The Worm Ouroboros by Eric Rücker Eddison (english readers txt) 📕

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.

How 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,