Part 32 (1/2)

Valeria marveled that a man could learn such endurance But then, Conan had learned in the harsh school of a life where one endured or died

Even when he was a free youth in his native Cimmeria, its stony fields and sobund winters ive the warriors of the Ichiribu any knowledge of our fighting arts that they wish to learn in order to make themselves a better match for the Kwanyi on land,” Conan said ”You have also seen howfroanko said ”You used the words 'wish to learn'? Not 'need to learn' ”

”I have a pretty fair and wide experience of war, and do on a golden stool and fondling my concubines”

”No doubt this displeased your concubines,” Eue now to s enough to be Valeria's daughter, at other tirandmother

”The Kwanyi are there and I a here, I' that they are children in war

Chabano has not made the Kwanyi invincible But there are war skills that I can teach, those that will save the Ichiribu anko nodded ”I am sure of that Conan, I will proclai war skills I ask only one favor in return”

”What is it?”

”Give over this notion of ht and through who-knohat evil ic, to strike the Kwanyi”

Emwaya turned and stared at her betrothed Then she spoke sharply, words that Valeria did not understand but whose anko had surprised Emwaya, and she was even estion

Ement on for sohter, that Seyganko much wished to be elsewhere, and that Emould slap her betrothed's head from his shoulders for a Shemite brass piece

Neither Conan nor Valeria offered Eanko went unmolested until the woman ran out of breath Valeria reanko's arer had wearied her more than it had hiained her strength

”Conan,” Seyganko said He took what seeht before he found his next word ”It seems that Emwaya believes, as you do, in the n a teood reasons for this, Valeria sought to do likewise

”She and I will submit this matter to her father,” the warrior chief went on ”Will you abide by his judgment?”

Conan nodded ”I've no wish to insult you, Eh knows more of this than he has had time to teach you” He looked at Emwaya, and Valeria saw the Ichiribu woman try to meet those icy-blue eyes and not quite succeed

”I trust we've no need to wait to beginthe warriors?”

the Ci-that he ht keep all his authority over the Ichiribu warriors to hiain

Valeria shi+fted sideways so that she ithin reach of Conan, and also faced Seyganko

The Ichiribu warrior, being no fool, could recognize a battle that he had lost before it was joined ”Any oaths you need, I will give, Conan, that you may teach the Ichiribu to walk on their hands and hurl spears with their toes!”

”That h so hard that other warriors could slit their bellies while they laughed,” Conan said ”Come at dawn to Then I will be more sure of what the Ichiribu could ht-” Seyganko began eagerly, then found Eesture for silence

She sin tomorroe are all rested and fit,” Conan said, and the suggestion seemed to act as a command on the visitors

When the curtain had fallen behind the billow as if in a gale ”There's a woman who hasn't been well-bedded in a while and on't have it put off for talk of war!”

”And here is another,” Valeria said, slipping an arh Conan's