"Howard, Robert E - Conan 21 - Wolves Beyond The Border" - читать интересную книгу автора (Howard Robert E)

I nodded, not surprised. Conawaga was the largest, richest and most thickly settled province in all the Westermarck, and it had a comparatively large, and very powerful class of titled landholders - which we have not in Thandara, and by the favor of Mitra, never shall.

'It is an open invasion for conquest,' said Hakon. 'Brocas commanded us to swear loyalty to Namedides - the dog. I think the black-jowled fool plots to subdue all the Westermarck and rule it as Namedides' viceroy. With an army of Aquilonian men-at-arms, Bossoman archers, Conawaga loyalists, and Schohira renegades, he lies at Coyaga, ten miles beyond Ogaha Creek. Thenitea is full of refugees from the eastern country he has devastated.

'We do not fear him, though we are outnumbered. He must cross Ogaha Creek to strike us, and we have fortified the west bank and blocked the road against his cavalry.'

'That touches upon my mission,' I said. 'I am authorized to offer the services of a hundred and fifty Thandaran rangers. We are all of one mind in Thandara and fight no internal wars; and we can spare that many men from our war with the Panther Picts.,

'That will be good news for the commandant of Fort Kwanyara!'

'What?' quoth I. 'Are you not the commandant?'

'Nay,' said he, 'it is my brother Dirk Strom's son.'

'Had I known that I would have given my message to him,' I said. 'Brant Drago's son thought you commanded Kwanyara. However, it does not matter.'

'Another jack of ale,' quoth Hakon, 'and we'll start for the fort so that Dirk shall hear your news first-hand. A plague on commanding a fort. A party of scouts is good enough for me.'

And in truth Hakon was not the man to command an outpost or any large body of men, for he was too reckless and hasty, though a brave man and a gay rogue.

'You have but a skeleton force left to watch the border,' I said. 'What of the Picts?'

'They keep the peace to which they swore,' answered he. 'For some months there has been peace along the border, except for the usual skirmishing between individuals of both races.'

'Valerian Hall seemed deserted.'

'Lord Valerian dwells there alone except for a few servants. Where his fighting men have gone, none knows. But he has sent them off. If he had not given his pledge we would have felt it necessary to place him under guard, for he is one of the few white men to whom the Picts give heed. If it had entered his head to stir them up against our borders we might be hard put to it to defend ourselves against them on one side and Brocas on the other.

'The Hawks, Wildcats and Turtles listen when Valerian speaks, and he has even visited the towns of the Wolf Picts and come away alive.'

If that were true that were strange indeed, for all men knew the ferocity of the great confederacy of allied clans known as the Wolf tribe which dwelt in the west beyond the hunting grounds of the three lesser tribes he had named. Mostly they held aloof from the frontier, but the threat of their hatred was ever a menace along the borders of Schohira.

Hakon looked up as a tall man in trunk-hose, boots and scarlet cloak entered the taproom.

'There is Lord Valerian now,' he said.

I stared, started and was on my feet instantly.

'That man?' I ejaculated. 'I saw that man last night beyond the border, in a camp of the Hawks, watching the Dance of the Changing Snake!'

Valerian heard me and he whirled, going pale. His eyes blazed like those of a panther.

Hakon sprang up too.

'What are you saying?' he cried. 'Lord Valerian gave his pledge-'

'I care not!' I exclaimed fiercely, striding forward to confront the tall noble. 'I saw him where I lay hidden among the tamarack. I could not mistake that hawk-like face. I tell you he was there, naked and painted like a Pict-'

'You lie, damn you!' cried Valerian, and whipping aside his cloak he caught at the hilt of his sword. But before he could draw it I closed with him and bore him to the floor, where he caught at my throat with both hands, blaspheming like a madman. Then there was a swift stamp of feet, and men were dragging us apart, grasping my lord firmly, who stood white and panting with fury, still clutching my neckcloth which had been torn away from my throat in the struggle.