The Worm Ouroboros by Eric Rücker Eddison (e book reader online .TXT) 📖
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from our lady wives and dear children and all our good land and fee
the fury of the men of Witchland, and to save alive the great name of
Demonland. Let not thy proud heart be capable of despair.”
But Spitfire groaned and said, “Certain it was that woe and evil hap
must be to Demonland until my kinsmen be gotten home again. And that
day I think shall never dawn.” And he cried, “Boasted he not that he
is king in Demonland? and yet I had not my sword in his umbles. And
thou thinkest I’ll live in shame?”
Therewithal he strove again to tear off the bandages, but Voile
prevented him. And he raved and said, “Who was it forced me from the
battle? ‘Tis pity of his life, to have abused me so. Better dead than
run from Corinius like a beaten puppy. Let me go, false traitors! I
will amend this. I will die fighting. Let me go back.”
Volle said, “Lift up thine eyes, great Spitfire, and behold the lady
moon, how virgin free she walketh the wide fields of heaven, and the
glory of the stars of heaven which in their multitudes attend her. And
as little as earthly mists and storms do dim her, but though she be
hid awhile yet when the tempest is abated and the sky swept bare of
clouds there she appeareth again in her steadfast course, mistress of
tides and seasons and swayer of the fates of mortal men: even such is
the glory of sea-girt Demonland, and the glory of thine house, O
Spitfire. And as little as commotions in the heavens should avail to
remove these everlasting mountains, so little availeth disastrous war,
though it be a great fight lost as was to-day, to shake down our
greatness, that are mightiest with the spear from of old and able to
make all earth bow to our glory.”
So said Volle. And the Lord Spitfire looked out across the mist-choked
sleeping valley to the great rock-faces dim in the moonlight and the
lean peaks grand and silent beneath the moon. He spake not, whether
for strengthlessness or as charmed to silence by the mighty influences
of night and the mountain solitudes and by Volle’s voice speaking deep
and quiet in his ear, like the voice of night herself calming earthborn tumults and despairs.
After a time Volle spake once more: “Thy brethren shall come home
again: doubt it not. But till then art thou our strength. Therefore
have patience; heal thy wounds; and raise forces again. But shouldst
thou in desperate madness destroy thy life, then were we shent
indeed.”
XX KING CORINIUSOf the entry of the Lord Corinius into Owlswick
and how he was crowned in Spitfire’s sapphire
chair as viceroy of Gorice the King and King in
Demonland: and how all that were in Owlswick
Castle did so receive and acknowledge him.
CORINIUS, having completed this great victory, came with his army
north again to Owlswick as daylight began to fade. The drawbridge was
let down for him and the great gates flung wide, that were studded
with silver and ribbed with adamant; and in great pomp rode he and his
into Owlswick Castle, over the causey builded of the living rock and
great blocks of hewn granite out of Tremmerdale. The more part of his
army lay in Spitfire’s camp before the castle, but a thousand were
with him in his entry into Owlswick with Corund’s sons and the lords
Gro and Laxus besides, for the fleet had put across to anchor there
when they saw the day was won.
Corsus greeted them well, and would have brought them to their
lodgings near his own chamber, that they might put off their harness
and don clean linen and festival garments before supper. But Corinius
excused himself, saying he had eat nought since breakfast-time: “Let
us therefore not pass for ceremony, but bring us I pray you forthright
to the banquet house.”
Corinius went in with Corsus before them all, putting lovingly about
his shoulder his arm all befouled with dust and clotted blood. For he
had not so much as stayed for washing of his hands. And that was
scarce good for the broidered cloak of purple taffety the Duke Corsus
wore about his shoulders. Howbeit, Corsus made as if he marked it not.
When they were come into the hall, Corsus looked about him and said,
“So it is, my Lord Corinius, that this hall is something little for
the great press that here befalleth. Many of mine own folk that be of
some account should by long custom sit down with us. And here be no
seats left for them. Prithee command some of the common sort that came
in with thee to give place, that all may be done orderly. Mine
officers must not scramble in the buttery.”
“I’m sorry, my lord,” answered Corinius, “but needs must that we
bethink us o’ these lads of mine which have chiefly borne the toil of
battle, and well I weet thou’lt not deny them this honour to sit at
meat with us: these that thou hast most to thank for opening Owlswick
gates and raising the siege our enemies held so long against you.”
So they took their seats, and supper was set before them: kids stuffed
with walnuts and almonds and pistachios; herons in sauce cameline,
chines of beef geese and bustards; and great beakers andjars of
ruby-hearted wine. Right fain of the good banquet were Corinius and his
folk, and silence was in the hall for awhile save for the clatter of
dishes and the champing of the mouths of the feasters.
At length Corinius, quaffing down at one draught a mighty goblet of
wine, spake and said, “There was battle in the meads by Thremnir’s
Heugh to-day, my lord Duke. Wast thou at that battle?”
Corsus’s heavy cheeks flushed somewhat red. He answered, “Thou knowest
I was not. And I should account it most blameable hotheadedness to
have sallied forth when it seemed Spitfire had the victory.”
“O my lord,” said Corinius, “think not I made this a quarrel to thee.
The rather let me show thee how much I hold thee in honour.”
Therewith he called his boy that stood behind his chair, and the boy
returned anon with a diadem of polished gold set all about with
topazes that had passed through the fire; and on the frontlet of that
diadem was the small figure of a crab-fish in dull iron, the eyes of
it two green beryls on stalks of silver. The boy set it down on the
table before the Lord Corinius, as it had been a dish of meat before
him. Corinius took a writing from his purse, and laid it on the table
for Corsus to see. And there was the signet upon it of the worm
Ouroboros in scarlet wax, and the sign manual of Gorice the King.
“My Lord Corsus,” said he, “and ye sons of Corsus, and ye other
Witches, I do you to wit that our Lord the King made me by these
tokens his viceroy for his province of Demonland, and willed that I
should bear a king’s name in this land and that under him all should
render me obedience.”
Corsus, looking on the crown and the royal warrant of the King, waxed
in one instant deadly pale, and in the next red as blood.
Corinius said, “To thee, O Corsus, out of all these great ones that
here be gathered together in Owlswick, will I submit me for thee to
crown me with this crown, as king in Demonland. This, that thou mayst
see and know how most I honour thee.”
Now were all silent, waiting on Corsus to speak. But he spake not a
word. Dekalajus said privily in his ear, “O my father, if the monkey
reigns, dance before him. Time shall bring us occasion to right you.”
And Corsus, disregarding not this wholesome rede, for all he might not
wholly rule his countenance, yet ruled himself to bite in the injuries
he was fain to utter. And with no ill grace he did that office, to set
on Corinius’s head the new crown of Demonland.
Corinius sat now in Spitfire’s seat, whence Corsus had moved to make
place for him: in Spitfire’s high seat of smoke-coloured jade,
curiously carved and set with velvet-lustred sapphires, and right and
left of him were two high candlesticks of fine gold. The breadth of
his shoulders filled all the space between the pillars of the spacious
seat. A hard man he looked to deal with, clothed upon with youth and
strength and all armed and yet smoking from the battle.
Corsus, sitting between his sons, said under his breath, “Rhubarb!
bring me rhubarb to purge away this choler!”
But Dekalajus whispered him, “Softly, tread easy. Let not our counsels
walk in a net, thinking they are hidden. Nurse him to security, which
shall be our safety and the mean to our wiping out this shaming. Was
not Gallandus as big a man?”
Corsus’s dull eye gleamed. He lifted a brimming winecup to toast
Corinius. And Corinius hailed him and said, “My lord Duke, call in
thine officers I pray thee and proclaim me, that they in turn may
proclaim me king unto all the army that is in Owlswick.”
Which Corsus did, albeit sore against his liking, knowing not where to
find a reason against it.
When the plaudits were heard in the courts without, acclaiming him as
king, Corinius spake again and said, “I and my folk be a-weary, my
lord, and would betimes to our rest. Give order, I pray thee, that
they make ready my lodgings. And let them be those same lodgings
Gallandus had whenas he was in Owlswick.”
Whereat Corsus might scarce forbear a start. But Corinius’s eye was on
him, and he gave the order.
While he waited for his lodgings to be made ready, the Lord Corinius
made great good cheer, calling for more wine and fresh dainties to set
before those lords of Witchland: olives, and botargoes, and conserves
of goose’s liver richly seasoned, taken from Spitfire’s plenteous
store.
In the meantime Corsus spake softly to his sons: “I like not his
naming of Gallandus. Yet seemeth he careless, as one that feareth no
guile.”
And Dekalajus answered in his ear, “Peradventure the Gods ordained his
destruction, to make him choose that chamber.”
So they laughed. And the banquet drew to a close with much pleasure
and merrymaking.
Now came serving men with torches to light them to their chambers. As
they stood up to bid goodnight, Corinius said, “I’m sorry, my lord,
if, after thy pleasant usage, I should do aught that is not convenable
to thee. But I doubt not Owlswick Castle must be irksome to thee and
thy sons, that were so long mewed up within it, and I doubt not ye are
wearied by this siege and long warfare. Therefore it is my will that
you do instantly depart home to Witchland. Laxus hath a ship manned
ready to transport you thither. To put a fit and friendly term to our
festivities, we’ll bring you down to the ship.”
Corsus’s jaw fell. Yet he schooled his tongue to say, “My lord, so as
it shall please thee. Yet let me know thy reasons. Surely the swords
of me and my sons avail not so little for Witchland in this country of
our evil-willers that we should sheathe ‘em and go home. Howbeit, ‘tis
a matter demandeth no sweaty haste. We will take rede hereon in the
morning.”
But Corinius answered
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