To Rescue Tanelorn by Michael Moorcock Read Free Book Online Page A

are harmed.”
    She sighed.
    “Why did not you and the other Eldren women flee when our fleets put in to Paphanaal?” I asked. This had puzzled me.
    “The Eldren do not flee,” she said. “They do not flee from cities theirs by right.”
    “They fled to the Mountains of Sorrow centuries ago,” I pointed out.
    “No,” she shook her head, “they were driven there. There is a difference.”
    “There is a difference,” I agreed.
    “Who speaks of difference?” A new, harsher voice broke in. It was Rigenos. He had come out of his cabin silently and stood behind us, feet apart on the swaying deck.
    “Greetings, sire,” I said. “We were discussing the meaning of words.”
    “You’ve become uncommon friendly with the Eldren bitch,” he sneered. What was it about a man who had shown himself noble and brave in many ways that when the Eldren were concerned he became an uncouth iconoclast?
    “Sire,” I pointed out softly, “you speak of one who, though our enemy, is of noble blood.”
    Again he sneered. “Noble blood! The vile stuff which flows in their polluted veins cannot be termed thus. Beware, Erekosë! I realize that you are not altogether versed in our ways or our knowledge, that your memory is hazy—but remember that the Eldren wanton has a tongue of liquid gold which can beguile you to your doom and ours. Pay no heed to her.”
    “Sire…” I said.
    “She’ll weave such a spell that you’ll be a fawning dog at her mercy and no good to any of us. I tell you, Erekosë, beware. Gods, I’ve half a mind to give her to the rowers and let them have their way with her.”
    “You placed her under my protection, king,” I said angrily, “and I am sworn to protect her against
all
dangers.”
    “Fool!” he said. “I have warned you. I do not want to lose your friendship, Erekosë—and more, I do not want to lose our War Champion. If she shows further signs of enchanting you, I shall slay her. No-one shall stop me.”
    “I am doing your work, king,” I said, “at your request. But remember
you
this, I am Erekosë. I have been many other champions. What I do is for the human race. I have taken no oath of loyalty to you or any other king. I am Erekosë, the War Champion—Champion of Humanity, not Rigenos’s Champion!”
    His eyes narrowed. “Is this treachery, Erekosë?”
    “No, King Rigenos. Disagreement with a single representative of Humanity does not constitute treachery to mankind.”
    He said nothing, just stood there, seeming to hate me as much as he hated the Eldren girl. His breathing was heavy and rasped in his throat.
    “Give me no reason to regret my summoning of thee, dead Erekosë,” he said at length and turned away, back to his cabin.
    “I think we’d best remain apart,” said Ermizhad quietly.
    “Dead Erekosë, eh?” I said and then grinned. “If I’m dead then I’m strangely prone to emotion for a corpse.” I made light of our dispute, yet events had taken a turn which had caused me to fear that he would not, for one thing, allow me the hand of Iolinda.
    Although he warmed somewhat as the journey reached its end, I was still troubled as we sailed up the Droonaa River and came again to Necranal.
    As it happened, King Rigenos found himself in no position to refuse me aught. I received such an ovation upon my return, that to go against my wishes would have aroused the wrath of the people against him. I think he began to see me as a threat to his throne, then, but I was not interested in his crown, only in his daughter.
    The king announced our betrothal the next day and the news was received with joy by the citizens of Necranal. We stood before them on the great balcony overlooking the city. We smiled and waved but, when we went inside again, the king left us with a curt word and hurried away.
    “Father seems to disapprove of our match,” Iolinda said in puzzlement, “in spite of his consent.”
    “A disagreement about tactics,” I comforted her. “He will soon