The Worm Ouroboros | Page 5

in the late wars
against the Ghouls.
"But cast thine eyes again towards the door, where one standeth amid a
knot of friends, tall and somewhat stooping, in a corselet of silver, and
a cloak of old brocaded silk coloured like tarnished gold; something
like to Volle in feature, but swarthy, and with bristling black
moustachios."
"I see him," said Lessingham. "This then is Lord Juss!"
"Not so," said martlet. "'Tis but Vizz, brother to Volle. He is wealthiest
in goods of all the Demons, save the three brethren only and Lord
Brandoch Daha."
"And who is this?" asked Lessingham, pointing to one of light and
brisk step and humorous eye, who in that moment met Volle and
engaged him in converse apart. Handsome of face he was, albeit
somewhat long-nosed and sharp-nosed: keen and hard and filled with
life and the joy of it.
"Here thou beholdest," answered she, "Lord Zigg, the farfamed tamer
of horses. Well loved is he among the Demons, for he is merry of mood,
and a mighty man of his hands withal when he leadeth his horsemen
against the enemy."
Volle threw up his beard and laughed a great laugh at some jest that
Zigg whispered in his ear, and Lessingham leaned forward into the hail
if haply he might catch what was said. The hum of talk drowned the
words, but leaning forward Lessingham saw where the arras curtains
behind the dais parted for a moment, and one of princely bearing

advanced past the high seats down the body of the hall. His gait was
delicate, as of some lithe beast of prey newly wakened out of slumber,
and he greeted with lazy grace the many friends who hailed his
entrance. Very tall was that lord, and slender of build, like a girl. His
tunic was of silk coloured like the wild rose, and embroidered in gold
with representations of flowers and thunderbolts. Jewels glittered on his
left hand and on the golden bracelets on his arms, and on the fillet
twined among the golden curls of his hair, set with plumes of the
king-bird of Paradise. His horns were dyed with saffron, and inlaid
with filigree work of gold. His buskins were laced with gold, and from
his belt hung a sword, narrow of blade and keen, the hilt rough with
beryls and black diamonds. Strangely light and delicate was his frame
and seeming, yet with a sense of slumbering power beneath, as the
delicate peak of a snow mountain seen afar in the low red rays of
morning. His face was beautiful to look upon, and softly coloured like a
girl's face, and his expression one of gentle melancholy, mixed with
some disdain; but fiery glints awoke at intervals in his eyes, and the
lines of swift determination hovered round the mouth below his curled
moustachios.
"At last," murmured Lessingham, "at last, Lord Juss!"
"Little art thou to blame," said the martlet, "for this misprision, for
scarce could a lordlier sight have joyed thine eyes. Yet is this not Juss,
but Lord Brandoch Daha, to whom all Demonland west of Shalgreth
and Stropardon oweth allegiance: the rich vineyards of Krothering, the
broad pasture lands of Failze, and all the western islands and their
cragbound fastnesses. Think not, because he affecteth silks and jewels
like a queen, and carrieth himself light and dainty as a silver birch tree
on the mountain, that his hand is light or his courage doubtful in war.
For years was he held for the third best man-at-arms in all Mercury,
along with these, Goldry Bluszco and Gorice X. of Witchland. And
Gorice he slew, nine summers back, in single combat, when the
Witches harried in Goblinland and Brandoch Daha led five hundred
and fourscore Demons to succour Gaslark, the king of that country.
And now can none surpass Lord Brandoch Daha in feats of arms, save
perchance Goldry alone.

"Yet, ho," she said, as a sweet and wild music stole on the ear, and the
guests turned towards the dais, and the hangings parted, "at last, the
triple lordship of Demonland! Strike softly, music: smile, Fates, on this
festal day! Joy and safe days shine for this world and Demonland! Turn
thy gaze first on him who walks in majesty in the midst, his tunic of
olive-green velvet ornamented with devices of hidden meaning in
thread of gold and beads of chrysolite. Mark how the buskins, clasping
his stalwart calves, glitter with gold and amber. Mark the dusky cloak
streamed with gold and lined with blood-red silk: a charmed cloak,
made by the sylphs in forgotten days, bringing good hap to the wearer,
so he be true of heart and no dastard. Mark him that weareth it, his
sweet dark countenance, the violet fire in his eyes, the sombre