Pearl Of Patmos

Blade leaned toward him. «But one roan, and a horse, and perhaps even a woman-they could come ashore without difficulty?»

Nob shrugged. «If the sailors be skilled, I think yes. But I would not count on it, master. I do not think Hectoris a coward, nor do I think him a fool. I have been thinking and I-«

Blade slapped the fellow's knee and gri

CHAPTER 12

As they neared the harbor Blade and Nob rode ahead to a point of land overlooking the sea. Blade ordered Edyrn to halt the column and keep it out of sight. Nob was provided with a trumpet.

«If you hear four long blasts,» said Blade, «come with your Guard and be prepared to die. I hope it will not be so.»,

Edyrn gave Blade a long look and clasped his hand. «The spirit of Izmia go with you,» he said. Blade realized then that Edyrn knew what had happened to his grandmother, even though he had not spoken of it.

Blade's mount lagged somewhat and it was Nob who first spied the beaches. He raised in his stirrups, hooting in joy, and pointed.

«You have done it, master. Hectoris awaits you. Your plan works! You have shamed him into combat.»

It appeared so. Blade reined in the black at the cliff edge and gazed down at the wide beaches that stretched for miles in both directions. Almost directly below him, well above the tide line, was a great tent of black and silver cloth. Before it was a pole and on the pole a shield bearing the circled snake and the legend-Ais Ister. Nearby, fully accoutered, was a massive war horse held by an attendent in Samostan livery. By the flap of the tent, closed now, was a rack of tall lances.

Nob was gazing down with something akin to awe. «It is Hectoris himself, sire, for I have seen that tent before. And that steed. He must be inside.»

Blade merely nodded. He studied the deserted beaches where waves were piling in to crash in thunderous surf, flinging spray far inland and sucking great ru

Nob was counting the ships of war hove to in the spacious outer harbor, using his fingers and making marks on the ground with his lance point. Blade made a fast count of some three hundred; Nob came up with an exact tally of three hundred and nine.

«Two hundred of troops,» he said. «The rest will be horse ships and supply, forges and the like, and some few for camp followers. They are far too many for us, master.» He looked at Blade with resignation. «You will have to fight him now-there is no other way. Even had you thought of trickery-for you do not tell me everything, as I well know-I ca

Blade watched the increasing gale toss the legions of ships about. There would be thousands — of seasick soldiers out there, and they no threat to him now. He glanced down at the tent again. There was no movement about it, the flap still closed, and the Samostan soldier walking the battle horse up and down. The sky turned darker by the minute and the wind bore occasional spates of cold rain. Blade tamed to Nob.

«We will go down to the beach. When we reach it sound your trumpet once.»

They found a steep path and as the horses picked their way gingerly downward Nob cast a sideways glance and said, «We are alone now, master. None can hear. How is it that you really plan to slay this Hectoris-for I know that the message you sent was only bait, to tempt him.»

Blade looked at his man and laughed. «You are a rogue, Nob, and therefore think the same of others. I sent no lies to Hectoris. I will fight him as I promised-on foot against his horse and lance and whatever other weapons he may choose.»

Nob's jaw fell in disbelief. «B-but you are no fool, master. I ca

«We shall see. Sound your trumpet now, Nob. One blast only.»

They reached the beach a 'hundred yards from the tent. They halted and Nob blew a great blast on the trumpet. Blade dismounted and readied his sword and shield. He bade Nob keep to his horse and retreat a hundred paces.

«But, master, if there is some trap here you will need=»

Blade scowled. «Go, man. Do as I say.»

Nob persisted. «That tent could be full of armed men and-«

Blade smacked the horse with the fiat of his sword and that settled the matter. He turned, to stare at the tent now billowing and flapping in the gusts. No sign of life yet.

And then they appeared and were walking toward him. Juna and a tall man.. The man, rangy and thin, with long shanks, was bald except for a few wisps of dark hair blowing about his pate. He was in full armor and carried a shield, but his sword was sheathed. He raised his right hand with the palm open as they approached. Blade did the same, but his eyes were riveted on Juna.

She was wearing a white cloak girdled with a scarlet cord that matched her shoes. Her white-gold hair flaunted in the wind like some bright ba

Then he forgot Juna. Business was at hand.

The couple stopped some dozen feet short of Blade. Juna was silent. She gave him one blue glance and lowered her eyes. The nian with her studied Blade for a moment and took his time in speaking.

«You are he called Blade?»

«The same. You are he called Hectoris?»

«I am. He called Hectoris. Master of Samosta, of Thyme and of Patmos.»

Blade smiled. «That remains to be seen-insofar as Patmos is concerned. I grant you Thyme and Samosta.»

The slim man, he was as tall as Blade but much thi

Hectoris said, «I have waited long for this meeting, Blade. And hoped it would be otherwise-for I do not wish to kill you.»

Blade nodded. «I am in accord with that. I do not want to die.»

«And yet the terms you sent-you will abide by them? I am to be horsed and you on foot?»

«I will abide by them,» said Blade, «if you meet the other terms I sent.»

Hectoris glanced back at the girl. «Ah if you win you are to have Juna. I agree. But forget dying and come over to me and you may have her in any case. She is no g6d dess, you know, not to us Samostans. She is lovely but there are others lovelier. She is skilled in love but there are others 'more skilled. She-«

«I know what she is,» said Blade curtly. «I have my own reasons for wanting her.» Izmia's reasons.

Hectoris stared and nodded. «I suppose so, though I ca

«And Patmos will be spared invasion?»

Hectoris gri