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was posted. He was an entire man, burly, blue-cheeked, in helmet, cuirass, leather kilt, and graves A pike stood in his grasp, a blade was sheathed at his hip. 'Hold!' he exclaimed. The walls of the antechamber flung that word back in echoes.
    Bêlit kept the scimitar behind her. She gave him the smile she used to give Aliel. 'Hold?' she murmured. 'Why, yes, in greatest pleasure, if you wish to be held, soldier. A girl grows weary of the harem.'
    Half perturbed, half allured, wholly confounded, he retreated from her. She whipped her weapon forward and attacked.
    Almost, she killed him. He sprang back, eluded the whistling edge, brought his pike shaft up to block its second cut. Bêlit slewed her blade around and sliced into his thigh.
    He yelled for help. She closed in, under his guard, smiting right and left. He dropped the pike. Had he kept his wits, he might have used it well against her – but a woman pressing in on him, laughing, reckless of life, roused terror. Bêlit had learned swordplay from her father; she had killed buffalo and lions in Rush
    'Witch, witch!' he screamed, and snatched after his own blade. Bêlit's stroke caught his wrist on the way, and made it useless. He gaped. Bêlit hewed at his neck.
    'I went out,' she told Conan. 'What cared I about what might prowl around? Night fell swiftly, to cover me.
    'I sought the harbour There I slew a watchman and stole a felucca. By then there was an ebb tide to bear me off.
    'Understand, I cherished no hopes, except for revenge. I expected my death in battle, and felt surprised when it came not. Well – I am become a harp that Derketa plays on, to call men to her queendom.
    'For a few hours I did let a dream flicker in me, of regaining Dan-marcah. Soon, though, the gods told me otherwise. The current southward is strong; unless granted favourable winds, which I was not, I could never single-hand a boat against it. Yet
    ample food and water were aboard – a destiny?
    'So I made my way back to the Black Coast, at last to my Suba.
    'The survivors among them had returned after the ship departed. Diminished, they were prey for neighbour tribes, who came looting and slave-catching. As the daughter of Bangulu, I helped them regain some strength.
    'Yet clear was to see, the Suba would not soon be great again. And I... I had my score yet to pay.
    'A vessel from Shem came in on the chance of trade. With what ivory, apes, and peacocks we could muster, I sent back a commission for a war-craft to be built and outfitted. Soon she arrived, this beautiful, vengeful Tigress of mine – of ours, Conan. My Suba fishermen needed but little exercise to learn the use of her. They are warriors as well, and have death-debts of their own. Moreover, the booty they bring home buys their tribe a new beginning.
    'I am the daughter of Bangulu. They follow me wherever I lead. Now they will follow you too, Conan.'
    The calm that had been upon Bêlit broke. She grabbed the rail harder still, arched her back, and screamed at the sky, 'Stygia, Argos, yes, many in Shem and Rush, what you have done! I curse you, I, Hoiakim's and Shaaphi's daughter, Jehanan's sister, Aliel's wife, Kedron's mother! Fire be upon you forever!'
    Conan gathered her to him. 'Beloved,' he said shakenly, 'you are hurt, beloved, and would that my sword had been there to defend you. At least it is here for your revenge.'
    Bêlit cast herself against his breast and wept. Later she raised her eyes to his, gold-brown against ice-blue, and said low: 'Conan, I have been with no man since I escaped, until you. In you, my joy and my hope are reborn.'
    'And mine in you,' he murmured.
    Her fingers ruffled his hair. 'Vengeance, yes. But afterward, Conan, a life together. If the jealous gods allow.'
     

    IV
     
    A Daughter of the Free Folk
     
    Where the Styx, flowing north from unknown sources, bent west on its long journey to the sea, was the north-eastern corner of the Stygian kingdom. South of this rose ever steeper highlands, which