Read Online The Sword and the Stallion - 06 by Michael Moorcock - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael Moorcock
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persuade Goffanon to reveal the nature of these potential allies? ,,
"You spoke of it this morning."
"Exactly. Well, since then I have meditated on this whole matter further and my conclusions are the same—we shall fare badly at Caer Llud. We shall be defeated by the Fhoi Myore unless we have magical assistance. We require supernatural aid, Prince Corum, beyond anything I can summon, beyond anything the Sidhi have at their disposal. And it appears that the only place from whence such help can be got is Ynys Scaith. I tell you all this knowing that you are discreet. Needless to say, our armies must set forth with every confidence of defeating the Fhoi Myore. Their morale would be harmed if you did not lead them, yet I think even with your leadership we should still be beaten. Thus, reluctantly, I conclude that our only hope lies in your being able to bargain with the folk of Ynys Scaith to come to our assistance."
"And what if I fail?"
' 'Dying men will curse you for a traitor, but your name will not be dishonored for long, for there will be no Mabden left to hate you.''
? Ts there no other way. What of the lost treasures of the Mabden, the Sidhi gifts?"
"Those that remain are in Fhoi Myore hands. The Healing Cauldron is at Caer Llud. So is the Collar of Power. There was one other, but we were never sure of its nature or why it was amongst our treasures. That is lost."
"What was it?"
"An old saddle of cracked leather. We kept it faithfully, as we kept our other treasures, but I think it came with them by mistake."
"So you cannot recover this cauldron and collar until the Fhoi Myore are defeated." "Just so."
"Do you know anything more of the folk of Ynys Scaith?" "Only that they would, if they could, leave this plane of ours forever."
"So I have learned. Yet we are not, surely, powerful enough to help them to do this."
"If I had the Collar of Power," said Amergin, "I might, with other knowledge, be able to achieve their end for them."
"Goffanon thinks that any bargain with the folk of the Shadow Isle will cost us dear—too dear."
"If some of us survive, the cost will not be too much," said Amergin, "and I think some of us would live on."
"Perhaps life is not at stake. What other damage could they
do?"
"I do not know. If you think the risk too great ..."
"I have my own reasons, as well as yours, for visiting Ynys Scaith," Corum said.
"It would be best if you left without much ceremony," Amergin told him.' 'I would inform our men that you have embarked upon a quest and that you will, if possible, rejoin us before the attack on Caer Llud. In the meantime, if Goffanon will not go to Ynys Scaith, let us hope he will lead the Mabden in your stead, for he knows Caer Llud."
"But he has a weakness, remember that," said Corum. "The wizard Calatin has power over him which can only be broken if Calatin loses the bag of spittle he holds. When you attack Caer Llud and if I have perished, seek Calatin out and slay him at once. I think of all those who side with the Fhoi Myore that Calatin is the most dangerous, for he is the most human."
' 'I will remember what you say, ‘ ‘ answered the Archdruid. ‘ 'But I do not think you will perish upon Ynys Scaith, Corum."
"Perhaps not." Corum frowned. "Yet I sense that this world becomes increasingly inhospitable to me, as it does to the folk of the Isle of Shadows."
"You could speak truly," Amergin agreed. "The specific conjunction of the planes might, in your case, be unlucky."
Corum smiled. "That sounds like mysticism of doubtful veracity, High King."
"Truth often sounds so." The Archdruid rose. "When would you set forth for Ynys Scaith?"
"Soon. I must consult Ilbrec."
"Leave all other things to me," said Amergin, "and, I beg you, do not discuss our plan too fully with anyone, even Medhbh."
"Very well." Corum watched Amergin leave, wondering if the Archdruid were playing an even more complex game than he had guessed and that Corum was a piece he was preparing to
"You spoke of it this morning."
"Exactly. Well, since then I have meditated on this whole matter further and my conclusions are the same—we shall fare badly at Caer Llud. We shall be defeated by the Fhoi Myore unless we have magical assistance. We require supernatural aid, Prince Corum, beyond anything I can summon, beyond anything the Sidhi have at their disposal. And it appears that the only place from whence such help can be got is Ynys Scaith. I tell you all this knowing that you are discreet. Needless to say, our armies must set forth with every confidence of defeating the Fhoi Myore. Their morale would be harmed if you did not lead them, yet I think even with your leadership we should still be beaten. Thus, reluctantly, I conclude that our only hope lies in your being able to bargain with the folk of Ynys Scaith to come to our assistance."
"And what if I fail?"
' 'Dying men will curse you for a traitor, but your name will not be dishonored for long, for there will be no Mabden left to hate you.''
? Ts there no other way. What of the lost treasures of the Mabden, the Sidhi gifts?"
"Those that remain are in Fhoi Myore hands. The Healing Cauldron is at Caer Llud. So is the Collar of Power. There was one other, but we were never sure of its nature or why it was amongst our treasures. That is lost."
"What was it?"
"An old saddle of cracked leather. We kept it faithfully, as we kept our other treasures, but I think it came with them by mistake."
"So you cannot recover this cauldron and collar until the Fhoi Myore are defeated." "Just so."
"Do you know anything more of the folk of Ynys Scaith?" "Only that they would, if they could, leave this plane of ours forever."
"So I have learned. Yet we are not, surely, powerful enough to help them to do this."
"If I had the Collar of Power," said Amergin, "I might, with other knowledge, be able to achieve their end for them."
"Goffanon thinks that any bargain with the folk of the Shadow Isle will cost us dear—too dear."
"If some of us survive, the cost will not be too much," said Amergin, "and I think some of us would live on."
"Perhaps life is not at stake. What other damage could they
do?"
"I do not know. If you think the risk too great ..."
"I have my own reasons, as well as yours, for visiting Ynys Scaith," Corum said.
"It would be best if you left without much ceremony," Amergin told him.' 'I would inform our men that you have embarked upon a quest and that you will, if possible, rejoin us before the attack on Caer Llud. In the meantime, if Goffanon will not go to Ynys Scaith, let us hope he will lead the Mabden in your stead, for he knows Caer Llud."
"But he has a weakness, remember that," said Corum. "The wizard Calatin has power over him which can only be broken if Calatin loses the bag of spittle he holds. When you attack Caer Llud and if I have perished, seek Calatin out and slay him at once. I think of all those who side with the Fhoi Myore that Calatin is the most dangerous, for he is the most human."
' 'I will remember what you say, ‘ ‘ answered the Archdruid. ‘ 'But I do not think you will perish upon Ynys Scaith, Corum."
"Perhaps not." Corum frowned. "Yet I sense that this world becomes increasingly inhospitable to me, as it does to the folk of the Isle of Shadows."
"You could speak truly," Amergin agreed. "The specific conjunction of the planes might, in your case, be unlucky."
Corum smiled. "That sounds like mysticism of doubtful veracity, High King."
"Truth often sounds so." The Archdruid rose. "When would you set forth for Ynys Scaith?"
"Soon. I must consult Ilbrec."
"Leave all other things to me," said Amergin, "and, I beg you, do not discuss our plan too fully with anyone, even Medhbh."
"Very well." Corum watched Amergin leave, wondering if the Archdruid were playing an even more complex game than he had guessed and that Corum was a piece he was preparing to
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