Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [116]
SHYRIX’X: “May the gods of Melniboné go with you, and may you find the solution you seek.”
Elric and his cousin Dyvim Mar bow.
They climb into the high dragon saddles:
DYVIM MAR: “I trust you do not hate me for what happened, cousin. You were betrothed, ‘tis true. But we could not resist our love …”
ELRIC: “Believe me, Dyvim Mar, I hold no ill will whatsoever …”
The dragon is airborne. She flies on vast wings away from the city across an evidently dying ocean. Strange islands emerge where none should exist. The two men fly towards the sun, shielding their eyes as they scan the landscape and the sea below.
DYVIM MAR: “As you know, cousin, dragons sleep for years and then have a few days of activity at most. We must be careful not to tire our steed or she’ll be unable to fly back home!”
They are now flying over a butte-studded desert not unlike the Painted Desert. Great worn limestone cliffs emerge from glinting pools of water—the only water there is. Wild animals lap hungrily at the stuff, glancing up as the great shape of the dragon flies by overhead.
ELRIC: “These are not old deserts, but new-made. What sorcery could rob the world of her water?”
DYVIM: “There’s a small lake below. While we have the chance we’d best land and let Mistress Snaptail drink.”
They head towards the small lake where many other animals are already drinking, rearing away in panic when the shadow of the dragon passes over them. As they do so Elric spots something in the distance. It will prove to be a vast horde of warriors. Elric points.
ELRIC: “What’s that?”
The two have landed and, while worried animals watch from a safe distance, Snaptail drinks. Meanwhile Elric and Dyvim Mar climb a great slab of rock so that they can look without being seen at a great army riding and marching towards them. At the head of the army are two men. One of them is Yyrkoon, though we can’t quite make that out yet, maybe. The other is a rider who is almost too big for his mount, armoured in spikes and scales, like a lizard. Try for a Vin Diesel look. This is Agras Ti, sorcerer of the Falkryn and partner to Yyrkoon, who here takes on another persona, unaware of his life in Melniboné…
ELRIC: “The Falkryn horde! Without doubt they ride toward Melniboné!!”
DYVIM MAR: “When Snaptail’s drunk her fill, we’ll fly home to warn them …”
ELRIC: “First we’ll take their measure, cousin.”
It is sunset. The light casts long shadows, but the horde is closer now and we can make out the leading figures. This time it’s obvious that the mounted warrior is Melnibonéan. And, of course, it’s Prince Yyrkoon.
DYVIM MAR: “Do you know him?”
ELRIC: “Something in the back of my brain does. He means us no good, that’s for certain …”
Close-up of Prince Yyrkoon, smirking with triumph.
Behind, at the lake, the dragon looks with surprise as something surfaces at the centre of the water—it is the angry eyes of what will be one of Straasha the Sea-King’s people…
CHAPTER TWO
A Thirsty Chaos Lord
An angry thrashing of the waters of the lake. Elric and Dyvim Mar turn to see Snaptail in a struggle with a huge water-creature. His fishy face identifies him as a water elemental.
The two beings wrestle each other while Elric and Dyvim Mar look helplessly from the shore.
DYVIM MAR: “A water elemental! Snaptail—break free!”
ELRIC: “She’s not strong enough! We’ve lost our steed, cousin!”
But the dragon breaks free at last, beating up into the air as the elemental turns into a great water-spout, using up all the water in the lake, trying to reach the escaping monster.
ELRIC: “She’s free!”
DYVIM MAR: “Aye. But at what cost?”
The water elemental falls back into the lake. But the dragon is falling, too. She’s barely able to keep her height. Falling back to earth in a great spiral, she lands utterly exhausted far out across the wasteland.
Elric and Dyvim Mar race towards their fallen steed, reaching her at last. She is weary, barely able to keep her great eyes open.
DYVIM MAR: “She’s exhausted. The fight took all her power. It will be days or weeks