Duke Elric - Michael Moorcock [79]
But the Rose was suddenly staring into a thousand memories …
Mustapha looks baffled. He's ready to die, even though he has his old scimitar in his hand. They look from Elric to the Rose.
MUSTAPHA: “Why don't they kill us?”
ISAAK: “Something between those two.”
Holding up her hand to restrain her crew from following, the Rose steps aboard and moves towards Elric.
ROSE: “Good morning, Duke Elric! So you kept your promise to follow me?”
ELRIC: “Delayed a few years, I fear, lady.”
ROSE: “All the better for the waiting, sir.”
The Rose extends an hospitable hand to all. She's inviting Elric and his ship to her stronghold of Las Cascadas. And Elric is accepting. But Mustapha confides privately to Isaak that he's suspicious of her motives.
ROSE: “You'll be my guests at Las Cascadas.”
MUSTAPHA: “We have no choice. But be wary of this clever thief—she's all deception!”
Las Cascadas. Base this on the early Craig Russell (First Comics) cliffs of Melnibone. Add a deep, good harbour, also very steep and occupied by dwellings of all kinds. The inhabitants lounge over balconies festooned with foliage, looking with some interest at the Either/Or. As she sails gracefully into her home-port with a prize in tow.
Standing beside the Rose, Elric asks her a question.
ELRIC: “Tell me, Rose. Have you ever heard of a creature called ‘The Silverskin’?”
ROSE: “Never …”
But her face is to us and she's frowning slightly. She's clearly lying.
The Rose's hospitality was lavish. Then—
Mustapha, Elric, Isaak and Rebecca are enjoying the savage luxury of the Rose's wonderful court. A fantastic palace. All kinds of trained animals. All sorts of grotesques here and there in nooks and crannies.
MUSTAPHA: “SO this is the notorious inner realm of the demon queen!”
ROSE: “It offers some of the simpler comforts …”
A feast, primarily North African in foods—lots of beans and pulses—but elaborately prepared. As they are close to finishing their meal, a newcomer draws their attention to the entrance. The entrance frames Sidi Oratio Kwyll’ (Captain Horace Quelch from Moonbeams and Roses) with a leopard on a leash in one hand and a string over his shoulder attached to some glamorous slaves. Clearly Christian, however. Quelch is rather astonished by the company.
SIDI ORATIO KWYLL’: “Here we are again, Rose, home from the—eh?”
ROSE: “Guests, Oratio.”
Sidi Oratio Kwyll’, the infamous “Christian Corsair,” far from his native Wales.
Almost goadingly Isaak points at the slaves and Kwyll’ responds somewhat flustered.
ISAAK: “Could those be Christian slaves?”
KWYLL’: “Indeed they are—and soon to be free. But first we must confess ‘em … and finding a priest in these parts is a little hard …”
Elric raises a hand. He has no lining for Kwyll’, though he knows him.
KWYLL’: “Greetings, Duke Elric. Your king still owes me treasure!”
ELRIC: “My king no longer, sidi. Besides, you betrayed us. Fled south with Danish gold.”
KWYLL’: “Well, 'tis a turning world, sir.”
Later that night…
Elric, Mustapha, Isaak and Rebecca make urgent preparations to leave the Rose's palace.
ELRIC: “The Rose is dangerous, but with Kwyll' she's doubly so. Let's leave while we still can …”
ISAAK: “How do you know them?”
ELRIC: “King Ethelred, my foolish liege, hired them as mercenaries to fight the Danes …”
In the moonlight, they make their cautious way through twisting, narrow, steep streets, leading radically downwards to the harbour where their ship can be seen.
ISAAK: “Our sailors! They're still aboard! We're in luck …”
ELRIC: “Approach warily. They could plan a trap.”
A couple of Rose's guards sleep nearby as the four go up the gangplank and into the ship.
ISAAK: “Arrogant fools!”
ELRIC: “We'll sail at once. When the moon sets they'll never find us …”
MUSTAPHA (sniffs): “Bit of a storm brewing. Better than staying here, though.”
They are sailing into pitchy darkness, but Mustapha is exulting. The others are also elated, as are the hands in the