Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [136]
Cringing slaves take Feneric and Elric through gloomy passages to their own rooms, which are dusty and poorly maintained. They pause in Fenerics apartments first…
FENERIC: “These rooms are so badly kept. Slaves? We had naught to do with such barbarism. An air of terror hangs over the whole palace. There is much work to be done here, my son, though I fear we’ll prove little if we accuse my brother.”
ELRIC: “First we must begin rebuilding. Justice for Uncle Ederic must wait, Father.”
Back in the throne room, Ederic whispers to another minion:
EDERIC: “Ensure every dish they eat is thoroughly poisoned. Meanwhile, spread the rumour that they are sickly, fearing death …”
Later, freshly dressed, Feneric and Elric and the surviving Melnibonéan warriors come down the stairs into the great banqueting hall where again Ederic greets them, ushering Feneric to his place at the top of the table. Elric will sit on his father’s right side, Ederic on the left.
The dinner hour, in the great banqueting hall …
EDERIC: “Returning heroes, all! You are doubtless famished. Our chefs have prepared their best for you, dear relatives.”
The returned heroes seat themselves at the table. They are just about to be served with the first course when the doors of the hall fly open and through them flies a newcomer. It is Princess Dela-Fwaar and she carries a sack in her hands. Ederic rises, startled from his chair, eyes wide—
EDERIC: “What? A new attack from the air? Guards! To arms!”
Feneric stays Ederic with his hand, smiling.
FENERIC: “No, no, brother! She is our friend. The Myyrrhn aided us. Without them we should not be sitting down to meat with you tonight!”
ELRIC: “Greetings, princess. This is unexpected but a welcome honour. Will you dine with us?”
The princess alights on a nearby plinth, reaching into the sack as she does so.
PRINCESS: “Thank you, Prince Silverskin. I should be glad to accept your hospitality. But first I have a gift for your uncle … which I have carried all the way from the Edge of the World!”
She pulls out of the sack the simple wine jar in which Ederic had imprisoned the South Wind’s soul!
EDERIC (starts backward in terror): “No! It cannot be! That jar’s in safekeeping with King Minak!”
PRINCESS: “King Minak’s dead and most of his warriors with him. I took this from his prison when Silverskin rescued us from the Karasim who had captured us at your instigation!”
EDERIC: “No! Kill her. The Myyrrhn bitch lies!”
FENERIC: “Do not harm our guest. She tells the truth.”
King Feneric rises from the table, pointing at Ederic:
FENERIC: “My brother condemns himself. That whole attack on Imrryr was his contrivance! He has enslaved you while pretending to protect you!”
EDERIC: “This is just another trick by those who would bring terror and grief to Melniboné. Guards! Obey me. I am your true king!”
The guards look uncertainly from one to another. Around Elric and Feneric their old guard assemble. None of them has swords or other weapons, however, whereas Ederics guards are heavily armed.
EDERIC (grins in his certain power): “Seize them at once. They are traitors!”
ELRIC: “We are not the traitors! It must be plain to anyone that my uncle planned this disaster! He had his own folk killed and imprisoned so he could take the throne!”
As the armed guards close in on the little band of Melnibonéans, the winged princess flies up and hovers above them, the wine jar held over her head.
PRINCESS: “Fear not, friend Silverskin. I know exactly how to settle this dispute!”
And she flings down the wine jar…
… which shatters on the flagstones of the hall…
EDERIC: “NOOOOOO!”
… and from it begins to pour a dense, white cloud…
It is Shaarnasaa, Queen of the South Wind, her soul released from the wine jar where Ederic’s sorcery had kept it…
PRINCESS: “I free Shaarnasaa, Queen of the South Wind, whose soul was imprisoned by King Ederic’s foul sorcery!”
The cloud