Vanishing Tower - Michael Moorcock [55]
"I heard that Chaos once attacked the town which at that time lay in a quiet valley," Corum told Erekosë. "The tower was then the property of a knight who gave shelter to one whom Chaos hated. They brought a huge force of creatures against Darkvale, raising and compressing the walls of the valley, but the knight sought the aid of Law who enabled him to shift his tower into another dimension. Then Chaos decreed that the tower should shift forever, never being on one plane longer than a few hours, usually for never more than a few moments. The knight and the fugitive went mad at last and killed each other. Then Voilodion Ghagnasdiak found the tower and became resident therein. Too late he realised his mistake as he was shifted from his own plane to an alien one. Since then he has been too fearful to leave the tower but desperate for company. He has taken to the habit of capturing whomever he can and forcing them to be his companions in the Vanishing Tower until they bore him. When they bore him, he slays them."
"And your guide may soon be slain? What manner of creature is this Voilodion Ghagnasdiak?"
"He is a monstrous evil creature commanding great powers of destruction, that is all I know."
"Which is why the gods have seen fit to call up three aspects of myself to attack the Vanishing Tower," said Erekosë. "It must be important to them."
"It is to me," said Corum, "for the guide is also my friend and the very existence of the Fifteen Planes is threatened if I cannot find Tanelorn soon."
Elric heard Erekosë laugh bitterly. "Why cannot I—we—ever be faced with a small problem, a domestic problem. Why are we forever involved with the destiny of the universe?"
Corum replied just as Elric began to nod into a half-doze. "Perhaps domestic problems are worse. Who knows?"
Chapter Five
Jhary-a-Conel
"It is here! Hasten Elric!"
Elric sprang up.
It was dawn. He had already stood watch once during the night.
He drew his Black Sword from its scabbard noticing with some astonishment that Erekosë had already drawn his own blade and that it was almost identical to his own.
There was the Vanishing Tower.
Corum was running towards it even now.
The tower was in fact a small castle of grey and solid stone, but about its battlements played lights and its outline was not altogether clear at certain sections of its walls.
Elric ran beside Erekosë.
"He keeps the door open to lure his 'guests' in," panted the black giant. "It is our only advantage, I think."
The tower flickered.
"Hasten!" Corum cried again and the Prince in the Scarlet Robe dashed into the darkness of the doorway.
"Hasten!"
They ran into a small antechamber which was lit by a great oil lamp hanging from the ceiling by chains.
The door closed suddenly behind them.
Elric glanced at Erekosë's tense black features, at Corum's blemished face. All had swords ready, but now a profound silence filled the hall. Without speaking Corum pointed through a window-slit. The view beyond it had changed. They seemed now to be looking out over blue sea.
"Jhary!" Corum called. "Jhary-a-Conel!"
A faint sound came back. It might have been a reply or it might have been the squeak of a rat in the castle walls. "Jhary!" Corum cried again. "Voilodion Ghagnasdiak? Am I to be thwarted? Have you left this place?"
"I have not left it. What do you want with me?" The voice came from the next room. Warily the three heroes who were one hero went forward.
Something like lightning flickered in the room and in its ghastly glare Elric saw Voilodion Ghagnasdiak.
He was a dwarf clad all in puffed multicoloured silks, furs and satins, a tiny sword in his hand. His head was too large for his body, but it was a handsome head with thick black eyebrows which met in the middle. He smiled at them. "At last someone new to relieve my ennui. But lay down your swords, gentlemen, I beg you, for you are to be my guests."
"I know what fate your guests may expect," Corum said. "Know this, Voilodion Ghagnasdiak,