(eng) Michael Moorcock - Eternal Champion 01 by The Eternal Champion

Author:The Eternal Champion [Champion, The Eternal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

14

ERMIZHAD

I DID NOT know how they slew the children. I begged King Rigenos not to give the order. I pleaded with Katorn to spare them—to drive them from the city if he must, but not to kill them.

But the children were slain. I do not know how many.

* * *

We had taken over the palace which had belonged to Duke Baynahn himself. He had, it transpired, been warden of Paphanaal.

I shut myself in my quarters while the slaughter went on outside. I reflected sardonically that for all their talk of the Eldren “filth”, they did not seem to mind forcing their attentions on the Eldren women.

There was nothing I could do. I did not even know if there was anything I should do. I had been brought here by Rigenos to fight for Humanity, not to judge it. I had agreed to answer his summons, after all—doubtless with reason. But I had forgotten any reason.

I sat in a room that was exquisitely furnished with delicate furniture and fine, light tapestries on walls and floor. I looked at the Eldren craftsmanship and I sipped the aromatic Eldren wine and I tried not to listen to the cries of the Eldren children as they were butchered in their beds in the houses in the streets beyond the thin palace walls.

I looked at Kanajana, which I had propped in a corner, and I hated the poisoned thing. I had stripped myself of my armour and I sat alone.

And I drank more wine.

But the wine of the Eldren began to taste of blood and I tossed the cup away and found a skin that Count Roldero had given me and sucked it dry of the bitter wine it contained.

But I could not get drunk. I could not stop the screams from the streets. I could not fail to see the flickering shadows on the tapestries I had drawn over the windows. I could not get drunk and therefore I could not even begin to try to sleep, for I knew what my dreams would be and I feared those almost as much as I feared thinking of the implications of what we were doing to those who were left in Paphanaal.

Why was I here? Oh, why was I here?

There was a noise outside my door and then a knock.

“Enter,” I said.

No one entered. My voice had been too low.

The knock sounded again.

I rose and walked unsteadily to the door and flung it open.

“Can you not leave me in peace?”

A frightened soldier of the Imperial Guard stood there. “Lord Erekosë, forgive me for disturbing you, but I bear a message from King Rigenos.”

“What’s the message?” I said without interest.

“He would like you to join him. He says that there are still plans to discuss.”

I sighed. “Very well. I will come down shortly.”

The soldier hurried off along the corridor.

* * *

At last, reluctantly, I rejoined the other conquerors. All the marshals were there, lounging on cushions and celebrating their victory. King Rigenos was there and he was so drunk that I envied him.

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