GNAHSIET UN YASA

ab Robert E. Howard

I
ID SCARLAT HILAL

Taramis, rayn os Khauran, emers ex un coschmarwent swehpen. Id profund silence quod regnit
ambh iam eet meis tod om obscur catacombes quem id sakwnia adic in uno narcend palat. Ia
nalyohg ithan, se forspehcend do id temos, daumend ma ia kiers oistahnd in ir golden kandelabers
eent sgwest. Oik stars twis exo, revelend id tolp uns fenster samt golden stanghs, quod sis filtre neid
luce do id kamer. Dar lyehgend, Taramis dyohrc un gwayder gloi quod blig in id xep, seid face iam.
Ia spohc, pribudt. Id gloi biscrohsc, ye plauter, ye intenser. Eet taiper un disk ex akster luce,
hangend in id air, contrastend alnos binisbat ia deusk zamtbehangs ios witer mur. Taramis protiedier
sien annem ed sess ub. Un sombre forme wierdh in tod gwayder circule ed eet uno mensccap.

Stayg lambht ab panique, ia rayna ghyienit sien stohm kay kale sien slougas, bet neid swon uperlud
ays gurgule. Id diutis eet dar meis akster, id cap kreins ambhrissen. Eet un gwencap, smulk, fayn-ye
cisellen, rong, samt opnosto sword ed silkliko kaysar. Id lige wierdh kweiter kunkye ia spohc id, ed
tod vision hieb stupen id crie as Taramis in ays gurgule. Ta traits eent aysa ! Eet kamsei ia dyeiiet-se
do un specule quod habiet subtile-ye modifien ays reflect, dahnd aysims okwims un catlik diutis ed
aysims lipps un kwoinarictus.

– Istar ! Exclamit Taramis. Som manghanen !

Dekhschatic-ye, ia apparition bibahsit, med uno mieltcovohrt iadic ton.

– Manghanen ? Nel-ye, mien swadh swester ! Ne leit ter de vraj.

– Swester ? Balbiel ia gwenak, hayran. Ho niam swester.
– Has tu naiwo habt un swester ? Ay antwohrd id poisonswadh voc, med un goilisk ton. Has tu
naiwo habt un yemu quas cuit eet tem mliak ad caresse we facil ad lumataye quem tieno ?
– Ho albatta haben un swester xiawngja, antwohrd Taramis, dar persuaden de ses sub id waldh
os sem coschmar, bet ia est mortu !

Id splendid lige in id disk diswierdh sub id effect os un stayg furor ; ays wajkho bihsit tem haydisk
quem Taramis endersess retro, pwolexspectend vide ogvighayts oistride ed krampe ambh tod
ivorchol.

– Leughs ! Stris ia intrusa slahmend ub sien scarlat lipps. Ia ne est mortu. Idiota ! Oh, ke stopt
tod mascarade ! Spehc... ed magha tod onir te pernices !

Un long luce-ogvi drahsit stayg engwn ia cortins ed ia kiers in ir golden kandelabers rediegh-se
aunexplication.

Taramis ahockit-se ep sien zamten cubh, beughend sub se sien urand jambs, disstarnd kye tam catlik
ed goilisk silhouette qua stahsit ant iam. Eet kamsei ia dyeiiet un dwoter Taramis, samlik sibswo in
ielg aysen ambhrissen, traits ed memsen, bet behemend uno negnoht ed malefic personalitat. Id lige
tas negnohn kwohk exact-ye witerom quo eet tod ias rayn. Schakhwat ed mysteir twis in id budmen
aysen gwayder okwi, crueltat surfacit in id curve aysen rudh ed plen lipps. Ielg mov aysios urand
corpos eet subtile-ye provocator. Ays frisure imitit tod ias rayn, ed ia vohs ep sien peds sem sandals
samlik tibs qua Taramis eevehst in sien gwenakia. Ayso silken ghiton, aunarmel ed decolletee,
sirmakinct ye lendv, eet id exact replic ios noctpovesti ias rayn.

– Qua es tu ? Balbiel Taramis, sien spina andhen ab un glehdjic kreus ia khiek sib explie. Sayg
mi quod kwehrs in cid loc pre kalo mien cheldas ed pre alertent id guardia !
– Heul hina ia tavanbalwngs, jawieb kaurd-ye ia negnoht. Tien pacharvas nient gehre pre
octent, esdi id palat bihiet praess ab flammes. Tien guardes nient aure tien gweitskens ; buir
yis' dalg ud tod flyghel ios palat.
– Quod saycs tu ? Exclamit Taramis, stehvend ub samt un wajkh os outraget majestat. Quel
hat dursen dahe talg wehlen mienims guardes ?
– Ego, dorgv swester, goilit ia gwenak. Nuper, just pre arrivim hetro. Ies mohn eem ir kyar
milen rayn. Ah ! Ho ac' daumos-ye mien rol ! Kam decos-ye royal samt sterswiedhe ho io
wohkwt tens buland gwaurogs quoy genuer ant me, samt ir amur ed ptorhelm !

Taramis hieb id pondos os suffoque, kam kapen in ia schaks uns bawlawios netios.

– Qua es tu ? Scricit ia desperat-ye. Quod follia est ter ? Ma es tu her ?

– Qua som io ? Jawieb ays doppelgangerin med un swadh voc tem ghelwent quem id strid uns
cobra.

Ia stohmbit prosch id leizdo ios cubh, siz brutal-ye ia kwit omsa ias rayn ed se clih kay merge sien
spect seid-ye do ia consternat okwi as Taramis. Kam manghanen ab tod hypnotic spect myohrs ia
rayn id aunpreceddent outrage ia hieb just kwohndt, ta hands posen gvalt-ye ep sien royal corpos.

– Smulk imbecile ! Stris ia gwen inter sien dents. Tehrps tu sprehge ? Daume ? Som Salome !
– Salome !

Taramis blahsit id werd meis quem ia swohr id, ed ia corta drighs os ays neuko ghohrs kun ia
vighieb samt hayriene od alter sieyg druve, tem incredible quem to kwohk.

– Io mohn hiebs' mohrn unte id hor quod sohkwit tien gnahsa, ieyit ia muzlim-ye.
– Ed ne es ia saul in tod fall, antwohrd ia gwen namen Salome. Me hant abduc' do id desert
kay nehciem ter, sontu balstohmt ! Ego eem ne meis quem un steunend ditil, tem yun in tod
mund quem mien gwit eet tem vankend quem id flamme uns kier. Ed woids' tu ma me hant
abducen tetro kay mehriem ter ?
– Ho... Ho klut id storia, balbiel Taramis.

Salome glih gver-ye ed plieg sien sternum. Id decolletee ghiton slid ud ays omsa, auncovehrnd id
uber deil aysen darm pizden, inter-ya blig un curieus hilalskeip cruorrudh mark.

– Id mark ias yasa ! Scricit Taramis se clihnend-ye retro.

– Yaghi ! (Salomes haineus gleimen eet tem tomost quem un miech). Id balstehmen iom roys
os Khauran ! Ya, lehgent tod storia ep rinegs, rollend ir okwi ed samt kreusend berds, ti orm
imbeciles ! Lehgend quosmed ia prest rayn os noster genti gnohsit un tenidemon, gnahnd un
dugter quas mehmen hat naduren in kafir legends hoydtro. Tuntos, ielg secule, un dugter ios
aschkhauri dynastia gnahsit samt un scarlat hilal inter sien pizda, sgillend it sien fat.
« Gnahsiet eina yasa pro ielg secule », sieyg id veut balstehmen. Ed ithan buit. Sems buir
execut ye gnahsa, kam buim nicskwt. Alyas bihr yasas, gururic Khauran dugters, id
haydhilal aydhend inter ir ivorpizda. Quantas buir kalt Salome. Ioschi som Salome. Buit
semper Salome. Sessiet semper Salome, hatta kun ia glehdjers habsient descens ex id pole
grehmend-ye kay trudes ia civilisations ed draubhe ia ed un nov mund habsiet gnaht ex id
 bur ed duil ios prever. Iter ye tod zaman, sessient Salomes ye id surface os Terra, kay
persclave id menscenkerd med ir soitsa, kay danse ant iens monarchens tos mund ed vide
falle ia caps im hakimes quanlibt.
– Bet, bet tu..., balbiel Taramis.
– Ego ? (ia tweiser okwi enflammeer-se kam sombre mysteirogwns) Me hant abduc' do id
desert, dalg ud id urb, ed me hant likwt ep id ardent sand, nogwu possowel. Dind hant
abridt, me abandonend im shagals, gwulturs ed wolfs ios desert.
Bet id ayu in me est nerter quem tod qualkwe ghomen ; smyehrt id essence iom forcen qua
brehne in ia kyehrsen tehoms, trans menscenweida. Hors passeer. Talg est id furnace os
inferno, ia solbams riegh mien krewos, bet survivim... Ya, ho oik mehmens tos aziyat, vagh
ed piern, kam biht mohmt un obscure ed indistinc' drehm. Tun prohp camells ed gehlbcuit
mensci, vehsend silken robes ed qui wohkw in un stragno bahsa. I hieb abvicen ud id
caravanenroute ed quan i pririd, ir chef me dyohrc ed recognih id scarlat hilal ep mien
xiongbu. Me kwahsit ed bohrg.
Eet un magician ex piern Khitay, gwirlaynd do sien vatanrig pos un safer do Stygia. Me
tonihsit do Payking, id purpwrtoren urb quod staueiht sien minaras uper ia jungles samt
lianafeston' bambus. Ter crohscim ed bihsim gwen, ed uc sammel eys talims. Unte wetsa
hieb is kowpt un vast occult weida ed oumer hieb nel-ye minct eys malefic maghs. Mi doxit
maung jects....

Ia pausit ed smihsit enigmatic-ye, sien sword okwi tweisend med uno mysterieus perversitat. Dind
ia scussit sien cap.

– Bad me chassit, declarend od speit eys quan' talims, eem neid meis quem un vulgar yasa,
newirtic dia ia staur soitsa is mi habiet docskwt. Is me habiet buwt iam rayn ias mund ed
habiet jusayt nations per me, mi explicit is, bet eem neid meis quem un tenihakhna. Bet ma
to importiet ? Habiem naiwo tohlen me closterbehnde in un golden tor, passend long hors
kay dyies un cristallglobe, skwites incantations ep ogvitwacs, script med id cruor am
virgens, ed translises moffic buks redact in myohrsen bahsas.
Is sieyg eem neid meis quem un ghomenment, gnohnd neid de ia deuber tehoms os cosmic
vraj. Bet tod mund arehc' quanto wehno, magh, pomp ed golden luxuries ; bell wirs ed
swadh gwens kay beuwm i mien maaschouks ed sclavs. Is mi hieb sayc' qua eem, mi hieb
tolc' de id balstehmen ed mien loikwn. Ho ric' kay ghende quo baygh' me tant quem te. Ed
nun to hol est mien, legitim-ye.
– Quod mayns tu ? Exclamit Taramis (Stayg lurn ex sien paurs ed trouble, ia stohv ub unte oin
schtoss kay face sien swester) Fikers od droghus pauks mienen cheldas ed dreughus pauks
yeudmens miens guardia bastet kay te buwes prohg ei thron os Khauran ? Mae myehrs od
som rayn os Khauran ! Tib dahsiem un honor place, tughi es mien swester, bet....

Salome iliey haineus-ye.

– Kam genereus es tu, mien dorgv, mien swadh swester ! Bet pre mi uperdehs mien place, kad
volsies mi explie quoy sont toy soldats quoy waune ep id plain, saygway ?
– Sont ies Schemi mercenars os Constantius, iom kothi voivod iom Asadh Woinas.
– Ed quod kwehrnt in Khauran ? Gourrit Salome.

Taramis kwahsit od bihsit subtile-ye goilt, bet ia antwohrd samt un olgh wajkho quod ia eet dalg ud
khisses :

– Constantius hat prohc' ke poitt age engwn Khaurans grances kay gwahe Turan. Se hat
prodahn mi, ka garantie ios dohbro sulouk sienen soldats ed mansiet tan eys trupps sessient
ep mien araszi.
 – Ed kwe Constantius, gwut Salome, ne te hat prohsc' hoyd ?

Taramis glaz iam samt mistrust.

– Quosmed woidst tu to ?

Un insolent plecten buit id saul response ia hassilit.

– Weidwos ho refuset ! Exclamit rarz-ye Taramis. Maghs tu imagine, tu quaschi es un

aschkhauri princesse, od ia rayn os Khauran maghiet primes talg proposen als quem med
honn ? Snumbes un aventurer samt cruorrudh hands, un wir exilen ex eys wi rig bi-sabab
eys crimes, iom chef uns organiset bande om plundrers ed mercenar neicers ?
Naiwo habiem sollen autorise iom entrihes eys swordberd neicers do Khauran. Yed is es'
zowngschie mien prisoner, in id sudtor, sub id wakht mienen soldats. Cras, iom beudsiem ke
wehlt sien trupps linkwes mien rig. Is de remansiet captive her hina hant uperact id grance.
Entrim, mien trupps sont ep ia walls ios citad, ed ho maunen iom esiet massoul de cada
gvaltagos contra i villagers au chobans ab sien mercenars.
– Est trebbohndt in id sudtor ? Sprohg Salome.
– Tib ho ja sayct to. Ma sprehcs tu me de ?

Ka saul response, Salome clieck med sien hands dind, med un glouxen os cruel joy, mlu jahar :

– Ia rayn tib ijapt un audience, Falk !

Un dwer samt golden arabesques ghyahsit ed un buland individu penetrit id kyal, ye-yos vido
Taramis emiss un crie om surprise ed rage.

– Constantius ! Tu deurs entre mien kamer !

– Kam yu vidte, Majestat ! Iey is, clihnend sien sombre rapace cap in un geste os figen ed
goilisk humilitat.

Constantius, lakapt « is Falk », eet un buland, pletwost ed teunlendv wir, tem urand ed resistent
quem uno miech ex flexible stal. Eet un bell wir in sien genos, samt sien traits os zalim rapace. Eys
lige eet solbursen ed eys kays, recessive ep eys hog ed angh chol, eet crauvkyehrsen. Eys deusk
okwi eent penetrant ed gwiswent, ed eys teun sword moustache khiek mliakerihes id kaurd wajkh
eysen teun lipps. Eys bauts ex Kordava lieter, eys pantalon ed eyso saltamarka, ex ordinar pangsi,
eent tarniht ab id trehen bohnden ad waungwit ed ibs rustglois due eys armur.

Vrehnkend-ye sieno moustache, is sisit-se satosglege id corpos ias pauric rayn samt un effronterie
quod trehsih iam.

– Per Istar, iey is samt swadh wekwos, te pehndo appetittanter in tien noctghiton quem in tien
peurstlik rogvs. Tod noc' druve-ye sua-inkapt !

Panique lambh ia sword okwi ias rayn. Ia ne eet stupid ; ia wois Constantius naiwo teuliet ay inflige
talg outrage sei is ne esiet swekwr.

– Es foll, ieyit ia. Quayque me menaces in tod kamer, remans yed sub id fangh mienen
subjects, ed ti te kaydsient sei me harms. Abgwah fauran, sei ghyeirs tien gwit.

Bo iliey goilisk-ye ed Salome motionit ob impatience.

 – Tod farce hat kafi duren ; smad lites do id sehkwnd act nosters comedia. Kleu, dorgv
swester : ego ho yis' Constantius hetro. Kun ho deciden lambhnes id thron Khaurans, ho
paursct un wir qui ghehdiet hehlpe me, ed ho chust iom Falk, ob est alnos aun ta quan'
kweits i mensci kale « sell ».
– Es' pior honor, princesse, murmurit Constantius, spoctic, dientownd-ye deub-ye.
– Ho yisen iom do Khauran ; kun eys yeudmi buir pact in ir waun saygway ed is in id palat, ho
penetret id urb unte tod smulk dwer in id westmur ; ies imbeciles quoy guardeer id han'
mohnt tuge ricst ex sem noctescapade...
– Tu genis loktong !

Ia gians as Taramis purpwriesc ed ays grasban uperwohnd ays royal sirr. Ia ghyir sien kleumen as
virtuteus gwen.

Salome smih kaurd-ye.

– Buir ya surpris ed schockt, yed me hant sis' passe aun iskwes werds. Ho entren id palat sam-
ye, ed ho wohlen iens guardes abvices, quo hat meg surpriden iens. Lika con iens yeudmens
quoy guardeer Constantius in id sudtor. Dind ho gwohmen hetro, pridehlend ians brustughs.

Taramis sohr ia peungsta ed blid, tarkend id buxianxu amplor ios spehnmen monstrueus complot.

– Ed quod vaht tyehce nun ? Sprohg ia med un tremblant voc.

– Kleu ! Iey Salome, inclinend-ye sien cap.

Id clicken iom armurs im marchend yeudmen gwohm muzlim-ye unte id fenster ; rauk vocs kriegh
in un tarnien bahsa, ed alarmet cries lit ad blande-se tibs heuls.

– Leuds gehrnt ed bibaynt, declarit Constantius, spoctic. Esiet tid ke gwahs rassure i, Salome !
– Kal me Taramis, antwohrd Salome. Dehlgmos viswehde to.
– Quod habte yu kwohrt ? Cricit Taramis. Quod habte yu kwohrt ?
– Ho gwahn ibs dwors ios citad ed ho wohlen iens soldats ghyane ia, ay antwohrd Salome.
Eent abstaunihn, bet hant obedihn. Nu-aurs id heir ios Falk, penetrend id urb.
– Diablin ! Scricit Taramis. Has khanyen mien popule, te sameihnd-ye mi ! Vahm ghehlde ka
un khayna pro id ! Oh, vahm retrehve i...

Salome empug iam ed xubh iam retro samt un cruelo gleimen. Id hol superbe uriende ias rayn eet
achiz face id kwoinagwis quod conferit ad Salomes teuneg memsa id kieurde os stal.
 – Woidst unte quer ghehde do ia bodroums pon id palat, Constantius ? Sprohg ia yasa. Gohd.
Ghend tam kokona ed karcerbehnd iam do id meist wassic cell. Vasyi cipires son' droghen
ed deub swehpend, ho personal-ye kaurn. Yeis un wir kay tehme ir gurgule pre gehrnt.
Nuntos som Taramis, ed Taramis est un aunnam prisonerin in un bodroum negnohn ab
quantens.

Constantius oismih, ed eys kwit ed solid dents blig sub sien tenu moustache.

– Baygh gohd.... bet ne mi refusies un smulk, eh, laab, preter ?

– Ne con me ! Peit anter demnehe tam insolent pacharva !

Samt un pervers gleimen xubh Salome sien swester do ia brakhs ios Kothi, abvols ed uperghieng id
dwer quod duxit do id dikhliz. Terror pfwehngih ia khauris okwi as Taramis, ays urand corpos
oistehvend ed craspend kay resiste id strineg os Constantius. Ia myohrs iens yeudmens quoy
marcheer in ia strads ed myohrs iaschi outrages forfacta contra sien rang, face tod menace protie
sieno magoti. Ia myohrs cada sensation ploisko terror ed scham, confronten ei absoluti cynisme ios
ardent ed goilisk spect os Constantius, quos stalen brakhs ia khiss waurge sien corpos menxu ia se
strubh.

Salome, qua spohd perodh unte id dikhliz, smih honn-ye aurnd-ye udclanghe id crie om desperation
ed angsto quod se repercuss buxianxu-ye in id palat.

II
ID NEHCDRU

Ia bruks ed id camiss ios yun soldat eet poik med tursto cruor, swoidmadht ed greisiht ab duil.
Sehrgo srusit ex id deub arus ep eys bemern ed ex ia tohmas ep eys torsum ed eys oms.
Transpiration bligihsit eys pallid lige ed eys finghers sohr convulsive-ye id blanquet ios couch ep-
yod lyohg. Yed eys lafza bevis uno mental paytten acuter quem physic gvol.

– Ia soll' follascus ! Repetihsit is bfuyi, kam un wir dar sub id schock uns incredible ed
monstrueus wakya. Kwecto smos in un coschmar ! Taramis, adulen af hol Khauran,
khanyend sien popule pro tom demon ex Koth ! Oh, Istar, ma ne ho io nohcen in katu ? Petis
nehce quem gwive ed vide nies rayn se transforme do khaynu ed loktong !
– Mae mov, Valerius, iom iltijit ia gwenaka qua puw ed bandagit eys arus med tremblant
hands. Oh, plais, mae mov, habibe ! Vahs serihes id stand tienen vurnsen. Ne ho durs'
gwehmihes un liek...
– No, muticit is vurnt yuwen. Ies moderberd demons os Constantius vahnt sigwra obsoke ia
doms kay depulge iens vurnt Khauranis ; hancsien' vasyens quom vurnsa bevidsient han'
katuen protie iens. Oh, Taramis, kam has tu maght khanye ti leuds qui te dyir ?

Is kriemp in atroce payttens, plangend ob rage ed scham ; ia gwenak, terrifiet, siz eys cap inter sien
hands ed pos id protie sien pizdan, iom implorend ke sakwnasciet.

– Anter nehc quem id kyehrsen scham quod hat lambht Khauran hoyd, stun is. Has tu viden
quo hat wakyen, Ivga ?
– No, Valerius. (Eys delicate ed agil finghers hieb wohrgyen, puwnend kaur-ye ed dverapend
ia ghyahnd surface arus). Buim protiebuden ab id blosk iom katus in ia strads... Ho spohc'
per un fenster ed ho vis iens Schemis kayde i leuds... dind te ho aur' kale me pon id dwer
ducend do id allee.
– Eem exhaust, murmurit is. Ho fallen in id allee ed neti ghohd restahe. Io wois me retrehvient
sei nalyehgiem ter... Ho nicen tri tom moderberd gvers, per Istar ! Naiweti sient parade in ia
strads os Khauran, per vasyens divs ! Toy demons sont rehvend ir wi kerd in hayd !

Ia tremblant gwenak ei bahsit med un seutend voc, kamsei ia wohkw un vurnen magv, dind ia
zaghyien ia kreusend lipps ios soldat protiedehnd-ye tibs sien fresch ed swadho stohm. Bet eys iser
menos oistabh ei yuwen nalyehge silent.

– Ne eem ep ia walls kun ies Schemis hant entren, mlusit is stayg. Io swohp in ia baracks, con
tens quoy ne eent ep wakht. Nies hetman hat entren just pre octent ed eys lige eet bleid sub
eys helm. « Ies Schemis sont in id urb », hat is declaren. Ia rayn hat prohpt ant id sudwor ed
hat wohlt sines iens entre. Ia hat wohl' ghom iens yeudmens walst ep ia walls, quer stahr
wakht pon id arriven os Constantius do id rig. Ne ghabo tos sabab, eti nimen comprehendt
 id, bet ho aurn iam wehle, ed hams obedihn kam kwehrmos in vasya circumstances. Eems
wohlt sammel ep id meithel ant id palat. « Formet vies rangs exter ia baracks ed marchet...
Linkwte vies armes ed armurs her. Tik Istar woid quo to maynt, bet it hat ia rayn wohlt. »
Kun arrivam ep id meithel, ies Schemis eent ardehn face id palat, dec mil moderberd
diabels, in combat trakh. Visam leuds xyange per ielg dwer ed ielg fenster ios meithel. Ia
strads ambh id eent lahn ab un hayran menegh. Taramis stahsit ep ia stieupens ios palat, tik
hamrahn ab Constantius, sleivend eys moustache kam un buland slanc cat qui hat just praess
un gurobel. Punor, penkgim Schemis eent ardehn oik stieupens niter, loncghesor.
Ter habient sollen stahe ies guardes ias rayn, bet toy eent sammeln pod ia stieupens ios palat,
tem pribudt quem wey, quayque ies hieb gwohmen alnos armet, speit ia wehlens ias rayn.
Taramis hat tun wohkwn nos ed nos hat explien ia hieb mutamayn' de id proposen os
Constantius... Yed, ne serter quem ghes, ia hieb refuset eys prehscen ant id hol curt ! Nos hat
yaschi mohldt ia hieb decis iom buwes prince-consort. Ia ne hat expliet ma ia hieb entriht
iens Schemis id urb tem lughav-ye, bet ia declarit od dat Constantius iemmer un
professional kor, id Khauran heir bihsit inutil ed schowi dissolven. Poskwo nos hat wohlt
gwirlaye in sakwnia.
Id taatia dia nies rayn est kam un dwoter buhsa, bet ter, eems hayran ed wey ne wois
antwehrde quod. Hams likwno nies rangs quasi pre woide quo wey kwohr, kam wirs in
trance.
Kun ies palat guardes buir wohlt sklade ir armes ed diskwehre ir rangs ye ir roig, is hetman
ios guardia, Conan, stabh ibs to. Iswert ne eet ep wakht perncti ed eetwert makhmour. Yed is
eet suasbuden ye tod moment. Is hat hult ibs guardes mane in stand hina bihient wohlt ab
iom, ed eys yeudmi hant tant taatia dia iom quem hant obedihn speit iam rayn.
Is hat stight ia stieupens ios palat ed hat suaspohcen Taramis. Ed tun is hat bauben : « Sa ne
est ia rayn ! Sa ne est Taramis ! Est sem demon quel hat emen ays aspect ! »
Dind buit hayd ! Ne woidim exact-ye quo wakyit. Mehno od un Schemi hat plac' Conan ed
od Conan hat nicen iom. Id instant poskwo, id meithel hieb bihn un walu. Ies Schemis hant
ruschen ep id guardia, ed ir lances ed isus gvohn pelu soldats quoy hieb ja likwn ia rangs.
Pauks ex nos lambh ia armes ies ghohd trehve epstet, ed hams ripostet. Wey ne wois druve-
ye po quod wey wigh, bet eet contra Constantius ed eys diabels, kassamo. Ne contra
Taramis ! Constantius hul ka ies khayns bihient kays. Wey ne eems khayns !

Desperation ed sassaria tremblihr eys voc. Ia gwenak ei murmurit oik mildetwent werds, ne
ghabend quantum is sieyg, yed smyehrnd id paytten ios wir ia liubh.

– I leuds ne wois quoter camp chuses. Hol eet confusion ed disarroy. Weymen hieb neid
chance, katuen in diaspohrt aurdhen, aun armur ed pwolschowbeyn. Ies de guardes eent
alnos armet, in quadrat formation, bet eent tik penkcent. Causeer gwaur leusa pre
succumbhes, way to eet id oin conclusion tos boi. Bet menxu ays subjects bihr massacren
ant ays okwi, Taramis mien ep ia stieupens ios palat, aun move, id brakh os Constantius
ambh sien lendv, ed ia glih kam un zalim ed seducend demon. O Deiwes, to hol est foll...
foll !
Io hieb naiwo vis un wir katue kam Conan kwohr. Hat stahn samt id gherdmur za se ed
cadavers kowpeer-se ambh tiel eys bemernhoge pre ies ghohd uperwaldhe iom. Ies vikiep
iom, ye cent contra oin. Kun ho viden iom falle, ho abslupt samt id khisses od id mund
disbihsit inter mien finghers. Ho aurn Constantius wehle eys kwauns kape iom hetman gwiv.
Eet dat ter sleivend sien moustaches, samt tod detestable smeih ep eys demonisk lipps !

Ye moment-on bohr Constantius id samo smeih. Is sess ep sien ekwo medsu sien yeudmens,
cortjamb vregnas Schemis samt blousword gurosberd ; ia aktwns twisihr ir ak helms ed ia argwrntic
placks iren corseletts. Takriban oino milium apter iom stieur ia walls ed tors ios citad Khauran,
kwecto surregend ex id plain.
Uno massive cruce hieb estum stohlt ye id leizdo ios caravanenroute. Un wir hieng ter, hands ed
peds transbauen ab isern aks qua gwohzd iom tei macabre schajra. Nogwo ploisko un lendvkatan, is
wir eet quasi un gigant ; eysa staur muscles oistohlb ep eys corpos ed eys diutos solbrunta memsa.
Eys lige ed torsum eent swoidgintou sub id effect os paytten, bet sub eyso swordo straugh zazzer
quod fiell ep eys ghem ed weur chol, eys blou okwi ieydh med un nesgwenim jar. Sehrg dohn lent-
ye ex ia vurnsa ep eys hands ed peds.

Constantius iom salutit med un goilisk wajkho.

– Afsos, hetman, iey is, ob ne poitto mane ed buwes tien ajal minter muschkil, bet dohlg me
kalt do id urb ter... Ne poitto mi permitte skehptihes nies wohnic rayn ! (Is glih mliak-ye).
Schowi, te linkwo tien wi besoyn... ed tim kjiarjiens ! (Med un eloquent wajkho pfohrst is
kyi deuskens skadhens qui eepipleuke hog in id waurn).
Aun i, io imagine od un brute tem staur quem tu ghehdiet survive unte plur diens kata id
cruce. Mae pinwas id speh an semanghen gwehmt ad te lures ob te linkwo aun surveillance.
Ho karugiht od quel disgwehzdskwiet te ex id cruce, gwiv au mortu, tel bihsiet skohnt gwiv
ep id meithel, ed vasyi members os els familia con el. Mien kleumen est tem pagen in
Khauran od un wehlen ab me est tem efficient quem un guardenregiment. Ne linkwo
strajens ighi gwulturs nient lande prosch tando semanghen mansiet prokwem ed ne eiskwo
ke kheissent turbet ! Bischi tod sabab te ho abduct tan' dalg ud id urb. Ti desert gwulturs
naiwo pleuke proscher ia walls.
Pos to, brave hetman, adieu ! Mehnsiem de te in un hor, quando Taramis sessiet in mien
brakhs.

Cruor dohn iter ex ia transbaurn pams ios enkormen, quos massive peungsta hieb zaghyahn
convulsive-ye ep id cap iom gwozden. Muscles oistohlb ed compieg ep eysa staura brakhs ; Conan
clih sien capo perodh ed spiu wild-ye ep Constantius. Is voivod iliey med uno malamant gleimen,
tiers id saliva ex sien gorget ed volgih sien reidbiest.

– Mehm me kun i gwulturs dehrsient tien palpitant krewsa, mlusit is med un goilisk ton. Ti
desertakbabs sont un besonters vorace spece. Ho vis wirs nahange kata id cruce unte hors,
aun okwi, aun aurs, aun kayscuit, pre ir srakut snaps sehnde-se do ir gwitsmemsa.

Aun retrospehce, is trohcit kyid urb, urand ed rect silhouette, lamper in sien polihn armur, sien
barbut subahats nieb iom, impassible. Un legv duilnebh lud ex id trehn drayl, ed ies disprohp
tadrijan.

Is wir hangend kata id cruce eet id saul gwitsatom tos landspectios quod id gwehmend noct buw dar
meis pusten ed deserter. Khauran, minter quem oino milio distant, proe-lyehgiet ya alter bors ios
mund ed ye alyo zaman. Scuttend ia swoidghutts ex sien pecmens, Conan spohc med un aunwajkho
protiokwum id familiar ihatta. Ambi ed apter id urbo strohc fertil lungs ; peku gries dalgi, quer
aghers alterneer con vinghehrds. Westi ed nordi, tienghiay eet punctueno med weiks, dwerghiht ab
id distance. Prokwer, sudeustworts, un argwnrtlik inikas dik id druna uns rivier, ed trans tod rivier
inkiepit brusk-ye id desert, quod oistrohc dalgtro, meg trans tienghiay. Conan spohc tod verstep,
falvlamper sub ia aktwns, starnd ad id kam un captive falko qui dyeit id waurn quod ei est banen.
Disgust lambh iom kun is dyohrc ia tweiser walls os Khauran. Id citad hieb khanyet iom, hiebit
bohndt iom ad wakyas qua hieb duct iom ad wehse hangend kata un dreun cruce kam un kes
gwohzdt uni dru. Yadi habiet ghohdto stighes ghom ex tod torture schajra ed se forfuges endo tod
wakhschat, disvolge fin-ye ud ta kriv strads ed ta laza in-ya mensci comploteer apter ir murs kay
khanye rjienrlwey.
Un cruorlasni desire os vengence abfirschit tod bren. Auncoherence rughats oiskiep eys lipps. Eys
hol universe compieg, tak, incarnit-se in ta quar gwozda qua separeer iom ud gwit ed lure. Eysa
staur muscles krus, gneubhend kam stalen dauyns. Is tentit trehve uno kneigvpoint kay rehve ia
gwozda seht in id dreu, gwehleihnd sem swoid ep sien barth cuit ob id effort. In vain. Ia hieb esto
sehta deub. Is tun tentit rehve sien hands ex ia gwozda, ed ne id atroce ed dehrnd gvol chwoyih iom
eys efforts sontern idpet futilitat ios geste. Ia caps iom gwozden eent meg pior weur ed teug ; eet
impossible upernihes eys lumatayn hands trans ta. Ye id prest ker in eys gwit, un achizia voln
submers iom olbjim. Is remien still, cap cliht ep sien xiongbu, cludend sien okwi kay se protege ex
id gvolic arg ios sol.

Un ptergenplaben spehcih iom ub just kun un ptorwent skadh gwohl waurntos kay sturdes kyom.
Un srakut snap, zielend eys okwi, riegh eyso gian. Conan slah brusk-ye sien cap gontro, cludend
sien okwi per reflexe. Is hul un tehrgcrie, druv desperationsgrok. I gwulturs abvic ed topluk,
dekhschaten ab tod blosk, poskwo twohryeer tadbir-ye uper eys cap. Cruoro srusit ex id stohm os
Conan ; is lingih machinelika sien dingv sien lipps ed spiu semject samt saldgust. Un dusbohr teurst
kormit iom.

Is hieb drohnken mier wakels vin yarlay. Neideti wedghutt hieb upersrut eys lipps pon id boi ep id
meithel, ed nices transpireiht ed teurst... Is oispohc id rivier dalgi kam un damneit qui spehct per id
haydskankel. Is mohn de ia glehdjic torrents is hieb snahn ub, mers omsdeub do tod liquid jade. Is
mohm ia mier horns pleht med spoimic alu, ia outers prickelvin exdrohnct plukwid aun kaur we
toghut ep id podloga iom creschmas. Is dohnk sien dingvo mae mughe kam un torturen animak, in
sien dusbohr paytten.

Id sol sohnk, pallo globe deubend do uno mar ex embraso sehrg. Wardhend anti tei scarlat wall
quod lahsit id hol horizont, ia tors ios citad kwohk tem guway quem in un drehm. Hatta id waurn
tengicit cruorrudh eysi kohldern spect. Is lig sien kyohrnen lipps ed spehc med sien sehrgstriht okwi
id pierno rivier. Idschi kwohk uns cruorrudh color, ed id temos quod lambh id Eusto tengier
ebonsword.

Is ieur vagh id ptergenplaben hieb honarerasct. Spehcend ub, is oiscrutit i skadhs qui twohr uper
iom med ia aydhend okwi uns wolf. Is wois od sien cries neti dekhschatient i. Oin ex i sturd, stets
niter. Conan slah sien capo bilkull retro, waitend med tod terrible patience quod est id heritage iom
wakhschats ed tim qui gnahr ter. El gwulturis rusch ghom samt un staur ptergenkreus. Elso snap
sturdit brusk-ye, skehnend id gian os Conan ye id moment kun senter slah sien cap gontro. Pre el
meongcin ghohd toplukes, Conan pivotit sien capo perodh, ia muscles os sien coll tenden bilkull, ed
eys dents zaghyahr unte oin schtoss ep id bare ed rundic coll al rapace, clackend kam ta uns wolf.

Unte oin instant, el gwultur hiebit bihn kam foll, rakakelnd ed plabend frenetic-ye sien ptergs,
blindend Conan ed raghend eys torso med sien onoghs. Inflexible, is Kimri ne dissohr sien dents, ia
muscles os sien ghyanu stehlbend kam massive blocks. Ia collosta'l akbab cess tun, grohnden ab ta
staur dents. Pos un senst convulsive spasme, el meongcin bihsit still ed hiengit moll-ye. Conan
slebh sien igdu ed spiu id cruor. Alter gwulturs, terrifiet ab id fat irs congener, todwiej do un schajra
dalger, kwehkend kam swordi demons samghat in conclave.

Un gvero triumph sentiment lahsit id sassar kers os Conan. Gwit biet, nert ed wild, in eys veines. Is
dar ghohd nices ; is dar gwivit. Id lytsto sensation, hatta os paytten, eet uno negation os mohrt.
– Per Mitra ! (auter ieur is un voc, we eet victim om hallucinations). Unte mien hol gwit ho io
naiwo vis id sam !

Scuttend id swoid ed id sehrgo quod srusit ant sien okwi, Conan vis quar reiders seddend ep ir
biestens in ia aktwns, quoy eent spehcend iom. Tri eent emaciat falks vehsend albh rogvs ; lit
aundwoi de Zuagirs, un teut gwehmend ex ocolo id rivier. Is senst eet yaschi albhdun, vehsend un
khalat sohrno med un yeusmen ed un kufya protiedarno med un triple ring ex wohbht camelldrighs,
quod niek eys omsa ed lik in id wind. So ne eet un Schemi. Temos ne eet pior dens, ni Conans vid
kafi flau mae is khiek enderkwites ia traits ios wir.

Is eet tem buland quem Conan, quayque minter massive. Eys omsa eent weur ed eys urand corpos
eet tem kaurd quem stal. Eys cort berdo khiek maske id arroganto protiokwum quod un stehlbend
gian ; eys okwi, greis ed srig, tem penetrant quem un eins, glimmreer in id skadh os eys kafieh.
Rassurend-ye sien aygur med un lengver ed darm hand, so wir bibahsit :

– Per Mitra, so individu me mehmeiht semquom !

– Yaghi ! Iey un Zuagir qui wohkw in sien guttural bahsa. Est is Kimri qui eet is hetman ias
rayn !
– Ia soll' diswines ud sien quan' prever favorites, muticit is reider. Quel habiet maght imagine
to ud rayn Taramis ? Habiem milt un long ed cruoric weir. Tod habiet daht nosmee,
muwakhschats, id waurmen os plunder. En nos hol prokwem ia walls, ed quod hams wey
trohft ? Tom cavall... (is glaz kyun alascha dohrjt ab oino iom vagders)... ed tom moribund
kwaun.

Conan liv sien cruorpoiko cap.

– Sei ghehdiem stighes ghom ex tod balwng, tu zaporosk fur ! Strisit is inter sien kyohrnt
lipps.
– Mitra ! Is bulgher woid quis som ! Exclamit alter. Quosmed tar gnohs tu me, gredin ?
– Es is saul os tien genos in id vicinitat, murmurit Conan. Es Olgerd vladislav, is chef im
plundrers.
– Exact ! Ed prever hetman im Kosaks os fluv Zaporoska, kam has tarct. Te plaisiet gwive ?
 – Tik un imbecile eiskwie solg question, kwohs Conan.
– Som un kaurd wir, declarit Olgerd, ed resistence est id saul qualitat quod io respecte bi un
wir. Vahm ghi dehlge kehnse an es un wir, we fin-ye neis quem un kwaun, tik apt ad mane
ed crepire her.
– Sei leums iom, riskmos bihe dyohrcen pon ia walls, objexit oino iom vagders.

Olgerd scussit sien cap.

– Regwos est pior deub. Tu, Djebal, ghend tod pelk, ed fayl tod cruce ye ids base.
– Sei id fall' perodh, is bihsiet truden, ei jawieb Djebal. Ghehdo sege id yoitkwe fallt retro, bet
tun id schock ex to ghehdiet sigwra behnge eys ghalv ed dehre eys inster.
– Sei is est wirtic os rides nieb me, is siet survive to, antwohrd, netaraght, Olgerd. Sonst, est
ob ne stahal' gwive. Seg !

Id prest impact ios pelk ep id cruce ed ia vibrations ex tod yis atroce gvolwands do Conans oid peds
ed hands. Id miech hihsit iter ed iter, ed ielgo cutt se repercuss do eys uperpayttend kers, torturend
eysa ja preusend nerves. Yed is sohr sien dents ed sis neid swon extro. Id pelk tohr id dreu, id cruce
oscillit ep sien fiss base dind volvit retro. Conan stohv ex cap do peds, tendend ielg sienen stalen
musclen, tacklit sien capo protiev id dreu ed tin id med sien hol force ye tod stet. Id balwngo criesch
gwaur-ye ep id grund ed antskiendit mulayim-ye. Id impact redvohr Conans vurnsa ed iom storgnit
schawxwen. Is jidiel protiev id temosvoln quod lud kyom, lambhen ab nauseas ed vertigo, bet is
ghieb od ia stalen muscles qua periembh eys vital memsa hiebeer bohrct iom ex vurnsa qua ei
habient esen fatal.

Eti, is ne hieb sisen skape id lytsto swon, esdi cruoro srusit ex eys nastorms ed edsi muscles os eys
gventer se ieyreer spasmodic-ye, menxu is resistit id wehnos os vomihes.

Med un approbatoro brohm, Djebal se clihsit uper iom, armet med un tango nudt biadet kay giowe
gwozda ex ekwenkaphs. Is siz id cap ios gwozdios sehtios do Conans dexter hand, dehrnd id cuit
kay swekwehre un ghend ep id deub-ye planten ak. Ia tangs eent pior smulk pro tod genos os orbat.
Djebal transpirit ed traxit, rughatend ed sammel befekhtend tod isern schtuko quod se sielcskwit,
mimoveihnd-ye id retos perodh... in id oid krewos tem quem in id dreu. Cruor gwohl iter, sreund
engwn ia finghers ios Kimri. So eet tem still quem is habiet bihe crediht mortu sei eyso staur torso
ne se habiet ayrn ed duben spasmodic-ye. Id ak cess, ed Djebal swohng tod cruorpoik ject med un
satisfaction brohm ; dind is toxubh id ed se clihsit ep dwoter.

Id sam operation buit repetiht, dind, menxu Djebal se bud ad Conans gwohzdt peds, senter,
ghehdend kmehwent-ye viwehse seddend, rohv id tang ex eys hands ed repuls iom gvaltic-ye med
oin cutt quod yis iom vanke plur stieups retro. Conans engwuhn hands hieb quasi doublen in
volume. Eys quant finghers kwohkeer kam aunforme pallex ed id mer fact os zaghyane eys hands ei
causit un tem atroce gvol quem cruor gwohl ex eys halks menxu is sohr sien dents. Lakin, ghesornd
kyopev-ye ia tangs med bo hands, is kamyieb exstirpe preter gwozd, poskwo dwoter. Ne hiebeer
bihn sehn tem deub-ye do dreu quem dwo alters.

Is oistohv ub ed oistahsit ep sien oid ed raghen peds, titubend vertigineus-ye. Un glehdjic swoid sru
engwn eys lige ed corpos. Iom lambhit nausea ed is sohr sien dents kay resiste id wan os vomihes.

Olgerd, spehcend iom med uno malamant protiokwo, ei dik iom klohpt ekwo. Conan stohmb
kyopev-ye tiel tom ; ielg eysen stieups eet un kolm, un infernal dyehgwen, quod dugh do eys lipps
un cruorspoim. Un aunforme hand ambhtastit pre sizes skayv-ye id arkwn ios seddel, un sehrgpoik
ped ghohd trehve id striepmen. Is kormsurviver sohr sien dents ed glomhmber ep iom reidbiest,
quasi bayaldissend kun eys corpos ieyr-se, bet is ghohd lande ep id seddel. Ye tod-on instant, Olgerd
plieg iom ekwo med un brusko cutt siens bich. Surpriden, is animal fohsit ; eys reider wip dind
nifiell ep id seddel kam un sandsack, quasi eject. Conan hiebit plohcen ia ansia ambh sien hands,
darnd ia med sien klohngen pallex. Sa-volvend, is nud id hol nerce om siena gneubhend biceps,
dwinghend ei ekwi sakwnasce ; is biest hingolit, samt quasi disloquet ghyanu.

Oino iom Schemis anac un wedplen gourde, glanzend sprehgisk-ye Olgerd, qui scussit sien cap.

– Skehpttu hin arrivems do id tabor. Sont tik dec milia. Sei is est wirtic os gwive in id desert,
ghehdsiet survive tuntro aun jlampohn.

Id grupp abrid kyid rivier, kam furtive kabus; medsu iens, Conan vienkit kam uno makhmour wir ep
sien seddel, samt sehrgstriht glasic okwi, skum teursend ep sien kyohrnen lipps.

III
UN BREV PRO NEMEDIA

Astreas is mualim, safernd in id Eust kay satisface sieno nestrakible gnohsaghigda, yis un brev sieni
prient ed collegh, ei philosoph Alcemides, in sien vatano Nemedia. Tod brev skeipt id saul
informationsurce iom occidental nations dayir ia wakyas qua jinkdour ye tod zaman in Orient, un
dar mysterieus iklime pwolmythic in id ment iom occidental folks.

Astreas oiscripsit, inter alya :

« Maghs pau ghabe, dorgv ed veut prient, ia conditions qua ghehldneunt in tod micri rayndem pon
Taramis hat primt Constantius ed eys mercenars, episode de quod tib ho bragv-ye tolct in mien
senst, hast-ye script maktub. Sept munts dedohneer, prist unte-yod druve-ye kwecto is diabel hat
habt megil glewos in tod aunbayga rig. Taramis alnos tengiet sehnkus do follia. Menxu prever eet ia
klut pro sien virtut, sien sense om justice ed serenitat, ia hat bihn notor ob qualitats qua sonti
chiowdeo witerom qua ho just udwekwnt. Ays privat gwit est un scandal, ed id lexis « privat »
kwehct pau ciautaung, chunke ia rayna ne se strehnct ad perbehrge id perpetual fawngtawng siens
curt. Ia khwoyiet ia meist abject orgias, smyehre-ya bihti dwight iabs nebaygat hofdames, kweter
sonti novstas au dar virgens.

Iaswo ne hat exterhonnto snumbes sien official maaschouk, Constantius, qui seddt ep id throno nieb
iam ed regnet ka prince-consort. Eys officiers sehkwe eys exempel ed hant neid scrupule de
dwinghes fawngtawng iabs gwens quans habskwnt, quaskwe rang au social stand. Id biedan rig
steunt sub id vyige exorbitanten imposten, dorevs bihnt spolyen, ed tajirs vehse neid meis quem
lumps, quantum ibs etileikwt pos ies questors hant prigwohmt. In druve, dehlgent se aye norocti de
ne esus oiskohnt.

Tarko tien incredulitat, sell Alcemides ; vahs baye od io exagere ia conditions qua uperghehlde in
Khauran. Solga gwitsconditions esient nekwenchauim in quodkwe occidentalo land, conceddo. Bet
dehlcsi conscie id enormo grov quod separet Eust ud West, ed hol besonters tod part ios Eust.
Quantenprest, Khauran est uno smulk rig, oino iom mult peurstdems qua skip prevst id eustpart ios
Koth imperium ed retrohv sekwos-ye id independence quod eet iro ye un awer zaman. In tod iklime
meurme ta micri roydems, joking-ye smulka comparen ibs meger occidental rigs au ibs mier
sultanats os Downgjien, yed sont important ar controlent id caravanenroute ed pehlde med opnos.

Khauran lyehct ye id sudeust angule tom preustdems, ye idpet hadh iom deserts os Eust Schem.
Khauran est id saul vyigic citad ios rig, ed oistaut prokwem id rivier quod separet ia schadab
regions ud id sanddesert, kam uno mirador aptosbehrgend ia fertil plains. Id ardh esti ter tem riche
quem bihnt buwta tri au quar opsens cadayar, ed wester quem id citad meurme weiks. Pro
semanghend swehdus ia mier plantations ed ia imposanta dorevs ios West, esti stragno dyeitum ta
micri aghers ed vinghehrds ; yed bihnt producen ter cereals ed fruits in wakels wirtic uns pohltos
horn. Vasyi villagers sont agrents, ed neid alyo. Uns walsk mestissagen race, sont pacific, khakend
defende seswo, ed im est banen possedde armes. Dependent alnos iens soldats ios citad pro iro
protection, edghi wehse total-ye achiz in id present situation. Schowi, un sayv pamrlan ios dorevia,
quod esiet ne vergible in quodkwe occidentalo land, est her impossible.

Orbatent aun pnehse sub id yug os Constantius, quos swordberd schemi reiders patrole aunstop ia
aghers, bich-ghesore, kam toy mandors quoy uperwakhe id jakhd iom aydokwen sclavs in ia
plantantions os Sud Zingara.

Urbleuds ne nehse kreins. Ir opnos buit spolyen ud i, ir bellstas dugters buir raben ud i kay satisface
ia aunsatos nafsani dreibhs om Constantius ed eys mercenars. Eys yeudmi aunt id lytst uncia os
mildet au tongjon, ed hant quanta kweitus nies heirs hant ucen deteste unte nies weirs protiev i
schemi allieits os Argos : crueltato dia alyanghen, libido ed gvertat. I citadins oiskeipe id jusaycaste
Khaurans, ed sonti majoritat-ye Hyborians, wirtjenchis. Bet id khianat iraias rayn hat pehdiht i do id
fangh iren waurgern. I Schemis sont id saul silah os Khauran, ed id infernalsto dusmuamale biht
infligen ad cada Khaurani trohft xeihnd un arme. Bihti ter ducen active-ye un siyassa om systematic
persecutions iom khaurani meryen, kay extermine iens. Pelus ex iens buir massacret aun mildet, alyi
pohrnt ka sclavs im Turanims. Tusents ex iens hant mwaungsoun ex id rig ed hant auter bidraukhten
alyens monarchens, we bihn bandits, aluend in kathire bandes engwn ia grances.

Exist ye tod moment un invasionspossibilitat ex id desert, befolct ab teuts em schemi vagders ; ia

raids hant semper viduysen, yed ne acceptent id rig buit krict ab irens racefraters ex id west :
Pelischtim, Anakim, Akkharim ; i Zuagirs ed alter vagder teuts deteste i med un sayv haines. Kam
woidst, sell Alcemides, ia lands tim barbars sonti dividen : hois, ia westprairies qua strehcent
dalgtro tiel id ocean, quer wehse ia urbs im wikpacts, ed ciois ia eustdeserts, quer i isghen vagders
predomine. Ti citadins ed ia folks ios desert se levernt un perpetual weir.

I Zuagirs katueneunt protiev i Khauranis pon secules. Irwert natural antagonisme habiet est
bustighet ab iom wir qui eet prever is hetman ios guardia ias rayn. Skapus semkam id haines os
Constantius, qui hieb yed crucifictihn iom, so wir hat mwaungsout kay joine i vagders. Eys nam est
Conan, ed isschi est un barbar, oin tim buxianxu Kimris quim gvertat buit meis quem oins
kwohnden ab noster soldats. Iswert habiet biht is badakhsch os Olgerd Vladislav, iom kosak
aventurer ex ia nordsteppes qui hat glohmbern do id rang os chef uns bande om Zuagirs. Todwert
horde habiet crohsct meg nett-ye unte ta akhir munts, ed Olgerd, aundwoi radhen ab tom Kimri,
hatta lehncskwt un raid do Khauran.

Tod khacsiet ses alyo jecto quem un raid, chunke i Zuagirs ne behande siege machines, ed ne hant ia
gnohsas kay inmarche jabran do un citad, ed Historia nos hat bevis plurs od un horde om vagders
attaquend ye un desorganisen weidos, dehlgiem sayge aun tactic formation, ne drehdt-pet iens
suadisciplinet ed perfect-ye schowbeyt jenchis in un corps-ad-corps. Kad i weikers ios Khauran
kamient tod invasion, chunke i vagders khakient traite i ye un weidos crueler quem ir actual
maysters, eti un total extermination esiet preferim ibs aziyats i dehlgent tehle. Bet sonti tant
intimiden ed achiz quem khakient hehlpe i invasors.

Ir condition est bilkull jalnic. Taramis, kwecto possess ab un demon, keunct ant neid. Ia hat abolihn
id cult as Istar ed hat transformen id temple do schangdien wugvt ad idolatrie. Ia hat destrugen id
ivorstatue tas divias quod ti Eust Hyborians dyeint (quayque inferior ei cult os Mitra quod weysmee
iom occidental nations recogneihms ka saul veria, tod cult esti superior ei dyin ios diabel ab i
Schemis) ed hat plehn ia temples as Istar med obscene kips vasyen imaginablen formes : divs ed
divas ios noct, sculpti do un hol succession om yaumdang ed pervers poses, samt quanta
pamrlaneihnd kweits un degener kers ghehdt concepe. Multa tom statuen sont recognible, sont ia
kafir divtats im Schemis, Turanis, Vendhyans ed Khitans, bet alyi suggeste un hideus ed
pwolmyohrsen antiquitats, vil formes qua tik ia obscurest legends mehme. Quer hat id rayn vignoht
ia, ne hatta deurso anances sem hypothese.

Ia hat instauren menscenmauls ed pon Constantius est eyso samlyogh, ne minter quem penkcent
wirs, gwens ed magvi buir sacrifiet. Sems ex i nohc ep id altar ia hat eregihnum in id temple, ed
iaswo dohrj id mauldaga, bet pleisti hant gnoht un dar daunoster fat.

Taramis hat instauren un sorte es monster do un crypt ios temple. Quel est el, quetos el, nimen woid.
Bet pau pos ia hieb enderwaurs id aunspeh pamrlan om sien soldats contra Constantius, ia hat
upernocten in id najisset temple, saul, ploisko douzen em diemmen prisoners. I leuds, tremblend ob
paur, hant vis un teug nauseabundo dum ludes in voluts ex id coupel ed hant aurt unte id noct ia
frenetic chantes ias rayn ed ia gargic gvolcries aysen prisoners submitten ad torture. Circum octent
un dwoter voco gwohm ad se blande tibs swons, un strident nemensco grok, quod glohdjit sehrg in
ia veines quanten qui ieur id. Gwohmt id octent, Taramis vienk ex id temple, sien okwi bleigend
med un demoniak joy. I prisoners bihient naiwo revis, ni id grok aurt. Bet est in id temple un kyal
quod nimen penetret, ploisko iam rayn, precedden ab el individu ia vaht maule. Ed tel victim biht
naiweti reviden. Quanti woid od in tod kayl aluet semis monster ex ciengow, quel praeddt i
menscens heulend ob paur qui Taramis al bringht.

Neti magho aye iam unu normal merti ; est un implacable demonster samt scarlat onoghs, teupend
in sien cruorpoik laz inter ia osta ed etiloikwa sienen victims. Yod i divs ay permitte continue
forface aun intervene taraght mien fid in divin justice.

Quan io compare ays actual sulouk con quod eet ayso kun ho arriven do Khauran, sept munts
prever, me fortarko ed quasi smyehriem id mayno maungen leuds : un demon hat lambhen id corpos
as Taramis. Un yun soldat, Valerius, mieyn als. Is credihsit un yasa hieb emen id apparence ias
adulet souverain os Khauran. Is mohn od anghen hieb kwohrn Taramis disparihes unte id nocto kay
karcerbehnde iam do sem bodroum ed od ia creature qua regnet vice iam est nia meis quem un yasa.
Is kassiem is retrehviet iam druv rayn, sei ia dar gwiviet, bet ego baym isschi hat succubht id
crueltat os Constantius. Is eet involven in id pamrlan iom guardes ios palat, hat antsalgen ed
natupen unte sem wakt, refusend inat-ye endergwehme do kharij ; ye tod tid ho io vignoht iom ed
me hat gnopiht quo is mieyn.

Lakin, est missend, kam tant alyi, quim fat nimen deurst fiker, ed baym is buit arresten ab i spions
os Constantius.

Dehlgo conclude tod maktub ed salgihes id-sin id urb med un postpigeon, quel wehghsiet id do id
kauping quer ho kurihn el, ye id hadh con Koth. Safersiet bi un reider dind in un camellcaravan pre
bad ghehde ad te. Dehlgo spehde pre gwehmt octent. Esti sert ed ia stars madheihnt in kweitos ia
banisbans iom doms os Khauran. Un kreussilence covehrt id urb, yed auro id stumpo bat uns
buxianxu tambur ex id piern temple. Ne dwoim an Taramis sia ter, spehnend semo nov
diabelagos. »

Is mualim lakin sieygit ghawo de quer wohs ia gwen is kiel Taramis. Ia gwenaka quam quanti mohn
ses ia rayn os Khauran lyohg in un cell, muzlim-ye belucen med un gwako quos vankend diutis
kyunggiiew ep ays traits id diabolic crueltat quod emanit ex ayso schungjin lige.
Pod iam, ep id bare petraswol, se ahockit un gastalt quas nogwtat eet payn kulken ab nippes.

Salome touchit honn-ye tam forme med id skamb borso siens golden sandal, ed smih vengence-ye
quan ays victim repit retro bayasen-ye.

– Ne kams mien caresses, swadh swester ?

Taramis eet dar bell, nespekent sien lumps, sien captivitat ed ia traitements qua hieb ay est inflict
unte ta sept naiwendend munts. Ia ne antwohrd ibs sarcasmes as sien swester, sontern spohcit ghom,
kamsei ia habiet viswohdto ta nayds.

Solg resignation desplaisit Salome. Ia dohnk sien scarlat lipp ed nastahsit, teipend ia flises med id
bors os sien sandal, sammel spehcend-ye iam passive gastalt med uno mukadaro protiokwo. Salome
eet dut samt id barbar splendors as un Shushan gwen. Ia joyels aysen golden sandals, aysen golden
pizdanplacks ed iom catnels qua dier ta in place, twis in id diutis iom torchen. Golden khalkhals
king ays glesens, kleuytend ye cada aysen stieups. Gwaur gemmeornen brakhletts twis ep ays
bagus. Ayso kays eet kohmen do hoge, ye id weidos tos as un Schemi, ed ia jaden belchugs hangend
kata ia golden rings aysen aurs emiss un lamper glimmer ye cada marwtic mov os ays marhour cap.
Un gemmengjiaungsant yeusmen dier un temtransparent silken fustan quem lit meis de goile cynic-
ye haya quem de als.

Uno maurrudh cappa hiengit kata ays omsa tiel id grund ; oino iom pans tos cappa eet neglect-ye
posen ep ays klohngen brakh ed id object ia perbohrg ter.

Salome clih-se brusk-ye ed siz id raufen kays as sien swester med sien leur hand, dwinghend ay
meirka ke spohc seid-ye do ays okwi. Taramis facit tod spect as tighrin aun abglanzes.

– Neti plancs tem facil-ye quem prever, swadh swester, murmurit ia yun yasa.
– Neti rehfsies dakrus ud me, ay antwohrd Taramis. Has hab' pior glewos med id spectacle ias
rayn os Khauran sleuctend ed prehgend po aman ep ays genus. Woidim me has gahaben po
id saul ziel os aziyate me ; itak has limitet tien tortures ad korms qua vahr neter nices ni
desfigure me. Men baym neti jec' nun ; has rohft ia sens' vestiges om speh, baysa ed scham
qua mi etilikweer. Neic me ed smad finihes, hoghi vohrs' mien sens' dakrus pro te, diablin ex
hayd !
– Flatters teswo, mien dorgv swester, snurd Salome. Taiptro ho payttiht tik tien schungjin
corpos ed ho grohndt tik tien myndert ed jisown. Tu myehrs od, nekam ego, ghehds paytte
mental-ye. Ho vighaben to quando te ho smaukiht ia scherza ho enscenen con oiks tienen
stupid subjects. Men, ye tod ker, tib ho brighen un dar eclatanter pruv mienen scherzen.
Woisist tu od Krallides, tien derv radher, hieb riken rahas-ye ex Turan ed hieb esen kapen ?

Taramis blid.

– Quod... quod has tu kwohrt ei ?

Ka saul response anac Salome id mysterieus pack ia perbohrg subter sien cappa. Ia rohv ia silken
bandes qua vulbh id ed swohng id ject : id cap uns yuwen, eys traits pact in un gvolfrad, kamsei
nehc habiet gvohnen iom medsu nemensc payttens.
Taramis emiss un crie kamsei ia just habiet esen dyohgwn do ays kerd.

– O Istar ! Krallides !
– Yaghi ! Is pamrlanihskwit id popule contra me, so orm imbecile. Is lohg od Conan sieyg
prabh kun is bahsit od ne eem Taramis. Quosmed maghiet id popule pamrlane contra iens
Schemis ios Falk ? Med gazda ed petras ? Fu ! Kwauns weuxe ep eys zanchout carcasse ep
id rineg ed so kafir lesch bihsiet xubh' do id cloak kay saupe ter.
Vedim swester ! (Ia stopit unte oin instant, smeihnd ad sien prostret victim). Has tu just
aunstohgen od tib etilikweer planctu dakrus ? Gohd ! Ho reservet ia mental tortures pro id
fin. Nuntos, tib deicsiem maung jects kam... tod !

Stahnd it, in id diutos iom gwaks, id tohmen cap in sien hand, ia neti samkwohk un creature gohnt
ab unu merti, speit sien terrible beauteit. Taramis ne spohc ub. Ia lyohg, lige protiev id meln swol,
sien teuneg corpos andht ab payttsleucts, ed plieg ia flises med siensohrn hands. Salome abwiedlit
lengver kyid dwer, sien khalkhals claschend samt un buxianxu tonalitat ye cada sienen stieups, sien
belchugs tweisend in id diutis iom gwaks.
Oik instants serter emers ia unte un dwer sub un wonk arche quod adduxit do un aula, acceddend ye
sien roig un sinueus allee. Un wir stahsit ter, ed gwohm perodh kyam ; eet un
Schemi olbjim, samt maur okwi ed uno massive taurcoll. Eys sword ed teug berd niek eyso staur
torso quod un isern corselett protexit.

– Hat ia plangen ? Brohm is med un balmadeub ed impatient voc, lik ei mugh uns taur.

Lit de iom general iom mercenars, oino iom rar yeudmens bayna iens badakhschens os Constantius
hushyar de id secret iam rayns os Khauran.

– Iaghi hat planct, Khumbanigash. Etileikwnt hol pans os ays sensibilitat qua ne ho touchen.
Kun un sense steup' pelu reraghmen, aunstehgo aun lipses id sem alyo paytten, dar
poignanter. Ghend ghi, tu kwaun ! (Un tremblanto straugho gastalt, vehsend najis nippes,
skimblit prosch. Eet oin tom taskars quoy swohp in ia allees ed dworisghehrds. Taskars eent
kongcio kathire in Khauran. Salome ei xubh id cap.) Tu, boder. Meuk tod do id prokws'
cloak. Preteih iom med signes, Khumbanigash. Is khact aure.

Is general dostrig id wehlen, ed is wir acquiescit neukend-ye dind abstehmbend-ye.

– Ma dureihs tu tod farce ? Grohm Khumbanigash. Tien position ep id thron est tem suapac'
quem neideti ghehdt chasse te ex id. Pau importet an ti imbecile Khauranis manthe id
druve ? Neti ghehdent kwehre ject. Revele in public tien druv identitat ! Deik im ir habibe
ex-rayn, ed tehm ays cap ep id meithel !
– Ne bad, mien kyar Khumbanigash...

Ia wonk dwer zaghyahsit honar-ye apter Salomes cruel accents ed ia echos ios stohntervoc os
Khumbanigash. Is niem taskar hockit in id ghehrd. Nimen ghod vide od ia hands qua dohrj id
tohmen cap sroht med febreus tremblens... Maur, muscleus hands qua dusdohbh tod wonk corpos ed
ta aghel lumps.

– To woisim ! Kwohster is trist-ye ed pau aurim-ye. Ia gwivt ! O Krallides, tien martyrium ne

proe-buit in vain ! Han' karcerbohnden iam in tod donjon ! O Istar, sei kams prabh wirs, nun
tehrps tu me hehlpe !

IV
IES DESERT WOLFS

Olgerd Vladislav plehsit sien joyelgjiaungsiant bicair, schehnkend id purpwrcolor vin ex un golden
flasken, ed puscit tod poder ocolo id abnustable tiel id stet quer stahsit Conan is Kimri. Olgerds
vehsmen habiet satisfacen id dimaar quosque Zaporoska hetman.

Eys khalat eet ex albh silk, ornen med naker knops syuhn ye id nivell os eyso xiongbu. Darn ye id
lendvo med un bakhauriot yeusmen, eys fustans eent mutastrohcen, exponend eys ample silken
bruks, qua lit subter cort bauts ex glend ed urand lieter, qua un sirma xwenyungit. Iom kufyit un
glendcolor silken delband, vulbhen ambh eys ako goldkmehn helm. Eyso saul arme eet un weur
cherkess khandjar samt skambo mierch, snicto do un filkardkasch ed dieht ye id nivell os eys levter
hank, ye id kosak weidos. Seddend deub do sien stron ornet samt cisellures keipend ornds, Olgerd
ghohng sien bauten jambs ant se, emiss un staut satisfactionskwehster, ed expohsit honar-ye id
prickelvin unte oin schtoss.
Is Kimri olbjim face iom ubfiell ob contraste dia eys magnificence, med sien quadrathajamaten
swordo zazzer, sien sombre ed schramstriht lige ed sien blou ed ardent okwi. Is vohs un kyehrsen
zirah, ed id saul jecto quod glimmrit ep iom eet id weur golden baft ios yeusmen quod dier eys eins
in eys kardkasch ex schiyong lieter.
Eent saul sub id silkstena delt, sub-yod hieng goldkmehn draps, ed swol-yos eet covohrt med un
pohltos om riche kelims ed zamten bolghis, lwon ex caravans. Ex dworis ghohd ibs un mussalsal ed
khafi murmure, tod swon quod semper gwehmt samt un dwaschaw yeudmen, kweter in un waun au
alyer. Un airdruna eesrehsreht ia waraks iom palmas.

– Hoyd skadhi, cras possowel, declarit Olgerd, dessehrnd-ye mulayim-ye sien scarlat belt ed
regend-ye sien hand kyid vinbardak. Katha est gwit. Xiawngja eem un hetman ep ia oupers
ios Zaporoska ; kongcio som un desert chef. Sep' munts prever hiencst tu kata un cruce exter
Khauran. Kongcio es tu is badkhasch ios staurs' plundrer inter Turan ed ia Westplains.
Dehlgies mi ses schakir !
– Ob ghabus ka quod io ghohd daughe ? Iey Conan gleihnd-ye ed ayrend-ye id flasken.
Quando permitts uni wir ludes, yakin od vahs trage brungos ex eys perodhia. Ho stahal'
quanto ho hassilet, po mien aserng ed po mien swoid.

Is glaz kya schrams sienen pams. Eentschi alya schrams ep eys corpos, qua ne eent ter sept munts
prever.

– Katues mien un demonenregiment, ei concess Olgerd, bet mae bifiker od tu has suwen id
numer recruten quoy han' gwohmt en-masse ad tumes nies rangs. Ir rallie es' due id success
niesen raids, preparet ed supervis ab me. Toy vagders sont semper eiskwnd iom chef qui
sagvsiet duce iens do kamyab, ed meis treusient un tarnien quem un samgenos.
Es' neid limite ad quo ghehdmos parkwehre ! Behandmos kongcio oindem mil yeudmens.
Pre oin yar sessiemos tris kathirer. Taiptro hams wey nos contenten med raids ep ia turani
prodwalsa ed ia Civitats ios West. Con trigim au quargim mil yeudmens in nies rangs, neti
tyeicsiemos raids. Siemos lahe, kriges ed regne. Ego vibihsiem os hol Schem, ed tu sessies
mien wasire, tando na-sehkwsies mien wehlens aun iskwes werds. Entrim, mayno vahmos
galoppe eustworts ed nos udschturmes tod turani prodwals in Vezek, quer ia caravans
payghe ir perigumtsujrat.

Conan scussit sien cap.

– Ne samstehmo.

Olgerd oistier ad iom ; eet prompt ad grasbanasce.

– Quod awies med tu ne samstehms ? Ego som besic de mehne pro tod heir !
– Son' nun kafi yeudmi in tod bande kay nake mien objectives, antwohrd is Kimri. Mi
uperbastet intizare. Perikweihskwo.
– Oh ! (Olgerd brovit, pohsit un slung vin, dind fried.) Namehns de tod cruce, kwe ne ? Yaghi
kamo wirs samt dregh haines. Bet maghmos intizare de to.
– Mi has saygen semdien me hehlpies ad prindes Khauran, iey Conan.
– Ya, bet eet pre io vighieb id extense om nies maghs, antwohrd Olgerd. Io mohn tik de id
lwon ios urb. Ne volo wazde nies forces po un objective quod ne bringh' brungsa. Khauran
est un nuce quod nos dar moliet brehge. Maghses pre oin yar...
– Pre id hevdend, antwohrd Conan.

Is kosako ghyienit mier okwi, surpriden ab id assuren ton alters.

– Kleu, iey Olgerd, esdi acceptiem riske id gwit mienen yeudmen po un tem akmak peiten,
quod maghies tu spehe ? Mehns tu toy wolfs ghehdient belagher ed lambhnes un urb kam
Khauran ?
– Niet ses siege, antwohrd is Kimri. Woidim quosmed attrage Constantius do id plain.
 – Ed tun ? Rughiet Olgerd. Quan ia isus pleucsient, nies cavalerie meg dusnehssiet, menxu id
armur iom Asshuris es' baygh gohder, ed kun sessiet id tid os corps-ad-corps med einsa, ir
dens rangs om sakht infantiers se-sehndien' med stal per nies irregular lignes ed
diaspehrsien' nies yeudmens do ia quar winds.
– Ne sei trimil gwaukan hyborian reiders smyehrnt id boi, udlyigen in lancenpuladh, kam
ghehdiem ibs doce, antwohrd Conan.
– Ed quer sies tu trehve trimil Hyborians ? Sprohg Olgerd med un besonters sarcastic ton. Sies
tu dughes iens med magia ?
– Ho ja iens, antwohrd Conan, netaraghim. Trimil wirs os Khauran waune in Akrel oasis,
intizarnd mien wehlens.
– Quod ? Explos Olgerd, starnd ad sien comtolker kam un udstraj wolf.
– Ya. Wirs quoy han' fuct ud id tyrannia os Constantius. Pleisti gwive tuntos kam bandits in id
desert euster quem Khauran ; sont tem maigher ed gwaukan quem menscedd tighers. Ielg ex
iens ghehdsiet face tri tom cortjamb mercenars. Waurg ed beghsses meurche id kerd uns wir
ed embrande eys corpos med haydogwn. Quanto ies wien, eet un frontasch. Hant trusen id
message ho transmitten ibs per mien reiders ed han' munstern in id oasis kay me behandihes
iens.
– Ed to hok newissab me ?

Un omoeddo diutis biblig in id budmen om Olgers okwi. Is iengh id yeusmen quod ubdier eys
weben.

– Mege sehkwskwnt, ne te.

– Ed quod has tu narren tibs exileits kay obtene ir allegence ? Iey Olgerd med un tehrgplen
voc.
– Ho sayct ibs neudsiem tod horde om desert wolfs kay hehlpe iens ad brehge Constantius ed
redehe Khauran do ia ghesors os ids civs.
– Tu imbecile ! Murmurit Olgerd. Tu credeihs ja ihvs chef ?

Bo wirs oistahr ed faceer mutu, separet ab id abnustable, un demoniak diutis leikend in id budmen
iom greis ed srig okwi Olgerds, un buxianxu smeih ep ia kaurd lipps ios Kimri.

– Vahm te kwetwerdilihes inter quar palmas, declarit tawrlien-ye is kosak.

– Kal tien yeudmens ed demande ibs ke kwehrnt ! Iom chiaujaenit Conan. Vid an te
obedeihsient !

Aunstehgend sien dents in sien rictus, Olgerd liv sien hand, poskwo stopit sien geste. Eet semject in
id sombre ed swekwr lige ios Kimri quod vankih iom. Eys okwi enflammeer-se kam ta uns wolf.

– Tu zibel ex ia westclins, murmurit is. Proe-tenties tu endermine mien autoritat ?

– Io ne tohrb kwehre to, antwohrd Conan. Has lughen quando has saygen id arriven om nov
recruts ne es' due me. To es' dank me. Eent wohlt ab te, yed katuer pro me. Es' neid place
pro dwo chefs iom Zuagirs. Woideer som is nerter. Iens comprehendo kreins quem tu, ed ies
me meile, somghi unschi barbar.
– Ed quod saycsien' quando prehcsies ke katuent pro i Khauranis ? Sprohg Olgerd, spoctic.
– Me sehkwsient. Ibs promittsiem un kamellcaravan bekladen med gold lwon ex id palat.
Khauran sessiet suamenos de payghe tod summ kay mizdes iens de abdehvs Constantius.
Poskwo, iens ducsiem do boi protie iens Turanis, kam has previden. Volen' lwon, ed
katuesien' protie Constantius au quelkwe po tod.

Un marloubiadiutis biieusk in Olgerds okwi. Alnos in sien scarlat sogna os imperium, is hieb lipsen
vide quo bihsit spohnen ambh iom. Episodes ed incidents qua hieb ei kwohken anodin brutal-ye
renfiell ei ed emseer iro druv dimension. Is tun vighieb od Conan ne jimien aun grund. Is olbjim in
zirah qui stahsit ant iom eet is druv chef iom Zuagirs.

– Ploisko sei nehcs ! Murmurit Olgerd.

Eys hand skizzit uno mov kyid hamand siens weben. Conan plieg samt felin okutat. Eys brakh
kwecto gwohl tiel ocolo id table ed eys finghers zagyahr ambh Olgerds bagu. Osta buit distinct-ye
aurna brehge, ed wakto tengicit oistahe still unte oin instant : dwo wirs face mutu, aunmov kam
statues, swoid prehpend ep id chol os
Olgerd. Conan iliey, aun aiwo slues sien kjiboen ambh id brohct brakh.

– Es tu olgh os gwive, Olgerd ?

Conan ne zasmih. Eysa gneubhic brakhs oistohlb ep sien bagu, skeipend tegu cresta, ed is grohndit
med sien finghers id kreusend krewos ios kosak. Biht aurt id knarnd blosk om brohgen osta qua
gwohm ad ghnihes protie mutu ed Olgerds lige spielv do asch ; cruoro srusit ex id lipp is dohnk,
yed is ne exbohr swon.

Conan slu iom gleihnd-ye ed retrostiup. Is kosak vienk ed se protiedier kata id bors ios table med
sien valid hando mae falle.

– Te linkwo gwiv, Olgerd, kam tu me has likwt id gwit, iey Conan sakwn-ye, esdi me has
disgwohzden ex id cruce tik po tien saul interesse. Un baygh bitter ordeil me kwehndihst ye
tod dien ; ne habies ghohdt survive id ; ne de sem, ploisko un barbar ex id West.
Ghend tien ekw ed abgwah. Es' diehn ye id caud ios delt, ed son' spieja ed jlampohn in ia
bukchas ios seddel. Nimen te vidsiet abrides, yed spehd. Es' neid place pro un decheen chef
in id desert. Sei ies jenchis te dyehrce, klombh ed deposen, ne te sinsien' linkwes id waun
gwiv.

Olgerd ne antwohrd. Lent-ye, aun werd, is vols, stohmb unte id delt, ierk id suknopan ye id entren
ed sielg. Is birid silent iom buland albh aygur qui eet diehn ter, in id skadh iom mier palmas ;
nataycend, sien brohgen brakh snigen do ia diplas os sien khalat, is siz ia oulers ios ekw ed fortrohc
eusttro, kyid vasto desert, linkwnd proaiw id existence ios zuagir folk.

Eni id delt, Conan expohsit id flasken vin ed clackih sien lipps samt plaisure. Pos xeubhus id tuich
poder do un wangwl, is adjustit sien yeusmen ed gress ex id tente. Is oistopit unte oin instant ed sisit
sien spect ambichehxe ia roigs delten ex camelldrighs qua strohc ant sien okwi, ed i gastalts in albh
rogvo qui trohc inter ta, besic med tolke, sehngve, urpes rougs we skarpnes tulwars.

Is bahsit med un stohntervoco qui buit aurt unte id hol waun :

– Yu, bande om kwauns ! Akowsiete attentive-ye ! Meunstert ambh me. Ho un storia ad narre
vos !
 V
ID VOC IN ID CRISTALL

In un kyal ios torios prokwem id duivar ios urb, un grupp wirn klusit attentive-ye id wekwos os oin
ex iens. Eent meryi, samt kaurd ed siuk corpos, samt tod gwayt quod esti tod iom wirn quens
adversitato hat buwen parat ad quant. Vohseer zirahs ed sioulskau lietern povestis. Einum einso
hiengit kata ir belt.

– Io wois od Conan sieyg prabh kun is sieyg od ne eet Taramis ! Exclamit qui bahsit.
– Unte munts ho io perikwohln ambh id palat, me sameihnd uni boder taskar. Ed bad ho io
math' de quo eem convict inkaptos : od nies rayn est prisoner in ia bodroums engwn id palat.
Ho intizarn tiel un waurmen ed ho kapen un schemi cipire, ho niterplact iom kun is likw id
ghehrd, sert ye sem vesper, ho sohlct iom do un prokwem kellar ed ho questiont iom. Pre
nehce hat is mi saygen quo vos ho jus' lohgen ed confirmen quo suspexam inkaptos, nu-est
un yasa ia gwen qua regnet ep Khauran : Salome. Taramis, hat is gwut, est karcerbohndt in
id deubs' bodroum ios prison.
Id invasion iom Zuagirs nos dadwt id waurmen wey intizier. Quo Conan kwehrskwt, khako
sayge. Kad is hol mer-ye kweinskwt Constantius. Kad is sacskwt ed destrucskwt id urb. Est
un barbar ed nimen ghehdt ghabe quo wakyet in id ment solgen wirn.
Bet dehlgmos kwehre eno : khalasse Taramis menxu is boi rarzt ! Constantius vaht tyices un
sortie ed lever boi in id plain. Nunkye bireide eys yeudmi ir ekwens. Is act it neghi son' kafi
meriendes in id citad pro tehle un siege. Conan hat gwohlt ex id desert tem fujatan quem ne
buit possible bringhes proviendes in. Ed is Kimri est schowbeyn kay belagher. Skulks hant
reportet od ies Zuagirs hat siege machines, aundwoi strugen yeji Conans bereulens, qui hat
ucen weirkerdos in ia westnations.
Constantius ne vanscht id siege dure' diu ; vaht ghi age sien trupps perodh do id plain, quer
is wehlpt abfirsche Conan unte oin schtoss. Is linkwsiet tik oik centens wirn in id urb, ed toy
sessient ep ia walls ed ia tors qua uperwakhe ia dwors ios citad.
Id prison bihsiet likwn quasi aun guardes. Oins kun habsiemos lurn Taramis, acsiemos
sekwent ia circumstances. Sei Conan vinct, dehlcsiemos dikes Taramis ei popule ed
pamrlanihes id. Ed sient ! Yaghi sient ! Hatta tik med ir bare ghesors, son' kafi kathire pro
uperwaldhe Schemis manus urbi ed pro clude ia urbdwors, sammel contra iens mercenars ed
iens vagders ! Neuters solle uperage ta walls ! Dind, parlarsiemos con Conan. Buit semper
loyal dia Taramis. Sei is mantht id druve, ed sei ia appellet iom, mehno is gahapsiet id citad.
Sei, way shayader, geihiet Constantius ed bihiet enkasret Conan, tun dehlcsiemos snehge ex
id urb ed endergwehme unte id fug. Est to hol alnos clar ?

Ies antwohrd kam oin.

– Tun smad exkardkasche nies miecha, recommande nies atmens ad Istar ed abgwahe do id
prison, iesghi mercenars sont ja uperagend id suddwor.

Is sieyg druve. Ia diutis os octent twis ep ia ak helms ios yeudmenstrohm quod dohn sub id mier
arche, ed ep ia riche charapakhs iom maurks. Esiet oin tom reidbois qua maghe bihe prispohcen tik
in Orient. Ies reiders uperieg ia urbdwors kam un stalen fluv, deuski gastalts in swordgreiso zirah,
samt ir ghaytic berd ed iro vreg nas, ir yunkciokwi ye-yom budmen inikies tod fatalisme apanage
irios race, tod total absence os keungen au mildet.

Id menegh wieurg in ia strads ed ep ia walls, spehcend silent tens jenchis alyios genos quoy ieg
defende id urb in-yod ige hieb gnahn. Aunblosk ies dyohrc, impassible, skeudprotiokwi, ti lagar
leuds in ir schughev povestis, ir kufya in ir hand. In un tod quod uperhieng id magho strado quod
duxit ei sudtor, Salome nonchalant-ye lyohg ep un silken couch, observend Constantius menxu so
eet adjustend id weur belt ambh sien teun hanks kata-yod hieng eys eins ed bivehsend sien
guantletes. Eent saul in id kyal. Id cadencen clicken iom khathen ed id stampen iom kaphs ghohd
im ex dworis, per ia goldenstangh fensters.

– Pre noctgumt, declarit Constantius, streikwnd sien fayno moustache, habsies oik kapts kay
satisface id appetitt tiens demon in id temple. Kwe ne se malalt id moll krewos im citadins ?
Kad preihiet ia darm memsa uns desert wir ?
– War mae bihe is praedd uns creature gverer quem Thaug, iom mieun ia gwenak. Mae
myehrs quis ammert tens desert biestens.
– Ne sa-myehrso iom, antwohrd is. Eti est oin iom sababs bi-ya salgo ad incontre iom. So
kwaun hat katuen in id West ed gnoht id kerdos iom siegen. Mienims skulks hat lyt molien
snehge prosch ia colunns os eys heir iesghi yeudmi os eys cavalerie proddrungins son'
peluspohc. Han' lakin ghohdt kafi prosch kay vide ia jihases montet ep camelltract chariots :
catapults, vrens, ballistas, mangonels. Per Istar ! Is hat sollt orbatihes myryens wirs die ed
noct unte oin hol munt. Quetos hat is sib procuren id material necessar kay struge ia, to
khako ghabe. Kad hat is signen un traiteit con i Turanis ed obtenen sien betyeicens per i ?
Quodkwe bih to, to hol ei daughsiet ka neid. Niet ses id prest ker od katuesiem protie tens
desert wolfs, quantenprest exchanges om isugastrohls, unte-ya mien jenchis sessient
protegen ab ir armur, dind un charge ed mien squadrons schiausient ep ia diaspohrt swarms
iom vagders, abgeirsient ed chargesient in alter sense, skendhend iens do ia quar winds.
Reicsiem id suddwor pre soleurehp, con centens nogwen bardachen titubend apter mien
ekwo. Meg dapansiemos hovesper, ep id meithel. Mien soldats maung kame skehne ir
peinds gwiv ; vahmos organise un public session ye mier scal ed dwinghsiemos tim
auncourage civs ad smauter. De Conan, habiem id megst plaisure os becepe iom ep ia
stieupens ios palat, sei ghehdmos kape iom in gwit.
– Skehn quaytlibt, ei antwohrd, indifferent, Salome. Me plaisiet habe un rogvex mensctwac,
kaur-ye bursen. Bet dehlcs mi dahe lytst-ye un centen prisonern... pro id altar ed pro Thaug.
– Ijaben, antwohrd Constantius, slahmend retro med sien siderguantet hand id dispars kays
quod crohsc ep eys quasikalv solbrunen ghalv. Pro victoria ed id honor ias noble Taramis !
Iey is, spoctic.

Sneigend sien visierhelm sub sien brakh, is liv un hand ka salut ed sielg id kyalo clackeihnd-ye sien
armur. Eys voc buit aurn kun is cricit wehlens ad sien officiers.

Salome lyohg tsay ep sien cubh, ghih, strohcit kam una mier urand felid ed kiel :

– Zang !

Un ninstieupo pryster quos lige kwohkit kam un gohlben pergamen quod habiet bihe tens ep eys
ghalv, entrit in silence.

Salome vols kyun ivoren pedstol ep-yod wohs dwo cristallglobes. Ia lambhit smulker ed dahsit id
lamper sphere ei pryster.

– Abgwah con Constantius, ieyit ia. Me informesies de id jinkdousa ios boi. Gwask' idi !

Is ghlalvcap wir dientowit deub samt un weidwos protiokwum ed, skeulkend id globe do ia diplas
os sien deusk mantel, abspohd ex id kyal.

Dworis, in id citad, hol eet silent, ploisko id behngos iom kaphs ed, sem wakt serter, ios blosk iom
urbdwors qua zaghyahr clanghend-ye. Salome stigh un weur marmordrab quod adduxit uni
banisban clus med marmorzanns ed subkeihnd un dais. Id uperhieng ceter urbtrebs. Ia strads eent
desert, id meithel face id palat eet tuich. In normal tid, leuds vergihr id buxianxu temple quod
oistieusit ocolo tod place, bet, kongcio, id citad samkwohk uno mortu wastu. Eent visa signes os
gwito tik ep id sudduivar ed ep ia terrasses qua uperhieng tod. Leuds clostreer ter. Eent sakwn, ne
woidend kweter i dohlg vansche id sigh au id marloubia os Constantius. Un sigh mayniet id
prolongation irs misere sub tos intolerable waldh ; uno marloubia significiet shayad od id citad
bihiet plundern ed od bihiet un halak. Conan hieb yisen neid message. I ne wois quo exspecte ud
iom. I mohm is eet un barbar. Id silence tos munstern menegh eet waurgend, quasi incredible.

Ia squadrons om mercenars desployeer in id plain. Dalgi, ye cid gon ios rivier, kyehrsen masses ieg.
Eet payn enderkwit od lit de yeudmens reidend ir ekwens. Alyi kyehrsen formes wohs ye alter
ouper. Conan ne hieb uperpuscen sien siege jihases trans id sreumen, baynd okwivid-ye un attaque
ye id moment ios pert. Is hiebit punor uperridiht sien hol cavalerie. Inikas twis eni id kyehrsen
dwaschaw id weusend sol hieb just beluct. Ia squadrons ex id urb abgaloppeer ed un profund baub
ghohdit do ia aurs tim qui eent ep ia walls.

Ia weundelnd masses confuseer-se ed mixeer-se. Viden ud tod distance, ia skip un blanden melee ed
eet impossible enderkwites quodkwe. Ia charges khiek bihe differencyet ud ia contrattaques.
Duilnebhs lud ex id plain, ayrn ab id stampen iom kaphs, occultend ia combats. In ta twehrnda
nebsa prohp ed disprohp compact masses om reiders ed tweiser lances.

Salome plex ed oistighit ghom tsay. Id palat eet silent. Vasyi sclavs eent ep ia walls con i civs,
scrutend in vain sudtro.

Ia penetrit id kyal in-yod ia hieb tolken con Constantius prosch id pedstol, kaund id cristallglobe eet
nekweiter ed scarlatstriht. Ia se clih kyid ball, enderwaurgend-ye un rughat.

– Zang ! Kiel ia. Zang !

Voluts twohr eni id sphere, se transformend do duildewers, trans-ya eent dyohrct non-recognible
active kyehrsen gastalts. Stalen blixa twis ex tid do tid in tod deusk ed indistincto masse. Stayg-ye
wierdh id lige os Zang samt surprindend nettitat. Eet kamsei eys distarnd okwi spohc ub kye
Salome. Cruoro srusit ex un vurnos in eys lagar cap, eys cuit eet greis ob duil, quod swoid rehnih. Is
ghienit sien stohm ed fras. Pro aurs alya quem ta as Salome, kwecto habiet id lige in id cristall
moven sien lipps in silence. Bet ia ieur id wekwos quod skiep eyso stohm tem distinct-ye quem sei
is pryster habiet wohsen in id sam kyal quem ia, ed ne milia apank, criend in id smulko cristallball.
Tik i tenidivs wois qua magic ed invisible filaments yug ta dwo lamper globes.

– Salome ! Hul id cruorpoiko cap. Salome !

– Te auro ! Cricit ia ye sien roig. Bah ! Kam jinkdout id boi ?
– Smos lusen ! Scricit is lagar apparition. Khauran est khatem ! Ya, mien ekwo lyehc' ghomi
ed khako me lures. Wirs nehce ambh me ! Fallent kam muschi, in ir argwnrtlik armur !
– Zaflehen ed lehg mi quo hat wakyen ! Interrup ia iom med un brehgend ton.
– Wey ieg perodh kye tens desert kwauns ed ies han' schturm' kyan' nos ! Hul is pryster. Nebsa
om isus pluk inter bo agias ed ies vagders flex. Constantius dahsit id signal ios charge. Nies
ardehn rangs hant ruschen kyens in un stohnterbehngos.
Tun hant ir hordes abvic' dextro ed levtro ed trimil hyborian reiders quom presence wey ne
hatta suspexam hant enghulfen do tod breche. Khauran wirs, foll ob haines, alnos armurn,
reidend ep massive ekwens ! Disposen in lancepuladh, hant hihn kam keraun. Han' vrohn'
nies lignes pre wey ghohd ghabe quo wakyit, ed tun hant ies desert wirs ruscht ep nies
flanks.
Han' kayden nies lignes, nos han' brohgen ed diaspohrn. Eet un renk tos diabolic Conan ! Ia
 siege jihases eent fals, simple carcasses ex palmatrunks ed pict silk, qua han drughen nies
skulks, quoy han' viden ia tik dalgtos. Un kapan kay nos attrage ed nos abehle ! Nies jenchis
son' feugend ! Khumbanigash lyehc' ghomi, nict ab Conan. Ne vido Constantius. Ies
Khauranis mette nies desorganise' rangs, furieus kam cruorlasni lions, ed ies desert wirs nos
bestrehle med isus ! Ego...

Buit un staygo diutis, kam un blix au id fugitive arg unios miech, nukten ab un gwehlmen os aliw
cruor, dind id kwiter disprohp unte oin schtoss, kam un burbule quod sprehnct, ed Salome wohs
dyeind un tuich cristallball quod reflexit neid alyo quem ays lige deformet ab rage.

Ia stahsit perfect-ye still unte un khvil, se forspehcend do kenos. Dind ia clieck med sien hands ed
alyo ghalvcapo pryster entrit, tem silent ed impassible quem preter.

– Constantius est vict, ieyit ia in un annem. Smos vrohnen. Conan sessiet vrehnend nies dwors
in id hor. Sei me kapt, io fiker neid sislew pro me. Bet preter vahm swekwehre ke mienyebh'
swester naiwo seddsiet tsay ep sien thron. Sehkwe me ! Quodkwe siet wakye, Thaug
poittsiet meje !

Steighend ghom ia stieupens ed tehrnd ia dikhliz ios palat, ia ieur id mulayim echo uns blosk ex ia
duivars. I weitwodds hiebeer bighaben od id boi wohrt do marloubia pro Constantius. Trans ia
duilnebhs eent dyohrcen reidergrupps qua rusch kyid citad.

Id palat ed id prison eent yuct ab un longo cluden galerie, quos akmen skip un succession om
buxianxu arcades. Se precipitend unte tod galerie, ia fals rayn ed ayso sloug uperstiup uno massive
dwer ye alter bors, quod adduxit uni cotlan ios prison. I hieb just emers do un large wonk dikhliz,
prokwem id stet quer un petradrab dub do anun. Stayg Salome stiup retro, lambht ab baysa, ed
rughiet. In id xep ios galerie eet tarken un forme quod lyohgit ghomi, aunmov. Un schemi cipire,
quod cort berdo stohlb kyid tavan, sien cap cliht retro, quasi lut ex sien pwoltohmen coll. Kwehsend
vocs ghohdeer do ia aurs ias gwenak ed ia endergwohm do ia skadhs uns arcade, puscend iom
pryster apter se, menxu ays hand ambhtastit ayso yeusmen.

VI
IA PTERGS AL GWULTUR

Nu-salgihsit id kohldert diutis uns gwakios Taramis, rayn os Khauran, id swehpen in-yod ia pieursk
myehrsen. Kneigvend ep uter hand, ia brigh sien implohcto kays retro ed mic, exspectend vide ia
goilisk traits as Salome, pregen ab un diabolic joyo ye id dayi iom nov aziyats ia hieb exmohnt.
Ghohdit de uno mildetscrie blans ad horror do ays aurs :

– Taramis ! O mien rayn !

Ta werds cliengh tem stragn-ye ye ays aurs quem ia mohn dar unte oin instant ia eet drehmend. Ia
enderkwit taiper formes apter id gwak, dyohrc id inikas os stal, ed bad penk liges clihr-se uper iam,
ne maur ed vregnas, sontern ia enokwa samt regular ed aquilin traits om wirs samt solbrunt cuit. Se
ahockit in siena nippes, samt lusen spect.

Oino iom gastalts oistiupit perodh ed dehsit uter genu ghomtro, samt platughyanen brakhs kyam in
un iltijanto geste.
 – O Taramis ! Istar estu danct, hams retrohven vos ! Ne mehmte yu me ? Valerius ! Oin dien
habte yuswo gratulen me, pos id boi os Korveka !
– Valerius ! Balbiel ia, dakrus gwehlend stayg ex ays okwi. Oh, drehmo ! Est iter sem soitos as
Salome, kay me aziyate !
– No ! Scricit is med un vibrant voc. Wey ghi smos vies derv slougs, gwohmen ad khalasse
vos ! Dehlgmos lakin spehde. Constantius lever' boi protie Conan in id plain. Conan hat
uperagihn sien Zuagirs id rivier, bet tricent Schemis nadarnt id urb. Habmos nicen iom
cipire ed lambhen eys cleicha. Hams vis niom alyo guarde. Bet dehlgmos abgwahe hetos.
Gwehmte !

Ia jambs ias rayn cesseer sub iam, ne ob sliebe, sontern ob contracutt ad quo ay wakyit. Valerius
ieyrit iam kamsei habiet liten de unu magv ed i spohd ex id bodroum, precess ab iom wir qui
swohng id gwak, poskwo stigh un petradrab samt najis ed sleubric stieupens. Id nardban kwecto
naiw ens, yed arriveer bad un vasto dikhliz, unte quod gwahr.

Passeer ye id nivell uns arcade kun id gwak buit stayg blahn sgwest. Qui swohng id emiss un bragv
agoniacrie. Un explosion os moder piurn gwohl fujatan in id dikhliz, beleucend fugitive-ye id
furieus lige as Salome tem quem un bestial forme hockt nieb iam, dind quanti buir blins ab id arg
tos flamme.
Valerius tentit nastehmbe con iam rayn unte id dikhliz ; is ieur confus-ye id blosk om katel cutts
deubend do krewos, samt kharkhars os agonia ed un bestial brohm. Dind ia rayn buit wild-ye raben
ex eys brakhs, ed un gver cutt ep eys helm xubh iom ghomtro.

Is oistieu tsay lyut-ye, scussit sien cap kay abdehe ud se id blou flamme quod kwecto diens
diabolic-ye ant eys okwi. Kun is ghohd iter vide, is vighieb is eet saul in id dikhliz... saul ploisko
iens mortus. Eys quar sokwis lyohg in iro cruor, samt fisden ghalv ed raghen torso. Blins ed
desorientet ab tod infernal diutis, ies hieb nohct aun ghehdus alege. Ia rayn eet missend.

Rughatend bitter-ye ed poignant-ye, Valerius ghens ub sien eins, rohv ex sien cap sien fiss helm ed
toxubh id. Tod cliengh sistundend-ye protie ia flises. Cruor rohn ep id gian ios soldat, sekwos un
vurnos ei kayscuit.

Titubend, aziyaten ed rhayr-gwaukan, is ieur un voco crie sieno nam in un desperat kal :

– Valerius ! Valerius !

Is vienk perodh kyid voc ed kun is ghohd ye un kantun ios dikhliz, un delicate ed urand forme se
xubh frenitic-ye do eys brakhs.

– Ivga ! Es tu foll ?
– Io tohrb gwehme ! Sluct ia. Te ho sohkwn. Ho tupen sub un arcade in id exterghehrd. Sem
instants pos, ho viden iam emerge con un brute qui bohr un gwen in sien brakhs. Io wois eet
Taramis, ed ho ghapt tu hiebs' duyst ! Oh, es vurnt !
– Tik un grobos ! (Is fortraxit-se ex ayso strineg). Oku, Ivga, sayg mi unte quer hant abfuct !
– Hant tohrt id ghehrd, kyid temple.

Is palliesc.

– Istar ! Sa lughav creature ! Ia prodahskwt Taramis ei diabel ia dyeint ! Oku Ivga ! Curr tiel
id sudduivar quer i leuds spehce id boi ! Sayg im od ir druv rayn buit retrohft.... ed od ia
rhassib sehlct iam do id temple ! Gwah !

Sleuctend-ye, ia gwenak abspohd, sien legv sandals clackend ep ia flises, ed Valerius rusch ocolo id
ghehrd, poskwo dub do id strad pre surrege ep id place adduxit-yei tod. Is tun drahsit kyid miero
treb quod oistieusit ye alter gon.

Eys agil peds eesistunde id marmor menxu is bestigh ye plen speud id miero drab ed uperdrahsit id
colunnade. Okwivid-ye hieb ir kapta suwen oik sweurghs ad sien raptors. Taramis, tarkend id fat
quod ay eet script, vrikst med id hol energia quod ayso yun splendid corpos ghohd protie iom brutal
pryster. Ye uno moment hieb ia hatta ghohden se rehve ex id strineg tos, pre wehse sohlct iter sem
instants serter.

Id grupp eet ye midvia ios immense desniosnav, ye-yos alter bors wohs id buxianxu altar ed, apter
tod, id mier metalldwer samt obscene cisellures quod maungs hieb upergwaht, bet ud-yod tik
Salome hieb aiwo riken. Salomes annem hieb-se changet do kwehsa. Ays lumps hieb esen rohven
unte id vreikst. Ia strubh-se protie sien kieplik raptor, kam una nogwa nymphe in ia brakhs os un
satyr. Salome glexit tod spectaclr, cynic yed yehsend ob impatience, ed sammel stohmb kyid
sculpen dwer. In id pwoldiew in-yod eent mergen, i obscene divs ed i garguyls iom majestueus murs
jvieyer tod scene, kam behemend un yaumdango gwit.
Pnehgend ob rage, Valerius precipitit-se unte id mier galerie, einsghesor. Salome emiss un schrill
crie. Is ghalvcapo pryster tun spohc ub, slu Taramis ed exkardkiesch uno massive, ja cruorpoik,
khandjar. Is rusch kyom chargend Khaurani. Yed mette wirs blins ab Salomes diabolic diutis eet
alnos alyo quem katue protie uno yun Hyborian samt gneubhic corpos, ja gwenmant ab rage ed
haines.

Id cruorpoik khandjar buit liven, bet pre id nidyohgwit, id long angh ed srakut miech os Valerius
fiss id hava, ed id peungsto quod dohrj id kniv buit lun ex sien runc samt un asernggwehlmen.
Valerius, dribhen ab id follia ios katu, plieg ye un dwot ker, dind ye alyo, pre is endersess forme
collapsit. Id miecho transbieur krewos ed osta. Id ghalvo fiell ye uter gon, id pwolsegen torso ye
alter.

Valerius pivotit ep seswo, tem oku ed gver quem un jungle felid, glanzend kye Salome. Ia hieb sollt
exhause sien reserves os ogwnpulver in id prison. Ia eet cliht uper Taramis, empungend ia sword
ghayts as sien swester med uter hand, swehngend un daga in alter. Samt un gvero crie, Valerius
plieg, sehnd sien eins do id pizdan ias gwenias med tant rage quem id ak eysios miech exstohlb
inter ia omsa. Emittend un keapay heul, ia yasa collapsit ghomtro, krampend in gvolspasmes,
tentend sizes id bare miech kun Valierius fortraxit tod ex ids krewoskardkasch, deumend ed
cruorsmeu. Ays okwi eent nemensclik ; med un ayu quod udmikdier tod im ghomens, ia antgrip id
gwit quod srusit ex id vurnos quod hieb sect in dwo id scarlat hilal os ays ivorpizd. Ia repit ep id
swol, noghend ed dehnkend ia bare petras in sien agonia spasmes.

Dat tod spectacle ei eet kados, Valerius clih-se ed ieyrit iam pwolbayaldisset rayn. Disvolgend ud
iam silhouette qua kriemp ghomi, is abdrahsit kyid dwer ed kwohlp in sien hast. Is titubit tiel id
portic ed hielt ubdrabs. Id place eet laht ab id menegh. Sems hieb accurren pos aurus Ivgas
auncoherence cries ; alyi hieb likwt ia walls, dekhschat ab ia hordes qua schieur ex id desert,
feugend aun mimehnus kyid urbcentre. I leuds waurs dind abvic, heulend ed kraghend. Dalgi,
engwn id strad, buit aaurn indistinct-ye id behngos iom petrablocks ed gwaru dreun balks ceddend
sub ia hajoums.

Un grupp om lyutprotiokwens schemi reiders se sohnd per id menegh. Lit de iens guardes ios
norddwor, quoy se precipiteer kay hehlpe irens driugs ios suddwor. Protietraxeer ia ansias iren
reidbiesten kun ies dyohrc iom yuwen qui, ep ia stieupens, dohrj in sien brakhs iam inert ed nogwu
silhouette. In id menegh, vasya caps vols kyid temple ed natyeic ant tod vision, nov troublelement
quod gwohm ad se addihes iri ja megil confusion.
– en vies rayn ! Hul Valerius, quei molicit bihe aurt in id generalo clamor.

Id menegh ei responsit med un surprise baub. I leuds ne ghieb, ed Valerius bahsit jaharer in vain kay
se aurihes in tod demential cacophonia. Ies Schemis galopper tiel ia stieupens ios temple, se
sehndend per id menegh med lancencutts.

Tun gwohm un nov buxianxu element ad se gwuntes ei general follia. Ex id teniplen anun ios
temple, apter Valerius, emers un teun albh, cruorstriht silhouette. I leuds hul ; ter, in ia brakhs os
Valerius, kihsit ia gwen i mohn ses ir rayn ; yed cer, ye id dwer ios temple, titubit perodh alya
silhouette qua eet kam un reflect preters. Ir ments dusiesc. Valerius khissit sehrgo glehdje in sien
veines menxu is oistier ay yun yasa qua vienk perodh. Eys einso hieb transbaurn iam, fiss ays kerd
in dwo. Ia sollit ses mortu ; sekwent vasya loys os nature, ia ghohd ses tik mortu. Yed ia vienk ter ep
sien jambs, antgreipend horrible-ye gwit.

– Thaug ! Hul ia, weipend ep id soyl. Thaug !

Kam un response tei terrible invocation, un stauro grok udcliengh eni id temple ; buit aurn un blosk
om metall ed dreu qua beughe dind cracke.

– Ia est ia rayn ! Bieub is hetman iom Schemis oiswehngend-ye sien lonc. Gvehnte iom wir ed
alyu gwen !

Lakin, un baub lik tei uns desperat meute lud ex id popule ; hiebeer bad just ghapt id druve, ghapt ia
frenitic kals os Valerius. I wois od ia gwenaka qua kihsit aunmov ep eys brakhs eet ira druv rayn.
Samt un crie quod vibrihsit atmens, i rusch ep iens Schemis, dehnkend iens, raghend iens ed
nighend iens med ir bare hands, med id hol harbrage uns pior diu arctios rage. Uper i, Salome vienk
ed collapsit ghomdrabs ia marmorstieupens, bad mortu.

Isus pluk ambh Valerius menxu is wigh hirs-ye aretraite ed endergwohm apter ia colunns ios portic,
protegend id corpos ias raynias med sieno. Abyeisend ir isus ed sciddend aun mildet, ies Schemi
reiders dier face id rarzend popule. Valerius rusch kyid dwer ios temple, bet payn-ye hieb is trohden
id soyl kun is oisciend retro, emittend un crie om horror ed gjian.

Surregend ex id temos ye alter bors ios mier galerie, un titanesk forme ieyrit-se dind se xubh ep iom
med gigantesk klaups ye id weidos uns batrac. Is dyohrc id arg om mier supernatural okwi, id diutis
onoghen. Is abvic ud id dwor, ed ye tod moment id strid uns isu pri eys aurs mieun iom od nehc eet
zaschi iom. Is pivotit, aunspeh. Quar au penk Schemis hieb-se sohndt per id menegh ed galoppeer
ub ia stieupens oispernend-ye irens reidbiestens, samt tens loncs ed parat ad transbaure iom. Is
klieup kyapter un colunn, protie-yod ia isus gwohm ad brehge. Taramis hiebit bayaldissen. Ia hieng
in eys brakhs, kam mortu.

Pre ies Schemis ghehdient abyises un nov gastrohl, id dwor buit obstrugen ab un titanesk forme.
Emittend paurheuls, ies mercenars abgir ed inkiep se sehnde frenitic-ye per id menegh, quod
bistrohm retro unte un horrorelan, waurgend ed trahnend mutu in id baraonda.

Lakin hieb is monster kwecto dahn sien attention ad Valerius ed iam gwenak. Upermovend sien
enorm ed instable masse per id dwor, is creature klieup lyi menxu is soldat se precipitit ghomdrabs.
Is khiss za se id presence tos colossal ed sombre ject, lik uni aberration os nature rohven ex id kerd
os noct, kyehrsen ed aunforme jectios quos tik ia starnd okwi ed ia lamper edonts eent distinct.

Buit aurn staug id behngos kaphen. Schemis weighend aretraite ex id suddwor, cruorpoik ed
marloub, enghulf ep id place, findend blind-ye id compact menegh. Apter iens gwohl tunkye un
trupp reidern quoy emiss cries in un familiar bahsa, swehngend aserngrudhen einsa... Ies exileits
hieb riken ! Eent hamraht ab penkgim swordberdens desert reiders, ammern ab un olbjim in
kyehrsen armur.

– Conan ! Hul Valerius. Conan !

Is olbjim bieusit un wehlen. Aun stope in iro frenitic drahsa, ies desert wirs liv poskwo tens ir loncs
ed abyis ira strehls. Un nebos om isus pluk stridend-ye uper id place, uper id rarzend menegh, ed
dyohgw empennagedeub id corpos ios monster. So stahsit still, wip lent-ye, poskwo stieutsay,
kyehrsen gloi wardhend ant ia marmorcolunns. Ye un dwot kero stris id stalen nebh, dind iter ye
alyo ker ed bad collapsit id horror, rollend ghomdrabs, tem mortu quem ia yasa qua hieb kyuken
iom ex ciengow.
Conan protietraxit ia ansias os sien ekwum ant id portic ed skans ex seddel. Valerius hieb lyigen iam
rayn ghom ep id marmor, ed hieb collaben nieb iam, ob sien extreme exhaustion. Leuds accurs ed
waurs ambh i. Is Kimri strehmihsit i retro im mleund-ye rughats, dind ieyr id swordkaysar cap ias
rayn ed knigvihsit id ep sien sidermoiniht oms.

– Per Crom, quod maynt to ? Ia druv Taramis ! Ya, es' druve-ye ia, o Deiwes ! Bet qua lyehct
ter ?
– Ia demon qua hieb emt ays aspect, kwohs Valerius.

Conan emiss un suakhissen rughat. Pos rehvus un cappa ex ia omsa os un soldat, is covohr tosmed
id nogwod corpos ias rayn. Ia long sword pecmens ias wanakti plieb ep aysa gians. Ays okwi
ghyahr, ed ia spohc id schramwent lige ios Kimri, incredule.

– Conan ! (Ays delicate finghers zaghyahr ep eys rauk hands). Som io drehmend ? Ia mi hat
saygen od ees mortu....
– Noghi ! Iey is, samt un lyut smeih. Ne drehms. Has rebihn rayn os Khauran. Ho pernicen id
heir os Constantius, dalger, ana id rivier. Pleisti eysen kwauns ne han' gwiwt kafi diu pro
nake ia walls, ioghi hieb berul' mae kwehre prisoners, ploisko Constantius. Id guardia ios
urb hat slaht ia dwors ant nos, yed hams ghohden penetre med vrens pagen niesims seddels.
Ho likwt mien quant wolfs saygway, ploisko ciens penkgim yeudmens. Io ne trus iens sei
 habient est eni, ed toy yun Khauranis een' kafi kathire pro iens guardes iom dwors.
– Quod un coschmar to buit ! Stun ia. Oh, mien orm popule ! Dehlcs me hehlpe ad mizdes
iens po quanto han' kwohnden, Conan, ar es nuntos mien conciler, trans ses mien hetman !

Conan glih, bet scussit sien cap. Staund-ye ub, is hohlp iam rayn ad oistahe tsay, ed dahsit znayc
tibs om sien khaurani reiders quoy ne hieb abchassen iens Schemis in kasra. Ies oiskiend ex seddel,
impatienti de obedihes ia wehlens irias retrohft rayn.

– No, meirka, to hol es' prev. Som kongcio chef iom Zuagirs ed dehlgo abnihes iens ad
plunder Turan, kam io hieb ibs promiss. So yuwen, Valerius, sessiet un gohder hetman quem
ego. Ne som kwohrn pro gwive inter marmormurs, zowngschie. Mi es' megil tid kem
abgwahm ioghi dehlgo abkape quo ho enderghens. Son' dar gwiv Schemis in Khauran.

Menxu Valerius pariet-se ad sehkwe Taramis tiel id palat ocolo id place, inter dwo roigs em civs in
delirium qui hul jaharst, is khiss delicate finghers oisnehge inter siena ; is vols kay primes Ivgas
minc corpos do sien brakhs. Is attraxit iam do se, drehnkend ays kussa med id hol schakiria uns
exhaust wighios qui trehft bad rahat pos pelu tribulations ed storms.

Vasyi mensci ne eiskwnt pridem, lakin ; sems hant gnahn samt abehlmenos in ir veines, abadic
messagers om gvalt ed massacre, gnohndi neid alyo via...

Id sol eurohp. Id antique caravanenroute eet empedisen ab albhrogv reiders, skeipend un sinueus
ligne quod oistrohc ex Khaurans walls do un apolusen point in id plain. Conan is Kimri wohs acap
tod colunn, seddend prokwem id dischtukeln bors uns dreun balwng stehlbend ex id grund. Hol nieb
tod vestige stieusit alyo cruce, ed kata-yod hieng un wir, gwohzdt ye hands ed peds.

– Sept munts prever, Constantius, declarit Conan, eem ye tien place, ed tu ye mieno.

Constantius antwohrd neid. Is lig sien barth lipps ed eys okwi eent glasic ob gvol ed dekhschat. Ia
muscles os eys turs corpos eent tenden kam seils ed srohten ab spasmes.

– Es beghapter pro inflige torture quem pro endure id, iey Conan med un tawrlien ton. Eem
crucificten ye tod stet, hol kam tu, bet ho survivet, dank certain circumstances ed tod ayu
quod est wi im barbarims. Yusmee, civiliseits, ste moll ; vies gwit ne es' gwohzdt viesi spini
kam nieso. Voster courage consist khaliban inflige gvol, ne endure id. Nehcsies pre
soleurehp. Nun, Desert Falk, te linkwo in sokwia alyes desert av.

Is znieyc, deikend i gwulturs quim skadhs passeer jaldi ep id sandaykwos menxu i twohr uper ir
caps. Uno nemensco crie om terror ed desperation gwohl tun ex ia lipps os Constantius.

Conan siz ia ansias ed abrid kyid rivier quod id aghyernsolo glimmerih kam argwrnt. Ies albhdun
ekwots abtroht apter iom. Kun ielg reider gwohm pri stet-on, eyso specto dyohrc, impersonal, samt
tod total mank os tongjon quod esti tod ios desert wir, id cruce ed iom wir qui hiengit kata id,
kyehrsen skeip wardhend ant id weussol. Ia kaphs iren ekwen qua stiemp id sans swohn id ajal ios
wir. Ia ptergs im heungric gwulturs twohr waurni, stets niter.