Enter Tvarim Kha.

TVARIM KHA: "There's no time left for the keeping of oaths. Your bloodline is about to end!" "There's no time left for the keeping of oaths. Your bloodline is about to end!"

At the same time, Yyrkoon's bravos push into the dream chamber, ready to kill Elric as he lies helpless.

And meanwhile Tvarim Khas men follow him into the tent as White Crow yells urgently to Varnik: ELRIC: "Brother-the blade-to me!" "Brother-the blade-to me!"

A fraction of a second's hesitation and Varnik tosses the black blade to White Crow/Elric, while taking up another lance of his own.

The assassins press closer.

Elric fits the Actorios into the hilt. It still doesn't have a handle and crossbar, but he can wield the lance blade like a sword, two-handed.

And now a bizarre light burns in White Crow/Elric's crimson eyes. The Actorios brings red runes to the black iron. They ripple up and down its length, unstable and dangerous.

Black Sword in his hands, White Crow engages the bravos.

ELRIC/WHITE CROW: "By great Arioch, I'll take you all with me!" "By great Arioch, I'll take you all with me!"

In old-fashioned demonic glee, Elric lays about him with the sword and the wicked plotters go down like scythed wheat...

Weaponless, Varnik lies panting against the side of the tent as Elric finishes the last of the terrified attackers.

Elric finishes Tvarim Kha.

Meanwhile...

Tanglebones wakes from his enchantment to see with astonishment- -the bodies of Yyrkoon's assassins, lying everywhere in the chamber.

And, in the prone Elric's right hand, the shadowy, fading shape of the Black Sword. Tanglebones reaches towards it, but it vanishes.

TANGLEBONES: "Wicked sorcery as I lay entranced-yet the danger's been averted! How-? Aha!" "Wicked sorcery as I lay entranced-yet the danger's been averted! How-? Aha!"

Tanglebones stands over the sleeping Elric. The sword has gone, but there are splashes of blood on his body from those he has killed.

TANGLEBONES: "The sword! That damnable sword preserves its own existence ..." "The sword! That damnable sword preserves its own existence ..."

White Crow hands the sword to his brother, Prince Varnik, who has some very urgent business with it.

VARNIK: "Thanks, brother! The conjunction is almost over. There is so little time left if we're to bring our people through ..." "Thanks, brother! The conjunction is almost over. There is so little time left if we're to bring our people through ..."

Out of sight of their camp, Varnik hurries out to a great slab of rock the same as the one Elric encountered "earlier." Other members of his tribe stand ready, uncertain, cheering as he holds up the black blade, with the Actorios in it, red runes rippling the length of that supernatural steel. Varnik takes a run at it and, calling out runes, brings the blade against the rock-which splits ready, uncertain, cheering as he holds up the black blade, with the Actorios in it, red runes rippling the length of that supernatural steel. Varnik takes a run at it and, calling out runes, brings the blade against the rock-which splits-KRAK (because I know you'll put one in, Walter :))... This rock goes on splitting-it splits upwards, then it splits the land, then the sky and through this sky, from the universe in which they have been trapped, fly the Phoorn-the great dragon brothers and sisters of the Mernii, who will one day be known as the Melniboneans. It is DRAGONS, DRAGONS, DRAGONS... The human figures are thoroughly dwarfed by these huge beasts (because I know you'll put one in, Walter :))... This rock goes on splitting-it splits upwards, then it splits the land, then the sky and through this sky, from the universe in which they have been trapped, fly the Phoorn-the great dragon brothers and sisters of the Mernii, who will one day be known as the Melniboneans. It is DRAGONS, DRAGONS, DRAGONS... The human figures are thoroughly dwarfed by these huge beasts.

VARNIK: "The Phoorn! Blood-kin to our folk!" "The Phoorn! Blood-kin to our folk!"

The dragons fly down-down towards the great underground cave-system revealed by the fissure in the rock. There we see the same underground lake around which the dragons were settled earlier.

As one dragon passes he speaks to White Crow. The dragon is Flamefang, one of the oldest of the Phoorn.

FLAMEFANG: "Brother, in a million years... Flamefang will not have forgotten your help." "Brother, in a million years... Flamefang will not have forgotten your help."

White Crow can only acknowledge the words, but not answer, he is so astonished at what has happened.

But White Crow has not forgotten his promise to King Grome. As the dragons continue to come through, Elric reaches his hand for the black blade.

ELRIC: "Now give me the blade. We must keep our promise to Grome!" "Now give me the blade. We must keep our promise to Grome!"

With the dwarves at his back, Elric gives the sword into Gromes keeping.

GROME: "You have done well, young silverskin. You can rely upon my help whenever your need is great." "You have done well, young silverskin. You can rely upon my help whenever your need is great."

GROME: "And I'll return this burdensome blade to the black rock which birthed it. It is cursed and would doom us all." "And I'll return this burdensome blade to the black rock which birthed it. It is cursed and would doom us all."

GROME: "Ready your folk. I will give them back their ships!" "Ready your folk. I will give them back their ships!"

Elric and Varnik are standing on the flanks of the hill, just below the tent town of Elric's people. A great gathering. Some distance off, pulling himself up out of the ground, comes King Grome, hating the sunlight. He has two ships-one under each huge earthy arm.

GROME: "Here're the first two. Hmmm. Ye'll need something to float 'em on ... Best get to higher ground." "Here're the first two. Hmmm. Ye'll need something to float 'em on ... Best get to higher ground."

Now we see King Grome at full strength-raising the Mernii ships from deep underground where he had dragged them-so that they come bursting up through the earth-while creating an island out of the camp and the mountain it sits on, so that sea runs around it and the ships are floated, like so many toys, by his huge, earthy hands...

GROME: "So now Pukwadji and Mernii will live in peace by my decree! I have rewarded you well for keeping your bargain with me. Let us all prosper." "So now Pukwadji and Mernii will live in peace by my decree! I have rewarded you well for keeping your bargain with me. Let us all prosper."

And so began the history of Melnibone ...

White Crow fades discreetly back into the frame which shows Elric asleep on the dream couch.

Tanglebones and Cymoril greet Elric as Tanglebones gives Elric the potion as usual.

Tanglebones watches helplessly as Elric tosses the cup aside, puts his arm around Cymoril's shoulders and strides away.

TANGLEBONES: "You must rest, study ..." "You must rest, study ..."

ELRIC: "Farewell, Master Tanglebones. We have old friends to visit..." "Farewell, Master Tanglebones. We have old friends to visit..."

Main picture is Elric, Cymoril and Dyvim Tvar in Dragon Caves. Elric is communicating in runic with the old dragon we saw earlier. Cymoril and Dyvim Tvar (holding dragon lance which resembles the black blade in length and style but is fashioned into a tall spear, with a blue stone glowing where the haft meets the blade).

ELRIC:[image] (in (in runic) runic).

FLAMEFANG:[image] (also in runic) (also in runic).

CYMORIL: "Now he speaks the language of the Phoorn!" "Now he speaks the language of the Phoorn!"

DYVIM TVAR: "I told you. Phoorn is not learned-it's remembered ..." "I told you. Phoorn is not learned-it's remembered ..."

Inset has King Sadric with Tanglebones: SADRIC: "He's passed the first great test. But does he have the character to pass the next?" "He's passed the first great test. But does he have the character to pass the next?"

Then final inset is Yyrkoon with Arisand, whose expression is unreadable.

YYRKOON (glowering): (glowering): "I was too crude. Strong sorcery protects my puny cousin. Now I know how and where to defeat him!" "I was too crude. Strong sorcery protects my puny cousin. Now I know how and where to defeat him!"

BOOK TWO.

THE DREAM OF TWO YEARS:.

THE DREAM OF WATER.

THE SEA-KING'S SISTER

CHAPTER ONE.

Return of the Prince NOW IMRRYR, the Dreaming City, stands at a node of the moonbeam roads.

Here the roads cross and re-cross the multiverse, taking travelers to worlds of every kind, all versions of our own.

Some worlds are substantial, others barely formed, the ghosts of realms unborn, of dying worlds and worlds who owe their existence only to our dreams.

Back and forth go the travelers on the moonbeam roads, making and destroying worlds, inhabiting dreams and desires, making real that which was unreal. Powerful dreams. Dreams of power. Of deep longing and wild desire.

Would one of these worlds, including our own, exist beyond our dreams? If we stopped dreaming would they fade into nothing? Would we fade with them?

Even old Tanglebones, administering the dream couch of his young master, the Sorcerer Prince Elric, dare not ask that question ...

Meanwhile, Elric embarks on the second of his great dream-quests whose outcome will bring him enormous power and decide the fate of the multiverse, should, that is, it exist at all ...

A panorama of Melnibone at the centre of a criss-crossing network of the roads between the worlds. A sort of reprise of the moonbeam road sequence in Michael Moorcock's Multiverse. Michael Moorcock's Multiverse. Elric, on his dream couch, sleeps and there is a suggestion that this is what he dreams ... The black crow we have seen in the first book flies between Elric and the dream roads... Elric, on his dream couch, sleeps and there is a suggestion that this is what he dreams ... The black crow we have seen in the first book flies between Elric and the dream roads...

Tanglebones and Cymoril walk together in a hanging garden overlooking the harbour of Melnibone.

CYMORIL: "He's changing, Master Tanglebones. The dreams are changing him ..." "He's changing, Master Tanglebones. The dreams are changing him ..."

TANGLEBONES: "That's the nature of his education, my dear. Just pray that he is changed to your liking ..." "That's the nature of his education, my dear. Just pray that he is changed to your liking ..."

Sadric and the human girl, Arisand, stand on a balcony looking down on Tanglebones and Cymoril.

SADRIC: "I'll wager that, like us, old Tanglebones and Lady Cymoril are contemplating my son's fate. Well, what do "I'll wager that, like us, old Tanglebones and Lady Cymoril are contemplating my son's fate. Well, what do you you say, girl? Does my son become the stuff of emperors? Or should his cousin Yyrkoon be given the throne?" say, girl? Does my son become the stuff of emperors? Or should his cousin Yyrkoon be given the throne?"

ARISAND: "He matures, my lord Sadric. Prince Elric grows in character if not in physical energy. Master Tanglebones's potions keep him strong." "He matures, my lord Sadric. Prince Elric grows in character if not in physical energy. Master Tanglebones's potions keep him strong."

Elsewhere, deep within the tower, Prince Yyrkoon prepares to lie down on his own dream couch.

His servant, gaunt and Heepish, readies the potion.

SERVANT: "Where would you go in your sleep, master?" "Where would you go in your sleep, master?"

YYRKOON: "I'll follow my weakling cousin, of course. I have business with him there in the Dream Realms ..." "I'll follow my weakling cousin, of course. I have business with him there in the Dream Realms ..."

The dream roads. Elric already walks them. In the dream chamber, Tanglebones looks down on Elric's troubled, dreaming face. Cymoril rushes in, concerned. She's just learned of Yyrkpon's decision.

TANGLEBONES (muses): (muses): "Now you dream the Dream of Two Years ... the Dream of Water. You carry a great burden already, my lord, and it can only grow heavier on your journey." "Now you dream the Dream of Two Years ... the Dream of Water. You carry a great burden already, my lord, and it can only grow heavier on your journey."

CYMORIL: "Master Tanglebones! My brother Yyrkoon-he's taken to the dream couches. He can mean Elric only harm!" "Master Tanglebones! My brother Yyrkoon-he's taken to the dream couches. He can mean Elric only harm!"

TANGLEBONES (sadly): (sadly): "Then Elric's test will be all the harder. He must fend for himself in those dangerous realms ..." "Then Elric's test will be all the harder. He must fend for himself in those dangerous realms ..."

In his dreams, Elric has come to a less magnificent but rather beautiful Melnibone. While he still sports braids and a vaguely Indian look, he is dressed in much more sophisticated clothing. The city itself has yet to grow in might or splendour but is a long way on from the wigwam dwellings we saw in the first book. Beached ships indicate low tides, however, as he walks on to be greeted, again, as White Crow, by the sailors hauling their ships up the beach much more sophisticated clothing. The city itself has yet to grow in might or splendour but is a long way on from the wigwam dwellings we saw in the first book. Beached ships indicate low tides, however, as he walks on to be greeted, again, as White Crow, by the sailors hauling their ships up the beach.

FIRST SAILOR: "Why 'tis White Crow himself come back to us. The queen will be glad to see you." "Why 'tis White Crow himself come back to us. The queen will be glad to see you."

SECOND SAILOR: "Perhaps not. They say she was furious at his leaving. He claimed to be plotting against our enemies, the Falkryn." "Perhaps not. They say she was furious at his leaving. He claimed to be plotting against our enemies, the Falkryn."

ELRIC: "The tide's so low. What's the cause?" "The tide's so low. What's the cause?"

SECOND SAILOR: "You have not heard? Our oceans shrink almost by the month. Some say a thirsty beast of Chaos is drinking all the world's water. Others blame the Falkryn. "You have not heard? Our oceans shrink almost by the month. Some say a thirsty beast of Chaos is drinking all the world's water. Others blame the Falkryn.

ELRIC ( (frowning): "My memory deserts me. Best take me to the queen. Her name?" "My memory deserts me. Best take me to the queen. Her name?"

SECOND SAILOR (laughing): (laughing): "Ho, ho! You pretend not to know Queen Shyrix'x? You who were betrothed to her! You'd be advised to find your memory before you see her again! Come." "Ho, ho! You pretend not to know Queen Shyrix'x? You who were betrothed to her! You'd be advised to find your memory before you see her again! Come."

He's taken to Queen Shyrix'x IX-and she remembers him as a lover. He finds it hard to respond to her. She's angry, believing herself betrayed by him.

QUEEN SHYRIX'X: "Back from your quest, White Crow? Did you find the Falkryn sorcerer you sought?" "Back from your quest, White Crow? Did you find the Falkryn sorcerer you sought?"

ELRIC: "I have no memory of my past, madam, forgive me ..." "I have no memory of my past, madam, forgive me ..."

SHYRIX'X: "No memory? A lame excuse. You left to sulk because our love had died and I am due to wed Dyvim Mar!" "No memory? A lame excuse. You left to sulk because our love had died and I am due to wed Dyvim Mar!"

ELRIC: "I fear that past is gone from me, madam ... I was astonished to find the tide so low ..." "I fear that past is gone from me, madam ... I was astonished to find the tide so low ..."

She responds angrily.

SHYRIX'X: "Rumour says some Chaos beast drinks the oceans. Caravans now cross where seas once were. You pretend not to know this, too?" "Rumour says some Chaos beast drinks the oceans. Caravans now cross where seas once were. You pretend not to know this, too?"

ELRIC: "You must believe me, Queen Shyrix'x ... I-I think I was under a sleeping charm ..." "You must believe me, Queen Shyrix'x ... I-I think I was under a sleeping charm ..."

SHYRIX'X: "No longer under "No longer under my my charm, that's evident! I refused your love-and you schemed against me, eh?" charm, that's evident! I refused your love-and you schemed against me, eh?"

She whirls pettishly, but she is half won over. A little puzzled by this attitude, which she had not expected. But she's beginning to believe him.

ELRIC: "Madam-I assure you ..." "Madam-I assure you ..."