Amidst Sea Wind

Conan The Rebel, VI.

Conan offers "'...shiploads of wealth...'" (pp. 62-63) to a rescued slave if he helps Belit to rescue her brother. 

"'Would those not buy plenty of mercenaries for your cause?' [Conan] pondered a moment, silent amidst the sea wind. 'If you fail us,' he finished bluntly, 'you die.'" (p. 63)

A first-time or one-off blog reader might wonder why I quote Conan's offer and threat. However, regular readers know by now how often the wind punctuates Poul Anderson's dialogues and emphasizes the dramatic pauses. We have got into the habit of noticing and noting this each time it happens which is regularly. We have just been treated to another Anderson action scene as Belit, Conan and their crew capture a Stygian merchant ship. But there are wheels within wheels.