Elric_ The Stealer of Souls - Michael Moorcock [141]
Elric shook his head. “I do not expect them to, but if I finish Jagreen Lern, at least it could put an end to his conquests and demon-summoning.” He spurred the Nihrain steed up the steps after the Theocrat who heard him coming and flung himself into a room. Elric heard a bar fall and bolts squeal.
When he reached the door, it fell in at a blow of his sword and he was in a small chamber. Jagreen Lern had disappeared.
Dismounting, Elric went to a small door in the farthest corner of the room and again demolished it. A narrow stair led upwards, obviously into a tower. Now he could take his vengeance, he thought, as he reached yet another door at the top of the stair and drew back his sword to smite it. The blow fell, but the door held.
“Curse the thing, it is protected by charms!”
He was about to aim another blow, when he heard Moonglum’s urgent calling from below.
“Elric! Elric—they’ve defeated the creatures. They are returning to the palace!”
He would have to leave Jagreen Lern for the meantime. He sprang down the steps, into the chamber and out onto the stair. In the hall he saw the flowing shapes of the unholy trinity. Halfway up the stair, Moonglum was quaking.
“Stormbringer,” said Elric, “it is time to summon your brothers.”
The sword moved in his hand, as if in assent. He began to chant the difficult rune that Sepiriz had taught him. Stormbringer moaned a counterpoint to the dirge as the battle-worn dukes assumed different shapes and began to rise menacingly towards Elric.
Then, in the air all about him, he saw shapes appear, shadowy shapes half on his own plane, half on the plane of Chaos. He saw them stir and suddenly it seemed as if the air was filled with a million swords, each a twin to Stormbringer!
Acting on instinct, Elric released his grip on his blade and flung it towards the rest. It hung in the air before them and they seemed to acknowledge it. “Lead them, Stormbringer! Lead them against the dukes—or your master perishes and you’ll not drink another human soul again!”
The sea of swords rustled and a dreadful moaning emanated from them. The dukes flung themselves upwards towards the albino and he recoiled before the evil hatred that poured from the twisting shapes.
Glancing down, he saw Moonglum slumped in his saddle and did not know if he had perished or fainted.
Then the swords rushed upon the reaching dukes and Elric’s head swam with the sight of a million blades plunging into the stuff of their beings.
The ululating noise of the battle filled his ears, the dreadful sight of the toiling conflict clouded his vision. Without Stormbringer’s vitality, he felt weak and limp. He felt his knees shake and crumple and he could do nothing to aid the Black Sword’s brothers as they clashed with the Dukes of Hell.
He collapsed, aware that if he witnessed further horror he would become totally insane. Thankfully, he felt his mind go blank and then, at last, he was unconscious, unable to know which would win.
CHAPTER FIVE
His body itched. His arms and back ached. His wrists pounded with agony. Elric opened his eyes.
Immediately opposite him, spreadeagled in chains against the wall he saw Moonglum. Dull flame flickered in the centre of the place and he felt pain on his naked knee, looked down and saw Jagreen Lern.
The Theocrat spat at him.
“So,” Elric said thickly, “I failed. You triumph after all.”
Jagreen Lern did not look triumphant. Rage still burned in his eyes.
“Oh, how shall I punish you?” he whispered.
“Punish me? Then—?” Elric’s heartbeat increased.
“Your final spell succeeded,” the Theocrat said flatly, turning away to contemplate the brazier. “Both your allies and mine vanished and all my attempts to contact the dukes have proved fruitless. You achieved your threat—or your minions did—you sent them back to Chaos for ever!”
“My sword—what of that?”
The Theocrat smiled bitterly. “That’s my only pleasure. Your sword vanished with the others. You are weak and helpless now, Elric. You are mine to maim and torture until the end of my life.”
Elric was dumbfounded.