"Michael Moorcock - Elric 5 - The Bane of the Black Sword" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moorcock Michael)

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The Bane of the Black Sword
The fifth volume of the saga of Elric of Melnibone
by Michael Moorcock

BOOK ONE

The Stealer of Souls

In which Elric once again makes the ac-
quaintance of Queen Yishana of Jharkor
and Theleb K'aarna of Pan Tang and re-
ceives satisfaction at last.

ONE

In a city called Bakshaan, which was rich enough to
make all other cities of the North East seem poor, in a
tall-towered tavern one night, Elric, Lord of the smoking
ruins of Melnibone, smiled like a shark and dryly jested
with four powerful merchant princes whom, in a day or
so, he intended to pauperize.

Moonglum the Outlander, Elric's companion, viewed
the tall albino with admiration and concern. For Elric
to laugh and joke was rareтАФbut that he should share his
good humour with men of the merchant stamp, that was
unprecedented. Moonglum congratulated himself that
he was Elric's friend and wondered upon the outcome of
the meeting. Elric had, as usual, elaborated little of his
plan to Moonglum.

"We need your particular qualities as swordsman and
sorcerer, Lord Elric, and will, of course, pay well for
them." Pilarmo, overdressed, intense and scrawny, was
main spokesman for the four.

"And how shall you pay, gentlemen?" inquired Elric
politely, still smiling.

Pilarmo's colleagues raised their eyebrows and even
their spokesman was slightly taken aback. He waved his
hand through the smoky air of the tavern-room which
was occupied only by the six men.

"In goldтАФin gems," answered Pilarmo.
"In chains," said Elric. "We free travellers need no
chains of that sort."