Part 16 (1/1)

Tolkea and fleeing In the elemental blaze of the barbarian's eyes he read an intent deadly as his own Back and forth they weaved, and when one ether But all the ti closer and closer to his ene to flex for a spring, when Valeria cried out

For a fleeting instant a bronze door was in line with Conan'sConan's flank as he twisted aside, and even as he shi+fted he hurled the knife Old Tolke on his breast

Tascela sprang--not toward Conan, but toward the here it shi+ on the floor But as she leaped, so did Valeria, with a dagger snatched from a dead man, and the blade, driven with all the power of the pirate's muscles, impaled the princess of Tecuhltli so that the point stood out between her breasts Tascela screamed once and fell dead, and Valeria spurned the body with her heel as it fell

”I had to do thatConan across the limp corpse

”Well, this cleans up the feud,” he grunted ”It's been a hell of a night! Where did these people keep their food? I'ry”

”You need a bandage on that leg” Valeria ripped a length of silk fro and knotted it about her waist, then tore off some smaller strips which she bound efficiently about the barbarian's lacerated limb

”I can walk on it,” he assured her ”Let's begone It's dawn, outside this infernal city I've had enough of Xuchotl It's well the breed exterminated itself I don't want any of their accursed jewels They ht be haunted”

”There is enough clean loot in the world for you andto stand tall and splendid before him

The old blaze came back in his eyes, and this tiht her fiercely in his arms

”It's a long way to the coast,” she said presently, withdrawing her lips from his

”Whatwe can't conquer We'll have our feet on a shi+p's deck before the Stygians open their ports for the trading season And then we'll show the world what plundering means!”

[THE END]