Elric of Melnibone - Michael Moorcock [33]
‘King Straasha,’ Elric was saying in something approaching his normal tone. ‘You have come. I thank you.’
The silhouette spoke and the voice reminded Dyvim Tvar of slow, heavy waves rolling beneath a friendly sun.
‘We elementals are concerned, Elric, for there are rumours that you have invited Chaos Lords back to your plane and the elementals have never loved the Lords of Chaos. Yet I know that if you have done this it is because you are fated to do it and therefore we hold no enmity against you.’
‘The decision was forced upon me, King Straasha. There was no other decision I could make. If you are therefore reluctant to aid me, I shall understand that and call on you no more.’
‘I will help you, though helping you is harder now, not for what happens in the immediate future but what is hinted will happen in years to come. Now you must tell me quickly how we of the water can be of service to you.’
‘Do you know ought of the Ship Which Sails Over Land and Sea? I need to find that ship if I am to fulfil my vow to find my love, Cymoril.’
‘I know much of that ship, for it is mine. Grome also lays claim to it. But it is mine. Fairly, it is mine.’
‘Grome of the Earth?’
‘Grome of the Land Below the Roots. Grome of the Ground and all that lives, under it. My brother. Grome. Long since, even as we elementals count time, Grome and I built that ship so that we could travel between the realms of Earth and Water whenever we chose. But we quarrelled (may we be cursed for such foolishness) and we fought. There were earthquakes, tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and battles in which all the elementals joined, with the result that new continents were flung up and old ones drowned. It was not the first time we had fought each other, but it was the last. And finally, lest we destroy each other completely, we made a peace. I gave Grome part of my domain and he gave me the Ship Which Sails Over Land and Sea. But he gave it somewhat unwillingly and thus it sails the sea better than it sails the land, for Grome thwarts its progress whenever he can. Still, if the ship is of use to you, you shall have it.’
‘I thank you, King Straasha. Where shall I find it?’
‘It will come. And now I grow weary, for the further from my own realm I venture, the harder it is to sustain my mortal form. Farewell, Elric—and be cautious. You have a greater power than you know and many would make use of it to their own ends.’
‘Shall I wait here for the Ship Which Sails Over Land and sea?’
‘No...’ the Sea King’s voice was fading as his form faded. Grey mist drifted back where the silhouette and the green lights had been. The sea again was still. ‘Wait. Wait in your tower... It will come...’
A few wavelets lapped the shore and then it was as if the king of the Water Elementals had never been there at all. Dyvim Tvar rubbed his eyes. Slowly at first he began to move to where Elric still sat. Gently he bent down and offered the albino his hand. Elric looked up in some surprise. ‘Ah, Dyvim Tvar. How much time has passed?’
‘Some hours, Elric. It will soon be night. What little light there is begins to wane. We had best ride back for Imrryr.’
Stiffly Elric rose to his feet, with Dyvim Tvar’s assistance. ‘Aye...’ he murmured absently. ‘The Sea King said...’
‘I heard the Sea King, Elric. I heard his advice and I heard his warning. You must remember to heed both. I like too little the sound of this magic boat. Like most things of sorcerous origin, the ship appears to have vices as well as virtues, like a double-bladed knife which you raise to stab your enemy and which, instead, stabs you...’
‘That must be expected where sorcery is concerned. It was you who urged me on, my friend.’
‘Aye,’ said Dyvim Tvar almost to himself as he led the way up the cliff-path towards the horses. ‘Aye. I have not forgotten that, my lord king.’
Elric smiled wanly and touched Dyvim Tvar’s arm. ‘Worry not. The summoning is over and now we have the vessel we need to take us swiftly to Prince Yyrkoon and the