CHAPTER 3THE HAWKS OF KHUN
The grinning men in their long striped allats had materialized out of the darkness like spirits summoned by a conjurer. One moment the shadows between the rocks were empty: the next, and they were filled with robed men and naked steel. Carthalla squeaked and shrank into the curve of Kellory’s arm. As for Kellory, he said nothing, neither did a muscle so much as move in his face. He regarded them with thoughtful eyes.
“Here is no fat-gutted merchant of Sarkovy,” growled the leader of the desert men, looking disappointed. “Ahd—search the saddlebags!”
This was done, quickly enough, and, of course, there was nothing. “No gems at all, my chieftain,” muttered Ahd. “Not even so much as a single pearl!”
Stroking his dark red beard with one lean, swarthy hand, his eye
