Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [134]
Feneric looks over his shoulder at Elric and is horrified:
FENERIC: “Foolish youth! You have no idea what monstrous terror that blade will bring upon the world!”
SECOND MELNIBONÉAN SOLDIER (points into the rising sun. Out of it comes a swarm of flying soldiers. The men of Myyrrhn, led by their prince): “We’re finished. Those are the warriors of Myyrrhn, come to join their allies!”
But the Prince of Myyrrhn was no longer in King Minak’s power—and brought him not help but revenge …
The flying warriors of Myyrrhn descend upon the Karasim with wild ferocity, so the Karasim and their king are now trapped between two groups of warriors.
FENERIC: “They side with us! We are saved! And you, foolish son, summoned the sword too soon!”
Elric’s crimson eyes still glow with berserk blood-lust and the sword in his hands gives off a black glow.
ELRIC: “You call me foolish, yet I have saved thee once, Father!”
Then, to his astonishment, the sword twists in his hand and, against Elric’s will, attempts to stab Feneric …
FENERIC: “What? You’d kill your own father now?”
ELRIC: “No! The sword moves by itself! No!”
With all his strength, the young Silverskin was barely able to stop the sword’s movement…
In horror at what he had almost done, Elric hurled the Black Sword far into the marsh…
ELRIC: “Oh, Father! You are right! I should never have called on Chaos. I almost killed you! There, damned sword, go—never again will I seek the aid of Chaos!
Almost sobbing, he falls into his father’s arms. The old man still looks grim as he comforts his son.
FENERIC: “My son, you have learned a good lesson. But even now it could be too late …”
ELRIC: “I promise you, Father, not even at my moments of greatest trial will I summon either Arioch or the sword. From now on I will listen to your wisdom and obey …”
FENERIC: “I hope so, my boy. There are many great trials still ahead of you. And we have yet to face the usurper who sits on my throne.”
The winged men of Myyrrhn have routed the Karasim. King Minak is dead, his body, still with a spear in its side, is being carried off by the ragged remnants of the Karasim army. They are thoroughly defeated and getting away as fast as they can. Prince Vashntni is smiling as he puts his hand on young Elric’s shoulder.
PRINCE VASHNTNI: “I am glad to see thee again, young Silverskin. And my daughter sends you her affectionate greetings. What now? Do you return to Melniboné to claim the throne from that traitor Ederic?”
ELRIC: “That is for my father to decide, but I hope he will decide to go back to our homeland.”
FENERIC: “It will be dangerous, but we must make the journey. I cannot allow Ederic to corrupt the heart of our great nation. But knowing he has studied sorcery, I am unsure if we will be successful.”
VASHNTNI: “We can help—”
FENERIC: “Thanks, great prince, but we Melnibonéans alone should be present when we confront my brother. Soon we’ll reach Port Ishagd, where our friends the Pukwadji rule. They will lend us a ship. When we reach Melniboné we can only hope the people will rise to place me back upon my throne.”
VASHNTNI: “You are a man of wisdom and faith, King Feneric, and I honour your decision. However, it is possible my daughter will want to visit your son. Will you permit that?”
FENERIC: “Of course, she will always be welcome at our court.” (He turns his head towards the north. It is time to think of the last stage of their journey.) “But many weeks will pass before we get there…”
CHAPTER FIVE
A Gift from the Heavens
The dream couches again. Cymoril and Tanglebones look down on Elric with considerable pity and frustration as he writhes in his sleep.
CYMORIL: “Still he is in torment. What can be happening to him, Master Tanglebones?”
TANGLEBONES: “An inner conflict fills him, clearly. We can only hope he has the sense and the resources to save himself.”
They look in on the next chamber. Sadric is leaving Yyrkoon’s dream chamber but the human girl remains at his side. Yyrkoon looks decidedly happy.
SADRIC: “By the look of satisfaction