Arioch turns into fading smoke, only his cynical smile remaining for a moment. Scowling back at him, Feneric helps one of the wounded Melniboneans up the steps of the pit. Elric, too, helps a wounded man, while the princess hovers in the air overhead.

In the passage outside, King Minak has assembled more warriors, but he has taken care not to be in the forefront.

MINAK: "That demon's abandoned them. Slay them all. Don't let one escape!" "That demon's abandoned them. Slay them all. Don't let one escape!"

Elric, his father and the Melniboneans fight their way to the outside and eventually make it to the top of the abyss, no longer pursued by the Karasim. Elric pauses on the edge of the abyss and looks down. The battle light is still in his eyes and he laughs almost like a demon himself.

ELRIC: "The cowards have had enough. They're reluctant to pursue us now." "The cowards have had enough. They're reluctant to pursue us now."

Elric looks around but can't see the Princess Dela-Fwaar. ELRIC: ELRIC: "Where's the princess?" "Where's the princess?"

MELNIBONeAN: "There-there she goes-flying home!" "There-there she goes-flying home!"

They see Princess Dela-Fwaar in outline against the sky as she heads for home.

FENERIC: "Get rid of that blade now, my son, I beg thee. The thing's addictive. Abandon it before it's too late!" "Get rid of that blade now, my son, I beg thee. The thing's addictive. Abandon it before it's too late!"

Elric finds this amusing but is prepared to humour his father.

ELRIC: "I'll not become so easily dependent on a mere sword, however powerful..." "I'll not become so easily dependent on a mere sword, however powerful..." (He looks at his father's frightened eyes.) (He looks at his father's frightened eyes.) "But if it pleases you, father-" "But if it pleases you, father-"

He hurls the black blade out over the abyss. It falls, turning and twisting, down into the clouded darkness.

ELRIC: "There! It's gone. It will never perturb you again." "There! It's gone. It will never perturb you again."

ELRIC: "And now ..." "And now ..."

He signs to his men. Using the "firebags" which the Karasim had used against Melnibone, they ignite brands and start setting fire to the ships.

ELRIC: "They'll never use these ships to pursue us." "They'll never use these ships to pursue us."

His father is looking back, still perturbed, but says nothing of his thoughts.

The Melniboneans, with their worst wounded on the back of Elric's horse, are now leaving the World's Edge. The ships are all blazing and they are not pursued by the Karasim.

Elric grins as he turns his eyes away from the scene.

ELRIC: "Let's for home, Father-to confront your ambitious brother." "Let's for home, Father-to confront your ambitious brother."

CHAPTER FOUR.

The Long Way Home The dream couches. Cymoril and Tanglebones look down on a disturbed Elric who frowns and moans in his sleep.

TANGLEBONES: "I fear his dream-quest does not go easily for him." "I fear his dream-quest does not go easily for him."

CYMORIL: "Does he know that he is one person in this life and another in his dream?" "Does he know that he is one person in this life and another in his dream?"

TANGLEBONES: "He is almost certainly unconscious of his two lives-just the same as your brother Yyrkoon ... But some instinct drives them both to fulfill a destiny which mirrors the life they inhabit in this world." "He is almost certainly unconscious of his two lives-just the same as your brother Yyrkoon ... But some instinct drives them both to fulfill a destiny which mirrors the life they inhabit in this world."

They walk through the dream chambers until they find Arisand, the human girl, together with Sadric, looking down on Yyrkoon who, in contrast to Elric, has a satisfied smirk on his sleeping features.

TANGLEBONES: "Your brother's dream persona seems to be somewhat happier than your cousin's, Lady Cymoril." "Your brother's dream persona seems to be somewhat happier than your cousin's, Lady Cymoril."

They leave Yyrkoon's chamber.

CYMORIL: "Is there nothing we can do to help Elric?" "Is there nothing we can do to help Elric?"

TANGLEBONES: "Nothing. That, after all, is the point of dream-quests." "Nothing. That, after all, is the point of dream-quests."

He pauses, drawing his brows together.

TANGLEBONES: "We can only pray to the powers of fate that Prince Elric has the resources to defeat what dangers and temptations wait for him in his dreams ..." "We can only pray to the powers of fate that Prince Elric has the resources to defeat what dangers and temptations wait for him in his dreams ..."

Though there was no immediate threat from the Karasim, the Melniboneans had fled without provisions or mounts and the march home was to be long and grueling, while King Minak was eventually to overcome his caution as well as the loss of his sky ships and raise an army of pursuit...

By the following winter, King Feneric, his son and his warriors had reached the Melmane Marshes and Minak had their scent ...

Elric and the Melniboneans are hiding in a forest of peculiar trees on the edge of a desolate peat bog criss-crossed by waterways. The Melniboneans are watching the far horizon where King Minak and a large army of Karasim, mounted on ugly, white hippopotamus-like beasts, ride in pursuit.

Elric turns to his father.

ELRIC: "Father, they're catching up with us. Another few days and there will be no more than half a mile between us." "Father, they're catching up with us. Another few days and there will be no more than half a mile between us."

FENERIC: "At least our wounded are in better condition and we need fear no attack from above..." "At least our wounded are in better condition and we need fear no attack from above..."

FENERIC: "... but I agree our chances of staying ahead of them are slim unless we can lose them in the marshes ahead." "... but I agree our chances of staying ahead of them are slim unless we can lose them in the marshes ahead."

ELRIC: "I'm beginning to wish I had not given up that sword so readily." "I'm beginning to wish I had not given up that sword so readily."

Feneric becomes intense. He seizes his son by the shoulder and turns him round so that they are face to face ...

FENERIC: "Believe me, my son, that blade is cursed, and cursed is any man who makes a compact with Chaos. As it is, Lord Arioch now inhabits our world by your invitation. And that can only mean disaster for some, if not for Melnibone. "Believe me, my son, that blade is cursed, and cursed is any man who makes a compact with Chaos. As it is, Lord Arioch now inhabits our world by your invitation. And that can only mean disaster for some, if not for Melnibone.

ELRIC ( (grins): "Then let's hope it is for King Minak and the Karasim who reap Chaos." "Then let's hope it is for King Minak and the Karasim who reap Chaos."

The little band is now in the wide marshland. Marsh birds fly overhead and the place has a desolate beauty. The tiny figures of the Melniboneans make their difficult way from one piece of relatively dry land to another and, very close behind, with tracker beasts of a reptilian appearance, who can swim easily through the swamps as well as run over dry land, comes Minak and his great army of Karasim.

ELRIC: "Perhaps I was hasty in ridding myself of that sword, Father. After all, you said yourself the damage is done and Arioch already in our world." "Perhaps I was hasty in ridding myself of that sword, Father. After all, you said yourself the damage is done and Arioch already in our world."

FENERIC: "No need to compound the folly, my son. We can only hope-and press on ..." "No need to compound the folly, my son. We can only hope-and press on ..."

MINAK: "There! Ahead! They'll soon be paying the price of inconveniencing the Karasim ..." "There! Ahead! They'll soon be paying the price of inconveniencing the Karasim ..."

Soon there was nothing for it but to make a stand and prepare to fight.

The grim-faced band of Melniboneans has found some relatively high ground surrounded by a natural moat with only a narrow causeway leading to it. Here they will make their stand against the whole Karasim army.

FENERIC: "Here's a natural fort we can defend. At least we'll take a good many of our enemies with us!" "Here's a natural fort we can defend. At least we'll take a good many of our enemies with us!"

A full scale battle scene as the Karasim attack from all sides, wading or swimming through the water, using the corpses of their own slain men and animals to get to the mound on which the Melniboneans stand. Elric, Feneric and their men give good account of themselves, through the course of the day.

But as night falls ...

MINAK: "Fall back! The darkness only aids them. We'll attack again at dawn!" "Fall back! The darkness only aids them. We'll attack again at dawn!"

The Karasim fall back, leaving the battle-weary men of Melnibone to count their losses-four dead and twelve wounded-and be rallied by Elric's praise.

ELRIC: "Well, done, warriors of Melnibone! Each of you has sent at least a score of Karasim down to hell!" "Well, done, warriors of Melnibone! Each of you has sent at least a score of Karasim down to hell!"

FENERIC: "But can we last another night, my son?" "But can we last another night, my son?"

ELRIC: "Only by calling on supernatural aid, Father." "Only by calling on supernatural aid, Father."

Close up of a weary, angry Feneric clutching at Elric.

FENERIC: "No! Future generations will curse us if we rely on the aid of Arioch of Chaos and that damned black blade!" "No! Future generations will curse us if we rely on the aid of Arioch of Chaos and that damned black blade!"

ELRIC: "And I will curse myself if, by not summoning Chaos, I see my father die under Karasim steel!" "And I will curse myself if, by not summoning Chaos, I see my father die under Karasim steel!"

FIRST MELNIBONeAN SOLDIER ( (points): "Dawn is almost upon us and the Karasim advance!" "Dawn is almost upon us and the Karasim advance!"

Elric, scowling, backs away from where his father stands, sword in hand, rallying the weary remnants of his army.

FENERIC: "Stand ready!" "Stand ready!"

ELRIC (slips down behind a rock): (slips down behind a rock): "Arioch! Bring me back the black blade, I beg thee!" "Arioch! Bring me back the black blade, I beg thee!"

We get a glimpse of a triumphantly smiling face as Arioch causes the Black Sword to materialize.

ARIOCH: "There, little mortal. Do your worst with it." "There, little mortal. Do your worst with it."

The Melnibonean soldiers are forced into a tighter and tighter knot as the Karasim gain the islet and close in on them.

FENERIC: "They close for the kill! Where's my son? Dead already?" "They close for the kill! Where's my son? Dead already?"

Elric, his face a mask of terrible vengeful glee, the Black Sword in both hands, suddenly appears to deal death to the astonished Karasim.

MINAK: "No! He wields the Chaos sword again! But he still cannot defeat so many of us. Destroy him and make the sword our own!" "No! He wields the Chaos sword again! But he still cannot defeat so many of us. Destroy him and make the sword our own!"

Feneric looks over his shoulder at Elric and is horrified: FENERIC: "Foolish youth! You have no idea what monstrous terror that blade will bring upon the world!" "Foolish youth! You have no idea what monstrous terror that blade will bring upon the world!"

SECOND MELNIBONeAN SOLDIER ( (points into the rising sun. Out of it comes a swarm of flying soldiers. The men of Myyrrhn, led by their prince): "We're finished. Those are the warriors of Myyrrhn, come to join their allies!" "We're finished. Those are the warriors of Myyrrhn, come to join their allies!"

But the Prince of Myyrrhn was no longer in King Minak's power-and brought him not help but revenge ...

The flying warriors of Myyrrhn descend upon the Karasim with wild ferocity, so the Karasim and their king are now trapped between two groups of warriors.

FENERIC: "They side with us! We are saved! And you, foolish son, summoned the sword too soon!" "They side with us! We are saved! And you, foolish son, summoned the sword too soon!"

Elric's crimson eyes still glow with berserk blood-lust and the sword in his hands gives off a black glow.

ELRIC: "You call me foolish, yet I have saved thee once, Father!" "You call me foolish, yet I have saved thee once, Father!"

Then, to his astonishment, the sword twists in his hand and, against Elric's will, attempts to stab Feneric ...

FENERIC: "What? You'd kill your own father now?" "What? You'd kill your own father now?"

ELRIC: "No! The sword moves by itself! "No! The sword moves by itself! No!" No!"

With all his strength, the young Silverskin was barely able to stop the sword's movement...

In horror at what he had almost done, Elric hurled the Black Sword far into the marsh...

ELRIC: "Oh, Father! You are right! I should never have called on Chaos. I almost killed you! There, damned sword, go-never again will I seek the aid of Chaos! "Oh, Father! You are right! I should never have called on Chaos. I almost killed you! There, damned sword, go-never again will I seek the aid of Chaos!

Almost sobbing, he falls into his father's arms. The old man still looks grim as he comforts his son.

FENERIC: "My son, you have learned a good lesson. But even now it could be too late ..." "My son, you have learned a good lesson. But even now it could be too late ..."

ELRIC: "I promise you, Father, not even at my moments of greatest trial will I summon either Arioch or the sword. From now on I will listen to your wisdom and obey ..." "I promise you, Father, not even at my moments of greatest trial will I summon either Arioch or the sword. From now on I will listen to your wisdom and obey ..."

FENERIC: "I hope so, my boy. There are many great trials still ahead of you. And we have yet to face the usurper who sits on my throne." "I hope so, my boy. There are many great trials still ahead of you. And we have yet to face the usurper who sits on my throne."

The winged men of Myyrrhn have routed the Karasim. King Minak is dead, his body, still with a spear in its side, is being carried off by the ragged remnants of the Karasim army. They are thoroughly defeated and getting away as fast as they can. Prince Vashntni is smiling as he puts his hand on young Elric's shoulder.

PRINCE VASHNTNI: "I am glad to see thee again, young Silverskin. And my daughter sends you her affectionate greetings. What now? Do you return to Melnibone to claim the throne from that traitor Ederic?" "I am glad to see thee again, young Silverskin. And my daughter sends you her affectionate greetings. What now? Do you return to Melnibone to claim the throne from that traitor Ederic?"

ELRIC: "That is for my father to decide, but I hope he will decide to go back to our homeland." "That is for my father to decide, but I hope he will decide to go back to our homeland."

FENERIC: "It will be dangerous, but we must make the journey. I cannot allow Ederic to corrupt the heart of our great nation. But knowing he has studied sorcery, I am unsure if we will be successful." "It will be dangerous, but we must make the journey. I cannot allow Ederic to corrupt the heart of our great nation. But knowing he has studied sorcery, I am unsure if we will be successful."

VASHNTNI: "We can help-" "We can help-"

FENERIC: "Thanks, great prince, but we Melniboneans alone should be present when we confront my brother. Soon we'll reach Port Ishagd, where our friends the Pukwadji rule. They will lend us a ship. When we reach Melnibone we can only hope the people will rise to place me back upon my throne." "Thanks, great prince, but we Melniboneans alone should be present when we confront my brother. Soon we'll reach Port Ishagd, where our friends the Pukwadji rule. They will lend us a ship. When we reach Melnibone we can only hope the people will rise to place me back upon my throne."

VASHNTNI: "You are a man of wisdom and faith, King Feneric, and I honour your decision. However, it is possible my daughter will want to visit your son. Will you permit that?" "You are a man of wisdom and faith, King Feneric, and I honour your decision. However, it is possible my daughter will want to visit your son. Will you permit that?"

FENERIC: "Of course, she will always be welcome at our court." "Of course, she will always be welcome at our court." (He turns his head towards the north. It is time to think of the last stage of their journey.) (He turns his head towards the north. It is time to think of the last stage of their journey.) "But many weeks will pass before we get there..." "But many weeks will pass before we get there..."