Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [135]
TANGLEBONES: “No, sire. But clearly Prince Yyrkoon feels no threat from Prince Elric …”
Sadric takes Tanglebones aside.
SADRIC: “I would not have my son die—is there nothing you can do to ensure he lives on?”
TANGLEBONES: “I fear not, sire. For it is his soul which travels the Dream Realms, if his memory and his body do not…”
SADRIC: “Soul and memory? Are they not the same?”
TANGLEBONES: “The soul’s memory is not the same as the mind’s, my emperor…”
Sadric walks sadly up the stairs towards his own apartments. Cymoril and Tanglebones watch him leave.
CYMORIL: “He would deny it, I know. But I think there is something in that old man which loves the son he claims to spurn.”
TANGLEBONES: “He puts his nation first, however. And that is his duty…”
The Melnibonéans are on a ship about to leave the harbour. They are saying farewell to their Pukwadji friends (see Book One) who have also attained a much greater level of sophistication than when we first met them. Feneric has his hand on his sons shoulders.
FENERIC: “Farewell, friend. We thank thee for the loan of this ship. It will be returned when we get to Melniboné.”
PUKWADJI MERCHANT: “May your brother give up the throne with good grace, sire.”
ELRIC: “I suspect Uncle Ederic will not be so generous, Father. After all, he must think us dead these many moons!”
FENERIC (looks up at the filling sail): “It will be his duty to give the throne back to me, my son. And most Melnibonéans will support us in that.”
The ship makes good speed.
In a few days, the towers of Melniboné came in sight …
From the deck of the ship we see the towers of Melniboné in the distance. Some are still burned out, some are restored, many have scaffolding still around them. There is a bleak, dark mood about the city.
ELRIC: “There she is, Father. After almost five years she seems like a different city. So bleak and ravaged.”
FENERIC: “Yet there must have been treasure aplenty in the public coffers to rebuild her.”
ELRIC: “Unless Uncle Ederic keeps that treasure for himself and his cronies.”
In the great throne room of Melniboné there is a dark, brooding, atrophied air to all. The throne is surrounded by harsh-faced, cruel men and women, some of whom are slaves, wearing neck rings and other manacles. There is a barbaric feel about the place.
A soldier comes running in and prostrates himself before King Ederic, who half-starts from his throne, scowling…
SOLDIER: “My lord! My lord, the king! The rumours are true. I have come from the harbour. Your brother, his son and their warriors have just disembarked. They are returned from the quest to rescue young Silverskin!”
EDERIC: “By Chaos! This cannot be!”
We switch to the dockside. Feneric and Elric are waving to the cheering crowds who throng the harbour. There is no doubt that they are popular with the people.
FIRST MELNIBONÉAN ON QUAYSIDE: “Hurrah! The king and his son return!”
SECOND MELNIBONÉAN: “Now prosperity, peace and justice will be restored and Ederic deposed!!!”
The returning Melnibonéans are embraced by their friends and fellow nobles. One noble speaks to Feneric:
NOBLE: “Oh, lord king, you are most welcome. Your brother has taxed and tyrannized us almost since the day you left!”
FENERIC: “Fear not, my friend, we are here to re-establish the gravity and dignity of the State.”
News spreads throughout the city …
… while, back at the palace …
EDERIC (murmurs to one of his minions): “The two must die. We shall do it with poison at the welcoming feast tonight. Put out the word that they brought a disease with them from foreign parts …”
As Elric and Feneric enter the throne room, Ederic rushes down the steps of his throne, arms spread to greet them.
EDERIC: “My brother! My nephew! We heard you were dead, that you had contracted a foreign disease while fighting abroad.”
He grins a sinister welcome:
EDERIC: “How good it is to see you. You look as if your hardships have wearied you. Please