[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
somehow glutinous and heavy as it reverberated from deep within the ground.
Yonder exults the dwergarl cried Huon, They have chased out the Worm!
Since Worm, in Merlin s books, was almost a synonym for dragon, Gwalchmai understood that meaning
first, in view of the creature s immense size.
He did not realize immediately that the term was even then in disuse and almost archaic, until a vast
shadow covered them all and darkened the whole meadow. A flying creature, as broad-pinioned as the
roc of Araby, dropped down from the mist-hidden sky and seized upon the monster that so endangered
them with its heaving convulsions.
Then, as the serpent rose into the clouds, twisting and writhing hi the beak that held it even in its agony
giving out no sound Gwalchmai recognized that it actually was what it had been named. For, dwindled
by distance into its proper dimensions, he saw it to indeed be a worm, firmly gripped by a robin on her
way to feed her young.
Horror and dismay came to Gwalchmai. He realized for the first time his true and severe predicament,
coming thus to a knowledge of his minute present size in Elveron. If this robin and its prey were as others
of their kinds were, and he had no reason to doubt it, remembering tke shrinking of himself to a height
necessary to enter Elveron s portal then he and the elves were tiny almost beyond belief.
He had ridden through a worm hole into Elveron. These were the tunnels the dwergar used! He had
passed through a forest aboveground, which, to a mortal, was only grass. How now was he ever to
complete his mission by accomplishing the task Merlin, through tke spae-wife, had set him?
How could he hope to grasp the hilt of Excalibur, or lift and carry such a massive weapon as it was to
him now, and place it in Arthur s tomb?
How could he even find it? For to him, in his present size, the relatively small island of Mona was larger
than the entire continent of Europe!
The ^Blasted Heath
When the scattered assemblage merged, there was excited discussion and a babble of voices. The riders
regrouped, falling into line in order of rank and precedence. Gwalchmai looked down into the moat, as
they rode over the drawbridge.
Beneath it a swift current flowed, but it seemed to be more a luminescent gas than liquid, for it heaved up
in large slow waves that were carried along for some distance before they subsided. Riding these rollers
and plunging through them, sylphs and nereids swam and played in gay sporting.
All seemed to be carefree, but there was an indefinable nervousness about tkem that made him feel that
only inside the castle was there enough security for the fay and their kindred to be unconcerned about the
dwergar and the dark brood they controlled.
In the open space, between moat and wall, the people dismounted and handed over the horses to waiting
stable boys, who led tkem away. Tken the Queen and her ladies passed like a group of living flowers
through the portcullised gateway in the second line of battlemented walls, and Gwalch-mai, Huon, and Sir
Periton followed into the inner bailey.
This was a much larger place, paved with onyx and jasper instead of the fieldstone of the outer
fortifications, but protected by a barbican manned by alert elfin warriors armed with longbows and silver
axes. Obviously here nothing was left to chance.
Gwalchmai was ushered into a suite of rooms that had been made ready for him. The furniture was
delicate, but strong, made of grass stems that looked like bamboo and was upholstered in cushions
smelling of rose leaves but filled with dandelion down.
He bathed in a large tub, seashell shaped, and felt refreshed. A decanter of wine, as yellow as a
buttercup, and a platter of cookies, nuts, and fruit were set conveniently by. The stand for the repast
looked like half a pink pearl brought to a high polish and its tripod legs were purplish sea urchin spines.
Mindful of Merlin s adjuration, he did not touch the viands, nor did he feel hungry or thirsty.
The light in the suite came from illuminated ceilings. There were no lamps, but the light came on when he
was escorted in and faded out when he left to go down, in Huon s charge, to the banqueting hall.
This was a huge shadowed room. At first Gwalchmai could hardly see to the far end of it. Then the
luminous cloud that had hidden the high celing brightened. This appeared to be the customary manner in
which all lighting was maintained in Elveron and it now occurred to Gwalchmai that all the land was
covered by this same dense glowing mist in the form of a shielding dome.
He knew much time had passed, yet he could not tell if it were night or day, for through the cloud he
could not see stars, moon, or any brighter glow shining through it which would indicate the position of the
sun. He felt that here it would be very easy to lose all track of time. Already he could not imagine how
long he had been in this ensorceled land.
As the honored guest, he had been seated high toward the head of the board, where were grouped his
new acquaintances. The long table was laden with delicacies in all the forms food can take, but there
were joints of meat Gwalchmai had never seen and he suspected that they came from animals unique to
Elveron and unfamiliar to himself.
The fruits he recognized, but they were enormous in size and one elf and his lady were feasting together
upon a single slice of a huge grape. Goblets were continually being emptied and refilled and an animated
buzz of conversation filled the hall as feasters were being served and trenchers of translucent amber
replenished.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]