Duke Elric - Michael Moorcock [15]
“We are nearing our destination,” said the captain. “It will not be long before we disembark. I do not believe our enemies expect us, yet it will be a hard fight against those two.”
“Two?” said Hawkmoon. “Only two?”
“Only two.” The captain smiled. “A brother and a sister. Sorcerers from quite another universe than ours. Due to recent disruptions in the fabric of our worlds—of which you know something, Hawkmoon, and you, too, Corum—certain beings have been released who would not otherwise have the power they now possess. And possessing great power, they crave for more—for all the power that there is in our universe. These beings are amoral in a way in which the Lords of Law or Chaos are not. They do not fight for influence upon the Earth, as those gods do; their only wish is to convert the essential energy of our universe to their own uses. I believe they foster some ambition in their particular universe which would be furthered if they could achieve their wish. At present, in spite of conditions highly favourable to them, they have not attained their full strength, but the time is not far off before they do attain it. Agak and Gagak is how they are called in human tongue and they are outside the power of any of our gods, so a more powerful group has been summoned—yourselves. The Champion Eternal in four of his incarnations (and four is the maximum number we can risk without precipitating further unwelcome disruptions among the planes of Earth)—Erekose, Elric, Corum and Hawkmoon. Each of you will command four others, whose fates are linked with your own and who are great fighters in their own right, though they do not share your destinies in every sense. You may each pick the four with whom you wish to fight. I think you will find it easy enough to decide. We make landfall quite shortly now.”
“You will lead us?” Hawkmoon said.
“I cannot. I can only take you to the island and wait for those who survive—if any survive.”
Elric frowned. “This fight is not mine, I think.”
“It is yours,” said the captain soberly. “And it is mine. I would land with you if that were permitted me, but it is not.”
“Why so?” asked Corum.
“You will learn that one day. I have not the courage to tell you. I bear you nothing but good will, however. Be assured of that.”
Erekose rubbed his jaw. “Well, since it is my destiny to fight, and since I, like Hawkmoon, continue to seek Tanelorn, and since I gather there is some chance of my fulfilling my ambition if I am successful, I for one agree to go against these two, Agak and Gagak.”
Hawkmoon nodded. “I go with Erekose, for similar reasons.”
“And I,” said Corum.
“Not long since,” said Elric, “I counted myself without comrades. Now I have many. For that reason alone I will fight with them.”
“It is perhaps the best of reasons,” said Erekose approvingly.
“There is no reward for this work, save my assurance that your success will save the world much misery,” said the captain. “And for you, Elric, there is less reward than the rest may hope for.”
“Perhaps not,” said Elric.
“As you say.” The captain gestured towards the jug of wine. “More wine, my friends?”
They each accepted, while the captain continued, his blind face staring upward at the roof of the cabin.
“Upon this island is a ruin—perhaps it was once a city called Tanelorn—and at the centre of the ruin stands one whole building. It is this building which Agak and his sister use. It is that which you must attack. You will recognize it, I hope, at once.”
“And we must slay this pair?” said Erekose.
“If you can. They have servants who help them. These must be slain, also. Then the building must be fired. This is important.” The captain paused. “Fired. It must be destroyed in no other way.”
Elric smiled a dry smile. “There are few other ways of destroying buildings, Sir Captain.”
The captain returned his smile and made a slight bow of acknowledgment. “Aye, it's so. Nonetheless, it is worth remembering what I have said.”
“Do you