Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [102]
“Hold it high, Manag Iss,” said the albino. “It is this that you all desired so greedily that you were prepared to pay for it with what was left of your honour.”
“Be careful, sir!” cried the Other. “We are patient with you now. Name your price and then begone.”
Elric laughed. It was not pleasant laughter. It was Melnibonéan laughter. At that moment he was a pure denizen of the Dragon Isle. “Very well,” he said, “I desire this city. Not its citizens, not any of its treasure, nor its animals nor even its water. I would let you leave with everything you can carry. I desire only the city itself. It is, you see, mine by hereditary right.”
“What? This is nonsense. How could we agree?”
“You must agree,” said Elric, “or you must fight me.”
“Fight you? There is only one of you.”
“There is no question of it,” said another Councilor. “He is mad. He must be put down like a crazed dog. Manag Iss, call in your brothers and their men.”
“I do not believe it is advisable, cousin,” said Manag Iss, clearly addressing Lady Iss. “I think it would be wise to parley.”
“What? Have you turned coward? Has this rogue an army with him?”
Manag Iss rubbed at his nose. “My lady …”
“Call in your brothers, Manag Iss!”
The captain of the Yellow Sect scratched at one silk-clad arm and he frowned. “Prince Elric, I understand that you force us to a challenge. But we have not threatened you. The Council came here honestly to bid for the Pearl …”
“Manag Iss, you repeat their lies,” said Elric, “and that is not an honourable thing to do. If they meant me no harm, why were you and all your brothers standing by? I saw almost two hundred warriors in the grounds.”
“That was a precaution only,” said the Other. She turned to her fellow councilors. “I told you I thought it was stupid to summon so many so soon.”
Elric said evenly: “Everything you have done, my nobles, has been stupid. You have been cruel, greedy, careless of others’ lives and wills. You have been blind, thoughtless, provincial and unimaginative. It seems to me that a government so careless of anything but its own gratification should be at very least replaced. When you have all left the city I will consider electing a governor who will know better how to serve Quarzhasaat. Then, later perhaps, I will let you back into the city …”
“Oh, slay him!” cried the Other. “Waste no more time on this. When that’s done we can decide amongst ourselves who owns the Pearl.”
Elric sighed almost regretfully and said: “Best parley with me now, madam, before I myself lose patience. I shall not, once I have drawn my blade, be a rational and merciful being …”
“Slay him!” she insisted. “And have done with it!”
Manag Iss had the face of a man condemned to more than death. “Madam…”
She strode forward, her conical hat swaying, and tugged the sword from his scabbard. She raised the blade to behead the albino.
He reached out swiftly. His arm was a striking snake. He gripped her wrist. “No, madam! I am, I swear, giving you fair warning …”
Stormbringer murmured at his side and stirred.
She dropped the sword and turned away, nursing her bruised wrist.
Now Manag Iss reached for his fallen blade, making as if to sheathe it, and then, with a subtle movement, tried to bring the weapon up and take Elric in the groin, an expression of resignation crossing his terrified features as the albino, anticipating him, sidestepped and in the same action drew the Black Sword which began to sing its strange demonic song and glow with a terrible black radiance.
Manag Iss gasped as his heart was pierced. The hand that still held the Pearl seemed to stretch out, offering it back to Elric. Then the jewel had rolled from his fingers and rattled on the floor. Three Councilors rushed forward, saw Manag Iss’s dying eyes, and stepped backward.
“Now! Now! Now!” cried the Other and, as Elric had expected, from every cranny of the Meeting House, members of the various sects of Sorcerer Adventurers came, their