The Eternal Champion

'They are locked away, yes.'

'And you have the knowledge to use them?'

'Of course. We are immortal. We have many people who fought in those ancient wars, some even built new weapons before our decision was made.'

'Then why…?'

'I have told you. We swore not to.'

'What happened to the humans' weapons-and their knowledge of them? Did they make the same decision?'

'No. The human race degenerated for a while. Wars between themselves occurred. At one time they almost wiped themselves out completely, at another they were barbarians, and at another they seemed to have matured at last, to be at peace with their own souls and with one another. During one of those stages they lost the knowledge and the remaining weapons. In the last million years they have climbed back from absolute savagery- the peaceful years were short, a false lull-and I'd predict they'll sink back again soon enough. They seem bent on their own destruction as well as ours. We have wondered if the humans, who must surely exist on other planets than this, are the same. Perhaps not.'

'I hope not,' I said. 'How do you think the Eldren will fare against the humans?'

'Badly,' he said. 'Particularly since the humans are inspired by your leadership and the gateway to the Ghost Worlds is due soon to close again. Previously Humanity was split by quarrels, you see. King Rigenos could never get his marshals to agree and he was too uncertain of himself to make the large decisions. But you have made decisions for him and you have united the marshals. You will win, I think.'

'You are a fatalist,' I said.

'I am a realist,' he said.

'Could not peace terms be arranged?'

He shook his head. 'What use is it to talk?' he asked me bitterly. 'You humans, I pity you. Why will you always identify our motives with your own? We do not seek power-only peace. Peace! But that, I suppose, this planet shall never have until Humanity dies of old age.'

I stayed with Arjavh for a few more days before he released me on trust, and I rode back towards Necranal. It was a long, lonely ride and I had a great deal of time to think.

I was hardly recognised this time, for I was dusty and my armour was battered and the people of Necranal had become used to seeing beaten warriors returning to the city.

I reached the Palace of Ten Thousand Windows and a gloomy quiet had settled on it. The king was not in the Great Hall and lolinda was not in her quarters.

In my old apartments, I stripped off my armour. 'When did the Lady Ermizhad leave?' I asked a slave.

'Leave, master? Is she not still here?'

'What? Where?'

'In the same quarters, surely…'

I still had my breastplate on and I donned my sword as I strode through the corridors until I got to Ermizhad's apartments and brushed past the guard on the door.

'Ermizhad-you were to be traded for me. Those were the terms. Where is the king? Why has he not kept his word?'

'I knew nothing of this,' she said. 'I did not know Arjavh was so close, otherwise…'

I interrupted her. 'Come with me. We'll find the king and get you on your journey back.'

I half dragged her from room to room of the palace until at last I found the king in his private apartments. He was in conference with Roldero as I burst in upon them.

'King Rigenos, what is the meaning of this? My word was given to Prince Arjavh that Ermizhad was to leave here freely upon my release. He allowed me to leave his camp on trust and now I return to find the Lady Ermizhad still in captivity. I demand that she be released immediately.'

The king and Roldero laughed at me.

'Come now, Erekose,' said Roldero. 'Who needs to keep his word to an Eldren jackal? Now we have our War Champion back and still retain our chief hostage. Forget it, Erekose. There is no need to regard the Eldren as human!'

Ermizhad smiled. 'Do not worry, Erekose. I have other friends.' She closed her eyes and began to croon. At first the words came softly, but the volume rose until she was giving voice to a weird series of harmonies.

Roldero jumped forward, dragging out his sword.

'Sorcery!'

I stepped between them.

'Out of the way, Erekose. The bitch invokes her demon kind!'

I drew my own sword and held it warningly in front of me protecting Ermizhad. I had no idea what she was going, but I was going to give her the chance, now, to do whatever she wanted.

Her voice changed abruptly and then stopped. Then she cried: 'Brethren! Brethren of the Ghosts Worlds-aid me!'

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE AN OATH

Quite suddenly there materialised in the chamber some dozen or so Eldren, their faces but slightly different from others I had seen. I recognised them now as halflings.

'There!' shouted Rigenos. 'Evil sorcery. She is a witch. I told you! A witch!'

The halflings were silent. They surrounded Ermizhad until all their bodies touched hers and one anothers. Then Ermizhad shouted: 'Away, brethren-back to the camp of the Eldren!'

Their forms began to flicker so that they seemed half in our dimension, half in some other. 'Goodbye, Erekose,' she cried. 'I hope we shall meet in happier circumstances.'

'I hope so!' I shouted back. And then she vanished.

'Traitor!' cursed King Rigenos. 'You aided her escape!'

'You should die by torture!' added Roldero, disgusted.

'I'm no traitor, as well you know,' I said evenly. 'You are traitors-traitors to your words-to the great tradition of your ancestors. You have no case against me, you stupid-stupid…'

I stopped, turned on my heel and left the chamber.

'You lost the battle-War Champion!' screamed King Rigenos after me as I stalked out. 'The people do not respect defeat!'

I went to find lolinda.

She had been walking in the balconies and had now returned to her apartments. I kissed her, needing at that moment a woman's friendly sympathy, but I seemed to meet a block. She was not, it seemed, prepared to give me help, although she kissed me dutifully. A length I ceased to embrace her and stood back a little, looking into her eyes.

'What's wrong?'

'Nothing,' she said. 'Should there be? You are safe. I had feared you dead.'

Was it me, then? Was it…? I pushed the thought from me. But can a man force himself to love a woman Can he love two women at the same time? I was desperately clinging to the strands of the love I had felt for her when first we met.

'Ermizhad is safe,' I blurted, 'she called her halfling brothers to her aid and, when she returns to the Eldren camp, Arjavh will take his forces back to Mernadin. You should be pleased.'

'I am,' she said, and then: 'And you are pleased, no doubt, that our hostage escaped!'

'What do you mean?'

'My father told me how you'd been enchanted by her wanton sorcery. You seemed to be more anxious for her safety than ours.'

'That is foolish talk.'

'You seem to like the company of the Eldren, too. Holidaying with our greatest enemy…'

'Stop! All foolish talk!'

'Is it? I think my father spoke true, Erekose.' Her voice was subdued now. She turned from me.

'But, lolinda, I love you. You alone.'

'I do not believe you, Erekose.'

What is it in me that I became what I became then. It was the moment that I gave an oath that was to affect all our destinies. Why, as my love for her began to fade and I saw her as a selfish, grasping fool, did I protest a greater love for her?

I do not know. I only know that that is what I did.

'I love you more than life, lolinda!' I said. 'I would do anything for you!'

'I do not believe you!'

'I do. I will prove it!' I cried in agony.

She turned. There was pain and reproach in her eyes. There was a bitterness that went so deep it had no bottom. There was anger and there was revenge.