THE GOTHIC TOUCH Night was gathering too rapidly. Lightning was flickering across a leaden sky. Sounds of distant thunder were no longer so distant. Dark-winged birds were streaking across the sky for cover Elric sniffed the air, pushed the white hair from his face. His horse was restless beneath his thighs. Moonglum watched the horizon unhappily. They had been riding all day. Thus far they had eluded human pursuit, but the storm was quickly overtaking them. "We'll have to find some sort of shelter soon." "They won't seek shelter." Elric searched his memory He was uncertain of landmarks in this part of the land they fled across, but he remembered talk of a ruined castle, supposedly haunted. That sort of legend might hold off interlopers, and if it came down to it, better to make a stand behind walls than to be hunted down like a fox. Thunder drew closer. Neither Elric nor Moonglum heard the blast as lightning tore apart the earth dose behind them. It was enough to hold saddle as their panic-stricken horses plunged headlong through the sudden torrent. "There!" shouted Elric. The lightning-blasted sky revealed stone walls ahead. He and Moonglum fought to control their horses, somehow galloping into the walled enclosure through its breached gate. "There's a light!" Moonglum pointed as they crossed the courtyard. Elric smelled smoke through the drenched wind. Most of the interior structure was still standing, albeit gutted. What appeared to have been the castle itself had retained some of its roof. A fire could be seen through its open doorway. Lightning crashed again. Elric and Moonglum rode their horses through the castle doorway, caring not who might challenge them. The interior was reasonably dry, if musty from long disuse. There was a good fire burning on the massive hearth. There was a broken table set with food and wine. There was no one present. "Isn't this castle supposed to be haunted?" Moonglum was searching the shadows of the cavernous room. Little remained except ruin, rotted tapestries, crumbling furnishings. Whoever had overthrown the castle had not stayed to lout it. "All ruined castles are haunted," said Elric, dismounting. "At lead to the popular mind. Now tether our horses. Someone abides here, and we'll share this fire." As Moonglum saw to their mounts, Elric shook oft his cloak and warmed himself at the fire. The thin albino had little tolerance for the drenching, cold night. He considered the food and drink upon the table. Three settings. Cheese, bread, cold fowl, some apples, wine and - Elric delicately sniffed the bottle - brandy. He poured some of the brandy into a chalice of ruby glass. He could not identify its place of origin, but it was of excellent quality, and it warmed him. Moonglum returned from the horses and almost struck away the chalice. "There might be poison!" "Who knew that I would be here?" Line was exhausted after almost two days on the run. He broke off a bit of bread. "Try the fowl Moonglum, and tell me if it's poisoned." "Three places are set," Moonglum pointed out. "Yet no one is here. And where do you find fresh apples at this season? I tell you, this castle is haunted." "That fire is freshly laid," said Elric "Our hosts are other travellers seeking shelter for the night. As the storm struck, they dashed away to see to their horses and goods. I'm certain they will join us soon " The storm winds were moaning so furiously through the broken apertures of the castle that at first Elric did not notice the faint moan of Stormbringer. Eric glanced toward the empty doorway, laying his hand upon the Hilt of the runesword. Lightning set fire to the night. The doorway was no longer empty. It was a man, almost too large for a man, clad in mail, leather breeks and high boots, and a flapping black cloak. His long red hair was torn by the wind despite the rain. His eyes seemed to glow with gild blue fire in the burst of lightning. In his left hand he carried a long sword; in his right hand he held a human head. Lightning faded. Elric drew Stormbringer. The man was already beside the fire. "We both like dramatic entrances," said the man. He held the severed head to the light. "Know him?" Elric looked carefully "That's Duke Breidnor. He and his men are hunting me." "Well, now he's not." The man wiped his sword free of remaining blood and sheathed it behind his shoulder. "And you can put away Stormbringer. What's left of Breidnor' s henchmen are fleeing homeward. I left a few of their bodies outside the walls. Doubt the rest will try it again. In fact, I know they won't. I hope you haven't brushed that brandy. We have a long night." He poured a chalice of brandy for himself as Fine regarded him uncertainly. His hair and beard were red, his features somewhat brutal, and there was something very disturbing about his blue eyes. Elric judged his height at about six feet, and his weight had to be enormous for that mass of muscle - yet he moved like a cat. Elric sheathed Stormbringer. "Good decision," said the stranger, sipping the brandy. "And now, Moonglum, please put away your sword and do something with that head. Just don't lob it into the fire. I've already set out a cold dinner." He dropped down onto one of the remaining chairs. It creaked, but held his weight. "About as solid as the Ruby Throne, don't you think, Elric?" Elric found another chair and some brandy. He was tired, and things were happening too fast. "Who are you, and where are you from?" "I'm Kane, and I'm not from around here." "Where are your men?" "I'm alone." "How did you manage to kill Duke Breidnor and his soldiers if you were alone?" "I kill things. That's what I was created to do. I'm rather good at it." "Are you from Arioch?" "Only a nodding acquaintance." Elric lowered his chalice in annoyance. The man was either mad or playing with words; his accent was not one Elric could place. Nonetheless, this Kane had brought him the head of his enemy. Elric turned his pink eyes full into Kane's cold blue gaze. He fell a sudden chill throughout his body. "Are you a demon?" Elric had not meant to speak the thought aloud. "Something far worse," said Kane, "How do you know me," Kane tore off a wing and began to eat it with some show of appetite. "By Stormbringer. Not to say that you do have certain distinctive features. Moonglum, stop pacing about and join us." Elric closed his eyes and concentrated. There was an aura about this man which he could not penetrate. And yet ... "You are neither of Law nor Chaos." "Correct. Slice of breast?" "You are not of this world." "I've already told you that. More brandy?" "You raised a storm and drew us here. Then you killed my enemy." "And just in time. Don't forget the dinner." Elric angrily leapt to his feet, drawing Stormbringer "Friend or not, I won't be trifled with - and I'm tired of your riddles!" Moonglum slid away, circling. Kane remained seated. His left hand was hidden as he sipped some wine. "Pray be seated, both of you. We have a long night. All shall be made clear." Elric nodded to Moonglum, then sheathed the runesword. They sat down, and Kane quietly replaced the throwing stars he had held. Moonglum gnawed on an apple. "Where is your horse?" "Somewhere else." "And these apples? Whence?" "Same place." Elric was growing angry again, but poured more brandy to keep his temper under control. The stranger was mad, but meant him no harm. Tomorrow he and Moonglum would continue their journey without pursuit, thanks to Kane, if he were to be believed. Obviously the man was dangerous, but not an enemy. Elric wasn't certain as to what else he might be. He ate another piece of bread and decided to put up with the situation. Outside it was raining heavily, and Moonglum had just thrown more bits of wood onto the fire. "I noticed your sword as you were cleaning it," Elric said. Conversation would soothe his anger. "I haven't seen its style before, nor the odd sheen of its steel. Is it from the Young Kingdoms?" "It's from Carsultyal. Very old." For an instant there was a touch of pain in Kane's voice that only Elric could have discerned. "And has it magical powers?" "Only that it cuts well. I never worked out the actual alloy. Ran out of star ships to melt down." Elric assumed that Kane meant falling stars. He had seen blades forged from such iron. "Where is Carsultyal?" "Long ago and far away." Kane was punishing the brandy. "Elric, let's stop fencing. We are both sorcerers. We know that other worlds and other universes exist, sometimes side by side." Elric paused, wondering. "Granted." "And that there can be gateways between these other worlds." "Yes, that's true." Elric had begun to get ahead of Kane's line of reasoning. No, Kane wasn't mad. Not in that way. Kane considered his brandy. "Well, Elric. We three are sitting on the threshold of one of those gateways, and I crossed over with a hamper full of goodies to nibble on. And other fun stuff. Sorry about the storm, but there always are these atmospheric disturbances. Call it the gothic touch. So you got wet, but now you're warm and well-fed, and I took care of your immediate difficulty. Where's that head, Moonglum?" Elric wasn't certain he'd caught every word of that, but he had understood enough. "How do you know of me?" "You'll understand later. You and your various incarnations leap through time and universe more than I do. It was merely a matter of intersecting you, Stormbringer, a...
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