Stormbringer - Michael Moorcock [23]
"What is that?"
"An earth free of the major forces of Chaos."
"You mean a world free of sorcery, I presume...?"
"Not entirely free of sorcery, but chaos and sorcery will not dominate the world of the future as it does this world."
"Then that is worth striving for, Sepiriz," Elric said almost with relief. "But what part do the runeblades play in the scheme of things?"
"They have two functions. One, to rid this world of the great dominating sources of evil—"
"But they are evil, themselves!"
"Just so. It takes a strong evil to battle a strong evil. The days that will come will be when the forces of good can overcome those of evil. They are not yet strong enough. That, as I told you, is what we must strive for."
"And what is the other purpose of the blades?"
"That is their final purpose—your destiny. I can tell you now. I must tell you now, or let you live out your destiny unknowing."
"Then tell me," Elric said impatiently.
"Their ultimate purpose is to destroy this world!"
Elric stood up. "Ah, no, Sepiriz. That I cannot believe. Shall I have such a crime on my conscience?"
"It is not a crime, it is in the nature of things. The era of the Bright Empire, even that of the Young Kingdoms, is drawing to a close. Chaos formed this earth and, for aeons, Chaos ruled. Men were created to put an end to that rule."
"But my ancestors worshipped the powers of Chaos. My patron demon, Arioch, is a Duke of Hell, one of the prime Lords of Chaos!"
"Just so. You, and your ancestors, were not true men at all, but an intermediary type created for a purpose. You understand Chaos as no true men ever could understand it. You can control the forces of Chaos as no true men ever could. You can weaken the forces of Chaos—for you know the qualities of Chaos. Weaken them is what you have done. Though worshipping the Lords of Chance and Evil, your race were the first to bring some kind of order to the earth. The people of the Young Kingdoms have inherited this from you—and have consolidated it. But, as yet, Chaos is still that much stronger. The runeblades, Stormbringer and Mournblade, this more orderly age, the wisdom your race and mine have gained, all will go towards creating the basis for the true beginnings of Mankind's history. That history will not begin for many thousands of years, the type may take on a lowlier form, become more beastlike before it re-evolves, but when it does, it will re-evolve into a world bereft of the stronger forces of Chaos. It will have a fighting chance. We are all doomed, but they need not be."
"So that is what Darnizhaan meant when he said we were just puppets, acting out our parts before the true play began..." Elric sighed deeply, the weight of his mighty responsibility was heavy on his soul. He did not welcome it; but he accepted it.
Sepiriz said gently: "It is your purpose, Elric of Melniboné. Hitherto, your life has appeared comparatively meaningless. All through it you have been searching for some purpose for living, is that not true?"
"Aye," Elric agreed with a slight smile, "I've been restless for many a year since my birth; restless the more between the time when Zarozinia was abducted and now."
"It is fitting that you should have been," Sepiriz said, "for there is a purpose for you—Fate's purpose. It is this destiny that you have sensed all your mortal days. You, the last of the royal line of Melniboné, must complete your destiny in the times which are to follow closely upon these. The world is darkening—nature revolts and rebels against the abuses to which the Lords of Chaos put it. Oceans seethe and forests sway, hot lava spills from a thousand mountains, winds shriek their angry torment and the skies are full of awful movement. Upon the face of the earth, warriors are embattled in a struggle which will decide the fate of the world, linked as the struggle is, with greater conflicts among Gods. Women and little children die on a million funeral pyres upon this continent alone. And soon the conflict will spread to the next continent and the next. Soon all the men of the earth will have chosen