Stormbringer - Michael Moorcock [48]
"Mortal? Yet he has lived so long?"
"Aye. Mordaga is mortal—though his life-span's considerably greater than an ordinary man's. He is obsessed with the knowledge that he must one day die. This is what saddens him."
"And the weapon?"
"Not a weapon—a shield. A shield with a purpose—one that Mordaga had made for himself when he raised a rebellion in the domain of the gods and sought to make himself greatest of them, and even wrest the Eternal Balance from He who holds it. For this he was banished to earth and informed that he would one day die—slain by a mortal's blade. The shield, as you might guess, is proof against the workings of Chaos."
"How so?"
"The chaotic forces, if powerful enough, can disrupt any defence made of lawful matter; no construction based on the principles of order can withstand for long the ravages of sheer chaos, as we know." Sepiriz leaned forward a little. "Stormbringer has shown you that the only weapon effective against Chaos is something of Chaos-manufacture. The same can be said for the Chaos Shield. This itself is Chaotic in nature and therefore there is nothing organised in it on which the random forces can act and destroy. It meets Chaos with Chaos, and so the hostile powers are subverted."
"If only I'd had this shield of late—things might have gone better for us all."
"I could not tell you of it. I am merely a servant of Fate and cannot act unless sanctioned by that which I serve. Perhaps, as I have guessed, it is willing to see Chaos sweep the world before it is defeated—if indeed it is defeated—so that it can completely change the nature of our planet before the new cycle begins. Change it will—but whether it will be ruled in the future primarily by Law or Chaos, that is in your hands Elric."
"How would I recognise this shield?"
"By the eight-arrowed sign of Chaos which radiates from its boss. It is a heavy, round shield, made as a buckler for a giant. But, with the vitality you receive from your runesword, you will have the strength to carry it, have no fear. But first you must have the courage to win it from its present possessor. Mordaga is aware of the prophecy, told him by his fellow gods before they cast him forth."
"Are you, too, aware of it?" The globe seemed to be slowing. He glanced at Dyvim Slorm who sat with his knees bunched to his chin, a moody, lost expression on his face. Moonglum stirred and moaned.
"I am. In our language it forms a simple rhyme:
Mordaga's pride; Mordaga's doom,
Mordaga's fate shall be
To die as men when slain by men,
Four men of destiny'."
"Four men? Who are the other three?"
"Two of them are here with you. The third you will meet at the Fortress of Evening. Another old friend."
There was a slight bump and then the walls of the globe vanished. They were lying in the courtyard of a massive fortress, its thick walls of red-slashed granite looming around them. Sepiriz had vanished, but servants were running forward. From somewhere Elric heard the seer's voice. "Rest, now. I will visit you again to inform you of the remainder of your destiny."
Part Two
SAD GIANT'S SHIELD
Now across the whole world the shadow of anarchy had fallen. Neither god, nor man, nor that which ruled both could clearly read the future and see the fate of Earth as the Forces of Chaos increased their strength both personally and through their human minions. Upon the face of the Earth all was disruption and roaring anguish, save for the thinly-populated, already threatened Eastern continent and the Isle of the Purple Towns. The onrushing tide of Chaos must soon sweep the world unless some great force could be summoned to halt it.
Beyond the earthly plane, in their bordering realms, the Lords of the Higher Worlds watched the struggle, and even they did not realise Elric's entire destiny.
Great movements on the Earth and beyond it; great destinies being shaped, great deeds being planned and, marvellously, could it just be possible that in spite of the Lords