"His sword? How will that avail him against a Lord of Chaos? Besides, if the sword is released from the scabbard, who knows what will happen?"
Theleb K'aarna was evidently reluctant, by his tone, but at last agreed with Urish.
Now Theleb K'aarna's voice boomed commandingly.
"Things of Limbo-release him! His vitality has been your reward! Now-begone! "
Elric fell to the muck on the flagstones but was now too weak to move as beggars came forward and lifted him up.
His eyes closed and his senses deserted him as he felt himself borne from the hall and heard the united voices of the wizard of Pan Tang and the King of the Beggars giving vent to their mocking triumph.
CHAPTER FOUR
Punishment of the Burning God
"By Narjhan's droppings he's cold! "
Elric heard the rasping voice of one of the beggars who carried him. He was still weak but some of the beggars' body heat had transferred itself to him and the chill of his bones was now by no means as intense.
"Here's the portal."
Elric forced his eyes open.
He was upside down but could see ahead of him through the gloom.
Something shimmered there.
It looked like the iridescent skin of some unearthly animal stretched across the arch of the tunnel.
He was jerked backwards as the beggars swung his body and hurled it towards the shimmering skin.
He struck it.
It was viscous.
It clung to him and he felt it was absorbing him. He tried to struggle but was still far too weak. He was sure that he was being killed.
But after long minutes he was through it and had struck stone and lay gasping in the blackness of the tunnel.
This must be the labyrinth of which Urish had spoken.
Trembling, he tried to rise, using his scabbarded sword as a support. It took him some time to get up but at last he could lean against the curving wall.
He was surprised. The stones seemed to be hot. Perhaps it was because he was so cold and in reality the stones were of normal heat?
Even this speculation seemed to weary him. Whatever the nature of the heat it was welcome. He pressed his back harder against the stones.
As their heat passed into his body he felt a sensation almost of ecstacy and he drew a deep breath. Strength was returning slowly.
"Gods, " he murmured, "even the snows of the Lormyrian steppe could not compare with such a great cold."
He drew another deep breath and coughed.
Then he realized that the drug he had swallowed was beginning to wear off.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and spat out saliva. Something of the stink of Nadsokor had entered his nostrils.
He stumbled back towards the portal. The peculiar stuff still shimmered there. He pressed his hand against it and it gave reluctantly but then held firm. He leant his whole weight on it but it would still not give any further. It was like a particularly tough membrane but it was not flesh. Was this the stuff with which the Lords of Law had sealed off the tunnel, entrapping their enemy, the Lord of Chaos? The only light in the tunnel came from the membrane itself.
"By Arioch, I'll turn the tables on the Beggar King, " Elric murmured. He threw back his rags and put his hand on Stormbringer's pommel. The blade purred as a cat might purr. He drew the sword from its scabbard and it began to sing a low, satisfied song. Now Elric hissed as its power flowed up his arm and into his body. Stormbringer was giving him the strength he neededbut he knew that Stormbringer must be paid soon, must taste blood and souls and thus replenish its energy. He aimed a great blow at the shimmering wall. "I'll hack down this portal and release the Burning God upon Nadsokor! Strike true, Stormbringer! Let flame come to devour the filth that is this city! "
But Stormbringer howled as it bit into the membrane and it was held fast. No rent appeared in the stuff. In stead Elric had to tug with all his might to get the sword free. He withdrew, panting.
"The portal was made to withstand the efforts of Chaos, " Elric murmured. "My sword's useless against it. And so, unable to go back I must, perforce, go forward." Stormbringer in hand he turned and began to make his way along the passage. He took one turn and then another and then a third and the light had disappeared completely. He reached for his pouch where his flint and tinder were kept, but the beggars had cut that from his belt as they carried him. He decided to retrace his steps. But by now he was deeply within the labyrinth and he could not find the portal.
"No portal-but no God, it seems. Mayhap there's another exit from this place. If it's blocked by a door of wood, then Stormbringer will soon carve me a path to freedom."
And so he pressed further into the labyrinth, taking a hundred twists and turns in the darkness before he paused again.
He had noticed that he was growing warmer. Now, instead of feeling horribly cold, he felt uncomfortably hot. He was sweating. He removed some of the upper layers of his rags and stood in his own shirt and breeks. He had begun to thirst.
Another turning and he saw light ahead.
"Well, Stormbringer, perhaps we are free after all! "
He began to run towards the source of the light. But it was not daylight, neither was it the light from the portal. This was firelight-of brands, perhaps.
He could see the sides of the tunnel quite clearly in the firelight. Unlike the masonry in the rest of Nadsokor, this was free of filth-a plain, grey stone stained by the red light.
The source of the light was around the next bend. But the heat had grown greater and his flesh stung as the sweat sprang from his pores.
"AAH! "
A great voice suddenly filled the tunnel as Elric
rounded the bend and saw the fire leaping not thirty yards distant.
"AAH! AT LAST! "
The voice came from the fire.
And Elric knew he had found the Burning God.
"I have no quarrel with you, my lord of Chaos! " he called. "I, too, serve Chaos! "
"But I must eat, " came the voice. "CHECKALAKH MUST EAT! "
"I am poor food for one such as you, " Elric said reasonably, putting both his hands around Stormbringer's hilt and taking a step backward.
"Aye, beggar, that thou art-but thou art the only food they send! "
"I'm no beggar! "
"Beggar or not, Checkalakh will devour thee! "
The flames shook and a shape began to be made of them. It was a human shape but comprised entirely of flame. Flickering hands of fire stretched out towards Elric.
And Elric turned.
And Elric ran.
And Checkalakh, the Burning God, came fast as a flash fire behind him.
Elric felt pain in his shoulder and he smelled burning cloth. He increased his speed, having no notion of where he ran.
And still the Burning God pursued him.
"Stop, mortal! It is futile! Thou canst not escape Checkalakh of Chaos! "
Elric shouted back in desperate humour. "I'll be no one's roast pork! " His step began to falter. "Not-not even a god's! "
Like the roar of flames up a chimney, Checkalakh replied, "Do not defy me, mortal! It is an honour to feed a god! "
Both the heat and the effort of running were exhausting Elric. A plan of sorts had formed in his brain when he had first encountered the Burning God. That was why he had started to run.
But now, as Checkalakh came on, he was forced to turn.
"Thou art somewhat feeble for so mighty a Lord of Chaos, " he panted, readying his sword.
"My long sojourn here has weakened me, " Checkalakh replied, "else I would have caught thee ere now! But catch thee I will! And devour thee I must! "
Stormbringer whined its defiance at the enfeebled Chaos God and blade struck out at flaming head and gashed the god's right cheek so that paler fire flickered there and something ran up the black blade and into Elric's heart so that he trembled in a mixture of terror and joy as some of the Burning God's lifeforce entered him.