Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [131]
FENERIC: “That goes against all our traditions.”
ELRIC: “Which is why he’d be rid of all those who support those traditions …”
FENERIC (slumps in despair): “So ‘tis not merely our own deaths we anticipate, but the death of everything we hold dear.”
ELRIC: “Aye, I heard their plans for us. Our torture will be their entertainment.”
FENERIC: “We have no hope of escape.”
ELRIC: “There is one hope, Father. All I have to do to summon the Chaos Lord is call his name.”
FENERIC: “No! Better a few of us die than the whole world be tormented by unchecked Chaos!”
Feneric is horrified. He reaches through the bars to grab at Elric’s clothing.
FENERIC: “Chaos Lords can enter our world only if we invite them. That’s his trick to ensnare you—and put Melniboné in his power. Believe me, my son, I have read the old books. More than once they have tried, but we have resisted. Best we perish than make alliances with Chaos!”
ELRIC (angry): “Let me decide! I’ll not watch my own father tortured and killed, knowing I could have helped him!”
King Minak and some of his nobles appear on the steps above the cages. Minak is gloating with his power.
MINAK: “What’s this? Quarreling amongst yourselves? Well, your shouts will be louder still tonight, when our entertainments begin.”
Minak caresses the wine jug in which is kept the soul of the South Wind.
MINAK: “You upstart Melnibonéans thought you could lord it over the Old Kingdoms, but now you know how foolish you were to challenge us.”
ELRIC: “So you make alliances with our traitors and expect them to be less of a threat? You don’t deserve to survive.”
Minak is angry. He pokes at Elric through the bars with his cutlass.
MINAK: “That tongue will beg me for mercy before it’s torn from your mouth!” (He turns to his guards:) “Take the old king first. We’ll show our guests what torments to expect tonight!”
ELRIC (in rage): “No! Leave him or I’ll—”
MINAK (grins): “You’ll do what? Beg me for mercy?”
In desperation Elric throws back his head and shouts for the help of the Chaos Lord—
ELRIC: “ARIOCH! AID ME NOW, I BEG THEE! ARIOCH! BLOOD AND SOULS! BLOOD AND SOULS!”
MINAK (laughs at him): “You pray to your useless gods. They’ll not help you here.”
But already a thick, black smoke is beginning to roil over in one corner of the cage. Minak and his men look startled.
ELRIC: “Arioch! Bring me the Black Sword!”
Elric’s father shouts out in one last attempt to stop his son.
FENERIC: “My son! No! Please do not do this!”
But the black roiling smoke is forming a demonic, hideous shape. Already Minak is retreating up the stairs leaving his men to deal with it.
MINAK: “Some conjuring trick. Deal with it, men. I have business elsewhere…”
The hideous shape gradually becomes the beautiful youth, the form Arioch always prefers on Earth. Soon he stands there, smiling, drawing the Black Sword from his scabbard.
FENERIC: “That sword was banished from our world centuries ago. Only evil can come of its return.”
ELRIC: “And only evil will befall us if I do not use it now!”
And with a single mighty blow he has cut through the bars of the cage and is already advancing upon the Karasim who ready their weapons.
Watched by an elegant Arioch, twice the size of a normal man, who leans against a wall, applauding, Elric takes on the whole pack of Karasim warriors who come at him from all sides. They are no match for the black blade, nor with Elric’s demonic energy as he moves about the prison pit killing man after man.
ELRIC: “So … are you still entertained by the sight of dying men, my friends?”
The work done, he hacks away the bars of the cages. Arioch grins in cynical delight at all this mayhem.
ELRIC: “There, my countrymen! You are free. Take what weapons are here and follow me.”
Still perturbed, Feneric stoops to pick up a fallen sword then helps the princess through the mangled bars of her cage.
ARIOCH: “Well, Feneric, would you rather be martyred or free to be avenged on your brother?”
FENERIC: “Why help us when Ederic serves