Vanishing Tower - Michael Moorcock [12]
"Such rooms as these are expensive during the winter market," the landlord said apologetically.
And Moonglum winced as, silently, Elric handed the man another precious ruby worth a small fortune.
The landlord looked at it carefully and then laughed. "This inn will have fallen down before your credit's up, master. I thank thee. Trading must be good this season! I'll have drink and viands sent up at once!"
"The finest you have, landlord," said Moonglum, trying to make the best of things.
"Aye—I wish I had better."
Elric sat down on one of the beds and removed his cloak and his sword-belt. The chill had not left his bones.
"I wish you would give me charge of our wealth," Moonglum said as he removed his boots by the fire. "We might have need of it before this quest is ended."
But Elric seemed not to hear him.
After they had eaten and discovered from the landlord that a ship was leaving the day after tomorrow for Iosaz, Elric and Moonglum went to their separate beds to sleep.
Elric's dreams were troubled that night. More than usual did phantoms come to walk the dark corridors of his mind.
He saw Cymoril screaming as the Black Sword drank her soul. He saw Imrryr burning, her fine towers crumbling. He saw his cackling cousin Yyrkoon sprawling on the Ruby Throne. He saw other things which could not possibly be part of his past. . . .
Never quite suited to be ruler of the cruel folk of Melniboné, Elric had wandered the lands of men only to discover that he had no place there, either. And in the meantime Yyrkoon had usurped the kingship, had tried to force Cymoril to be his and, when she refused, put her into a deep and sorcerous slumber from which only he could wake her.
Now Elric dreamed that he had found a Nanorion, the mystic gem which could awaken even the dead. He dreamed that Cymoril was still alive, but sleeping, and that he placed the Nanorion on her forehead and that she woke up and kissed him and left Imrryr with him, sailing through the skies on Flamefang, the great Melnibonéan battle dragon, away to a peaceful castle in the snow.
He awoke with a start.
It was the dead of night.
Even the noise from the tavern below had subsided.
He opened his eyes and saw Moonglum fast asleep in the next bed.
He tried to return to sleep, but it was impossible. He was sure that he could sense another presence in the room. He reached out and gripped the hilt of Stormbringer, prepared to defend himself should any attackers strike at him. Perhaps it was thieves who had heard of his generosity towards the innkeeper?
He heard something move in the room and, again, he opened his eyes.
She was standing there, her black hair curling over her shoulders, her scarlet gown clinging to her body. Her lips curved in a smile of irony and her eyes regarded him steadily.
She was the woman he had seen in the castle. The sleeping woman. Was this part of the dream?
"Forgive me for thus intruding upon your slumber and your privacy, my lord, but my business is urgent and I have little time to spare."
Elric saw that Moonglum still slept as if in a drugged slumber.
He sat upright in his bed. Stormbringer moaned softly and then was silent.
"You seem to know me, my lady, but I do not—"
"I am called Myshella. . . ."
"Empress of the Dawn?"
She smiled again. "Some have named me that. And others have called me the Dark Lady of Kaneloon."
"Whom Aubec loved? Then you must have preserved your youth carefully, Lady Myshella."
"No doing of mine. It is possible that I am immortal. I do not know. I know only one thing and that is that Time is a deception. . . ."
"Why do you come?"
"I cannot stay for long. I come to seek your aid."
"In what way?"
"We have an enemy in common, I believe."
"Theleb K'aarna?"
"The same."
"Did he place that enchantment upon you that made you sleep?"
"Aye."
"And he sent his Oonai against me. That is how—"
She raised her hand.
"I sent the chimerae to find you