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ELRIC: “How—? How could I have killed so many?”

Arioch jumps down from the rock and approaches him.

ARIOCH: “See. You’re more skilled than you thought, Master Silverskin, eh?”

In revulsion, Elric flings the sword down.

ELRIC: “No! Some foul sorcery has aided me. That blade’s enchanted!”

ARIOCH: “Possibly. But you owe it your life, do you not?”

ELRIC: “I thank you for your aid, sir. I fear that weapon. It seems alive…”

Arioch stoops and picks up the sword.

ARIOCH: “I must admit, it has its sentient moments. Do you still resist my help?”

Elric remains highly suspicious of Arioch.

ELRIC: “I suspect there are conditions to that help, my lord. Where is this place and how did you know when to expect me?”

Arioch shrugs and spreads his hands, making a pantomime of his innocence. He sheathes the Black Sword in his own scabbard.

ARIOCH: “Merely a traveler between the worlds, like yourself, Sir Silverskin. Perhaps I’m a little more familiar with these marches. I could help you save your father and return to Melniboné…Meanwhile …

He makes a passage in the air and we see a shadowy table and chairs appear.

ARIOCH: “… let’s eat! You must be tired of Myyrrhn’s simple fare and long for the luxury of the life you left behind.”

Arioch has conjured a table and two chairs. While Fenki looks on from a safe perch, Arioch produces delicious food for the table, a jug of wine. Fenki is hungry. As Arioch eats, he throws the creature scraps.

Elric is hungry and sets to. But he is still deeply suspicious.

ELRIC: “You are a sorcerer, that’s plain. Can you get me back to my father in Melniboné?”

ARIOCH: “Regrettably, your father is not in Melniboné. For the past two years he has been crossing the world to its very edge!”

Arioch makes a passage in the air to show a scene of Elric’s father’s expedition. He heads a weary, battered army on bony horses in ragged armour.

ARIOCH: “Naturally he saw the Karasim steal you. And it is to the Abyss of Karasim that he ventured. It has been a long, hard journey with many dangers on the way …”

ELRIC (half-risingfrom the table): “Then I must go to his aid! I had no idea so many lives were at risk!”

ARIOCH (lifts his goblet in a toast): “Sit down, young man. We are in limbo. Time has stopped here. But you must make up your mind. Would you return home—or aid your father? Your uncle Ederic sits on his throne, ruling in his stead. If you were in Melniboné now, I could help you seize that power back …”

ELRIC (puzzled): “Why should I do that? I’m sure my uncle rules well in my father’s absence …”

Arioch spirits them up from the ground to a rocky ledge where he throws scraps of food down to the Night Worms while Fenki hovers in fear below him.

ARIOCH (amused) “Ah, such innocence! Know you not that your uncle aided the Karasim raid just so that you could be captured, knowing your father would mount an expedition to find you?”

ELRIC (angry): “Why would my uncle plot such infamy?”

ARIOCH: “He believes with me that Melniboné will only maintain her power through strong magic and force of arms.”

ELRIC: “My father sees such thinking as the ruin of all we stand for! If you share Ederic’s opinion, why not aid him?”

ARIOCH: “Because I cultivate the larger picture.”

ELRIC (angry): “What mean you by that?”

ARIOCH: “A few thousand years, and you’ll learn my purpose. Never fear …”

Elric reaches towards Arioch who backs away with a smile.

ELRIC: “Take me to my father! I’ll thwart you yet, Sir Demon!”

Arioch is amused and still dandified, unhurried. He smiles down at the sniveling Fenki.

ARIOCH: “Well, Fenki? Would you lead our young Silverskin out of here to join his father in defeat?”

FENKI (grins in anticipation): “Oh, gladly, master. Gladly!”

Arioch puts his hand on Elric’s shoulder. The young albino scowls at him.

ARIOCH: “Then so be it!”

ELRIC: “What cunning is this? Why would you help me?” Arioch smiles insouciantly.

ARIOCH: “Why? Because