H Warner Munn Merlin's Ring

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

who had bid him godspeed upon his mission, which had failed and although he knew it had been
through no fault of his own, he felt their disappointment and was sad. They also passed into the stream of
spirits who crowded by and they disappeared from his view.
Lastly to him appeared an aged man in the robes of a mage and he knew that this was Merlin, to whom
he must speak, for this face he had seen hi the bezel of the ring.
He placed himself in front of Merlin, or so he thought in his vision, and would have tugged his hand loose
from the grasp of the spae-wife, so that he might embrace his godfather, but she held it tightly and would
not let go.
Gwalchmai said, I have come where you told me to come. What word have you for me?
Merlin bent a stern gaze upon him, under heavy brows, and Gwalchmai felt as though he were again a
very small child.
Apprentice, I have work for you to do and hi this you must succeed. You shall go to Rome as was
planned, but it will avail you nothing to take your message there, con-cerning Alata. Rome no longer has
an Emperor, nor is that city more than a city now. It can send no fleet, nor does it need one.
Therefore you must seek elsewhere to deliver your message to a ruler with power to accomplish the
desire of your father that Alata shall be reached by, and belong to, men who need a refuge.
As I have an equal interest in this accomplishment, it is my will that this must be a Christian monarch
only, nor ^hall any other take and hold this land.
However, as this deed may take you longer than you will at present believe, there is no immediate haste
and I have an errand for y�u to perform as you go upon your way.
You must go to Elveron, the Land of Faery, which the Romans called Mona. Here was the last stand of
the Druids, in their defense, and in gratitude Elveron holds Arthur s sword, Excalibur.
Sir Bedwyr, Arthur s trusted knight, left it there when he knew himself close on death, to be guarded by
the fay, until the last great battles of the world when Arthur shall rise and will lead the hosts, who possess
British blood, against their foes. Then he will need his sword again.
The little people are planning to leave Elveron for a kindlier planet This beloved Earth will not much
longer be a happy place for them to dwell. There will be clanking machines and polluted waters and
flaming winds. There will be no sweet clean air for them to breathe in this coming Iron Age, which men
are soon to create.
You must obtain Excalibur from them, carry it to Arthur s tomb and place it beside him, that he may
have it in safety until the day of his need. I think you are magician enough for that, neophyte!
Now firstly, when you reach Mona, you must seek out the barrow of Getain, who was a Sea-King of
that island some while after your sweet�ng s time. He was slain in battle against the Fomorians and was
brought home and there laid in howe. His tomb is the secret entrance to Elveron.
Your ring will give you entry, but not without fee. Thor holds the elvish torque which once lay in Fafnir s
bed, and guarding it is sleepless Mimingus, the Satyr of the Wood, whom you must make your friend.
When you have obtained the torque, it will be the price you pay to enter Elveron, but first you must
appease the
Loathly Dogs. Likewise, there are Watchers set ever Arthur s tomb who may or may not approve of
you, but you have read how to protect yourself against them.
Secondly, you must be on your guard in all your journey-ings against Oduarpa, the Lord of the Dark
Face. He is greatly powerful in the world and my most ancient enemy. Long ago, he came to earth, bent
upon evil. Men confuse him with Satan and some worship him to their cost, but he is no fallen angel. No!
He is kin to those who dwell in the underworld and below the surface of the ground you place yourself
in Jhis power. He is most patient. When he learns, as he undoubtedly will, that you seek to accomplish
my desires, he will bide his time to do you both an injury. Should you fall into sin, you place yourself in his
power and there are many kinds of sin.
Thirdly, I now set a geas upon you and these are the terms of it If you break one clause, you break all,
and you will know sorrow. Therefore, attend.
You must enter Elveron alone, for the signet of- the ring will open the door for only one.
You must take nothing out of Elveron except the sword which was forged by the Lady of the Lake, but
which belongs to men.
She may try in some way to get it back. Anything you carry upon you from the Land of Faery will
weaken your grasp upon the sword. You cannot be strong in botk realms.
For the same reason, you must not eat or drink anything you are offered, however you may be coaxed,
or how delicious it appears, during all the time you are in Elveron. The fay are not wicked, but they are
mischievous. They will trick you if they can, meaning you no harm.
Now go, my godson of whom I am proud, and obey your geas!
Stay, Godfather! I have so much to ask you! cried Gwalchmai as Merlin retreated into the crowd of
moving spirits.
One question, then. He paused an instant Be brief.
Your own tomb was found empty when it was opened. Did you truly die as we know death? Did you
find the Land of the Dead you were seeking in the West? Is this place I see, Mictlampa, from whence the
Azteca say they came up from below?
You have asked three questions instead of one, apprentice. When you have learned more and if we
meet again, instruct me in the meaning of life and I will expound to you the mystery of death. Until then, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Archiwum