Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [126]
EDERIC: “Go, brother, and good luck!”
CHAPTER TWO
Into the Middle March
In less than an hour Melniboné was far behind and the young Silverskin grew tired of struggling…
They invaders are now over the ocean, with Melniboné out of sight behind.
Elric is weary. He is now tied up and lying on the deck of one of the ships whose sails fill with a mysterious wind, blown by scarcely seen supernatural creatures.
ELRIC (thinks): “Wind spirits aid them and no doubt keep their ships airborne. How do the Karasim make allies of such supernaturals? If I escaped now I’d have an ocean to swim before I could reach home …”
The Karasim captain stands over Elric as his men lift him up off the deck.
CAPTAIN: “He’s served his turn. We’ve no further use for him. Throw him overboard!”
Elric is thrown overboard, falling down into the clouds below.
Elric is plunging helplessly through the clouds.
A handsome Myyrrhn warrior swoops in and snatches him up.
Flying with him away from the Karasim fleet.
Towards an horizon on which bleak, spiky mountains can be seen. This is the land of the Myyrrhn and others are flying towards the mountains.
ELRIC: “You saved me. Why?”
Prince Vashntni offers Elric a grim smile.
PRINCE VASHNTNI: “I am Vashntni, Prince of the Myyrrhn. We are warriors, not murderers.”
They have reached the vast, high, spiky mountains in which the Myyrrhn make their homes. On these peaks are built houses which bear some resemblance to eagles’ nests. Prince Vashntni drops down towards an elaborate house of this kind and deposits Elric on a balcony.
VASHNTNI: “You are now my guest.”
ELRIC: “I must return to Melniboné at once. My father …”
VASHNTNI: “You will remain with us. I cannot anger the Karasim …”
ELRIC: “Why would a people as honourable as yours ally themselves with corrupt thieves like the Karasim?”
VASHNTNI (scowling): “We had no choice. Ask no further questions, young Silverskin. You are welcome to remain here, to move as freely as possible. Our famous libraries are yours. It is the best I can offer you.”
And so the Melnibonéan prince became an exiled prisoner, pining for his homeland, but determined to continue his studies—especially in the arts of sorcery …
Time passes as Elric wanders the strange labyrinthine “nests” of the Myyrrhn, befriended by young winged women in particular. He studies old manuscripts, stares yearningly over the mountains, and generally pines for his home…
ELRIC (thinks): “I yearn to know how my father fares. If I could get even a message to him…For now, I’ll study what sorcery I can.”
Meanwhile, there were diversions …
The Myyrrhn girls and youths befriend Elric. High in the air they toss him from one to another, bearing him for miles over the wild peaks of the mountains.
Elric dallies with one of the winged girls. He asks her a question:
ELRIC: “I wonder why folk as fine as yours should aid the Karasim?”
Girl drops her eyes, telling him a secret she shouldn’t really tell.
GIRL: “The Karasim hold Vashntni’s daughter hostage. We had no choice …”
Then, late one night, a visitor …
Elric wearily pores over old scrolls in the library. Then through the window flies the black raven (Sepiriz) which perches on one of the old books and looks at him with wise, ancient eyes.
ELRIC: “The raven! It seems I recognize you … What book would you have me read?”
Elric has discovered a spell in one of the old books. A breakthrough!
ELRIC (thinks): “Here’s a means of creating a portal to return me home. If only I can remember all I learned in Melniboné, there could be a way. ‘Tis dangerous magic …”
Referring to the scroll, Elric begins to make strange passes in the air and speaks in “runic”…
He is blown back by a blast which effectively blows black light into the chamber. You can see from his face that the spell has gone wrong.
ELRIC: “NO! The spell failed! This is disaster!”
A portal had been created—now it dragged the young albino into