Elric_ The Stealer of Souls - Michael Moorcock [190]
Elric did not bother to consider this for he had embarked on his plan and was committed to carrying it through even though, in his present condition, he was bound to destroy himself if he continued.
They had the advantage of attacking from the air, but this would only be of value while the dragons’ venom lasted. When it gave out, they must go in closer. At that moment Elric would need much energy—and he had none.
Down swept the dragons, shooting their incendiary venom into the ranks of Chaos.
Normally, no army could stand against such an attack but, protected by sorcery, Chaos was able to turn much of the fiery venom aside. The venom seemed to spread against an invisible shield and dissipate. Some of it struck its target, however, and hundreds of warriors were engulfed in flame and died blazing.
Again and again the dragons rose and dived upon their enemies, Elric swaying almost unconscious in his saddle, his awareness of what was going on diminishing with every attack.
His dimming vision was further encumbered by the stinking smoke that had begun to rise off the battlefield. From the horde, huge lances were rising with seeming slowness, lances of Chaos like streaks of amber lightning striking at the dragons so that the beasts hit bellowed and hurtled dead to the ground. Closer and closer Elric’s steed bore him until he was flying over the division commanded by Jagreen Lern himself. He caught a misty glimpse of the Theocrat sitting a repulsive, hairless horse and waving his sword, convulsed with mocking mirth. He faintly heard his enemy’s voice drift up to him.
“Farewell, Elric—this is our last encounter, for today you go to limbo!”
Elric turned Flamefang about and whispered into his ear: “That one, brother—that one!”
With a roar, Flamefang loosed his venom at the laughing Theocrat. It seemed to Elric that Jagreen Lern must surely be burned to ashes, but just as the venom seemed to touch him, it was hurled back and only a few drops struck some of the Theocrat’s retainers, igniting their flesh and clothing.
Still Jagreen Lern laughed and now he released an amber spear which had appeared in his hand. Straight towards Elric it went and, with difficulty, the albino put up his Chaos Shield to deflect it.
So great was the force of the bolt striking his shield that he was hurled backwards in his saddle and one of the straps securing him snapped so that he fell to the left and was only saved by the other strap that had held. Now he crouched behind the shield’s protection as it was battered with supernatural weapons. Flamefang, too, was encompassed by the shield’s great power; but how long would even the Chaos Shield resist such an attack?
It seemed that he was forced to use the shield for an infinite time before Flamefang’s wings cracked the air like a ship’s sail and he was rushing high above the horde.
He was dying.
Minute by minute the vitality was leaving him as if he were an old man ready for death. “I cannot die,” he muttered, “I must not die. Is there no escape from this dilemma?”
Flamefang seemed to hear him. The dragon descended towards the ground again and dropped until its scaly belly was scraping the lances of the horde. Then Flamefang had landed on the unstable ground and waited with folded wings as a group of warriors goaded their beasts towards him.
Elric gasped: “What have you done, Flamefang? Is nothing dependable? You have delivered me into the hands of the enemy!”
With great effort he drew his sword as the first lance struck his shield and the rider passed, grinning, sensing Elric’s weakness.