ELRIC: "Upon my oath, King Straasha, if you take us to Melnibone I promise you I shall do all I can to save your sister." "Upon my oath, King Straasha, if you take us to Melnibone I promise you I shall do all I can to save your sister."

STRAASHA: "What can a little mortal do? But I thank thee for thy good intent. For that I'll not return thee to Agras Ti, but take thee to thy destination." "What can a little mortal do? But I thank thee for thy good intent. For that I'll not return thee to Agras Ti, but take thee to thy destination."

Straasha transports the two men back to Melnibone.

He deposits them on the shores near their home island, which is visible far away across the glistening mud-flats-all kinds of abandoned ships, sea-creatures and so forth.

STRAASHA: "Thy heart is a good one, mortal. If only thou knew some way of saving my sister, I would be in thy debt for ever." "Thy heart is a good one, mortal. If only thou knew some way of saving my sister, I would be in thy debt for ever."

ELRIC: "I will think on it, sire. All our interests depend on defeating this Chaos creature!" "I will think on it, sire. All our interests depend on defeating this Chaos creature!"

The two men are exhausted by the time they get to Imrryr. They stagger through the streets, issuing warnings to any who pause to listen- ELRIC: "Arm yourselves! The Falkryn march upon Melnibone!" "Arm yourselves! The Falkryn march upon Melnibone!"

DYVIM MAR: "They drain the sea-to remove our defenses!" "They drain the sea-to remove our defenses!"

They come into the throne room where the queen sits on the traditional Ruby Throne of Melnibone. She scowls, scarcely believing what they have to say.

ELRIC: "Scarcely three days, your majesty, and the Falkryn horde's upon us! The dragons sleep. We have no walls against them!" "Scarcely three days, your majesty, and the Falkryn horde's upon us! The dragons sleep. We have no walls against them!"

QUEEN SHYRIX'X: "You clearly have no faith in the courage and skill of our warriors, White Crow. Melnibone can beat any barbarian horde, no matter how large!" "You clearly have no faith in the courage and skill of our warriors, White Crow. Melnibone can beat any barbarian horde, no matter how large!"

DYVIM MAR: "A renegade Melnibonean is with them, madam! They call him Wild Dog." "A renegade Melnibonean is with them, madam! They call him Wild Dog."

SHYRIX'X: "I know of no 'Wild Dog.' What I'd rather hear is how you came to lose one of our Phoorn. Where is the dragon on which you rode?" "I know of no 'Wild Dog.' What I'd rather hear is how you came to lose one of our Phoorn. Where is the dragon on which you rode?"

Dyvim Mar is embarrassed. He explains and we hear him at the end of his explanation ...

DYVIM MAR: "...then she was seized by a water elemental and exhausted. We were forced to abandon her in the drained lake. At that point we were captured by the Falkryn horde ..." "...then she was seized by a water elemental and exhausted. We were forced to abandon her in the drained lake. At that point we were captured by the Falkryn horde ..."

SHYRIX'X: "Cowards! You concoct a fantasy to explain your own incompetence. White Crow, you're no true champion, but a fraud. And you, of all people, Dyvim Mar, have lied to me!" "Cowards! You concoct a fantasy to explain your own incompetence. White Crow, you're no true champion, but a fraud. And you, of all people, Dyvim Mar, have lied to me!"

SHYRIX'X: "Guards-to the oubliette with them!" "Guards-to the oubliette with them!"

The pair are taken and thrown down into the oubliette-a deep pit with steep sides from which there is no apparent escape. A grille is placed over the top.

At the bottom, Elric and Dyvim Mar are disconsolate to say the least...

DYVIM MAR: "Well, cousin, it's an old adage but a true one-the bringer of bad news is never welcome at court. But I fear she believes herself betrayed by us. With luck she'll let us linger here for a few weeks and then forgive us." "Well, cousin, it's an old adage but a true one-the bringer of bad news is never welcome at court. But I fear she believes herself betrayed by us. With luck she'll let us linger here for a few weeks and then forgive us."

ELRIC: "There'll be worse news soon. We must get out of here." "There'll be worse news soon. We must get out of here."

DYVIM MAR: "You know a spell to grant us wings?" "You know a spell to grant us wings?"

ELRIC: "There's one thing we can try ..." "There's one thing we can try ..."

The two men have braced their backs against the walls of the oubliette, across from one another. They have twisted their legs together so that they create a kind of bridge between them. So long as they maintain this tension they can 'chimney' up the oubliette.

They are sweating by the time they get to the top and, using a narrow ridge for their toes, push up the grille.

Guards spot them and come running towards them.

Elric and Dyvim Mar take on the guards and, with superior fighting skills, disarm them and use their own weapons against them.

Then they go running through the tunnels.

DYVIM MAR: "This way. An old tunnel's a secret way to the Dragon Caves!" "This way. An old tunnel's a secret way to the Dragon Caves!"

They hide in the maze of caverns while the guards fail to find them.

They arrive in the secret Dragon Caves where all the dragons sleep solidly.

DYVIM MAR: "If only we had not awakened all but Snaptail. It will be a full year before we can use them again." "If only we had not awakened all but Snaptail. It will be a full year before we can use them again."

ELRIC: "Is there no sorcery which will wake them sooner?" "Is there no sorcery which will wake them sooner?"

DYVIM MAR: "Sleep's the secret of their power. They restore their bodies and their venom. Even if they could fly, they would have no weapons against their enemies. They rely on our people to guard them while they sleep ... All we can do is wait-and fight our enemies as best we can ... "Sleep's the secret of their power. They restore their bodies and their venom. Even if they could fly, they would have no weapons against their enemies. They rely on our people to guard them while they sleep ... All we can do is wait-and fight our enemies as best we can ...

CHAPTER THREE.

The Year of the Barbarian Then the Falkryn came ...

A massive battle scene as the Falkryn attack the Melniboneans, driving them back into their own streets. At the forefront is the demonic Yyrkoon/Wild Dog while the sorcerer Agras Ti does not fight, but watches from safety, smirking to himself. In an inset he slips into the throne room.

Elric and Dyvim Mar have followed Agras Ti into the throne room as he attempts to kill the queen.

AGRAS TI: "Aha! The queen!" "Aha! The queen!"

While Dyvim Mar tries to get the queen to leave, Elric engages Agras Ti.

DYVIM MAR: "My lady! 'Tis the Falkryn chief. Beware his sorcery!" "My lady! 'Tis the Falkryn chief. Beware his sorcery!"

ELRIC: "In his eagerness, he's left his bodyguards behind." "In his eagerness, he's left his bodyguards behind."

Under pressure, Agras Ti calls upon his protector, Lord Arioch of Chaos.

AGRAS TI: "Arioch! My lord Arioch aid me now!" "Arioch! My lord Arioch aid me now!"

ELRIC: "So that foul duke of hell protects you! I should have guessed that's who helped you bring the drinker of oceans to this realm!" "So that foul duke of hell protects you! I should have guessed that's who helped you bring the drinker of oceans to this realm!"

As Dyvim Mar helps the queen out of danger, they look in horror as Arioch of Chaos begins to manifest himself.

He first appears as a hideous creature of smoke and flame but slowly manifests himself as a gigantic golden youth of impossible beauty, wearing clothing exactly the same style as that worn by the Melniboneans. A way of flattering them and putting them at their ease exactly the same style as that worn by the Melniboneans. A way of flattering them and putting them at their ease.

Agras Ti runs towards his master, begging for help as Elric recoils.

AGRAS TI: "Master! Save me. They mean to kill me!" "Master! Save me. They mean to kill me!"

Arioch smiles almost benignly down on his creature, Agras Ti. He reaches out one slender-fingered hand towards the sorcerer.

ARIOCH: "'Twas thy sorcery brought me to this realm, Agras Ti. For that I repaid thee by inviting my brother Lord Artigkern, the drinker of oceans, to join us, even do thy bidding. But now he has what he wants and, indeed, I have exactly what I want. Thy purpose is fulfilled, mortal." "'Twas thy sorcery brought me to this realm, Agras Ti. For that I repaid thee by inviting my brother Lord Artigkern, the drinker of oceans, to join us, even do thy bidding. But now he has what he wants and, indeed, I have exactly what I want. Thy purpose is fulfilled, mortal."

AGRAS TI: "P-purpose, lord?" "P-purpose, lord?"

ARIOCH: "I have a destiny to carry out, as have we all. There is a mortal here more important to my plans than ever you could be. Elric-Silverskin-do you know me? White Crow, is it?" "I have a destiny to carry out, as have we all. There is a mortal here more important to my plans than ever you could be. Elric-Silverskin-do you know me? White Crow, is it?"

As he speaks he casually raises the writhing, horrified Agras Ti towards his beautiful lips ...

ELRIC: "I know thee not, Chaos Lord. Begone from this realm. We want none of your folk in Melnibone!" "I know thee not, Chaos Lord. Begone from this realm. We want none of your folk in Melnibone!"

Agras Ti is screaming in terror, unnoticed by Arioch, who now parts his lips a little, preparing to eat him ...

ARIOCH: "But I come to help thee. I could destroy all these foolish humans, if you will let me ..." "But I come to help thee. I could destroy all these foolish humans, if you will let me ..."

ELRIC: "Melnibone never makes bargains with Chaos. My destiny and thine have nothing in common!" "Melnibone never makes bargains with Chaos. My destiny and thine have nothing in common!"

ARIOCH: "Ah, my friend, but we could do so much for each other, thee and I ..." "Ah, my friend, but we could do so much for each other, thee and I ..."

Elric recoils as Arioch munches on half of the Falkryn sorcerer. The rest of him is still in his hands.

ELRIC: "Cruel monster! I'd rather die than make a compact with corrupted Chaos ..." "Cruel monster! I'd rather die than make a compact with corrupted Chaos ..."

ARIOCH: "Well, I inhabit thy realm now, young mortal. I suspect the time will come when thou'll find it convenient to strike a bargain ..." "Well, I inhabit thy realm now, young mortal. I suspect the time will come when thou'll find it convenient to strike a bargain ..."

The golden youth begins to become the monster of smoke and flflame again.

ARIOCH: "For the moment, farewell. To summon me, thou hast only to call for me by name. And all I'll ask for my help is a little blood, a few worthless souls ..." "For the moment, farewell. To summon me, thou hast only to call for me by name. And all I'll ask for my help is a little blood, a few worthless souls ..."

Elric leads Dyvim Mar and the queen behind the throne and down a flight of secret steps as the Falkryn barbarians, led by Yyrkoon, all of them covered with blood and bearing booty, burst into the throne room.

ELRIC: "Quickly! We have only seconds!" "Quickly! We have only seconds!"

YYRKOON: "Ha! She's fled. And left me the Ruby Throne. I'm Emperor of Melnibone now!" "Ha! She's fled. And left me the Ruby Throne. I'm Emperor of Melnibone now!"

He seats himself on the throne, brooding.

YYRKOON: "But until that silverskin is dead, I shall not know peace of mind." "But until that silverskin is dead, I shall not know peace of mind."

Wild Dog spoke truth. Though he controlled Melnibone, he had poor control of the Falkryn, whose leader was now mysteriously vanished ...

... and he maintained even less authority over his own people.

A montage of guerilla fighting. The occupying Falkryn, though cruel and vicious, have a poor time controlling the streets.

They are harassed, within Melnibone and in the Imrryrian countryside, by small bands of Melniboneans led by Elric, Queen Shyrix'x and Dyvim Mar.

Death comes to the conquerors by secret arrows, sudden strangulation, sword thrusts and spear casts.

Artigkern has the sea-king's sister in the giant clam shell, semi-transparent. His horrible hands open the shell wide enough to reach in and caress her face ... She recoils in horror.

Yyrkoon is riding out at night on a secret mission of his own.

YYRKOON: "Another few months ... then the power of the dragons will be mine. Meanwhile those rebels shall be tamed..." "Another few months ... then the power of the dragons will be mine. Meanwhile those rebels shall be tamed..."

Yyrkoon meets Artigkern, grown even fatter, slimier and grosser than ever, still sucking the oceans and leaving fish, ships and all stranded... Yyrkoon addresses him angrily.

YYRKOON: "Must you drink it all? I helped summon thee to this realm." "Must you drink it all? I helped summon thee to this realm."

ARTIGKERN: "I leave a realm when there is nothing left to drink. The time will come when I'll spit all this water into the sun and set off to find new worlds with fresh seas for me to sup ..." "I leave a realm when there is nothing left to drink. The time will come when I'll spit all this water into the sun and set off to find new worlds with fresh seas for me to sup ..."

YYRKOON: "Then give up the sea-king's sister. He has no more power over you." "Then give up the sea-king's sister. He has no more power over you."

ARTIGKERN ( (grinning): "Give up my darling. Did I not tell thee, mortal? I'm in love. I'll take her with me when I go. Bring me a bride as beautiful and perhaps I'll give thee her and a little of thy water back..." "Give up my darling. Did I not tell thee, mortal? I'm in love. I'll take her with me when I go. Bring me a bride as beautiful and perhaps I'll give thee her and a little of thy water back..."

Months passed. The morale of the conquered people was maintained only by the activities of Elric and his companions.

While the rebels were free, the future held freedom ...

Montage of Elric, Dyvim Mar and the queen. They lead small parties of warriors on secret raids. They attack Falkryn in the streets. They steal from rich carpetbaggers. They are applauded by the Melniboneans. They disappear down alleys. And Queen Shyrix'x and Dyvim Mar grow closer, become lovers with Elric's blessing.

A deputation of Falkryn knights stands before Yyrkoon. They and their soldiers are leaving.

FALKRYN LEADER: "You promised us booty and booty we have. You promised us power over the world, and that we do "You promised us booty and booty we have. You promised us power over the world, and that we do not not have. Water grows scarce here. The people thirst." have. Water grows scarce here. The people thirst."

FALKRYN LEADER: "We leave to find the fabled 'lost ocean.'" "We leave to find the fabled 'lost ocean.'"

Now Wild Dog's grip on the throne grew weaker ...

Yyrkoon/Wild Dog, surrounded by Melnibonean guards who have a somewhat decadent look, sits brooding on the Ruby Throne.

YYRKOON (thinks): (thinks): "I must consolidate my power or my plans come to nothing. Once the dragons wake, I rule the world. But until then ..." "I must consolidate my power or my plans come to nothing. Once the dragons wake, I rule the world. But until then ..."

MELNIBONeAN GUARD: "Our water runs low, Lord King. I understood you had a compact with Duke Artigkern ..." "Our water runs low, Lord King. I understood you had a compact with Duke Artigkern ..."

YYRKOON (scowling): (scowling): "So I do. He'll keep his bargain. I'll see to that! But these rebels must be tricked into submission ..." "So I do. He'll keep his bargain. I'll see to that! But these rebels must be tricked into submission ..."

ANOTHER GUARD (whispers in his ear): (whispers in his ear): "Then, sire ..." "Then, sire ..."

A newly dry approach to Imrryr...

We see a caravan coming in from the drained sea bottoms. The beasts have giant water jars and skins strapped over them. Queen Shyrix'x and Dyvim Mar lie hidden in wait with a small band of men, ready to raid it.

... now a caravan route for that most precious of commodities ...