Part 22 (1/2)
”So do the Ichiribu I know ing tongues where I could hear They're none too happy about where we caic? Neither of us could cast a spell to so uardian spells on the entrance to the tunnel under the hearthstone Then we broke the hearthstone-we, or the spells as they went awry There's too much power about us for their peace of mind”
”Sea deer to the to kill us-”
She broke off as Conan's grip tightened like iron, and he laid a finger across her full lips ”Don't even think that for long There's a s them”
”A what?”
Conan explained Spirit-Speakers were nohis ti of the of every other kind of man who could be friend or foe He owed it to this asa ruler in the Black Kingdoms, an occupation that often killed men born and bred in these lands
”Now,” he finished, at last relinquishi+ng his grip on her, ”this man's not yet our enemy He may hope to make us friends, to him, to his tribe, or even to both The way they talk of him, he seeh to learn that we s”
”Valeria, I've heard you sing Do you want us at blood feud with these folk, after all their cattle fall dead?”
Valeria growled It sounded like a she-badger defending her young
Conan laughed softly ”If I said you shaale, you'd call me astray in my wits But the truth is, our Spirit-Speaker will surely want us to help hiainst soer these Kwanyi hold the shores of this Lake of Death, or so it's called”
”Do you knohy?”
”No, and I'd be easier in ht, I'll make these folk believe we're spies If I tell them about where we came from, they'll think we're the ones who overthrew Xuchotl”
”We are, and not ashah to think that city of reat a loss?”
”Who said a word about their ht have But they can't help wondering what ic cast it down We speak of e did, and Do you want to learn what they do to witches in this land?”
Valeria'sout a sound, but she shook her head Conan wrapped his arainst his chest and closed her eyes
”Most likely we'll be put to so you before all the tribe-”
”Another jest like that and you'll be bedding no wo on a druh to bear you, Conan
Surely youcontest?”
”In these lands, they h for me and another to dance upon Each man tries to make the other fall, and the one who falls dies”
Conan felt Valeria go liue for finally scaring her into a faint Then he heard her breathing steadily, and gently he shi+fted her to one arm so he could see her face
Her eyes had drifted shut, and her mouth was slack A moment later, the Cimmerian heard a soft burble fro Valeria and laid her on the sleeping ht of the hut's door Then he lay down on the mat opposite, kicked off his boots, and stretched like a cat
The Spirit-Speaker would keep his own counsel until a tiht notion about what to do until that time