Swords Against the Shadowland (Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar)

by Robin Wayne Bailey

  "A draught of forgetfulness," Sheelba answered. His voice seemed to roll from some distant valley. It echoed and reverberated in the Mouser's ears as he felt himself sink to the ground. The grass felt so soft beneath him, so warm, so comfortable.

  "Sleep," Sheelba intoned, "and wake again in the Elder Mountains, with Lord Hristo at your heels and saddlebags of treasure by your campfire."

  "Don't," Fafhrd protested sleepily. "Don't make me forget Vlana."

  "It's not fair," the Mouser said. "To have an adventure, and then forget it. What will we have learned from all this?"

  "You've ended a plague, my heroes," Sheelba said. "No one but you two could have done that. If Fate has chosen you for her champions, it's because your skills and passions have made you worthy of her attention."

  The Mouser's eyes closed. Still he heard Sheelbas voice in his ears, or perhaps in his mind. He tried to shut it out, but failed. He filled his thoughts with Ivrian's face, the memory of her touch. And more—he thought of Malygris, of Koh-Vombi, of a small gray cat on the rooftops of Lankhmar. All precious to him, every memory and detail. He clung to them ferociously, though they melted away one by one.

  And through it all came Sheelbas voice, Sheelba, who he knew somehow he would meet again.

  "Your adventure now is at a close;

  Sleep, heroes, in well-deserved repose.

  When you waken this bedevilment will seem

  But a vague, disturbing, half-remembered dream.

  With hearts unburdened by thoughts of Death and Fate,

  Find new trails to blaze, new seas to navigate.

  Rescue maidens!. Sing! Drink! Enjoy!

  Life's a gift, and Nehwon is your toy!

  Solve her riddles, all her mystery,

  And burn your names in Lankhmar's history.

  Sleep now, Night's Black Agents, sleep,

  Our Knight and Knave of Swords—sleep.

  Your work is done, the tale is told,

  And lives are saved a hundred-fold.

  If only all man’s plagues could be

  Such a neatly ended fantasy."

  Other works by Fritz Leiber

  THE GREEN MILLENIUM

  GATHER, DARKNESS!

  SWORDS AND DEVILTY

  SWORDS AGAINST DEATH

  SWORDS IN THE MIST

  SWORDS AGAINST WIZARDY

  THE SWORDS OF LANKHMAR

  SWORDS AND ICE MAGIC

  THE KNIGHT AND KNAVE OF SWORDS

  THE WANDERER

  Other works by Robin Wayne Bailey

  SWORDS IN THE STORM (forthcoming)

  SWORD AGAINST THE SHADOWLAND

  TURN LEFT TO TOMORROW

  DRAGONKIN: UNDERSKY

  DRAGONKIN: TALISMAN

  DRAGONKIN

  NIGHT'S ANGEL

  SHADOWDANCE

  TRIUMPH OF THE DRAGON

  FLAMES OF THE DRAGON

  BROTHERS OF THE DRAGON

  THE LOST CITY OF ZORK

  NIGHTWATCH

  ENCHANTER

  THE LAKE OF FIRE

  BLOODSONGS

  SKULL GATE

  FROST

  Authors' Bios

  Fritz Leiber was born in 1910 to parents who worked in the theatre. After studying psychology and physiology at the University of Chicago, he spent a year at a theological seminary. He worked as an editor for the Science Digest, and as an actor and drama teacher, before turning to writing.

  He is well known for his fantasy titles such as the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser series, Our Lady of Darkness, Conjure Wife, and "Gonna Roll the Bones," which appeared in Dangerous Visions and won both a Hugo and a Nebula. He is also the author of 1958 Hugo winner The Big Time, and other SF titles in the Change War series. Fritz Leiber died in 1992.

  Robin Wayne Bailey is an American writer of speculative fiction, both fantasy and science fiction. He is a founder of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame and a past president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.