Stormbringer - Michael Moorcock [17]
"Would you be rid of your sword, Elric?" Sepiriz said.
"Aye—it's well known."
"Then listen to this tale.
"We know for whom and for what the blade—and its twin—were forged. They were made for a special purpose and for special men. Only Melnibonéans may carry them, and of those only the blood of the royal line."
"There is no hint of any special purpose for the swords in Melnibonéan history or legend," Elric said leaning forward.
"Some secrets are best kept fully guarded," Sepiriz said calmly. "Those blades were forged to destroy a group of very powerful beings. Among them are the Dead Gods."
"The Dead Gods—but, by their very name, you must know that they perished long ages ago."
"They 'perished' as you say. In human terms they are dead. But they chose to die, chose to rid themselves of material shape and hurled their life-stuff into the blackness of eternity, for in those days they were full of fear."
Elric had no real conception of what Sepiriz described but he accepted what the Nihrainian said and listened on.
"One of them has returned," Sepiriz said.
"Why?"
"To get, at any cost, two things which endanger him and his fellow gods—wherever they may be they can still be harmed by these things."
"They are...?"
"They have the earthly appearance of two swords, rune-carved and sorcerous—Mournblade and Stormbringer."
"This!" Elric touched his blade. "Why should the gods fear this? And the other went to Limbo with my cousin Yyrkoon whom I killed many years ago. It is lost."
"That is not true. We recovered it—that was part of Fate's purpose for us. We have it here in Nihrain. The blades were forged for your ancestors who drove the Dead Gods away by means of them. They were made by other unhuman smiths who were also enemies of the Dead Gods. These smiths were compelled to combat evil with evil, although they, themselves, were not pledged to Chaos, but to Law. They forged the swords for several reasons—ridding the world of the Dead Gods was but one!"
"The other reasons?"
"Those you shall learn in times to come—for our relationship will not be ended until the whole destiny has been worked out. We are obliged not to reveal the other reasons until the proper time. You have a dangerous destiny, Elric, and I do not envy it."
"But what is the message you have?" Elric said impatiently.
"Due to the disturbance created by Jagreen Lern, one of the Dead Gods has been enabled to return to earth, as I told you. He has gathered acolytes about him. They kidnapped your wife."
Elric felt a mood of deep despair creep over him. Must he defy such power as this?
"Why ...?" he whispered.
"Darnizhaan is aware that Zarozinia is important to you. He wishes to barter her for the two swords. We, in this matter, are merely messengers. We must give up the sword we keep at the request of you or Dyvim Slorm, for they rightfully belong to any of the royal line. Darnizhaan's terms are simple. He will dispatch Zarozinia to Limbo unless you give him the blades which threaten his existence. Her death, it would not be death as we know it, would be unpleasant and eternal."
"And if I agreed to do that, what would happen?"
"All the Dead Gods would return. Only the power of the swords keeps them from doing so now!"
"And what would happen if the Dead Gods came back?"
"Even without the Dead Gods, Chaos threatens to conquer the planet, but with them it would be utterly invincible, its effect immediate. Evil would sweep the world. Chaos would plunge this earth into a stinking inferno of terror and destruction. You have already had a taste of what is happening, and Darnizhaan has only been back for a short time."
"You mean the defeat of Yishana's armies and the conquest by Sarosto and Jagreen Lern?"
"Exactly. Jagreen Lern has a pact with Chaos—all the Lords of Chaos, not merely the Dead Gods—for Chaos fears Fate's plan for earth's future and would attempt to tamper with it by gaining domination of our planet. The Lords of Chaos are strong enough without the help of the Dead Gods. Darnizhaan