Elric to Rescue Tanelorn - Michael Moorcock [20]
“In that case,” I decided, “you had best keep your men together and fight a defensive action. I think we still outnumber the Eldren and their ghostly allies. Let them come to us!”
I could see that the morale of my warriors was bad; they had been disconcerted and were finding it difficult to face the idea of defeat since victory had, at first, seemed so certain.
Through the milling men I saw the basilisk banner of the Eldren approaching as their cavalry moved speedily towards us, Arjavh at their head. Our forces came, again, together and once more I was doing battle with the Eldren prince.
He knew the power of my sword, knew that the touch of it could slay him, but that deadly mace, wielded like a sword, warded off every blow I made. I fought him for half an hour until he showed signs of sweating weariness and my muscles ached horribly.
And again our forces had been split, again it was impossible to tell how the battle went for us. For most of the time I was uncaring, oblivious of the events around me as I concentrated on breaking through Arjavh’s splendid guard.
Then I saw Count Roldero ride swiftly past me, his golden armour split, his face and arms bloody. In one red hand he carried the torn banner of Humanity and his eyes stared out of his wounded head in fear. “Flee, Lord Erekosë,” he shouted as he galloped past. “Flee—the day is lost!”
I could not believe it, until the ragged remnants of my warriors began to stream past me in ignominious flight.
“Rally Humanity!” I screamed. “Rally!” But they paid me no heed. Again Arjavh dropped his mace to his side.
“You are defeated,” he said. “You are a worthy foe, Erekosë, and I will remember our battle terms—go in peace. Necranal will have need of you.”
I shook my head slowly and drew a heavy breath. “Prepare to defend yourself, Prince Arjavh,” I said.
He shrugged, swiftly brought up the mace against the blow I aimed at him and then brought it down suddenly upon my metal-gauntleted wrist. My whole arm went numb. I tried to cling to the sword, but my fingers would not respond. It dropped from my hand and hung by a thong from my wrist.
With a curse, I flung myself from my saddle straight at him, my good hand grasping, but he turned his horse aside and I fell, face forward, in the bloody mud of the field. I attempted once to rise, failed, and lost consciousness.
I shivered, aware that I was no longer clad in my armour. I looked up. Arjavh stood over me.
“I wonder why he hates me,” he said to himself before he realized that I was awake. His expression altered and he gave me a light smile. “You’re a ferocious one, Sir Champion.”
“My warriors,” I said, “what…?”
“Those that were left have fled. We released the few prisoners we had and sent them after their comrades. Those were the terms, I believe?”
I struggled up. “Then you are going to release me?”
“I suppose so. Although…”
“Although?”
“You would be a useful bargaining prisoner.”
I took his meaning and relaxed, sinking back onto the hard bed. I thought deeply and fought the idea which came to me, but it grew too large in me. At length I said, almost against my will: “Trade me for Ermizhad.”
His cool eyes showed surprise for an instant.
“You would suggest that? But Ermizhad is Humanity’s chief hostage.”
“Damn you, Eldren—I said trade me for her.”
“You’re a strange human, my friend. But with your permission granted, that is what I shall do. I thank you.”
He left the tent. I heard him instructing a messenger.
“Make sure the people know,” I shouted from the bed. “The king may not agree, but the people will force his hand.”
Arjavh instructed the messenger accordingly. He came back.
“It puzzles me,” I said at length as he sat on a bench on the other side of the tent. “It puzzles me that the Eldren have not conquered Humanity before now—with those halfling warriors I should think you’d be invincible.”
He shook his head. “We rarely make use of our allies,” he said. “But I was desperate. You can understand that I was prepared to go to almost any measures