Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [100]
“Oh, Elric. Spare me. This is not fair. We made a bargain.”
“Open your mouth, Lord Gho. Who knows if the Pearl might shrink or your throat expand like a snake’s? A snake could easily swallow the Pearl, my lord. And you, surely, are superior to a snake?”
Anigh whispered from the window where he had been staring with studied gaze, unwilling to look upon a vengeance he regarded as just but distasteful. “The servant, Lord Elric. She has alarmed the city.”
For a second a desperate hope came into Lord Gho’s green eyes and then faded as Elric placed the flask on the arm of the great chair and drew the runesword part way from its scabbard. “Your soul will help me fight those new soldiers, Lord Gho.”
Slowly, weeping and whimpering, the great Lord of Quarzhasaat began to open his mouth.
“Here is the Pearl again, my lord. Put it in. Do your best, my lord. You have some chance of life this way.”
Lord Gho’s hand shook. But eventually he began to force the lovely jewel between his reddened lips. Elric took the stopper from the elixir and poured some of the liquid into the nobleman’s distorted cheeks. “Now swallow, Lord Gho. Swallow the Pearl you would have slain a child to own! And then I will tell you who I am …”
A few minutes later the doors crashed inward and Elric recognized the tattooed face of Manag Iss, leader of the Yellow Sect and kinsman to the Lady Iss. Manag Iss looked from Elric to the distorted features of Lord Gho. The nobleman had failed completely to swallow the Pearl.
Manag Iss shuddered. “Elric. I heard that you had returned. They said you were close to death. Clearly this was a trick to deceive Lord Gho.”
“Aye,” said Elric. “I had this boy to free.”
Manag Iss gestured with his own drawn sword. “You found the Pearl?”
“I found it.”
“My Lady Iss sent me to offer you anything you desired for it.”
Elric smiled. “Tell her I shall be at the Council Meeting House in half-an-hour. I shall bring the Pearl with me.”
“But the others will be there. She wishes to trade privately.”
“Would it not be wise to auction so valuable a thing?” said Elric.
Manag Iss sheathed his sword and smiled a little. “You’re a cunning one. I do not think they know how cunning you are. Nor who you are. I have yet to tell them that particular speculation.”
“Oh, you may tell them what I have just told Lord Gho. That I am the hereditary emperor of Melniboné,” said Elric casually. “For that is the truth of the matter. My empire has survived rather more successfully than yours, I think.”
“That could incense them. I am willing to be your friend, Melnibonéan.
“Thanks, Manag Iss, but I need no more friends from Quarzhasaat. Please do as I say.”
Manag Iss looked at the slaughtered guards, at the dead Lord Gho, who had turned a strange colour, at the nervous boy, and he saluted Elric.
“The Meeting House in half-an-hour, Emperor of Melniboné.” He turned on his heel and left the chamber.
After issuing certain specific instructions to Anigh concerning travel and the products of Kwan, Elric went out into the courtyard. The sun had set and there were brands burning all over Quarzhasaat as if the city were expecting an attack.
Lord Gho’s house was empty of servants. Elric went to the stables and found his horse and his saddle. He dressed the Bauradi stallion, carefully placing a heavy bundle over the pommel, then he had mounted and was riding through the streets, seeking the Meeting House where Anigh had told him it would be.
The city was unnaturally silent. Clearly some order had been given to uphold a curfew, for there was not even a city guard on the streets.
Elric rode at an easy canter along the wide Avenue of Military Success, along the Boulevard of Ancient Accomplishment and half-a-dozen other grandiosely named thoroughfares until he saw the long low building ahead of him which, in its simplicity, could only be the seat of Quarzhasaati power.
The albino paused. At his side the black runesword crooned a little, almost demanding a further letting of blood.