Elrik is astonished as Sepiriz drags on the reins to bring the chariot to a halt.

ELRIK: "What??" "What??"

Sepiriz hands the reins of the stallion to Elrik who stands bewildered beside the chariot now.

SEPIRIZ: "Go home. You'll discover what I mean. I can tell you no more." "Go home. You'll discover what I mean. I can tell you no more." Elrik, still baffled, mounts the stallion. Sepiriz looks at him in sympathy and sadness Elrik, still baffled, mounts the stallion. Sepiriz looks at him in sympathy and sadness.

SEPIRIZ: "Farewell, Elrik. Forgive me. I do not envy you your destiny..." "Farewell, Elrik. Forgive me. I do not envy you your destiny..."

CHAPTER THREE.

Changing Destinies Back through the lands of the new tribes rode King Elrik, his mind heavy with questions, his heart full of uncertainty ...

People in the fields look up in surprise as the haunted figure rides past on the great black Nihrain steed. He is a driven creature, his red eyes blazing as he stares ahead of him.

PEASANT: "Greetings, master-where dost thou-? "Greetings, master-where dost thou-? Miggea Miggea! He rides as if hell's horde pursues him!"

Elrik reins in his horse as he comes upon the town where he spoke to the Wise Woman. The place has been burned to the ground.

The Wise Woman, wounded and half-burned herself, comes hobbling out of cover to confront him.

WISE WOMAN: "You! You're the Melnibonean! May you and your kind be cursed for ten thousand years!" "You! You're the Melnibonean! May you and your kind be cursed for ten thousand years!"

ELRIK: "Believe me, mother, I know nothing of what you speak!" "Believe me, mother, I know nothing of what you speak!"

WISE WOMAN: "You lie! You came scouting here all those years ago. Your aim was to discover our defenses. Then your war-dogs and their flying allies came upon us, taking all we owned! Kill me, if you will, whiteface. I have nothing left to love and no loved one left to mourn me!" "You lie! You came scouting here all those years ago. Your aim was to discover our defenses. Then your war-dogs and their flying allies came upon us, taking all we owned! Kill me, if you will, whiteface. I have nothing left to love and no loved one left to mourn me!"

Elrik rode on while the old woman hurled curses at his back. He is deeply troubled He is deeply troubled.

ELRIK (thinks): (thinks): "How can Melniboneans have done this? My gentle sister would never have permitted it." "How can Melniboneans have done this? My gentle sister would never have permitted it."

The hills above Pukwadji Port, where the young king first came ashore so many years before ...

Elrik reins in the great Nihrain horse in the hills above the port town where he came ashore on [page eight]. The whole place has been razed to the ground. All are dead.

He is even more horrified. On these ruins squat the weary dragons of Imrryr, the Phoorn. They look sleepy, sated. A little venom drips from the mouths of one or two of them. From gibbets hang the bodies of Pukwadji men and women. In the harbour are golden Melnibonean barges onto which Melnibonean soldiers are loading their loot.

ELRIK (thinks): (thinks): "So, it's the same here, as it has been across all their lands. Every Pukwadji dead. Every city razed and looted. I left Melnibone with my sister sworn to pursue the peace she persuaded me of. Now I find nothing but death. It can only mean she has been usurped, perhaps killed, and another ruling in her place." "So, it's the same here, as it has been across all their lands. Every Pukwadji dead. Every city razed and looted. I left Melnibone with my sister sworn to pursue the peace she persuaded me of. Now I find nothing but death. It can only mean she has been usurped, perhaps killed, and another ruling in her place."

ELRIK (thinks): (thinks): "But how?" "But how?"

Elrik has waited until night. He sneaks past the roving Melnibonean soldiers and the dragons and reaches the water, remounting his stallion on the beach.

ELRIK (thinks): (thinks): "Now to see if this steed can gallop over the ocean, as Sepiriz promised-" "Now to see if this steed can gallop over the ocean, as Sepiriz promised-"

He rides the great black stallion over the moonlit water. The towers of Melnibone can be seen in the distance.

ELRIK (thinks): (thinks): "Soon I'll reach my home and confront the destiny I was warned I'd find." "Soon I'll reach my home and confront the destiny I was warned I'd find."

Elric/Elrik has dismounted from the horse and with the reins in his hands creeps towards the towers of Melnibone.

ELRIK (thinks): (thinks): "What possesses my Melnibone? Even here it stinks of blood and fire." "What possesses my Melnibone? Even here it stinks of blood and fire."

He leaves the horse and sneaks into the city. Melnibonean soldiers are dragging slaves ashore from ships and carrying bundles of booty home. Melniboneans triumph in their victories, all quite mad with their filthy glory.

ELRIK (thinks): (thinks): "The hidden passage will bring me out in the Tower of Kings where I last saw Asrid." "The hidden passage will bring me out in the Tower of Kings where I last saw Asrid."

Elrik sneaks up towards the Tower of Kings, where he last left his sister. He sneaks into the tower and into the great throne room. Here is a figure in black armour, face hidden by a wonderfully elaborate visor which resembles the face of a snarling dragon. It lounges in the throne, a massive black sword held in its gauntleted hands. Beside the throne is none other than the figure of Arisand, the beautiful human woman who accompanied Yyrkoon here. She is smiling in evil pleasure. A tribal king is dragged before the figure.

FIGURE: "So, little chief. You've seen the power of Melnibone. Swear loyalty to us. Promise the empire half your wealth, or die at the point of my blade!" "So, little chief. You've seen the power of Melnibone. Swear loyalty to us. Promise the empire half your wealth, or die at the point of my blade!"

CHIEF: "Melniboneans were once fair and honourable people. We traded with you because we chose to. Now you are naught but thieves and murderers, using your dragons and your ships against weaker foes. I'll promise you nothing!" "Melniboneans were once fair and honourable people. We traded with you because we chose to. Now you are naught but thieves and murderers, using your dragons and your ships against weaker foes. I'll promise you nothing!"

Figure rises from the throne and holds the great black battle-blade out by the blade, offering the hilt to the barbarian.

BLACK ARMOUR: "Would you kill me, little mortal? I offer you the opportunity ..." "Would you kill me, little mortal? I offer you the opportunity ..."

Hesitantly, knowing he is being tricked, but feeling he has nothing to lose, the mortal stretches his hand towards the hilt of the blade...

He grasps the hilt and then yells in pain and terror.

CHIEF: "Aaaaaaaaaaaah! Oh, no, the thing sucks my very soul from my body. Aahhh. P-please-n-no...!" "Aaaaaaaaaaaah! Oh, no, the thing sucks my very soul from my body. Aahhh. P-please-n-no...!"

He writhes, unable to release his hand from the sword as the blade sucks his soul from him.

BLACK ARMOUR: "Ha! Ha! Only I can handle that black blade and live! You shall die, little mortal! Your body will feed my dogs. Your soul will feed my sword!" "Ha! Ha! Only I can handle that black blade and live! You shall die, little mortal! Your body will feed my dogs. Your soul will feed my sword!"

Chief sobs as the sword drinks his soul. Not every Melnibonean can stand watching this. Some, who seemed hardened, now turn away.

CHIEF: "Aach! My soul-n-not my s-soul..." "Aach! My soul-n-not my s-soul..."

BLACK ARMOUR: "Ha! Ha! Ha! The reality's worse than you could imagine, eh? It always was!" "Ha! Ha! Ha! The reality's worse than you could imagine, eh? It always was!"

And Elrik, horrified, sneaks away, back into the shadows.

ELRIK: "I can do nothing against such evil sorcery. I must discover what has happened to my sister ... surely Dyvim Karm, Lord of the Dragons, will know ..." "I can do nothing against such evil sorcery. I must discover what has happened to my sister ... surely Dyvim Karm, Lord of the Dragons, will know ..."

Melnibonean guards spot Elrik. He begins to run.

GUARD: "Who's that? Some spy?" "Who's that? Some spy?"

ELRIK: "If they've killed my sister, then I'll share her fate." "If they've killed my sister, then I'll share her fate."

Elrik is pursued through the corridors by the soldiers. At one point he's surrounded by guards and fights them. He gets to his horse and rides as fast as the great Nihrain stallion will carry him, the pursuing guards in disarray.

GUARD: "STOP HIM!" "STOP HIM!"

He's riding across the island when he looks back and sees a great shape rise into the sky behind him. It is one of the Melnibonean dragons.

ELRIK: "And now they send a dragon against me! This is a nightmare!" "And now they send a dragon against me! This is a nightmare!"

He lies flat across his horses neck as overhead one of the huge Melnibonean dragons flies in rapid pursuit. He's riding over the ocean again, the dragon getting closer and closer.

They have reached land. The horse rears up as the dragon lands in front of it.

It opens its maw, poison and fiery venom bubbling from it and falling with a fiery splash to the ground.

ELRIK: "I cannot defeat a dragon. But I can die like a Melnibonean king!" "I cannot defeat a dragon. But I can die like a Melnibonean king!" The dragon pauses, surprised The dragon pauses, surprised.

DRAGON: "You "You speak the language of the Phoorn? You are our kin?" speak the language of the Phoorn? You are our kin?"

ELRIK: "Aye. I expect no mercy from you. I have seen what you have done to the mainland tribes ..." "Aye. I expect no mercy from you. I have seen what you have done to the mainland tribes ..."

DRAGON: "You "You are the Silverskin. We have a bond, you and I.I am Flamefang, oldest of the Phoorn." are the Silverskin. We have a bond, you and I.I am Flamefang, oldest of the Phoorn."

Elrik dismounts and reaches a hand to Flamefang's snout.

ELRIK: "Bond?" "Bond?"

FLAMEFANG: "The "The silverskins saved us from limbo. Our loyalty is to you first. Many Phoorn now sleep in our caves. They are weary of their work. But I have slept longest and am ready to serve my brother. How can Flamefang help?" silverskins saved us from limbo. Our loyalty is to you first. Many Phoorn now sleep in our caves. They are weary of their work. But I have slept longest and am ready to serve my brother. How can Flamefang help?"

ELRIK: "I do not yet know. Return to your cave. I will call you if you are needed. Now I go to seek allies amongst the new tribes ..." "I do not yet know. Return to your cave. I will call you if you are needed. Now I go to seek allies amongst the new tribes ..."

The dragon turns to leave, but Elrik stays it for a moment- ELRIK: "Stay, brother. Tell me what has become of my sister Asrid. Less than ten years ago I left her ruling a peaceful kingdom-and now that black-armoured creature rules in her place ..." "Stay, brother. Tell me what has become of my sister Asrid. Less than ten years ago I left her ruling a peaceful kingdom-and now that black-armoured creature rules in her place ..."

Flamefang pauses.

FLAMEFANG: "I "I cannot help you, brother. I know nothing of the court politics. We merely serve whoever rules-unless, like me, we remember certain loyalties..." cannot help you, brother. I know nothing of the court politics. We merely serve whoever rules-unless, like me, we remember certain loyalties..."

ELRIK: "Is Dyvim Karm still Lord of the Dragon Caves?" "Is Dyvim Karm still Lord of the Dragon Caves?"

FLAMEFANG: "He fled when he refused to lead us against the new tribes. His brother Dyvim Nir now commands us. But most already sleep. We have become weary with all this warfare. And now-farewell! Call me when you need me!" "He fled when he refused to lead us against the new tribes. His brother Dyvim Nir now commands us. But most already sleep. We have become weary with all this warfare. And now-farewell! Call me when you need me!"

The great shape of the dragon ascends into the dawn sky, leaving Elrik puzzled, confused and dismayed.

Only a few days later...

Elrik comes upon a Melnibonean, ragged and starving, and greets him with joy.

ELRIK: "Dyvim Karm! "Dyvim Karm! I've sought you everywhere. I feared you killed." I've sought you everywhere. I feared you killed."

The two men embrace with some joy.

We next see them sitting beside a fire while Dyvim Karm eats part of a rabbit with some gusto.

DYVIM KARM: "It happened so swiftly. One moment your sweet sister enjoined us all to peace. The next, this creature in black armour, wielding that filthy sword, was on the throne. Those who refused to serve the Black Armour lost their souls to the sword. Your sister, I fear, is murdered. All I could rescue in my flight was my Dragon Horn ..." "It happened so swiftly. One moment your sweet sister enjoined us all to peace. The next, this creature in black armour, wielding that filthy sword, was on the throne. Those who refused to serve the Black Armour lost their souls to the sword. Your sister, I fear, is murdered. All I could rescue in my flight was my Dragon Horn ..."

ELRIK: "We must find allies to attack and reconquer Melnibone. What's more, I am sworn to take that black sword back to its rightful keepers." "We must find allies to attack and reconquer Melnibone. What's more, I am sworn to take that black sword back to its rightful keepers."

Through the coming months, King Elrik sought the remnants of the mainland tribes, trying to create an alliance powerful enough to defeat the usurper...

Elrik is in the mountains again. He is meeting with the remnants of various barbarian tribes who have been attacked and defeated by the Melnibonean forces.

One of the tribal leaders, the most striking and forceful, is Queen Bisrana, who is Queen of the Shazaars. She steps forward to confront Elrik.

QUEEN BISRANA: "I am Bisrana, Queen of the Shazaar. Why should we trust one of your blood?" "I am Bisrana, Queen of the Shazaar. Why should we trust one of your blood?"

ELRIK: "Because we have common cause. My cousin, Dyvim Karm, has told you how Melnibonean power was stolen from my sister." "Because we have common cause. My cousin, Dyvim Karm, has told you how Melnibonean power was stolen from my sister."

Chief Thokor of the Jharks now springs up.

THOKOR: "I, Thokor of the Jharks, would know what you offer us." "I, Thokor of the Jharks, would know what you offer us."

ELRIK: "A pact between our nations. I played no part in my people's attack on yours." "A pact between our nations. I played no part in my people's attack on yours."

King Ralyn of the Dhar tribe now speaks: KING RALYN: "I am Ralyn of the Dhars. You promise us loot, which will repay us for what has been stolen." "I am Ralyn of the Dhars. You promise us loot, which will repay us for what has been stolen."

ELRIK: "I want none of my people needlessly killed. He who wears the black armour is responsible for what has happened. I do not believe he is of my blood." "I want none of my people needlessly killed. He who wears the black armour is responsible for what has happened. I do not believe he is of my blood."

The chiefs are in conference, talking amongst themselves while Elrik waits to one side.

Eventually Queen Bisrana steps forward from the gathering and addresses Elrik BISRANA: "We'll join you in this attack. But we want our fair share of the booty." "We'll join you in this attack. But we want our fair share of the booty."

ELRIK: "You promise you'll leave the population and the buildings unscathed?" "You promise you'll leave the population and the buildings unscathed?"

BISRANA: "Only those who threaten us will be harmed." "Only those who threaten us will be harmed."

Elrik embraces Queen Bisrana.

ELRIK: "Then we are agreed. One dragon at least will aid us in the attack. We must strike suddenly and soon, before word of our plans gets back to Imrryr." "Then we are agreed. One dragon at least will aid us in the attack. We must strike suddenly and soon, before word of our plans gets back to Imrryr."

CHAPTER FOUR.

Bitter Vengeance Elrik, Bisrana and the other leaders of the barbarians look down on a secret bay as the ships assemble. It is a large fleet of miscellaneous ships, including a captured golden battle-barge.

BISRANA: "We are ready. Let us take our revenge!" "We are ready. Let us take our revenge!"