Vanishing Tower - Michael Moorcock [20]
But Elric knew that he had no other means of helping himself and, for all it was a desperate scheme, he murmured the words once more, praying that Theleb K'aarna's lust for a slow revenge would make the sorcerer hesitate before killing him.
Theleb K'aarna cursed, trying to prise Elric's mouth open.
"The first thing I'll do is cut out that damned tongue of yours!"
Elric bit the hand and tasted the sorcerer's blood. He spat it out.
Theleb K'aarna screamed. "By Chardros, if I did not wish to see you die over the months, I would . . ."
And then a sound came from the Kelmain.
It was a moan of surprise and it issued from every throat.
Theleb K'aarna turned and the breath hissed from between his clenched teeth.
Through the murky dusk a black shape moved. It was the sword, Stormbringer.
Elric had called it.
Now he cried aloud:
"Stormbringer! Stormbringer! To me!"
Theleb K'aarna flung Elric in the path of the sword and rushed into the security of the gathered ranks of Kelmain warriors.
"Stormbringer!"
The black sword hovered in the air near Elric.
Another shout went up from the Kelmain. A shape had left the battlements of Castle Kaneloon.
Theleb K'aarna shouted in hysteria. "Prince Umbda! Prepare your men for the attack! I sense danger to us!"
Umbda could not understand the sorcerer's words and Theleb K'aarna was forced to translate them.
"Do not let the sword reach him!" cried the sorcerer. Once more he shouted in the language of the Kelmain and several warriors ran forward to grasp the runesword before it could reach its albino master.
But the sword struck rapidly and the Kelmain died and none dared approach it after that.
Slowly Stormbringer moved towards Elric.
"Ah, Elric," cried Theleb K'aarna, "if you escape me this day, I swear that I shall find you."
"And if you escape me," Elric shouted back, "I will find you, Theleb K'aarna. Be sure of that."
The shape that had left Castle Kaneloon had feathers of silver and gold. It flew high above the Host and hovered for a moment before moving to the outer edges of the gathering. Elric could not see it clearly, but he knew what it was. That was why he had summoned the sword, for he had an idea that Moonglum rode the giant bird of metal and that the Elwherian would try to rescue him.
"Do not let it land! It comes to save the albino!" screamed Theleb K'aarna.
But the Kelmain Host did not understand him. Under Prince Umbda's commands they were preparing themselves for the attack upon the castle.
Theleb K'aarna repeated his orders in their own tongue, but it was plain they were beginning not to trust him and could not see the need to bother themselves with one man and a strange bird of metal. It could not stop their engines of war. Neither could the man.
"Stormbringer," whispered Elric as the sword sliced through his bonds and gently settled in his hand. Elric was free, but the Kelmain, though not placing the same importance upon him as did Theleb K'aarna, showed that they were not prepared to let him escape now that the blade was in his grasp and not moving of its own volition.
Prince Umbda shouted something.
A huge mass of warriors rushed at Elric at once and he made no effort to take the attack to them this time for he was interested in fighting a defensive strategy until Moonglum could descend on the bird and help him.
But the bird was even further away. It appeared to be circling the outer perimeters of the host and showed no interest in his plight at all.
Had he been deceived?
He parried a dozen thrusts, letting the Kelmain warriors crowd in upon each other and thus hamper themselves. The bird of gold and silver was almost out of sight now.
And Theleb K'aarna—where was he?
Elric tried to find him, but the sorcerer was doubtless somewhere in the centre of the Kelmain ranks by now.
Elric killed a golden-skinned warrior, slitting his throat with the point of the runesword. More strength began to flow into him again. He killed another Kelmain with an overarm movement which split the man's