CHAPTER THREE.

To the World's Edge Elric runs towards the ribbon of soldiery on the horizon, but as he draws closer he realizes that this is a defeated army. Their armour is dented, their clothes in rags, their mounts and the horses which draw their chariots are exhausted, as are the soldiers themselves. They look up as Elric approaches and there is only misery in their faces. Elric's father is not among them.

ELRIC: "Melniboneans, yes ... But where's my father?" "Melniboneans, yes ... But where's my father?"

SOLDIER: "My prince! You live still! But you are too late!" "My prince! You live still! But you are too late!"

A captain conveys the terrible news to Elric.

CAPTAIN: "Great Feneric fought heroically as a true king of Melnibone. All around him were killed and he, too, could be dead. We had no choice but to retreat..." "Great Feneric fought heroically as a true king of Melnibone. All around him were killed and he, too, could be dead. We had no choice but to retreat..."

SOLDIER: "They have wind demons to aid them, and they hide deep in an abyss. Feneric's courage and skills were not enough." "They have wind demons to aid them, and they hide deep in an abyss. Feneric's courage and skills were not enough."

Elric scowls and clenches his fists.

ELRIC: "You abandoned my father! Well I shall not." "You abandoned my father! Well I shall not."

He reaches towards the soldier.

ELRIC: "Give me weapons and I'll return to the Karasim Abyss alone! "Give me weapons and I'll return to the Karasim Abyss alone!

Equipped with armour and weapons, mounted on a horse, Elric sets off in the opposite direction to the battered army. One warrior shouts after him- WARRIOR: "Prince, your courage is not doubted. But they have sorcerous help." "Prince, your courage is not doubted. But they have sorcerous help."

Elric filings back over his shoulder: ELRIC: "As I have, captain. As I have!" Weeks later... "As I have, captain. As I have!" Weeks later...

Elric reins in his horse on a ridge, looking out across a wide plain. The plain ends at the edge of a vast abyss. The other side of the abyss is invisible. Great dark clouds obscure the far side, giving the impression, indeed, that we have reached the edge of the world.

The other strange sight is that of the Karasim fleet, at rest on the edge of the abyss as if they were beached in harbour. Their sails are furled and their oars shipped. These are the same ships which attacked Melnibone, but are not moored on water. They are not moored at all.

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "That can only be the Karasim Abyss. I recognize their ships. And they appear to have no guards. Doubtless they take confidence from the defeat of our soldiers." "That can only be the Karasim Abyss. I recognize their ships. And they appear to have no guards. Doubtless they take confidence from the defeat of our soldiers."

Elric leaves his horse and weapons, and approaches the ships, using what cover he can.

There is no sign of the Karasim.

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "They say the Karasim favour darkness to daylight. Could they all be down below the Edge of the World?" "They say the Karasim favour darkness to daylight. Could they all be down below the Edge of the World?"

Under cover of darkness, Elric sneaks amongst the Karasim warships. There are a few of the green men sleeping on the decks but it is easy for him to reach the "edge of the world" and lying on his belly peer down into the gorge.

What he sees there astonishes him. A long stairway, occasionally becoming steps, which winds down the side of the abyss. There are brands guttering in holders every few feet. Unsuspecting Karasim come and go. But there is no sign of his father.

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "I've no choice but to go down there. If my father's alive, I must find him..." "I've no choice but to go down there. If my father's alive, I must find him..."

Elric begins to descend into the abyss.

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "... and save him ..." "... and save him ..."

Soon the young Silverskin was deep into the abyss ...

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "Their city is carved into the living rock. Somewhere here they'll have my father, if he still lives." "Their city is carved into the living rock. Somewhere here they'll have my father, if he still lives."

Elric sneaks past a group of Karasim warriors. They seem very cheerful, having just won a great victory and captured some important prisoners.

The city is huge and gloomy, full of ancient carved obsidian pillars and walls. Carved stairways, galleries and halls. Elric sneaks through these, avoiding green Karasim warriors and womenfolk at every turn. Great brands flare everywhere and he uses the shadows to conceal himself.

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "The Karasim celebrate their victory. But where in this vast warren ...?" "The Karasim celebrate their victory. But where in this vast warren ...?"

He finds himself in a huge hall where clearly the Karasim are celebrating. On his carved obsidian throne sits King Minak, chief of the Karasim. He drinks from an upturned Melnibonean helmet and two dead Melniboneans hang in chains on the wall beside him. A scene of barbaric horror and cruelty.

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "If I only had a weapon ..." "If I only had a weapon ..."

Suddenly an old woman hisses and points at him. He tries to turn and flee but he is surrounded by Karasim warriors. He knocks one out and grabs his sword and puts up a good fight but- -he's overwhelmed and dragged before the gleeful King Minak.

KING MINAK: "Ha! One we overlooked. Like the silverskin we killed, he's pale enough to resemble those creatures who live in our city's depths. We'll skin him when we're done with our entertainment. Put him with the others!" "Ha! One we overlooked. Like the silverskin we killed, he's pale enough to resemble those creatures who live in our city's depths. We'll skin him when we're done with our entertainment. Put him with the others!"

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "At least he doesn't recognize me ..." "At least he doesn't recognize me ..."

Elric is dragged through more corridors, deeper into the city, into a chamber which is a kind of wide pit. Around the edges are a number of iron cages, fancifully worked. In the centre of the pit is a block of rock and on the rock is perched a sealed wine jug. Most of these cages are filled with Melnibonean prisoners, some of them wounded. A sorry sight. Elric's father is in one of these and stifles an exclamation as Elric is thrown into the cage next to his.

The green warriors depart.

FENERIC: "My son! We are reunited in sorry circumstance. Where did they keep you?" "My son! We are reunited in sorry circumstance. Where did they keep you?"

ELRIC: "I was saved from death by a prince of the Myyrrhn. He told me by what infamy the Karasim employed his people ..." "I was saved from death by a prince of the Myyrrhn. He told me by what infamy the Karasim employed his people ..."

FENERIC: "I know. His daughter is here with us ..." "I know. His daughter is here with us ..."

Elric looks around in surprise. A voice comes from overhead.

PRINCESS: "I am Dela-Fwaar. You have seen my father?" "I am Dela-Fwaar. You have seen my father?"

Elric looks up and sees a beautiful winged girl clinging to the roof of a nearby cage. She flies down towards him and clings to the bars of the cage.

ELRIC: "He saved my life. But could not let me go. I escaped with supernatural help." "He saved my life. But could not let me go. I escaped with supernatural help."

FENERIC: "How so?" "How so?" Elric turns to his father Elric turns to his father.

ELRIC: "By a poorly cast spell and then with the aid of a Lord of Chaos ..." "By a poorly cast spell and then with the aid of a Lord of Chaos ..."

FENERIC (brow clouds): (brow clouds): "Help from Chaos always has a price." "Help from Chaos always has a price."

ELRIC (skeptically): (skeptically): "Well, his seemed low enough." "Well, his seemed low enough."

FENERIC: "Our legends tell how Chaos has sought to trick us in the past." "Our legends tell how Chaos has sought to trick us in the past."

ELRIC: "Without that help I'd not be here with you, Father. Have you considered a means of escape?" "Without that help I'd not be here with you, Father. Have you considered a means of escape?"

MELNIBONeAN: "Even if we could get out of their city, they'd hunt us down with those flying ships of theirs." "Even if we could get out of their city, they'd hunt us down with those flying ships of theirs."

Elric turns to the princess: ELRIC: "I owe my life to your father, lady. And my escape I owe to his library. How did you come to be captured?" "I owe my life to your father, lady. And my escape I owe to his library. How did you come to be captured?"

We see a flashback scene. The princess is flying with some of her maidens when wind elementals seize them.

PRINCESS: "I was flying one day with my maidens when we were ambushed by wind sprites. They have always been our friends in the past." "I was flying one day with my maidens when we were ambushed by wind sprites. They have always been our friends in the past."

The wind elementals carry the struggling princess to the Karasim Abyss.

PRINCESS: "They brought me here and I've been a prisoner ever since." "They brought me here and I've been a prisoner ever since." Elric's father is deep in thought Elric's father is deep in thought.

FENERIC (broodingly): (broodingly): "I cannot work out the logic behind these plots." "I cannot work out the logic behind these plots."

ELRIC (points to wine jar): (points to wine jar): "It's simple, Father. Uncle Ederic seeks to rule in your stead. Secretly he's studied sorcery." "It's simple, Father. Uncle Ederic seeks to rule in your stead. Secretly he's studied sorcery."

ELRIC: "'Twas he who captured the South Wind's soul and imprisoned it in yonder jar. That gave him control over the wind elementals who in turn helped the Karasim, who were commissioned to kidnap me so that you would take those loyal to you and try to rescue me." "'Twas he who captured the South Wind's soul and imprisoned it in yonder jar. That gave him control over the wind elementals who in turn helped the Karasim, who were commissioned to kidnap me so that you would take those loyal to you and try to rescue me."

FENERIC: "But why would my brother go to such lengths?" "But why would my brother go to such lengths?"

ELRIC: "No doubt he believes you are too soft. That Melnibone should rule the world, attacking all potential enemies before they attack us." "No doubt he believes you are too soft. That Melnibone should rule the world, attacking all potential enemies before they attack us."

FENERIC: "That goes against all our traditions." "That goes against all our traditions."

ELRIC: "Which is why he'd be rid of all those who support those traditions ..." "Which is why he'd be rid of all those who support those traditions ..."

FENERIC (slumps in despair): (slumps in despair): "So 'tis not merely our own deaths we anticipate, but the death of everything we hold dear." "So 'tis not merely our own deaths we anticipate, but the death of everything we hold dear."

ELRIC: "Aye, I heard their plans for us. Our torture will be their entertainment." "Aye, I heard their plans for us. Our torture will be their entertainment."

FENERIC: "We have no hope of escape." "We have no hope of escape."

ELRIC: "There is one hope, Father. All I have to do to summon the Chaos Lord is call his name." "There is one hope, Father. All I have to do to summon the Chaos Lord is call his name."

FENERIC: "No! Better a few of us die than the whole world be tormented by unchecked Chaos!" "No! Better a few of us die than the whole world be tormented by unchecked Chaos!"

Feneric is horrified. He reaches through the bars to grab at Elric's clothing.

FENERIC: "Chaos Lords can enter our world only if we invite them. That's his trick to ensnare you-and put Melnibone in his power. Believe me, my son, I have read the old books. More than once they have tried, but we have resisted. Best we perish than make alliances with Chaos!" "Chaos Lords can enter our world only if we invite them. That's his trick to ensnare you-and put Melnibone in his power. Believe me, my son, I have read the old books. More than once they have tried, but we have resisted. Best we perish than make alliances with Chaos!"

ELRIC (angry): (angry): "Let me decide! I'll not watch my own father tortured and killed, knowing I could have helped him!" "Let me decide! I'll not watch my own father tortured and killed, knowing I could have helped him!"

King Minak and some of his nobles appear on the steps above the cages. Minak is gloating with his power.

MINAK: "What's this? Quarreling amongst yourselves? Well, your shouts will be louder still tonight, when our entertainments begin." "What's this? Quarreling amongst yourselves? Well, your shouts will be louder still tonight, when our entertainments begin."

Minak caresses the wine jug in which is kept the soul of the South Wind.

MINAK: "You upstart Melniboneans thought you could lord it over the Old Kingdoms, but now you know how foolish you were to challenge us." "You upstart Melniboneans thought you could lord it over the Old Kingdoms, but now you know how foolish you were to challenge us."

ELRIC: "So you make alliances with our traitors and expect them to be less of a threat? You don't deserve to survive." "So you make alliances with our traitors and expect them to be less of a threat? You don't deserve to survive."

Minak is angry. He pokes at Elric through the bars with his cutlass.

MINAK: "That tongue will beg me for mercy before it's torn from your mouth!" "That tongue will beg me for mercy before it's torn from your mouth!" (He turns to his guards:) (He turns to his guards:) "Take the old king first. We'll show our guests what torments to expect tonight!" "Take the old king first. We'll show our guests what torments to expect tonight!"

ELRIC (in (in rage): "No! Leave him or I'll- rage): "No! Leave him or I'll-"

MINAK (grins): (grins): "You'll do what? Beg me for mercy?" "You'll do what? Beg me for mercy?"

In desperation Elric throws back his head and shouts for the help of the Chaos Lord- ELRIC: "ARIOCH! AID ME NOW, I BEG THEE! ARIOCH! BLOOD AND SOULS! BLOOD AND SOULS!" "ARIOCH! AID ME NOW, I BEG THEE! ARIOCH! BLOOD AND SOULS! BLOOD AND SOULS!"

MINAK (laughs at him): (laughs at him): "You pray to your useless gods. They'll not help you here." "You pray to your useless gods. They'll not help you here."

But already a thick, black smoke is beginning to roil over in one corner of the cage. Minak and his men look startled.

ELRIC: "Arioch! Bring me the Black Sword!" "Arioch! Bring me the Black Sword!"

Elric's father shouts out in one last attempt to stop his son.

FENERIC: "My son! No! Please do not do this!" "My son! No! Please do not do this!"

But the black roiling smoke is forming a demonic, hideous shape. Already Minak is retreating up the stairs leaving his men to deal with it.

MINAK: "Some conjuring trick. Deal with it, men. I have business elsewhere..." "Some conjuring trick. Deal with it, men. I have business elsewhere..."

The hideous shape gradually becomes the beautiful youth, the form Arioch always prefers on Earth. Soon he stands there, smiling, drawing the Black Sword from his scabbard.

FENERIC: "That sword was banished from our world centuries ago. Only evil can come of its return." "That sword was banished from our world centuries ago. Only evil can come of its return."

ELRIC: "And only evil will befall us if I do not use it now!" "And only evil will befall us if I do not use it now!"

And with a single mighty blow he has cut through the bars of the cage and is already advancing upon the Karasim who ready their weapons.

Watched by an elegant Arioch, twice the size of a normal man, who leans against a wall, applauding, Elric takes on the whole pack of Karasim warriors who come at him from all sides. They are no match for the black blade, nor with Elric's demonic energy as he moves about the prison pit killing man after man.

ELRIC: "So ... are you still entertained by the sight of dying men, my friends?" "So ... are you still entertained by the sight of dying men, my friends?"

The work done, he hacks away the bars of the cages. Arioch grins in cynical delight at all this mayhem.

ELRIC: "There, my countrymen! You are free. Take what weapons are here and follow me." "There, my countrymen! You are free. Take what weapons are here and follow me."

Still perturbed, Feneric stoops to pick up a fallen sword then helps the princess through the mangled bars of her cage.

ARIOCH: "Well, Feneric, would you rather be martyred or free to be avenged on your brother?" "Well, Feneric, would you rather be martyred or free to be avenged on your brother?"

FENERIC: "Why help us when Ederic serves your cause better than I ever could?" "Why help us when Ederic serves your cause better than I ever could?"

ARIOCH: "Ah, I am a patient demon, you see. I look to the long term. Well, I have done all I can for you here and I'll say farewell." "Ah, I am a patient demon, you see. I look to the long term. Well, I have done all I can for you here and I'll say farewell."