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The Quest for Tanelorn
Michael Moorcock
The Chronicles of Castle Brass Book 3


BOOK ONE
THE WORLD INSANE: A CHAMPION OF DREAMS


CHAPTER ONE
AN OLD FRIEND AT CASTLE BRASS
тАШLost?тАЩ
тАШAye.тАЩ
тАШBut only dreams, Hawkmoon. Lost dreams?тАЩ The tone was nearly pathetic.
тАШI think not.тАЩ
Count Brass moved his great body away from the window so that light fell suddenly on
HawkmoonтАЩs gaunt face. тАШWould that I had two grandchildren. Would that I had. Perhaps one day
...тАЩ
It was a conversation which had been repeated so many times that it had become almost a ritual.
Count Brass did not like mysteries; he did not respect them.
тАШThere was a boy and a girl.тАЩ Hawkmoon was still tired, but there was no longer any madness in
him. тАШManfred and Yarmila. The boy much resembled you.тАЩ
We have told you this, father.тАЩ Yisselda, hands folded under her breasts, moved from the shade
near the fireplace. She wore a green gown, cuffs and collar ermine-trimmed. Her hair was drawn
back from her face. She was pale. She had been pale since her return, with Hawkmoon, to Castle
Brass, more than a month ago. тАЬWe told you - and we must find them.тАЩ
Count Brass ran heavy fingers through his greying red hair, his red brows furrowed. тАШI did not
believe Hawkmoon - but I believe you both now, though I do not wish to.тАЩ
тАШIt is why you argue so, father.тАЩ Yisselda placed a hand upon his brocaded arm.
тАШBowgentle could explain these paradoxes, possibly,тАЩ Count Brass continued, тАШbut there is no other
who could find the kind of words which a plain-thinking soldier like myself could easily understand.
You are of the belief that I have been brought back from the dead, yet IтАЩve no memory of dying.
And Yisselda has been rescued from Limbo, when I, myself, thought her slain at the Battle of
Londra. Now you speak of children, also somewhere in Limbo. A horrifying thought. Children
experiencing such terrors! Ah! No! I will not consider it.тАЩ
тАШWe have had to, Count Brass.тАЩ Hawkmoon spoke with the authority of a man who had faced many
hours alone with his darkest thoughts. тАШIt is why we are determined to do everything we can to find
them. It is why, today, we leave for Londra where we hope Queen Flana and her scientists can
help us.тАЩ
Count Brass fingered his thick red moustaches. The mention of Londra had aroused other
thoughts in his mind. There was a slight expression of embarrassment on his face. He cleared his
throat.
There was kindly humour in YisseldaтАЩs eyes as she said, тАШIs there a message we can give Queen
Flana?тАЩ
Her father shrugged. тАЬThe usual courtesies, of course. I intend to write. Perhaps I will have time to
give you a letter before you leave.тАЩ
тАШShe would be glad to see you in person again.тАЩ Yisselda glanced meaningly at Hawkmoon, who
rubbed at the back of his neck. тАШIn her last letter she told me how much she had enjoyed your visit,
father. She remarked on the wisdom of your counsel, the practical common sense of your advice in
matters of State. There was a hint that she could offer you an official position at the Court of