Elric Swords and Roses - Michael Moorcock [143]
URLIK: “Take it! I want no further part in its destiny!”
Belphig’s answering laugh as Urlik and Zayad ride for the gap in the wall is sinister.
107. Ext. Plaza. Night.
A close-up of Belphig, his face full of unholy glee, as he shouts after the disappearing couple.
BELPHIG: “You are Stormbringer’s slave! Only I can free you! You will come back to us, Sir Champion! Without the Black Sword you cannot live …”
108. Ext. Plain. Night.
Urlik and Zayad gallop through the night by torchlight. Towards a rise where the silhouetted figure of Halag waits.
ZAYAD: “I know Belphig—there’ll be truth in his threat.”
Urlik ignores her, pointing towards Halag.
URLIK: “Your brother has waited for you.”
109. Ext. Plain. Night.
Halag has a little trouble controlling his horse as he turns it towards the creek where his fleet awaits him.
HALAG: “Come with us—you have no choice.”
Thunder begins to roll in the sky. Lightning flashes on the horizon. Urlik looks at Zayad and Halag and shrugs, spurring his horse forward with them.
URLIK: “I’m an outlaw—I’ve broken my oath—so lead on, Sir Demon!”
More thunder. It begins to rain—thick, driving rain. They ride through it. We hear, in the distance, Urlik’s final remark …
URLIK: “Without a Champion, Iolinda might give up—perhaps it will mean peace for us all …”
110. Ext. Ice plain. Dawn.
The sun spreads a bloody glow over the great plain of ice over which the Eldren march. Time has passed. Urlik is dressed in basically Eldren gear, with a huge white fur cloak. Overhead drift the airships full of the women and children. The Eldren carry bundles, drag sleds—it is a general exodus to their last retreat—the Fortress of the Ice. Urlik, however, is weak and ill. Zayad and Halag help support him as they get him into a sled. Halag speaks to Zayad …
HALAG: “He weakens daily. What dreadful power reaches so far to claim his soul …?”
ZAYAD: “Soon we’ll be at the fortress. There I’ll try to find herbs to cure him …”
Urlik has heard them. He looks up, smiling his thanks. He is very weak indeed. Halag shouts for the sled to begin moving. The last of the Eldren begin to move across the ice.
111. Ext. Ice plain. Day.
The ethereally beautiful Fortress of the Ice. It is predominantly black and white, with slender, tapering towers and a massive wall. It seems to grow out of the ice, which has a strong bluish tinge to it, reflecting the bright blue of the sky above. In all directions, for as far as the eye can see, is the great ice plain. On the horizon we see tiny dots moving—the Eldren move slowly towards their last retreat …
112. Ext. Ice plain. Day.
The camera is apparently moving amongst the turrets of the fortress, to the battlements. We look down to see the Eldren almost at the gates of the fortress, far below. We see the tiny figure of Halag gesturing towards the fortress, speaking to the fur-swathed Urlik in the sled.
HALAG: “There, Sir Legend—the Fortress of the Ice—our last retreat!”
113. Int. Tower room. Day.
A circular room in one of the towers of the fortress. We see an expanse of ice through the window. Urlik is moaning and tossing amongst the furs of his bed while Zayad and Halag stand over him. Zayad tries to make him take a steaming drink (in a brass cup not dissimilar to the one we saw in Shot 8 at the beginning). He sips a little and then falls back gasping onto his pillows.
URLIK: “Your skill can’t help me. I bound myself to Stormbringer—now it drags my soul from me …”
Halag looks grave, speaking quietly to Zayad.
HALAG: “If we made him immortal—it might counter Belphig’s sorcery?”
ZAYAD: “We can try—the only ‘sorcery’ we know!”
Urlik looks up at them, silent, puzzled, pleading.
114. Int. Tower room. Day.
Halag holds a tray on which rests a beaker of strangely mottled glass. Little lights seem to dance in the liquid in the beaker. Zayad reaches her hand to take it from the tray, cradling Urlik’s pale head.
ZAYAD: “Drink every drop. This is our most precious secret—it will make you immortal …”
Halag turns a sad head to look towards the window. We move