Elric and Queen Shyrix'x stand together looking out over the harbour. She puts a friendly hand on his shoulder.

SHYRIX'X: "Well, our cooled love and Imrryr's rebuilding must both wait. You know the sea levels fall-" "Well, our cooled love and Imrryr's rebuilding must both wait. You know the sea levels fall-"

A caravan of odd beasts of burden crosses a desert, once an ocean.

SHYRIX'X: "-but our capital grows vulnerable to barbarian attack!" "-but our capital grows vulnerable to barbarian attack!"

The sea-maze. Waters grow very low, exposing rocks and stranded sea creatures.

SHYRIX'X: "Our sea defenses no longer protect us against our Falkryn foes. You are our nation's champion, White Crow. How will you help us?" "Our sea defenses no longer protect us against our Falkryn foes. You are our nation's champion, White Crow. How will you help us?"

ELRIC: "I see my task, sweet lady. As to its solution ... how can I see what is happening in the world at large?" "I see my task, sweet lady. As to its solution ... how can I see what is happening in the world at large?"

SHYRIX'X: "We must ask the Dragon Master...your rival, Dyvim Mar." "We must ask the Dragon Master...your rival, Dyvim Mar."

The Dragon Caves. Queen and Elric stand together observing the sleeping dragons. They are clearly in a very deep sleep, save for one younger dragon, who raises a sleepy eye to regard them. Dyvim Mar, the Dragon Master, greets them cheerfully. He wears a version, a little more primitive, of the clothing worn by the first Dragon Master Elric and Cymoril encountered when they visited the caves in Book One. He embraces Elric.

DYVIM MAR: "Ah, cousin! Our champion returns! Our need for you is great. You know of the seas receding?" "Ah, cousin! Our champion returns! Our need for you is great. You know of the seas receding?"

ELRIC: "Aye, but not why. We must wake a dragon, cousin. Is that possible?" "Aye, but not why. We must wake a dragon, cousin. Is that possible?"

DYVIM MAR: "You'll recall we used all the Phoorn only some nine years past to defend ourselves against the Falkryn, who have long coveted us our power. But we held one back, as we always do. Snaptail! She's ready. And eager for the skies. Where would you go?" "You'll recall we used all the Phoorn only some nine years past to defend ourselves against the Falkryn, who have long coveted us our power. But we held one back, as we always do. Snaptail! She's ready. And eager for the skies. Where would you go?"

ELRIC: "Across the world, so that we can observe all the oceans. If some natural dam has raised itself, perhaps we can destroy it." "Across the world, so that we can observe all the oceans. If some natural dam has raised itself, perhaps we can destroy it."

DYVIM MAR: "Good thinking, cousin. She'll be ready by morning ..." "Good thinking, cousin. She'll be ready by morning ..."

Back at the palace, Queen Shyrix'x holds up her hands, believing that Elric means to follow her into the bedchamber...

SHYRIX'X: "If by feigning memory loss you hope to revive our love ..." "If by feigning memory loss you hope to revive our love ..."

ELRIC (concerned): (concerned): "Believe me, madam, I intend to serve you and Melnibone only as your champion." "Believe me, madam, I intend to serve you and Melnibone only as your champion."

A little disappointed, the queen accepts his refusal. She claps her hands. Servants enter. She gives orders: SHYRIX'X: "Prepare our champion's quarters. Sleep well, White Crow. And may your memory soon be restored." "Prepare our champion's quarters. Sleep well, White Crow. And may your memory soon be restored."

And shortly after daybreak ...

Queen and some warriors stand by while Elric and Dyvim Mar get ready to mount the huge dragon which now crouches on the side of the harbour. Further away stands a crowd of Melniboneans. Others hang from balconies to watch. She embraces Dyvim Mar.

SHYRIX'X: "May the gods of Melnibone go with you, and may you find the solution you seek." "May the gods of Melnibone go with you, and may you find the solution you seek."

Elric and his cousin Dyvim Mar bow.

They climb into the high dragon saddles: DYVIM MAR: "I trust you do not hate me for what happened, cousin. You were betrothed, 'tis true. But we could not resist our love ..." "I trust you do not hate me for what happened, cousin. You were betrothed, 'tis true. But we could not resist our love ..."

ELRIC: "Believe me, Dyvim Mar, I hold no ill will whatsoever ..." "Believe me, Dyvim Mar, I hold no ill will whatsoever ..."

The dragon is airborne. She flies on vast wings away from the city across an evidently dying ocean. Strange islands emerge where none should exist. The two men fly towards the sun, shielding their eyes as they scan the landscape and the sea below.

DYVIM MAR: "As you know, cousin, dragons sleep for years and then have a few days of activity at most. We must be careful not to tire our steed or she'll be unable to fly back home!" "As you know, cousin, dragons sleep for years and then have a few days of activity at most. We must be careful not to tire our steed or she'll be unable to fly back home!"

They are now flying over a butte-studded desert not unlike the Painted Desert. Great worn limestone cliffs emerge from glinting pools of water-the only water there is. Wild animals lap hungrily at the stuff, glancing up as the great shape of the dragon flies by overhead.

ELRIC: "These are not old deserts, but new-made. What sorcery could rob the world of her water?" "These are not old deserts, but new-made. What sorcery could rob the world of her water?"

DYVIM: "There's a small lake below. While we have the chance we'd best land and let Mistress Snaptail drink." "There's a small lake below. While we have the chance we'd best land and let Mistress Snaptail drink."

They head towards the small lake where many other animals are already drinking, rearing away in panic when the shadow of the dragon passes over them. As they do so Elric spots something in the distance. It will prove to be a vast horde of warriors. Elric points.

ELRIC: "What's that?" "What's that?"

The two have landed and, while worried animals watch from a safe distance, Snaptail drinks. Meanwhile Elric and Dyvim Mar climb a great slab of rock so that they can look without being seen at a great army riding and marching towards them. At the head of the army are two men. One of them is Yyrkoon, though we can't quite make that out yet, maybe. The other is a rider who is almost too big for his mount, armoured in spikes and scales, like a lizard. Try for a Vin Diesel look. This is Agras Ti, sorcerer of the Falkryn and partner to Yyrkoon, who here takes on another persona, unaware of his life in Melnibone... is Yyrkoon, though we can't quite make that out yet, maybe. The other is a rider who is almost too big for his mount, armoured in spikes and scales, like a lizard. Try for a Vin Diesel look. This is Agras Ti, sorcerer of the Falkryn and partner to Yyrkoon, who here takes on another persona, unaware of his life in Melnibone...

ELRIC: "The Falkryn horde! Without doubt they ride toward Melnibone!!" "The Falkryn horde! Without doubt they ride toward Melnibone!!"

DYVIM MAR: "When Snaptail's drunk her fill, we'll fly home to warn them ..." "When Snaptail's drunk her fill, we'll fly home to warn them ..."

ELRIC: "First we'll take their measure, cousin." "First we'll take their measure, cousin."

It is sunset. The light casts long shadows, but the horde is closer now and we can make out the leading figures. This time it's obvious that the mounted warrior is Melnibonean. And, of course, it's Prince Yyrkoon.

DYVIM MAR: "Do you know him?" "Do you know him?"

ELRIC: "Something in the back of my brain does. He means us no good, that's for certain ..." "Something in the back of my brain does. He means us no good, that's for certain ..."

Close-up of Prince Yyrkoon, smirking with triumph.

Behind, at the lake, the dragon looks with surprise as something surfaces at the centre of the water-it is the angry eyes of what will be one of Straasha the Sea-King's people...

CHAPTER TWO.

A Thirsty Chaos Lord An angry thrashing of the waters of the lake. Elric and Dyvim Mar turn to see Snaptail in a struggle with a huge water-creature. His fishy face identifies him as a water elemental.

The two beings wrestle each other while Elric and Dyvim Mar look helplessly from the shore.

DYVIM MAR: "A water elemental! Snaptail-break free!" "A water elemental! Snaptail-break free!"

ELRIC: "She's not strong enough! We've lost our steed, cousin!" "She's not strong enough! We've lost our steed, cousin!"

But the dragon breaks free at last, beating up into the air as the elemental turns into a great water-spout, using up all the water in the lake, trying to reach the escaping monster.

ELRIC: "She's free!" "She's free!"

DYVIM MAR: "Aye. But at what cost?" "Aye. But at what cost?"

The water elemental falls back into the lake. But the dragon is falling, too. She's barely able to keep her height. Falling back to earth in a great spiral, she lands utterly exhausted far out across the wasteland.

Elric and Dyvim Mar race towards their fallen steed, reaching her at last. She is weary, barely able to keep her great eyes open.

DYVIM MAR: "She's exhausted. The fight took all her power. It will be days or weeks before she'll fly again!" "She's exhausted. The fight took all her power. It will be days or weeks before she'll fly again!"

Elric whirls-hearing a sound behind him. And here come a whole host of barbarians, of the same kind as Yyrkoon led...

ELRIC: "Barbarians. Look to your sword, cousin!" "Barbarians. Look to your sword, cousin!"

Elric and Dyvim Mar are swiftly embroiled in a heavy fight. Their swordsmanship is superior to that of the barbarians' but there are a lot more barbarians ...

Slowly but surely the barbarians get the upper hand.

Elric and Dyvim Mar are dragged before the two leaders of the barbarians-Yyrkoon and Agras Ti.

AGRAS TI: "Melniboneans! Spying on us. Do you know them, Wild Dog?" "Melniboneans! Spying on us. Do you know them, Wild Dog?"

YYRKOON/WILD DOG: "I've told you. My memory fails me in some ways. But that's a silver warrior-like me, he's of noble birth-perhaps a prince of the line-only certain emperors and their blood have that pallour and those ruby eyes. We have a fine prize, Agras Ti." "I've told you. My memory fails me in some ways. But that's a silver warrior-like me, he's of noble birth-perhaps a prince of the line-only certain emperors and their blood have that pallour and those ruby eyes. We have a fine prize, Agras Ti."

Elric and Dyvim Mar, chained and thrown into a glass-sided cage on wheels, become part of the barbarians advance as a seashore comes in sight. Again, there are beached boats far up above the waterline, indicating that the ocean has receded. Wild Dog and Agras Ti bring their troops to a halt and rest on their saddle pommels looking away to sea.

WILD DOG: "Beyond that ocean lies Melnibone. Once the sea was her friend and she was impregnable. Now she'll fall like a ripe apple into our hands. All we must do is wait a little for the sea to recede. Then we attack." "Beyond that ocean lies Melnibone. Once the sea was her friend and she was impregnable. Now she'll fall like a ripe apple into our hands. All we must do is wait a little for the sea to recede. Then we attack."

AGRAS TI: "You're sure her dragons sleep and cannot harm us?" "You're sure her dragons sleep and cannot harm us?"

WILD DOG: "We have over a year before they can wake the mass of dragons. By that time we shall control both the city and, through me, the dragons, for we speak a common tongue. And through Melnibone's dragons-the whole world shall be ours!" "We have over a year before they can wake the mass of dragons. By that time we shall control both the city and, through me, the dragons, for we speak a common tongue. And through Melnibone's dragons-the whole world shall be ours!"

A raven appears and flies towards the cage of transparent obsidian where Elric and Dyvim Mar are imprisoned.

It comes to perch on a tree, watching the sun set.

In the firelight, the raven hops down from the tree to where a guard relaxes, his keys on the ground beside him.

Miraculously the raven manages to separate a key from the ring and fly off with it.

The raven flies to the cage where a miserable Elric and Dyvim Mar sit talking in their cage.

DYVIM MAR: "So that's their plan. They must know why the waters are falling so quickly. Perhaps their sorcery is the cause? But if we cannot warn our people, they lack the resources to resist such a powerful army. The sea has always been our best defense..." "So that's their plan. They must know why the waters are falling so quickly. Perhaps their sorcery is the cause? But if we cannot warn our people, they lack the resources to resist such a powerful army. The sea has always been our best defense..."

Elric notices the raven hopping through the bars, the key in its beak. He frowns.

ELRIC: "Sorcery, you say? And what's this?" "Sorcery, you say? And what's this?"

RAVEN: "This is all I can do for you now. Later, perhaps, I will be able to help more. But Chaos rules this whole realm and my magic's not yet strong enough to fight it. A boat awaits you on the shore. Use it to warn your people of their danger." "This is all I can do for you now. Later, perhaps, I will be able to help more. But Chaos rules this whole realm and my magic's not yet strong enough to fight it. A boat awaits you on the shore. Use it to warn your people of their danger."

DYVIM MAR: "A loquacious bird. And a useful one. Is he yours, White Crow? Or merely some relative?" "A loquacious bird. And a useful one. Is he yours, White Crow? Or merely some relative?"

Elric is already unlocking his manacles.

He completes the job and passes the key to Dyvim Mar.

ELRIC: "Perhaps he is my totem, I do not know. Let's not question our fortune. Let's find that boat and warn the queen." "Perhaps he is my totem, I do not know. Let's not question our fortune. Let's find that boat and warn the queen."

They make it to the shore and see the little skiff waiting for them.

They sail into the sunrise. The raven watches from his perch on a rock.

Elric and Dyvim Mar have a good wind behind them and they can see the slender buildings of Melnibone in the distance.

DYVIM MAR: "There! Imrryr's in sight! Now at last we can ready ourselves for the barbarian attack!" "There! Imrryr's in sight! Now at last we can ready ourselves for the barbarian attack!"

But now the sea begins to swirl and tremble. Soon it turns into strange, half-recognizable shapes. The two men stare around them in dismay as the sea around the boat forms itself into a giant watery hand and begins to lift them- around the boat forms itself into a giant watery hand and begins to lift them- -then the massive, fishy face of King Straasha, the king of the water ele-mentals, materializes above them. He holds the boat in the palm of his hand. His other hand holds a great fishing spear. He is in poor temper and glares down at the two tiny mortals and their boat. But he is also sad. He is reluctant to interfere. It seems something might even control him ...

KING STRAASHA: "Little mortals, I have no argument with thee. But if you interfere with your enemy's plans, 'tis I who shall suffer. I have no choice but to do what I must do." "Little mortals, I have no argument with thee. But if you interfere with your enemy's plans, 'tis I who shall suffer. I have no choice but to do what I must do."

Elric attempts to persuade the sea-king.

ELRIC: "King Straasha! Lord of the Waters. We mean you no ill. We seek to discover why your realm is vanishing so rapidly ..." "King Straasha! Lord of the Waters. We mean you no ill. We seek to discover why your realm is vanishing so rapidly ..."

STRAASHA: "Well, little mortal, I believe you. I can show you the source of our mutual danger. But I cannot let you fight it..." "Well, little mortal, I believe you. I can show you the source of our mutual danger. But I cannot let you fight it..."

King Straasha speeds with his mortal captives through the waters. He needs water to take shape so he can't go too far into the shallows.

STRAASHA: "This is the closest I can take you ..." "This is the closest I can take you ..."

He lifts his hand so that they can see further...

Standing in King Straasha's watery palm the two men look into the distance to where a monstrous form can be seen. He is Artigkern, Lord of Chaos-bloated and disgusting. He has taken the form of a gigantic toad and is sucking up water through a great hollow tree.

STRAASHA: "He is Artigkern of Chaos. He has already sucked the fourth planet dry of all its water and he will do the same to us. Agras Ti of the Falkryn brought him here through sorcery and I fear to stop him. He is too powerful-and-and ... "He is Artigkern of Chaos. He has already sucked the fourth planet dry of all its water and he will do the same to us. Agras Ti of the Falkryn brought him here through sorcery and I fear to stop him. He is too powerful-and-and ...

ELRIC: "Great lord of elementals. You fear nothing. He must have some other hold over you." "Great lord of elementals. You fear nothing. He must have some other hold over you."

Straasha frowns, almost ashamed.

STRAASHA: "What if he does? I must do what he demands or he will take "What if he does? I must do what he demands or he will take all all the water. Through this bargain, he leaves me a little hope ... But as the water drains, so does my power. Even if he died, he says he will spit all the water into the sun first. There is nothing I can do against him ..." the water. Through this bargain, he leaves me a little hope ... But as the water drains, so does my power. Even if he died, he says he will spit all the water into the sun first. There is nothing I can do against him ..."

Elric is horrified, remonstrates with the great king of elementals.

ELRIC: "But, my lord king-this world will die as the last one did. Would you not help us to fight against him?" "But, my lord king-this world will die as the last one did. Would you not help us to fight against him?"

STRAASHA (truly shamefaced now): (truly shamefaced now): "I cannot." "I cannot."

STRAASHA: "He holds my sister hostage. If I resist him, she dies. Come now, I have kept my promise ..." "He holds my sister hostage. If I resist him, she dies. Come now, I have kept my promise ..."

We see a cut of a beautiful merwoman, Straasha's sister, held in a gigantic semi-transparent clam shell.