- Yea hath retained ye hornbeam staff;and though yea reasons tell yea that such a weapon 'tis futile against any supernatural foe,some obscure instinct prompts yea to clasp it valiantly as yea near the silent figure awaiting yea on the sill.
The man 'tis unordinately tall and cadaverous and 'tis dressed in black garments. His lips art strangely red amid the mortuary whiteness of his face. They art like the lips of the woman who,with her assailants, hadst disappeared in a matter so dubious when yea hadst approached them. His eyes art pale and luminous like marsh lights; and yea shudder at his gaze and at the cold, ironic smile of his scarlet lips that seem to reserve a world of Secrets all too dreadful and hideous to be disclosed.
"I am the Ard Rhi Muradb,"the man announces. His tones art both unctuous and the hollow and serve to increase the repugnance felt by yea, Traveller. And when his lips part, yea hast a glimpse of teeth that art unnaturally small and art pointed like the fangs of some fierce animal."Fortune hath willed that yea shouldst become mine guest,"the man says. "The hospitality which I can proffer yea, tis rough and inadequate,and it mayeth be that yea wilt find my abode a trifle dismal. But at least I can assure yea of a welcome no less ready than sincere."
"I thank yea for thy kind offer,"yea say."But I hast an appointment with mine companions and I seem to hath lost my way. I shouldst be very grateful if yea would direct me towards the road. There should be a path nae far from here; and I hath been so stupid as to stray from it."
The words ring empty and hopeless in yea own ears e'en as yea utter them; and the name that yea strange host hast given Muradb 'tis haunting yea mind like the funereal accents of a knell; though yea cannae recall at that moment the macabre and spectral ideas which the Name tends to evoke.
"Unfortunately there art no paths from here to where thou seek,"the stranger replies. "As for thy rendezvous,'twill be kept in another manner, at another place, than the one appointed. I must insist that yea accept mine hospitality. Enter,but leave thy hornbeam staff at teh door. Thou wilt have nary a need for it any longer."
Yea think that he makes a moue of distaste and aversion with his overly-red lips as he speaks the last sentences; and that his eyes linger o'er on thestaff with an oscure apprehensiveness. And the strange emphasis of his words and demeanor serve to awaken other fantasmal and macabre thoughts in yea brain---though yea cannae formulate them fully til; afterward. And somehow yea art prompted to retain the weapon, no matter how useless it might be against an enemy of spectral or diabolic nature.
So yea say:"I must crave thy indulgence if I retain the staff. I hath made a vow to carry it with me, in mine right hand or ne'er beyond arm's reach,'til I hast slain two vipers."
"'Tis a queer vow,' rejoins yea host. "Howe'er, bring it with thee if thou like. 'Tis of no matter to me if thou choose to encumber thineself with a wooden stick."
He turns abruptly, motioning yea to follow him. Yea obey unwillingly,Traveller, with one backwards glance at the vacant heavens and the empty courtyard. Yea see with no great surprise that a sudden and rather furtuve darkness hath closed in upon the castle without moon or star as if it had been merely waiting for yea to enter before it descended. 'Tis thick as the folds of yea cloak, 'tis airless and stifling like the gloom of a sepulcher that hast been sealed for ages; and yea art aware of a veritable oppression, a corporeal and psychic difficulty in breathing as yea cross the threshold.
