The Weird of the White Wolf

'But I survived without need for spells. I survived by disciplining my mind! '

'That helped, for certain but you forget your greatest asset-that disturbing blade there. You use it in your petty problems to aid you, and you never realise that it is like making use of a mighty war galley to catch a sprat. That sword represents power in any Realm, King Elric! '

'Aye, so it might. This does not interest me. Why are you here, Lord Balo?'

Balo chuckled, his laughter rich and musical.

'Oho, I am in disgrace. I quarrelled with my masters, who took exception to a joke of mine about their insignificance and egotism, about their destiny and their pride. Bad taste to them, King, is any hint of their own oblivion. I made a joke in bad taste. I fled from the Higher Worlds to Earth, where, unless invoked, the Lords of Law or Chaos can rarely interfere. You will like my intention, Elric, as would any Melnibonean I intend to establish my own Realm on Earth the Realm of Paradox. A little from Law, a little from Chaos a Realm of opposites, Of curiosities and jokes.' 'I'm thinking we already have such a world as you describe, Lord Balo, with no need for you to create it! '

'Earnest irony, King Elric, for an insouciant man of Melnibone.'

'Ah, that it may be. I am a boor on occasions such as these. Will you release Yishana and myself?'

'But you and I are giants I have given you the status and appearance of a god. You and I could be partners in this enterprise Of miner'

'Unfortunately, Lord Balo, I do not possess your range of humour and am unfitted for such an exalted role. Besides, ' Elric grinned suddenly, 'it is in my mind that the Lords of the Higher Worlds will not easily let drop the matter of your ambition, since it appears to conflict so strongly with theirs.'

Balo laughed but said nothing.

Elric also smiled, but it was an attempt to hide his racing thoughts. 'What do you intend to do if I refuse?'

'Why, Elric, you would not refuse I can think of many subtle pranks that I could play on you...'

'Indeed? And the Black Swords?'

'Ah, yes ...'

'Balo, in your mirth and obsessions you have not considered everything thoroughly. You should have exerted more effort to .vanquish me before I came here.'

Now Elric's eyes gleamed hot and he lifted the sword, crying:

‘Arioch! Master! I invoke thee, Lord of Chaos!’

Balo started. 'Cease that, King Elric! '

‘Arioch here is a soul for you to claim! '

'Quiet, I say! '

‘Arioch! Hear me!’ Elric's voice was loud and desperate. Balo let his tiny playthings fall and rose hurriedly, skipping towards Elric.

'Your invocation is unheeded! ' He laughed, reaching out for Elric. But Stormbringer moaned and shuddered in Elric's hand and Balo withdrew his hand. His face became serious and frowning. 'Arioch of the Seven Darks your servant calls you! '

The walls of flame trembled and began to fade. Balo's eyes widened and jerked this way and that.

‘Oh, Lord Arioch come reclaim your straying Balo!’

'You cannot! ' Balo scampered across the room where one section of the flame had faded entirely, revealing darkness beyond.

'Sadly for you, little jester, he can...’ The voice Was sardonic and yet beautiful. From the darkness stepped a tall figure, no longer the shapeless gibbering thing that had, until now, been Arioch's favoured manifestation when visiting the Realm of Earth. Yet the great beauty of the newcomer, filled as it was with a kind of compassion mingled with pride, cruelty, and sadness, showed at once that he could not be human. He was clad in doublet of pulsing scarlet, hose of ever-changing hue, a long golden sword at his hips. His eyes were large, but slanted high, his hair was long and as golden as the sword, his lips were full and his chin pointed like his ears. 'Arioch! ' Balo stumbled backwards as the Lord of Chaos advanced.

'It was your mistake, Balo, ' Elric said from behind the jester. 'Did you not realise only the Kings of Melnibone may invoke Arioch and bring him to the Realm of Earth? It has been their age-old privilege.'

'And much have they abused it, ' said Arioch, smiling faintly as Balo groveled. 'However, this service you have done us, Elric, will make up for past misuses. I was not amused by the matter of the Mist Giant ...'

Even Elric was awed by the incredibly powerful presence of the Chaos Lord. He also felt much relieved, for he had not been sure that Arioch could be summoned in this way.

Now Arioch stretched an arm down towards Balo and lifted the jester by his collar so that he jerked and struggled in the air, his face writhing in fear and consternation.

Arioch took hold of Balo's head and squeezed it. Elric looked on in amazement as the head began to shrink. Arioch took Balo's legs and bent them in, folding Balo up and kneading him in his slender, inhuman hands until he was a small, solid ball. Arioch then popped the ball into his mouth and swallowed it.

'I have not eaten him, Elric, ' he said with another faint smile. 'It is merely the easiest way of transporting him back to the Realms from which he came. He has transgressed and will be punished. All this'he waved an arm to indicate the citadel 'is unfortunate and contradicts the plans we of Chaos have for Earth plans which will involve you, our servant, and make you mighty.'

Elric bowed to his master. 'I am honoured, Lord Arioch, though I seek no favours.'

Arioch's silvery voice lost some of its beauty and his face seemed to cloud for a second. 'You are pledged to serve Chaos, Elric, as were your ancestors. You will serve Chaos! The time draws near when both Law and Chaos will battle for the Realm of Earth and Chaos shall win! Earth will be incorporated into our Realm and you will join the hierarchy of Chaos, become immortal as we are! '

'Immortality offers little to me, my lord.'

'Ah, Elric, have the men of Melnibone become as the half-apes who now dominate Earth with their puny’civilisations’? Are you no better than these Young Kingdom upstarts? Think what we offer! '

'I shall, my lord, when’ the time you mention comes.' Elric's head was still lowered.

'You shall indeed, ' Arioch raised his arms. 'Now to transport this toy of Balo's to its proper Realm, and redress the trouble he has caused, lest some hint reaches our opponents before the proper time.'

Arioch's voice swelled like the singing of a million brazen bells and Elric sheathed his sword and clapped his hands over his ears to stop the pain. Then Elric felt his body seem to shred apart, swell and stretch until it became like smoke drifting on air. Then, faster, the smoke began to be drawn together, becoming denser and denser and he seemed to be shrinking now. All around him were rolling banks of colour, flashes and indescribable noises. Then came a vast blackness and he closed his eyes against the images that seemed reflected in the blackness.

When he opened them he stood in the valley and the singing citadel was gone. Only Yishana and a few surprised-looking soldiers stood there. Yishana ran towards him.

'Elric was it you who saved us?'

'I must claim only part of the credit, ' he said.

'Not all my soldiers are here, ' she said, inspecting the men. Where are the rest and the villagers abducted earlier?'

'If Balo's tastes are like his masters', then I fear they now have the honour of being part of a demigod. The Lords of Chaos are not flesh-eaters, of course, being of the Higher Worlds, but there is something they savour in men which satisfies them...'