Elric Swords and Roses - Michael Moorcock [100]
“The gifts are not redeemed!” said the Rose in sudden agitation. “We hid them from Gaynor …”
“You were able to protect us,” said Princess Tayaratuka, “but not your treasures. Gaynor raped them from their hiding place before he fled back to The Ship That Was. Those Objects of Power, lady, are already in the hands of Chaos. I thought you understood that.”
The Rose sat slowly down upon a bench. Something like a groan escaped her. She waved them on. “Which makes your ritual all the more important to us …”
And Elric, following behind the women as they bore his sword into the depths of the palace where the ritual must take place, knew that both his own and his father’s soul must now be truly doomed.
CHAPTER THREE
Rituals of Blood; Rituals of Iron. Three Sisters of the Sword. Six Swords Against Chaos.
Through cloisters of pink-and-red mosaic, down avenues of flowering bushes lit by glowing, refracted sunshine from hidden skylights, past galleries of paintings and sculpture, the four moved steadily. “This has a hint of Melniboné and yet is not Melniboné,” said Elric thoughtfully.
Princess Tayaratuka was almost offended. “There is nothing of your Melniboné here, I hope. We have no strain in us of that warlike line. We are of those Vadhagh who fled the Mabden when Chaos aided them …”
“We of Melniboné determined we should flee no more,” said Elric quietly. He had no quarrel with his ancestors’ determined learning of the arts of battle lest they be scattered again. It was what such easy logic led to that he feared.
“I intended no criticism,” said the princess. “We prefer, if necessary, to wander, rather than imitate the ways of those who would destroy us …”
“But now,” said Princess Shanug’a, “we must do battle with Chaos, to defend what is ours.”
“I did not say that we would not fight,” her sister said firmly, “I said that we would not resort to the building of empires. These are two distinct things.”
“I understand you, my lady,” said the albino, “and I accept that difference. I have no liking for my people’s penchant for empirebuilding.”
“Well, my lord, there are many other ways to achieve security,” said Princess Mishiguya a little mysteriously, even sharply, as they continued their way through the lovely apartments and galleries of this most civilized of settlements.
Princess Tayaratuka still carried the great sword, though with a certain effort. Even when Elric offered to take the weight for a while she refused, as if this were her duty.
Now a corridor widened into another triangular cloister which surrounded a cool rose garden open to the dark blue sky above. At the centre of the garden was a fountain. The base of the fountain was carved with all manner of odd and grotesque creatures, somewhat out of keeping with the general style, and the plinth rose up in a three-sided column to where it widened into a large bowl around which were carved the sinuous shapes of dragons and maidens engaged in some cryptic dance. Silvery water still sprayed from the fountain and Elric felt that it was a kind of blasphemy to bring the Black Sword to a place of such peace.
“This is the Garden of the Rune,” said the Princess Mishiguya. “It lies at the very centre of our realm, our land; at the centre of this palace. This was the first garden built by the Vadhagh when they came here.” She took a deep breath of the ancient rosy scent. She held it as if it might be her last.
Princess Tayaratuka set the scabbarded runesword upon a bench and went to put her hands in the cool water, pouring it over her head almost as if she sought a blessing. Princess Shanug’a walked to the far end of the first of the three galleries and returned almost immediately bearing a cylinder of pale gold set with rubies which she handed now to Princess Mishiguya who drew from the cylinder another tube, of finely carved ivory bound with gold, and this tube she handed to Princess Tayaratuka