The Shadow Kingdom | Page 4

Kull," said Ka-nu, raising an admonitory finger, "'tis a
chancy thing to laud a young man, yet I must speak my true thoughts to
gain your confidence."
"If you think to gain it by flattery-"
"Tush. Who spake of flattery? I flatter only to disguard."
There was a keen sparkle in Ka-nu's eyes, a cold glimmer that did not
match his lazy smile. He knew men, and he knew that to gain his end
he must smite straight with this tigerish barbarian, who, like a wolf
scenting a snare, would scent out unerringly any falseness in the skein
of his wordweb.
"You have power, Kull," said he, choosing his words with more care
than he did in the council rooms of the nation, "to make yourself
mightiest of all kings, and restore some of the lost glories of Valusia.
So. I care little for Valusia-though the women and wine be
excellent-save for the fact that the stronger Valusia is, the stronger is
the Pict nation. More, with an Atlantean on the throne, eventually
Atlantis will become united-"
Kull laughed in harsh mockery. Ka-nu had touched an old wound.

"Atlantis made my name accursed when I went to seek fame and
fortune among the cities of the world. We-they-are age-old foes of the
Seven Empires, greater foes of the allies of the Empires, as you should
know."
Ka-nu tugged his beard and smiled enigmatically.
"Nay, nay. Let it pass. But I know whereof I speak. And then warfare
will cease, wherein there is no gain; I see a world of peace and
prosperity-man loving his fellow man-the good supreme. All this can
you accomplish-if you live!"
"Ha!" Kull's lean hand closed on his hilt and he half rose, with a sudden
movement of such dynamic speed that Ka-nu, who fancied men as
some men fancy blooded horses, felt his old blood leap with a sudden
thrill. Valka, what a warrior! Nerves and sinews of steel and fire, bound
together with the perfect co-ordination, the fighting instinct, that makes
the terrible warrior.
But none of Ka-nu's enthusiasm showed in his mildly sarcastic tone.
"Tush. Be seated. Look about you. The gardens are deserted, the seats
empty, save for ourselves. You fear not me?"
Kull sank back, gazing about him warily.
"There speaks the savage," mused Ka-nu. "Think you if I planned
treachery I would enact it here where suspicion would be sure to fall
upon me? Tut. You young tribesmen have much to learn. There were
my chiefs who were not at ease because you were born among the hills
of Atlantis, and you despise me in your secret mind because I am a Pict.
Tush. I see you as Kull, king of Valusia, not as Kull, the reckless
Atlantean, leader of the raiders who harried the western isles. So you
should see in me, not a Pict but an international man, a figure of the
world. Now to that figure, hark! If you were slain tomorrow who would
be king?"
"Kaanuub, baron of Blaal."

"Even so. I object to Kaanuub for many reasons, yet most of all for the
fact that he is but a figurehead."
"How so? He was my greatest opponent, but I did not know that he
championed any cause but his own."
"The night can hear," answered Ka-nu obliquely. "There are worlds
within worlds. But you may trust me and you may trust Brule, the
Spear-slayer. Look!" He drew from his robes a bracelet of gold
representing a winged dragon coiled thrice, with three horns of ruby on
the head.
"Examine it closely. Brule will wear it on his arm when he comes to
you tomorrow night so that you may know him. Trust Brule as you
trust yourself, and do what he tells you to. And in proof of trust, look
ye!"
And with the speed of a striking hawk, the ancient snatched something
from his robes, something that flung a weird green light over them, and
which he replaced in an instant.
"The stolen gem!" exclaimed Kull recoiling. "The green jewel from the
Temple of the Serpent! Valka! You! And why do you show it to me?"
"To save your life. To prove my trust. If I betray your trust, deal with
me likewise. You hold my life in your hand. Now I could not be false
to you if I would, for a word from you would be my doom."
Yet for all his words the old scoundrel beamed merrily and seemed
vastly pleased with himself.
"But why do you give me this hold over you?" asked Kull, becoming
more bewildered each second.
"As I told you. Now, you see that I do not intend to deal you false, and
tomorrow night when Brule comes to you, you will follow his advice
without fear of treachery.