03 The Sword of The Dawn by Michael Moorcock

Author:Michael Moorcock
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy
Published: 2010-04-10T21:21:17+00:00

into the inner cave. The sound of the swords echoed,

counterpointed by Meliadus's enraged shouts.

Hawkmoon dragged the wounded Mygan back to

the second cave, warding off the blows that fell upon

them both.

Now Hawkmoon faced the singing blade of Meliadus

himself, who swung his sword two-handed.

Hawkmoon felt a numbing shock in his left shoul-

der, felt blood begin to soak his sleeve. He parried a

further blow, then struck back, taking Meliadus in the

arm.

The baron groaned and staggered.

"Now, D'Averc!" called Hawkmoon. "Now, Mygan!

Turn the crystals! It is our only hope of escape!"

He turned the crystal in his ring first to the right and

then to the left, then six times more to right and left.

Meliadus growled and came at him again. Hawkmoon

raised his sword to block the blow.

And then Meliadus had vanished.

So had the cavern, so had his friends.

He stood alone upon a plain that stretched flat in all

directions. It was noon, for a huge sun hung in the sky.

The plain was of turf of a kind that grew close to the

ground and the smell it gave off reminded Hawkmoon

of spring.

Where was he? Had Mygan tricked him? Where

were the others?

Then the figure of Mygan of Llandar began to

materialize close by lying on the turf and clutching at

his worst wound. He was covered in a dozen sword

cuts, his leonine face pale and twisted with pain. Hawk-

moon sheathed his sword and sprang towards him.

"Mygan..."

"Ah, I'm dying, I fear, Hawkmoon. But at least I've

served in the shaping of your destiny. The Rune-

staff ..."

"My destiny? What do you mean? And what of the

Runestaff? I've heard so much of that mysterious

artifact, and yet no one will tell me exactly how it

concerns me ..."

"You'll learn when it's time. Meanwhile ..."

Suddenly D'Averc appeared, staring around him in

astonishment. "The things work! Thank the Runestaff

for that. I'd thought us all surely slain."

"Youyou must seek . . ." Mygan began to cough.

Blood spurted from between his teeth, falling down his

chin.

Hawkmoon cradled his head in his arms. "Do not

try to speak, Mygan. You are badly wounded. We

must find help. Perhaps if we returned to Castle

Brass..."

Mygan shook his head. "You cannot."

"Cannot return? But why? The rings worked to

bring us here. A turn to the left..."

"No. Once you have shifted in this way, the rings

must be re-set."

"How shall we set them?"

"I will not tell you!"

"Will not? You mean cannot?"

"No. It was my intention to bring you through space

to this land where you must fulfill part of your destiny.

You must seekah, ah! The pain!"

"You have tricked us, old man," said D'Averc.

"You wish us to play some role in a scheme of your

own. But you are dying. We cannot help you now.

Tell us how to return to Castle Brass and we shall get

someone to doctor you."

"It was no selfish whim that instructed me to bring

you here. It was knowledge of history. I have travelled

to many places, visited many eras, by means of the

rings. I know much. I know what you serve, Hawk-

moon, and I know that the time has come for you to

venture here."

"Where?" Hawkmoon said desperately. "In what

time have you deposited

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