Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [46]
—The Chronicle of the Black Sword
CHAPTER ONE
How a Thief May Instruct an Emperor
ONE REMOVED a date stone from her mouth and dropped it into the sand of the Silver Flower Oasis. She reached her hand towards one of the brilliant cactus flowers which gave the place its name. She stroked the petals with long, delicate fingers. She sang to herself and it seemed to Elric that her words were a lament.
Respectfully he remained silent, sitting with his back to a palm tree looking to the distant camp and its continuing activity. She had asked him to accompany her but had said little to him. He heard a calling from the kashbeh high above but when he peered in that direction he saw nothing. The breeze blew over the desert and red dust raced like water towards the Ragged Pillars on the horizon.
It was almost noon. They had returned to the Silver Flower Oasis that morning and the few remains of Alnac Kreb were to be burned with honour according to the customs of the Bauradim that night.
Oone’s staff was no longer slung on her back. Now she held the dreamwand in both hands, turning it over and over, watching the light on its burnish and polish as if she had only now seen it for the first time. The other wand, Alnac’s, she had tucked into her belt.
“It would have made my task a little easier,” she said suddenly, “if Alnac had not acted so precipitously. He did not realize I was coming and was doing his best to save the child, I know. But a few more hours and I could have used his help, perhaps successfully. Certainly, I might have saved him.”
“I do not understand what happened to him,” said Elric.
“Even I do not know the exact cause of his fall,” she said. “But I will explain what I can. That is why I asked you to come with me. I would not wish to be overheard. And I must demand your word that you will be discreet.”
“I am ever that, madam.”
“For ever,” she said.
“For ever?”
“You must promise never to tell another soul what I tell you today, nor recount any event which results from the telling. You must agree to be bound by a dreamthief’s code even though you are not of our kind.”
Elric was baffled. “For what reason?”
“Would you save their Holy Girl? Avenge Alnac? Free yourself from the drug’s slavery? Adjust certain wrongs in Quarzhasaat?”
“You know I would.”
“Then we may reach an agreement, for it is certain that, unless we help each other, you and the girl and perhaps myself, too, will all be dead before the Blood Moon fades.”
“Certain?” Elric was grimly amused. “Are you an oracle, too, then, madam?”
“All dreamthieves are that, to some degree.” She was almost impatient, as if she spoke to a slow child. She caught herself. “Forgive me. I forget that our craft is unknown in the Young Kingdoms. Indeed, it’s rarely that we travel to this plane at all.”
“I have met many supernaturals in my life, my lady, but few who seem so human as yourself.”
“Human? Of course I am human!” She seemed puzzled. Then her brow cleared. “Ah. I forget that you are at once more sophisticated and less learned than those of my own persuasion.” She smiled at him. “I am still not recovered from Alnac’s unnecessary dissolution.”
“He need not have died.” Elric’s tone was flat, unquestioning. He had known Alnac long enough to care for him as a friend. He understood something of Oone’s loss. “And there is no way to revive him?”
“He lost all essence,” said Oone. “Instead of stealing a dream he was robbed of his own.” She paused, then spoke quickly, as if she feared she would regret her words. “Will you help me, Prince Elric?”
“Yes.” He spoke without hesitation. “If it is to avenge Alnac and save the child.”
“Even if you risk Alnac’s fate? The fate which you witnessed?”
“Even that. Can it be worse than dying in Lord Gho’s power?”
“Yes,” she said simply.
Elric laughed aloud at her frankness. “Ah, well. Just so, madam! Just so! What’s your bargain?”
She moved her hand again towards the silver petals, balancing her wand between