The Worm Ouroboros by Eric Rücker Eddison (e book reader online .TXT) 📖
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With that word spoken, all three of them leaped from their seats. Gro,
with a face ashen gray, said, “At me thou mayst spit what filth thou
wilt. I am schooled to bear with it for Witchland’s sake and until
thine own venom choke thee. But this shalt thou not do whiles I live,
thou or any other: to let thy bawdy tongue meddle with Queen
Prezmyra’s name.”
Connius sat still in his chair in a posture of studied ease, but his
sword was ready. His great jowl was set, his insolent blue eyes
scornfully looked from one to another of those lords where they stood
menacing him. “Pshaw!” said he, at last. “Who brought her name into it
but thyself, my Lord Gro? not I.”
“Thou wert best not bring it in again, Corinius,” said Heming. “Have
we not well followed thee and upheld thee? And so shall we do
henceforth. But remember, I am King Corund’s son. And if thou speak
this wicked lie again, it shall cost thee thy life if I may.”
Corinius threw out his arms and laughed. “Come,” said he, standing up,
with much show of jolly friendliness, “‘twas but a jest; and, I freely
acknowledge, an ill jest. I’m sorry for it, my lords.
“And now,” said he, “come we again to the matter. Krothering Castle
will I not forgo, since ‘tis not my way to turn back for any man on
earth, no not for the Gods almighty, once I have ta’en my course. But
I will make a bargain with you, and this it is: that we tomorrow do
assault the hold a last time, using all our men and all our might. And
if, as I think is most unlikely and most shameful, we get it not, then
shall we fare away and do according to thy counsel, O Laxus.”
“‘Tis now four days lost,” said Laxus. “Thou canst not retrieve them.
Howso, be it as thou wilt.”
So brake up their council. But the mind and heart of the Lord Gro was
nought peaceful within him, but tumultuous with manifold imaginings of
hopes and fears and old desires, that intertwined like serpents
twisting and contending. So that nought was clear to him save the
unclear trouble of his discontent; and it was as if the conscience of
a secret grant his inward mind made had suddenly cast a vail betwixt
his thoughts and him that he durst not pluck aside.
Betimes on the morrow Corinius let fare against Krothering with all
his host, Laxus from the south, Heming and Cargo from the east against
the main gates, and himself from the west where the walls and towers
showed strongest but the natural strength of the place weaker than
elsewhere. Now they within were few, because of Mevrian’s sending of
those two hundred horse to follow Zigg and those came not back after
Switchwater; and as the day wore, and still the battle went forward,
and still were wounds given and taken, the odds swung yet heavier
against them of Demonland, and more and more must the castle hold of
its own strength only, for there were not whole men left enow to man
the walls. And now had Corinius well nigh won the castle, faring up on
the walls west of the donjon tower where he and his fell to clearing
the battlements, rushing on like wolves. But Astar of Rettray stayed
him there with so great a swordstroke on the helm that he overthrew
him all astonied down without the wall and into the ditch; but his men
drew him forth and saved him. So was the Lord Corinius put out of the
fight; but greatly still he egged on his men. And about the fifth hour
after noon the sons of Corund gat the main gate.
Lady Mevrian bare in that hour with her own hand a stoup of wine to
Astar in a lull of the battle. While he drank, she said, “Astar, the
hour demandeth that I pledge thee to obedience, even as I pledged mine
own folk and Ravnor that here commandeth my garrison in Krothering.”
“My Lady Mevrian,” answered he, “under your safety, I shall obey you.”
She said, “No conditions, sir. Harken and know. First I will thank
thee and these valiant men that so mightily warded us and golden
Krothering against our enemies. This was my mind, to ward it unto the
last, because it is my dear brother’s house, and I count it unworthy
Corinius should stable his horses in our chambers, and carousing amid
his drunkards do hurt to our fair banquet hall. But now, by hard
necessity of disastrous war, hath this thing come to pass, and all
fallen into his hand save only this keep alone.”
“Alas, madam,” said he, “to our shame I may not deny it.”
“O trample out any thought of shame,” said she. “A score of them
against every one of us: the glory of our defence shall be for ever.
But not ‘tis for me mainly he still beareth against Krothering so
great and peisant strokes as thick as rain falleth from the sky. And
now must ye obey me and do my commandment; else must we perish, for
even this tower we are not enough to hold against him many days.”
“Divine Lady,” said Astar, “but once shall one pass the cruel pass of
death. I and your folk will defend you unto that end.”
“Sir,” said she, standing like a queen before him, “I shall now defend
myself and our precious things in Krothering more certainly than ye
men of war may do.” And she showed him shortly that this was her
design, to yield up the keep unto Corinius under promise of a safe
conduct for Astar and Ravnor and all her men.
“And submit thee to this Corinius?” said Astar. But she answered, “Thy
sword hath likely cut his claws for awhile. I fear him not.”
Of all this would Astar at first have nought to do, and the old
steward withal was well nigh mutinous. But so firm of purpose was she,
and withal showed them so plainly that this was the only hope to save
herself and Krothering, and the Witches must else sack the house of
Krothering and in a few days win the keep, “and then, snaky despair;
and the fault on’t not in fortune but in ourselves, that could not
frame ourselves to our fortune”; that at last with heavy hearts they
consented to do her bidding.
Without more ado, was a parley called, Mevrian speaking for herself
from a high window opening on the court and Gro for Corinius. In which
parley it was articled that she should render up the tower; and that
the fighting men which were within should have peace and safe passage
whither they would; and that there should be no scathe nor outrage
done to Krothering neither to the lands thereof; and that all this
should be writ down and sealed under the hands of Corinius, Gro, and
Laxus, and the gates opened to the Witches and all keys delivered up
within an half hour of the giving of the sealed writing into Mevrian’s
hand.
Now was all this performed accordingly, and Krothering keep rendered
to the Lord Corinius. Astar and Ravnor and their men would have abided
as prisoners for Mevrian’s sake, but Corinius would not suffer it,
vowing with bloody imprecations that he would let slay out of hand any
man of them he should take after an hour’s space within three miles of
Krothering. So, under Mevrian’s strait commands, they departed.
XXIV A KING IN KROTHERINGHow the Lord Corinius would take unto himself
a queen in Demonland, and made him a bridal
feast thereto: wherein is a notable instance how
unto them which the gods do love helpers are
raised up and comforters even in the midst of
their enemies.
THAT same evening Corinius let dight a banquet in the Chamber of the
Moon for some two score of his chiefest men, a very pompous and kingly
entertainment; and conceiving that he might now very well avail to
accomplish his pleasure touching the Lady Mevrian, he sent her word by
one of his gentlemen that she should attend him there. And she sending
answer to tell him gently all else in the castle was at his service,
but for herself she was quite fordone and greatly desired rest and
sleep that night, he fell alaughing immoderately and saying, “A most
unseasonable desire, and one that smacketh besides of mockery, since
well she knoweth what this night I do intend. Wish her to repair to
us, and that right swiftly, lest I fetch her.”
To that message sent her came she in a short while herself to answer,
dressed all in funereal black, her gown and close-fitting bodice of
black sendal slashed with black sarcenett, and about her throat a
chain of sapphires darkly lustrous. Very nobly she carried her head.
Framed with the piled and braided masses of her night—dark hair, her
face showed pale indeed, but unruffled and undismayed.
All at her coming in stood up to greet her; and Corinius said, “Lady,
thou didst change thy mind quickly since thou didst first affirm thou
never wouldst yield up Krothering unto me.”
“As quickly as I might, my lord,” said she, “for I saw I was wrong.”
He abode silent a minute, his eyes like amorous surfeiters over-running
her fair form. Then said he, “Thou didst wish to purchase safety for thy
friends?”
She answered, “Yes.”
“For thine own self,” said Corinius, “it had made no jot of
difference. Be witness unto me the omnisciency of the Gods, whereunto
is nothing concealable, I mean thee only good.”
“My lord,” said she, “I embrace the comfort of that word. And know
that good to me is mine own freedom: not conditions of any man’s
choosing.”
Whereto he, being well tippled with wine, framing the most lovely
countenance he might, made answer, “I doubt not but tonight, madam,
thou shalt be well advised to choose that highest condition, and till
to-day unknown, which I shall proffer thee: to be Queen of Demonland.”
She thanked him in her best manner, but said she was minded to forgo
that supposedly pleasing eminence.
“How?” said he. “Is it too little a thing for thee? Or is it as I
think, that thou laughest?”
She said, “My lord, it should little beseem me that am of the seed of
men of war since long generations to trap my mind with the false shows
of a greatness that is gone. Yet I pray you forget not this: the
dominion of the Demons hath used to soar a pitch above common royalty,
and like the eye of day regarded kings from above. And for this style
of Queen thou offerest me, I say unto thee it is an addition I desire
not, who am sister unto him that writ that writing above the gate that
all ye had tasted the truth thereof had he been here to meet with
you.”
Corinius said, “True it is, some have out-bragged the world, yet I ere
this have used them like knaves. My jackboot hath known things in
Carcë, madam, I’ll not gall thy heart to tell thee of.” But perceiving
a great lowe of disdainful anger blaze in Mevrian’s eye, “Cry you
mercy,” said he, “incomparable lady; this was beside the mark. I would
not sully our new friendship with memories of—Ho there! a chair
beside me for the Queen.”
But Mevrian made them set it on the far side of the board,
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