The Worm Ouroboros

by E.R. Eddison

CONJURING IN THE IRON TOWER

The new Witchland King, Gorice XII casts some evil spells and consorts with hellish entities.

By much questioning he was at last well advertised of what had befallen: how they the day before, in broad noon, on such a summer sea, had heard a noise like the flapping of wings outstretched from one edge of the sky to another, and in a moment the calm sea was lifted up and fell again and the whole sea clashed together and roared, yet was the ship not sunken.

Gorice's spell damages Demonland boats and "disappears" Goldry.

"To thee will I entrust mine embassage to this Mevrian.

Then shalt thou use what fantastic courtier's jargon nature and thine invention shall lightliest counsel thee, and say, 'Corinius, by the grace of the great King and the might of his own hand king of Demonland, sitteth as thou well mayst see in power invincible before this castle. But he willed me let thee know that he is not come for to make war against ladies and damosels, and be thou of this sure, that neither to thee norto none of thy fortress he will nought say nor hurt. Only this honour he proffereth thee, to wed thee in sweet marriage and make thee his queen in Demonland.'

Whereto if she say yea, well and good, and we will go up peaceably into Krothering and possess it and the woman.

!!! 😠

And that which she refuseth me to have in peaceful love and kindness I will have of my own violent deed, that she and her stiffnecked Demons may know that I am their king, and master of all that is theirs, and their own bodies but chattels to serve my pleasure."

She's chattel, regardless. See prior highlights.

But the Lord Gro returned again to the camp and to Corinius, who asked him how he had sped. He answered, she did utterly refuse it. "So," said Corinius;"doth the puss thump me off? Then pause my hot desires an instant, only the more thunderingly to clap it on. For I will have her. And this coyness and pert rejection hath the more fixedly confirmed me."

Just as I expected.