Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [130]
The city is huge and gloomy, full of ancient carved obsidian pillars and walls. Carved stairways, galleries and halls. Elric sneaks through these, avoiding green Karasim warriors and womenfolk at every turn. Great brands flare everywhere and he uses the shadows to conceal himself.
ELRIC (thinks): “The Karasim celebrate their victory. But where in this vast warren …?”
He finds himself in a huge hall where clearly the Karasim are celebrating. On his carved obsidian throne sits King Minak, chief of the Karasim. He drinks from an upturned Melnibonéan helmet and two dead Melnibonéans hang in chains on the wall beside him. A scene of barbaric horror and cruelty.
ELRIC (thinks): “If I only had a weapon …”
Suddenly an old woman hisses and points at him. He tries to turn and flee but he is surrounded by Karasim warriors. He knocks one out and grabs his sword and puts up a good fight but—
—he’s overwhelmed and dragged before the gleeful King Minak.
KING MINAK: “Ha! One we overlooked. Like the silverskin we killed, he’s pale enough to resemble those creatures who live in our city’s depths. We’ll skin him when we’re done with our entertainment. Put him with the others!”
ELRIC (thinks): “At least he doesn’t recognize me …”
Elric is dragged through more corridors, deeper into the city, into a chamber which is a kind of wide pit. Around the edges are a number of iron cages, fancifully worked. In the centre of the pit is a block of rock and on the rock is perched a sealed wine jug. Most of these cages are filled with Melnibonéan prisoners, some of them wounded. A sorry sight. Elric’s father is in one of these and stifles an exclamation as Elric is thrown into the cage next to his.
The green warriors depart.
FENERIC: “My son! We are reunited in sorry circumstance. Where did they keep you?”
ELRIC: “I was saved from death by a prince of the Myyrrhn. He told me by what infamy the Karasim employed his people …”
FENERIC: “I know. His daughter is here with us …”
Elric looks around in surprise. A voice comes from overhead.
PRINCESS: “I am Dela-Fwaar. You have seen my father?”
Elric looks up and sees a beautiful winged girl clinging to the roof of a nearby cage. She flies down towards him and clings to the bars of the cage.
ELRIC: “He saved my life. But could not let me go. I escaped with supernatural help.”
FENERIC: “How so?” Elric turns to his father.
ELRIC: “By a poorly cast spell and then with the aid of a Lord of Chaos …”
FENERIC (brow clouds): “Help from Chaos always has a price.”
ELRIC (skeptically): “Well, his seemed low enough.”
FENERIC: “Our legends tell how Chaos has sought to trick us in the past.”
ELRIC: “Without that help I’d not be here with you, Father. Have you considered a means of escape?”
MELNIBONÉAN: “Even if we could get out of their city, they’d hunt us down with those flying ships of theirs.”
Elric turns to the princess:
ELRIC: “I owe my life to your father, lady. And my escape I owe to his library. How did you come to be captured?”
We see a flashback scene. The princess is flying with some of her maidens when wind elementals seize them.
PRINCESS: “I was flying one day with my maidens when we were ambushed by wind sprites. They have always been our friends in the past.”
The wind elementals carry the struggling princess to the Karasim Abyss.
PRINCESS: “They brought me here and I’ve been a prisoner ever since.” Elric’s father is deep in thought.
FENERIC (broodingly): “I cannot work out the logic behind these plots.”
ELRIC (points to wine jar): “It’s simple, Father. Uncle Ederic seeks to rule in your stead. Secretly he’s studied sorcery.”
ELRIC: “‘Twas he who captured the South Wind’s soul and imprisoned it in yonder jar. That gave him control over the wind elementals who in turn helped the Karasim, who were commissioned to kidnap me so that you would take those loyal to you and try to rescue me.”
FENERIC: “But why would my brother go to such lengths?”
ELRIC: “No doubt he believes you are too soft. That Melniboné should rule the world, attacking all potential