proceed, as ever they did, from the true fount of wisdom, and I
embrace them and thee. This book is a guide which we shall follow not
helter-skelter but as old men of war. If then the right road to Morna
Moruna lie from the Gulf of Muelva, were we not best sail straight
thitherward and lay up our ships in that Gulf where the coast and the
country side be without habitation, rather than fare to some nearer
haven of Outer Impland such as Arlan Mouth whither thou and Spitfire
fared six summers ago?”
“Not Arlan Mouth, o’ this journey,” said Juss. “Some sport perchance
we might obtain there had we leisure for fighting with the accursed
inhabitants, but every day’s delay we now do make holdeth my brother
another day in bondage. The princes and Fazes of the Imps have many
strong walled towns and towers in all those coastlands, and hard by in
a mediamnis of the river Arlan, in Orpish, is the great castle of Fax
Fay Faz, whereto Goldry and I drave him home from Lida Nanguna.”
“’Tis an ill coast too, to find a landing,” said Brandoch Daha, turning
the leaves of the book. “As he saith, ‘Ymplande the More beginnith at
the west syde of the mowth of Arlan and occupiethe all the lond unto
the hedeland Sibrion, and therefro sowth awaye to the Corshe, by gesse
a vij hundered myles, wherby the se is not ther of nature favorable nor
no haven is or cumming yn meete for shippes.’”
So after some talk and searching of that book of Gro they determined
this should be their plan: to fare to Impland by way of the Straits
of Melikaphkhaz and the Didornian Sea, and so lay up their ships in
the Gulf of Muelva, and landing there start straightway across the
wilderness to Morna Moruna, even as Gro had described the way.
“Ere we leave it,” said Brandoch Daha, “hear what he speaketh
concerning Koshtra Belorn. This he beheld from Morna Moruna, whereof
he saith: ‘The contery is hylly, sandy, and baren of wood and corne,
as forest ful of lynge, mores, and mosses, with stony hilles. Here
is a mighty stronge and usid borow for flying serpens in sum baren,
hethy, and sandy grownd, and thereby the litle round castel of Morna
Moruna stondith on Omprenne Edge, as on the limit of the worlde, sore
wether beten and yn ruine. This castelle was brent in tyme of warre,
spoyled and razyd by Kynge Goriyse the fourt of Wytchlande in auncient
dayes. And they say there was blamelesse folke dwellid therein and
ryghte gentle, nor was ther any need for Goriyse to have usid them so
cruellie, when hee cawsyd the hole howsholde there to appere before
hym and then slawe sum owt of hande, and the residew he throughe all
downe the steep cliffe. And but few supervivid after the gret falle,
and these fled awaye thorough the untrodden forests of Bavvynaune and
withoute question perysht ther yn great sorwe and miserie. Sum fable
that it was for thys cruel facte sake that King Goriyse was eat by
divels on the Moruna with al hys hoste, one man onely cumming home
again to tell of these thynges bifallen.’ Now mark: ‘From Morna Moruna
I behelde sowthawaye two grete mowntaynes standing over Bavvinane as
two Queenes in bewty seted in the skye by estimacion xx legues fro
hence above meny more ise robed mowntaines supereminente. The wyche as
I lernyd was Coschtre Belourne the one and the othere Koshtre Pivrarca.
And I veuyed them continuallie unto the going downe of the sun, and
that was the fayrest sighte and the most bewtifullest and gallant
marvaille that mine eyen hath sene. Therewith talkid I with the smaule
thynges that dwell there in the ruines and in the busschis growing
round abowte as it ys my wonte, and amongst them one of those byrdes
cawld martlettes that have feete so litle that they seime to have none.
And thys litle martlette sittynge in a frambousier or raspis busche
tolde mee that none may come alive unto Coschtra Beloorn, for the
mantycores of the mowntaines will certeynely ete his brains ere he come
thither. And were he so fortunate as scape these mantycores, yet cowlde
hee never climbe up the gret cragges of yce and rocke on Koschtre
Beloorn, for none is so stronge as to scale them but by art magicall,
and such is the vertue of that mowntayne that no magick avayleth there,
but onlie strength and wisdome alone, and as I seye these woulde not
avayl to climbe those cliffes and yce ryvers.’”
“What be these mantichores of the mountains that eat men’s brains?”
asked the Lady Mevrian.
“This book is so excellent well writ,” said her brother, “that thine
answer appeareth on this same page: ‘The beeste Mantichora, whych is
as muche as to saye devorer of menne, rennith as I herde tell, on the
skirt of the mowntaynes below the snow feldes. These be monstrous
bestes, ghastlie and ful of horrour, enemies to mankinde, of a red
coloure, with ij rowes of huge grete tethe in their mouthes. It hath
the head of a man, his eyen like a ghoot, and the bodie of a lyon
lancing owt sharpe prickles fro behinde. And hys tayl is the tail of a
scorpioun. And is more delyverer to goo than is fowle to flee. And hys
voys is as the roaryng of x lyons.’”
“These beasts,” said Spitfire, “were alone enough to draw me thither. I
shall bring thee home a small one, madam, to keep chained in the court.”
“That should dash me from thy friendship for ever, cousin,” said
Mevrian, stroking the feathery ears of her little marmoset that
cuddled in her lap. “That which feedeth on brains were overnourished in
Demonland, and belike would overrun the whole country-side.”
“Send it to Witchland,” said Zigg. “Where when it hath eat up Gro and
Corund it may sup lightly on the King, and then most fortunately starve
for lack of its proper nutriment.”
Juss stood up from his seat. “Thou and I and Spitfire,” said he to
Brandoch Daha, “must to work roundly and gather strength, for ’tis
already midsummer. You, Vizz, Volle, and Zigg, must have the warding of
our homes whiles we be gone. We cannot be less than two thousand swords
on this faring.”
“How many ships, Volle,” asked Lord Brandoch Daha, “canst thou give us,
busked and boun, ere this moon wane?”
“There be fourteen afloat,” said Volle. “Besides these, ten keels lie
on the slips at Lookinghaven, and nine more hath Spitfire but now laid
down on the beach before his house at Owlswick.”
“Thirty and three in sum,” said Spitfire. “You see we have not twiddled
our thumbs whilst ye were gone.”
Juss paced back and forth with great strides, his brow clouded and
his jaw clenched. In a while he said, “Laxus hath forty sail, dragons
of war. I am not so idle-headed as fare without an army into Impland,
but certain it is that if our ill-willers would move war against us we
stand in apparent weakness, here or abroad, to throw back their onset.”
Volle said, “Of these nineteen ships a-building no more than two can
take the water before a month be past, and but seven more ere six
months’ time, push we never so mightily the work.”
“The season weareth, and my brother wasteth in duress. We must sail ere
another moon grow old,” said Juss.
Volle said, “Then with sixteen sail thou sailest, O Juss; and then thou
leavest us not one ship at home till more be finished and launched.”
“How can we leave you so?” cried Spitfire.
But Brandoch Daha looked towards his lady sister, met her glance, and
was satisfied. “The choice lieth fair before us,” said he. “If we will
eat the egg, little need to debate whether the shell must go.”
Mevrian rose from her seat laughing, and said, “Then let the council
rise, my lords.” And her eyes grew serious, and she said, “Shall they
make rhymes upon us that we of Demonland, whom men repute and hold
the mightiest lords in all the world, hung sheepishly back from this
high needful enterprise lest, our greatest captains being abroad, our
enemies might haply take us at home at disadvantage? It shall not be
said of the women of Demonland that they upheld such counsels.”
IX: SALAPANTA HILLS
OF THE LANDING OF LORD JUSS AND HIS COMPANIONS IN OUTER IMPLAND
AND THEIR MEETING WITH ZELDORNIUS, HELTERANIUS, AND JALCANAIUS
FOSTUS; AND OF THE TIDINGS TOLD BY MIVARSH, AND THE DEALINGS OF
THE THREE GREAT CAPTAINS ON THE HILLS OF SALAPANTA.
On the thirty and first day after that council held in Krothering, the
fleet of Demonland put to sea from Lookinghaven: eleven dragons of war
and two great ships of burthen, bound for the uttermost seas of earth
in quest of the Lord Goldry Bluszco. Eighteen hundred Demons fared
on that expedition, and not a man among them that was not a complete
soldier. For five days they rowed southaway on a windless sea, and on
the sixth the sea-cliffs of Goblinland came out of the haze on their
starboard bow. They rowed south along the land, and on the tenth day
out from Lookinghaven passed under the Ness of Ozam, journeying thence
four days with a favouring wind over the open seas to Sibrion. But now,
when they had rounded that dark promontory and were about steering east
along the coast of Impland the More, and less than ten days’ journey
lay betwixt them and their haven in Muelva, a dismal tempest suddenly
surprised them. For forty days it swept them in hail and sleet over
wide-wallowing ocean, without a star, without a course; till, on a
fierce midnight of wind and darkness and roaring waters was Juss’s
and Spitfire’s ship and other four in her company driven on the rocks
on a lee shore and broken in pieces. Hardly, and after long battling
among great waves, those brethren won ashore, weary and hurt. In the
inhospitable light of a wet and windy dawn they mustered on the beach
such of their folk as had escaped out of the mouth of destruction; and
they were three hundred and thirty and three.
Spitfire, beholding these things, spake and said, “This land hath a
villanous look stirreth my remembrance, as but to behold verjuice
soureth the mouth of him who once tasted thereof. Rememberest thou this
land?”
Juss scanned the low long coast-line that swept north and west to an
estuary, and beyond ran westwards till it was lost in the scud and
driving spray. Desolate birds flew above the welter of the surges. He
said, “Certainly this is Arlan Mouth, where least of all I had choosed
to come a-land with so small a head of men. Yet shalt thou prove here,
as it hath ever been, how all occasions are but steps for us to climb
fame by.”
“Our ships lost,” cried Spitfire, “and the more part of our men, and
worst of all, Brandoch Daha that is worth ten thousand. Easilier shall
a little ant bib this ocean dry, than shall we in this taking perform
our enterprise.” And he cursed and blasphemed, saying, “Cursed be the
malice of the sea, which, having broke our power, now speweth us ashore
here to our mere undoing; and so hath done great succour to the King of
Witchland, and unto all the world beside great damage.”
But Juss answered him, “Think not that these contrary winds come of
fortune or by the influence of malignant and combustive stars. This
weather bloweth out of Carcë. Even as these very waves thou beholdest
have each his back-wash or undertow, so followeth after every sending
an undertow of evil hap, whereby, albeit in essence a less deadly
thing, many have been drowned and washed away who stood unremoved
against the main stroke of the breaker. So were we twice since that day
brought near to our bane: first, when our judgement being darkened with
a strange distraction we went up with Gaslark against Carcë; next, when
this storm wrecked us here by Arlan Mouth. Though by mine art I rebated
the King’s sending, yet against the maleficial undertow that followed
it my charms avail not, nor the virtues of all sorcerous herbs that
grow.”
“Are these things so, and wilt thou yet be temperate?” said Spitfire.
“Content thee,” said Juss. “The sands run down. A certain time only
runneth this stream for our hurt; it must now have well nigh spent
itself, and it were too perilous for him to conjure a second time, as
last May he conjured in Carcë.”
“Who told thee that?” asked Spitfire.
“I do but conjecture it,” answered he, “from my studying of certain
prophetic writings touching the princes of that blood and line. Whereby
it appeareth (yet not clearly, but riddlewise) that if one and the same
King, essaying a second time in his own person an enterprise in that
kind, should fail, and the powers of darkness destroy him, then is not
his life spilt alone (as it fortuned aforetime unto Gorice VII. at his
first attempt), but there shall be an end for ever of the whole house
of Gorice which hath for so many generations reigned in Carcë.”
“Well,” said Spitfire, “so stand we to our chance. Old muckhills will
bloom at last.”
• • • • •
Now for nineteen days fared those brethren and their company eastward
through Outer Impland: first across a country of winding sleepy rivers
and reedy lakes innumerable, then by rolling uplands and champaign
ground. At length, on an even, they came upon a heath running up
eastward to a range of tumbled hills. The hills were not lofty nor
steep, but rugged of outline and their surface rough with crags and
boulders, so that it was a maze of little eminences and valleys grown
upon by heather and fern and rank sad-coloured grass, with stunted
thorn trees and junipers harbouring in the clefts of the rocks. On the
water-shed, as on an horse’s withers, looking west to the red October
sunset and south to the far line of the Didornian Sea, they came upon a
spy-fortalice, old and desolate, and one sitting in the gate. For very
joy their hearts melted within them, when they knew him for none other
than Brandoch Daha.
So they embraced him as one beyond hope risen from the grave. And he
said, “Through the Straits of Melikaphkhaz was I borne, and wrecked at
last on the lonely shore ten leagues southward from this spot, whither
I won alone, having lost my ship and all my dear companions. In my
mind it was that ye must fare by this road to Muelva if ye suffered
shipwreck in the outer coasts of Impland.
“Harken,” he said, “and I will tell you a wonder. A seven-night have
I awaited you in this roosting-stead of daws and owls. And it is a
caravanserai of great armies that pass by in the wilderness, and
having parleyed with two I await the third. For well I think that
here I have made discovery of a great mystery, one that hath engaged
the speculations of wise men for years. For on that day of my coming
hither, when sunset was red, as now you see it, behold an army marching
up from the east with great flags a-flaunting in the wind and all kinds
of music. Which I beholding, methought if these be enemies, then goeth
down my life’s days with honour, and if friends, then cometh provender
from those waggons of burthen that follow this army. A weighty
argument; since not so much as the smell of victuals had I, save nasty
nuts and berries of the open field, since I came forth of the sea.
So went I, taking my weapons, on the walls of this spy-fortalice and
hailed them, bidding them say forth their quality. And he that was
their captain rode up under the walls, and hailed me with all courtesy
and noble port. And who think ye ’twas?”
They answered nought.
“One that hath been famous,” said he, “up and down the earth for a
marvellous valorous and brave soldier of fortune. Have ye forgot that
enterprise of Gaslark that had its burying in Impland?”
“Was he little and dark,” asked Juss, “like a keen dagger suddenly
unsheathed at midnight? Or bright with the splendour of a pennoned
spear at a jousting on high holiday? Or was he dangerous of aspect like
an old sword, rusty in the midst but bright at point and edge, brought
forth for deeds of destiny at the fated day?”
“Thine arrow striketh in the triple ring o’ the mark,” said Lord
Brandoch Daha. “Great of growth he was, and a very peacock of splendour
in his panoply of war; and a great pitch-black stallion bare him. So I
spake him fair, saying, ‘O most magnificent and godlike Helteranius,
conqueror in an hundred fights, what makest thou these long years in
Outer Impland with this great head of men? And what dark lodestone
draws you these nine years, since with great sound of trumpets and
tramp of horses thou and Zeldornius and Jalcanaius Fostus went forth
to make Impland Gaslark’s footstool; since which time all the world
believeth you lost and dead?’ And he beheld me with alien eyes, and
made answer, ‘O Brandoch Daha, the world journeyeth to its silly will,
but I fare alway with my purpose before me. Be it nine years, or but
nine moons, or nine ages, what care I? Zeldornius would I encounter
and engage him in battle, that still fleeth before my face. Eat and
drink with me to-night; but think not to detain me nor to turn me to
idle thoughts beside my purpose. For with the dawning of the day I must
forth again in quest of Zeldornius.’
“So I ate and drank and was merry that night with Helteranius in his
pavilion of silk and gold. And with the dawn he marshalled his army and
marched westward toward the plains.
“And on the third day, as I sat without this wall, cursing your slow
coming, behold an army marching from the east and one leading them
mounted on a small dun horse; and he was clad in black armour shining
like the raven’s wing, with black eagle’s plumes in his helm, and eyes
like the eyes of a cat-a-mountain, full of sparkling flame. Little was
he, and fierce of face, and lithe, and hard to look on and tireless to
look on like a stoat. And I hailed him from where I sat, saying, ‘O
most notable and puissant Jalcanaius Fostus, shatterer of the hosts of
men, whitherward over the lonely heaths forlorn, thou and thy great
armament?’ And he lighted down from his horse, and took me by the arms
with both his hands, and said, ‘If a man dream, to speak with dead
men betokens profit. And art not thou of the dead, O Brandoch Daha?
For in forgotten days, that now spring up in my mind as flowers in a
weed-choked garden after many years, so bloomest thou in my memory:
great among the great ones of the world that was, thou and thine house
in Krothering above the sea-lochs in many-mountained Demonland. But
oblivion, like a sounding sea, soundeth betwixt me and those days;
and the noise of the surf stoppeth mine ears, and the mist of the sea
darkeneth mine eyes that strain for a sight of those far times and the
deeds thereof. Yet for those dead days’ sake, eat with me and drink
with me to-night, since here for a night once more I pitch my moving
tent on Salapanta Hills. And to-morrow I fare onward. For never may
rest bring balm to my soul until I find out Helteranius and smite his
head from his shoulders. Great shame to him but little marvel is it,
that he still courseth before me as an hare. For traitors were ever
dastards. And who ever heard tell of a more hellish devilish damned
traitor than he? Nine years ago, when Zeldornius and I made ready to
decide our quarrels by battle, word came to me in a lucky hour how
that this Helteranius with cunning colubrine and malice viperine and
sleights serpentine went about to attack me in the rear. So turned I
right about to crush him, but the fat chuff-cat was fled.’
“So spake Jalcanaius Fostus; and I ate and drank with him that night,
and caroused with him in his tent. And at break of day he struck camp
and rode westaway with his army.”
Brandoch Daha ceased, and looked eastward toward the gates of night.
And lo, an army faring up from the lower moor-lands, toward them on
the ridge, horsemen and footmen in dense array, and their captain on a
great brown horse riding in the van. Long-limbed he was and lean, all
armed in dusty rusty armour hacked and dinted in an hundred fights,
with worn leather gauntlets on his hands and a faded campaigning
cloak thrown back from his shoulders. He carried his casque at his
saddle-bow and his head was bare: the head of an old lean hunting-dog,
with white hair swept back from a rugged brow where blue veins showed;
great-nosed and bony-faced, with huge bushy white moustachios and
eyebrows, and blue eyes gleaming from cavernous eye-sockets. His horse
was curst-looking, with ears laid back and blood-shed dangerous eyes,
and he in the saddle sat erect and unyielding as a lance.
When he and his army came up upon the ridge, he drew rein and hailed
the Demons. And he said, “On every ninth day these nine years have I
beheld this lonely place of earth, as I pursued after Jalcanaius Fostus
that still eludeth me and still fleeth before me; and this is strange,
since he was ever a great fighter and engaged these nine years past
to do battle with me. And now fear cometh upon me that eld draweth a
veil of illusion athwart mine eyes, portending the approach of death
or ever I perform my will. For here in the uncertain light of evening
rise up before me shapes and semblances as of guests of Gaslark the
king in Zajë Zaculo in days gone by: old friends of Gaslark’s out
of many-mountained Demonland: Brandoch Daha, that slew the King of
Witchland, and Spitfire of Owlswick, and Juss his brother, the same
which had lordship over all the Demons ere we fared to Impland. Ghosts
and back-comers of a world forgot. But if ye be right flesh and blood,
speak and discover yourselves.”
Juss answered him, “O most redoubtable Zeldornius and in war
invincible, well might a man expect spirits of the dead on these quiet
hills about cockshut time. And if thou deem us such, how much more
shall we, that be wanderers new-shipwrecked out of hungry seas, suppose
thee but a shade, and these great hosts of thine but fetches of the
dead that be departed, steaming up from Erebus as daylight dies?”
“O most renowned and redoubtable Zeldornius,” said Brandoch Daha, “thou
wast once my guest in Krothering. To resolve thy doubts and ours, bid
us to supper. It were matter indeed if spirits bodiless were able to
bib wine and eat up earthly bake-meats.”
So Zeldornius let pitch his tents, and appointed the fifth hour before
midnight for those lords of Demonland to sup with him. Ere they
forgathered in Zeldornius’s tent they spake among themselves, and
Spitfire said, “Was ever such a wonder or such a pitiful trick o’ the
Fates as bringeth these three great captains to waste the remnant of
their days in this remote wilderness? Doubt not but there’s practice in
it, that maketh them march these long years this changeless round, each
fleeing one that would fain encounter him, and still seeking another
that flies before him.”
“Never went man with that look of the eyes Zeldornius hath,” said Juss,
“but he was a man ensorcelled.”
“With such a look,” said Brandoch Daha, “went Helteranius and
Jalcanaius. But mark our interest. ’Twere good to break the charm and
claim their help for our pains. Shall’s show the old lion all the truth
of this fact to-night?”
So spake Lord Brandoch Daha, and those brethren deemed his counsel
good. So at supper, when men’s hearts were gladdened with good cheer,
the Lord Juss sate him down by Zeldornius and opened to him this
matter, saying, “O renowned Zeldornius, how befalleth it that these
nine years thou pursuest after Jalcanaius Fostus, shatterer of hosts,
and what was your difference betwixt you that set you by the ears?”
Zeldornius said, “O Juss, must I answer thee by reasons in this matter
that is ruled by the high stars and Fate that lays men at their length?
Enough for thee that unpeace befell betwixt me and Jalcanaius mighty
in war, and it was confirmed between us that by the arbitrament of the
bloody field we should end our difference. But he abode me not; and
these nine years I seek to meet with him in vain.”
“There was a third of you,” said Juss. “What tidings hast thou of
Helteranius?”
Zeldornius answered him, “No tidings.”
“Wilt thou,” said Juss, “that I enlighten thee hereon?”
Zeldornius said, “Thou and thy fellows alone of the children of men
have spoken with me since these things began. For they that dwelt in
this region fled years ago, accounting the place accursed. A paltry
crew they were, and mean meat enow for our swords. Speak then, if thou
meanest me well, and show me all.”
“Helteranius,” said Lord Juss, “pursueth thee these nine years, as
thou pursuest Jalcanaius Fostus. My cousin here hath seen him but six
days ago, in this same place, and talked with him, and shook him by
the hand, and knew his mind. Surely ye be all three holden by some
enchantment, that being old comrades in arms so strangely and to so
little purpose do pursue each the other’s life. I prithee let us be
a mean betwixt you all to set you at one again, and free you from so
strange a thraldom.”