The Bane of the Black Sword - Michael Moorcock [58]
"In our pride, Lords, we have come to learn the simpler truths which are only truths—the truths which you can teach us."
The speaker gave us a self-deprecating smile and replied: "Truth is not for us to define, guest, we can but offer our incomplete thoughts. They might interest you or help you to find your own truths."
"Indeed, that is so," Rackhir said, not wholly sure with what he was agreeing, but judging it best to agree. "And we wondered if you had any suggestions on a matter which concerns us—the protection of our Tanelorn."
"We would not be so prideful as to interfere our own comments. We are not mighty intellects," the speaker replied blandly, "and we have no confidence in our own decisions, for who knows that they may be wrong and based on wrongly assessed information?"
"Indeed," said Lamsar, judging that he must flatter them with their own assumed humility, "and it is lucky for us, Lords, that we do not confuse pride with learning—for it is the quiet man who observes and says little who sees the most. Therefore, though we realise that you are not confident that your suggestions or help would be useful, none the less we, taking example from your own demeanour, humbly ask if you know of any way in which we might rescue Tanelorn?"
Rackhir had hardly been able to follow the complexities of Lamsar's seemingly unsophisticated argument, but he saw that the Grey Lords were pleased. Out of the corner of his eye he observed Sorana. She was smiling to herself and it seemed evident, by the characteristics of that smile, that they had behaved in the right way. Now Sorana was listening intently and Rackhir cursed to himself that the Lords of Chaos would know of everything and might, even if they did gain the Grey Lords' aid, still be able to anticipate and stop any action they took to save Tanelorn.
The speaker conferred in a liquid speech with his fellows and said finally: "Rarely do we have the privilege to entertain such brave and intelligent men. How may our insignificant minds be put to your advantage?"
Rackhir realised quite suddenly, and almost laughed, that the Grey Lords were not very clever after all. Their flattery had got them the help they required. He said:
"Narjhan of Chaos heads a huge army of human scum—a beggar army—and is sworn to tear down Tanelorn and kill her inhabitants. We need magical aid of some kind to combat one so powerful as Narjhan and defeat the beggars."
"But Tanelorn cannot be destroyed . . ." said a Grey Lord. "She is Eternal . . ." said another. "But this manifestation . . ." murmured the third. "Ah, yes . . ."
"There are beetles in Kaleef," said a Grey Lord who had not spoken before, "which emit a peculiar venom."
"Beetles, Lord?" said Rackhir.
"They are the size of mammoths," said the third Lord, "but can change their size—and change the size of their prey if it is too large for their gullets."
"As for that matter," the first speaker said, "there is a chimera which dwells in mountains South of here—it can change its shape and contains hate for Chaos since Chaos bred it and abandoned it with no real shape of its own."
"Then there are four brothers of Himerscahl who are endowed with sorcerous power," said the second Lord, but the first interrupted him:
"Their magic is no good outside our own dimension," he said. "I had thought, however, of reviving the Blue Wizard."
"Too dangerous and, anyway, beyond our powers," said his companion.
They continued to debate for a while, and Rackhir and Lamsar said nothing, but waited.
Eventually the first speaker said:
"The Boatmen of Xerlerenes, we have decided, will probably be best equipped to aid you in defence of Tanelorn. You must go to the mountains of Xerlerenes and find their lake."
"A lake," said Lamsar, "in a range of mountains, I see."
"No," the Lord said, "their lake lies above the mountains. We will find someone to take you there. Perhaps they will aid you."
"You can guarantee nothing else?"
"Nothing—it is not our business to interfere. It is up to them to decide whether they will aid you or not."
"I see," said Rackhir,