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

forget.”
    But, I admitted to myself, I still felt troubled.
    Iolinda and I lay together, as was the custom in the Human Kingdoms. But, that first night, we did not make love.
             
    Two days later there came word that what we had sought to avert by taking Paphanaal had actually come to pass.
    Eldren ships had beached on the coast of Necralala. An Eldren army was pushing towards Necranal and, it was said, none could stand against it.
    The king spoke to me sombrely.
    “You must go, Erekosë, and do battle with the Hounds of Evil. Evidently we underestimated their strength. News is that Prince Arjavh leads them. This is our opportunity to strike the head from the monster that is the Eldren.”
    “I’ll take forty divisions of men,” I said, “and leave at once.”
    “Twenty divisions will be enough,” he said. “Even then you will outnumber the Eldren horde.”
    “But surely it is best to be safe,” I said.
    “Twenty,” he said dogmatically, “we’ll need the rest in case other attacks have been made from other parts of the coasts. You’ll agree that my logic is reasonable?”
    “I agree,” I nodded, “but this seems, I think, more a question of emotion than logic.”
    “What do you mean?” His eyes had a half-guilty look.
    “Nothing,” I said. “I will take twenty divisions. Will you agree to fifteen of those being cavalry?”
    “I’ll agree to that,” he said. “Fifteen cavalry divisions and five infantry. Good luck.”
    “Thanks,” I said.
             
    I rode in my proud armour at the head of my army, my lance flaunting my banner of bronze portcullis on an azure field. It was with seeming sorrow that Iolinda had bade me farewell. Ermizhad had said little when I told her of my mission, but she had been tense.
    Well before we met Arjavh’s forces, we heard stories of their progress from fleeing villagers. Apparently they were marching doggedly towards Necranal, avoiding any settlements they came to. If I guessed right, the reason for Prince Arjavh being in Necralala was for the purpose of rescuing his sister. I knew little of the Eldren prince save that he was a monster incarnate, a slayer of women and children. I was impatient to meet him in battle. Other stories had told that half his forces were comprised of halflings—things from the Ghost Worlds.
             
    The armies of the Eldren and the forces of the Humanity met on a vast plateau surrounded by distant hills. My marshals and captains were all for rushing upon the Eldren immediately, for their numbers were smaller than ours, but I stood by the Code of War and ordered our herald to the Eldren camp, under a flag of truce. I watched him ride away and then, on an impulse, spurred after him.
    He turned in his saddle, hearing the hoof-beats of my horse. “Lord Erekosë?” he said questioningly.
    “Ride on, herald—and I’ll ride with you.”
    So together we came to the Eldren camp.
    We rode through a silent camp until we came to the simple pavilion of Prince Arjavh.
    “I bring a challenge from the hosts of Humanity!” cried the herald.
    I heard a movement in the tent and from it stepped a lithe figure, dressed in half-armour, a steel breastplate strapped over a loose shirt of green, leather hose beneath leg greaves, also of steel, and sandals on his feet. His long black hair was kept away from his eyes by a band of gold bearing a single great ruby.
    And his face—was beautiful. I hesitate to use the word to describe a man, but it is the only one to do his fine features justice. Like Ermizhad he had the tapering skull, the slanting, orbless eyes, but his lips did not curve upwards as did hers. His mouth was grim and there were lines of weariness about it. He passed his hand across his face and looked up at us.
    “I am Prince Arjavh of Mernadin,” he said in his liquid voice. “We accept your challenge.”
    “Shall we decide the terms of the battle?” I asked softly.
    He looked at me, puzzled, then his