The Weird of the White Wolf - Michael Moorcock [42]
Moonglum shouted incredulously: “Why offer them their freedom? We could sell them in Dhakos and thus be paid for today's exertion!”
Elric shrugged. “I offer them freedom because I choose to, Moonglum.”
The redhead sighed and turned to supervise the throwing of the dead and wounded overboard. He would never understand the albino, he decided. It was probably for the best.
And that was how Elric came to enter Dhakos in some style, when he had originally intended to slip into the city without being recognised.
Leaving Moonglum to negotiate the sale of the trireme and divide the money between the crew and himself, Elric drew his hood over his head and pushed through the crowd which had collected, making for an inn he knew of by the west gate of the city.
TWO
* * *
Later that night, when Moonglum had gone to bed, Elric sat in the tavern room drinking. Even the most enthusiastic of the night's roisterers had left when they had noticed with whom they shared the room; and now Elric sat alone, the only light coming from a guttering reed torch over the outside door.
Now the door opened and a richly-dressed youth stood there, staring in.
“I seek the White Wolf,” he said, his head at a questioning angle. He could not see Elric clearly.
“I'm sometimes called that name in these parts,” Elric said calmly. “Do you seek Elric of Melniboné?”
“Aye. I have a message.” The youth came in, keeping his cloak wrapped about him, for the room was cold though Elric did not notice it.
“I am Count Yolan, deputy-commander of the city guard,” the youth said arrogantly, coming up to the table at which Elric sat and studying the albino rudely. “You are brave to come here so openly. Do you think the folk of Jharkor have such short memories they can forget that you led their king into a trap scarce two years since?”
Elric sipped his wine, then said from behind the rim of his cup: “This is rhetoric, Count Yolan. What is your message?”
Yolan's assured manner left him; he made a rather weak gesture. “Rhetoric to you, perhaps—but I for one feel strongly on the matter. Would not King Darmit be here today if you had not fled from the battle that broke the power of the Sea Lords and your own folk? Did you not use your sorcery to aid you in your flight, instead of using it to aid the men who thought they were your comrades?”
Elric sighed. “I know your purpose here was not to bait me in this manner. Darmit died on board his flagship during the first attack on Imrryr's sea-maze, not in the subsequent battle.”
“You sneer at my questions and then proffer lame lies to cover your own cowardly deed,” Yolan said bitterly. “If I had my way you'd be fed to your hell-blade there—I've heard what happened earlier.”
Elric rose slowly. “Your taunts tire me. When you feel ready to deliver your message, give it to the inn-keeper.”
He walked around the table, moving towards the stairs, but stopped as Yolan turned and plucked at his sleeve.
Elric's corpse-white face stared down at the young noble. His crimson eyes flickered with a dangerous emotion. “I am not used to such familiarity, young man.”
Yolan's hand fell away. “Forgive me. I was self-indulgent and should not have let my emotions override diplomacy. I came on a matter of discretion—a message from Queen Yishana. She seeks your help.”
“I'm as disinclined to help others as I am to explain my actions,” Elric spoke impatiently. “In the past my help has not always been to the advantage of those who've sought it. Darmit, your queen's half-brother, discovered that.”
Yolan said sullenly: “You echo my own warnings to the queen, sir. For all that, she desires to see you in private—tonight. . .” he scowled and looked away. “I would point out that I could have you arrested should you refuse.”
“Perhaps.” Elric moved again towards the steps. “Tell Yishana that I stay the night here and move on at dawn. She may visit me if her request is so urgent.” He climbed the stairs, leaving a gape-mouthed Yolan sitting alone in the quiet of the tavern.
Theleb K'aarna scowled. For all his skill in the black