Adventure Magazine Cover — page 65: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Son of Strife “T have no itch for bonds of Holy Church.” “One day you may be required to wed,” declared the Englishman. “When that day comes, what will be the lot of the Lady Horazahde?”’ “Nay, John, you wrong me,” replied Sir Gui, smiling. ‘I have no feeling for our dried-up, brittle Frankish ladies. I seek the fire and passion of the desert people. I think I may find it in Horazahde.” “You will find it—and you will also find your death. She is no ordinary wench of the Bedouin tribes. Her lineage counts for much. She——” “Would you force her against her will?” the priest burst forth. “You, too, misjudge me, father,” pro- tested Sir Gui, still smiling. “The lady shall have complete liberty of choice— within these walls.” “And you believe that she will ac- cept = “T know that she will accept.”’ “And he is right,” proclaimed John the Englishman. ‘She is young. She is of the desert, albeit gently bred. She is a pavnim reared in the paynim way. Already she yields to the lure.”’ “Art my friend, after all, John,” ex- claimed Sir Gui, reaching his hand across the table. “I had thought you meant to play the spoil-sport.” “What you do is wrong, Gui,” returned the Englishman with energy. “If there is a God such as Fray Gilberto believes in, you will be punished for it—and mayhap, others who will not be equally guilty. But T do not seek to blame you, for I know that you and she are the victims of the land that nourished you. Go to, Gui. You may be happy for a space. Afterward, you shall pay for it—and those who come after you.” Sir Gui made a wry face. “You remind me of Fray Gilberto at sermon-time when his last night’s meat sets heavy on his stomach,” he replied. ‘As for payment—some day, belike, I shall die in a stricken field or in defense of the king. T ask no better, nor would I end otherwise.” “Take care it be not In your own castle, lord,”’ said: the seneschal. “Your blood must be turning to water, Antonio,” jibed Sir Gui. ‘‘No foe hath ever forced Nerak.”’ “Because he knew not how,” rejoined John the Englishman. “Watch out, Gui. ) 57 You shall win powerful enemies by this deed. And a surprize escalade at night might well carry the Squire’s Curtain.” “So! ’Tis an engineer as well as jongleur! Marry, I have always underrated you, John. What you say is true, and it shall be looked to what time I have the funds for masons. That curtain must be reenforced, and there should be an inner wall.” “Best not wait too long,’ advised the Englishman, rising. “What? Must you go” ‘Aye, ’tis a tedious journey to the sea, and thence to Antioch. God send you be in life when next I ride to Nerak.” “Nay, be not so glum. A fair voyage to you.” John passed from the hall, and the seneschal with him to see him off. “Fray Gilberto!” called Sir Gui. “Aye, lord?” “Prithee, bid a squire lead the Lady Horazahde to the garden beneath the Tower of Winds.” CHAPTER III HOW MATTEO WAS BORN ape garden under the Tower of Winds was perched on the edge of the steep cliff which was the most formidable of the rear defenses of Nerak. A low stone-wall guarded the brink, and olive trees and cy- presses thrived in the shallow soil. Sir Gui stepped from the postern at the tower’s foot and’ paced slowly across the turf to the verge. A glance assured him the squire had not yet fulfilled his mission, and leaning one elbow on the coping of the wall, he stared out across the tangled hills and valleys of his fief, blinking his eyes in the severe sunlight that bathed the distant summit of Mount Zorash. “You sent for me, lord.” He turned—and Horazahde stood before him, startled, alert, with a rosy glow in her cheeks, and eyes that looked and fluttered and looked away. ‘““Ves, I sent for you,” he answered. He walked toward her. “Are you comfortable?” “T have a spacious chamber, lord.” ~“T wish¥you to be happy at Nerak,’’ he said. She did not look at him or answer. ‘‘Are you unhappy?” he pressed. GOMIIGooOo S (C@