Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [5]
Lastly, when Edward Kramer had the idea of producing an anthology of Elric stories by other hands some fifteen years ago, I was impressed by the level of talent the project attracted. One of these was by the amazing Neil Gaiman, whose typically quirky and original story he has kindly allowed us to reprint here (it also appeared, in illustrated form, in P. Craig Russell’s graphic novel version of Stormbringer!). I first met Neil as a bright teenager when he came to visit me at my London flat, and I have been delighted and encouraged to see his talent recognized by a huge audience. He remains as pleasant, courteous and intelligent as he was all those years ago and, of course, his taste remains impeccable. … We don’t meet often enough.
Lastly, I must thank Michael Kaluta, whom Walter Simonson once described—to Michael’s embarrassment—as his mentor, for his fine, fine work. I am, as so often in my life, complemented by the best illustrators around. Who said this isn’t a golden age?
Michael Moorcock
The Old Circle Squared
Lost Pines, Texas
June 2008
* The Condition of Muzak won the Guardian Fiction Prize in 1977.
THE FORTRESS OF
THE PEARL
THE FORTRESS OF THE PEARL
(1989)
For Dave Tate
And when Elric had told his three lies to Cymoril, his betrothed, and had set his ambitious cousin Yyrkoon as regent on the Ruby Throne of Melniboné, and when he had taken leave of Rackhir the Red Archer, he set off into lands unknown, to seek knowledge which he believed would help him rule Melniboné as she had never been ruled before.
But Elric had not reckoned with a destiny already determining that he should learn and experience certain things which would have a profound effect upon him. Even before he encountered the blind captain and the Ship Which Sailed the Seas of Fate he was to find his life, his soul and all his idealism in jeopardy.
In Ufych-Sormeer he was delayed over a matter involving a misunderstanding between four unworldly wizards who amiably and inadvertently threatened the destruction of the Young Kingdoms before they had served the Balance’s ultimate purpose; and in Filkhar he experienced an affair of the heart which he would never again speak about; he was learning, at some cost, the power and the pain of bearing the Black Sword.
But it was in the desert city of Quarzhasaat that he began the adventure which was to help set the course of his weird for years to come…
—The Chronicle of the Black Sword
BOOK ONE
Is there a madman with a brain To turn the stuff of nightmare sane And demons crush and Chaos tame, Who’ll leave his realm, forsake his bride And, tossed by contradictory tides, Give up his pride for pain?
—The Chronicle of the Black Sword
CHAPTER ONE
A Doomed Lord Dying
IT WAS IN LONELY QUARZHASAAT, destination of many caravans but terminus of few, that Elric, hereditary emperor of Melniboné, last of a bloodline more than ten thousand years old, sometime conjuror of terrible resource, lay ready for death. The drugs and herbs which usually sustained him had been used in the final days of his long journey across the southern edge of the Sighing Desert and he had been able to acquire no replacements for them in this fortress city which was more famous for its treasure than for its sufficiency of life.
The albino prince stretched, slowly and feebly, his bone-coloured fingers to the light and brought to vividness the bloody jewel in the Ring of Kings, the last traditional symbol of his ancient responsibilities; then he let the hand fall. It was as if he had briefly hoped the Actorios would revive him, but the stone was useless while he lacked energy to command its powers. Besides, he had no great desire to summon demons here. His own folly had brought him to Quarzhasaat; he owed her citizens no vengeance. They, indeed, had cause to hate him, had they but known his origins.
Once Quarzhasaat had