Elric_ The Stealer of Souls - Michael Moorcock [39]
She did not answer him, but said instead: “And what was it you desired, Elric? Peace, you told me. Well, I warn you, you’ll find no peace in those grim mountains—if we reach them at all.”
“You have not been frank with me, Shaarilla,” Elric said coldly, still looking ahead of him at the black peaks. “You know something of the forces seeking to stop us.”
She shrugged. “It matters not—I know little. My father spoke a few vague warnings before he died, that is all.”
“What did he say?”
“He said that He who guards the Book would use all his power to stop mankind from using its wisdom.”
“What else?”
“Nothing else. But it is enough, now that I see that my father’s warning was truly spoken. It was this guardian who killed him, Elric—or one of the guardian’s minions. I do not wish to suffer that fate, in spite of what the Book might do for me. I had thought you powerful enough to aid me—but now I doubt it.”
“I have protected you so far,” Elric said simply. “Now tell me what you seek from the Book?”
“I am too ashamed.”
Elric did not press the question, but eventually she spoke softly, almost whispering. “I sought my wings,” she said.
“Your wings—you mean the Book might give you a spell so that you could grow wings!” Elric smiled ironically. “And that is why you seek the vessel of the world’s mightiest wisdom!”
“If you were thought deformed in your own land—it would seem important enough to you,” she shouted defiantly.
Elric turned his face towards her, his crimson-irised eyes burning with a strange emotion. He put a hand to his dead white skin and a crooked smile twisted his lips. “I, too, have felt as you do,” he said quietly. That was all he said and Shaarilla dropped behind him again, shamed.
They rode on in silence until Moonglum, who had been riding discreetly ahead, cocked his overlarge skull on one side and suddenly drew rein.
Elric joined him. “What is it, Moonglum?”
“I hear horses coming this way,” the little man said. “And voices which are disturbingly familiar. More of those devil-dogs, Elric—and this time accompanied by riders!”
Elric, too, heard the sounds, now, and shouted a warning to Shaarilla.
“Perhaps you were right,” he called. “More trouble comes towards us.”
“What now?” Moonglum said, frowning.
“Ride for the mountains,” Elric replied, “and we may yet outdistance them.”
They spurred their steeds into a fast gallop and sped towards the hills.
But their flight was hopeless. Soon a black pack was visible on the horizon and the sharp birdlike baying of the devil-dogs drew nearer. Elric stared backwards at their pursuers. Night was beginning to fall, and visibility was decreasing with every passing moment but he had a vague impression of the riders who raced behind the pack. They were swathed in dark cloaks and carried long spears. Their faces were invisible, lost in the shadow of the hoods which covered their heads.
Now Elric and his companions were forcing their horses up a steep incline, seeking the shelter of the rocks which lay above.
“We’ll halt here,” Elric ordered, “and try to hold them off. In the open they could easily surround us.”
Moonglum nodded affirmatively, agreeing with the good sense contained in Elric’s words. They pulled their sweating steeds to a standstill and prepared to join battle with the howling pack and their dark-cloaked masters.
Soon the first of the devil-dogs were rushing up the incline, their beak-jaws slavering and their talons rattling on stone. Standing between two rocks, blocking the way between with their bodies, Elric and Moonglum met the first attack and quickly dispatched three of the animals. Several more took the place of the dead and the first of the riders was visible behind them as night crept closer.
“Arioch!” swore Elric, suddenly recognizing the riders. “These are the Lords of Dharzi—dead these ten centuries. We’re fighting dead men, Moonglum, and the too-tangible ghosts of their dogs. Unless I can think of a sorcerous means to defeat them, we’re doomed!”
The zombie-men appeared to have no intention of taking part in the attack for the