"I thank thee, friend," said Minos. His hand fell lovingly on the captain's shoulder.
"After all this useless talk, methinks some diversion impendeth," whispered the lad Patrymion. "Unless mine eyes are passing poor, spear points gleam in the thicket yonder and men are moving."
Minos peered keenly into the shadows beyond the priest. He, too, saw dim, moving shapes, and caught the glint of bare blades. He tightened his grip on his sword-hilt.
"Zalos," he said, "slip thou within the cave and fetch me the ilium disk that leaneth against the wall near to the spring. I think there is like to be more fighting anon, and I am still unwearied. Take the dogs with thee. They be of rash mettle, and I would not have them harmed."
Analos still stood in the little clearing, eying them gloomily, his features working.
"An the holy rascal swelleth much more with anger he will burst, and the foulness of the venom let loose from him surely will overcome us all," said Patrymion with grim humor. "See how his beard waggeth."
Zalos came from the cave and passed to the king an oval plate of burnished ilium, nearly four feet in length and wide enough more than to cover his broad chest. It was the shield which went with the other arms he had fashioned. It had a broad leather arm-strap and a handhold affixed to its concave side.
The king slipped it onto his arm.
With a shake of his shoulders, the priest cast his black robe from him and stood forth in the red vestments of the office of death. He waved his arms in air.
"Sons of Sardanes," he roared, "do the god's will!"