Swords Against Wizardry by Fritz Leiber ...

ABBYY PDF Transformer 2.0
Click here to buy
w w w.A BBYY.co m
permissible.
As they seated themselves upon the high stools provided, Flindach turned
toward the gate nearest Brilla and began to chant. His sonorous voice was
answered by a hidden chorus and reechoed by certain of the bands in the
courtyard. For the third time the monstrous gong was sounded, and as the last
echoes faded the body of Quarmal, litter-borne, appeared. It was carried by the
six Lankhmar slavegirls and followed by the Mingols; this small band was all that
remained of the many who had slept in the bed of Quarmal.
But where, Brilla asked himself with a heart-bounding start, was Kewissa the
Ilthmarix, the old Lord's favorite? Brilla had ordered the marshaling of the girls
himself. She could not --
Slowly through a lane of prostrate bodies the litter progressed toward the
pyre. The carcass of Quarmal was propped in a sitting posture, and it swayed in a
manner horribly suggestive of life as the slavewomen staggered under their
unaccustomed load. He was garbed in robes of purple silk, and his brow bore the
golden bands of Quarmall's Lord.
Those lean hands, once so active in the practice of necromancy and
incantations, were folded stiffly over the Grammarie which had been his bible
during life. On his wrist, hooded and chained, was a great gyrfalcon, and at the
feet of its dead master lay his favorite coursing leopard, quiet in the quietness of
death. Even as was the falcon hooded, so with waxlike lids were the once
awesome eyes of Quarmal covered; those eyes which had seen so much of death
were now forever dead.
Although Brilla's mind was still agitated about Kewissa, he spoke a word of
encouragement to the other girls as they passed, and one of them flung him a
wistful smile; they all knew it was an honor to accompany their master into the
future, but none of them desired it particularly; however there was little they
could do about it except follow directions. Brilla felt sorry for them all; they were
so young, had such luscious bodies and were capable of giving so much pleasure
to a man, for he had trained them well. But custom must be fulfilled. Yet how
then had Kewissa -- ? Brilla shut off that speculation.
The litter moved on up the ramp. The chanting grew in volume and tempo as
the top of the pyre was reached, and the rays of the sun, now shining full onto the
dead countenance of Quarmal, as the litter turned toward it, reflected from the
bright hair and white skin of the Lankhmar slavegirls, who had with their
companions thrown themselves at the feet of Quarmal.
Suddenly Flindach dropped his arms and there was silence, a complete and
total silence startling in its contrast to the measured chant and clashing gongs.
Gwaay and Hasjarl sat motionless, staring intently at the figure that had once
been the Lord of Quarmall.
Flindach again raised his arms and from the gate opposite to that from
whence had come the body of Quarmal, there leaped eight men. Each bore a
flambeau and was naked but for a purple cowl which obscured his face. To the
accompaniment of harsh gong notes they ran swiftly to the pyre, two on each side
and, thrusting their torches into the prepared wood, cast themselves over the
flames they created and clambering up the pyramid embraced the slavegirls
wantonly.
ABBYY PDF Transformer 2.0
Click here to buy
w w w.A BBYY.co m