Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [106]
He throws this behind him as he disappears down the spiral staircase of the tower.
At this moment, Prince Elric, the only rightful inheritor of the mantle of empire, is oblivious to talk of treason.
He’s oblivious to any talk. Or action. He’s ignorant of where his own body lies. He is elsewhere …
The last face we’ll see is young Elric, apparently dead, but actually sleeping on his dream couch, soon to be awakened by Doctor Tanglebones.
The black raven Sepiriz settles on Doctor Tanglebones’ ungainly shoulder.
DOCTOR TANGLEBONES: “Wake now, my lord. Gently, my lord.”
Elric blinks but is fairly blank still. Tanglebones is pleased. He realizes Elric is alive and safe from his dream-quest.
TANGLEBONES: “Aha! Back with us. Safe and sound from the inner landscapes of your common memory … You’ve learned much, though you won’t remember how you learned it …”
TANGLEBONES: “Ha! Ha! Good lad! Brave, resourceful lad!”
Elric begins to rise on the couch. But he is weak. He falls back onto one elbow. Totally wiped out. Tanglebones, old as he is, has to assist him. A woman’s hand extends into the picture, she is holding tongs holding a hanging brazier on which a copper dish cooks herbs into a single sticky sap…
TANGLEBONES: “There’s never been a better dream-scholar—”
He reaches towards the copper dish … rapidly scooping the still-viscous sap into an earthenware cup to which he swiftly adds wine, which steams and bubbles. Stirring it, he hands this to Elric to drink.
TANGLEBONES: “—nor one stranger … Drink this down. All of it, mind! It will help you recover your strength.”
Elric drinks the potion. He is immediately invigorated, handing the dish back to Tanglebones.
ELRIC: “Ugh! I’ll suffer no more such fearful dream-quests, Doctor Tanglebones. Surely there are easier ways of earning my people’s wisdom?”
Elric looks out of the picture to where the unseen woman no doubt still stands. He begins to smile.
TANGLEBONES: “None more effective. Rest for a few days. Ready yourself for the long dreams.”
TANGLEBONES: “The first is the Dream of One Year. The Dream of Earth. I’ll give you a week to prepare …”
ELRIC: “You delight to torture me, doctor. It’s unseemly in a physician, especially a royal one!”
Elric is as outraged as any student being given an especially hard schedule. He wants to argue. Then that same female hand falls on his arm. He turns to see his beautiful, slender, dark-haired cousin Cymoril come to welcome him back to the world’s reality. Again he smiles, immediately courteous, relaxed and friendly.
CYMORIL: “Hush, Elric, you mustn’t tease Doctor Tanglebones. I waited with him to be sure you awakened …”
ELRIC: “Cousin, you’re the best friend I have! For your sake and yours alone … I will forgive the old fraud.”
He is invigorated by the drink but also rather flattered by Cymoril’s attention. He has something of a swagger now. He wants to show his individualism.
ELRIC: “Besides, in all fairness, his vile decoction begins to improve my outlook.”
In defiance, with an exaggerated gesture, Elric bows and shows Cymoril the way to the door…
ELRIC: “Come, sweet Cymoril. Let’s ride to the wilder reaches of our island.”
Cymoril looks to Doctor Tanglebones, who is grave.
TANGLEBONES: “You must prepare yourself mentally and bodily for your coming trials.”
TANGLEBONES: “My lord, you must rest…”
ELRIC: “And so I shall, good doctor, so I shall.”
He’s determined to enjoy this sense of release, to get the most out of it. He is a boy overburdened with duty and destiny.
Cymoril goes with him when he leaves the chamber. She shares his grin as they head for the stables.
Shot of them riding hell for leather from the walls of Imrryr, into the craggy beauty of the island’s interior.
But, of course, in Melniboné royal princes