Vanishing Tower - Michael Moorcock [43]
"There are larger affairs afoot, as I've told you. Soon Chaos must engage with Law and such as Donblas will be dismissed to Limbo for eternity."
"You knew Donblas spoke to me in the labyrinth of the Burning God?"
"Indeed I did. That was why I afforded myself the time to visit your plane. I cannot have you patronised by Donblas the Justice Maker and his humourless kind. I was offended. Now I have shown you that my power is greater than Law's." Arioch stared beyond Elric at Rackhir, Brut, Moonglum and the rest who were protecting their eyes from his beauty. "Perhaps you fools of Tanelorn now realise that it is better to serve Chaos!"
Rackhir said grimly: "I serve neither Chaos nor Law!"
"One day you will be taught that neutrality is more dangerous than side-taking, renegade!" The harmonious voice was now almost vicious.
"You cannot harm me," Rackhir said. "And if Elric returns with us to Tanelorn, then he, too, may rid himself of your evil yoke!"
"Elric is of Melniboné. The folk of Melniboné all serve Chaos—and are greatly rewarded: How else would you have rid this throne of Theleb K'aarna's demon?"
"Perhaps in Tanelorn Elric would have no need of his Ring of Kings," Rackhir replied levelly.
There was a sound like rushing water, the boom of thunder and Arioch's form began to grow larger. But as it grew it also began to fade until there was nothing left in the hall but the stench of its garbage.
Elric dismounted and ran to the throne. Reaching under it he drew out dead Urish's chest and hacked it open with Stormbringer. The sword murmured as if resenting the menial work. Gems, gold, artifacts scattered through the muck as Elric sought his ring.
And then at last he held it up in triumph, replacing it on his finger. His step was lighter as he returned to his horse.
Moonglum had in the meantime dismounted and was scooping the best of the jewels into his pouch. He winked at Rackhir, who smiled.
"And now," Elric said, "I go to Troos to seek Theleb K'aarna there. I have still to take my vengeance upon him."
"Let him rot in Troos's sickly forest," Moonglum said.
Rackhir placed a hand on Elric's shoulder. "If Theleb K'aarna hates you so, he will find you again. Why waste your own time in the pursuit?"
Elric smiled slightly at his old friend. "You were ever clever in your arguments, Rackhir. And it is true that I am weary—both gods and demons have fallen to my blade in the little while since I came to Nadsokor."
"Come, rest in Tanelorn—peaceful Tanelorn, where even the greatest Lords of the Higher Worlds cannot come without permission."
Elric looked down at the ring on his finger. "Yet I have sworn Theleb K'aarna shall perish. . . ."
"There will be time yet to fulfil your oath."
Elric ran his hand through his milk-white hair and it seemed to his friends that there were tears in his crimson eyes.
"Aye," he said. "Aye. Time yet. . . ."
And they rode away from Nadsokor, leaving the beggars to brood in the stink and the foulness and regret that they had aught to do with sorcery or with Elric of Melniboné.
They rode for Eternal Tanelorn. Tanelorn, which had welcomed and held all troubled wanderers who came upon it. All save one.
Doom-haunted, full of guilt, of sorrow, of despair, Elric of Melniboné prayed that this time Tanelorn might hold even him. . . .
Book Three
Three Heroes with a Single Aim
"... Elric, of all the manifestations of the Champion Eternal, was to find Tanelorn without effort. And of all those manifestations he was the only one to choose to leave that city of myriad incarnations ..."
—The Chronicle of the Black Sword
Chapter One
Tanelorn Eternal
Tanelorn had taken many forms in her endless existence, but all those forms, save one, had been beautiful.
She was beautiful now, with the soft sunlight on her pastel towers and her curved turrets and domes. And banners flew from her spires, but they were not battle banners, for the warriors who had found Tanelorn and had stayed there were weary of war.
She had been here always. None knew when Tanelorn had been built,