TANGLEBONES: "Another dream-quest accomplished. Another lesson learned. Welcome back, young master!" "Another dream-quest accomplished. Another lesson learned. Welcome back, young master!"

Elric swings off the couch and begins to stride for the door. They follow him, puzzled.

He enters another dream chamber where Yyrkoon is also coming to. But Yyrkoon does not look at all happy. He glares at his cousin. He strikes away the offered potion.

YYRKOON: "So you wake, cousin. You still live ... I recall-I recall-it was not a pleasant dream ..." "So you wake, cousin. You still live ... I recall-I recall-it was not a pleasant dream ..."

ELRIC: "For my part, cousin, I'm feeling all the better for my long slumber. Yours, it seems, has not entirely agreed with you!" "For my part, cousin, I'm feeling all the better for my long slumber. Yours, it seems, has not entirely agreed with you!"

Yyrkoon staggers away on the arm of his slave, snarling. Cymoril moves to embrace Elric.

YYRKOON: "There'll be other opportunities, I'm sure ..." "There'll be other opportunities, I'm sure ..."

Meanwhile the brooding Sadric frowns as he looks down on the scene from a gallery high above the room... The mysterious Arisand stands beside him.

SADRIC: "So once again my enfeebled son survives. But for how long? How long? The crown's not yet decided ..." "So once again my enfeebled son survives. But for how long? How long? The crown's not yet decided ..."

BOOK THREE.

THE DREAM OF FIVE YEARS:.

THE DREAM OF AIR.

THE SOUTH WIND'S SOUL

CHAPTER ONE.

Death from Above SUNRISE IN MELNIBONe ...

Three small panels across the top of a large panel: Yyrkoon is getting up from his bed, donning his robe and talking to the human woman Arisand.

Prince Yyrkoon, Eiric's rival, rises ...

YYRKOON: "The dream's done! Two more still to dream ... And that weakling dog lives on. How to destroy my feeble cousin and make myself old Sadric's heir?" "The dream's done! Two more still to dream ... And that weakling dog lives on. How to destroy my feeble cousin and make myself old Sadric's heir?"

Sadric, brooding as always, stares into the rising sun from his balcony.

... while Elric's father Sadric broods on...

SADRIC: "Two dreams, two powerful allies gained. My son does well, but can his success be sustained?" "Two dreams, two powerful allies gained. My son does well, but can his success be sustained?"

Elric is about to mount the dream couch and is sipping a concoction handed him by Cymoril as he addresses Tanglebones.

TANGLEBONES: "You'll sleep, Lord Elric, for twenty hours. Each four hours represents a year in the dream lands of our common past." "You'll sleep, Lord Elric, for twenty hours. Each four hours represents a year in the dream lands of our common past."

ELRIC: "Thanks, Master Tanglebones." "Thanks, Master Tanglebones." (Addresses Cymoril:) (Addresses Cymoril:) "Shall I find your brother lying in wait to murder me again, my dear Cymoril?" "Shall I find your brother lying in wait to murder me again, my dear Cymoril?"

CYMORIL: "No doubt, in some guise. You can be killed as readily in your dream reality as you can here. You must take care, my love." "No doubt, in some guise. You can be killed as readily in your dream reality as you can here. You must take care, my love."

And so the fresh dream begins.

It is some eight thousand years earlier, when Melnibone had achieved economic ascendancy over the peoples of the "Old Kingdoms" but had not yet begun to build her empire ...

From the viewpoint of Melnibonean King Feneric and his teenage son, Sil-verskin (Elric in this dream), we look out across a stylized map of the Old Kingdoms (which, believe it or not, preceded the Young Kingdoms). The map can be based on the Cawthorn map in the White Wolf editions, but many of the names will be different. I'll do a rough drawing of the map and send it to Walter and Joey [Cavalieri, editor of the book at DC]. It will show, among other things, the distant Mountains of the Myyrrhn, the port city (across the sea from Melnibone) of Port Norvaknol in the Kingdom of Forin'Shen and so on. The outlines of the main continent will be the same, of course, but many of the names will be different. These are the "Old Kingdoms" which will disappear with the rise of Melnibone, replaced with the "Young Kingdoms."

KING FENERIC: "Our island nation grows in power and influence. We trade across the wide world. My son, you must learn diplomacy if you would rule in Melnibone's interest. You must ever respect the Old Kingdoms who were here before us ..." "Our island nation grows in power and influence. We trade across the wide world. My son, you must learn diplomacy if you would rule in Melnibone's interest. You must ever respect the Old Kingdoms who were here before us ..."

ELRIC/SILVERSKIN: "You teach me my duty, Father, and my responsibilities. Respect, I think, is at the heart of all." "You teach me my duty, Father, and my responsibilities. Respect, I think, is at the heart of all."

FENERIC: "Trade is the source of our power. If we are fair and honourable, our power is well earned and will never be threatened ..." "Trade is the source of our power. If we are fair and honourable, our power is well earned and will never be threatened ..."

Feneric is taking his son through a market where Melniboneans trade with strange-looking people from all over the Old Kingdoms, including the Pukwadji we saw in the first story. All are humanoid, but some are distinctly alien.

FENERIC: "But should we seek to maintain that power by the sword, Melnibone shall inevitably fall. That is the fate of all who would force their will upon the world. Our ancestors knew that and passed their wisdom down to us." "But should we seek to maintain that power by the sword, Melnibone shall inevitably fall. That is the fate of all who would force their will upon the world. Our ancestors knew that and passed their wisdom down to us."

ELRIC: "I have learned that much, at least. If we remain adaptable, we remain strong. If we force others to accept our traditions and values, we ultimately grow weak ..." "I have learned that much, at least. If we remain adaptable, we remain strong. If we force others to accept our traditions and values, we ultimately grow weak ..."

FENERIC (smiles): "How well you learn the statecraft of Melnibone. You will make a great king one day..." (smiles): "How well you learn the statecraft of Melnibone. You will make a great king one day..."

His brother Ederic strides up, all arrogance and swaggering power.

EDERIC: "My lord Feneric!" "My lord Feneric!"

FENERIC: "Ah, Ederic, brother! Well met!" "Ah, Ederic, brother! Well met!"

EDERIC (laughs in a somewhat sinister way): (laughs in a somewhat sinister way): "Kings are judged by the firmness of their fists, brother, not the sweetness of their tongues. Greedy hands reach for our wealth, young Silverskin. Greedy eyes burn with envy." "Kings are judged by the firmness of their fists, brother, not the sweetness of their tongues. Greedy hands reach for our wealth, young Silverskin. Greedy eyes burn with envy."

Young Silverskin scowls, finding this advice unpalatable.

Weeks went by while the young Silverskin studied, oblivious of the rivalry between his father and his uncle. But then, one morning- Elric/Silverskin is at his lessons when he hears a shout from the street. Going to the window he sees people pointing skyward and out to sea. There is a great armada-ships sailing across the sky as they might sail across the sea. The ships are single-sailed, rather like Viking ships, with ugly carvings as figureheads and green-skinned, hairless men crowding their rails and rigging, as hideous a group of raiders as we've ever seen. Their sails billow with a mysterious wind as they approach the island of Melnibone and the city of Imrryr. Flying alongside these ships are a different breed-the Winged Men of Myyrrhn-who have appeared in the Elric books. They are armed with long spears and bows and arrows. They are handsome and strong and have huge, downy wings which make them resemble stereotypical angels... city of Imrryr. Flying alongside these ships are a different breed-the Winged Men of Myyrrhn-who have appeared in the Elric books. They are armed with long spears and bows and arrows. They are handsome and strong and have huge, downy wings which make them resemble stereotypical angels...

FIRST CITIZEN: "Raiders! The green men of Karasim!" "Raiders! The green men of Karasim!"

SECOND CITIZEN: "And the winged men of Myyrrhn are with them!" "And the winged men of Myyrrhn are with them!"

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "The Karasim have long hated our power. And now they come to challenge it. But what sorcery drives those ships?" "The Karasim have long hated our power. And now they come to challenge it. But what sorcery drives those ships?"

FENERIC (bursting into the room): (bursting into the room): "Lad, we must to arms. But whoever aids the Karasim and their allies cannot be defeated by swords alone ..." "Lad, we must to arms. But whoever aids the Karasim and their allies cannot be defeated by swords alone ..."

ELRIC: "I'll seek Ivram Tvar, the Dragon Master ..." "I'll seek Ivram Tvar, the Dragon Master ..."

Elric speeds off through the corridors of the palace, down the steps which lead to the secret passages in turn leading to the Dragon Caves ...

A Melnibonean captain has already reached the caves and addresses Ivram Tvar, the Dragon Master. Ivram Tvar spreads his hands helplessly: IVRAM TVAR: "Their time to strike is well chosen. All the Phoorn sleep and cannot be wakened. Powerful sorcery aids the Karasim. I suspect Chaos itself has a hand in this!" "Their time to strike is well chosen. All the Phoorn sleep and cannot be wakened. Powerful sorcery aids the Karasim. I suspect Chaos itself has a hand in this!"

ELRIC: "If the dragons cannot save us, what can?" "If the dragons cannot save us, what can?"

IVRAM TVAR: "Only our courage and our weapons, young prince ..." "Only our courage and our weapons, young prince ..."

A sword in his hand, Elric emerges into the Imrryrian street, to find towers burning as skins of Greek Fire are dropped from the ships above and green warriors slip down ropes dropped over the sides of the hovering ships.

ELRIC: "The winged men of Myyrrhn have never been our enemies. What makes them attack Melnibone now?" "The winged men of Myyrrhn have never been our enemies. What makes them attack Melnibone now?"

Attacked by several Karasim at once Elric defends himself well. From overhead his father sees him and cries encouragement. Elric shows considerable skill and ferocity in the fight.

FENERIC: "You fight well, my son!" "You fight well, my son!"

ELRIC (to (to the raiders): the raiders): "We have no quarrel with you! Why do you attack us?" "We have no quarrel with you! Why do you attack us?"

A Karasim captain sees Elric fighting outside a burning building and calls from where he swings by a rope from his ship, pointing at Elric.

CAPTAIN: "He's the one! Capture him alive!" "He's the one! Capture him alive!"

Elric fights well but is eventually captured. A winged man of Myyrrhn swoops down and carries him up towards the Karasim ship. Elric is bopped on the head and passes out.

Scene from the ground. The Karasim ships are swinging around to leave. Laden with booty, the green men climb back up into their ships. The Myyrrhn have no booty. They carry their dead or wounded with them in the air, disdaining the Karasim ships. It is as if they wish to have little to do with their green allies. Ederic watches, sweating in his armour. Could he be glad of what's happening? their green allies. Ederic watches, sweating in his armour. Could he be glad of what's happening?

MELNIBONeAN (in (in burning ruin): burning ruin): "They retreat! We've driven them off." "They retreat! We've driven them off."

FENERIC: "They've taken young Silverskin! They've stolen my son!" "They've taken young Silverskin! They've stolen my son!"

IVRAM TVAR: "They've gone beyond the Edge of the World. As soon as I can rouse a dragon, I'll follow." "They've gone beyond the Edge of the World. As soon as I can rouse a dragon, I'll follow."

FENERIC: "We'll need an army-and who knows what will have become of him by the time we get there ..." "We'll need an army-and who knows what will have become of him by the time we get there ..."

Bowed with grief but looking grim Feneric turns back to his gutted palace.

FENERIC: "But we must do whatever we can to find him. Rally my captains. Harsh sorcery's at work here and I know not how to fight it." "But we must do whatever we can to find him. Rally my captains. Harsh sorcery's at work here and I know not how to fight it."

EDERIC: "Go, brother, and good luck!" "Go, brother, and good luck!"

CHAPTER TWO.

Into the Middle March In less than an hour Melnibone was far behind and the young Silverskin grew tired of struggling...

They invaders are now over the ocean, with Melnibone out of sight behind.

Elric is weary. He is now tied up and lying on the deck of one of the ships whose sails fill with a mysterious wind, blown by scarcely seen supernatural creatures.

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "Wind spirits aid them and no doubt keep their ships airborne. How do the Karasim make allies of such supernaturals? If I escaped now I'd have an ocean to swim before I could reach home ..." "Wind spirits aid them and no doubt keep their ships airborne. How do the Karasim make allies of such supernaturals? If I escaped now I'd have an ocean to swim before I could reach home ..."

The Karasim captain stands over Elric as his men lift him up off the deck.

CAPTAIN: "He's served his turn. We've no further use for him. Throw him overboard!" "He's served his turn. We've no further use for him. Throw him overboard!"

Elric is thrown overboard, falling down into the clouds below.

Elric is plunging helplessly through the clouds.

A handsome Myyrrhn warrior swoops in and snatches him up.

Flying with him away from the Karasim fleet.

Towards an horizon on which bleak, spiky mountains can be seen. This is the land of the Myyrrhn and others are flying towards the mountains.

ELRIC: "You saved me. Why?" "You saved me. Why?"

Prince Vashntni offers Elric a grim smile.

PRINCE VASHNTNI: "I am Vashntni, Prince of the Myyrrhn. We are warriors, not murderers." "I am Vashntni, Prince of the Myyrrhn. We are warriors, not murderers."

They have reached the vast, high, spiky mountains in which the Myyrrhn make their homes. On these peaks are built houses which bear some resemblance to eagles' nests. Prince Vashntni drops down towards an elaborate house of this kind and deposits Elric on a balcony.

VASHNTNI: "You are now my guest." "You are now my guest."

ELRIC: "I must return to Melnibone at once. My father ..." "I must return to Melnibone at once. My father ..."

VASHNTNI: "You will remain with us. I cannot anger the Karasim ..." "You will remain with us. I cannot anger the Karasim ..."

ELRIC: "Why would a people as honourable as yours ally themselves with corrupt thieves like the Karasim?" "Why would a people as honourable as yours ally themselves with corrupt thieves like the Karasim?"

VASHNTNI (scowling): (scowling): "We had no choice. Ask no further questions, young Silverskin. You are welcome to remain here, to move as freely as possible. Our famous libraries are yours. It is the best I can offer you." "We had no choice. Ask no further questions, young Silverskin. You are welcome to remain here, to move as freely as possible. Our famous libraries are yours. It is the best I can offer you."

And so the Melnibonean prince became an exiled prisoner, pining for his homeland, but determined to continue his studies-especially in the arts of sorcery ...

Time passes as Elric wanders the strange labyrinthine "nests" of the Myyrrhn, befriended by young winged women in particular. He studies old manuscripts, stares yearningly over the mountains, and generally pines for his home...

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "I yearn to know how my father fares. If I could get even a message to him...For now, I'll study what sorcery I can." "I yearn to know how my father fares. If I could get even a message to him...For now, I'll study what sorcery I can."

Meanwhile, there were diversions ...

The Myyrrhn girls and youths befriend Elric. High in the air they toss him from one to another, bearing him for miles over the wild peaks of the mountains.

Elric dallies with one of the winged girls. He asks her a question: ELRIC: "I wonder why folk as fine as yours should aid the Karasim?" "I wonder why folk as fine as yours should aid the Karasim?"