Elric Swords and Roses - Michael Moorcock [163]
Duke Orogino lowered his own longsword and rested his gauntleted hand on the haft of a busily engraved battle-axe of silver-chased steel more commonly associated with cavalry fighting. He allowed a look of skepticism to spread across his bearded face and he shook back his head to rid it of the damp locks obscuring his vision. Dyvim Mar pointed a slender finger towards the centre of the ruined city and its crumbling pyramids. “That’s where we were ambushed—as we entered yonder square overlooked by that ugly building—palace, temple, whatever it is. We had made too much noise and I think we were followed.”
“You say you could not count them. A fair-sized tribe?” Princess Semleedaor pushed golden hair back from her damp forehead.
“A party of perhaps a hundred.” With his soft doeskin boot, Dyvim Mar indicated fairly fresh bloodstains on the paving. “Perhaps a few more. We dispatched half that number—”
“Before you let them take you prisoner?” said Princess Nahuaduar sharply.
Dyvim Mar bridled. “I am a hired mercenary, madam. We followed the king’s commands!”
“To do what?” The question was rhetorical. Elric suspected she had heard the answer before.
“As I said, lady, your father was anxious to reach that sandstone pyramid there, the one they have made some crude attempt to restore. He called it a palace, but I think it was some kind of temple. He took the majority of my men forward and left me to protect the rear with some Lormyrian archers, a few lancers and my chief lieutenant, Agric Inricson. The last we saw of the king he had disappeared into the palace. We fought off the savages for several hours until they fell back. Then we moved to try to rejoin the king and the rest of our men. We got as far as yonder house—the one with the walls still intact. A trap. They were waiting for us inside. Fresh warriors. I saw half my men butchered. Most of us were overwhelmed. Then we thought we saw a way free. We got almost to the river before they began shooting at us. We carried the wounded with us into the river. I now think they intended to let us go, maybe as a warning to any other expedition. That is why I think we have not been attacked. They believe no-one else will dare come to Soom.”
“Or they have moved deeper into the jungle,” said Moonglum, “taking their prisoners with them.”
“Or they completed their business in Soom and returned to their tribal homeland further upriver,” suggested Duke Orogino. “I agree it is most likely they would have attacked us by now if they were still in the city.”
“Should we try to follow them?” Hored Mevza did his best to hide his disquiet.
“You may do as you please,” replied Elric. “My business is in Soom.”
“We need all the swords we can muster.” Princess Nahuaduar glared at him.
“Indeed, my lady,” Elric acknowledged. “But we agreed to lend you our aid until Soom and the rising of the full moon.”
“There is some hope that Melnibonéans are still alive,” said Dyvim Mar softly.
“And I hope to be again at their disposal once the moon has risen,” said Elric. “A matter of hours.” He reached into his pouch and drew out the map he had bought in Thokora. Beside what the king had called a palace was some kind of garden, perhaps the lunarium, what Elric’s people had called a night garden, judging by the iconography on the map. The noibuluscus appeared to have a religious function. Perhaps the black flowers had grown there. While the others debated, he marked out the site in his mind. Timing was important. The flower had to be picked at the moment of its blooming. He and Moonglum moved away from the others. “This is where I guess the site to be,” said Elric.
They had gone only a few steps when the brooding air was cut by a terrible sound—a high-pitched wail of agony which was suddenly cut off. The others stopped talking and listened carefully. Elric turned, questioning, into a sickening silence.
“It came from inside,” Moonglum said. Duke Orogino began to cross the square at a run, heading for the huge pyramid, the women behind him.
And then, from out of a dark, ragged hole in the pyramid’s