Corum shook his head. "Perhaps you speak the truth, Gaynor. I see truth in the Dagdagh's eyes, too. But I must stay here. I love Medhbh."
1 have spoken to Medhbh,'' said the Dagdagh. 'She knows that it is wrong for you to remain in this world. You do not belong. Come, now, to the land where you and Gaynor will know contentment. It is a great reward I offer you, Eternal Champion. It is more than I could normally achieve."
"I must stay," said Corum.
The Dagdagh began to play upon his harp. The music was sweet and it was euphoric. It was the music of noble love, of selfless heroism. Corum smiled.
He bowed to the Dagdagh, thanking him for what he had offered, and he made a sigh of farewell to Gaynor. Then he walked out of the old doorway of Castle Erom and he saw that Medhbh was waiting for him on the other side. He smiled at her, lifting his right hand in greeting.
But she did not smile back. There was something in her own right hand which she now raised above her head and began to whirl. It was a sling. He looked at her in surprise. Did she seek to slay the Dagdagh, in whom she had put so much trust?
Something left the sling and struck him upon the forehead and he fell down, but he still lived, though his heart was in agony and his head was cracked. He felt the blood pour down his face.
And he saw that the Dagdagh loomed over him, looking down on him with an expression of sympathy. And Corum snarled at the Dagdagh.
"Fear a harp," said the Dagdagh in his high, sweet voice, "fear beauty," and he glanced across the chasm to where Medhbh stood weeping, "and fear a brother ..."
"Your harp it was that turned Medhbh's heart against me," said Corum. "I was right to fear that. And I should have feared her beauty, for it is what has destroyed me. But I slew the brother, I slew the Karach."
"No," said the Dagdagh, and he picked up the tathlum which Medhbh had hurled. "Here is your brother, Corum. His brain she mixed with lime to make the only thing which fate would allow to slay you. She took the brain from under the mound, from the mound of Cremm Croich, and, on my instructions, she made it. Cremm Croich slays Corum Llaw Ereint. You did not have to die."
"I could not deny her love," Corum managed to rise to his feet and put his left hand to his cracked skull, feeling the blood flow over it. "I love her still."
"I spoke to her. I told her what I would offer you and what she must do if you refused that offer. You have no place here, Corum.''
"So say you!" Corum gathered his strength and he lunged at the Dagdagh, but the youth of gold made a sign and Corum's silver hand appeared, still clutching the moon-colored sword Traitor.
And Corum heard Medhbh utter a shriek before the sword entered his heart at exactly the same spot it had entered the changeling's.
And he heard the Dagdagh say:
"Now this world is free of all sorcery and all demigods." Then Corum died.
THIS ENDS THE THIRD AND FINAL VOLUME OF THE CHRONICLE OF CORUM AND THE SILVER HAND
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Michael Moorcock, The Sword and the Stallion
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