Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [138]
ARISAND: “It seems, my lord emperor, that Prince Yyrkoon has met with an unexpected reversal in the other life.”
Yyrkoon sits up on his bench, frowning and cursing and reaching for a goblet Arisand holds out for him.
YYRKOON: “Aark! I have a miserable headache. My dream fades, as they always do. What’s happened to my cousin? Did he die?”
Tanglebones appears in the doorway, bowing to emperor and prince.
TANGLEBONES: “Good news, my lord. The young Prince Elric lives and is well.”
YYRKOON: “What! How is it that he survives every dream-quest? Everyone knows how full of danger they are.”
SADRIC: “He’s well, you say. I must congratulate him on his success …”
TANGLEBONES: “He has left already, lord emperor.”
SADRIC: “What? Where does he go?”
TANGLEBONES: “He told me he planned to take the Princess Cymoril—sailing …”
Elric is steering a small boat out of the harbour. He has already passed through the great sea-maze. He has his other arm around Cymoril and she is laughing with delight—for the wind elementals are puffing the sails and making the boat scud across the harbour, leaving the great warships of Melniboné’s secret harbour far behind.
CYMORIL: “And what did you learn in your dream, my lord?”
ELRIC: “As usual, I don’t remember. But now I command the h’Haar-shann, so I must have learned something, eh? More sorcerous wisdom to help me carry the burden of my destiny on the day when I become Emperor of Melniboné.”
Yyrkoon glowers in his apartments eating voraciously from a plate of food.
YYRKOON: “Today my cousin delights in his survival and goes out to play, but the powerful poison of my ambition shall destroy him yet. I swear…”
The boat is caught by a shaft of sunlight piercing the clouds and Elric laughs in his delight as the h’Haarshann continue to fill his sail with air and Cymoril trails her hand in the water.
ELRIC: “Meanwhile, sweet Cymoril, let’s enjoy the remains of the evening while we may.”
BOOK FOUR
THE DREAM OF TEN YEARS:
THE DREAM OF FIRE
DRAGON LORD’S DESTINY
CHAPTER ONE
Two Ways to Forge an Empire
THE GREAT THRONE room of Melniboné. Ancient, brooding Sadric sits slumped in the great Ruby Throne, staring with melancholy eyes down at his son and nephew who stand, at odds, before him. Elric on one side, Yyrkoon on the other. By Yyrkoon’s side stands Arisand, the human woman; by Elric’s side stand Cymoril and Tanglebones. On Tanglebones’s shoulder sits the black raven, our old friend. Elric and Yyrkoon have almost come to blows and their companions touch their sleeves, hoping to restrain them.
ELRIC: “We must settle this soon, cousin Yyrkoon. I challenge you to confront me here, and not in the shadows of the Dream Realms!”
YYRKOON: “Your physical weakness now infects your mind, cousin Elric. Surely my uncle Sadric notices how his son grows daily less fit for power? ‘Tis I who own all the qualities demanded of an emperor.”
SADRIC: “Silence, nephew. You, too, my son. I am still Emperor and not yet dead. My concern is for Melniboné and what is best for the nation. You are tested now on the dream couches. That is where your destinies will be resolved.”
Sadric rises from his throne.
As he speaks we see a panorama of Melnibonéan history. Kings and emperors in the battle armour of their calling lead men and demons to victory over human fighters.
We see the golden battle-barges, the flying dragons. With both of these Melniboné established her great empire.
SADRIC: “Our ancestors fought to establish this empire. They made the pacts with Chaos allowing us to rule for ten thousand years. For too long have the Chaos Lords been absent from that compact.”
SADRIC: “The one who’ll rule best is he who revives our power—who proves the best sorcerer!”
Sadric sweeps from the throne room, summoning Arisand to come with him. With a backward look at Yyrkoon, she follows. Tanglebones plucks at Elric’s urgent sleeve.
TANGLEBONES: “Come, young master. Your father is right. Your destiny will be determined on the dream couches. It is time for your last dream—your most crucial