Vanishing Tower - Michael Moorcock [36]
"And where are Urish and Theleb K'aarna now?"
"It appears that they go to make good Theleb K'aarna's bargain with Urish. Urish was not altogether happy with the plan to lure you here for he fears your power—"
"He has reason to! Now!"
"Aye. Well, it seems that Urish had heard what we had heard, that the caravan for Tanelorn was on its way back to that city. Urish has knowledge of Tanelorn—though not much, I gather—and fosters an unreasoning hatred for the place, perhaps because it is the opposite of what Nadsokor is."
"They plan to attack Rackhir's caravan?"
"Aye—and Theleb K'aarna is to summon creatures from Hell to ensure that their attack is successful. Rackhir has no sorcery to speak of, I believe."
"He served Chaos once, but no more—those who dwell in Tanelorn can have no supernatural masters."
"I gathered as much from the conversation."
"When do they make this attack?"
"They have gone already—almost as soon as they had dealt with you. Urish is impatient."
"It is unlike the beggars to make a direct attack on a caravan."
"They do not always have a powerful wizard for an ally."
"True." Elric frowned. "My own powers of sorcery are limited without the Ring of Kings upon my hand. Its supernatural qualities identify me as a true member of the Royal Line of Melniboné—the line which made so many bargains with the elementals. First I must recover my ring and then we go at once to aid Rackhir."
Moonglum glanced at the floor. "They said something of protecting Urish's Hoard in his absence. There may be a few armed men in the hall."
Elric smiled. "Now that we are prepared and now I have the strength of the Burning God in me, I think we shall be able to deal with a whole army, Moonglum."
Moonglum brightened. "Then I'll lead the way back to the hall. Come. This passage will take us to a door which is let into the side of the hall, near the throne."
They began to run along the passage until they came at length to the door Moonglum had mentioned. Elric did not pause but drew his sword and flung the door open. It was only when he was in the hall that he stopped. Daylight now lit the gloomy place, but it was again deserted. No sword-bearing beggars awaited them.
Instead, there sat in Urish's throne a fat, scaly thing of yellow and green and black. Brown bile dripped from its grinning snout and it raised one of its many paws in a mockery of a salute.
"Greetings," it hissed, "and beware—for I am the guardian of Urish's treasure."
"A thing of Hell," Elric said. "A demon raised by Theleb K'aarna. He has been brewing his spells for a long time, methinks, if he can command so many foul servants." He frowned and weighed Stormbringer in his hand but, oddly, the blade did not seem to hunger for battle.
"I warn thee," hissed the demon, "I cannot be slain by a sword—not even that sword. It is my wardpact. . . ."
"What is that?" whispered Moonglum, eying the demon warily.
"He is of a race of demons used by all with sorcerous power. He is a guardian. He will not attack unless himself attacked. He is virtually invulnerable to mortal weapons and, in his case, he has a ward against swords—be they supernatural or no. If we attempted to slay him with our swords, we should be struck down by all the powers of Hell. We could not possibly survive."
"But you have just destroyed a god! A demon is nothing compared with that!"
"A weak god," Elric reminded him. "And this is a strong demon—for he is a representative of all demons who would mass with him to preserve his wardpact."
"Is there no chance of defeating him?"
"If we are to help Rackhir, there is no reason for trying. We must get to our horses and try to warn the caravan. Later, perhaps, we can return and think of some sorcery which will aid us against the demon."
Elric bowed sardonically to the demon and returned his salute. "Farewell unlovely one. May your master not return to release you and thus ensure you squat in this filth forever!"
The demon slobbered in rage. "My master is