Elric of Melnibone - Michael Moorcock [11]
Wearily, Elric rose. ‘You have done well, as usual, Doctor Jest.’
The thin artist bowed low, seeming to fold himself in two. A thin and somewhat unctuous sigh was his reply.
5
A Battle: The King Proves His War-Skill
* * *
YYRKOON WAS THE first to arrive, all clad in martial finery, accompanied by two massive guards, each holding one of the prince’s ornate war-banners.
‘My emperor!’ Yyrkoon’s shout was proud and disdainful. ‘Would you let me command the warriors? It will relieve you of that care when, doubtless, you have many other concerns with which to occupy your time.’
Elric replied impatiently: ‘You are most thoughtful, Prince Yyrkoon, but fear not for me. I shall command the armies and the navies of Melniboné, for that is the duty of the emperor.’
Yyrkoon glowered and stepped to one side as Dyvim Tvar, Lord of the Dragon Caves, entered. He had no guard whatsoever with him and it seemed he had dressed hastily. He carried his helmet under his arm.
‘My emperor—I bring news of the dragons...’
‘I thank you, Dyvim Tvar, but wait until all my commanders are assembled and impart that news to them, too.’
Dyvim Tvar bowed and went to stand on the opposite side of the hall to that on which Prince Yyrkoon stood.
Gradually the warriors arrived until a score of great captains waited at the foot of the steps which led to the Ruby Throne where Elric sat. Elric himself still wore the clothes in which he had gone riding that morning. He had not had time to change and had until a little while before been consulting maps of the mazes—maps which only he could read and which, at normal times, were hidden by magical means from any who might attempt to find them.
‘Southlanders would steal Imrryr’s wealth and slay us all,’ Elric began. ‘They believe they have found a way through our sea-maze. A fleet of a hundred warships sails on Melniboné even now. Tomorrow it will wait below the horizon until dusk, then it will sail to the maze and enter. By midnight it expects to reach the harbour and to have taken the Dreaming City before dawn. Is that possible, I wonder?’
‘No!’ Many spoke the single word.
‘No.’ Elric smiled. ‘But how shall we best enjoy this little war they offer us?’
Yyrkoon, as ever, was first to shout. ‘Let us go to meet them now, with dragons and with battle-barges. Let us pursue them to their own land and take their war to them. Let us attack their nations and burn their cities! Let us conquer them and thus ensure our own security!’
Dyvim Tvar spoke up again:
‘No dragons,’ he said.
‘What?’ Yyrkoon whirled. ‘What?’
‘No dragons, prince. They will not be awakened. The dragons sleep in their caverns, exhausted by their last engagement on your behalf.’
‘Mine?’
‘You would use them in our conflict with the Vilmirian pirates. I told you that I would prefer to save them for a larger engagement. But you flew them against the pirates and you burned their little boats and now the dragons sleep.’
Yyrkoon glowered. He looked up at Elric. ‘I did not expect...’
Elric raised his hand. ‘We need not use our dragons until such a time as we really need them. This attack from the southlander fleet is nothing. But we will conserve our strength if we bide our time. Let them think we are unready. Let them enter the maze. Once the whole hundred are through, we close in, blocking off all routes in or out of the maze. Trapped, they will be crushed by us.’
Yyrkoon looked pettishly at his feet, evidently wishing he could think of some flaw in the plan. Tall, old Admiral Magum Colim in his sea-green armour stepped forward and bowed. ‘The golden battle-barges of Imrryr are ready to defend their city, my liege. It will take time, however, to manoeuvre them into position. It is doubtful if all will fit into the maze at once.’
‘Then sail some of them out now and hide them around the coast, so that they can wait for any survivors that may escape our attack,’ Elric instructed him.
‘A useful plan, my liege.’ Magum Colim bowed and sank back into the crowd of his peers.
The debate continued