Robert E Howard

Rogues in the House Robert E Howard

At a court festival, Nabonidus, the Red Priest, who was the real ruler of the city, touchedMurilo, the young aristocrat, courteously on the arm. Murilo turned to meet the priest'senigmatic gaze, and to wonder at the hidden meaning therein. No words passed betweenthem, but Nabonidus bowed and handed Murilo a small gold cask. The young nobleman, knowing that Nabonidus did nothing without reason, excused himself at the firstopportunity and returned hastily to his chamber. There he opened the cask and foundwithin a human ear, which he recognized by a peculiar scar upon it. He broke into a profusesweat and was no longer in doubt about the meaning in the Red Priest's glance. But Murilo, for all his scented black curls and foppish apparel was no weakling to bend hisneck to the knife without a struggle. He did not know whether Nabonidus was merelyplaying with him or giving him a chance to go into voluntary exile, but the fact that he wasstill alive and at liberty proved that he was to be given at least a few hours, probably formeditation. However, he needed no meditation for decision; what he needed was a tool. And Fate furnished that tool, working among the dives and brothels of the squalid quarterseven while the young nobleman shivered and pondered in the part of the city occupied bythe purple-towered marble and ivory palaces of the aristocracy. There was a priest of Anu whose temple, rising at the fringe of the slum district, was thescene of more than devotions. The priest was fat and full-fed, and he was at once a fencefor stolen articles and a spy for the police. He worked a thriving trade both ways, becausethe district on which he bordered was the Maze, a tangle of muddy, winding alleys andsordid dens, frequented by the bolder thieves in the kingdom. Daring above all were aGunderman deserter from the mercenaries and a barbaric Cimmerian. Because of the priestof Anu, the Gunderman was taken and hanged in the market square. But the Cimmerianfled, and learning in devious ways of the priest's treachery, he entered the temple of Anu bynight and cut off the priest's head. There followed a great turmoil in the city, but the searchfor the killer proved fruitless until a woman betrayed him to the authorities and led acaptain of the guard and his squad to the hidden chamber where the barbarian lay drunk