Vanishing Tower - Michael Moorcock [32]
"Put his head up!" Theleb K'aarna instructed his dead servants. "Let him see Urish, King of All Beggars, make his just decree!"
Elric felt a cold hand beneath his chin and his head was raised so he could watch, through misting eyes, as Urish stood up and grasped the cleaver Hackmeat in his four-fingered hand, stretching it towards the smoky ceiling.
"Elric of Melniboné thou art convicted of many crimes against the Ignoblest of the Ignoble—myself, King Urish of Nadsokor. Thou has offended King Urish's friend, that most pleasingly degenerate villain Theleb K'aarna—"
At this Theleb K'aarna pursed his lips, but did not interrupt.
"—and, moreover, did come a second time to the City of Beggars to repeat your crimes. By my great cleaver Hackmeat, the symbol of my dignity and power, I condemnest thou to the Punishment of the Burning God!"
From all sides of the hall came the foul applause of the Beggar Court. Elric remembered a legend of Nadsokor—that when the original population were first struck by the disease they summoned aid from Chaos—begging Chaos to cleanse the disease from the city—with fire if necessary. Chaos had played a joke upon these folk—sent the Burning God who had burned what was left of their possessions. A further summons to Law to help them had resulted in the Burning God's being imprisoned by Lord Donblas in the city. Having had enough of the Lords of the Higher Worlds the remnants of the citizens had abandoned their city. But was the Burning God still here in Nadsokor?
Faintly he still heard Urish's voice. "Take him to the labyrinth and give him to the Burning God!"
Theleb K'aarna spoke but Elric did not hear what he said, though he heard Urish's reply.
"His sword? How will that avail him against a Lord of Chaos? Besides, if the sword is released from the scabbard, who knows what will happen?"
Theleb K'aarna was evidently reluctant, by his tone, but at last agreed with Urish.
Now Theleb K'aarna's voice boomed commandingly.
"Things of Limbo—release him! His vitality has been your reward! Now—begone!"
Elric fell to the muck on the flagstones but was now too weak to move as beggars came forward and lifted him up.
His eyes closed and his senses deserted him as he felt himself borne from the hall and heard the united voices of the wizard of Pan Tang and the King of the Beggars giving vent to their mocking triumph.
Chapter Four
Punishment of the Burning God
"By Narjhan's droppings he's cold!"
Elric heard the rasping voice of one of the beggars who carried him. He was still weak but some of the beggars' body heat had transferred itself to him and the chill of his bones was now by no means as intense.
"Here's the portal."
Elric forced his eyes open.
He was upside down but could see ahead of him through the gloom.
Something shimmered there.
It looked like the iridescent skin of some unearthly animal stretched across the arch of the tunnel.
He was jerked backwards as the beggars swung his body and hurled it towards the shimmering skin.
He struck it.
It was viscous.
It clung to him and he felt it was absorbing him. He tried to struggle but was still far too weak. He was sure that he was being killed.
But after long minutes he was through it and had struck stone and lay gasping in the blackness of the tunnel.
This must be the labyrinth of which Urish had spoken.
Trembling, he tried to rise, using his scabbarded sword as a support. It took him some time to get up but at last he could lean against the curving wall.
He was surprised. The stones seemed to be hot. Perhaps it was because he was so cold and in reality the stones were of normal heat?
Even this speculation seemed to weary him. Whatever the nature of the heat it was welcome. He pressed his back harder against the stones.
As their heat passed into his body he felt a sensation almost of ecstacy and he drew a deep breath. Strength was returning slowly.
"Gods," he murmured,