Corum had been studying the ruins carefully and at length he reined in. "There, " he said. "That pit Here 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."
Erekose'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, Erekose, " 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 Erekose the Champion Eternal.
"As am I, " said Elric of Melnibone, "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, Erekose?" he asked.
"I have been told that I may find peace thereand 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 Chaosthat is why she exists for eternity, " Elric said.
"Aye. Like Erekose 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 the murmuring of conversation as his other selves discussed how Darkvale had come to exist.
"I heard that Chaos once attacked the town which at that time lay in a quiet valley, " Corum told Erekose. "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 realized 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 Erekose. "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 Erekose 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 Erekose 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 Erekose.
"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 Erekose'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 be yond 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, we have come to release Jhary-a-Conel whom you hold prisoner. Give him up to us and we will not harm you."
The dwarf's handsome features grinned cheerfully at these words. "But I am very powerful. You cannot defeat me. Watch."
He waved his sword and more lightning lashed about the room. Elric half-raised his sword to ward it off, but it never quite touched him. He stepped angrily towards the dwarf. "Know this, Voilodion Ghagnasdiak, I am Elric of Melnibone" and I have much power. I bear the Black Sword and it thirsts to drink your soul unless you release Prince Corum's friend! "