The Worm Ouroboros by Eric Rücker Eddison (e book reader online .TXT) 📖

other six fared after her in line ahead

with white sails unfurled, striding majestic over the full broad

billows.

VI THE CLAWS OF WITCHLAND

Of King Gaslark’s leading in the attempt on

Carce in the dark, and how he prospered therein,

and of the great stand of Lord Juss and Lord

Brandoch Daha.

 

ON the evening of the third day, whenas they drew near to within sight

of the Witchland coast, they brailed up their sails and waited for the

night, that so they might make the landfall after dark; for little to

their mind it was that the King should have news of their farings.

This was their plan, to beach their ships on the lonely shore some two

leagues north of Tenemos, whence it was but two hours’ march across

the fen to Carcë. So when the sun set and all the ways were darkened

they muffled their oars and rowed silently to the low shore that

showed strangely near in the darkness, yet ever seemed to flee and

keep its distance as they rowed toward it. Coming at length ashore,

they drew their ships up on the beach. Some fifty men of the Goblins

they left to guard the ships, while the rest took their weapons. And

when they were marshalled they marched inland over the sanddunes and

so on to the open fen; and seeing that the most of them by far were of

Goblinland, it was agreed between those three, Juss, Brandoch Daha,

and Gaslark, that Gaslark should have command of this emprise. So

fared they silently across the marshes, that were firm enough for

marching so it were done circumspectly, rounding the worst mosshags

and the small lochs that were scattered here and there. For the

weather had been fine for a season, and little new water stood on the

marsh. But as they drew near to Carcë the weather worsened and fine

rain began to fall. And albeit there was little comfort marching

through the drizzling murk of night towards that fortress of evil

name, yet was Lord Juss glad at the rain, since it favoured surprise,

and on surprise hung all their hopes.

 

About the middle night they halted within four hundred paces of the

outer walls of Carcë, that loomed ghostly through the watery curtain,

silent as it had been a tomb where Witchland lay in death, rather than

the mailed shell wherein so great a power sat waiting. The sight of

that vast bulk couched shadowy in the rain lighted the fire of battle

in the breast of Gaslark, nor would aught please him save that they

should go forthwith up to the walls with all their force, and so march

round them seeking where they might break suddenly in and seize the

place. Nor would he listen to the counsel of Lord Juss, who would send

forth detachments to select a spot for assault and bring back word

before the whole force advanced. “Be sure,” said Gaslark, “that they

within are all foxed and cup-shotten the third night with swilling of

wine, in honour of such triumph as he hath gotten by his sending, and

but a sorry watch is kept on such night. For who, say they, shall come

up against Carcë now that the power of Demonland is stricken in

pieces? The scorned Goblins, ha? A motion for laughter and derision.

But thine advance guard might give them warning or ever our main force

could seize the occasion. Nay, but as the Ghouls in an evil day coming

suddenly upon me in Zajë Zaculo gat my palace taken ere we were well

ware of their coming, so must we take this hold of Carcë. And if thou

fearest a sally, right hotly do I desire it. For if they open the gate

we are enough to force an entry in despite of any numbers they are

like to have within.”

 

Now Juss thought ill of this counsel, yet, for a strange languor that

still hung about his wits, he would not gainsay Gaslark. So crept they

in stealth near to the great walls of Carcë. Softly ever fell the

rain, and breathless stood the cypresses within the outer ward, and

blank and dumb and untenanted frowned the black marble walls of that

sleeping castle. And dour midnight waited over all.

 

Now Gaslark issued command, bidding them march warily round the walls

northward, for no way was betwixt the lofty walls and the river on the

south and east, but to the northeast was he hopeful to find a likely

place to win into the hold. In such order went they that Gaslark with

an hundred of his ablest men led the van, and after him came the

Demons. The main strength of the Goblins followed after, with Teshmar

for their captain. Warily they marched, and now were they on the

rising ground that ran back north and west from the bluff of Carcë to

the fen. Full eager were they of Goblinland and flown with the

intoxication of impending battle, and they of the vanguard fared

apace, outstripping the Demons, so that Juss was fain to hasten after

them lest they should lose touch and fall to confusion. But Teshmar’s

men feared greatly to be left behind, nor might he hold them back, but

they must run betwixt the Demons and the walls, meaning to join with

Gaslark. Juss swore under his breath, saying, “See the unruly rabble

of Goblinland. And they will yet be our undoing.”

 

In such case stood they, nor were Teshmar’s folk more than twenty

paces from the walls, when, sudden as nightlightning, flares were

kindled along the walls, dazzling the Goblins and the Demons and

brightly lighting them for those that manned the walls, who fell

a-shooting at them with spears and arrows and a-slinging of stones. In

the same moment opened a postern gate, whence sallied forth the Lord

Corinius with an hundred and fifty stout lads of Witchland, shouting,

“He that would sup of the crab of Witchland must deal with the nippers

ere he essay the shell”; and charging Gaslark’s army in the flank he

cut them clean in two. As one wood fared forth Corinius, smiting on

either hand with a two-edged axe with heft lapped with bronze; and

greatly though the folk of Gaslark outnumbered him, yet were they so

taken at unawares and confounded by the sudden onslaught of Corinius

that they might not abide him but everywhere gave ground before his

onslaught. And many were wounded and some were slain; and with these

Teshmar of Goblinland, the master of Gaslark’s ship. For smiting at

Corinius and missing of his aim he louted forward with the blow, and

Corinius hewed at him with his axe and the blow came on Teshmar’s neck

and so hewed off his head. Now Gaslark with the best of his fighting

men was come some way past the postern, but whenas they fell to

fighting he turned back straightway to meet Corinius, calling loudly

on his men to rally against the Witches and drive them back within the

walls. So when Gaslark was gotten through the press to within reach of

Corinius, he thrust at Corinius with a spear, wounding him in the arm.

But Corinius smote the spearshaft asunder with his axe, and leapt

upon Gaslark, giving him a great wound on the shoulder. And Gaslark

took to his sword, and many blows they bandied that made either

stagger, till Corinius struck Gaslark on the helm a great down-stroke

of his axe, as one driveth a pile with a wooden mallet. And because of

the good helm he wore, given by Lord Juss in days gone by as a gift of

love and friendship, was Gaslark saved and his head not cloven

asunder; for on that helm Corinius’s axe might not bite. Yet with that

great stroke were Gaslark’s senses driven forth of him for a season,

so that he fell senseless to the earth. And with his fall came dismay

upon them of Goblinland.

 

All this befell in the first brunt of the battle, nor were the lords

of Demonland yet fully joined in the mellay, for the great press of

Gaslark’s men were between them and the Witches; but now Juss and

Brandoch Daha went forth mightily with their following, and took up

Gaslark that lay like one dead, and Juss bade a company of the Goblins

bear him to the ships, and there was he bestowed safe and sound. But

the Witches shouted loudly that King Gaslark was slain; and at this

chosen time Corund, that was come privily forth of a hidden door on

the western side of Carcë with fifty men, took the Goblins mightily in

the rear. So they, still falling back before Corinius and Corund, and

their hearts sick at the supposed slaying of Gaslark, waxed full of

doubt and dejection; for in the watery darkness they might nowise

perceive by how much they outwent in numbers the men of Witchland. And

panic took them, so that they broke and fled before the Witches, that

came after them resolute, as a stoat holdeth by a rabbit, and slew

them by scores and by fifties as they fled from Carcë. Scarce three

score men of that brave company of Goblinland that went up with

Gaslark against Carcë won away into the marshes and came to their

ships, escaping pitiless destruction.

 

But Corund and Corinius and their main force turned without more ado

against the Demons, and bitter was the battle that befell betwixt them,

and great the clatter of their blows. And now were the odds clean

changed about with the putting of the Goblins out of the battle, since

but few of Witchland were fallen, and they were as four to one against

the Demons, hemming them in and having at them from every side. And some

shot at them from the wall, until a chance shot came that was like to

have stove in Corund’s helm, who straightway sent word that when the

rout was ended he would make lark-pies of the cow-headed doddipole

whosoever he might be that had set them thus a-shooting, spoiling sport

for their comrades and endangering their lives. Therewith ceased the

shooting from the wall.

 

And now grim and woundsome grew the battle, for the Demons mightily

withstood the onset of the Witches, and the Lord Brandoch Daha rushed

with an onslaught ever and anon upon Corund or upon Corinius, nor

might either of these great captains bear up long against him, but

every time gave back before Lord Brandoch Daha; and bitterly cursed

they one another as each in turn was fain to save himself amid the

press of their fighting men. Nor could one hope in one night’s space

to behold such deeds of derring-do as were done that night by Lord

Brandoch Daha, that played his sword lightly as one handleth a willow

wand; yet death sat on the point thereof. In such wise that eleven

stout sworders of Witchland were slain by him, and fifteen besides

were sorely wounded. And at the last, Corinius, stung by Corund’s

taunts as by a gadfly, and well nigh bursting for grief and shame at

his ill speeding, leapt upon Lord Brandoch Daha as one reft of his

wits, aiming at him a great two-handed blow that was apt enough to

cleave him to the brisket. But Brandoch Daha slipped from the blow

lightly as a kingfisher flying above an alder-shadowed stream avoideth

a branch in his flight, and ran Corinius through the right wrist with

his sword. And straight was Corinius put out of the fight. Nor had

they greater satisfaction that went against Lord Juss, who mowed at

them with great swashing blows, beheading some and hewing some asunder

in the midst, till they were fain to keep clear of his reaping.