedian accent 'Where is the headseon door opened silently, and a great figure stood framed in it, like a black shadow from the underworld

Albiona voiced a low, involuntary cry at the sight of that grim shape, and the others stared silently for a moment, perhaps themselves daunted with superstitious awe at the silent, hooded figure Through the coif the eyes blazed like coals of blue fire, and as these eyes rested on each man in turn, he felt a curious chill travel down his spine

Then the tall Aquilonian roughly seized the girl and dragged her to the block She screaainst him, frantic with terror, but he ruthlessly forced her to her knees, and bent her yellow head down to the bloody block

'Why do you delay, headsrily 'Perforusty booeon froze in their places, staring at the hooded shape - the two cloaked figures, the irl herself on her knees, twisting her imprisoned head to look upward

'What ?' dearb tore his hood froround; he set his back to the closed door and lifted the headss?' he rumbled 'Do you know me?'

The breathless silence was broken by a screa herself free fro!'

The three men stood like statues, and then the Aquilonian started and spoke, like a man who doubts his own senses

'Conan!' he ejaculated 'It is the king, or his ghost! What devil's work is this?'

'Devil's work tobut hell flaentlemen You have your swords, and I this cleaver Nay, I think this butcher's tool fits the work at hand, my fair lords!'

'At hi his sword 'It is Conan and wefrom a trance, the Ne

The heads wielded the heavy, cluhtly as a hatchet, and his quickness of foot, as he constantly shi+fted his position, defeated their purpose of engaging hiht the sword of the first man on his ax-head and crushed in the wielder's breast with a murderous counterstroke before he could step back or parry The ree swipe, had his brains dashed out before he could recover his balance, and an instant later the Aquilonian was backed into a corner, desperately parrying the crashi+ng strokes that rained about hi opportunity even to screa left ar the pallid features

'Dog!' grated the king 'I thought I knew you Traitor! daade! Even this base steel is too honorable for your foul head Nay, die as thieves die!'

The ax fell in a devastating arch, and the Aquilonian cried out and went to his knees, grasping the severed stuht arm from which blood spouted It had been shorn away at the elbow, and the ax, unchecked in its descent, had gashed deeply into his side, so that his entrails bulged out

'Lie there and bleed to death,' grunted Conan, casting the ax away disgustedly 'Co, he slashed the cords that bound her wrists and lifting her as if she had been a child, strode fro hysterically, with her arms thrown about his corded neck in a frenzied embrace

'Easy all,' he eon where the secret door opens on stairs that lead to the tunnel - devil take it, they've heard that noise, even through these walls'