Vanishing Tower - Michael Moorcock [54]
Now he fancied he felt some of the desperation Erekosë must feel—to remember all those other incarnations, all those other mistakes, all that other pointless conflict—and never to know the purpose for it all, if purpose indeed there were.
"Darkvale," said Corum pointing down the hill.
The road ran steeply until it passed between two looming cliffs, disappearing in shadow. There was something particularly gloomy about the place.
"I am told there was a village here once," Corum said to them. "An uninviting spot, eh, brothers?"
"I have seen worse," murmured Erekosë. "Come, let's get all this done with. . . ." He spurred his roan ahead of the others and galloped at great speed down the steep path. They followed his example and soon they had passed between the lowering cliffs and could barely see ahead of them as they continued to follow the road through the shadows.
And now Elric saw ruins huddled close to the foot of the cliffs on either side. Oddly twisted ruins which had not been the result of age or warfare—these ruins were warped, fused, as if Chaos had touched them while passing through the vale.
Corum had been studying the ruins carefully and at length he reined in. "There," he said. "That pit there is where we must wait."
Elric looked at the pit. It was ragged and deep and the earth in it seemed freshly turned as if it had been but lately dug. "What must we wait for, Friend Corum?"
"For the Tower," said Prince Corum. "I would guess that this is where it appears when it is in this plane."
"And when will it appear?"
"At no particular time. We must wait. And then, as soon as we see it, we must rush it and attempt to enter before it vanishes again, moving on to the next plane."
Erekosë's face was impassive. He dismounted and sat on the hard ground with his back against a slab of rock which had once belonged to a house.
"You seem more patient than I, Erekosë," said Elric.
"I have learned patience, for I have lived since time began and will live on at the end of time."
Elric got down from his own black horse and loosened its girth strap while Corum prowled about the edge of the pit. "Who told you that the Tower would appear here?" Elric asked him.
"A sorcerer who doubtless serves Law as I do, for I am a mortal doomed to battle Chaos."
"As am I," said Erekosë the Champion Eternal.
"As am I," said Elric of Melniboné, "though I am sworn to serve it."
Elric looked at his two companions and it was possible to believe that these were two incarnations of himself. Certainly their lives, their struggles, their personalities, to some extent, were very similar.
"And why do you seek Tanelorn, Erekosë?" he asked.
"I have been told that I may find peace there—and wisdom—a means of returning to the world of the Eldren where dwells the woman I love, for it has been said that since Tanelorn exists in all planes at all times it is easier for a man who dwells there to pass between the planes, discover the particular one he seeks. What interest have you in Tanelorn, Lord Elric?"
"I know Tanelorn and I know that you are right to seek it. My mission seems to be the defence of that city upon my own plane—but even now my friends may be destroyed by that which has been brought against them. I pray Corum is right and that in the Vanishing Tower I shall find a means to defeat Theleb K'aarna's beasts and their masters."
Corum raised his jewelled hand to his jewelled eye. "I seek Tanelorn for I have heard the city can aid me in my struggle against Chaos."
"But Tanelorn will fight neither Law nor Chaos—that is why she exists for eternity," Elric said.
"Aye. Like Erekosë I do not seek swords but wisdom."
Night fell and Darkvale grew gloomier. While the others watched the pit Elric tried to sleep, but his fears for Tanelorn were too great. Would Myshella try to defend the city? Would Moonglum and Rackhir die? And what could he possibly find in the Vanishing Tower which would aid him? He heard