Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [142]
As he thinks this, he looks up and there, perched on a rock, staring at him with what appears to be amusement, is the black crow.
CROW/SEPIRIZ: “Good evening, Lord Elrik. And welcome to the land of Nihrain.”
Elrik is astonished.
ELRIK: “You speak! Has my weariness turned my brain?” The crow begins to change before him—
—and becomes a huge black man—Sepiriz, leader of the ten Nihrainian brothers. And while you should do your best, Walter, to make him look as different from the guy in The Matrix as possible, it’s not my fault that I thought Sepiriz up looking like this in 1963 or whenever it was. OK. Give him long hair. He was bald in the original. He’s wearing a simple yellow toga. He’s smiling.
SEPIRIZ: “I have awaited this moment for a thousand years. I am Sepiriz, leader of the ten Nihrainian brothers and the servant of the Balance. Welcome, young silverskin.”
Sepiriz claps his hands, and around the great black rock comes a chariot pulled by a single black horse, whose hoofs do not quite touch the ground. This is one of the famous stallions of Nihrain, whose hoofs tread the space ofanother time and place, and can thus traverse almost any terrain in this world.
Helping the astonished young man into the chariot beside him, Sepiriz sets off at a wild gallop through the mountains—to the Chasm of Nihrain— which lies at the heart of the mountains and from which, from time to time, bursts flame and smoke.
SEPIRIZ: “Behold! My home. The great Chasm of Nihrain!”
Elrik sits drinking wine, a finished plate of food pushed back, as he begins to tell Sepiriz why he is here. But Sepiriz raises a hand.
SEPIRIZ: “You need tell me nothing, young man. I know why you are here. You seek the Black Sword which Lord Arioch stole.”
ELRIK: “It’s true, Lord Sepiriz. Do you know where I can find it?”
SEPIRIZ: “First you must come with me … to the heart of creation …”
Sepiriz rises and leads Elrik from the cave room, out into a vaster cave, which is black glassy rock reflecting the fires which are burning far below. A series of steps and walkways leading deeper and deeper downwards.
SEPIRIZ: “…where the Fire Elders await us.”
The two tiny figures are dwarfed by the vast walls of the dark cavern.
SEPIRIZ: “The entire multiverse is ruled by Law and Chaos, the two forces held in check by the power of the Cosmic Balance … and those who serve it.”
They have descended until they stand before a great roaring wall of fire. Elric/Elrik looks wonderingly at his flesh and clothing.
ELRIK: “I do not burn. Why?”
SEPIRIZ: “This is the fire which creates life … but does not take it—look—!!!”
The flames part to show a vision of the Cosmic Balance. It is shadowy, clearly only a representation. The shaft of the balance consists of a black sword. The crosspiece supports a long, slender staff, imbedded with every kind of jewel. This is the Runestaff. From the jeweled ends of the Runestaff depend the two cups of the Balance.
SEPIRIZ: “The Balance consists of the Black Sword and the Runestaff. One is a negation of life. The other is the essence of life. Yet neither can exist without the other. The two cups of the Balance represent Law and Chaos. If one tips too far we shall have nothing but sterile Law. Too far the other way and we have unchecked Chaos. It is your destiny and the destiny of all those we call ‘The Champion’ to fight not for Law or Chaos, but for the Balance itself.”
ELRIK: “So one is good and the other evil?”
SEPIRIZ: “No. The uses to which mortals and immortals put them determine whether they are used in the service of good or evil. Just as it is not possible to have life without death, so one can only exist if the other exists. It is the eternal paradox. The eternal truth.”
ELRIK: “Why burden me with this weighty secret?”
Suddenly a beautiful flame elemental appears in the fire, speaking to Elrik
FLAME ELEMENTAL: “Because it is your destiny to serve both. You, or your descendants, will learn more in the