Adventure Magazine Cover — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

Prisoners of War “Then she urged me to be guided by the voice of her trance, saying she understood now what it all meant, how a certain lord Glendwyr, who had lent her chariot and horses to reach Lunden, would attack the lord Caswallon and himself become king. “She said, ‘Let us plan so that all the Northmen in a band together shall seize the lord Tros and convey him to safety, since neither you, nor he, nor I, nor the North- men owe the lord Caswallon anything, but the lord Glendwyr will be glad to have us with him.’ ”’ Tros and Caswallon met each other’s eyes. “How long have you known this North- woman of yours?” Caswallon asked. “We have all lived many lives and destiny plays with us like pieces on the board,” Tros answered. “I know the truth when I hear it.” He drew Helma closer to him in the hol- tow of his left arm. “Truth when a woman speaks?” Cas- wallon answered. ‘“‘Phagh! I grow sick of these cross-purposes! ‘This is but a trick again. Northmen are all lars! This is a plan to gather all the Northmen in one place. They would gain my confidence, then break for liberty. Cesar’s woman has had no time to learn Glendwyr’s plans, suppose he has any. And who would trust Glendwyr against me? Not-more men than I can snap my fingers at.” He snapped his fingers, then flexed his muscles and threw his shoulders back. “Give me one good excuse to burn Glendwyr’s roost!’ he exclaimed. But Tros grinned. It was an aggravating grin, as he intended that it should be. “T have heard you say, ‘Fflur is always right!’ he answered. “Cesar’s woman has had five days. Cesar, himself swifter than the wind to snatch advantage, doubt- less picked her for her swiftness. Zeus! Have you and I not seen how swift she is! And it may be that Cesar knew before- hand of Glendwyr’s plans. “Cesar has spies, and there are Britons who trade back and forth with Gaul, as for instance the Atrebates, who are not your friends, Caswallon. Why, they tell me that half of the Atrebates live in Gaul. “Would it be wonderful if Cesar should have learned about dissension in your realm? Rome’s very life is staked on other folks’ dissensions! So is Cesar’s! A dead dog smells the same whichever way the O93 wind blows! If he can keep Rome by the ears, faction against faction, for his own advantage, will he not do it here?” | CASWALLON turned and paced the hall a time or two, the blue- \ veined skin of his face and neck Yo = looking deathly white against the hangings. He chewed his mustache; his fingers worked behind his back as if he were kneading the dough of indecision. ‘ros let go of Helma, almost pushed ‘her from him: _ “Cast up the reckoning!” he said. “Let us strike one woman off against the other, trusting neither. But a third remains, How often have you told me, ‘Fflur is al- ways right!’ I say, take Fflur’s word for it. and look sharply to Glendwyr!”’ Caswallon stood still, mid-length of the hall. “Tt would suit me well to fight him!” he said. And he looked the part. “Then fight him now!” Tros answered. “Glendwyr thinks tonight’s obsequies will hold you occupied. Is he mad enough to spare you while your back is turned? To me itlooks simple enough.” Caswallon came and stood in front of him, arms folded on his breast. “Simple?” he said. “How long have you — known Britain? Twenty years now I have kinged it, and I—I don’t know my Britons et!’ “Tf I should stand in your shoes, I would teach them to know me!” -Tros retorted: “Bahl It is as simple as a mutiny at sea! Pick out the ringleader and smash him! Thus, then Cesar’s woman! Fill her ears! Let her learn by listening when she thinks none watches her, that you and every man you trust will attend the obsequies tonight, leaving this town unguarded. “T will urge you, in her hearing, to guard the town well; you poohpooh it, laughing © at me, and bid Orwic gather all your men for the procession. Then help her to es- cape or let Fflur dismiss her in a fury. Let Fflur- give her a chariot and send her to the coast to make her own way back to Cesar. ‘Trust Fflur to put sufficient sting in it to make that plausible! The woman will go to Glendwyr; she will hurry to tell him Lunden is undefended! Good. You post pone the obsequies. You march! You catch Glendwyr unready in the neryous hour between preparation and the casting Eomiecbooks.com_