The Sleeping Sorceress by Michael Moorcock Page B

Lords of the Higher Worlds the remnants of the citizens had abandoned their city. But was the Burning God still here in Nadsokor?
    Faintly he still heard Urish’s voice. “Take him to the labyrinth and give him to the Burning God!”
    Theleb K’aarna spoke but Elric did not hear what he said, though he heard Urish’s reply.
    “His sword? How will that avail him against a Lord of Chaos? Besides, if the sword is released from the scabbard, who knows what will happen?”
    Theleb K’aarna was evidently reluctant, by his tone, but at last agreed with Urish.
    Now Theleb K’aarna’s voice boomed commandingly.
    “Things of limbo—release him! His vitality has been your reward! Now—begone!”
    Elric fell to the muck on the flagstones but was now too weak to move as beggars came forward and lifted him up.
    His eyes closed and his senses deserted him as he felt himself borne from the hall and heard the united voices of the wizard of Pan Tang and the King of the Beggars giving vent to their mocking triumph.

C HAPTER F OUR
    Punishment of the Burning God
    “By Narjhan’s droppings he’s cold!”
    Elric heard the rasping voice of one of the beggars who carried him. He was still weak but some of the beggars’ body heat had transferred itself to him and the chill of his bones was now by no means as intense.
    “Here’s the portal.”
    Elric forced his eyes open.
    He was upside down but could see ahead of him through the gloom.
    Something shimmered there.
    It looked like the iridescent skin of some unearthly animal stretched across the arch of the tunnel.
    He was jerked backwards as the beggars swung his body and hurled it towards the shimmering skin.
    He struck it.
    It was viscous.
    It clung to him and he felt it was absorbing him. He tried to struggle but was still far too weak. He was sure that he was being killed.
    But after long minutes he was through it and had struck stone and lay gasping in the blackness of the tunnel.
    This must be the labyrinth of which Urish had spoken.
    Trembling, he tried to rise, using his scabbarded sword as a support. It took him some time to get up but at last he could lean against the curving wall.
    He was surprised. The stones seemed to be hot. Perhaps it was because he was so cold and in reality the stones were of normal heat.
    Even this speculation seemed to weary him. Whatever the nature of the heat it was welcome. He pressed his back harder against the stones.
    As their heat passed into his body he felt a sensation almost of ecstasy and he drew a deep breath. Strength was returning slowly.
    “Gods,” he murmured, “even the snows of the Lormyrian steppe could not compare with such a great cold.”
    He drew another deep breath and coughed.
    Then he realized that the drug he had swallowed was beginning to wear off.
    He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and spat out saliva. Something of the stink of Nadsokor had entered his nostrils.
    He stumbled back towards the portal. The peculiar stuff still shimmered there. He pressed his hand against it and it gave reluctantly but then held firm. He leaned his whole weight on it but it would still not give any further. It was like a particularly tough membrane but it was not flesh. Was this the stuff with which the Lords of Law had sealed off the tunnel, entrapping their enemy, the Lord of Chaos? The only light in the tunnel came from the membrane itself.
    “By Arioch, I’ll turn the tables on the Beggar King,” Elric murmured. He threw back his rags and put his hand on Stormbringer’s pommel. The blade purred as a cat might purr. He drew the sword from its scabbard and it began to sing a low, satisfied song. Now Elric hissed as its power flowed up his arm and into his body. Stormbringer was giving him the strength he needed—but he knew that Stormbringer must be paid soon, must taste blood and souls and thus replenish its energy. He aimed a great blow at the shimmering wall. “I’ll hack down this portal and release the Burning God