SADRIC: "What ails my nephew? His expression changes!" "What ails my nephew? His expression changes!"

ARISAND: "It seems, my lord emperor, that Prince Yyrkoon has met with an unexpected reversal in the other life." "It seems, my lord emperor, that Prince Yyrkoon has met with an unexpected reversal in the other life."

Yyrkoon sits up on his bench, frowning and cursing and reaching for a goblet Arisand holds out for him.

YYRKOON: "Aark! I have a miserable headache. My dream fades, as they always do. What's happened to my cousin? Did he die?" "Aark! I have a miserable headache. My dream fades, as they always do. What's happened to my cousin? Did he die?"

Tanglebones appears in the doorway, bowing to emperor and prince.

TANGLEBONES: "Good news, my lord. The young Prince Elric lives and is well." "Good news, my lord. The young Prince Elric lives and is well."

YYRKOON: "What! How is it that he survives every dream-quest? Everyone knows how full of danger they are." "What! How is it that he survives every dream-quest? Everyone knows how full of danger they are."

SADRIC: "He's well, you say. I must congratulate him on his success ..." "He's well, you say. I must congratulate him on his success ..."

TANGLEBONES: "He has left already, lord emperor." "He has left already, lord emperor."

SADRIC: "What? Where does he go?" "What? Where does he go?"

TANGLEBONES: "He told me he planned to take the Princess Cymoril-sailing ..." "He told me he planned to take the Princess Cymoril-sailing ..."

Elric is steering a small boat out of the harbour. He has already passed through the great sea-maze. He has his other arm around Cymoril and she is laughing with delight-for the wind elementals are puffing the sails and making the boat scud across the harbour, leaving the great warships of Melnibone's secret harbour far behind.

CYMORIL: "And what did you learn in your dream, my lord?" "And what did you learn in your dream, my lord?"

ELRIC: "As usual, I don't remember. But now I command the "As usual, I don't remember. But now I command the h'Haar-shann h'Haar-shann, so I must have learned something, eh? More sorcerous wisdom to help me carry the burden of my destiny on the day when I become Emperor of Melnibone."

Yyrkoon glowers in his apartments eating voraciously from a plate of food.

YYRKOON: "Today my cousin delights in his survival and goes out to play, but the powerful poison of my ambition shall destroy him yet. I swear..." "Today my cousin delights in his survival and goes out to play, but the powerful poison of my ambition shall destroy him yet. I swear..."

The boat is caught by a shaft of sunlight piercing the clouds and Elric laughs in his delight as the h'Haarshann h'Haarshann continue to fill his sail with air and Cymoril trails her hand in the water continue to fill his sail with air and Cymoril trails her hand in the water.

ELRIC: "Meanwhile, sweet Cymoril, let's enjoy the remains of the evening while we may." "Meanwhile, sweet Cymoril, let's enjoy the remains of the evening while we may."

BOOK FOUR.

THE DREAM OF TEN YEARS:.

THE DREAM OF FIRE.

DRAGON LORD'S DESTINY

CHAPTER ONE.

Two Ways to Forge an Empire THE GREAT THRONE room of Melnibone. Ancient, brooding Sadric sits slumped in the great Ruby Throne, staring with melancholy eyes down at his son and nephew who stand, at odds, before him. Elric on one side, Yyrkoon on the other. By Yyrkoon's side stands Arisand, the human woman; by Elric's side stand Cymoril and Tanglebones. On Tanglebones's shoulder sits the black raven, our old friend. Elric and Yyrkoon have almost come to blows and their companions touch their sleeves, hoping to restrain them room of Melnibone. Ancient, brooding Sadric sits slumped in the great Ruby Throne, staring with melancholy eyes down at his son and nephew who stand, at odds, before him. Elric on one side, Yyrkoon on the other. By Yyrkoon's side stands Arisand, the human woman; by Elric's side stand Cymoril and Tanglebones. On Tanglebones's shoulder sits the black raven, our old friend. Elric and Yyrkoon have almost come to blows and their companions touch their sleeves, hoping to restrain them.

ELRIC: "We must settle this soon, cousin Yyrkoon. I challenge you to confront me here, and not in the shadows of the Dream Realms!" "We must settle this soon, cousin Yyrkoon. I challenge you to confront me here, and not in the shadows of the Dream Realms!"

YYRKOON: "Your physical weakness now infects your mind, cousin Elric. Surely my uncle Sadric notices how his son grows daily less fit for power? 'Tis I who own all the qualities demanded of an emperor." "Your physical weakness now infects your mind, cousin Elric. Surely my uncle Sadric notices how his son grows daily less fit for power? 'Tis I who own all the qualities demanded of an emperor."

SADRIC: "Silence, nephew. You, too, my son. I am still Emperor and not yet dead. My concern is for Melnibone and what is best for the nation. You are tested now on the dream couches. That is where your destinies will be resolved." "Silence, nephew. You, too, my son. I am still Emperor and not yet dead. My concern is for Melnibone and what is best for the nation. You are tested now on the dream couches. That is where your destinies will be resolved."

Sadric rises from his throne.

As he speaks we see a panorama of Melnibonean history. Kings and emperors in the battle armour of their calling lead men and demons to victory over human fighters.

We see the golden battle-barges, the flying dragons. With both of these Melnibone established her great empire.

SADRIC: "Our ancestors fought to establish this empire. They made the pacts with Chaos allowing us to rule for ten thousand years. For too long have the Chaos Lords been absent from that compact." "Our ancestors fought to establish this empire. They made the pacts with Chaos allowing us to rule for ten thousand years. For too long have the Chaos Lords been absent from that compact."

SADRIC: "The one who'll rule best is he who revives our power-who proves the best sorcerer!" "The one who'll rule best is he who revives our power-who proves the best sorcerer!"

Sadric sweeps from the throne room, summoning Arisand to come with him. With a backward look at Yyrkoon, she follows. Tanglebones plucks at Elric's urgent sleeve.

TANGLEBONES: "Come, young master. Your father is right. Your destiny will be determined on the dream couches. It is time for your last dream-your most crucial dream-the Dream of Ten Years..." "Come, young master. Your father is right. Your destiny will be determined on the dream couches. It is time for your last dream-your most crucial dream-the Dream of Ten Years..."

CYMORIL: "Master Tanglebones speaks wisely, dear Elric." "Master Tanglebones speaks wisely, dear Elric."

Yyrkoon is already striding, grim-faced, from the throne room. He snarls one last retort behind him as he leaves.

YYRKOON: "You all disgust me. You stink of weakness and compromise. Aye, to the dream couches-and battle!!!" "You all disgust me. You stink of weakness and compromise. Aye, to the dream couches-and battle!!!"

ELRIC: "Very well. I am ready." "Very well. I am ready."

It had become obvious to all now that a kind of duel was being fought on the dream couches of Melnibone. Each party went to its own chamber. A crucial battle was about to commence, while the two chief combatants lay asleep ...

In Elric's chamber, the black crow flies from Tanglebones's shoulder to Elric's.

ELRIC: "So our destiny truly does lie in our dreams, Master Tangle-bones?" "So our destiny truly does lie in our dreams, Master Tangle-bones?"

TANGLEBONES: "So it seems, my lord. But your education will be accomplished there, also." "So it seems, my lord. But your education will be accomplished there, also."

CYMORIL: "I fear you are in great danger, dear Elric ... !" "I fear you are in great danger, dear Elric ... !"

ELRIC: "Aye, I smell it in the air, Cymoril. But we must do what conscience and circumstance demands ..." "Aye, I smell it in the air, Cymoril. But we must do what conscience and circumstance demands ..."

While, in Yyrkoon's chamber ...

The mysterious human girl, Arisand, is diffidently suggesting something to Yyrkoon, who listens with haughty interest.

YYRKOON: "Bah! The weakling has so far engineered his victories by tricks and luck. How am I to ensure his defeat in this, the final dream of his initiation?" "Bah! The weakling has so far engineered his victories by tricks and luck. How am I to ensure his defeat in this, the final dream of his initiation?"

ARISAND: "If I can offer some simple human magic to aid you, my lord ..." "If I can offer some simple human magic to aid you, my lord ..."

YYRKOON: "Human magic? Unsophisticated and crude compared with ours. How can that help me?" "Human magic? Unsophisticated and crude compared with ours. How can that help me?"

ARISAND: "Sometimes, my lord, the simpler spell can be more effective ..." "Sometimes, my lord, the simpler spell can be more effective ..."

YYRKOON (coming round to the idea): (coming round to the idea): "I take your meaning. What do you suggest?" "I take your meaning. What do you suggest?"

ARISAND: "I know a way which will not make you vulnerable to dying with your avatar. And I can accompany you, if you will permit ..." "I know a way which will not make you vulnerable to dying with your avatar. And I can accompany you, if you will permit ..."

Yyrkoon drinks his potion and lies down on his couch as Arisand lays herself down beside him.

YYRKOON: "After all, what do I risk?" "After all, what do I risk?"

Meanwhile Elric's limp hand falls from Cymoril's. She looks up, her eyes filled with fear.

CYMORIL: "Be lucky, my lord. For I suspect luck is all you'll have on your side in this long dream..." "Be lucky, my lord. For I suspect luck is all you'll have on your side in this long dream..."

Then the dream roads of the multiverse opened before them ...

Both Elric and Yyrkoon set their feet on the dream roads of the multiverse. A ghostly Arisand is with Yyrkoon as both set off.

ARISAND: "Stay close with me, Lord Yyrkoon. I'll help your soul occupy a perfect vessel, while you yourself will be invulnerable. And be patient...for we must stay a little behind Elric if we're to be successful anon ..." "Stay close with me, Lord Yyrkoon. I'll help your soul occupy a perfect vessel, while you yourself will be invulnerable. And be patient...for we must stay a little behind Elric if we're to be successful anon ..."

They pass along the great roads, with Elric a little ahead of Yyrkoon and Arisand, unaware that they are behind him. And behind them all flies the black crow.

Thus all three walked the moonbeam roads, with Elric unaware of Yyrkoon and his companion, until at last the towers of ancient Melnibone lay ahead, thousands of years in their past ...

These Melnibonean towers are not so high nor as elaborate as the ones we've left. But they are still pretty impressive.

... when the power of the Bright Empire had reached a peak of magnificent strength.

Then Elric's dreaming soul had occupied that of his avatar, King Elrik, brother to his beautiful "silverskin" Queen Asrid, joint ruler of this other, ancient Melnibone ...

Elric merges into King Elrik who stands hand in hand with his sister Queen Asrid, observing a great golden sailing quireme being built. These are the early types of the battle-barges which, with the dragons, form the basis of "modern" Melnibones power.

ASRID: "Another ship is added to our fleet, brother Elrik. Her holds will carry our goods far abroad, and bring back the wealth of all the world!" "Another ship is added to our fleet, brother Elrik. Her holds will carry our goods far abroad, and bring back the wealth of all the world!"

ELRIK: "Aye, dear sister Asrid. Melnibone grows rich on her trade. We have much to be grateful for. Though I once chose a more direct route to power, I know you will rule with gentle and effective wisdom while I am gone." "Aye, dear sister Asrid. Melnibone grows rich on her trade. We have much to be grateful for. Though I once chose a more direct route to power, I know you will rule with gentle and effective wisdom while I am gone."

Asrid turns to Elrik/Elric embracing him with sisterly concern. The golden barge is still behind them, still being worked on.

ASRID: "You seek to educate yourself abroad, learning all you can from the emerging humans of the new, civilized tribes ... But I cannot help fear for you, sweet brother. There are so many unknown dangers ..." "You seek to educate yourself abroad, learning all you can from the emerging humans of the new, civilized tribes ... But I cannot help fear for you, sweet brother. There are so many unknown dangers ..."

ELRIK: "The new tribes still remain wary of us. They see us as alien interlopers. Not only will I learn their customs and condition, sister...but I will act as ambassador, making friends and creating new trade for Melnibone. Such knowledge and diplomacy is worth gold in Melnibone's coffers. We shall be rich in wisdom as well as money!" "The new tribes still remain wary of us. They see us as alien interlopers. Not only will I learn their customs and condition, sister...but I will act as ambassador, making friends and creating new trade for Melnibone. Such knowledge and diplomacy is worth gold in Melnibone's coffers. We shall be rich in wisdom as well as money!"

ASRID: "I myself persuaded you to this idea, I know. The new tribes covet our wealth. We must always be ready to defend against any attack. But it is far better for our security to be liked than feared. By venturing abroad on this exploratory journey, you will forge alliances and friendships. You'll secure our strength at every point..." "I myself persuaded you to this idea, I know. The new tribes covet our wealth. We must always be ready to defend against any attack. But it is far better for our security to be liked than feared. By venturing abroad on this exploratory journey, you will forge alliances and friendships. You'll secure our strength at every point..."

An interior chamber.

ELRIK (in (in close up, indicates a map): close up, indicates a map): "I leave in the morning for Puk-wadji, our old ally. From there I head inland. We all know the rumours of entire civilizations to be found there, some more ancient than our own. While I am gone, you must rule here alone, wisely ... as you have always done. Together we will lay the foundations of a great, peaceful trading empire ..." "I leave in the morning for Puk-wadji, our old ally. From there I head inland. We all know the rumours of entire civilizations to be found there, some more ancient than our own. While I am gone, you must rule here alone, wisely ... as you have always done. Together we will lay the foundations of a great, peaceful trading empire ..."

The map is of the same land area as other maps we've seen, but it shows the worlds of The "New Tribes," mostly mountains, forests, rivers and plains, with large parts marked as unknown territory. Pukwadji is plainly marked, as a territory on the coast nearest to Melnibone with large parts marked as unknown territory. Pukwadji is plainly marked, as a territory on the coast nearest to Melnibone.

ASRID: "Farewell, dear Elrik. When you return, our whole fleet will be complete ..." "Farewell, dear Elrik. When you return, our whole fleet will be complete ..."

And so the young king went forth ...

... to complete his education ...

... in the lands of the new tribes ...

... the people who one day would emerge ...

... as "the Young Kingdoms" ...

Elric/Elrik aboard a Melnibonean ship. He stares forward, dreaming of the adventures he is likely to have.

The ship docks. Elrik rides his horse off the ship onto a dock where Pukwadji people greet him with pleasure, as an old friend.

We see him leaving the Pukwadji city and heading off into the interior. The black crow follows him.

He meets friendly tribespeople (some black, some white) in simple villages and towns. He sees strange animals, some of them gigantic mammals (such as riding giraffes with black warriors on their backs), some transporting people. In one village, he sits down with a Wise Woman. Black crow perches in distant tree.

WISE WOMAN: "There is an ancient city, far from here, which has the same name in every human tongue. Tanelorn is a city of peace ..." "There is an ancient city, far from here, which has the same name in every human tongue. Tanelorn is a city of peace ..."

WISE WOMAN (voice): (voice): "... there all peoples can meet and know tranquility. There is no fighting there. Few own weapons. She has no king, but is administered by a council known as the Grey Lords ... They say past, present and future come together there ..." "... there all peoples can meet and know tranquility. There is no fighting there. Few own weapons. She has no king, but is administered by a council known as the Grey Lords ... They say past, present and future come together there ..."

ELRIK: "I think I'll search out this city and see what I can learn from it..." "I think I'll search out this city and see what I can learn from it..."

And so, some four years later ...

Elrik rides out over a verdant plain. It's sunrise.

Next panel and it's sunset. Black crow flies against the setting sun.

ELRIK (thinks): "It's time I found a good place to camp." (thinks): "It's time I found a good place to camp."

Suddenly the earth begins to rise and bulge under his horse's hoofs. Elrik fights to control his horse.

ELRIK: "? The earth! It's moving beneath me!" "? The earth! It's moving beneath me!"

CHAPTER TWO.