Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [50]
In spite of his craving for the poisonous elixir, Elric found himself laughing back at her. “If I am such a man of qualities, madam, how is it that I find myself in this position, contemplating death from the tricks of a second-rate provincial politician?”
“I did not say you admired yourself, my lord. But it would be foolish to deny what you have been and what you could become.”
“I prefer to consider the latter, my lady.”
“Consider, if you will, the fate of Raik Na Seem’s daughter. Consider the fate of his people deprived of their history and their oracle. Consider your own doom, to perish for no good reason in a distant land, your destiny unfulfilled.”
Elric accepted this.
She continued. “It is probable, too, that you have no rival as a sorcerer in your world. While your specific skills might be of little use to you in the adventure I propose, your experience, knowledge and understanding might make the difference between success and failure.”
Elric had become impatient as his body’s demand for the drug grew unbearable. “Very well, Lady Oone. Whatever you decide, I shall agree to.”
She took a step back from him and looked at him coolly. “You had best return to your tent and find your elixir,” she said softly.
Familiar desperation filled the albino’s mind. “I shall, madam. I shall.” And he turned and strode swiftly back towards the gathered tents of the Bauradim.
He scarcely spoke to any of those who greeted him as he passed. Raik Na Seem had moved nothing from the tent Elric had last shared with Alnac Kreb and the albino hastily drew the flask from his saddlebag and took a deep draught, feeling, for a short while at least, the relief, and resurgence of energy, the illusion of health which the Quarzhasaati’s drug gave him. He sighed and turned towards the entrance of the tent as Raik Na Seem came up, his brow furrowed, his eyes full of pain which he tried to disguise. “Have you agreed to help the dreamthief, Elric? Will you attempt to achieve what the prophecy predicted? Bring our Holy Girl back to us? There is now less time than there ever was. Soon the Blood Moon will be gone.”
Elric dropped the flask onto the carpet which covered the ground. He bent and picked up the Black Sword which he had unbuckled while he walked with Oone. The thing thrilled in his fingers and he felt vaguely nauseated. “I will do whatever is required of me,” the albino said.
“Good.” The older man gripped Elric by the shoulders. “Oone has told me that you are a great man with a great destiny and that this time is one of considerable moment in your life. We are honoured to be part of that destiny and grateful for your concern …”
Elric accepted Raik Na Seem’s words with all his old grace. He bowed. “I believe that the health of your Holy Girl is more important than any fate of mine. I will do whatever is possible to bring her back to you.”
Oone had entered behind the Bauradim’s First Elder. She smiled at the albino. “You are ready now?”
Elric nodded and began to buckle on the Black Sword, but Oone stopped him with a gesture. “You’ll find the weapons you need where we travel.”
“But the sword is more than a weapon, Lady Oone!” the albino knew a kind of panic.
She held out Alnac’s dreamwand to him. “This is all you need for our venture, my lord emperor.”
Stormbringer murmured violently as Elric let the sword fall back to the cushions of the tent. It seemed almost to threaten him.
“I am dependent …” he began.
She shook her head gently. “You are not. You believe that sword to be part of your identity but it is not. It is your nemesis. It is the part of you which represents your weakness, not your strength.”
Elric sighed. “I do not understand you, my lady, but if you do not wish me to bring the sword, I’ll leave it.”
Another sound, a peculiar growl, from the blade, but Elric ignored it. He left both flask and sword in the tent and strode to where horses awaited them to carry them from the Silver Flower Oasis back to the Bronze Tent.
As they