Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [62]
“Speculation and regret offer many temptations, I suppose,” said Elric; then he gasped at what he saw ahead.
Molten gold was cascading down two well-worn channels in the rock, forming a gigantic V-shaped edifice. The metal flowed unchecked and yet as they approached it became obvious that it was not hot. Some other agent had caused the effect, perhaps a chemical in the rock itself. As the gold reached the floor of the cavern it spread into a pool and the pool in turn fed a brook which bubbled, brilliant with the precious stuff, down towards another stream which seemed at first to contain ordinary water. But when Elric looked more carefully he saw that that stream was, in turn, composed of silver and the two elements blended as they met. Following the course of this stream with his eyes he saw that it met, some distance away, with a further river, this one of glistening scarlet, which might be liquid rubies. In all his travels, in the Young Kingdoms and the realms of the supernatural, Elric had seen nothing like it. He made to move towards it, to inspect it further, but she checked him.
“We have reached the next gate, she said. “Ignore that particular wonder, my lord. Look.”
She pointed between twin streams of gold and he could just make out something shadowy beyond. “There is Paranor. Are you ready to enter that land?”
Remembering the dreamthieves’ term for it, Elric allowed himself an ironic smile. “As ready as I shall ever be, madam.”
Then, just as he stepped towards the portal, there came the sound of galloping hoofs behind them. They rang sharply on the rock of the cavern. They echoed through the gloomy roof, through a thousand chambers, and Elric had no time to turn before something heavy struck his shoulder and he was flung to one side. He had the impression of a deathly white horse, of a rider wearing armour of ivory, mother-of-pearl and pale tortoiseshell, and then it was gone through the gate of molten gold and disappearing into the shadows beyond. But there was no doubt in Elric’s mind that he had encountered one of the warriors who had already attacked him on the bridge. He had the impression of the same mocking chuckle as the hoofs faded and the sound was absorbed by whatever lay beyond the gate.
“We have an enemy,” said Oone. Her face was grim and she clenched her hands to her sides, clearly taking a grip on herself. “We have been identified already. The Fortress of the Pearl does not merely defend. She attacks.”
“You know those riders? You have seen them before?”
She shook her head. “I know their kind, that’s all.”
“And we’ve no means of avoiding them?”
“Very few.” She was frowning to herself again, considering some problem she was not prepared to discuss. Then she seemed to dismiss it and taking his arm led him under the twin cascades of cool gold into a further cavern which this time suddenly filled with a gentle green glow, as if they walked beneath a canopy of leaves in autumn sunlight. And Elric was reminded of Old Melniboné, at the height of her power, when his people were proud enough to take the whole world for granted. When entire nations had been remoulded for their passing pleasure. As they emerged into a further cavern, so vast he did not at first realize they were still underground, he saw the spires and minarets of a city, glowing with the same warm green, which was as beautiful as his own beloved Imrryr, the Dreaming City, which he had explored throughout his boyhood.
“It is like Imrryr and yet it is not like Imrryr at all,” he said in surprise.
“No,” she said, “it is like London. It is like Tanelorn. It is like Ras-Paloom-Atai.” And she did not speak sarcastically. She spoke as if she really did believe the city resembled those other cities, only one of which Elric recognized.
“But you have seen it before. What is it called?”
“It has no name,” she said. “It has all names. It is called whatever you desire to call it.” And she turned away, as if resting herself, before she led him onwards down the road past the city.
“Should we not visit it? There may be people there who