Michael Moorcock - The Weird of the White Wolf

'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.

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.'

'What did he say?'

'He said that He who guards the Book would use all his power to stop mankind from using its wisdom.'

'What else?'

'Nothing else. But it is enough, now that I see that my father's warning was truly spoken. It was this guardian who killed him, Elric or one of the guardian's minions. I do not wish to suffer that fate, in spite of what the Book might do for me. I had thought you Powerful enough to aid me but now I doubt it.'

'I have protected you so far, ' Elrie said simply. 'Now tell me what you seek from the Book?’

'I am too ashamed.'

Elric did not press the question, but eventually she spoke softly, almost whispering. 'I sought my wings, ' she said.

'Your wings-y0u mean the Book might give you a spell so that you could grow wings! ' Elric smiled ironically. 'And that is why you seek the vessel of the world's mightiest wisdom! '

'If you Were thought deformed in your own land it would seem important enough to you, ' she shouted defiantly.

Elric turned his face towards her, his crimsonirised eyes burning with a strange emotion. He put a hand to his dead white skin and a crooked smile twisted his lips. 'I, too, have felt as you do, ' lie said quietly. That was all he said and Shaarilla dropped behind him again, shamed.

They rode on in silence until Moonglum, who had been riding discreetly ahead, cocked his overlarge skull on one side and suddenly drew rein. Elric joined him. 'What is it, Moonglum?'

'I hear horses coming this way, ' the little man said. 'And voices which are disturbingly familiar. More of those devil-dogs, Elric and this time accompanied by riders! '

Elric, too, heard the sounds, now, and shouted a warning to Shaarilla.

'Perhaps you were right, ' he called. 'More trouble comes towards us.'

'What now?' Moonglum said, frowning.

'Ride for the mountains, ' Elric replied, 'and we may yet outdistance them.'

They spurred their steeds into a fast gallop and sped towards the hills.

But their flight was hopeless. Soon a black, pack was visible on the horizon and the sharp birdlike baying of the devil-dogs-drew nearer. Elric stared backward at their pursuers. Night was beginning to fall, and visibility was decreasing with every passing moment but he had a vague impression of the riders who raced behind the pack. They were swathed in dark cloaks and carried long spears. Their faces were invisible, lost in the shadow of the hoods which covered their heads. Now Elric and his companions were forcing their horses up a steep incline, seeking the shelter of the rocks which lay above.

'We'll halt here, ' Elric ordered, 'and try to hold them off. In the open they could easily surround us.'

Moonglum nodded affirmatively, agreeing with the good sense contained in Elric's words. They pulled their sweating steeds to a standstill and prepared to join battle with the howling pack and their dark-cloaked masters.

Soon the first of the devil-dogs were rushing up the incline, their beak-jaws slavering and their talons rattling on stone. Standing between two rocks, blocking the way between with their bodies, Elric and Moonglum met the first attack and quickly dispatched three of the animals. Several more took the place of the dead and the first of the riders was visible behind them as night crept closer.

'Arioch! ' swore Elric, suddenly recognising the riders. 'These are the Lords of Dharzi -dead these ten centuries. We're fighting dead men, Moonglum, and the too-tangible ghosts of their dogs. Unless I can think of a sorcerous means to defeat them, we're doomed! '

The zombie-men appeared to have no intention of taking part in the attack for the moment. They waited, their dead eyes eerily luminous, as the devildogs attempted to break through the swinging network of steel with which Elric and his companion defended themselves. Elric was racking his brains trying to dredge a spoken spell from his memory which would dismiss these living dead. Then it came to him, and hoping that the forces he had to invoke would decide to aid him, he began to chant:

Nothing happened. 'I've failed.' Elric muttered hopelessly as he met the attack of a mapping devildog and spitted the thing on his sword. But then the ground rocked and seemed to seethe beneath the feet of the horses upon whose backs the dead men sat. The tremor lasted a few seconds and then subsided.

'The spell was not powerful enough, ' Elric sighed.

The earth trembled again and small craters formed in the ground of the hillside upon which the dead Lords of Dharzi impassively waited: Stones crumbled and the horses stamped nervously. Then the earth rumbled.