Elric_ The Sleeping Sorceress - Michael Moorcock [58]
Elric ran beside Erekosë.
“He keeps the door open to lure his ‘guests’ in,” panted the black giant. “It is our only advantage, I think.”
The tower flickered.
“Hasten!” Corum cried again and the Prince in the Scarlet Robe dashed into the darkness of the doorway.
“Hasten!”
They ran into a small antechamber which was lit by a great oil lamp hanging from the ceiling by chains.
The door closed suddenly behind them.
Elric glanced at Erekosë’s tense black features, at Corum’s blemished face. All had swords ready, but now a profound silence filled the hall. Without speaking Corum pointed through a window-slit. The view beyond it had changed. They seemed now to be looking out over blue sea.
“Jhary!” Corum called. “Jhary-a-Conel!”
A faint sound came back. It might have been a reply or it might have been the squeak of a rat in the castle walls. “Jhary!” Corum cried again. “Voilodion Ghagnasdiak? Am I to be thwarted? Have you left this place?”
“I have not left it. What do you want with me?” The voice came from the next room. Warily the three heroes who were one hero went forward.
Something like lightning flickered in the room and in its ghastly glare Elric saw Voilodion Ghagnasdiak.
He was a dwarf clad all in puffed multicoloured silks, furs and satins, a tiny sword in his hand. His head was too large for his body, but it was a handsome head with thick black eyebrows which met in the middle. He smiled at them. “At last someone new to relieve my ennui. But lay down your swords, gentlemen, I beg you, for you are to be my guests.”
“I know what fate your guests may expect,” Corum said. “Know this, Voilodion Ghagnasdiak, we have come to release Jhary-a-Conel whom you hold prisoner. Give him up to us and we will not harm you.”
The dwarf ’s handsome features grinned cheerfully at these words. “But I am very powerful. You cannot defeat me. Watch.”
He waved his sword and more lightning lashed about the room. Elric half-raised his sword to ward it off, but it never quite touched him. He stepped angrily towards the dwarf. “Know this, Voilodion Ghagnasdiak, I am Elric of Melniboné and I have much power. I bear the Black Sword and it thirsts to drink your soul unless you release Prince Corum’s friend!”
Again the dwarf laughed. “Swords? What power have they?”
“Our swords are not ordinary blades,” Erekosë said. “And we have been brought here by forces you could not comprehend—wrenched from our own ages by the power of the gods themselves—specifically to demand that this Jhary-a-Conel be given up to us.”
“You are deceived,” said Voilodion Ghagnasdiak, “or you seek to deceive me. This Jhary is a witty fellow, I’d agree, but what interest could gods have in him?”
Elric raised Stormbringer. The Black Sword moaned in anticipation of a quenching.
Then the dwarf produced a tiny yellow ball from nowhere and flung it at Elric. It bounced on his forehead and he was flung backward across the room, Stormbringer clattering from his hand. Dizzily Elric tried to rise, reached out to take his sword, but he was too weak. On impulse he began to cry for the aid of Arioch, but then he remembered that Arioch had been banished from this world. There were no supernatural allies to call upon here—none but the sword and he could not reach the sword.
Erekosë leapt backward and kicked the Black Sword in Elric’s direction. As the albino’s hand encircled the hilt he felt strength come back to him, but it was no more than ordinary mortal strength. He climbed to his feet.
Corum remained where he was. The dwarf was still laughing. Another ball appeared in his hand. Again he flung it at Elric, but this time he brought up the Black Sword in time and deflected it. It bounced across the room and exploded against the far wall. Something black writhed from the fire.
“It is dangerous to destroy the globes,” said Voilodion Ghagnasdiak equably, “for now what is in them will destroy you.”
The black thing grew. The flames died.
“I am free,” said a voice.
“Aye.” Voilodion Ghagnasdiak was gleeful. “Free to kill these fools who reject