The Worm Ouroboros, Eric Rücker Eddison [epub ebook reader txt] 📗

all my dear companions. In my

mind it was that ye must fare by this road to Muelva if ye suffered

shipwreck in the outer coasts of Impland.

 

“Harken,” he said, “and I will tell you a wonder. A seven-night have I

awaited you in this roosting-stead of daws and owls. And it is a

caravanserai of great armies that pass by in the wilderness, and

having parleyed with two I await the third. For well I think that here

I have made discovery of a great mystery, one that bath engaged the

speculations of wise men for years. For on that day of my coming

hither, when sunset was red, as now you see it, behold an army

marching up from the east with great flags a-flaunting in the wind and

all kinds of music. Which I beholding, methought if these be enemies,

then goeth down my life’s days with honour, and if friends, then

cometh provender from those waggons of burthen that follow this army.

A weighty argument; since not so much as the smell of victuals had I,

save nasty nuts and berries of the open field, since I came forth of

the sea. So went I, taking my weapons, on the walls of this

spy-fortalice and hailed them, bidding them say forth their quality. And

he that was their captain rode up under the walls, and hailed me with

all courtesy and noble port. And who think ye ‘twas?”

 

They answered nought.

 

“One that hath been famous,” said he, “up and down the earth for a

marvellous valorous and brave soldier of fortune. Have ye forgot that

enterprise of Gaslark that had its burying in Impland?”

 

“Was he little and dark,” asked Juss, “like a keen dagger suddenly

unsheathed at midnight? Or bright with the splendour of a pennoned

spear at a jousting on high holiday? Or was he dangerous of aspect

like an old sword, rusty in the midst but bright at point and edge,

brought forth for deeds of destiny at the fated day?”

 

“Thine arrow striketh in the triple ring o’ the mark,” said Lord

Brandoch Daha. “Great of growth he was, and a very peacock of

splendour in his panoply of war; and a great pitch-black stallion bare

him. So I spake him fair, saying, ‘O most magnificent and godlike

Helteranius, conqueror in an hundred fights, what makest thou these

long years in Outer Impland with this great head of men? And what dark

lodestone draws you these nine years, since with great sound of

trumpets and tramp of horses thou and Zeldornius and Jalcanaius Fostus

went forth to make Impland Gaslark’s footstool; since which time all

the world believeth you lost and dead?’ And he beheld me with alien

eyes, and made answer, ‘O Brandoch Daha, the world journeyeth to its

silly will, but I fare alway with my purpose before me. Be it nine

years, or but nine moons, or nine ages, what care I? Zeldornius would

I encounter and engage him in battle, that still fleeth before my

face. Eat and drink with me tonight; but think not to detain me nor

to turn me to idle thoughts beside my purpose. For with the dawning of

the day I must forth again in quest of Zeldornius.’

 

“So I ate and drank and was merry that night with Helteranius in his

pavilion of silk and gold. And with the dawn he marshalled his army

and marched westward toward the plains.

 

“And on the third day, as I sat without this wall, cursing your slow

coming, behold an army marching from the east and one leading them

mounted on a small dun horse; and he was clad in black armour shining

like the raven’s wing, with black eagle’s plumes in his helm, and eyes

like the eyes of a cat-a-mountain, full of sparkling flame. Little was

he, and fierce of face, and lithe and hard to look on and tireless to

look on like a stoat. And I hailed him from where I sat, saying, ‘O

most notable and puissant Jalcanaius Fostus, shatterer of the hosts of

men, whitherward over the lonely beaths forlorn, thou and thy great

armament?’ And he lighted down from his horse, and took me by the arms

with both his hands, and said, ‘If a man dream, to speak with dead men

betokens profit. And art not thou of the dead, O Brandoch Daha? For in

forgotten days, that now spring up in my mind as flowers in a weed-choked garden after many years, so bloomest thou in my memory: great

among the great ones of the world that was, thou and thine house in

Krothering above the sea-lochs in manymountained Demonland. But

oblivion, like a sounding sea, soundeth betwixt me and those days; and

the noise of the surf stoppeth mine ears, and the mist of the sea

darkeneth mine eyes that strain for a sight of those far times and the

deeds thereof. Yet for those dead days’ sake, eat with me and drink

with me tonight, since here for a night once more I pitch my moving

tent on Salapanta Hills. And tomorrow I fare onward. For never may

rest bring balm to my soul until I find out Helteranjus and smite his

head from his shoulders. Great shame to him but little marvel is it,

that he still courseth before me as an hare. For traitors were ever

dastards. And who ever heard tell of a more hellish devilish damned

traitor than he? Nine years ago, when Zeldornius and I made ready to

decide our quarrels by battle, word came to me in a lucky hour how

that this Helteranius with cunning colubrine and malice viperine and

sleights serpentine went about to attack me in the rear. So turned I

right about to crush him, but the fat chuff-cat was fled.’

 

“So spake Jalcanaius Fostus; and I ate and drank with him that night,

and caroused with him in his tent. And at break of day he struck camp

and rode westaway with his army.”

 

Brandoch Daha ceased, and looked eastward toward the gates of night.

And lo, an army faring up from the lower moorlands, toward them on

the ridge, horsemen and footmen in dense array, and their captain on a

great brown horse riding in the van. Longlimbed he was and lean, all

armed in dusty rusty armour hacked and dinted in an hundred fights,

with worn leather gauntlets on his hands and a faded campaigning cloak

thrown back from his shoulders. He carried his casque at his saddlebow and his head was bare: the head of an old lean hunting-dog, with

white hair swept back from a rugged brow where blue veins showed;

great-nosed and bony-faced, with huge bushy white moustachios and

eyebrows, and blue eyes gleaming from cavernous eye-sockets. His horse

was curst-looking, with ears laid back and bloodshed dangerous eyes,

and he in the saddle sat erect and unyielding as a lance.

 

When he and his army came up upon the ridge, he drew rein and hailed

the Demons. And he said, “On every ninth day these nine years have I

beheld this lonely place of earth, as I pursued after Jalcanaius

Fostus that still eludeth me and still fleeth before me; and this is

strange, since he was ever a great fighter and engaged these nine

years past to do battle with me. And now fear cometh upon me that eld

draweth a veil of illusion athwart mine eyes, portending the approach

of death or ever I perform my will. For here in the uncertain light of

evening rise up before me shapes and semblances as of guests of

Gaslark the king in Zajë Zaculo in days gone by: old friends of

Gaslark’s out of manymountained Demonland: Brandoch Daha, that slew

the King of Witchland, and Spitfire of Owlswick, and Juss his brother,

the same which had lordship over all the Demons ere we fared to

Impland. Ghosts and back-corners of a world forgot. But if ye be right

flesh and blood, speak and discover yourselves.”

 

Juss answered him, “O most redoubtable Zeldornius and in war

invincible, well might a man expect spirits of the dead on these quiet

hills about cockshut time. And if thou deem us such, how much more

shall we, that be wanderers new-shipwrecked out of hungry seas,

suppose thee but a shade, and these great hosts of thine but fetches

of the dead that be departed, steaming up from Erebus as daylight

dies?”

 

“O most renowned and redoubtable Zeldornius,” said Brandoch Daha,

“thou wast once my guest in Krothering. To resolve thy doubts and

ours, bid us to supper. It were matter indeed if spirits bodiless were

able to bib wine and eat up earthly bakemeats.”

 

So Zeldornius let pitch his tents, and appointed the fifth hour before

midnight for those lords of Demonland to sup with him. Ere they

forgathered in Zeldornius’s tent they spake among themselves, and

Spitfire said, “Was ever such a wonder or such a pitiful trick o’ the

Fates as bringeth these three great captains to waste the remnant of

their days in this remote wilderness? Doubt not but there’s practice

in it, that maketh them march these long years this changeless round,

each fleeing one that would fain encounter him, and still seeking

another that flies before him.”

 

“Never went man with that look of the eyes Zeldornius bath,” said

Juss, “but he was a man ensorcelled.”

 

“With such a look,” said Brandoch Daha, “went Helteranius and

Jalcanaius. But mark our interest. ‘Twere good to break the charm and

claim their help for our pains. Shall’s show the old lion all the

truth of this fact tonight?”

 

So spake Lord Brandoch Daha, and those brethren deemed his counsel

good. So at supper, when men’s hearts were gladdened with good cheer,

the Lord Juss sate him down by Zeldornius and opened to him this

matter, saying, “O renowned Zeldornius, how befalleth it that these

nine years thou pursuest after Jalcanaius Fostus, shatterer of hosts,

and what was your difference betwixt you that set you by the ears?”

 

Zeldornius said, “O Juss, must I answer thee by reasons in this matter

that is ruled by the high stars and Fate that lays men at their

length? Enough for thee that unpeace befell betwixt me and Jalcanaius

mighty in war, and it was confirmed between us that by the arbitrament

of the bloody field we should end our difference. But he abode me not;

and these nine years I seek to meet with him in vain.”

 

“There was a third of you,” said Juss. “What tidings hast thou of

Helteranius?”

 

Zeldornius answered him, “No tidings.”

 

“Wilt thou,” said Juss, “that I enlighten thee hereon?”

 

Zeldornius said, “Thou and thy fellows alone of the children of men

have spoken with me since these things began. For they that dwelt in

this region fled years ago, accounting the place accursed. A paltry

crew they were, and mean meat enow for our swords. Speak then, if thou

meanest me well, and show me all.”

 

“Helteranius,” said Lord Juss, “pursueth thee these nine years, as

thou pursuest Jalcanaius Fostus. My cousin here bath seen him but six

days ago, in this same place, and talked with him, and shook him by

the hand, and knew his mind. Surely ye be all three holden by some

enchantment, that being old comrades in arms so strangely and to so

little purpose do pursue each the other’s life. I prithee let us be a

mean betwixt you all to set you at one again, and free you from so

strange a thraldom.”

 

But with those words spoken was Zeldornius grown red as blood. In a

while he said, “It were black treachery. I’ll not credit it.”

 

But Lord Brandoch Daha answered