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By Root 177 0

the thoughts, as best he could, and went to his own bed. Elric might blame himself for all that had occurred in the question of Yyrkoon and Cymoril, but Dyvim Tvar wondered if he, too, were not to blame in some part. Perhaps he should have offered his advice more cogently—more vehemently, even—earlier and made a stronger attempt to influence the young emperor. And then, in the Melnibonéan manner, he dismissed such doubts and questions as pointless. There was only one rule—seek pleasure however you would. But had that always been the Melnibonéan way? Dyvim Tvar wondered suddenly if Elric might not have regressive rather than deficient blood. Could Elric be a reincarnation of one of their most distant ancestors? Had it always been in the Melnibonéan character to think only of oneself and one’s own gratification?

And again Dyvim Tvar dismissed the questions. What use was there in questions, after all? The world was the world. A man was a man. Before he sought his own bed he went to visit both his old mistresses, waking them up and insisting that he see his sons, Dyvim Slorm and Dyvim Mav and when his sons, sleepy-eyed, bewildered, had been brought to him, he stared at them for a long while before sending them back. He had said nothing to either, but he had brought his brows together frequently and rubbed at his face and shaken his head and, when they had gone, had said to Niopal and Saramal, his mistresses, who were as bewildered as their offspring, ‘Let them be taken to the Dragon Caves tomorrow and begin their learning.’

‘So soon, Dyvim Tvar?’ said Niopal.

‘Aye. There’s little time left, I fear.’

He would not amplify on this remark because he could not. It was merely a feeling he had. But it was a feeling that was growing almost to the point where it was becoming an obsession with him.

In the morning Dyvim Tvar returned to Elric’s tower and found the emperor pacing the gallery above the city, asking eagerly for any news of a ship sighted off the coast of the island. But no such ship had been seen. Servants answered earnestly that if their emperor could describe the ship, it would be easier for them to know for what to look, but he could not describe the ship, and could only hint that it might not be seen on water at all, but might appear on land. He was all dressed up in his black war gear and it was plain to Dyvim Tvar that Elric was indulging in even larger quantities of the potions which replenished his blood. The crimson eyes gleamed with a hot vitality, the speech was rapid and the bone-white hands moved with unnatural speed when Elric made even the lightest gesture.

‘Are you well this morning, my lord?’ asked the Dragon Master.

‘In excellent spirits, thank you, Dyvim Tvar.’ Elric grinned. ‘Though I’d feel even better if the Ship Which Sails Over Land and Sea were here now.’ He went to the balustrade and leaned upon it, peering over the towers and beyond the city walls, looking first to the sea and then to the land. ‘Where can it be? I wish that King Straasha had been able to be more specific.’

‘I’ll agree with that.’ Dyvim Tvar, who had not breakfasted, helped himself from the variety of succulent foods laid upon the table. It was evident that Elric had eaten nothing.

Dyvim Tvar began to wonder if the volume of potions had not affected his old friend’s brain; perhaps madness, brought about by his involvement with complicated sorcery, his anxiety for Cymoril, his hatred of Yyrkoon, had begun to overwhelm Elric.

‘Would it not be better to rest and to wait until the ship is sighted?’ he suggested quietly as he wiped his lips.

‘Aye—there’s reason in that,’’ Elric agreed. ‘But I cannot. I have an urge to be off, Dyvim Tvar, to come face to face with Yyrkoon, to have my revenge on him, to be united with Cymoril again.’

‘I understand that. Yet, still...’

Elric’s laugh was loud and ragged. ‘You fret like Tanglebones over my well-being. I do not need two nursemaids, Lord of the Dragon Caves.’

With an effort Dyvim Tvar smiled. ‘You are right. Well, I pray that this magical vessel—what is that?’ He pointed out across