'What name?' Elric was genuinely puzzled. 'What name did I scream?'
She shook her head. 'It doesn't matter but whatever it was it saved you. You reappeared soon afterwards and fell into the marsh...'
Stormbringer's power was still flowing into the albino. He already felt stronger. With an effort, he got up and stumbled unsteadily towards his horse.
'I'm sure that the Mist Giant does not usually haunt this marsh it was sent here. By what-or whom I don't know, but we must get to firmer ground while we can.'
Shaarilla said: 'Which way back or forward?'
Elric frowned. 'Why, forward, of course. Why do you ask?'
She swallowed and shook her head. 'Let's hurry, then, ' she said.
They mounted their horses and rode with little caution until the marsh and its cloak of mist was behind them. Now the journey took on a new urgency as Elric realized that some force was attempting to put obstacles in their way. They rested little and savagely rode their powerful horses to a virtual standstill. On the fifth day they were riding through barren, rocky country and a light rain was Falling. The hard ground was slippery so that they were forced to ride more slowly, huddled over the sodden necks of their horses, muffled it/ cloaks which only inadequately kept out the drizzling rain. They had ridden in silence for some time before they heard a ghastly cackling baying ahead of them and the rattle of hooves.
Elric motioned towards a large rock looming to their right. 'Shelter there, ' he said. 'Something comes towards us possibly more enemies. With luck, they'll pass us.' Shaarilla mutely obeyed him and together they waited as the hideous baying grew nearer.
'One rider several other beasts, ' Elric said, listening intently. 'The beasts either follow or pursue the rider.'
Then they were in sight racing through the rain. A man frantically spurring an equally frightened horse-and behind him, the’ distance decreasing, a pack of what at first appeared to be dogs. But these were not dogs they were half-dog and half-bird, with the lean, shaggy bodies and legs of dogs but possessing birdlike talons in place of paws and savagely curved beaks which snapped where muzzles should have been.
'The hunting dogs of the Dharzi! ' gasped Shaarilla. 'I thought that they, like their masters, were long extinct! '
'I, also, ' Elric said. 'What are they doing in these parts? There was never contact between the Dharzi and the dwellers of this Land.'
'Brought here by something; Shaarilla whispered. 'Those devil-dogs will scent us to be sure.'
Elric reached for his runesword. 'Then we can lose nothing by aiding their quarry, ' he said, urging his mount forward. 'Wait here, Shaarilla.'
By this time, the devil-pack and the man they pursued were rushing past the sheltering rock, speeding down a narrow defile. Elric spurred his horse down the slope.
'Ho there! ' he shouted to the frantic rider. 'Turn and stand, my friend I'm here to aid you! '
His moaning runesword lifted high, Elric thundered towards the snapping, howling devil-dogs and his horse's hooves struck one with an impact which broke the unnatural beast's spine. There were some five or six’ of the weird dogs left. The rider turned his horse and drew a long sabre from a scabbard at his waist. He was a small man, with a broad ugly mouth. He grinned in relief.
'A lucky chance, this meeting, good master! '
This was all he had time to remark before two of the dogs were leaping at him and he was forced to give his whole attention to defending himself from their slashing talons and snapping beaks.
The other three dogs concentrated their vicious attention upon Elric. One leapt high, its beak aimed at Elric's throat. He felt foul breath on his Face and hastily brought Stormbringer round in an arc which chopped the dog in two. Filthy blood spattered Elric and his horse and the scent of it seemed to increase the fury of the other dogs' attack. But the blood made the dancing black runesword sing an almost ecstatic tune and Elric felt it writhe in his grasp and stab at another of the hideous dogs. The point Elric said coldly, 'The Lady Shaarilla Master Moonglum of ?'
'Of Elwher, ' Moonglum supplied, 'The mercantile capital of the East the finest city in the world.'
Elric recognized the name. 'So you are from Elwher, Master Moonglum. I have heard of the place. A new city, is it not? Some few centuries old. You have ridden far.'
'Indeed I have, sir. Without knowledge of the language used in these parts, the journey would have been harder, but luckily the slave who inspired me with tales of his homeland taught me the speech thoroughly.'
'But why do you travel these parts have you not heard the legends?' Shaarilla spoke incredulously.
'Those very legends were what brought me hence-and I'd begun to discount them, until those unpleasant pups set upon me. For what reason they decided to give chase, I will not know, for I gave them no cause to take a dislike to me. This is, indeed, a barbarous land; '
Elric was uncomfortable. Light talk of the kind which Moonglum seemed to enjoy was contrary to his own brooding nature. But in spite of this, he found that he was liking the man more and more. It was Moonglum who suggested that they travel together for a while. Shaarilla objected, giving Elric a warning glance, but he ignored it.
'Very well then, friend Moonglum, since three are stronger than two, we'd appreciate your company. We ride towards the mountains.' Elric, himself, was feeling in a more cheerful mood.
'And what do you seek there?, Moonglum inquired.
'A secret, ' Elric said, and his new-found companion was discreet enough to drop the question.
THREE
So they rode, while the rainfall increased and splashed and sang among the rocks with the sky like dull steel above them and the wind crooning a dirge about their ears. Three small figures riding swiftly towards the black mountain barrier which rose over the world like a brooding God. And perhaps it was a God that laughed sometimes as they neared the foothills of the range, or perhaps it was the wind whistling through the dark mystery of canyons and precipices and the tumble of basalt and granite which climbed towards lonely peaks: Thunder clouds formed around those peaks and lightning smashed downwards like a monster finger searching the earth for grubs. Thunder rattled over the range and Shaarilla spoke her thoughts at last to Elric; spoke them as the mountains came in sight.
'Elric let us go back, I beg you. Forget the Book there are too many forces working against us. Take heed of the signs, Elric, or we are doomed! '
But Elric was grimly silent, for he had long been aware that the girl was losing her enthusiasm for the quest she had started.
'Elric please. We will never reach the Book. Elric, turn back'.
She rode beside him, pulling at his garments until impatiently he shrugged himself clear of her grasp and said:
‘I am intrigued too much to stop now. Either continue to lead the way or tell me what you know and stay here. You desired to sample the Book's wisdom once but now a few minor pitfalls on our journey have frightened you. What was it you needed to learn, Shaarilla?'
She did not answer him, but said instead: 'And what was it you desired, Elric? Peace, you told me. Well, I warn you, you'll find no peace in those grim mountains if we reach them at all.'
'You have not been frank with me, Shaarilla, ' Elric said coldly, still looking ahead of him at the black peaks. 'You know something of the forces seeking to stop us.'
She shrugged. 'It matters not I know little. My father spoke a few vague warnings before he died, that is all.'