Free The Tritonian Ring and Other Pasudian Tales by L. Sprague de Camp Page B

out of the monster's embrace. Vakar half-dragged the queen across the room out of harm's way, then looked back at the expiring snake. They were alone in the room.
     
                  Vakar put away his dagger and held the queen in his arms until she stopped trembling. She put her face up for him to kiss, but when he would have gone on with a full course of lovemaking she pushed him away.
     
                  "Not now," she said. "Is the monster dead?"
     
                  Vakar stepped forward to see, then jumped back as the scaly body twitched. "It still moves! What does that mean? We do not have these creatures in Poseidonis."
     
                  "They die as a frog swallows a worm, by inches, but I do not think this one will harm us any more. Evidently the legend at which Thiegos sneered is no empty fable. And speaking of Thiegos, what a fine pack of poltroons I am served by! Not one stayed to help, save you."
     
                  "Do not give me too much credit, madam. I was caught in the same scaly embrace as yourself , and could not have fled were I never so timorous. But why should our coldblooded friend here come to life just as we sat upon him? Do you suppose our extra weight was more than he could bear, and he showed his displeasure by awakening from his sleep of centuries?"
     
                  "No, for I have often cossetted in that same chair with that craven Thiegos. There is malevolent magic in this, Vakar, and we must solve the riddle before the clues are scattered by the winds of time. But where is everybody? Elbien! Dweros!"
     
                  No answer. She led Vakar about the palace, which proved entirely empty except for a trembling knot of guards in the front courtyard who pointed their spears at Porfia and Vakar as they approached.
     
                  "What is that?" she said. "Do you not know your own queen?"
     
                  A man in a cuirass of gilded scales stepped out and said: "You are no ghost, madam? "
     
                  " Of course not, Gwantho! "
     
                  " May I touch you to make sure?"
     
                  "Of all the impertinent nonsense ... Very well, here!"
     
                  She held out a hand with a regal gesture. The officer took it and kissed it, then said to the men:
     
                  "She is real, boys. Your pardon, Queen, but the clamor of those that fled the palace so perturbed my men that but for me they would have bolted likewise."
     
                  "It would have gone hard with them if they had. Next time you hear I am in danger you might try to help instead of thinking of nought but your own hides. Now back to your posts!"
     
                  As the guards slunk off, Porfia said to Vakar: "That was Gwantho, the legate of the commandant of the city garrison. Are there no brave men outside the epics and legends? The runagates must have spread terror through the palace as they fled. What do you make of it?"
     
                  " I, suspect our queer friend Qasigan," said Vakar judiciously. "On the other hand he is a stranger, as is Abeggu of Tokalet, while Garal and Thiegos, being among your familiars, might harbor some hidden rankling resentment."
     
                  "I doubt that last. Neither is of royal blood and therefore neither could cherish regal ambitions."
     
                  Vakar smiled. "That is no sure barrier. How do you suppose most dynasties were founded in the first place?"
     
                  "Well, neither have I quarreled with either lately— unless you count my refusal to follow Garal's counsel to wed Shvo Zhyska."
     
                  "He so advised you? Hang the hyena! I know Shvo well, being his cousin. He is as grasping as a Kernean and as perfidious as an