The Weird of the White Wolf - Michael Moorcock [54]
Haaashaastaak quivered and became more curious. The rhythms were no stronger, yet they seemed more insistent. He would travel, he decided, to that place where those he watched over dwelt. He knew that if he answered the rhythms, he would have to obey whatever source they had. He was not, of course, aware that such decisions had been implanted into him in a far distant age—the time before the creation of Earth, when the Lords of Law and Chaos, then inhabitants of a single realm and known by another name, had watched over the forming of things and laid down the manner and logic in which things should behave, following their great edict from the voice of the Cosmic Balance—the voice which had never spoken since.
Haaashaastaak betook himself, a little slothfully, to Earth.
Elric and Yishana were still chanting hoarsely, as Haaashaastaak made his sudden appearance. He had the look of a huge iguana, and his eyes were many-coloured, many faceted jewels, his scales seeming of gold, silver, and other rich metals. A slightly hazy outline surrounded him, as if he had brought part of his own environment with him.
Yishana gasped and Elric breathed a deep sigh. As a child he had learned the languages of all animal-masters, and now he must recall the simple language of the lizard-master, Haaashaastaak.
His need fired his brain, and the words came suddenly.
“Haaashaastaak,” he cried pointing at the butterfly-creature, “mokik ankkuh!”
The lizard lord turned its jewelled eyes on the creature and its great tongue suddenly shot out towards it, curling around the monster. It shrilled in terror as it was drawn towards the lizard lord's great maw. Legs and arms kicked as the mouth closed on it. Several gulps and Haaashaastaak had swallowed Theleb K'aarna's prize creation. Then it turned its head uncertainly about for a few moments and vanished.
Pain began to throb now through Elric's torn arm as Moonglum staggered towards him, grinning in relief.
“I followed behind you at a distance as you requested,” he said, “since you suspected treachery from Theleb K'aarna. But than I spied the sorcerer coming this way and followed him to a cave in yonder hills,” he pointed. “But when the deceased,” he laughed shakily, “emerged from the cave, I decided that it would be best to chase that, for I had the feeling it was going in your direction.”
“I am glad you were so astute,” Elric said.
“It was your doing, really,” Moonglum replied. “For, if you hadn't anticipated treachery from Theleb K'aarna, I might not have been here at the right moment.” Moonglum suddenly sank to the grass, leaned back, grinned, and fainted.
Elric felt very dazed himself. “I do not think we need fear anything more from your sorcerer just yet, Yishana,” he said. “Let us rest here and refresh ourselves. Perhaps then your cowardly soldiers will have returned, and we can send them to a village to get us some horses.”
They stretched out on the grass and, lying in each other's arms, went to sleep.
Elric was astonished to wake in a bed, a soft bed. He opened his eves and saw Yishana and Moonglum smiling down at him.
“How long have I been here?”
“More than two days. You did not wake when the horses came, so we had the warriors construct a stretcher to bear you to Dhakos. You are in my palace.”
Elric cautiously moved his stiff, bandaged arm. It was still painful. “Are my belongings still at the inn?”
“Perhaps, if they have not been stolen. Why?”
“I have a pouch of herbs there, which will heal this arm quickly and also supply me with a little strength, which I need badly.”
“I will go and see if they are still there,” Moonglum said and walked from the chamber.
Yishana stroked Elric's milk-white hair. “I have much to thank you for, wolf,” said she. “You have saved my kingdom—perhaps all the Young Kingdoms. In my eyes you are redeemed for my brother's death.”
“Oh, I thank you, madam,” said Elric with a mocking tone.
She laughed. “You are still a Melnibonéan.”
“Still that, aye.”
“A strange mixture, however. Sensitive