As they topped a hut and saw smoke drifting' black and thick across the plains of Toraunz, once beautiful, now ruined. Dyvim Slorm shouted from behind Elric and his bride:
«One thing, cousin-whatever happens, we must have vengeance on the Theocrat and his ally.»
Elric pursed his lips.
«Aye, » he said, and glanced again at Zarozinia whose eyes were downcast.
Now the Western lands from Taikesh to Myyrrhn were sundered by the servitors of Chaos. Was this truly to be the final conflict that would decide whether Law or Chaos would dominate the future? The forces of Law were weak and scattered. Could this possibly be the final paroxysm on earth of the great Lords of Eva? Now, between armies, one part of the world's fate was being decided. The lands groaned in the torment of bloody conflict.
What other forces must Elric fight before he accomplished his final destiny and destroyed the world he knew. What else before the horn of fate was blown-to herald in the night?
Sepiriz, no doubt, would tell him when the time came.
But meanwhile more material scores had to be settled. The lands to the east must be made ready for war. The Sealords of the Purple Ports must be approached for aid, the kings of the south marshalled for attack on the western continent. B would take time to do all this.
Part of Elric's mind welcomed the time it would take.
Part of him was reluctant to continue his heavy destiny. for it would mean the end of the Age of the Young Kingdoms, the death of the memory of the Age of the Bright Empire which his ancestors had dominated for ten thousand years.
The sea was at last in sight, rolling its troubled way towards the horizon to meet a seething sky. He heard the cry of gulls and smelled the tang of the salt air in his nostrils.
With a wild shout he clapped his steed's flanks and raced down towards the sea...
BOOK TWO
Black Sword's Brothers
In which Mournblade returns to help decide an issue between Elric and the Lords of Chaos...
One
One day there came a gathering of kings, captains, and warlords to the peaceful city of Karlaak in Ilmiora by the Weeping Waste.
They did not come in great pomp or with grandiose gestures. They came grim-faced and hurriedly to answer the summons of Elric, who dwelt again in Karlaak with his lately-rescued wife Zarozinia. And they gathered in a great chamber which had once been used by the old rulers of Karlaak for the planning of wars. To this same purpose Elric now put it.
Illuminated by flaring torches, a great coloured map of the world was spread behind the dais on which Elric stood. It showed the three major continents of the East, West and South. That of the West, comprising Jharkor, Dharijor, Shazar, Tarkesb, Myyrrhn and the Isle of Pan Tang, was shaded black, for all these lands were now the conquered Empire of the Pan Tang-Dharijor alliance which threatened the security of the assembled nobles.
Some of the men who stood armoured before Elric were exiles from the conquered lands-but there were few. Few also were Elric's Imrryrian kinsmen who had fought at the Battle of Sequa and had been defeated with the massed army that had sought to resist the combined might of the evil alliance. At the head of the eldritch Imrryrians stood Dyvim Slonn, Elric's cousin. At his belt, encased in a sturdy scabbard, was the runesword Mournblade, twin to the one Elric wore.
Here also was Montan, Lord of Lormyr, standing with fellow rulers from the Southlands - Jerned of Filkhor, Hozd of Argimiliar, and Koltbak of Pikarayd, adorned in painted iron, velvet, silk and wool.
The Sealords from the Isle of the Purple Towns were less gaudily dad with helms and breastplates of plain bronze, terkins, bracks and boots of unstained leather and great broadswords at their hips. Their faces were all but hidden by their long shaggy hair and thick, curling beards.
All these, kings and Sealords alike, were inclined to stare at Brie suspiciously, since years before he had led their royal predecessors on the raid of Imrryr - though it had left many thrones clear for those who now sat on them.
In another group stood the nobles of that part of the Eastern continent lying to the west of the Signing Desert and the Weeping Waste. Beyond these two barren stretches of land were the kingdoms of Eshniir, Changshai and Okara. but there was no contact between Elric's part of the world and theirs-save for the small, red-headed man beside him his friend Moonglum of Elwher, an Eastern adventurer.
The Regent of Vilmir, uncle of the ten-month-old Icing, headed this last group made up of senators from the city states comprising Umiora; the red-domed archer Rackhir representing the city of Tanelorn; and various Merchant Princes from towns coming under the indirect rule of Vilmir as protectorates.
A mighty gathering, representing the massed power of the world.
But would even this be sufficient, Elric wondered, to wipe out the growing menace from the Westlands?
His white albino's face was stern, his red eyes troubled he addressed the men he had caused to come here.
«As you know, my lords, the threat of Pan Tang and Dfaarijor is not likely to remain confined to the Western continent for much longer. Though barely two months have passed since their victory was achieved, they are already marshalling a great fleet aimed at crushing the power of mow kings dependent, largely, on their ships for livelihood and defence.»
He glanced at the Sealords of the Purple Towns and the kings of the Southern continent.
«We of the East, it seems, are not regarded as so much of a danger to their immediate plans and, if we did not unite now, they would have a greater chance of success by conquering first the Southern sea-power and then the scattered cities of the East We must form an alliance which can notch their strength.»
«How do you know his is their plan, Elric?»
The voice was that of Hozel of Argimiliar, a proud-faced man inclined it was said to fits of insanity, the inbred offspring of a dozen incestuous unions.
«Spies, refugees-and supernatural sources. They have all reported it.»
«Even without these reports, we could be sure that his is, indeed, their plan, » growled Kargan Sharpeyes. spokesman for the Sealords' He looked directly at Hozel with something akin to contempt. «And Jagreen Lern of Pan Tang might also seek allies amongst the Southerners. There are some who would rather capitulate to a foreign conqueror than lose their soft lives and easily-earned treasure.»
Hozel smiled coldly at Kargan. «There are some, too, whose animal suspicions might cause them to make no move against the Theocrat until it was too late.»
Elric said hastily, aware of age-old bitternesses between the hardy Sealords and their softer neighbours: «But worst of all they would be best aided by internal feuds in our ranks, brothers. Hozel-take it for granted that I speak truly and not my information is exact»
Montan, Lord of Lormyr, his face, beard and hair all shaded grey, said haughtily: «You of the North and Bast are weak. We of the South are strong. Why should we lend you our ships to defend your coasts? I do not agree with your logic, Elric. It will not be the first time it has led good men astray-to their deaths! «