The Unnamed Saga

Four Thrones

 

Mary, off-screen: “From the very start the people of Fiona found great comfort in violence. Their neighbors were hunters or farmers by trade, but Fionans were forever raiders. So much so that they once called their city Blackwell, worshipping war and death and sacrificing to it viciously.”

 

Show a map of the island of Albion, surrounded by a crescent of land that is the mainland, Fiona situated at the eastern side. A dark shadow spreads across the map with Fiona as its origin.

 

Mary, off-screen: “From its infancy, Fiona has been led by the Ferenn family, who won the right through the usual means: violence. Killing their way to the crown, they then built their throne on the corpses of the fallen.”

 

Show villages burning.

Show people being slaughtered, hungry soldiers in wolf pelts stabbing them with stone and twig spears or bludgeoning them with fat wooden cudgels.

Show an entire village bound by rope and chain, faces gaunt, arms thin, bearing wounds and lesions.

 

Mary, off-screen: Fiona spread as disease does: one village at a time. They subjugated their neighboring tribes and, as time went on, their neighboring cities. While others learned trades or practiced medicines, the Ferenns and those that followed them focused exclusively on war. They made weapons from wood and stone and from the people they felled, and just as mankind once stole their fate from the gods, Fiona, too, took the land from those who had cultivated it and reaped the rewards.”

 

Show the ruins of Red Wall, a fractured dome of glass and gold sitting in the center of water soiled by blood.

Show the ruins of Emeraldine, the sky a blazing red, the fountain dry, empty, and cracked.

Show ancient ruins scattered among the trees, grown over with moss and vine, skeletons scattered among the stones.

 

Mary, off-screen: “This was their way. This was their history. They knew only murder and how to inflict it upon others. But people don’t tell stories only about what is, do they? No, we speak always of what changes, and this story doesn’t end here, with the bloody hands of Ferenn’s Fiona, known more for its cemeteries than for its cities. No, things changed, as they often do, and the arbiter of that change was a single boy, a young prince with whom our story starts.

 

Show baby Zelos resting in the arms of a mysterious female, her frame slender, her hair long and curly.

 

Mary, off-screen: “Zelos Ferenn, fourth son of those who would next succeed the Ferenn throne. With his birth a change came to Fiona in the form of a new era, an era of peace, but things do not change easily. Fiona had one last city to take should they want to make Albion their own, and while the passing of the last king brought peace, Zelos’ parents took the throne intent to finish what was started. In this era of peace, however, they used diplomacy as their new weapon...”

 

Show Silvara, its castle seeming to glitter in the light of a full moon.

Cut to the Black Castle cast in the darkness, its hard angles an imposing figure that swallows the frame. Scattered lanterns light the night, showing pointed angles and square frames.

 

Mary, off-screen: “And this is where our story starts, in the winter and at a celebration held in honor of the unification of two people with very different histories. Before the story begins, allow me a piece of advice—and remember this, for you will be tested on it later—Fiona’s history is both long and violent, for that is its nature, and though Fiona is changing, it should be noted that change cannot and shall not come without cost.”

2: Chapter One: The Empty Throne

Chapter One: The Empty Throne

Open to a scene of the Black Castle at twilight, its form flat and dark. Behind it, twilight shows, the sun fading with starlight peeking in around the edges of the frame. In the fore is a long, flat wall that obscures the courtyard, illuminated from behind by lantern light. The sea can be heard in the background.

Show the courtyard. Decorations are set, lanterns laced and hung across the courtyard, tied to lantern posts. Noble lords and ladies walk the courtyard, toward the castle, dressed in fine robes and furs. Curtains are drawn across the windows.

Show the castle interior, a long room with a high ceiling. Pillars are evenly spaced, five thrones are set at the top. Large windows look out on the courtyard. Nobles mingle here. A chandelier glitters at the top of the screen. Tables are spaced along the room and piled high with food.

Show noble lords and ladies speaking, all well-dressed.

Show Katos’s son and wife together at the party.

Show attendants zipping around the partygoers, carrying platters of food. 

Show the five thrones of Fiona, the King’s throne at the center, with two thrones on each side. Four of the thrones are occupied, the King sitting at the center, leaning lazily on one fist. The thrones to his right are filled, with Kratos nearest, back straight, smiling broadly, and Metis beside him, long limbs stretched, legs folded, holding his staff in hand. To the king’s left, the nearest throne holds Eros, who is relaxed in his seat, both hands to the side, his legs folded casually. The farthest left throne is empty.

 

The King stands and taps his wine glass.

The King: “Attention, everyone. Attention, please.”

 

Show the party stop, all eyes having faced toward the king. Conversation dies.

 

The King: “Firstly, I would like to welcome you all to my home. As you know, today is a very special day in the long history of Fiona, and it has been very long in the making. We’ve faced trials and faced loss, and all of it has led us here, to this moment and to this night, and all of it will be made meaningfully by night’s end, I assure you

“There have been sacrifices made—and many, at that—to build Fiona into what it is today: the strongest nation in the world. These sacrifices have been required, of both our neighbors and ourselves, but the achievements of those great kings that came before us cannot be ignored. No, today we do not refuse our past but celebrate, instead, what it is to come.

“Tonight, we welcome into our halls a familiar guest: the eldest princess of Silvara, young Zara Estein. Tonight, she will not only be a guest, for she will be making this place her home very soon. Tonight, in fact, I will be announcing a marriage long in the making, a marriage that—I am convinced—will lead to the everlasting peace and prosperity of both our people. By night’s end, the princess will be engaged to one of my four sons, whom I am sure you are all quite familiar with.”

The King flourishes to the right.

The King: “To my immediate right, my eldest and bravest son, Prince Kratos.”

Show Kratos on his throne, his bearing regal. He smiles stiffly behind his beard.

The King: “Beside him, my next oldest and the wisest of my children, Prince Metis.”

Show Metis at his throne, at ease, legs crossed, his vest fitting tight to his thin frame, his clothes elaborate. He has a staff at rest between his legs, his hands folded at its crown.

Metis waves.

The King flourishes to the left.

The King: “To my immediate left, my second youngest and most charming of my children, Prince Eros.”

Show Eros on his throne, his outfit handsome, his hair curly. He winks.

 

Show women in the crowd giggling, flushed, fanning themselves.

 

The King: “And lastly, farthest left, is the youngest of my children, Prince Zelos!”

Show Zelos’ empty throne. Murmurs move through the crowd.

Show the King’s shock.

The King adopts a calm smile.

The King: “...Who is busy at the moment but will be joining us shortly. For now, enjoy yourselves, because the night’s celebrations have only just begun!”

The King abdicates his position and seeks the Head Steward.

 

Show the Head Steward—a hunched, elderly man with thinning hair and round glasses—standing beside a pillar with the folds of a curtain nearly encircling him.

The King pulls the Head Steward to the side, his rage showing in the scowl upon his face.

The King: “Where is he? Where has that Zelos gotten to now?”

 

The Head Steward: “If I am to be honest, my king, I am uncertain.”

 

The King: “And how is it that you are uncertain? I sent you to collect him nearly an hour ago.”

 

The Head Steward: “With all due respect, my king, you know how Zelos is. I found his room empty and assumed he had went for a brief walk. As the gala drew closer and closer, I came to realize that he was not returning and took it upon myself to seek him out.”

 

The King: “And?”

 

The Head Steward: “And, as you can see, I have yet to find him. At this point, I highly doubt that the prince is even within the castle walls.”

 

The King scoffs and looks off-screen. His beard is bristled.

The King: “Always like him.”

 

The Head Steward: “What shall we do, my king?”

 

The King: “We shall do nothing.”

 

The Head Steward looks shocked.

The Steward: “Excuse me, my lord?”

 

Show the King rub his beard.

The King: “Zelos will find his way back. He always does. For now, we need to act as if nothing is amiss. If asked, pretend as if Zelos is preoccupied but on his way. I trust him to return in due time. He knows how important the gala is, and it wouldn’t be in his nature to abandon us in our need.”

 

Show the Head Steward frowning uneasily.

The Steward: “Yes, my king. I am certain that you are correct.”

 

The King: “Undoubtedly. In fact, he is most likely returning to the castle as we speak.”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Zelos (tall and slender, with unruly hair) and Glenn (stout and muscular with a precise beard and a sword sheathed at his belt) standing on a fractured pillar, a forest in the background.

Show a large stone pillar jutting in the foreground, cracks showing, moss growing around it. Odd markings are etched into its form. There is a light layer of snow here. The sun is setting, being partially obscured by a broken dome in the distance.

Show Zelos marching forward with Glenn trailing. Zelos is smiling, Glenn is not.

 

Show Glenn look toward the sky.

Glenn: “We should head back.”

 

Zelos: “We’ll return home in due time.”

 

Glenn: “We’re late.”

 

Zelos: “I’m sure they haven’t noticed. My father has three other sons to occupy him.”

Show Zelos smiling back at Glenn over his shoulder.

Zelos: “Besides, Eros is the charmer, isn’t he? He can have the princess, which makes my presence redundant.”

 

Glenn: “You should at least make an appearance.”

 

Zelos: “And I will make an appearance. Later. After a nap, maybe.”

 

Glenn: “Zelos.”

 

Zelos: “Don’t stress the details. We’ll be back when we’re back. For now, forget the castle, the parties, and all this talk of marriage and focus on what is really important!”

 

Glenn: “And what’s that?”

 

Zelos points forward.

Show a small stone bridge, partially covered in ice and water, and leading to a distant doorway sunken into the mud, surrounded by frost.

Zelos: “Charting the course!”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to black. The sound of a door being rammed can be heard. Zelos grunts.

The door gives, giving a small shaft of light into a darkened room, exposing silhouette steps.

Zelos tumbles down the steps, stirring dust where he lands.

Zelos lands at the bottom of the steps, a cloud of dust rising around him.

Zelos sits straight and coughs.

 

Glenn, off-screen: “You okay?”

 

Zelos stands.

Zelos: “I am perfectly fine, thank you.”

Zelos dusts himself off.

Zelos: “Just had a bit of a scare is all.”

 

Glenn: “I told you to be careful.”

Beat.

Glenn: “Where are you?”

 

Zelos: I’m at the bottom of the starts. It’s as dark as night in here. Darker, even. I can’t see a thing.”

There is a gleam off-screen. Zelos peers into the shadows.

Zelos: “Actually, maybe I can. I’m going on ahead.”

 

Glenn: “No, you are staying put.”

 

Zelos: “Oh, Glenn, we both know that is not happening. I’ll see you when you get down here.”

Zelos steps into the darkness.

Show Zelos from the front, golden spheres of light appearing in the tunnel around him.

Show Zelos’ view from the back, a series of spheres lighting the way deeper into the tunnel.

Zelos stops to look at the spheres.

Show more spheres swelling into life deeper in.

Zelos: “...A bread crumb trail.”

Show Zelos from the front, looking back over his shoulder, his frame lit in gold.

Show Zelos walking from the front, deeper into the tunnel.

Show Zelos from the back. Hold this image as his gradually disappears into the darkness, the spheres shrinking alongside him.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Glenn descending the stairs.

Glenn stops at the base, hands on his hips.

Show the tunnel ahead, completely dark with the spheres missing. A rectangle of light is cut into the shadows, Glenn’s shadow at its center.

Show Glenn from the side, looking up the stairs.

Glenn looks forward. He sighs.

Glenn: “Damn it, Zelos.”

Glenn balls his fists. His jaw goes tight.

Glenn: “Sometimes...”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Show Zelos alone in a wide, domed corridor.

Show Zelos from above, entering an enormous, circular room. Spheres of light line the walls, illuminating the area in lush golden light. Water lines the wall, glittering, clean. Enormous piles of gold sit at the rooms center, spilling out into the water, gleaming.

Show Zelos looking up from the side.

Show the domed ceiling that was seen from outside, but now from inside, looking up at it.  The windows are broken, but light does not seep in. Stars can be seen through the haze of golden light.

Show the interior from Zelos’ view. The walls are embroidered with images of birds and flames. A sun is painted against the far wall and cut into the floor. Jewels hang from the ceiling, catching the light.

Zelos takes a single step into the room, marveled.

Zelos: “How has no one already found this?”

Zelos traces his hand along a statue of a bird. In the background, Glenn shouts his name.

Zelos looks back, his hand lingering.

Zelos looks forward, a glint of light catching his eye.

Show the mural of the sun, a jewel wedged into its center, gleaming red and gold.

Show Zelos side-profile, staring up at the jewel, hypnotized.

Hold this profile as the light surrounding him begins to fade. The light narrows to a point around him. One by one, the spheres of light go out. The light tightens along his body, leaving a faint glow as it disperses.

Show Zelos’ face, profile, as the light narrows along his face. The light narrows into his eye. Finally, the light is a pinprick going directly into his right eye.

Zelos’ eye turns gold while the screen goes white.

The light fades, giving way to darkness. Zelos’ eye glows in the darkness.

Show Zelos from the front, his eye aflame with golden light. Glenn is behind him in the entry way.

 

Glenn: “Zelos!”

 

Zelos turns to face Glenn.

Show a brief image of Zelos surrounded in darkness, his eye glowing.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to a carriage at the entrance to the Black Castle. The carriage is elaborately decorated, scrawling runes edged in silver across its surface. The image of a crescent moon is cut into the door. There is a statuette of a fox at its front.

Elsea steps out of the carriage door wearing a layered fur travel cloak with a plain dress underneath. A ribbon is tied about her waist. Her blond hair is done up into wide ringlets. She is a slender woman, tall, with a petite nose and full lips.

Elsea holds the door.

 

Zara exits the carriage wearing a similarly heavy travel cloak with an elaborate gown underneath. She wears gloves, and her aubun hair is piled in loops atop her head. Her body sparkles with jewelry and her figure shows through her grown, her stomach slightly protruding. She walks lightly in heels.

 

Elsea closes the door behind Zara.

Elsea lifts Zara’s gown train and trails after her.

 

Zara: “Hurry. We are late as it is.”

 

Elsea: “Yes, m’lady, my apologies.”

Show their journey across the winding paths through the courtyard, weaving through the statues and bushes.

They are met at the entryway by a steward.

The steward bows.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the ballroom from above. The party is still going. Music plays in the background but the sunlight has faded entirely. Candles are lit, and the nobility is noticeably drunk.

Show nobles from the ground, dancing and talking.

Show Eros leaned against a wall, speaking to a group of girls he has seemingly trapped. They are blushing and giggling.

Show Kratos dancing with his wife, his son at his heels.

Show Metis watching from his throne, leaning on his staff, wearing a thin smile.

Show the King in the corner, smiling and laughing with a few nobles he is speaking with.

 

The Head Steward approaches the King. The guests leave them.

The Head Steward: “My lord, I have word of Zelos’ return. Glenn was sighted at the prince’s door only moments ago. He gave word that the prince would be down shortly.”

The Head Steward smiles.

The Head Steward: “There is nothing to worry about.”

 

Show the King’s smile.

The King: “Worry? When was I worried? I told you that he would return, did I not?”

 

The Head Steward: “Of course, my lord. Still, I must admit he gave me a fright.”

 

The King laughs.

The King: “Well, then, return the favor to him and give him a fright that gets him down here. The princess will have arrived soon and will be needing her introduction...”

Fanfare plays, announcing the princess’ arrival.

The King: “Right now! Hurry, fetch the boy!”

 

The Head Steward bows.

The Steward: “Of course, my lord!”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the ballroom entrance where a second, younger steward stands.

Steward2: “Now introducing the first princess of Silvara, Princess Zara Yvonne Estein!”

Polite applause fills the room.

Party goers look toward the entryway.

Show Zara from the front, entering the castle with a perfect, practice smile. Elsea is at her heels, holding her dress, her head appearing just over Zara’s hair.

Zara waves as she descends the stairs, approaching the screen.

A nobleman from the crowd kisses her hand.

Another repeats this gesture while she greets a woman to the other side. A drunken noble nearby praises her beauty.

Zara smiles and fans herself.

The crowd parts, flanking the King.

The King takes a knee and kisses Zara’s hand.

 

Zara: “Oh my, Lord Ferenn, it hardly seems necessary for one of your rank to kneel before me.”

 

The King stands, smiling.

The King: “My rank is exactly what makes it all the more necessary, princess. There is nothing worse in this world than a monarch with poor manners.”

 

Zara laughs politely behind her gloved hand.

 

The King hooks her arm and walks with her.

The King: “Now, then, on to more important matters. I must say, you look stunning. It has been too long since we’ve seen each other, and you seem to have grown even more beautiful with the passing years.”

 

Zara: “And yet you are timeless, my lord. The same strong-jawed, sharp-eyed man I remember from my youth.”

 

The King laughs.

The King: “Hardly, but your flattery is appreciated. Why, if I were younger, I would look upon you to be my bride, perhaps.”

 

Zara: “And you say I flatter.”

 

Another laugh from The King.

The King: “You see right through me, my dear. Now, enough bothering from this old man. I have strapping children who are both more appropriate and also quite ready to spend the night flattering you.”

 

Zara looks out at the crowd.

Show a drunken noble wink at her while tipping his glass, spilling alcohol in the process.

Zara: “I fear there are many men who would care to flatter me tonight.”

 

The King laughs again, patting her hand.

The King: “Take it all in stride, princess. Your beauty will grant you many concessions in life, but all great gifts come with a price.”

 

Zara: “Oh, please don’t misunderstand me. I am not meaning to make complaint of any blessings the gods have granted me.”

 

The King: “Of course not, and now, you’ve spent enough time on me. Don’t let me monopolize you.”

 

They part, and Zara curtsies for The King.

The King bows in return.

Zara makes her way to the concession table with Elsea on her tail.

At the table, Zara glances back at Elsea.

Zara: “Elsea, you have a single task tonight. If you see that insufferable fool Zelos, you keep him away. I have little interest in this marriage nonsense, and I have none at all in that boy.”

 

Elsea: “Of course, m’lady.”

Zara starts picking at food from the table.

Show her mouth full, cheeks bulging, as Eros approaches from behind.

 

Eros: “Lady Estein?”

 

Zara turns with a mouthful of food.

Zara goes wide-eyed and chokes.

Zara swallows, curtsies, and coughs in quick succession.

Zara: “Lord Eros, I was just on my way to see you.”

 

Eros looks passed Zara at the concession table.

Eros: “I can see that.”

Zara blushes.

Eros: “But now you see me, I presume.”

 

Zara: “Quite.”

 

Eros: “Then allow me to ask: how was your journey, my lady?”

 

Zara: “It was long, but this gala is well worth the trouble. It is simply marvelous.”

 

Eros looks about the party.

Eros fixes his eyes on her.

Eros: “And it is all held in your honor, princess. My family thinks very highly of your nation.”

 

Zara: “Well, my nation thinks highly of your family.”

 

Eros laughs.

Eros: “That is quite kind of your nation.”

 

Zara smiles and laughs politely.

 

Eros: “I am sorry, princess, but I must ask—and tell me if I am being too forward—but have you any idea as to whom you would like to be married? As I am sure you are aware, there are three princes still available.”

 

Zara: “…Yes, I had heard, but I fear that decision is not mine to make.”

 

Eros: “Now, now, my father would not be so cruel as to refuse your wishes. Why, if you were to show favor for one son, I am certain that he would be understanding. He is a very kind man, as I am sure you know.”

 

Zara: “Yes. He is quite kind, your father.”

 

Eros slides forward, to where their bodies are close. He stares her in the eyes.

Eros: “I can be quite kind myself, my lady.”

 

Zara looks away. She is flushed.

Zara: “I...am certain you can be.”

 

Eros: “My, princess, I must say, I find the color in your cheeks most fetching.”

 

Zara: “You what?”

 

Eros touches her cheek lightly.

Eros: “Your cheeks, princess. I enjoy the color in them.”

 

Zara: “I...”

 

Metis, offscreen: “Princess Estein, if I could bother you for a moment.”

 

Zara: “O-Of course! I fear I am being called.”

 

Eros steps away and casts a hateful glance offscreen.

Eros: “I fear so as well. Perhaps we can continue this later.”

 

Zara: “Perhaps. Elsea, with me, please.”

Zara and Elsea quickly escape into a sea of people.

Zara: “That man makes my skin crawl. Maybe Zelos would be the best of them after all.”

 

Elsea: “You are forgetting Lord Metis, m’lady.”

 

Zara: “I am, but I find him so easy to forget. I do it so very often.”

 

Elsea: “He has always shown you great kindness and favor, m’lady.”

 

Zara rolls her eyes.

Zara: “That man shows any woman who looks upon him great kindness and favor.”

 

Elsea: “M’lady...”

 

Zara sighs.

Zara: “I know, I know, and your opinion is noted. Now then...”

Zara puts on a large, bright smile.

Zara curtsies before approaching Prince Metis.

Zara: “Prince Metis, I thought that was you calling for me.”

 

Metis smiles and kneels to kiss Zara’s hand.

Metis: “So it was. I saw my brother, and your uneasiness, and thought to free you of his...affections.”

 

Zara: “Ah, I am quite embarrassed about that. I hope you didn’t find my behavior unbecoming. Your brother is quite charming. I am simply unused to such open affection.”

 

Metis: “Princess, you needn’t be coy with me. My brother is aggressive in his pursuit of women, and he is doubly aggressive with you because of your strong will. He is not accustomed to rejection, you know, and is upset that he hasn’t been able to bed you in all these years.”

 

Zara blushes and shifts her weight.

She glances at Elsea.

 

Metis: “Though, as it stands, he may yet still bed you. Depending on father’s decision, of course.”

 

Zara: “Metis! I…I do not appreciate this subject, prince.”

 

Metis: “I do apologize, princess, and I hope that I haven’t spoiled the gala for you. After all, it is being held in your honor, is it not?”

 

Zara: “The gala is for our nations, lord.”

 

Metis polishes his staff with his hand dismissively.

Metis: “Quite. I would ask if you are enjoying yourself, but I fear you’ve hardly had the time to breathe in all this commotion.”

 

Zara’s expression softens.

Zara: “Oh, it hasn’t been so bad. Honestly, I am grateful for whatever attention I get.”

 

Metis: “Yes, I am certain you are. I saw you greet father upon your arrival. He is quite taken with you, you know.”

 

Zara: “Oh, you flatter me as he does. Your father is a great man, and I would consider myself lucky to have his interest.”

 

Metis: “I believe he feels the same way about you. In fact, I am certain that if he could just get you alone in his room, then he would just die.”

 

Show a dark purple glow in Zara’s eyes.

Zara smiles.

Zara: “I see. Well, it has been a pleasure, Metis, but I fear I must go.”

 

Metis: “I understand completely, lady, and I won’t bother you any longer.”

 

Zara curtsies.

Zara saunters off.

Show Metis bow his head lightly, Elsea staring at him in confusion from the side.

 

Elsea reaches out for Zara.

Elsea: “M’lady…”

 

Zara turns, pulling herself from Elsea’s grasp.

Zara: “If you could, wait by the concession table. I will be along shortly.”

 

Elsea: “…Yes, m’lady.”

Show Elsea from the back, Zara wandering off in a daze.

Show the King speaking with nobles and Zara approaching him from the side.

The Noble leaves as Zara draws closer.

 

The King turns and greets Zara.

The King: “Princess! How are you enjoying the party?”

 

Zara: “It is lovely, thank you, though I fear that I will be unable to pick between your sons, my lord.”

 

The King: “You find none fetching?”

 

Zara smiles demurely and toys with her dress.

Zara: “None so fetching as you, my lord.”

Zara looks about the court.

Zara leans in to whisper, her eyes glowing faintly.

Zara: “My lord, perhaps you know of a place in the castle where we can find a measure of privacy?”

 

The King looks momentarily taken aback.

The King smiles proudly and adjusts his belt.

The King: “Why, I must say that I am surprised, but not in the least unsettled, to hear this, and I happen to know the perfect place discuss this matter privately. Perhaps we may find you a man more suitable, should none of my sons impress.”

They hook arms again and leaves through a nearby stairwell.

 

Pull back to show Elsea watching them from the concession stand.

Elsea enters the crowd, moving haltingly

 

Cut to show Metis also watching the stairwell as they leave.

Metis smiles and stands.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

The King leads Zara down a hall. She is tight against him as they walk.

They take a turn.

They stop before a chamber in a darkened hall, the door flanked by two head-height torches still lit.

The King opens the door and ushers her in.

 

Show the castle interior. It is the King’s chambers. A large, canopied bed sets to one side. There is a table and a wardrobe tucked against one wall. Heraldry lines the walls. A candle stands lit on a bed table. A large painting is cast in shadows on one wall. Two swords are hung in the shape of an X on the wall. The King stands at the door.

The King takes a deep breath.

The King closes the door behind him while Zara walks the room, eying the decorations.

 

Zara: “Your chambers are a grand sight, my lord.”

 

The King: “Not so grand a sight as a beautiful young maiden as yourself.”

The King approaches Zara from behind.

Show the King and Zara standing together surveying the painting, which is obscured by shadows.

 

Zara: “This is the queen, is it not?”

 

The King: “It was the queen. She passed away long ago.”

 

Zara: “From illness, yes?”

 

The King: “Yes, but we needn’t think on her at this moment.”

 

Zara turns and looks up into the King’s eyes. Her face is close to his large chest. She is smiling.

Zara bites her bottom lip. The King shakes a bit.

 

The King flexes his hands.

The King reaches out to hug her while Zara flits away.

 

Show Zara looking up now at the ornamental swords on the mantel.

Zara: “And these blades. They are ceremonial, aren’t they?”

 

The King joins her.

The King: “They were gifts from the regent of Elba. On the day of his surrender, he handed them off to my father-in-law personally.”

 

Zara: “Are they sharp?”

 

The King: “As sharp as any blade ought be, I suppose.”

 

Zara: “I mean, are they sharp enough to pierce a man?”

 

The King: “I would assume so, though I’ve never tried.”

 

Zara reaches up and grasps a blade.

Holding the blade, Zara looks back at the King.

Zara: “May I?”

 

The King laughs.

The King: “If you can lift it, then feel free.”

 

Zara pulls the blade down and holds it with both hands.

Zara sways.

Zara: “It is quite heavy, I admit.”

Zara unsheathes the blade and stares at it.

Show the decorative surface, flowers etched into the blade, which shows her reflection, her eyes still outlined with dark purple.

Zara: “How impressive.”

The King approaches her from behind.

The King rests his hand on her shoulders.

Zara turns, burying the blade into the King’s stomach.

Show the King’s eyes wide, his jaw slack.

The King looks down and clutches his wound.

Zara: “And I would say that it is just sharp enough to pierce a man.”

The screen goes black.

Chapter End.

3: Chapter Two: Ghosts Underground

Chapter Two: Ghosts Underground

Open on Zelos on his bedroom floor. He has dark circles under his eyes and scrapes along his body and face. His clothes are torn and dirtied. There is a faint golden light under his left eyelid.

Zelos winces.

Zelos opens his eyes, groaning. His left eye is gold in color. His other eye is normal.

Zelos sits up holding his head on the left side.

Zelos: “What in the world?”

Zelos looks toward the window.

Show the window interior, a dark night beyond the panes.

Zelos looks around his room.

Show his bedroom from the floor. There is a small bookshelf to one side, a small fireplace against another wall, a wardrobe, and a table. There is a chest next to the bookshelf, opened, his travel cloak half-draped over the edge.

Zelos: “My room?”

Zelos looks to the door. Outside, there is the clanking of armor and shouting of soldiers.

Zelos: “What’s with all the noise? And what…”

Zelos closes his eyes and groans.

Show an image of yellow and orange flame, burning kindling sounding in the background.

Zelos flinches.

Show the image again, red eyes showing in the flames.

 

Cut to the open door of Zelos’ room, Glenn stepping through the threshold.

Show Zelos looking at Glenn from the floor.

Glenn draws a labored breath.

Glenn: “You’re awake!”

Glenn rushes to Zelos’ side, kneeling beside him.

Glenn: “Are you okay?”

 

Zelos: “More or less. What happened?”

 

Glenn: “You don’t remember?”

 

Zelos: “I’m asking, aren’t I?”

 

Glenn looks back to the door.

Glenn: “Can’t talk.”

 

Zelos: “You’ve taken a vow of silence then?”

 

Glenn sighs.

 

Zelos: “Right. I’m being difficult.”

 

Glenn helps Zelos stand.

 

Zelos: “Tell me something, at least.”

 

Glenn frowns and crosses his arms.

Glenn: “Not much to tell. We were exploring the ruins, you busted through the door, fell down the stairs…”

 

Zelos: “I remember that much.”

 

Glenn: “That’s all I know. You wandered off. I found you unconscious, carried you back, put you to bed.”

 

Zelos: “And you left me to recover?”

 

Glenn: “To find a doctor.”

 

Zelos looks around Glenn.

Show Glenn standing alone, arms crossed, frown creasing his bearded face.

Zelos: “Good job.”

 

Glenn stares.

 

Zelos: “Sorry. I’m feeling out of sorts. My head keeps throbbing.”

The movement outside grows heavier. The shouts grow louder. Zelos nods toward the door.

Zelos: “What about all that?”

 

Glenn: “Not sure. Castle’s in an uproar.”

 

Zelos: “And you, being captain of the guard, thought it best to come and ask for my opinion on the matter.”

 

Glenn: “I was checking on you.”

 

Zelos: “Yeah…Thanks. I’m well enough now, though. So, let’s see what all the commotion is about.”

Zelos leads Glenn into the hall.

Zelos looks left down the empty hall.

Zelos looks right to find Guards at the end of the hall.

Zelos: “Let’s ask them.”

Zelos chases the Guards, calling after them. Glenn follows.

Zelos approaches the two Guards.

Zelos: “Hey, what’s happening out here?”

 

Black Guard1: “There he is!”

Black Guard1 grabs Zelos and twists his arm behind his back.

Black Guard1 slams Zelos, face first, into the wall.

Black Guard1: “I’ve subdued the traitor!”

 

Zelos: “Ow! Wh-What in the hells do you think you’re doing? Get your hands off of me!”

 

Black Guard1 pins Zelos harder to the wall, and Zelos winces.

 

Glenn: “Report!”

 

Black Guard2: “Sir, we’ve subdued the traitor prince as commanded.”

 

Zelos: “I am no traitor! Let me go right now, dammit!”

 

Black Guard1: “Quiet!”

 

Glenn: “Explain.”

 

Black Guard2: “Sir, haven’t your heard? The King has been murdered.”

 

Zelos stops, shocked, his face pinned to the wall.

 

Glenn glances at Zelos.

Glenn: “The King has…? The prince is implicated?”

 

Black Guard1: “He was found over the King’s body!”

 

Black Guard2: “What he means to say is that prince Metis found prince Zelos and the visiting Silvaran princess standing over the king’s body. He tried to call for a guard but was subdued before he could.”

 

Black Guard1 leans into Zelos’ shoulder and whispers.

Black Guard1: “It explains why you were absent from the gala tonight, waiting in your father’s room.”

 

Glenn: “Let go. He’s innocent. I was with him all evening.”

 

The guards exchange glances.

 

Black Guard2: “Now that I think about it, you WERE absent as well.”

Black Guard2 places a hand on his blade.

Glenn strikes, punching Black Guard2 in the jaw.

Black Guard2 staggers while Glenn closes in.

Glenn knees Black Guard2 in the leather padding on his stomach.

Black Guard2 doubles over and coughs while Glenn elbows him on his exposed neck.

Shocked, Black Guard1 looses his grip on Zelos and reaches for his sword.

Glenn steps in and kicks in Black Guard1’s knee.

Glenn grabs Black Guard1’s head and slams it against the wall.

As Black Guard1 falls there is a bloody smear left on the wall.

 

Zelos stares at the bodies in horror, braced against the wall.

Zelos: “Glenn…My father, they…”

 

Glenn grabs the sword from Black Guard2’s body.

Glenn: “Zelos, grab his sword.”

 

Zelos: “My father. What in the world is…”

 

Glenn: “Zelos, the sword. Now.”

 

Zelos and Glenn make eye contact, Glenn’s brow knitted, focused; Zelos wide-eyed, frightened, and shocked.

Shaking, Zelos grabs Black Guard1’s sword.

 

Glenn helps Zelos to stand.

Glenn places his hand on Zelos’ shoulder. Zelos stares him despondently in the eye.

Glenn: “Zelos. I know a lot has happened, but you need to listen close. I am the Black Hand, the captain of the guard, and it is my job to protect the royal family. To do that, sometimes I prioritize members.”

 

Zelos: “Glenn, my father’s dead. What are you going on…”

 

Glenn: “I’m prioritizing you. I want you to understand that. I am going to protect you. So, if you listen, if you follow my every command, I will keep you safe.”

 

Zelos: “Glenn, I…I don’t know…”

 

Glenn sighs.

 

Glenn: “Neither do I, but if we stay here, you will die. That can’t happen. I won’t allow it. So, do whatever you have to. Shut down and let me lead you. We can figure it out later.”

 

Zelos takes a few deep breathes.

Zelos wipes his eyes.

Zelos: “Alright.”

 

Glenn: “Good.”

Glenn messes Zelos’ hair.

Glenn: “Let’s go.”

Glenn starts down the hall with Zelos following.

 

Zelos: “Where are we going?”

 

Glenn: “The chapel.”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Zara and Elsea running through the halls, Zara in the fore, Elsea in the rear. Zara’s dress and hands are stained with blood. Her eyes are puffy from crying.

They run down a stairwell down.

At the base they come to a stop.

 

Cut behind them, showing the hallway splitting into three directions.

Zara: “Which way now?”

 

Elsea points to the left.

Elsea: “This way, m’lady, hurry.”

Elsea takes Zara’s hand and leads her down the hall.

They reach the foyer and exit under the grand staircase which leads up on both sides.

They come to a stop in the center of the foyer with three guards waiting at the door. One has a blade drawn. The others hold their blades sheathed.

 

Black Guard3, with his blade drawn, approaches while the two beside him draw their swords.

 

Elsea pulls Zara into protection behind her.

 

Cut to Glenn and Zelos sprinting down another hallway.

Zelos stops and peers down the hall.

Show Zara and Elsea from the side, Black Guard3 approaching them.

Glenn joins Zelos.

 

Glenn: “What are you doing? Hurry.”

 

Zelos points down the hall.

Zelos: “I see Zara and Elsea down there.”

 

Glenn: “And?”

 

Zelos: “And they’re looking for her, too, aren’t they? Those guards will…”

 

Glenn: “Capture you both if we don’t go now.”

 

Zelos: “We can’t just leave her.”

 

Glenn: “I can if it keeps you safe.”

Glenn starts down his hall.

 

Zelos grabs Glenn by the hand.

Zelos: “She’s just as innocent as I am.”

 

Glenn: “We don’t know that.”

 

Zelos: “I do.”

 

Glenn looks down the hall.

Show Zara standing in the hall, the guards surrounding her.

Glenn: “She’s covered in blood.”

 

Zelos: “Glenn. It’s Zara.”

 

Glenn: “Maybe…”

 

Zelos runs off, leaving Glenn to watch from the hall.

 

Glenn grits his teeth.

Glenn: “Damn it.”

 

Cut to the foyer, showing Zelos running down the hall.

Zelos: “Stop!”

 

Black Guard3 looks up and over at Zelos’ approaching form.

Zelos enters the foyer and stops in front of Elsea and Zara.

 

Zara: “Zelos!”

 

Elsea: “Lord Zelos!”

 

Zelos looks back at them over his shoulder.

Zelos: “Are you two okay?”

 

Zara: “Zelos, I swear, I don’t…”

 

Zelos: “Why do you think I’m here?”

 

Black Guard3 grabs Zelos by the shoulder and turns him around.

Black Guard3: “Well, well, look what we have here, friends, the traitor prince himself.”

 

Black Guard4: “Looks like we’ll be the pride of the guard.”

 

Black Guard3: “It does, doesn’t it? Now, let’s just hope they don’t struggle and make us use…lethal force.”

Black Guard3 smiles while brandishing his blade.

Show the three guards closing rank, each with their swords drawn.

 

Zelos rests his hand on his blade while retreating toward Elsea and Zara.

The guards lift their blades, laughing. Glenn can be seen down the hall, approaching in the shadows.

Zelos: “Get back!”

Zelos rushes the guards with his blade partway out of its sheath.

 

Black Guard3 butts Zelos with the hilt of his blade, splattering blood across the floor.

Black Guard3 kicks Zelos after Zelos falls.

 

Zelos curls up and coughs, his sword left on the ground.

 

Black Guard3 kneels down and sneers at Zelos.

Black Guard3: “Now, you be good and let us handle the ladies.”

Black Guard3 pushes Zelos’ face into the growing pool of blood on the tiles while he stands. The other guards laugh behind him.

Black Guard3: “Always were a pain in the ass. Feels good to put him to the floor where he belongs.”

Black Guard3 delivers another kick into Zelos’ side.

 

Glenn enters the foyer with his blade ready.

Glenn: “Stop!”

 

All three guards turn, with Black Guards 4 and 5 lifting their blades.

Black Guard3 lowers his blade to Zelos’ throat.

 

Black Guard5: “Captain? What are you doing?”

 

Glenn: “Unhand him. Now!”

 

Black Guard5: “You mean that you…?”

 

Black Guard4: “Captain’s gone traitor like the prince. We capture him, and we’ll be heroes!”

 

Black Guard3 nods, his blade still to Zelos’ throat.

Black Guard3: “Right. Do you hear the man, captain? Put down your sword and save us the trouble of an honest rebellion, will you?”

 

Glenn: “You’ll spare him?”

 

Black Guard3: “We’ll keep him alive, at least, I can promise you that much.”

 

Glenn hesitates.

Glenn drops his blade and joins Elsea and Zara with the guards closing rank around him.

 

Black Guard3 lifts Zelos by the hair, Zelos’ face bloodied and bruised, straining for breath.

Black Guard3: “Please, I hardly touched you.”

 

Black Guard4 laughs.

Black Guard4: “That boy is so soft he probably doesn’t know the feel of another man’s fist.”

 

Black Guard3: “Would have listened better if the king had introduced him to it at an early age, if you asked me.”

 

Black Guard4: “Probably would have saved us this whole mess.”

Zelos’ head lulls while Black Guards 3 and 4 laugh. Black Guard5 looks uncertain.

 

Black Guard3: “Looks like he’s about to pass out. Wake up, will you?”

Black Guard3 lifts Zelos’ head, slapping his face.

He looks into Zelos’ face while laughing, blood on his glove. Zelos’ left eye glows golden-orange.

Black Guard3 squints into Zelos’ glowing gaze.

Black Guard3: “What in the world is wrong with your eye?”

 

Yellow-orange flames erupt from Zelos’ eyes, consuming Black Guard3’s face and fanning out.

Black Guard3 stumbles back screaming, clutching and clawing at his face. The flames eat his face to the bone. His burnt bone shows through the fire, which spreads across his hands and arms.

Black Guard3 collapses into a writhing mass on the floor, his voice fading. 

Show Zelos stumble away from a front angle, Elsea and Zara surrounding and catching him.

Black Guard4 steps forward while Black Guard5 watches 3 burn in horror.

Glenn intercepts Black Guard4, catching him by the arm and elbowing his forearm, snapping his bones apart.

Glenn grabs the sword from 4’s hand.

Glenn strikes 4 across the face with the butt of the sword.

Glenn steps sideways and kicks 3 in the chest.

5 staggers backward.

5 regains his footing.

5 attempts to strike from overhead but Glenn runs him through first.

Stunned,5 slides from Glenn’s blade as blood gathers on his lips.

Glenn turns to the group.

 

Show Zara kneeling beside Zelos, who is crouched and clutching his left eye.

 

Glenn joins them kneeling.

Glenn: “What happened? What’s wrong?”

 

Zelos: “I don’t know. My…My eye, it suddenly started burning. I can’t…”

 

Glenn: “Can you stand?”

 

Zelos nods.

Zelos: “Yes. I just…I’ll need help walking.”

 

Glenn: “Elsea?”

 

Elsea: “Of course!”

 

Glenn stands, helping both Zelos and Elsea to stand with him.

Glenn: “Thanks.”

 

Elsea smiles while pulling Zelos’ arm over her shoulder.

 

Zara: “I’ll get the door.”

 

Glenn: “No. There are more guards outside.”

 

Zara: “Then where do you suggest we go? Deeper inward?”

 

Glenn: “Yes. Follow me.”

 

Zara: “To where exactly?”

 

Glenn leaves.

 

Zara: “How dare you! I am Zara Yvonne Estein, first daughter of the throne of…”

 

Elsea: “With all due respect, princess, he doesn’t seem to be listening.”

 

Zara: “Well…Alright then!”

Zara gathers her skirts and follows.

 

Elsea, looking exasperated, and Zelos, looking sick, follow.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Show Glenn, Zara, Elsea, and Zelos coming down the hallway from the front.

Show them round a corner down another hall.

Show them stop at a wall with an ornate shield placed on it. This section of wall appears slightly newer than the rest of the castle.

Glenn examines the wall.

Zelos pulls himself from Elsea’s side, still wincing. Elsea follows nearby, watching him. Zara is at the rear.

 

Zara: “So, this was your plan, then? A wall. Why, thank you, Sir Glenn, for your level-headed heroics. They certainly wouldn’t think to look for us in a solid wall of stone.”

 

Elsea: “Well, they probably wouldn’t.”

 

Zelos grimaces at the two of them.

Zelos: “Are you two idiots?”

 

Zara: “Excuse me?”

 

Zelos: “Glenn clearly has a plan. Uh, right, Glenn?”

 

Glenn pulls the shield down, revealing fresh stonework.

Glenn examines the wall, feeling around the stonework.

Glenn pushes one stone in.

Glenn pushes in another stone.

Glenn pushes the wall open like a door. A small cloud of dust stirs at the base.

Glenn looks back at them.

Glenn: “Hurry.”

 

Zara pinches her nose while glancing inside.

Zara: “Sewers? You expect me to crawl through the sewers?”

 

Elsea: “Princess, there may not be much choice in the matter.”

 

Zara: “I suppose.”

 

Glenn: “Go.”

 

Zara glances at Glenn hatefully.

Zara looks back at the hole.

Zara: “Fine. I’ll go. But I still have my reservations.”

 

Zelos: “Didn’t have many reservations when I was stepping in to save your royal rear.”

 

Zara: “Quiet, you!”

 

Elsea: “Princess, they were kind enough to rescue us. If we could be kind enough to show them an expedient escape.”

 

Zara: “Kind? Desperate, more like.”

 

Zelos: “I, for one, am already regretting the decision.”

 

Zara stops, poised to enter.

Zara: “I told you to be quiet.”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to into the darkened sewer interior, a single shaft of light cutting into the darkness.

Two silhouettes appear in the shaft of light, splashing water as they land.

Zara and Elsea stand.

Zelos lands.

Glenn climbs down behind them, stopping to force the wall shut.

Glenn lands in the water.

Glenn feels about until he finds an old torch.

Elsea lights the torch with a flash of sky-blue light.

The blue light fades into normal light as Glenn takes the torch.

Glenn steps forward holding the torch. Zara peers into the darkness beside him.

 

Zara: “Where are we?”

 

Glenn: “Castle under passage. They were built with the castle as a means of escape should the castle fall.”

 

Zelos: “How did I not know about these?”

 

Glenn: “They were sealed up. King was afraid of thieves.”

 

Zara: “And what were his plans should the castle fall?”

 

Glenn: “Didn’t seem likely.”

 

Zelos: “He would never have believed that there would be a traitor in our ranks.”

 

Zara: “What do you mean?”

 

Zelos: “I…I didn’t mean you, Zara. I mean someone else, whoever is setting us up for the…the murder.”

 

Glenn: “Save it for later. Right now, we need to focus. Come on.”

 

The party walks darkened halls, sloshing as they go. Glenn leads with the torch overhead. Zara is at the rear, while Elsea and Zelos walk together in the center. The torchlight reflects off the wet walls, which are partially composed natural dirt and partially stone-crafted.

They descend a set of wooden stairs.

Zara slips and tumbles into a shallow pool of water.

Zara looks miserable and wet.

They continue into a large cavern.

The party stops behind Glenn, who holds the torch high.

Shadows form stalactites high above them. At the edge of the shadows is a mount of soil overgrown with moss and foliage. A stone ring surrounds it, runes etched into the stone.

Zara splashes through the water with the others trailing after her.

Zara falls heavily into the mud, her breath showing in puffs, scowling. The others take a nearby wooden walkway to join her.

 

Zara: “Finally, a place to rest my feet.”

Zara pours water from her left boot.

Zara: “Elsea, a long bath will be needed once we return to Silverthrone.”

 

Elsea: “Of course, m’lady.”

 

Glenn and Elsea help Zelos to sit in the dirt. The color in his left eye has dimmed, and he is no longer wincing.

Glenn: “We’ll rest for a moment.”

 

Zelos: “We don’t need to, you know. I can keep going.”

 

Glenn: “There’s no need to push. We need time to collect ourselves, anyway. These tunnels are unmapped.”

 

Zara: “Meaning that you’re lost.”

 

Glenn: “I’m unfamiliar.”

 

Zara: “And so that was your great escape plan? Leap into the sewers and scurry around like mice until we, hopefully, find an exit.”

 

Zelos: “Better than your plan to run straight into the cell.”

Zara glares at Zelos.

Zelos: “Thought so.”

 

Zara: “Would you like me to poke out your one good eye.”

 

Elsea: “Princess…”

 

Zara: “I mean to say, you are right, Zelos. I apologize, Sir Glenn. Events have left me…irritable.”

 

Zelos: “Events have nothing to do with it.”

 

Glenn: “Zelos, quiet. Apology accepted, Zara.”

Glenn walks the perimeter of the island while Elsea fusses over Zara, using her magic to warm the princess’ skin. Zelos sits on the stone, staring at the wall.

 

Zoom in on Zelos’ face, showing him squinting, his left eye glowing.

Zelos stands and surveys the area.

Zelos steps forward, toward the edge of the mound.

Zelos: “Glenn? Glenn! Come quickly!”

 

Glenn rushes to Zelos’ side.

Glenn: “Is it your eye?”

 

Zelos: “No, not my eye.”

Zelos points into the darkness.

Zelos: “It’s that.”

 

Glenn, standing next to Zelos, holds the torch out before them. Elsea and Zara both peek forward from where they sit, Zara replacing her boots while Elsea binds them.

Glenn: “What?”

 

Zelos: “The woman. Pinned to the wall.”

 

Glenn: “I can’t see the wall.”

 

Zelos: “You can’t?”

 

Mary, off-screen: “My, my, it seems you have the better night-sight, pumpkin.”

 

Glenn goes wide-eyed.

Glenn steps forward, one hand holding the torch, the other coming to rest on the hilt of his sword. Behind him, Zara and Elsea sit up, Elsea putting her body in front of Zara, sky-blue magic flaring around her palms.

Glenn: “Who’s there?”

 

Mary, off-screen: “A ghost, long forgotten by the good people of Fiona. And, it seems, forgotten by you, Sir Knight.”

 

Chapter End.

4: Chapter Three: Conspiracies

Chapter Three: Conspiracies

Zelos sits on the stone while Glenn walks the perimeter and Elsea fusses over Zara.

Zelos stands and squints into the darkness.

Zelos steps forward, to the edge of the stone ring.

Zelos: “Glenn? Glenn! Come quickly!”

 

Glenn rushes to Zelos’ side

Glenn: “Is it your eye?”

 

Zelos: “No, not my eye.”

Zelos points into the darkness.

Zelos: “It’s that.”

 

Glenn, standing next to Zelos, holds the torch out before them. Elsea and Zara both peek forward from where they sit, Zara replacing her boots while Elsea binds them.

Glenn: “What?”

 

Zelos: “The woman. Pinned to the wall.”

 

Glenn: “I can’t see the wall.”

 

Zelos: “You can’t?”

 

Mary, off-screen: “My, my, it seems you have the better night-sight, pumpkin.”

 

Glenn goes wide-eyed.

Glenn steps forward, one hand holding the torch, the other coming to rest on the hilt of his sword. Behind him, Zara and Elsea sit up, Elsea putting her body in front of Zara, sky blue magic flaring around her palms.

Glenn: “Who’s there?”

 

Mary, off-screen: “A ghost, long forgotten by the good people of Fiona. And, it seems, forgotten by you, Sir Knight.”

 

Zelos: “Glenn, it’s her. It’s the woman pinned to the wall. Here, give me the torch.”

Zelos steals the torch from Glenn’s grasp.

Zelos wades into the water, splashing toward the far wall.

 

The light of the torch bounces off of the wet wall while Glenn, Elsea, and Zara watch from the center of the cavern.

Elsea and Zara watch in tense silence.

Glenn steps forward, staring into the dark.

The shadows on the wall show a vague outline of Mary’s slender body, suspended.

Show her arms pinned to the wall by jagged spikes, her dress stained and frayed. Her long, dark hair hangs over her body. She appears to be crucified against the wall.

Glenn loses his grip on his sword and stares slack jawed.

Glenn: “You.”

 

Mary: “So, that is you, Sir Glenn! And how you’ve grown. Filled out in the shoulders. I dare to say that the young boy I once knew has grown full into a handsome young man.”

 

Zelos stops at a mound of earth by the wall and looks back.

Zelos: “Glenn, who is she? And why is she staked to the wall?”

 

Glenn: “She’s a ghost, like she said.” 

Glenn closes his eyes tight, frowns.

Glenn: “I didn’t even think…”

 

Mary: “Fear not, for you are not alone in forgetting me. In point of fact, I must admit, I am most like little more than a cautionary tale told by mothers to keep their children in doors at night.”

 

Zelos: “What are you two on about?”

 

Glenn: “She’s the Red Witch, Zelos. A murderer. A traitor to the throne. We couldn’t kill her, so we locked her down here and wrote her out of the history books.”

 

Mary: “What a nice, safe story for all the children, but I assure you both, the truth is far more complicated than the fiction.”

 

Zelos: “And how come I’ve never heard of this?”

 

Mary: “Why, because you were naught but a pink-cheeked little boy, not even a child. At that time, you were more fond of tugging my hair than hearing my stories. You would chew it, as well, though at the time it wasn’t nearly so filthy.”

 

Glenn: “Let’s go. We’ve rested long enough.”

 

Zelos: “What? Glenn, no. We’re not just leaving her here.”

 

Glenn: “We are.”

 

Zelos: “We need to find a way to get her down.”

 

Glenn: “No.”

 

Zelos jams the torch into a stand.

Zelos starts up the wall.

 

Glenn: “Stop!”

 

Zelos: “Why?”

 

Zara: “Perhaps because she’s a murderer, you fool!”

 

Zelos: “Apparently, so are we.”

 

Zara: “Oh, this is hardly the same.”

 

Zelos: “She says the truth is more complicated. Considering our circumstances, I am inclined to believe her. Besides, we aren’t really in a position to be turning down help so easily, are we?”

 

Glenn: “I was there, and I promise, it isn’t as complicated as she says. I saw her do it with my own eyes.”

 

Zelos: “She can use magic, Glenn, a fact which you told me with your own mouth.”

Zelos reaches Mary and seizes one of her bindings.

Zelos hesitates, looking Mary in the eyes.

 

Mary smiles.

Mary: “Fret not, dear. These silly little things are simple tools what keep my magic contained.”

 

Zelos: “It won’t hurt?”

 

Mary: “It won’t kill.”

 

Zara steps out from behind Elsea, scowling, fists at her side, screaming.

Zara: “Zelos! You stop that right now and come down. We have enough trouble as it, we don’t need anymore added to it!”

 

Zelos plants his feet to the wall and pulls.

Zelos: “She can help us!”

 

Zara: “And how might she do that? By turning us all to toads while we sleep?”

 

Mary: “I assure you, princess, were I to turn you to toads, I would not be so cowardly as to wait until you are sleeping.”

 

Zara huffs.

Zara: “Ridiculous!”

 

Zelos: “You know the old adage, Zara: an enemy of an enemy is a friend.”

Zelos pulls.

The stake gives way with a spray of blood, dropping Zelos into the water below.

Glenn wades into the water, splashing on his approach to Zelos.

Mary screams on the wall, her arm free, blood gushing down her arm and soiling the wall.

Her forearm heals in a flash of red light.

Zelos surfaces, Glenn helping him to stand.

They stand together and look up at Mary.

Zelos: “That’s one.”

 

Zara: “I, for one, cannot…”

 

Elsea: “With all due respect, m’lady, Zelos may be right.”

 

Zara and Glenn: “What?”

 

Elsea: “I mean to say, we don’t know the details of her crimes and…”

 

Glenn: “I do.”

 

Elsea: “Be that as it may, this can now be considered enemy territory, and it is as the prince says, an enemy of an enemy…”

 

Glenn: “We’re not talking about this.”

 

Zelos: “Because it’s already done. Too late to argue now.”

 

Glenn: “I was arguing from the start!”

 

Mary: “Boys!”

Everyone looks up at Mary.

Mary flexes her free hand, smiling viciously.

Mary: “I would move were I you.”

Runes written across Mary’s flesh flash bright red. The room is filled with red light.

 

Zelos and Glenn go wide-eyed.

Zelos and Glenn rush away from the wall, Glenn pushing Zelos forward as they run.

 

Mary presses her gleaming palm flat to the wall. Magic spreads through the wall, creating a spiderweb of blood red light.

The stones part in an explosion of dust.

The stones crumble behind her.

Mary drops slowly onto the debris, her body still glowing red.

Mary lands and draws the remaining stake from her left wrist.

Mary drops the stake into the water, her left arm healing in a flash of red light. She stares at the party.

 

Elsea and Zara stare in shock.

Glenn and Zelos stare up at her from the water, Glenn doubled over, Zelos on his back and up to his neck in the water.

 

Mary rolls her right wrist.

Mary: “Now then, where to boys and girls?”

 

The party stares a moment longer.

Everyone looks at Glenn.

 

Glenn straightens up and sighs.

Glenn: “First, we need to find a way out of here.”

Glenn points to the left.

Glenn: “There should be an exit up there. You three go ahead. I need to speak with her in private.”

 

Mary: “Only just reunited and already trying to get me alone. My, you’re not so gallant as I remember, then.”

 

Zelos: “Glenn?”

 

Glenn: “No arguments.”

 

Zelos sulks toward the exit with Zara stomping after him. Elsea waits.

 

Glenn: “I’ll be fine. Watch those two, please.”

 

Elsea nods.

Elsea leaves.

 

Mary: “Pretty thing. And sweet, too.”

 

Glenn: “What do you know of sweetness?”

 

Mary: “Tsk, tsk, Sir Knight. No need to be rude. After all, we are friends now, aren’t we?”

 

Glenn: “The prince trusts you. I know you.”

 

Mary: “Yes, you do, and you know very well what I am capable of. So, mind that, and mind your tone for good measure.”

 

Glenn: “I won’t fight you.”

 

Mary: “That is most like in your best interest.”

Mary bursts into laughter.

Mary: “Sir Knight! I am joking. I harbor you no ill will, of that I can assure you.”

 

Glenn: “Then what do you want?”

 

Mary: “Why, whatever do you mean?”

 

Glenn: “Just what I ask.”

 

Mary walks carefully down the rubble.

Mary: “Seems a strange question, that. I have many plans, all of varying degrees of urgency. Most immediately, I would like a hot bath, a warm meal, and a change of clothes.”

 

Glenn: “And then?”

 

Mary: “Mayhap a haircut.”

Mary examines her hair closely.

Mary: “What think you? Would short hair better suit me, or do you like how long it has gotten?”

 

Glenn: “You’re evading the question.”

 

Mary: “No, I am evading answers you aren’t ready for.”

 

Glenn grabs her by the wrist.

Glenn: “I won’t let you hurt the prince.”

 

Mary stares at him a moment.

Mary jerks away her right hand while conjuring magic in her other hand.

Glenn is thrown to a wall, held suspended in an aura of red light. Red blades of light form in the air and hover about his body, one pressed to his throat.

Mary: “Never think to restrict me again!”

Glenn holds her gaze.

Mary laughs and drops him back into the water.

Mary: “I see you’ve taken to your oath quite ardently, haven’t you? Fear not, for I have no issue with the little pumpkin. After all, he is not the one who sealed me down here.”

 

Glenn stands, soaked.

Glenn: “You promise?”

 

Mary: “I swear it on my life, and I’ve quite a long life, I assure you. I shan’t harm a hair upon his handsome little head. Now that we have that settled, I’ve questions of my own.”

 

Glenn crosses his arms

Glenn: “Yes?”

 

Mary: “The princess, covered in blood. The prince making claims of being branded traitor. Your flight from the castle, the very place where all parties involved should be most safe. It is all—Curious. Exactly what has transpired on this night?”

 

Glenn: “Long story.”

 

Mary: “Go ahead. After all, you should know well my affinity for stories.”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Zelos, Zara, and Elsea walking a wooden path along the wall. Zelos carries the torch before him. Zara walks in the rear with her dress lifted, shivering.

 

Zara: “Do you think we should go back for him?”

 

Zelos: “Why would we? We haven’t found an exit yet.”

 

Zara: “I know, but that woman is a lunatic. You saw how she smiled before she tried to crush you.”

 

Zelos: “Oh, she’s fine.”

 

Zara: “She’s unstable, and I don’t understand why you’re so insistent on trusting her.”

 

Zelos: “She’s never done anything to me. Besides, she could have killed us all as soon as she got free, and she didn’t.”

 

Zara: “And that is your criteria for a good person? Not killing us?”

 

Zelos: “It’s a place to start. Anyway, I’ve only known her for a few minutes, and I already like her better than you.”

 

Zara: “I should say the same about you!”

 

Elsea points ahead.

Elsea: “Sunlight!”

 

Show a small shaft of light cutting into the darkness, merging with the light from the torch.

Zelos covers his eyes and peers ahead.

 

Zelos: “It’s distant, but it is light. We should head back.”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Glenn and Mary, Mary sitting on the rubble, legs crossed and kicking the water idly. Glenn stands with his back to the wall, arms crossed, staring at her.

Glenn: “And that’s it.”

 

Mary: “An assassin princess, a traitor prince, and a dead king. Myths are made of such things, you know.”

 

Glenn: “Nightmares.”

 

Mary laughs.

Mary: “You don’t honestly believe that girl killed the king, do you?”

 

Glenn: “I don’t know what to believe.”

 

Mary: “Then why take the time to save her.”

 

Glenn: “I didn’t.”

 

Mary laughs again.

Mary: “It seems that young man is intent on saving the entire world.”

 

Glenn: “It does.”

 

Mary: “It does leave the question, however: if they are innocent, then who is guilty?”

 

Glenn: “Don’t know. Right now, we focus on escape.”

 

Mary stands, smoothing her dress.

Mary: “Ah. There is something that we can agree on.”

 

Glenn stands.

 

Zelos, off-screen: “Glenn! We found an exit!”

 

Glenn: “That was fast.”

 

Mary: “Escape routes are hardly effective should the exit be well-hidden.”

 

Zelos, Zara, and Elsea enter the chamber.

They stop, Zelos in the lead with the torch.

Zelos: “We found the exit.”

 

Glenn: “We heard.”

 

Zara peeks out around Elsea’s side.

Zara: “Are you two done talking?”

 

Glenn looks at Mary, who smiles back at him, waving.

Glenn: “More or less.”

 

Mary: “Fear not, princess, the good Sir Knight has been most becoming, and I think we shall get along famously from this point on.”

 

Zara: “So you ARE coming then?”

 

Elsea: “Princess, please be kind.”

 

Mary leans forward toward them.

Mary: “No, let the girl speak her mind. I enjoy my prey most when they are feisty.”

 

Zara recoils behind Elsea.

 

Glenn frowns.

Glenn: “Mary.”

 

Mary: “Yes, yes, on my best and all. I know. Now, then, let us retire from this musty old place. I’ve seen enough of it to last a lifetime, and I fear my hair would be quick to agree.”

They walk together toward the tunnel exit.

Hold this image of their backs and fade to black.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Open to a cavern mouth in the woods. The trees are bare, snow is on the ground, a small stream nearby is frosted over. The sun is rising over the trees.

Show trees in the forest, spindly and dark, snow weighing down their branches.

Show a single bird hopping in the snow.

The bird takes off.

Show Zara sitting on a fallen log, curled up for warmth. Zelos stands nearby, staring out through the forest, sulking.

Glenn, Elsea, and Mary talk a short distance away.

Glenn: “Selim is close. It’s a small farming community, but traders stop there on their way to the castle. They sell leathers and sundries, so we can resupply. Elsea, how much money did you bring?”

 

Elsea: “We have enough for supplies. What should I get?”

 

Glenn: “New clothes, packs, rations if there’s enough.”

 

Elsea: “There should be.”

 

Zelos: “I still don’t see why I can’t go.”

 

Mary: “Oh, dearest pumpkin, we’ve told you already: royalty are icons. You’d be recognized the minute you set foot onto those muddy, ice-packed streets. The maiden and myself, however, will remain entirely invisible.”

 

Zelos: “You’re just as well-known as I am.”

 

Mary: “Once upon a time, mayhap, but it has been well-over a decade since I have made myself known, and never so far out. No, I will be fine, that much I can assure you.”

 

Zara: “Let it go, Zelos. You’ll just have to sit out for once.”

 

Zelos: “Easy for you to say. You’re happy just sitting around on your royal rear.”

 

Mary laughs and Zara glares at her.

 

Glenn: “We need to wait until we have new clothes at least, Zelos. Dressed as we are now, the villagers will recognize us instantly.”

 

Zelos: “Whatever.”

 

Glenn: “Mary, I’m asking kindly: best behavior.”

 

Mary: “That’s hardly a request.”

 

Glenn: “Please.”

 

Mary: “Oh, don’t concern yourself overmuch. The good lady will be there to keep me in line, of that, I am sure.”

 

Elsea stammers, looking anxiously at Mary.

 

Mary: “What is that? Do not pretend. As skilled a magician as you are, I ought be frightened of you.”

 

Elsea: “Let’s be off. The sooner we leave, the sooner we return.”

 

Mary: “My, you are an industrious one, aren’t you?”

 

Elsea blushes.

 

Mary: “And the way you flush! My heart, do be still!”

 

-Four Thrones-

 

Show the castle overcast, pale snow clouds hanging low and heavy in the sky.

Show the sea, dark and shifting gently, wetting the docks.

Show the castle gate where the Black Guard stand ready. Two guards stand on each side of the gate, one with his head drooping, bags under his eyes. The other stands straight. Their breaths appear in puffs of fog.

Show the courtyard, the flower beds bare, the fountain off, the trees thin and spindly. Soldiers move about the courtyard, all dressed in leather armor or dark plates, each carrying a sword and shield or short bow.

Show the busy hallways, stewards and soldiers passing each other.

Show the King’s bedroom, where the King has been put to rest, his hands still bloody. He is pale now. Metis stands at his side, head hung low, tracing his fingers along the King’s arm.

Metis: “Despite everything, I will miss you, you old fool.”

Metis produces a rolled parchment from inside of his robes.

Metis places the parchment in the King’s robes to where it will be visible.

Metis wipes the tears from his eyes while someone knocks at the door.

Metis looks to the door.

Metis: “Enter.”

 

Black Guard6 enters the room and salutes.

Black Guard6: “Prince Metis, sir.”

 

Metis: “Yes?”

 

Black Guard6: “We’ve searched the castle and the surrounding areas. There is no trace of them, sir.”

 

Metis: “And the guests?”

 

Black Guard6: “We’ve searched their caravans as they were leaving and are confident that none of them are harboring the fugitives. Somehow they just…disappeared.”

 

Metis: “I highly doubt that they could simply disappear.”

 

Black Guard6: “O-Of course, my lord. I apologize. I was…”

 

Metis approaches the guard and puts a hand on the guard’s shoulder.

Metis smiles gently.

Metis: “Be calmed. I was simply thinking aloud. I know you and yours are doing your best to find them, and if anyone can find them, it is the Black Guard.”

 

Black Guard6 smiles back.

Black Guard6: “We will certainly do our best, my lord.”

 

Metis: “I know you will.”

 

Eros, off-screen: “Metis, have you heard? The guard has found…”

 

Eros and Kratos stop at the doorway.

Metis and Black Guard6 look toward the doorway.

Metis pats Black Guard6’s arm.

Metis: “Now then, you’ve work to do. I won’t keep you.”

 

Black Guard6 bows.

Black Guard6: “Yes, my lord. Thank you.”

Black Guard6 bows to each of the princes.

Black Guard6 leaves.

 

Eros: “Has he any better news?”

 

Metis: “Unfortunately, no. From what they can tell, the fugitives disappeared into the air.”

 

Eros kicks the wall.

Eros paces.

Eros: “Impossible! If they are not in the castle, then they escaped with one of the so-called guests. I say we call back each one and force the information from them!”

 

Kratos puts his hand on Eros’ shoulder.

Kratos: “Calm down. The soldiers are working themselves to the bone. Zelos and Glenn are each cunning in their own right. It isn’t impossible to think that they would find a way to escape.”

 

 

Metis: “Have you any insight, then, Kratos?”

Kratos: “Yes. One. Do you recall the old tunnels beneath the castle?”

 

Metis smiles.

Metis: “Ah, yes! The ones you played in as a child? Glenn closed them off upon becoming the captain of the guard, didn’t he?”

 

Kratos rubs his beard.

Kratos: “Those would be the ones, yes.”

 

Eros: “I know nothing of any such tunnels.”

 

Metis: “You would have been too young to remember, but there were escape tunnels built beneath the castle. Originally, they were meant to grant passage to fleeing royalty, but in the modern ages they were converted to sewers as a stable peace had taken the land.”

 

Eros: “And you two think that they escaped through those tunnels?”

 

Kratos: “Most likely.”

 

Metis pats Kratos’ arm.

Metis: “And they say that I am most clever.”

 

Eros: “If we know their escape route, we should send soldiers down to capture them immediately.”

 

Kratos: “That would be a waste. By now they would have cleared the tunnels. Sending soldiers down would only strain resources.”

 

Eros: “So, instead we should stand and talk about the problem?”

 

Metis: “Calm yourself, Eros. Hasty action often makes for poor decisions. Recall, if you will, the tale of the tortoise and the hare.”

 

Eros: “Oh, come off it, Metis. Children’s stories won’t capture them. Effort will!”

 

Kratos steps between Metis and Eros.

Kratos pins Eros to the wall.

Kratos: “And bickering only wastes the time you’ve concerned yourself with. So, mind your tongue!”

 

They part.

Eros sulks against the wall.

 

Kratos steps away.

Kratos: “If I am to be honest, I still can’t believe everything that has happened.”

 

Metis: “Neither can I, but I saw the girl impale him with my own eyes.”

 

Kratos: “And I do not doubt you. What I can’t comprehend is Zelos. Why would he betray our father—his father? What would he have to gain?”

While they talk, Eros busies himself in the background.

 

Metis: “I have the same question myself.”

 

Eros: “What’s this in father’s robe?”

 

Metis and Kratos look to the body.

Metis: “A parchment, it seems.”

Metis pulls the scroll from the King’s body.

Metis unrolls it.

Metis: “It is…It’s his will.”

 

Kratos and Eros make eye contact.

Kratos: “We should wait. He is not even properly buried yet, and we have other concerns.”

 

Eros: “I think we should read it now.”

 

Metis: “I agree with Eros. Perhaps there’s a clue to this tragedy within these words.”

 

Kratos: “…Perhaps.”

 

Metis unrolls the parchment entirely.

Metis examines the parchment closely.

Metis: “Oh. Oh my…”

 

Eros: “What? What does it say?”

 

Metis: “It…”

Metis looks away, handing off the parchment to Kratos.

 

Kratos reads the will closely.

Kratos: “…It says that Zelos was to be named heir upon the King’s death.”

The room goes quiet.

 

Eros punches the wall while Kratos rolls up the parchment slowly.

 

Kratos: “Truth be told, I am not entirely surprised.”

 

Eros: “Father always did favor the bastard.”

 

Kratos: “I thought I told you to watch your mouth! Zelos is our brother, regardless of how…”

 

Eros: “Zelos is a murderer! Just the same as his little bitch, Zara!”

 

Kratos: “Don’t you dare speak to me like that!”

 

Metis steps between Kratos and Eros.

Metis: “Calm down, both of you! Our family has suffered enough violence as is. Now is the time for cooperation, not conflict.”

 

Eros: “How can I cooperate with Kratos when he refuses to see reason?!”

 

Metis turns to Eros.

Metis: “Quiet! Kratos is eldest, and if for nothing else, show him respect for that.”

 

Eros: “But…”

 

Metis: “Eros, perhaps it is best if you leave to collect yourself.”

 

Eros stares at Metis for a moment. His eyes go dark purple.

Eros sighs.

Eros leaves, slamming the door behind him.

 

Kratos holds the will tightly in his large hands, staring at the floor. 

Kratos lifts his gaze as Metis turns to speak with him.

 

Metis: “He has quite the temper.”

 

Kratos: “He has always been passionate.”

 

Metis: “Yes, but that does not make him wrong.”

 

Kratos: “So, you would betray our brother as well?”

 

Metis: “No, I will not betray him. Rather, I refuse to suffer his betrayal.”

 

Kratos: “We don’t know that…”

 

Metis: “However you might ignore it, Eros was right in saying that father favored Zelos. Grant me that much at least.”

 

Kratos: “Yes, but that doesn’t make him a murderer. What would he have to gain in murdering the man who gave him everything?”

 

Metis pulls the will from Kratos hands.

Metis holds up the unrolled, wrinkled parchment of the will.

Metis: “The throne.”

 

Kratos: “And Zara?”

 

Metis: “Just as father favored Zelos, so he also favored him with the young princess. With father dead, Zelos would have been made king by morning, and Zara would have been queen at his side in short time.”

 

Kratos sighs.

Kratos: “But, he was always so gentle.”

 

Metis: “He was impulsive. When he saw something, he took it without thought, and this time his impulses went too far. He saw the throne, convinced the princess to kill the king, and his brashness brought the entire plan tumbling down.”

 

Kratos: “He is our brother!”

 

Metis hugs Kratos.

Metis holds Kratos at arm’s length and looks him sternly in the face.

Metis: “Perhaps that was once true, but now he is a traitor no different than the Red Witch.”

 

Kratos straightens up, his jaw tight.

Kratos wipes his eyes.

Kratos: “If you’re right, then where do we go from here?”

 

Metis: “We bring him to justice.”

 

Kratos: “And the kingdom? Who will rule it?”

 

Metis: “That is a complex issue not easily solved. Once Zelos is punished, we will address it formally, but no time before.”

 

Kratos: “Someone must rule, Metis.”

 

Metis: “Considering things, I would argue that the kingdom is rightfully yours.”

 

Kratos pauses.

Kratos turns to look at his father.

Kratos: “I…would be king?”

 

Metis: “In due time, yes. For now, we must organize a proper search and put those traitors down.”

 

Kratos stares at the King’s dead body.

Kratos turns to Metis.

Kratos: “Metis, I am a hunter and a soldier unfit for lordly duties.”

 

Metis: “Then what will you do, brother?”

 

Kratos: “What I know. I will hunt Zelos and bring him to justice myself.”

 

Metis: “But, Kratos, we have soldiers for that task. You needn’t take yourself out into this cold winter.”

 

Kratos: “I disagree.”

Kratos goes to the King’s side.

Kratos pets the King’s hair.

Kratos: “I must do this. For him.”

 

Metis: “So, you would hunt your own brother.”

 

Kratos: “Zelos is no brother of mine. You and Eros both have made that clear to me.”

 

Metis places his hand on Kratos’ shoulder from behind.

Metis: “Father was proud of the man you became, Kratos. The throne should be yours, and it will be yours, when you are ready to take it. Until then…”

 

Kratos: “You and Eros will tend to it. For now, I must go and prepare. See my wife and child one last time before I leave.”

Kratos looks at Metis.

Kratos grabs Metis’ hand on his shoulder and squeezes it.

Kratos: “Be well, brother.”

 

Metis: “And you.”

Metis watches Kratos leave.

 

Fade to black.

Chapter End.

 

5: Chapter Four: Horizon

Chapter Four: Horizon

Open on the village of Selim. The Black Castle looms in the background, a dark, imposing figure rising like a mountain. The sun rises over the castle, peeking over its broad, dark shoulder. It is still morning. Snow has dusted the town. The main street is empty, save for a few traders rising for the day.

Show an inn filled with travelers, horses and carts bound and waiting. Through the window, people can be seen preparing inside, eating and drinking as they start their day.

Show vendors plying their wares while other stalls open.

Show a small crowd forming, a mixture of ages. Small children weave through the bodies with ease. Some adults reprimand the children as they pass but the children laugh.

Show Mary and Elsea among the crowd. Elsea carries a large basket filled with supplies and a satchel over her shoulder. Mary walks with her hands free and surveys everything with a smile.

Elsea stops at a bakery and examines their goods through a window. Mary stops beside Elsea, back to the bakery.

 

A small child stops and looks at Mary, who smiles at the child.

Mary holds out her hand.

A sphere of red light forms in Mary’s palm.

The sphere splits.

The sphere spreads.

The sphere blossoms into a flower of red light.

The child marvels.

The child sprints off.

Mary closes her palm, her smile broadening.

Mary: “So, then, the young knight what we travel with.”

 

Elsea pays a merchant.

Elsea: “Yes?”

 

Mary: “He’s quite comely, don’t you think?”

 

Elsea blushes and moves to the next stall. Mary follows closely.

Elsea: “D-Do you think? I hadn’t noticed.”

 

Mary laughs.

Mary: “But haven’t you? Why, judging from your approving glances I had thought so. Most curious.”

 

Elsea moves to another stall. Mary moves with her.

 

Mary: “How bashful you are. Becoming, yet unnecessary. Our time together may be short, but we shall travel far in the days to come. You needn’t keep a thing from me. So, I free you to give air to the issue.”

 

Elsea: “With all due respect, miss, it hardly seems the time to discuss such…trivial things.”

 

Mary: “Trivial? I hadn’t considered that. Mayhap you are right. What shall we discuss then? The colorful nature of our companions the rebel prince and the regicide princess?”

 

Elsea: “Ah…”

 

Mary: “There is little about this situation as a whole what is appropriate for public discussion. So, I say we make light and discuss the nature of the princess’ blushing handmaiden what follows her so closely. Indulge me, if you would.”

 

Elsea purchases some bedrolls and hands them off to Mary.

Elsea: “Maybe silence would be best.”

 

Mary: “But it would hardly seem normal, would it? Two beautiful maidens—one quite young—such as ourselves out and about, buying travel gear and rations and yet not keeping even idle conversation.”

 

Elsea: “Not all women gossip.”

 

Mary: “My, it seems the times have changed indeed since my incarceration.”

 

Elsea leaves. Mary rushes after, arms filled with bundles.

 

Mary: “Fine, fine, we shan’t speak of the chivalrous knight what came to our combined rescue.”

 

Elsea: “Thank you, miss.”

 

Mary: “Allow me but one question, if you would, and then I shall remain satisfied in my silence for the duration of our trip.”

 

Elsea sighs.

Elsea: “Yes?”

 

Mary: “What sort of lover might you imagine him to be? I, for one, figure him to be more frigid than the frosts.”

 

Elsea blushes, dropping her things, while Mary laughs impishly beside her.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Glenn, Zara, and Zelos waiting in the woods. Zara is huddled up on a downed log, hugging her dress tight to her body. Glenn watches the forest while Zelos sulks near Zara.

Zara shivers.

Zara: “It’s so cold out here.”

A cloak flies over her from off-screen.

Zara pulls the cloak off and looks at it.

 

Zelos now stands without a cloak, shivering and sulking.

 

Zara slips the cloak on.

Zara: “Thanks.”

 

Zelos grunts.

 

Zara glares at him.

 

Zelos goes wide-eyed.

Show shadowy figures moving between the trees in the distance.

Zelos: “Glenn.”

 

Glenn joins Zelos.

Glenn pulls both Zara and Zelos into hiding behind a large tree.

Glenn pins his back to the tree, peeking around with one hand resting on his sword’s hilt.

 

Show Mary and Elsea moving through the trees. Mary is smiling.

Mary: “My, my, how you do scurry like rabbits when frightened. Fear not, no boogeymen are we, come to take your children.”

 

Glenn steps out of hiding. Zara and Zelos join him.

Glenn: “Best to be cautious.”

 

Elsea sets out their things. Each person has a travel pack with rations and bedding, save for Mary. Each also has a travel cloak and alternate outfit.

 

Zara looks on the clothing with displeasure.

Zara: “Do you honestly expect me to wear this?”

 

Elsea: “If we’re to travel these lands unnoticed, then we had better blend in, not draw attention.”

 

Zara sighs.

Zara: “I suppose. Now, where shall we change, then?”

 

Glenn: “Out here.”

 

Zara looks around.

Zara: “In the forest? In the open?”

 

Glenn: “There’s no one to look.”

 

Zara: “It’s cold.”

 

Mary: “Then you had best dress quickly, shouldn’t you? Consider the chill a motivation.”

 

Zara: “But—I am a princess. This—This is hardly becoming!”

 

Glenn: “No choice. Change here or freeze.”

 

Zara: “I—Why I should—Hmph! Come, Elsea!”

Zara and Elea find cover behind a tree.

Zara: “I don’t want any of you peeking.”

Zara looks around the tree.

Zara: “Especially you, Zelos!”

 

Zelos scoffs.

Zelos: “Like I’d want to look at that flat chest of yours!”

 

Zara: “What!”

 

Elsea: “Princess, I will hold my cloak for your privacy.”

 

Zara grumbles behind the tree while Elsea lifts her cloak.

Glenn and Zelos begin to undress.

Zelos stops and stares at Mary, who is staring at him.

 

Mary: “Oh, don’t mind me. I share no such concerns for privacy. Feel free to dress and undress at your leisure.”

 

Zelos blushes.

Zelos: “Know what? I think I’ll find a tree of my own.”

 

Mary turns expectantly to Glenn as Zelos leaves.

 

Glenn: “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

 

Mary: “More than you could ever know.”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to everyone putting away their packs. They have changed, even Mary.

Glenn and Zelos strap on their swords.

Glenn lays out a map of Albion on a nearby stump, the mainland framing the edges.

Glenn points to the western coast on the map.

Glenn: “We’re in this forest outside of Selim. The castle will send soldiers soon with wanted notices. We need to stay ahead of them.”

 

Zara: “And where are we going exactly? We can’t just run blindly ahead. No offense Zelos.”

 

Zelos glares.

 

Glenn: “Silverthrone. It’s the only place outside of Fiona’s reach.”

 

Zara: “For now, anyway.”

 

Glenn: “Only choice.”

 

Zara: “I know, I just don’t want to get my family involved.”

 

Glenn: “They already are. Silverthrone will be targeted next no matter what we do.”

 

Elsea: “At least we can warn them this way.”

 

Zara: “I guess it’s the best of bad options.”

 

Elsea: “But it is an option.”

 

Zelos: “It’s no option at all. What do we do once we make it to Silverthrone? Hide? What will that solve? We were framed. I’m a fugitive in my own land! I say we return to the castle and talk to my brothers. They’ll listen. They’ll understand.”

 

Glenn and Mary exchange looks while Zara mutters.

 

Zara: “Now you say that…”

 

Glenn: “I don’t think so. We need time to think. Maybe after we reach Silverthrone we can send an emissary who will argue on our behalf.”

 

Zelos grabs his pack.

Zelos: “Or I can go back now because I have nothing to run from, Glenn. Because I’m innocent and so is Zara.”

 

Zara looks away.

 

Glenn: “You’re not going back.”

 

Zelos: “YOU aren’t going back. I am going back right now.”

Zelos turns to leave and Glenn grabs him by the shoulder.

Zelos jerks away.

 

Glenn pins Zelos to a nearby tree.

 

Zelos: “What are you—Glenn! Let go of me right now!”

 

Glenn: “Listen!”

 

Zelos struggles.

Zelos stops.

 

Glenn loosens his grip.

Glenn: “When the guards attacked, what did I say?”

 

Zelos: “What?”

 

Glenn: “What did I say?”

 

Zelos: “You said—You said that you didn’t know what was going on but that if I trusted you, then you would protect me.”

 

Glenn: “Did you trust me?”

 

Zelos nods.

 

Glenn: “Then keep trusting me. We can’t go back. Not now. Our only hope—our ONLY HOPE—is to go to Silverthrone and speak through an emissary.”

 

Zelos: “But…my brothers…”

 

Glenn: “Won’t listen.”

 

Zelos: “They will!”

 

Glenn: “Please. I know this is hard for you. You always see the best in everyone, and that’s always seen you through, but this time you’re wrong. We. Can’t. Return.”

 

Zelos stares at Glenn.

Zelos looks past Glenn and at Elsea, Mary, and Zara all watching silently.

Zelos: “Glenn, listen, I know you’re trying to help, but they’re my family. If anyone will listen, they will. They will believe me.”

 

Glenn sighs.

Glenn: “Fine. Maybe they’ll believe you. What about Zara?”

 

Zelos: “What?”

 

Glenn: “Will they trust her?”

 

Zelos looks at Zara, who is looking away anxiously, hugging her left arm.

Zelos sags against the tree in Glenn’s grip.

 

Zelos: “We—We can’t go back, can we?”

 

Glenn: “Not now, no.”

 

Zelos: “But we will someday, won’t we?”

 

Glenn pats Zelos’ head.

Glenn: “Someday. I promise.”

Glenn and Zelos face the party.

 

Zelos scratches the side of his nose.

Zelos: “To Silverthrone then?”

 

Zara: “Yes but how do we get there? The royal trading roads will be watching for us already, and they’ll be far too slow for our purposes if we’re to warn my family.”

 

Elsea: “We could travel them by night?”

 

Glenn: “But that gives them the day to catch us. We need a straight shot there.”

 

Mary: “Then I know the way.”

Mary points to a part in the mountains on the map.

Mary: “We go through here, through the ruins of Emeraldine.”

 

Glenn: “But…There are mountains.”

 

Mary: “Mountains with a tunnel cut straight through. Once upon a time they mined those mountains, but the vein has long since run dry. At a later time, they converted the mining tunnels for travel and trade between Silvara and Emeraldine. Following Emeraldine’s fall, the path was shut down in favor of the royal roadway.”

 

Zara: “Well, aren’t you a fountain of information?”

 

Mary: “As they say, princess, knowledge is power, and I am most certainly the most powerful person here. Excluding the good Lady Elsea, of course.”

 

Zelos: “Well, we have our course. Let’s get going. The sooner we get to Silverthrone, the sooner we can sort out this mess.”

 

Mary: “Now, now, pumpkin, not so fast. We can’t be off just yet.”

 

Zara: “Oh, now what?”

 

Mary: “While the sweet lady and I were away I had a thought: We’ve gathered costumes what protect us from prying eyes, but yet we continue with our given names? Would that not draw similar attention?”

Mary leans onto Elsea’s shoulder. Elsea looks extremely uncomfortable.

Mary: “An example: the lovely lady refers often to the princess and always by her title, and there are only so many princesses whom the good people of this nation may know. Certainly, they would immediately discern the truth and report us to the nearest guard, would they not?”

 

Zara: “Maybe. So, you want to give us nicknames?”

 

Mary: “No, not simple nicknames. Aliases to match our costumes. We needn’t discuss it at length, though, for I’ve already created finely crafted identities to accommodate our charade, each capturing our most defining traits. Another example: the good lady Elsea will be Lady Sunshine, for her glowing disposition.”

 

Elsea smiles.

 

Mary: “And the princess shall be Regina, for her regal bearing.”

 

Zara: “That…is acceptable.”

 

Mary: “The young prince shall be Hero, for selfless action is in his very nature.”

 

Zelos: “Sounds good to me.”

 

Mary: “And the Sir Knight…We shall call Clod.”

 

Glenn: “No, I won’t.”

 

Mary: “Ah! I see! We will give you a second name as a form of double subversion. How very clever! In public we shall call you Todd rather than Clod so as to further throw the wolves from our scent.”

 

Beat.

 

Glenn: “Whatever. Let’s go.”

 

Mary: “As you say…”

Mary winks.

Mary: “Todd.”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the tunnels beneath the castle, showing the long forgotten walkways, the stones deep set but fractured.

Show the cavern where Mary was found.

Show Kratos wading through the water with a torch in hand, his bow unstrung and sheathed, a quiver of arrows strapped to his back. His beard is wet. His cloak floats in the water behind him.

Show the collapsed wall where Mary was once held, the torchlight flickering along the crumbled rock.

Kratos stops beside the wall.

Kratos: “The Red Witch? They’ve freed her. If that is true, then perhaps Zelos really does mean to usurp the throne.”

Kratos kneels beside the platform and finds muddy footprints along the wooden walkway leading deeper into the tunnel.

Kratos: “Another set of footprints. With her among their ranks the hunt truly begins.”

Kratos stands.

Kratos: “She cannot be allowed to walk free in Fiona.”

Kratos leaves.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the party walking through the forest, Glenn at the fore, Zelos at his side. Elsea and Zara lead the rear with Mary at the center. The trees of the forest are bare, their leaves gathered in dark, rotting bunches at their base. Snow is falling.

Mary looks around.

Mary clears her throat.

Mary: “Does the silence not drive you mad?”

 

Glenn: “Tactically, silence is best.”

 

Mary: “Mayhap, but consider this, Sir Knight: I’ve been kept in silence for fifteen years—save for my own company—nary a person to share a word with. Now, I am surrounded by people delightful and attractive as yourselves, and you ask that I not fraternize? Torture, I say, of the highest sort.”

 

Zelos: “She’s right. If we have to make this journey, we can at least make conversation.”

 

Zara: “Well, I, for one, enjoy the silence.”

 

Zelos: “Why are you always so contrary?”

 

Zara: “I am not contrary. You’re just always wrong.”

 

Glenn: “Enough.”

 

Mary: “Clod is right, children. We must be kind to one another. After all, we are companions now.”

 

Glenn sighs.

 

Mary: “I know! Why don’t I tell a story what will bring us all together? How about the myth of the Seven Sisters?”

 

Zara: “Please. We’re not children.”

 

Mary: “No? Then the tale of the Infertile Field?”

 

Elsea: “Miss! That story is hardly appropriate for ones so young.”

 

Glenn: “Chose another.”

 

Mary: “Fine, fine…What say you to the Dragon Suitor then?”

 

Zelos: “I’ve heard that one at least a thousand times.”

 

Mary grouse.

Mary: “Then why don’t I just go and tell you the story of the Fox and the Flame, the Wolf and the Whale, the Song and the Serpent…”

Mary looks around in surprised silence as the party offers no objection.

Mary: “Really? No complaints? Honestly? This story has been sung to you daily since your infancy.”

 

Zelos: “Never heard of it.”

 

Zara: “Neither have I.”

 

Mary: “Oh, you most certainly have. I know for fact that your mother was quite fond of it. Why, she hardly spoke of little else than the old gods.”

 

Zelos: “Well, mom died when I was real little, so I don’t remember much about her.”

 

Glenn and Mary exchange glances while Zara looks briefly uncomfortable.

 

Mary: “I am well-aware, and I apologize for that. You father had shared her interest—when I knew him, at least—so I had assumed. Obviously, I was mistaken.”

 

Zelos: “When you mentioned the old gods it sounded a bit familiar, actually. What is it about?”

 

Mary: “The myth itself is quite long and composed of a collection of different stories, but it tells the story of the twelve gods what once shepherded mankind and ruled over them.”

 

Zelos: “And what happened to the old gods, anyway? Why don’t they rule anymore?”

 

Mary: “Well, according to the final myth, one of the old gods—the Fox, should memory serve—tricked the other gods. Stealing the magic of the gods, he gave it to man and made them gods themselves. Mankind, now freed from divine rule, could write their own destiny and so fought the gods for dominion. In the end, the gods were sealed into the stars, which is where we get our constellations.”

 

Zelos: “See, I knew it sounded familiar. There is a question I’ve always had, though. Why would the Fox do that? He was a god, too, wasn’t he?”

 

Mary shrugged.

Mary: “Fox was a funny sort. Most-like did it for a good laugh, I’d assume.”

 

Zara: “Sounds to me like he got what was coming to him.

 

Mary: “Well, princess, I am sure that there are many what agree with you.”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the outskirts of Black Well city. The castle walls are hard shadows in the distance. It is midday, the sun peeking through heavy, low-hanging clouds. Soldiers walk the streets in large numbers. The people seem frightened.

Eros walks the streets in royal garb, soldiers escorting him.

Two soldiers pull a child from the crowd and show her a sketch.

A group of soldiers are speaking with shopkeepers.

Eros leads his own soldiers to a tavern.

Eros: “Put it up here. Plenty of bounty hunters are bound to see it this way.”

 

Fionan Soldier1: “Yes, m’lord.”

Fionan Soldier1 pins a cluster of wanted notices to the tavern’s exterior wall.

 

Eros: “Come, there’s an inn down the way. If they’re here, then we’ll be certain to find them there.”

 

Eros leaves with the soldiers trailing.

 

Burgess and Crane approach the wall.

Burgess: “Peel them off and hand them to me, if you would. I can’t see them right from this angle.”

 

Crane: “Of course, my dear.”

Crane peels each sketch from the wall, one by one.

Crane looks over each sketch.

Crane hands each sketch to Burgess, who drops them to the ground.

Crane: “The bounties are high.”

 

Burgess: “Course they are. A traitor prince, a bloodied princess, and a former captain of the guard—can’t make such things up.”

 

Crane: “If we brought them in, we’d be rich.”

 

Burgess: “We’d be legends.”

 

Crane: “Tell me, Burgess, with your keen mind, where would you go if you were a fugitive on the run from the crown.”

 

Burgess leans against the tavern wall while rolling a cigarette.

Burgess: “To shelter.”

 

Crane: “And who would be fool enough to harbor criminals?”

 

Burgess: “Enemies of the crown, I’d wager.”

 

Crane stares at the ground, where Zara’s notice lies.

Crane: “Silvara.”

 

Burgess: “Silverthrone.”

 

Crane: “They will avoid the royal roads.”

 

Burgess: “I would if I were them.”

 

Crane: “The guard…”

 

Burgess: “Sir Glenn.”

 

Crane: “He will lead them, a shepherd in the storm. How old would you say he is?”

 

Burgess: “Old enough to know the old ways.”

 

Crane: “Old enough to know the safe ways.”

 

Burgess: “They’ll go by roads old enough to be abandoned, but not so old as to be forgotten.”

 

Crane: “They’ll go through Emeraldine.”

 

Burgess smiles up at Crane, a cigarette smoking between his lips.

Burgess: “Then so will we, my love.”

 

Crane takes Burgess’ hand.

Together, they disappear into the busy city streets.

Chapter End.

 

6: Chapter Five: Unwelcome Respite

Chapter Five: Unwelcome Respite

Open to a clear night sky bright with stars and a large, full moon.

Show below, where the pale light illuminates the forest.  The trees are bare and have the remains of snow on them.

Show a small mouse running, darting from point to point in the woods.  From a high branch and owl watches its progress.

Show a hill with a clearing on it.  A small fire is burning at the base of the hill, hidden from the moon light.  Mary is sitting atop the hill, staring up at the stars.  She is wearing her new outfit and her legs are curled elegantly beneath her.  She is leaning on her right arm.

Zelos approaches her from behind.  His right eye is still glowing.

Mary doesn’t look back.

 

Mary: “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

 

Zelos: “Shouldn’t you?  I thought Elsea had first watch.”

 

Mary: “There is little point in that.  Thirteen years spent in darkness with nary a sight to see and the darkness of sleep seems somehow unappealing.  I much prefer to keep my eyes open and take in all the world has to offer, thanks.”

 

Zelos sits beside Mary.

 

Zelos: “I guess I understand that, but you should still get some sleep.  It’s no good to stay up all night, every night.”

 

Mary smiles

Mary:: “I’ve the same advice for you.  Why aren’t you sleeping, then?”

 

Zelos: “Nerves, mostly.  So much has happened, so quickly…Sleeping doesn’t feel right.  I mean, my entire nation is falling apart…”

 

Mary: “And what can you do about that?”

 

Zelos: “That’s the problem: there’s nothing I can do but sit here or move on.  It feels wrong running away to Silvara.  I hate it, but Glenn’s right.  It has to be done.”

 

Zelos looks back up the hill.

Show Elsea and Zara sleeping.  They are sharing a sleeping bag, and Zara is cuddled up to Elsea.

 

Zelos: “It seems those two have no such issues.”

 

Glenn, off screen: “You should be up there, too.”

 

Glenn approaches the group with a stolid expression.

He stops beside them with his arms crossed.

 

Zelos: “I could say the same to you.”

 

Glenn: “Can’t sleep.  Same as you.  Too tense.”

 

Mary: “Why, if this continues then we shall have a late morning indeed.”

 

Zelos: “I guess I should be off, then.”

 

Zelos stands and dusts off his pants.

 

Zelos: “Good night, Glenn.  Good night, Mary.”

 

Mary: “Sleep well.”

 

Glenn nods.

Zelos leaves.

 

Glenn: “He’s not a child anymore.”

 

Mary: “I don’t recall claiming he was.”

 

Glenn: “He’s changed a lot since those days.”

 

Mary: “Yes, and?”

 

Glenn: “I’m just trying to figure out why you’re still with us.  With your strength you could have killed us all by now.”

 

Mary: “I told you already, I have no interest in harming you.”

 

Glenn: “No, you said your target is Fiona, the nation that Zelos considers himself a prince of.”

 

Mary: “Nor did I swear revenge against your kingdom, sir knight.  My targets, as you say, are those who wronged me.  None less.  None more.”

 

Glenn: “And who exactly would that be?”

 

Mary: “It’s late.  You should sleep.  Don’t worry overmuch about the watch.  I am quite capable.”

 

Glenn stares at her for a long moment.

He then sighs and walks away.

Mary continues to stare calmly up at the stars.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Mary in a sitting room.  She is holding a small baby in her arms and cooing down at it.  The baby is wrapped in a bundle of cloths.  The light indicates that it is midday and perhaps summer outside.

An adolescent Metis wanders into the room.  A childhood Eros follows on his heels.  Metis is carrying a large, complicated book.  Eros looks upset.

 

Child Eros: “Why won’t you play with me?”

 

Teenage Metis: “Because I am reading.  Besides, shouldn’t you be outside for sword training?”

 

Child Eros: “It’s too hot.”

 

Teen Metis scoffs and rolls his eyes.

He slams his book shut. 

Teenage Metis: “You’re a Ferrenn man.  Act the part at least!”

 

Child Eros: “It’s hot!  I don’t want to do stupid sword training! So, I won’t!”

 

Mary: “Hush you two.  You’ll wake the baby.”

 

Child Eros: “Baby?”

 

Teen Metis: “You had another?  I hadn’t even noticed your pregnancy.”

 

Mary laughs quietly.

Mary: “No, no, this isn’t my child.”

She plays with the baby’s fingers. 

Mary: “If rumors are to be believed, this baby may share your name.”

 

Child Eros approaches with wonder in his eyes. 

Child Eros: “Mommy had the baby?”

 

Mary: “Not so much had, as we found it this morning in the fields.”

 

Teen Metis: “You don’t simply find babies.”

 

Child Eros: “Maybe the stork missed the castle.”

 

Teen Metis: “The stork isn’t real.  Stupid.”

 

Child Eros: “Is too! I’ve seen them!”

 

Teen Metis: “You’ve seen the bird, but those don’t deliver babies.”

 

Child Eros: “Then what do they do?”

 

Teen Metis pauses and shrugs. 

Teenage Metis: “Bird things.” 

He turns to Mary.

Teenage Metis: “Now, what was it you said about him adopting the family name?”

 

Mary: “Isn’t it wonderful?  You two are about to have a little brother.”

 

Child Eros wanders over wide-eyed.

Child Eros: “A little brother?  Wow!”

 

Mary: “Would you like to see him?”

 

Child Eros: “Yeah!”

 

Mary kneels to Eros’ level and holds the baby out.

Child Eros stares in awe at the baby.

He holds his hand out, and the baby takes his finger and chews on it a bit.

 

Child Eros giggles.

Child Eros: “He’s tickling my finger.”

Mary smiles.

Child Eros: “So, this is my brother?”

 

Mary: “Yes, it seems that he is.”

 

Teen Metis stares bitterly at the scene.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Metis standing at his desk.  The curtains are drawn back.  The light outside is pale.  Grey clouds have rolled in low in the sky.

He has parchment rolled open.  It is a design schematic for a ship.

He rolls up the schematics and puts them in a carrying tube.

He slings the tube over his shoulders and leaves the room.

The castle halls are empty.  Metis meets no one along the way.

He stops at his brother’s room and knocks on the door.  From inside of the room there is rhythmic thumping.

 

Metis: “Eros, are you terribly busy?”

 

Eros grunts. 

Eros: “A bit.”

 

Metis: “I’m afraid this is urgent.  Could you please pull yourself away?”

 

Eros: “I-I’m…Ah…”

 

Metis: “Please, Eros, I must insist.”

 

Eros: “Fine!”

There is heavy footed chaos.  A woman yelps.

Eros: “I’m sorry, I…Just…Just wait right there.  Wait…”

There is more chaos.

Eros opens the door slightly.  His upper body is naked.  The rest is obscured by shadows.

He smiles awkwardly. 

Eros: “You called?”

 

Metis: “In mourning, are we?”

 

Eros: “So, you’ve come to interrupt me with your chiding then?”

 

Metis: “No, I’ve come to tell you that I’m taking leave of the castle and will be away for some time, which would put you singularly in charge in my absence.”

 

Eros: “You mean to say…I’ll be king.”

 

Metis: “In a sense.  I trust you are capable.”

 

Eros: “Yes, of course! I won’t disappoint.”

 

Metis: “I have faith in you.  Now, I shall take my leave, but I leave you with this advice: be strong.  The public must not know how you suffer.  Also, if you could, take care not to impregnate that woman.  The last thing we need now is a royal bastard.”

 

Metis leaves with Eros standing at the door.

Eros stares for a moment.

Eros grits his teeth.

Eros slams the door and growls.

 

Consort1: “Who was that?”

 

Eros: “I-It was no one.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Zelos, Glenn, Zara, Elsea, and Mary walking through the woods.  Glenn are Zelos are leading the party.  Zara and Elsea stay around the center.  Mary leads up the rear.  It is midday, and the sun is shining high above.  Despite this, you can still see the party’s breath.  Small piles of snow are melting on the ground.

Zara curls her cloak tight to her body and shivers.

 

Zara: “And, of course, we’re stuck travelling by foot in winter.”

 

Mary: “Winter?  Why, this is hardly a what I would call a winter.  In my days we had proper Fionan winters, what with winds so cold they froze your feet in place as they lifted your skirt!”

 

Zara rolls her eyes.

Zelos stops and peers into the distance.

 

Zelos: “What’s that?”

 

Zara: “The sky, genius.”

 

Elsea: “With all due respect, princess, I don’t think he was referring to the sky.”

 

Show the horizon, which has a violent splash of red.

Mary’s expression hardens a bit, so does Glenn’s.

Zara steps forward and hoods her eyes with her hands.

 

Zara: “Actually, that is a rather good question.  What in the world is that?”

 

Zelos: “The sky, genius.”

 

Zara: “Enough out of you!”

 

Glenn: “That’s the ruins of Emeraldine.”

 

Zelos: “Why is it glowing like that?  It looks like…magic.”

 

Glenn: “It is magic.  The city was razed by a mage of unimaginable power.”

 

Zara laughs mockingly.

Zara: “You mean to say a lone mage destroyed an entire city?  And in one night?  I find that highly doubtful.”

 

Mary steps forward and leans into Zara’s personal space.

 

Mary: “Then reconsider, because it is quite true.”

 

Zelos: “Why do I get the feeling that Fiona was somehow involved in this?”

 

Glenn looks back at the party:

Glenn: “That’s enough.  Let’s go.”

Glenn leaves.

 

Zelos: “What’s wrong with him?”

 

Mary: “That is his to know and share only if he so chooses.”

 

Mary rushes by.

Zelos watches the two leave.

Zara joins him.

 

Zara: “Those two are acting strangely.”

 

Elsea: “Respectfully, I happen to agree with her.  Whatever is bothering Sir Glenn is his, and he should only share when he is ready.”

 

Zelos shrugs:

Zara: “Seems a bit unhealthy to bottle it all up.”

 

Zara: “Not all of us are willing to shout our feelings from the rooftop, you know.  We have discretion.”

 

Zelos: “And some of us are just cold and heartless.  Three guesses which one you are.”

 

Zelos walks off.

Zara glowers at him.

 

Elsea: “I don’t think you’re cold or heartless, m’lady.”

 

Zara: “Well, thank you for that!”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the collapsed log where the party had gathered the day before.  It is surrounded by spindly trees.  Snow is falling softly, and a wind blows, rattling the branches.  A clump of cloth is caught on a single branch.

Zoom out to show Kratos approach and snatch the cloth.

He looks the cloth over and then kneels.

Show shallow foot prints sunken into the earth.  Follow them and reveal a clear path through the leaves.

Kratos follows the path deeper into the forest.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the courtyard of the Black Castle.  Show Childhood Zara standing in the doorway of the castle.  Two women are behind her, obscured by shadows.  Childhood Zara is looking apprehensively out at the courtyard. She is holding her best dress protectively.

In the courtyard Childhood Zelos, dressed in his best suit, is playing with a well-crafted wooden sword.  He is swinging at the air and shouting excitedly, as if in combat.

Show the woman behind Childhood Zara urge her forward.

Close in on Childhood Zelos, who Childhood Zara approaches.

 

Child Zelos: “Ha!  Take that, evil dragon king!  Hyah!”

 

Child Zara stares at him quizzically.

 

Child Zara: “What are you doing?”

 

Child Zelos: “I’m fighting the evil dragon king and saving the world.  Duh!”

 

Child Zara looks around.

 

Child Zara: “…What dragon?”

 

Child Zelos: “No, not a dragon, the dragon king.  He’s right here.”

 

Child Zara: “I don’t see him.”

 

Child Zeos: “That’s ‘cause you’re a girl.” 

Child Zelos sniffs and rubs his nose. 

Child Zelos: “Who are you, anyway?”

 

Child Zara: “My name is Zara.  I am the princess of Silver Throne, of the kingdom of Silvara.”

Child Zara curtsies for him.

 

Child Zelos: “Oh.  What are you doing here?”

 

Child Zara shrugs.

Child Zara: “I don’t know.  My mom made me dress up and come here.  I didn’t want to.”

 

Child Zelos: “Oh.  My dad did the same thing.  You want to play?”

 

Child Zara: “I can’t.  You said I can’t see the dragon king because I’m a girl.”

 

Child Zelos: “That’s okay, ‘cause there’s a girl dragon king that you can fight.”

 

Child Zara: “You don’t want to fight her?”

 

Child Zelos: “I can’t.  She’s a girl.”

 

Child Zara: “But if she’s a girl then wouldn’t she be a dragon queen?”

 

Child Zelos: “No.”

 

Child Zara: “That doesn’t seem right.”

 

Child Zelos: “Pfft, whatever, what do you know? Gosh, girls are so dumb!”

 

Child Zara looks irritable.

She looks sideways, making sure no one is watching.

Then she swats Child Zelos on the head.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the forest where Zara is sleeping beside Elsea.  They are snuggled up, and Zara smiles in her sleep.

Zoom out to show the entire party.  Zelos is sleeping this night, but Glenn and Mary are sitting at the edge of the camp.  They are both staring at the bleeding red horizon.

 

Mary: “You needn’t bother yourself with the watch.  I can adequately keep track of the forest and all its various manner of beastie.”

 

Glenn: “I’m not watching the forest.”

 

Mary: “My, aren’t we sharp tonight?  Been taking lessons from that blade of yours, I see.”

 

Glenn frowns.

 

Mary: “I have a question for you.”

 

Glenn: “Yes?”

 

Mary: “The princess, was she covered in blood when you found her?’

 

Glenn: “…Yes.”

 

Mary: “Do you think that, in truth, she did have hand in the king’s murder?”

 

Glenn: “I’ve…considered it.”

 

Mary: “And of course the prince won’t hear it.”

 

Glenn: “He doesn’t agree with me, no.”

 

Mary: “I am inclined to agree with him on that point.  The princess certainly has a bite, but she hardly seems the type to go about killing kings.”

 

Glenn: “I don’t know her well enough to know what type she is.”

 

Mary: “From how you speak you seem to think the prince doesn’t know her well enough, either.”

 

Glenn: “I didn’t say that.”

 

Mary: “Mayhap I paraphrased.”

 

Glenn: “Zelos is who he is.”

 

Mary: “Well put.  For whatever it may help, I think you’re right as well.  The blood she bore was certainly royal.”

 

Glenn: “But?”

 

Mary: “No but.  I am wholly convinced.  The king’s blood is certainly on her hands.”

 

Glenn: “But…”

 

Mary: “I would not weigh it upon her soul.”

 

Glenn: “How do you mean?”

 

Mary: “The way she moves, the way she speaks…She has certainly experienced death, but from those very same things I can honestly say she did so without conviction, and one cannot kill without conviction.”

 

Glenn: “Then how did she do it?”

 

Mary: “Another gave her conviction.”

 

Glenn: “What do you mean?”

 

Mary: “I mean to say that some can be persuasive.  Persuasive enough to convince the body to do what the mind would not.”

 

Glenn: “Magic.”

 

Mary: “You know her better than I.”

 

Glenn: “Marginally so.”

 

Mary: “Mayhap, but let me put this another way: have you ever known the prince’s intuition to be wrong?”

 

Glenn: “He saved you.”

 

Mary: “My point exactly.”

 

Glenn: “Okay, let’s say you’re right, that someone was controlling her.  Who would make her do such a thing?”

 

Mary: “Who would stand to gain from both the disappearance of the princess and the prince?”

 

Glenn: “…Are you suggesting it was…”

 

Mary: “Not all three of them, of course, but certainly one.  A very specific one.  Now then, you’ve much to consider.  Go rest, and I’ll keep watch.  You’ll be of better use in closer proximity should I chose to cross you in the middle of the night anyhow.”

 

Glenn sighs and stands.

Glenn: “I still don’t trust you.”

 

Mary: “So you’ve said, but the prince does, and that is enough for me.”

 

Glenn stalks off.

Mary continues to stare up at the moon, a contented smile on her face.

Episode End.

7: Chapter Six: Ghosts of a Nation

Chapter Six: Ghosts of a Nation

Glenn, narration: "When I was born I was never given a name.  No one was there to give me one.  I never felt it was necessary.  Names just made it easier to point you out, to blame you.  I lived well without a name.  It gave me freedom; it made me a shadow."

 

Open to crowded streets lined with stalls.  Buildings are built up tall and everything feels claustrophobic.  Merchants shout in the background, plying their wares, and amidst the chaos is Child Glenn.

He slips around people like water and watches the way the adults move.

He watches one stall in particular.  It is piled high with fruit.

 

Glenn, narration: "When I was a kid I thought it was better to not have a name.  I used to tell myself that names weigh you down.  Where I came from you couldn't afford the extra weight."

 

Child Glenn steps out from the crowd.  He hides out of view of the merchant and grabs a handful of fruit.  The fruit pile tumbles out and the merchant catches Child Glenn red-handed.

Child Glenn runs away.  The merchant shouts for the guards.

Guards in the crowd come to life and push their way through.  Lifting their pikes, they clank after him.

Child Glenn moves quickly, darting through allies and squeezing through tight spaces.

The guard follow close behind, never losing sight of him entirely.

Child Glenn hops things and climbs through secret areas, and with each new feat another fruit spills from his grasp.

He finds a hole to hide in and climbs in.

The guards clank by.

Child Glenn peeks out of a broken doorway and then settles.

He smiles until he looks down at the lone fruit that survived the chase.

 

Zelos: "Glenn!"

 

Show Glenn standing on a hill top and looking down at the shattered remains of Emeraldine.  There is nothing but fractured buildings and an eerie red glow.  Zelos is beside him, looking expectant.  Zara and Elsea are standing a few feet away.  Mary seems distracted by her nails.  Red light washes over the entire party and their surroundings.  It is brighter the further into the city they go.

 

Zelos: "Glenn, hello?  Are you even listening?"

 

Glenn: "I—Sorry, what?”

 

Zelos: "I asked what we're doing next."

 

Glenn: "What do you mean?"

 

Zelos: "I mean, we've reached the border of the city.  Now what?"

 

Glenn: "We cut through."

 

Zara: "Are you sure that is such a good idea.  Look at this place."

 

Glenn: "It's the quickest way to the mountains."

 

Zara: “Maybe but I am more concerned as to whether it's the safest or not."

 

Glenn: "The city is abandoned."

 

Zara: "Yes, I believe that, but it is thick with magic.  Thick enough that even I can feel it.  Places like that are dangerous on their own."

 

Glenn: "There's nothing here."

 

Zara: "Not yet, but magic has a way of making things, stirring up nothing and then setting it on you."

 

Glenn: "We'll be fine."

 

Zara: "But..."

 

Glenn walks off.

Zelos shrugs and follows.

Zara pouts.

 

Elsea: "Don't worry, m'lady.  You have Zelos, Glenn, Mary, and myself to protect you, should the need arise."

 

Mary touches Zara's shoulder.

Zara jumps.

 

Mary: "The good lady speaks the truth, princess.  I dare to say that should there be a magical malignancy dwelling within the city it shall be the one afraid, for it has nary a hope of survival against the likes of us.  Why, in my prime, I could destroy an entire city and everyone in it with little more than a flick of my dainty wrist.  That was many years back, mind you, but I am not so aged as to be rendered harmless."

 

Mary strolls away, whistling jovially.

Zara watches her go.

 

Zara: "Truth be told, Elsea, that did almost nothing to ease my fears."

 

Elsea: "I'm sorry, m'lady."

 

Zara sighs.

 

Zara: "Come, we should hurry.  Those three are hardly the types to wait on a lady."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Zelos and Glenn leading the party deeper into the city.  Crumbling buildings flank them on both sides.  They grow thinner the deeper in they go.  The red light is thickest deeper in.

Zara stays close to Elsea as they move.

Zelos walks slowly and looks around, taking it all in.

 

Zelos: "Zara was right.  This place is thick with magic. Something terrible must have happened here."

 

Glenn: "Something terrible did happen here."

 

Zelos: "What?"

 

Glenn: "Hmm?"

 

Zelos: "What happened here?"

 

Mary: "The destruction of an entire city."

 

Zelos looks back at Mary.

 

Zelos: "That much I can tell.  I mean, how did it happen?  Why did it happen?  What could prompt destruction on this scale?"

 

Glenn and Mary trade glances.

Mary shrugs.

 

Mary: "There's no sense in hiding it from the boy.  Considering current events, I should like to tell him every dark truth his nation hides."

 

Glenn: "All of them?"

 

Mary smiles.

Mary: "The one that are relevant, at least."

 

Glenn: "Of course."

 

Zelos looks between them.

Zelos: "What are you two going on about?"

 

Glenn: "History."

 

Glenn walks away from the group.

Zelos and Mary rush to keep pace with him.

 

Zelos: "Fiona's history?"

 

Mary: "That very thing, in fact, and I'd be more than happy to share with you."

 

Zara: "Not another one of your stories."

 

Elsea: "Princess, don't be rude."

 

Mary: "If you don't wish to hear then plug your ears."

 

Zara plugs her ears with a resolute look.

Mary blows her a raspberry.

 

Zelos: "Mary, what exactly did happen here?"

 

Mary: "It is a long, terrible story, but I do feel it is important for you to hear.  You see, this city was once the throne of Emeraldine.  At its height, it was a center of commerce.  These narrow streets were home to more families than can be found in Silvara and Fiona combined.  It was truly a remarkable sight."

 

Zelos looks around in awe.

Zara quietly removes her fingers from her ears.

 

Mary: "The nation thrived on trade between its neighbors, and on the fishing the channel allowed."

 

Zelos: "If it was so grand then how did it become...this?"

 

Mary: "I'm getting to that.  You see, it was a time of conflict, and to end the war swiftly it was decided the city should fall.  And so it was the city was destroyed in the space of a single hour."

 

Zelos scoffs.

Zelos: "An hour? You expect me to believe that?"

 

Mary: "You don't believe me?  Then ask the noble knight.  You know him unable to tell a lie."

 

Zelos rolls his eyes.

Zelos: "Glenn, is she telling the truth?"

 

Glenn: "No, not in an hour.  An instant. All of it.”

 

Zelos: "That's...unbelievable."

 

Glenn: "We're wasting daylight.”

Fade to black.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Glenn, narration: "It was unbelievable.  Sometimes, it still is.  Sometimes when we travel I wake up and feel the cold snapping at my limbs, and I think I am that starving child at home in my shack."

 

Show Adolescent Glenn.  Starvation has him looking gaunt.  His cheeks are shallow.  His eyes are sunken.  He is standing with his back to a wall and two guards are lecturing him.  One shoves him.

 

Guard1: "I asked your name!"

 

Adolescent Glenn remains silent.

 

Guard1: "Damned mute!"

 

Guard1 strikes Adolescent Glenn across the face with his gauntlet.

Adolescent Glenn collapses to the ground with a bloody nose.

 

Guard2: "The boy's name's not important.  Even without one we know what he is: a street rat, hiding in the shadows, stealing from those who would make an honest living.

 

Adolescent Glenn remains on the ground holding his mouth.

Guard1 jerks him up.

 

Guard1: "You look at us when we talk to you, rat!"

 

Glenn, narration: "I will forever remember this day, this moment, every detail of it.  I will remember how my nose throbbed, all of the blood oozing from my lips, and I'll remember being afraid.  Afraid of the guard, of starvation, of the cold and the death it brought.  Afraid that they would look behind the crates and find the gold I had stolen."

 

Guard2: "He said look at us!"

 

Adolescent Glenn looks up at them.  There is a red gleam in his eyes.

He is frightened.

 

Glenn, narration: "And I will also remember that I never knew what real fear was, not until I saw the sky rip open and the flames pour out of the bloody, red wound."

 

Show the Emeraldine skyline.  It is black with a growing splash of red, like the sky has been set aflame.

There is a deep rumble that shakes the street.

The guards furrow their brows and turn.

 

Guard1: "What in the world..."

 

There are screams and explosions in the distance.

Guard1 looks down the narrow streets.  Red flames roll through the streets, stripping the ground of its rocky flesh.  People erupt into pyres.

Guard1 is eaten alive.

The entire screen turns red.

 

Glenn, narration: "True fear is when you can smell your own burning flesh before you can even feel it."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Glenn standing beside a fractured fountain.  Zara and Elsea are sitting nearby with an unrolled blanket.  They are eating rations.

Zelos is off exploring a fractured building but still within sight.

Mary is sitting on the fountain and tracing her fingers along the cracks.

 

Glenn: "Five minutes!"

 

Zelos: "Yeah, yeah!"

 

Zara: "But we've only just sat!"

 

Glenn: "We’re only a fourth of the way through the city and it’s almost noon.”

 

Zara looks around the ruins.

She shivers.

Zara: "Point well made.  Sir Glenn, I have a question for you."

 

Glenn: "Yes?"

 

Zara: "How come you know so much about Emeraldine?"

 

Glenn: "Why do you ask?"

 

Zara: "Curiosity."

 

Glenn: "Mary knows more. Ask her.”

 

Zara: "Mary knows a good deal more than anyone has the right to.  Besides, even if I did ask, she would never give an honest answer."

 

Mary: "Why, princess, I am offended!  Never would I have the temerity to tell a lie to one so prestigious as yourself!"

 

Zara: "Be that as it may.  Glenn?"

 

Glenn: "...I study history in my free time."

 

Zara: "I see."

 

Elsea: "Both soldier and scholar, that is most impressive."

 

Glenn rubs the back of his neck.

Glenn: "...Thanks."

 

Elsea, realizing everyone is staring at her, blushes.

 

Glenn: "We’ve wasted enough time. Let’s go.”

 

Settle on the fountain as they pack.

Show the fountain regress.  Fires swirl around it.

Show where the crack Mary was tracing formed under the exposure to the heat.

Pull back and show the devastation of Emeraldine.

Cut to the smoking bodies of the guards.  The streets are blackened with flame.  There is a grunt.

Slowly, one guard moves and then rolls off of a surviving person.

Adolescent Glenn sits up.  His left arm is badly burnt.  Red cinders gleam in his blackened flesh.

He looks at the devastation around him.  The sky continues to ooze red and a streak of red lightning strikes another part of the city.

Adolescent Glenn looks at the body of Guard2.

Guard2 wheezes.

 

Adolescent Glenn: "Why did you..."

 

Guard2: "Survive..."

 

There is stomping through the street, the clanking of steel.  Fionan soldiers run through with swords drawn, killing anyone who is still alive.

Adolescent Glenn looks at them.  Tears roll down his blackened face.

He tries to help the guard up.

 

Guard2: "No...Go!"

 

Adolescent Glenn: "But..."

 

Guard2: "Survive!"

 

Adolescent Glenn hesitates.  The Fionan soldiers are moving in.

They see him and shout.

Adolescent Glenn looks back up at them.

He stands and runs away.

 

Glenn, narration:  "I ran as hard as I could and choked on the smell of death in the air.  No one knew those streets like I did, but they were unrecognizable to me.  They were littered with the bodies of guards who harassed me, children I envied, merchants who unknowingly fed me for years.  They all died and I, the boy without a name, survived.  It didn't seem right.  Sometimes it still doesn't."

 

Focus on Glenn's face as he runs and cries.

Zoom out, showing the burning city behind him.

Zoom out further to the island map with a glowing red spot on it.

Adjust to the modern map.

Zoom back in to show the party moving through a dusty field.  Even the rubble here has been smoothed to sand.  The light is brightest here.

 

Zara: "Oh my..."

 

Mary: "This would be the center of the attack.  Where the capitol stood, most like."

 

Zara: "How can you tell?"

 

Elsea: "The magic is thickest here.  While the spell certainly would not have started here, this is where the mages focused their last strike.  This is what finally destroyed Emeraldine."

 

Zara: "This sort of carnage must have taken an army of mages."

 

Mary: "It took only one."

 

Elsea: "With all due respect, that is impossible.  No mage could control such power magic alone."

 

Mary: "None alive, mayhap, but surely one of your skill has heard the stories."

 

Zara: "Stories?  What stories?"

 

Elsea: "Myths, m'lady, stories of an ageless wizard who could bend the very fabrics of the world to his will."

 

Zara: "Does anyone with such skill truly exist?"

 

Elsea: "No, m'lady."

 

Mary: "Yes, not but a myth to push mages, to make certain mages fall not prey to the demons of contentment."

 

Glenn looks away from the girls to Zelos.

Zelos is standing, staring up at the sky as if transfixed.

Glenn walks over to Zelos.

Glenn: "You okay?"

 

Zelos is pale and sweating.

 

Zelos: "I...I can't..."

 

Zelos winces and screams.

Golden flames erupt from his eye and shoot up into the sky, illuminating it.  This is accompanied by the deafening squeal of a bird.

Zoom out to show the golden torrent of flame and, in silhouette, Burgess and Crane watching from the distance.

Zelos collapses into the sand.

 

Glenn: "Mary, Elsea!"

 

Everyone rushes to Zelos.

Elsea and Mary kneel at his side.

 

Zara: "What's happening to him?"

 

Mary: "Glenn, that was magic. Very, very old magic!

 

Elsea: "He's running a fever."

 

Mary stands and looks at Glenn.

 

Mary: "What happened to him?  Leave nothing out."

 

Glenn: "He was staring up at the sky.”

 

Zara: "This isn't the first time.  It happened in the castle, too."

 

Mary looks up.

Show the red sky with hints of yellow in it.

She looks at their surroundings.

Show the fountain.

Show some crumbling buildings in the distance.

 

Mary: "The magic is thickest here..."

 

Mary kneels down and opens Zelos' eye.  She peers into it even as the golden light is shining from it.

 

Zelos: "No, stop...I'll..."

 

Mary: "Oh, hush..."

Mary looks at Glenn.

Mary: "Something is inside of him, and whatever it is, it's strongest here.  We need to move.  Quickly."

 

Elsea: "I must respectfully disagree.  Zelos is clearly very sick.  He needs to rest."

 

Zara: "But dusk is nearing..."

Zara looks warily at their surroundings.

 

Elsea: "Princess, the prince isn't well.  He needs time to recover."

 

Mary: "Lady Elsea, while I do ever so respect your opinion, I fear that we must disregard it in this instance.  Zelos needs to be moved and quickly, or else the magic will destroy him, burning him up from the inside."

Mary looks to Glenn.

Mary: "Glenn?"

 

Glenn looks between Mary and Elsea.

Elsea nods.

Glenn lifts Zelos.

He waits for a moment, still looking between them.

 

Mary: "Hurry!"

 

Glenn sets off with Elsea and Mary trailing.

Zara is left behind.

She sighs.

 

Zara: "I am beginning to fear that we may never leave this damned place."

 

Cut to black.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Glenn, narration: "There is one detail about this day that I could never recall clearly.  As important as it was, I just couldn't make sense of it, I couldn't register it, not until I was there again."

 

Show the remains of Emeraldine burning.  The sky above is red.  Different parts of the city continue to explode.

Adolescent Glenn is running through a nearby forest.  His arm is now burned out and completely black.

He ducks behind a bush and hides as Fionan soldiers stomp by.

 

Glenn, narration: "I had run all night, and I was tired and aimless, an arrow in the dark.  The soldiers couldn't find me, they didn't know the city like I did.  They didn't know how I hid.  I ran until I was behind enemy lines.  The soldiers weren't the hammer.  They were the clean-up, there to find any survivors.  I watched them from the safety of the forest."

 

After the soldier run by Adolescent Glenn peeks out from the bushes.

He leaves the bush and moves through the forest.

 

Glenn, narration: "I watched them retreat, followed them to their camp.  I didn't know what I was going to do, but I felt like I had to move, to do something, to stop them.  What I didn't know was that they were running just before landing the killing blow."

 

Adolescent Glenn leans against a tree and holds his burnt arm.  Crusted blood is splashed across his face.

He runs from the tree and makes it to the base of the very same hill he would look over the city from years later.

 

Glenn, narration: "That's when I saw her.  The woman I swore I would never forget.  In my struggle to survive, to become someone real and alive, I suppose I had put it behind me, but seeing the scar she left in the sky once more brought it all back.  How could it not?  She destroyed my entire world...And all this time, she's been travelling right beside me."

 

Adolescent Glenn stands at the base of the hill, looking.

Show Mary, her staff in hand, as she writes enormous runes into the sky.

Show the two of them, him at the bottom of the hill looking up, her at the top.  Red light dances around them.

Then the city erupts behind him.  A rush of wind blows smoke and debris past Adolescent Glenn, who stares impotently.

He turns to face the shattered husk of his city.  A red blow is coming from where the blast was centered.

He falls to his knees.

Finally, he begins to cry.

Cut to Mary handing off her staff.

She looks back at the city for a moment.

 

Mary: "We're done here."

 

She turns and leaves.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut back to the party at night.  They are still in the city, though they are around buildings again.  The sky is still faintly red.  There is a small fire.  Mary and Elsea are sitting around Zelos.  There is a faint outline of gold beneath his eyelid.  He is sleeping fitfully.

Zara is standing by the fire, shivering and staring fearfully into the dark.

 

Zara: "No matter what runes Elsea placed, I don't feel safe here."

 

Glenn: "Nothing will happen."

 

Zara: "That's not what you said before."

 

Glenn stares at Mary.

Glenn: "There’s nothing here that’s more dangerous than what we’ve already faced.”

 

Zara glances at him.

Zara: "...Are you kidding me right now?"

 

Glenn walks over to Zelos.

He kneels down.

Glenn: "How is he?"

 

Elsea looks up. She is clearly tired.  Faint traces of sky-blue magic linger on her hands.

She smiles weakly.

Elsea: "His fever is breaking.  Hopefully, he can travel by morning."

 

Glenn: "Good."

Glenn stands and looks at Mary.

Glenn: "We need to talk."

 

Mary: "Yes, sir knight?"

 

Glenn: "In private."

Glenn walks off without waiting for a response.

Mary looks at Elsea, who shrugs.

Mary shrugs in turn and follows Glenn.

 

Mary: "I'll be right back, pumpkin. The Good Lady Elsea will take care of you while I am away."

 

Glenn leads Mary away into the darkness.

They stop outside of the camp.  The red glow of the sky gives them enough light to see by.  Glenn stands with his arms crossed and his back to her.

Mary puts a hand on her hip.

 

Mary: "You requested an audience, sir knight?"

 

Glenn: "It was Fiona that destroyed Emeraldine."

 

Mary: "Sir knight, you needn't play dumb.  An ardent historian such of yourself should well know that simple fact."

 

Glenn grabs his sheathed sword.

Glenn: "And they used magic to do it."

 

Mary: "So it would seem."

 

Glenn: "And you said that it was done by a single magician."

 

Mary: "The good lady Elsea was quick to correct my wild assertion, was she not?"

 

Glenn: "You were the court magician when I joined the military."

 

Mary stretches languidly.

Mary: "Yes, is there a point lost somewhere in these obvious statements?"

 

Glenn: "And you haven’t aged a day.”

 

Mary: "Why is that a concern of yours, sir knight?  Do you wish to proposition me?  Fearful my age will render me unable to carry a child?  If you would be so kind, stop me once I've hit the mark."

 

Glenn: "It was you.  It's always been you."

 

Mary: "My word, what are you carrying on about?"

 

Glenn turns.

Glenn: "I know what you did!"

 

Mary stops, her face losing its playfulness.  Her eyes are dark, serious, and her bearing showing more sobriety than before.

Mary: "And what, may I ask, do you intend to do about it?"

 

Glenn: "The people here.  They'll never rest with you standing on their graves!”

 

Mary: "You mean to give them respite, then?  Were I you, I would stop to reconsider my actions.  I destroyed this entire city with my magic, and no matter how long I've lived, I will never be so old as to be slain by a mere man."

 

Glenn draws his sword.

He charges Mary.

There is a bright flesh of red, and Glenn flies through the air.

Glenn slams into an aged wall which crumbles beneath him.

When the dust settles Mary is holding his sword in one hand.  Her other hand is extended.  The runes on arm shine bright red in the dark night.  Magical, red blades hover in the air above Glenn, poised to strike.

 

Mary: "You made a grave mistake in pursuing this.  That I promise you, sir knight."

 

Glenn: "Do it!  Finish what you've started!  Kill the only survivor of Emeraldine!"

 

Mary holds the blades suspended in the air.

She sighs.

The magic fades into the night.

She tosses Glenn his blade.

 

Glenn: "What..."

 

Mary turns her back to Glenn.

She sits on the ground, curling up and hugging her knees.

Mary: "This much death...It leaves one so tired."

 

Glenn stands.

He grabs his blade.

Glenn: "And yet even an entire city wasn't enough for you.”

 

Mary: "I feel my constant reminders are becoming redundant, but I must again insist that the fiasco at the castle is infinitely more complex than you care to admit."

 

Glenn: "Even if that’s true, you have more blood on your hands than can ever be washed off.”

 

Mary: "You're exactly right, which is why I am giving you this one chance. I have no interest in completing my genocide, Glenn, so here is your opportunity.  Finish me.  Killed the woman who killed your people.  Take your revenge and put these ghosts to rest."

 

Glenn steps forward.

Glenn: "I should.”

He poises the blade for her throat.

Glenn: "Death follows you everywhere you go!”

 

Cut to baby Zelos in his crib sleeping quietly.

Pull back to reveal Younger Glenn and Mary standing beside the crib.

Mary reaches down and pulls the blanket up around baby Zelos.

 

Mary: "Glenn, a tragedy occurred in the night, one which will forever change the history of this very nation in ways previously unexpected.”

 

Younger Glenn remains quiet but looks at Mary.

 

Mary: "I have task for you."

 

Younger Glenn: "Ma'am?"

 

Mary: "Promise me, whatever happens tonight, whatever screams you hear, whatever pleas, you will not leave this room."

 

Younger Glenn: "What?"

 

Mary: "Promise me that no matter what happens you will forever protect this child."

 

Mary caressed baby Zelos' head.  Tears are in her eyes.

 

Younger Glenn: "Miss Mary, I'm afraid I don't..."

 

Mary: "Please, Glenn, promise me this."

 

Younger Glenn looks into the crib.

Younger Glenn: "I promise, I'll never let anything happen to him."

 

Mary smiles sadly.

Mary: "I know you won't."

 

Cut to a black screen and screams.

Show Younger Glenn by the crib, his hand on his sword.  He is staring at the door across the room.

Show the door.

Show blood pooling beneath the door.

 

Cut back to Glenn and Mary in the ruins of Emeraldine at night.  Glenn has his sword ready to pierce her but is standing still, staring at her.  Mary has her back to him, her head resting on her arms, her neck exposed.  Her eyes are closed and tears are rolling down her cheeks.

Glenn sheaths his sword.

Mary sniffs and wipes at her eyes.

 

Mary: "Am I to assume that you had a change of heart?"

 

Glenn looks away from her.

Glenn: "No.  I took the time to look at the whole picture.  I’m not who I was, the nameless boy fighting and stealing to survive.  I’m not the last survivor of Emeraldine.  That boy died with everyone else.  There’s no vengeance here.  Only tragedy.”

Glenn walks around.

He kneels in front of her.

They look each other in the eye.

Glenn: "The ghosts of this city aren’t my burden.  They’re yours, and that is more punishment than my blade can bring you.”

Glenn stands and walks away.

Glenn: "It's like I said: your hands will never be clean."

Glenn leaves.

Mary is left behind, crying in the shadows, with the red light of the lingering magic surrounding her on all sides.

Chapter End.

8: Chapter Seven: "In Pursuit of Prey"

Chapter Seven: In Pursuit of Prey

Open on the forest at midday.  The sky is grey and white, and snow has dusted the ground.  A few leaves cling to the spindly winter trees.  A shadow moves among the trees.

Show the old camp site.  A blackened ring of stones mark where a fire once rested.  Grass is flattened in a ring around it where bedrolls were kept.  Footprints lead away from the camp.

Show the forest again, from the view of the camp, and Kratos entering the clearing.  He wears a heavy cloak with fur across its shoulders.  He has a quiver about his shoulders and frost in his beard.  Puffs of steam mark his breath before him. 

Show Kratos walk the camp from above.

Kratos kneels beside a long dead fire pit.

Kratos examines the flattened grass.

Kratos follows the footprints away from the camp.

Show a narrow passage through the woods where a twig is broken and the shrubs are damaged.

Kratos looks up.

Show a faint pink hue on the horizon, above the barren canopy of trees.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Emeraldine from above.  At the outskirts there are fractured remains of buildings.  Further in is an expanse of sand.  At the far left side of the map, moving among the littered labyrinthine ruins is the party.

Show the party, Glenn at the fore, helping Zelos along, Mary at the rear.  Elsea and Zara walk close together at the center, keeping close to Zelos.  Mary appears somber and withdrawn, walking with her arms about her waist.  Zelos holds his left eye, golden light shining through his fingers.

They pass a few broken buildings built in tiers.

They stop, Glenn setting Zelos to rest against a broken wall.  Zara stops at Elsea’s side, frowning.  Zelos pants.

 

Zara: “Again?”

 

Glenn: “He’s tired.”

 

Zelos: “I’m fine.”

 

Glenn: “No arguing.  You need rest.”

 

Zara sighs.

Zara: “At this rate we’ll never make it home.”

 

Elsea: “Princess, please try to be patient with him.”

 

Zara: “Yes, yes, we must consider his illness and all.  Tell me, Zelos, what exactly is wrong with you, anyway?”

 

Zelos: “Nothing.  I don’t know.  My head just hurts.”

Zelos looks tiredly up at her, wincing, as golden flames peek between his eyelids.

Zelos: “Trust me, I want to get out of here just as much as you do.”

 

Zara: “Mary, do you have any suggestions, then?  You’re remaining suspiciously quiet.”

 

Mary and Glenn exchange glances with the party between them.

Mary forces a smile.

Mary: “Were I to hazard a guess…Pumpkin, if you would be so kind as to allow me to gaze upon that eye of yours.”

Mary kneels at Zelos’ side and tilts back his head.

Zelos moves his hand and lets Mary stare into his eye.

Show Zelos’ eye from above, the iris gold in color.  There are small red scars etched into his pupil.  They have spread into his iris and fade into the gold.

Mary: “Quite curious.”

 

Glenn: “What?”

 

Mary stands while Zelos returns to holding his eye.

Mary: “He is absorbing magic from the atmosphere around us.”

Mary stares down at Zelos, who looks back up at her.

Mary: “Whatever in the world did you find on your adventures?”

 

Zelos: “What do you mean?”

 

Mary: “I mean that you have something inside of you, something that ought not be there, and surely I am not the only one who might see it.  Good Lady, would you be so kind as to give your opinion on the situation?”

 

Elsea: “Well, I had noticed something strange about it.”

 

Zara: “And you didn’t think to say so?”

 

Elsea: “It didn’t seem prudent when considering our circumstances.”

 

Glenn crosses his arms.

Glenn: “At the ruins, when you passed out.”

 

Zelos: “Yeah, probably.”

 

Mary: “Oh, ruins, you say? Sounds quite the lovely story.  Do tell.”

 

Glenn and Zelos trade glances.

Glenn: “Well, on the night of the gala, Zelos decided to go exploring in the ruins of old Red Wall.  We got separated, and I heard him scream.  When I found him, he was unconscious.  I carried him back just in time to hear about the king, and you know the rest.”

 

Mary: “I see.  So, while you were about exploring ancient ruins where ancient magics lie, you stumbled upon an old magic—older perhaps even than me—and took it with you.  Or, mayhap, it took you with it.”

 

Zelos: “What is it?”

 

Mary: “Difficult to say, though I carry some suspicions.  All we can say for certainty is that it is old and powerful and quite hungry, and from what I can tell it feeds on magic.  Sir Knight, the prince will remain ill until we take leave from this dreadful place.”

 

Glenn: “Understood.”

Glenn helps Zelos to stand.

Glenn: “We move.”

 

Elsea: “See, princess, we will return in shorter time than you thought.”

 

Zara stands and dusts her cloak in a huff.

Zara: “And just when I was coming to appreciate our rest.”

 

Cut to black.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Open on Zelos lying in darkness, his eyes closed.

Zelos opens his eyes and both are normal.

Zelos stands.  Everything around him is darkness, save for a small point of golden light before him.

Zelos approaches the light, wincing as he gets closer.

Zelos touches the light.

Golden light swallows the screen.

The light fades to reveal Zelos standing in the ruins of Red Wall.  The ruins are elaborately lit and richly colored.  Piles of gold shimmer.  Water shifts and gleams around Zelos.  The room is painted in warm shades of red, orange, and yellow.  High above the sun shines brightly, casting magical light that adds life to everything.  Across the hall is an enormous hearth crackling with flame.

Mary steps out of the flame.  She wears an elaborate gown of yellow, orange, and red.  Her dark hair is piled on her head, held in place by golden pins.  Her lips are painted in gold as well, and she smiles at Zelos.

 

Zelos: “Mary?”

 

Mary: “No.”

 

Zelos: “These ruins…Wait, I was in Emeraldine.”

 

Mary: “A ruin itself.”

 

Zelos: “…I’m dreaming, aren’t I?”

 

Mary: “Not quite.”

 

Zelos: “You’re not Mary, are you? You’re…”

 

Mary: “Yes.”

 

Zelos: “What are you?”

 

Mary: "Beyond the scope of your tiny, mortal mind.  Suffice to say: I am infinite while you are finite."

 

Zelos: "So, you're what, immortal?"

 

Mary: "Perpetual, self-sustaining, the flame that always burns, the light that never fades.  When the warmth leaves your frail, human flesh I will continue."

 

Zelos: "So, yeah, immortal...So, what am I doing here?"

 

Mary: "Resisting."

 

Zelos: "Resisting what?  Resisting you?"

 

Mary: "Yes and no.  You are resisting your fate, and I grow wary of it."

 

Zelos: "My fate?  What are you talking about?"

 

Mary: "Despite your brevity you are integral—a key point in a plan spanning the entirety of time.  Without you I am as nothing, stars burning brightly as they can but appearing only as tiny points in the blanket of the night, but with you..."

Mary steps forward.  Flames erupt from her hands and her mouth and her eyes.

Mary: "Submit!"

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the party walking the roads.  Glenn takes point with Zelos at his back.  Mary walks the middle, keeping close to Zelos and watching him.  Elsea is next, with Zara dragging her feet at the rear.

Pull back to show the ruins of Emeraldine.  The buildings are larger here, suffering less damage from the attack.  They rise from the landscape vertically and are build into the rounded hillside.

Show the city before the group.  In a distant tower there is a gleam.

Glenn stops and peers into the wastes, shielding her eyes with his hands.

Glenn goes wide-eyed.

Glenn drops, pulling Zelos with him.  An arrow zips by where he once stood.

The arrow hits a nearby wall with enough force to wedge itself into the stone.

 

Glenn: "Everyone, down!"

 

Mary steps forward and writes runes into the sky.

Mary conjures a magical shield just in time to catch another arrow.

 

Mary: "Good eye, Sir Knight."

 

Glenn kneels beside Zelos.

 

Glenn: "Zelos, are you okay?"

 

Zelos: "I think you busted my shoulder.  Better than a busted skull, though..."

 

Glenn looks back.

Glenn: "Elsea! Zara!"

Elsea and Zara rush over.

Glenn stands.

Glenn hands off a dagger to Zara.

Glenn: "Protect him."

 

Zara looks at the dagger.

Zara: "Protect what?  Where will you be?"

 

Glenn draws his sword.

Glenn: "Protecting you."

 

Zara: "Oh.  Right.  Good then."

 

Mary holds her shield before her.  Another arrow hits, shaving off a section of the first arrow and imbedding itself into the shield.

There is a pause.

Glenn peers out past the shield, his sword drawn.  Birds can be heard singing.

 

Mary: "Do you hear that?"

 

Glenn: "There are no birds here.  It's a signal."

 

Mary: "Exactly."

 

Glenn paces behind the shield.

Show Zelos on the ground, Zara and Elsea around him.

Show a knife come spiraling out from a nearby window.

Glenn deflects the knife with his blade.

Burgess leaps from the second story of the building.

Burgess rolls to a halt.

 

Burgess: "The former guard captain, yes?"

 

Glenn: "You’re well-informed.  Walk away.”

 

Burgess wags his right index finger at Glenn.

 

Burgess: "Tsk. Tsk.  Not an option, friend.  We've a reputation, my wife and me."

 

Glenn: "Zelos would offer you one more chance, so I will, too.  Turn around.  Don’t look back.”

 

Burgess: "Thanks kindly, mighty fine of you, but I must refuse.  Don't worry, though, I'll tell the prince how considerate you were after I've killed you."

 

Burgess produces two knives from his jacket and spins them in his hands.

Burgess throws a knife.

Glenn dodges and charges.

Glenn swings horizontally at Burgess, who ducks under the attack.

Burgess lunges upward, his blade meant for Glenn’s throat.

Glenn gets a shallow gash across his chest.

Burgess stays close and swipes.  Glenn deflects.

Burgess produces another knife and strikes, sinking the blade into Glenn’s left arm.

Glenn sets his feet and shoulders Burgess.

Burgess staggers back into a wall.

 

Cut to Mary, a fourth arrow forced into her shield and cracking it.

Mary scowls.

Mary: “Oh, enough of this already!”

Mary flicks her wrists, the runes on her arm flashing red.

A distant building explodes in a burst of red light.  Rubble rains down on the surrounding.

Mary drops her shield and waves her hand.

A flash of red light throws Burgess into the tiered ruins below.

Mary sashays over to Glenn while he pulls the dagger from his arm.

 

Mary: "Sorry to have interrupted your game, but we've an ailing prince to attend to."

 

Glenn holds his arm.

 

Glenn: "Right.  Keep watch while I recover.  The short one won't be back soon, but I doubt the sharpshooter is finished.

 

Mary: "A single explosion wasn't enough, you think?  Mayhap I should finish what was started to make you sleep better."

 

Glenn glares.

Glenn: "Just keep an eye out."

 

Mary walks away.

Mary: "I'll keep two for your sake."

 

Glenn: "Elsea, could you—"

 

Elsea: "Of course!  Princess, I'll be right back."

 

Zara is still holding the knife and is shaking.

 

Zara: "Y-Yes, leave Zelos unattended and in my care.  Certainly, I am the one most suited to protect him."

 

Mary: "You're doing fine.  Just mind which end you stab with."

 

Elsea goes to Glenn and writes blue runes upon his arm.

The skin weaves together.

Glenn winces and sighs.

Glenn: "Thanks."

 

Elsea blushes and looks away.

Elsea: "It is nothing."

 

Glenn: "No, seriously, thank you.”

 

Elsea: "Yes, w-well, it's all better, so we should be off, shouldn't we?"

 

Mary: "That we should.  Even were the sharpshooter shooter alive, we have greater things to consider."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the smoking ruins of a tower, flames lingering in the broken crown.

Go to the base of the tower where Crane kneels, her bow undamaged with her arrows scattered around her.  Her left leg is bleeding, and she has light burns across her shoulders and back.

Crane jams an arrow into her quiver.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the party, Glenn and Mary leading, Elsea in the rear.  Both Mary and Elsea have shields conjured, Mary’s shield being a deep red, Elsea’s being sky blue.  Glenn walks with his sword ready.  Zara walks with Zelos hanging from her shoulder, dragging him alongside her.

 

Zara: "Don't you get too comfortable."

 

Zelos: "Comfortable with what?  I've seen walls with more shape to them."

 

Zara: "Someone remind me why I shouldn't just drop him already.”

 

Show Glenn and Mary from the front, Glenn just behind Mary.  Show Zara and Zelos behind them, bickering.

 

Mary: "Bounties on our heads.  Metis has always been thorough.  Still, only two hunters thus far?  I consider us quite lucky."

 

Glenn: "We're not lucky until we make it to Silverthrone."

 

Mary: "Ever the optimist, aren't we?"

 

Glenn: "I'm whatever keeps us alive."

Glenn looks around.

Glenn: "Stop!"

 

The party halts and falls silent.  Birds can be heard in the background.

 

Glenn: "Same old tricks."

 

Mary: "Do you think we're in for a repeat performance?"

 

Glenn looks around.

Glenn: "No, they'll find a weak spot and exploit it.  Stay tight and keep moving."

 

The party closes rank around Zelos.  Their shield tightens, a fine line being made between Mary and Elsea’s domed shields.

 

Zara: "All of this trouble because of you."

 

Zelos: "The bounty hunters are after you, actually."

 

Zara: "They are? That's not what I am talking about, anyway.  I meant that we could properly run if it weren't for you."

 

Glenn: "Both of you.  Quiet!"

 

Zara: "How dare..."

 

Elsea: "With all due respect, princess, silence would be best for the time being.”

 

Zara huffs while Zelos snickers.

Zara whispers

Zara: "Laugh now, but when you can walk again, I am going to kick you as hard as I can."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Crane running the city streets.

Crane leaps from a fractured wall and into broken building.

Crane winces as she comes to a stop by an open window frame.

Crane nocks an arrow.

Show the view down the arrow’s shaft.  The party is moving in the distance.

The arrow moves toward Elsea at the right.

Crane: "There."

The arrow moves toward Mary at the left.

Crane: "There."

The arrow settles at the center, where the two domes meet.

Crane: "There."

They arrow launches.

Follow the arrow through the air.

The arrow passes harmlessly between the seam that joins the two shells.

The arrow sinks into Elsea’s right thigh.

Elsea collapses, holding her leg and screaming.

 

Zara: "Elsea!"

 

Glenn: "Stay!”

 

Zara stops with Zelos at her side while Glenn rushes by.

Mary blocks another arrow with a flat wall of magic.

Mary: "This again?"

Mary flicks her wrist.

Show a flash of red within the ruins accompanied by smoke.

Mary waits.

Another arrow shatters ineffectually against her shield.

Mary: "Sir Knight, I tire of this."

 

Glenn drags Elsea to Mary’s side.

Glenn kneels beside Elsea.

Glenn: "You okay?"

 

Elsea: "I can’t get the arrow out.”

 

Glenn: "I know."

Glenn grabs the arrow.

Glenn: "Deep breath and try not to pass out.  You're the only healing we've got."

 

Elsea nods and braces herself

Glenn draws the arrow from the leg.  Blood gushes from the wound.

Elsea seizes her leg, her hands glowing sky blue when she does.

 

Glenn: "Will you be okay?"

 

Mary: "Hello?  As much as I would like to, I cannot watch us from all sides."

 

Glenn: "Hold on!  Elsea?”

 

Elsea: "I will be fine, just give me a moment."

 

Glenn: "Right."

Glenn stands and readies his sword.

Glenn: "At your back!"

 

Mary: "Finally.  This archer has become most persistent."

 

Glenn: "But she's alone, and there's only so many places for her to hide."

 

Mary smiles vicious.

Mary: "My thought exactly!"

Using magic, Mary draws a series of glowing red runes in the air.

Multiple explosions rattle the ruins.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Zara and Zelos, Zelos leaning into Zara for support, Zara nearly in tears.

Zelos nods toward Elsea.

Zara nods urgently.

Together, they shuffle to Elsea’s side.

They kneel beside Elsea and Zara falls into her, hugging her.

 

Zara: "Elsea!"

 

Elsea: "I am fine, m'lady."

 

Zara: "I was so worried, I had thought..."

 

Elsea: "I know, I know, and I appreciate it, but m'lady..."

 

Zara sits up, still holding Elsea by the shoulders, tears in her eyes.

 

Zara: "Yes?"

 

Elsea: "I need to heal this wound before I pass out.

 

Zara looks down at Elsea's open wound.

 

Zara: "Yes, you do. I suppose I'll go...and look after Zelos."

 

Elsea: "Good idea."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Glenn and Mary standing at each other’s backs.  Mary’s shield remains.  Glenn has his sword drawn.

 

Glenn: "Anything?"

 

Mary: "Not yet."

An arrow hits her shield.

Mary: "Really now!"

 

Glenn peers over his shoulder as a hand reaches toward him from the side of the screen.

Burgess pulls Glenn into the ruins of a nearby building.

Glenn staggers onto a set of rotting floorboards that creek under his weight.

Glenn and Burgess make eye contact, Burgess with his back pinned to the side of the wall, blood running from his forehead, right ear, and nose.

 

Burgess: "Problem with turtling is it keeps you all together, makes you one big target."

Burgess produces a knife from his sleeve while Glenn lunges at him.

Burgess leaps from the wall, kicking Glenn with both feet in the chest.

Glenn lands on his back, the boards folding under his weight.

Burgess leaps from the boards as they collapse beneath them.

Burgess holds the doorframe for support, one foot hanging over the opening left by the collapsed floorboards.

Burgess looks down and smiles.

Burgess: "One down."

 

Show Mary from behind, her left arm gleaming with magic and sustaining a shield, her right arm gleaming with runes as an explosion destroys another fractured building.

Mary waits with her shield up.

Another arrow shatters across her shield.

Mary: "This pest won't die.  Sir Knight, have you any suggestions?"

Mary: "Sir Knight?"

Mary: "Glenn?"

 

Burgess: Old boy is a bit busy, miss."

Show Mary from the front as Burgess appears behind her, sinking a dagger into her side.

Mary sinks to her knees, dropping her shield, her runes going inert.

Burgess brandishes another dagger as he leaves.

Show Burgess from behind as he stalks toward the prince, princess, and Elsea.

Burgess cups his free hand to his lips and makes another bird call.

Burgess: "How sweet, finally found the nest.  Thing is, you two birds are nothing to us.  We'll let you leave so long as you leave us the prince and princess."

 

Elsea staggers to her feet.

 

Burgess: "My wife is the sharpshooter who got you earlier, and she is watching.  She's a long bow and a keen eye on you folk.  Whatever you do to me will be met with lethal retribution."

 

Elsea: "I'd die for my princess."

 

Burgess: "I don't doubt that, but after you die, how do you plan to go about saving her?"

 

Elsea hesitates, a single hand up, her hand glowing faintly with sky blue magic, her thigh still bleeding.

Elsea concedes, slouching, the magic fading from her fingers.

 

Burgess: "Good lass.  Now keep yourself all subdued like and we'll have no problems."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the building’s interior, Glenn’s hand finding the door.  Through the doorway, show Burgess approaching Zara and Zelos, Elsea standing just before them.

Show the doorway from the other side, with Burgess and the remaining party in the fore and Glenn climbing into the doorway in the distance.

Elsea and Glenn make eye contact.

 

Elsea: "Mary!"

 

Burgess: "Dammit!"

 

Burgess turns with his knife up while Glenn kicks him from the side.

Burgess rolls to a stop with sky blue magic surrounding his form.

Burgess flies into a nearby wall while Elsea uses her hand to guide the spell.

An arrow shatters on a hazy red disc of magic.

Mary curses, an arm extended, body gleaming with magic.  The surrounding cityscape is consumed by crimson flames.

Glenn staggers to Zara and Zelos’ sides.

 

Glenn: "How are you two?"

 

Zelos: "Alive."

 

Glenn looks at Zara.

 

Zara: "More or less what he said."

 

Glenn pats Zara on the head.

Glenn: "You did well."

 

Zara: "Thanks, I suppose."

 

Glenn goes to Mary.  Elsea is already there healing her.

 

Glenn: "What, you can't heal yourself?"

 

Mary: "Not nearly as well as the lovely maiden can.  Her hands seem to know me all too well."

 

Elsea blushes.

 

Glenn: "Well, try to hurry if you can.  We need to be up and moving before they are."

 

Mary: "You hardly need to tell us, Sir Knight.  I feel we can all agree on one thing: the sooner we leave this place, the better."

 

Glenn looks back at the ruins of the city.

 

Glenn: "Agreed."

Chapter End.

9: Chapter Eight: "Sickness and Secrets"

Chapter Eight: Sickness and Secrets

Open on Eros in bed, two women curled up under his arms, sleeping peacefully at his side.  Eros has a huge smile across his face.  A faint light shines in through the window.  Outside, there is the sound of shouts and the sea.

Eros stirs.

Eros sees the women at his side and smiles.

Eros stretches.

The women snuggle closer.  Outside, the sounds grow louder and more persistent.

Eros opens his eyes.

Eros climbs naked from the bed and looks out the window.  His lower body is obscured by shadows.  The shouts grow clearer, becoming orders being given.

Eros frowns.

 

-The Four Thrones

 

Cut to the docks, a series of piers rooted to stone-laid walkways.  Three ships are docked, two of familiar design, and a third bearing a dragon as its figurehead. Dock workers work the ships, unloading crates from the boxes, each one marked with the black wolf of Fiona.  Zion, Metis’ attendant, is at the docks, speaking candidly with a foreign sailor.

Show the docks again but with Eros’ back at the fore.

 

Eros: “What is all this?”

 

A light snow starts falling over the area.

Show a snowflake melting on the stones.

A wind stirs Zion’s hair and cloak, and Zion shivers.

Zion pulls his cloak tight with one hand and shakes hands with the foreign sailor.  Beyond them, Fionan dockworkers continue unloading ships

 

Zion: “It’s been a pleasure.”

 

The foreign sailor bows in return.

The foreign sailor goes to work with the dockworkers to help unloading the ship.

 

Zion: “That’s good.  I’ll get some guards down to help in a bit.”

 

Eros: “Zion.  Zion!”

 

Zion turns to Eros, who is wearing an open robe and a pair of pants.

Another breeze shifts their cloaks.

 

Zion: “Prince Eros, what a surprise to see you up and about so early in the morning.”

 

Eros: “How could I sleep with all this?” 

Eros gestures toward the ships.

Eros: “Are those ship from Xuanxu?  Zion, what is happening here?”

 

Zion: “An exchange, my prince.”

 

Eros: “Clearly, but an exchange with whom?  Father never spoke of trade agreements with the dragon lands.”

 

Zion: “The agreements were made with your brother.”

 

Eros: “And what is he trading?”

 

Zion: “That is a personal matter, prince Eros.  I hope you understand.”

 

Eros: “I don’t.  So, explain.”

 

Zion: “I cannot.”

 

Eros: “You will.”

 

Zion: “Perhaps you should ask your brother upon his return.”

 

Eros: “Or I can go look for myself right now.”

 

Eros pushes past Zion.

Zion intercepts him.

 

Zion: “Prince Eros, I can appreciate your curiosity, but I cannot allow you to interfere.  Master Metis would not approve.”

 

Eros: “And it pains me to imagine his disapproval. Truly.  It does. Now step aside.”

 

Zion: “No.”

 

Eros: “Are you really so foolish as to disobey a direct order from a prince?”

 

Zion: “With all due respect, prince, I would rather disobey an order from you than disobey an order from the man who will someday be king.”

 

Eros stares in silent shock at Zion.

 

Zion: “Of course, I cannot physically stop you, but neither can I be held responsible for your brother’s reaction should he find out how you’ve been prying.”

 

Eros looks to the crates beyond Zion.

He looks at all of foreigners approaching threateningly.

Eros looks at Zion.

 

Eros: “Let Metis have his secrets.  I won’t waste any more time down here.”

 

Zion: “That would be for the best.”

 

Eros scoffs and storms off.

Zion watches for a moment.

Zion turns back and orders his men to work.

Eros stops at the castle steps and looks back.

Eros: “First father’s death, then Zelos’ implication, and now this.  Something is not right in this castle.”

Eros climbs the stairs to the castle.

Cut to black.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the party at night.  There is a clear sky, the red light of Emeraldine in the distance behind them.  They are in a forested area with small trees.  Frost is gathering around them.  The night is quiet.  Before them, large, snow-capped peaks rise in the distance.  They have no fire tonight, so Zara and Zelos are huddled together for warmth while Glenn piles kindling.  Mary and Elsea walk a circle applying runes into the grass.

The runes spread and shine, Mary’s being red and Elsea’s sky blue.

The lights meet in a dome that turns purple.

The dome shimmers.

Mary and Elsea return to the camp.  The kindling is beginning to smoke.

 

Glenn: "You’re sure about the fire?”

 

Mary: "Two things, Sir Knight.  Firstly, I have continued doubts as to their survival and feel your concerns, while well-meaning, are misguided.  Secondly, I never once made such statement as they won't see the fire.  Instead, I said that should they see the fire their attacks will be rendered ineffectual 'til morning, when we wake, pack, and move on from this place."

 

Glenn: "They broke your last shield.”

 

Mary: "Conjuration of a mobile shield during a high stress combat situation is entirely different than the measured, precise placement of a stationary ward.  For one, you don't have to consider the way of your feet.  Anyhow, whether the fire draws undue attention or not is irrelevant.  Mayhap the magic in Emeraldine's air left your brain addled, but it is far too cold for any of you to sit out here without the warmth of a flame."

 

Glenn glances toward Zara and Zelos.

Glenn: "Fine. Light it.”

 

Mary: "Oh my, you do know how to charm a woman."

Mary snaps her fingers.

There is a brief flash of red and then then a fire is burning the steeple.

Mary: "Now then, set up camp and be off to bed, children.  I shall hold the watch."

 

Elsea: "Miss Mary, you needn't do that every night.  You've done so much already, why not rest?"

 

Mary: "How sweet!  I assure you that I am fine, Lady Elsea, but I do appreciate your consideration."

 

Elsea: "But..."

 

Glenn: "Arguing won’t help, Elsea.  If she wants to do watch, why not let her?”

Elsea looks anxiously between Glenn and Mary.

Elsea nods.

Elsea and Glenn unroll the sleeping bags around the fire.

Glenn looks at Mary.

Glenn: "I expect you to watch out for him while I can't."

 

Mary: "Don't I always?"

 

Glenn grunts and crawls into his own sleeping bag.

Zara and Elsea are in a sleeping bag together.  Zara shivers and Elsea spoons her.

Mary surveys the camp, pacing around the fire.

She settles beside Zelos' sleeping bag and strokes his hair.

Fade to black.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the Black Castle in Fiona, showing the castle at autumn time.  Long tapestries bearing Fiona’s black wolf are hung from the walls.  It is nighttime and a brilliant full moon fills the sky.

Cut to the castle interior, to the throne room, where a large, aged man is sitting on the throne.  His hair is thinning, but his gaze is focused and hard.  He sits upright and with regal bearing, his hands gripping tight to the arm rests.

Show the corner of the throne room, where Adolescent Metis watches from the side, hidden in the shadows.  Beside him stands a younger, clean shaven Kratos.

 

Teen Metis: "Can you believe them?"

 

Young Kratos: "What do you mean?"

 

Teen Metis: "Mother and father adopting that bastard."

 

Young Kratos: "What else should they do with the child?"

 

Teen Metis: "Leave it where they found it.  Give it away.  It doesn't matter, so long as it's not here.  It doesn't belong here, brother, amongst this royal family."

 

Young Kratos gives Teen Metis a critical look.

Young Kratos: "Metis, he is just an infant.  Show some compassion."

 

Teen Metis: "Whatever its age, it is out of place.  Grandfather will stop this, of that I am certain."

 

Young Kratos: "We'll see.  Mother and father are presenting the child today."

 

Teen Metis smiles viciously.

Teen Metis: "And I suspect it will be found a shallow grave by the morning."

 

Young Kratos: "Metis!"

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Metis riding in the back seat of the royal carriage.  His legs are crossed and a book is open across his lap while he stares absently out the window.

Show the carriage passing quietly through a forest.  An enormous gateway is in the distance, two Fionan guards standing watch at the front.

The guards allow the carriage access.

Show the carriage come to a stop within busy, stone-laid streets.  There are buildings of stone and wood and what look like streetlamps lining the roads.

The portly chauffeur opens the carriage for Metis.

Metis exits the carriage with his book in hand and looks up at the sky.

Show the sky, which has a strange, prismatic glow.  The streets and surrounding areas are thick with color.

Robed men rush Metis.  One of the robed men, a stout man with a dark mustache, has his hood down.

 

Daedalus: "Lord Metis!  It is good to see you again!"

 

Metis: "And you, Daedalus!  You look half the man you once were."

 

Daedalus pats his sizable stomach jovially.

 

Daedalus: "Late nights and busy days have that effect on a man."

 

Metis: "Knowing your work I assume it is well worth it."

 

Daedalus flashes a vain smile.

Daedalus: "And you are quite correct, my lord.  We've made quite a bit of progress on that special order of yours."

 

Metis: "I can't wait to see."

 

Daedalus: "Then let's not waste time on pleasantries.  Come, come, right this way!"

Daedalus and the robed men lead Metis to a nearby building.  The doorway is large and square and has a gate.

The gate slides with a squeal of gears.

The building interior has a long, dark hallway lit by pale green lanterns.

Daedalus leads Metis down the hallway.

Daedaelus: "The hardest part was getting the engine to work correctly.  Magic can be as fickle as a woman and twice as dangerous.  If you aren't careful, the engine can come to life, and then you have a real problem."

 

Metis: "But you did get it to work?"

 

Daedalus: "Quite well, in fact, and without any of the quirks of your standard magic engine."

 

Metis: "And how did you manage that?"

 

Daedalus gives another vain smile and tugs on his mustache.

Daedaelus: "You see, we created a sort of magic filtration system, made from a sheet of crystal composites.  Essentially, what we're doing is feeding the thing pure energy directly from our fingertips.  It creates a strange glow, signature to the engine.  Actually, the prototype is what we're using to power the building right now."

 

Metis glances at one of the green lanterns.

Metis: "I see.  That's outstanding!  And the body is..."

 

Daedalus: "Well into production and nearly air-worthy."

 

Metis: "You make it sound as if the thing is already finished."

 

Daedalus: "Then my excitement has gotten the better of me.  It's not quite finished, not yet, but it is underway.  We're having problems with the atmospheric draw.  Can't get the damn thing to work."

 

Metis: "Truth be told, that system was speculative at best.  It may not work without something special.  Something that an average magician would not have access to."

 

Daedalus: "You sound like you have something specific in mind, my lord."

 

Metis laughs.

Metis: "That is something we'll save for a later date, Daedalus."

 

Daedalus stops at large set of double doors.  Pale green light undulates beneath the door.

Daedalus turns to Metis.

Daedalus: "And we're here.  Now, before I open the doors, I must ask: are you ready to see your greatest dream come to life?"

 

Metis: "Quite ready."

 

Daedalus shoves the door open.

The room interior is small and filled with tables.  The tables are overloaded with dismantled gadgets of all sorts.  A large window is on the far wall.  It is filled entirely with the pale green light from before.

Metis steps into the room.

Metis approaches the glass, his awe written upon his face, and he places his hand to the glass.

 

Metis: "Look at it. It's fabulous.  The body is nearly finished.  I see you've gotten the supplies that I've been sending."

 

Daedalus: "They've been vital.  The wood in these parts is too dense.  The beams had to be shaped entirely from dragon bone.  It took a lot of work, but there's nothing harder or lighter in the world."

 

Metis: "So I've heard."

Metis smiles.

Metis: "I cannot believe it.  And it flies?"

 

Daedalus: "It will when we put it together."

 

Metis: "And you've done tests?"

 

Daedalus: "Hundreds.  This scale is untested, but I assure you, it will operate just as intended."

 

Metis: "Excellent!  Fabulous!  Everything, Daedalus, everything I've been working toward my entire life...Thank you so very much for all of your hard-work dear friend!"

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the Black Castle’s sitting room at summertime.  It is midday and sunlight spills through the windows.  Child Eros is alone playing with toys.

Teen Metis enters in a huff.

Teen Metis kicks over a side table.

 

Teen Metis: “I cannot…How could they?  I had thought grandfather would put an end to this, but even he is lost in their…their…madness!”

 

Child Eros peeks out from behind the couch.

 

Child Eros: “Metis, are you mad?”

 

Teen Metis looks sharply at Child Eros.

 

Teen Metis: “Of course I am.”

 

Child Eros: “Why?”

 

Teen Metis gestures toward the door. 

Teen Metis: “Because those—those supposed adults are all making a horrible mistake.  That child—that orphan…”

 

Child Eros: “Do you mean our new brother?”

 

Teen Metis: “That…thing…is not our brother.”

 

Child Eros: “But mommy and daddy…”

 

Teen Metis: “Are wrong!  They want to have a little pet, but to me, to us, and to the people of our nation that thing is nothing.  Nothing but a lie.”

 

Child Eros: “Oh.” 

Child Eros looks at the ground in thought. 

Child Eros: “That isn’t nice to say.”

 

Teen Metis: “Go away.”

 

Child Eros: “Mommy and daddy said he’s our brother.”

 

Teen Metis: “I told you to leave.”

 

Child Eros: “They want us to get along.  They said so.”

 

Teen Metis laughs hatefully.

Teen Metis: “They wouldn’t even notice if we disappeared.”

 

Child Eros frowns. 

Child Eros: “Nuh-uh.  They love us!”

 

Teen Metis: “Either leave or shut up.”

 

Child Eros: “But…”

 

Teen Metis: “GO!”

 

Teen Metis uses a simple spell to lift Child Eros in a haze of dark purple light.

Teen Metis throws Child Eros into the hallway and slams the door after him.

Teen Metis turns away from the door and stares out the window.

Zoom in on Teen Metis’ face, showing the faint shimmer of dark purple light around his eyes and shadows cut across his face, emphasizing his eyes and giving him a haunted experience.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the party’s camp by night.  The moon is high, but clouds are obscuring it.  Everything is quiet, save for Zara’s snoring.  Mary now has Zelos’ head on her lap, her hands on his forehead.  His cheeks are flushed.  The fire cast dancing shadows around them.

 

Zelos: "Do you ever sleep?"

 

Mary smiles down at him.

Mary: "I'm fine."

 

Zelos: "That's not what I asked."

 

Mary: "It is the only answer you will get."

 

Zelos: "You told me once before that you've had enough darkness for one life time, but I've been thinking, and I don't think it's the darkness you fear.  I think it's whatever you see when you close your eyes.  Whatever you dream about."

 

Mary: "Very astute of you."

 

Zelos: "What happened between you and Glenn that makes him fear you so much?"

 

Mary: "That...is a conversation for a later date, I'm afraid."

 

Zelos: "I think you really are afraid."

 

Mary: "You shouldn't be wasting your energy thinking on me.  Focus, instead, on getting healthy.  Sir Glenn would be most lost without you to shepherd."

 

Zelos glances at Glenn.

 

Mary: "Though, you seem well enough now.  Will you be ready by morning?"

 

Zelos: "Yeah."

 

Mary: "Then sleep through the night, if you would.  You know how he can be."

 

Zelos looks back up at Mary.

 

Mary: "I'll not answer your question tonight, and staring so intently will only serve to exhaust you."

 

Zelos: "You can tell me, you know."

 

Mary: "Yes, I am well aware of my own faculties, thank you."

 

Zelos: "I mean, I won't judge you.  Whatever it is."

 

Mary caresses Zelos’ hair.

Mary: "Rest.  Glenn will wake you with the sun and shan't wait for your wits to gather."

 

Zelos closes his eyes.

A comfortable silence settles, broken by the crackling flames and Zara’s persistent snores.

 

Zelos: "Mary?"

 

Mary: "Yes?"

 

Zelos: "Thanks."

 

Mary: "You are quite welcome."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the ruins of Emeraldine at dawn.  The dull red light grows lighter as the sun rises in the distance.

Show forgotten buildings, degraded by time and combat.

Show smoking ruins and fractured husks of buildings recently crumbled.

Show the smoldering flames gathered along old wooden beams.

Enter one battered building where Crane and Burgess, injured but breathing, are at rest.

 

Crane: "The sun rises, my love."

 

Burgess: "Our prey is lost."

 

Crane: "They can be found again.  We know their destination, and we know their roads."

 

Burgess: "That inspires no confidence in me, love."

 

Crane: "Fear not, for we now know their capabilities.  We know them intimately."

 

Burgess: "There is that."

 

Crane: "We will hunt them and take them unaware."

 

Burgess: "Strike at their most vital points."

 

Crane: "We will end the battle before it gets a proper start."

Crane stands and offers Burgess her hand.

He takes it.

She pulls him up.

Crane: "Together, my love, we will finish this fight."

 

Burgess: "Together, we will become legends."

Chapter End.

 

10: Chapter Nine: "Darkness"

Chapter Nine: Darkness

Open on the Black Castle at day, overlooking the crib of Baby Zelos.  Baby Zelos sleeps quietly.  Outside the sky is pale.  Inside, the room is dark.  Mary stands over his crib, her eyes gleaming with tears, a tired smile upon her face.

The door opens behind her, letting warm light spill in.

Younger Glenn enters the room wearing his guard’s uniform.

 

Younger Glenn: "Miss Mary, I was told that you wished to speak with me."

 

Mary: "Indeed."

Mary smiles over her shoulder at Glenn.

Mary: "Come, Sir Glenn, join me."

 

Younger Glenn hesitates.

Younger Glenn joins Mary at the crib.

They stand together in silence, both looking down into the crib.

Mary reaches down and tucks in the blanket around Baby Zelos as he sleeps.

 

Mary: "He is a beautiful baby, isn't he?"

 

Younger Glenn: "I guess so."

 

Mary: "And there's something very special about him, don't you think?"

 

Younger Glenn: "I hadn't thought about it."

 

Mary: "Do.  Really think on things since his appearance.  And not just in the castle, in the world around us.  This little man has softened the king, found mercy in him somewhere in the deepest reaches of his heart.  I dare to say that because of Zelos our nation might someday find peace."

 

Younger Glenn: "You really think the prince is responsible for that?"

 

Mary: "I know he is.  We're not there yet, though.  There are dark things here, young man.  Shadows deeper than the sea itself, saturating this nation's history with countless bloody pages."

Younger Glenn stares uncertainly at Mary while she clutches tightly to the crib and cries.

Mary: "Glenn, a tragedy occurred in the night, one which will forever change the history of this very nation in ways previously unexpected."

Younger Glenn remains quiet.

 

Mary: "I have a task for you."

 

Younger Glenn: "Ma'am?"

 

Mary: "Promise me, whatever happens tonight, whatever screams you hear, whatever pleas, you will not leave this room."

 

Younger Glenn: "What?"

 

Mary: "Promise me that no matter what happens you will forever protect this child."

 

Mary caresses Baby Zelos' head.  Tears are in her eyes.

 

Younger Glenn: "Miss Mary, I'm afraid I don't..."

 

Mary: "Please, Glenn, promise me this."

 

Younger Glenn looks into the crib.

Younger Glenn: "I promise, I'll never let anything happen to him."

 

Mary smiles sadly.

Mary: "I know you won't."

Mary gives a shuddered breath.

Mary kisses Baby Zelos on the forehead while he sleeps.

Mary gathers her dress as she stands and turns her back on the crib.

 

Glenn: "Miss Mary, what’s this all about?"

 

Mary stops at the door and looks back at him, tears cascading down her cheeks.

Mary: "You stay here.  This won't be long."

Mary closes the door behind her as she leaves.

Younger Glenn looks back into the crib.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Mary marching through the halls, passing guards on the way.  The guards greet her, but she stares ahead, unwavering.

Mary passes the broad-shouldered form of Guard Captain Victor, with his sideburns and goatee, as he speaks to his guards.

Mary passes through the foyer, sparse evening light spilling through the large windows, making the interior shimmer, but her features are obscured by shadows.  There is a faint red shine to her eyes.

Mary passes another hall.

Mary comes to stop at the king’s room, two guards posted outside of it.

 

Mary: "Excuse me, gentlemen, but is in the queen in?  I am in a rather dire need of her to speak privately on a matter."

 

Black Guard6: "Course, ma'am, she's just preparing for supper."

 

Mary: "Thank you very much!"

Mary enters without knocking, passing the guards on the way.

Hold outside of the room, with the door closed, the guards standing at attention.  There is a muffled conversation inside.

Beat.

The door shatters outward in a shower of shrapnel.  Red light spills from the interior, the queen lies on the floor, face down, hair spread around her gown.

The queen is lifted to where her feet are the only thing in frame.  The guards stand astonished.  Mary is in the doorway, her body a series of red, shining runes.

The guards draw their blades as Mary lifts her free hand.  Her eyes glow red.

 

Black Guard7: "Miss Mary, what are you..."

 

Mary: "I'll offer this only once: drop your weapons and walk away.  There are no other options."

 

Black Guard6: "The bitch has gone mad! Kill her be-!"

Black Guard6 has his guts scooped out and splattered against the wall in a brilliant red flash.

 

Black Guard7: "Everyone, quickly-"

Black Guard7's head falls cleanly from his shoulders.

Black Guard7 falls to the floor.

Show them from the side, the queen now on the floor, her hair over her face.  The wall is cracked behind her.  Her features are swallowed by red light.

 

Mary grabs the queen by the throat.

Mary holds the queen up and leans in, holding her off frame.

Mary: "I just want you to know, to hear it from me, I know what you did, I know the lies you sow, and I know the sins you've committed.  It is far too late for you now, but your death will not come from me, not from my hands.  No, I have a far more fitting end for you!"

Mary turns to look toward the screen while holding the queen off screen with one hand, her body still aglow.  Off screen, Fionan soldiers can be heard moving, their plate rattling as they mobilized.

Show the castle guard assembled, swords and bows drawn, arrows nocked, fright clear in their features.

Victor pushes his way through the group, brandishing both sword and shield, his shield bearing the black wolf of Fiona.

 

Victor: "Mary, what do you think you're doing?  Unhand the queen immediately!"

 

Mary: "This isn't something for you or yours to die over.  I will extend to you the same courtesy I extended to these poor men.  Drop your weapons and grant me passage, elsewise I shall cut my way through you.  All of you."

 

Victor: "Drop her now, Mary, this is not a negotiation!"

 

Mary: "No, it's not."

Mary’s eyes flash, still staring at the screen.

Show the queen rocketing through the group of soldiers, her body wrapped in a shawl of red light, scattering the guard’s front line.

Show the guards further parted by a wall of red light, Mary arms out and hands parted, runes flashing, guards being throwing over the balcony into the foyer in the process.

Show three bowmen ready at the far end of the hall, arrows nocked, kneeling, eyes trained.  One is squinting.

Show the queen come to a landing before them, head down, hair fanned, a red glow outlining her body, a streak of blood showing where she slid to a stop.

One bowman draws his arrow.

Show Mary moving through the parted guards, a single guard charging her with his blade overhead.

Mary waves her hand, the guard’s head twists off with a red flash.

An arrow zips by Mary’s face, leaving a shallow cut across her cheek.

Mary glances back over her shoulder to see the arrow buried into the floor among the soldiers she left dazed.

Mary looks ahead, a thin trail of blood replacing the tears on her cheek.

Show the bowman at the end of the hall drawing another arrow, a faint red light forming around his body.

The bowman lifts into the air, body rigid, his arrow-arm yanked from his body at the shoulder.

Same image, save for the bowman to the right now bleeding from the neck.

The third bowman sobs at his allies are dropped to the floor in bloody messes, the queen motionless in front of them.

Hold as Mary passes the sobbing bowman, dragging the queen after her by the hair.

Show a room interior, the room being what will someday be Metis’ room but is now a library.  The door explodes inward in a flash of red light, Mary walking through the writing red flames, dragging the queen after her.

Mary goes to a bookshelf, using magic to scatter the books in a storm of covers and pages.

Mary reaches through the open bookshelf and presses a switch which clicks.

The wall opens, swinging the shelf with it.

Mary opens the passage and throws the queen inside.

Show a series of long stairs cut into the darkness, the queen tumbling down them.

Show the bottom of the stairs where the queen comes to a stop.

The queen scrambles to her feet, scuffling forward, blood running down her body, her features in shadow save for one open eye, pupil dilated with fear, Mary descending the stairs after her.

Red light seizes the queen.

Mary catches the queen again by the hair, smiling as she does, the queen screaming.

 

Mary: "No, no, you don't get to beg!  You forfeited that right long ago!"

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Show the King, younger, bearded, and only with the beginnings of a belly, and Victor enter the library.  Victor is bleeding from the mouth and holding his side.  The King brandishes his own jeweled blade.

 

The King: "Victor, I want you to take your most loyal men and stop that mad woman, do you understand me?"

 

Victor: "Yes, my lord!"

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Show Mary at the base of the stairs, standing at the threshold of a darkened chamber, shadows clinging to the far sides of the room.  Before her is a raised stone platform, circular in shape, elaborate runes cut in circles across the surface.  Four torches burn at a distance around the edges. The queen sobs behind her.

Mary smiles.

Mary: "I hear tale that you are hungry!  Well, here!"

Mary throws the queen into the center of the platform, eyes gleaming red, red magic streaming from the queen’s form as she arcs through the air.

Mary: "Eat!  Eat to your heart's content!"

The queen sits up, features hidden behind her hair, body rigid.

Show a torch flicker.

The screen goes black, there are wet tearing sounds.

Show Mary’s face in the darkness, features contorted with monstrous glee, a faint red gleam in her iris. Behind, over her shoulder, Teen Metis can be seen, clutching her staff with both hands, staring in satisfied horror.

Hold this image.

Shift to present day Mary looking mildly amused.

Pull out to show Mary watching as the party packs.  Glenn is hard at work, as is Elsea. Zelos is working, too, packing a roll.  Zara stands, goods gathered at her feet, glaring firmly at Mary.

 

Zara: "This wouldn't take half as long if you would help us, you know!"

 

Mary: "Why, princess darling, I needn't either bedrolls or rations, and I take none from you.  My part of the work is finished long before you even wake in the morning."

 

Zara looks to Elsea.

Zara: "Sometimes, I hate that woman."

 

Elsea: "My apologies, princess."

 

The party leaves before sunrise, Zelos walking on his own but moving slowly.  He walks in the rear with Mary close behind.  Glenn leads, while Zara and Elsea stay at the center.  The barrens of Emeraldine disappear behind them as they enter the thin forests of the mountain’s base.

They pass an old fence post, largely rotted, walking a dusty trail leading up to a cavern mouth.  An old sign announces the location as a former trade road between Emeraldine and Silvara.

The party stops to survey the sign.  Zelos shields his eyes and stares up the mountain.  Zara stares, wide-eyed.

 

Zara: "We passed by these mountains by way of the royal road on the way to Fiona.  If this tunnel is anything like that then we've a long, long journey ahead of us."

 

Mary: "It shan't be so bad, princess.  This road was favored by travelers for its brevity and was left derelict only in favor of the royal road due to the danger that the badlands of Emeraldine posed, considering the high concentration of magic in the area.  Our time in these tunnels shall be quite short, and when on the other side you shall find yourself breathing fresh Silvaran air."

 

Zara smiles.

Zara: "Now that you mention it, Silvara is just beyond these mountains, isn't it? Elsea, we're almost home!"

 

Elsea smiles at Zara.

Elsea: "Yes, m'lady."

 

Mary: "Be not idle in your excitement, ladies.  We've lost enough days as is."

Mary, Zara, and Elsea enter the tunnels while Zelos waits in the back.

Zelos turns to look back toward Emeraldine.

Show the image of Emeraldine, mostly flat, the ruins scattered in the sand, the sky glowing red in the morning light, the forests drawing a thin line between them.

Show Zelos staring soberly into the distance.

Glenn joins Zelos.

 

Glenn: "We'll come back."

 

Zelos: "You think?"

 

Glenn: "Yes.”

 

Zelos: "When we do, will it be as traitors or heroes?"

Zelos looks at Glenn.

 

Glenn: "We'll be a prince and his guard."

 

Zelos smiles.

 

Zara, off screen: "Zelos, haven't you held us up enough already?"

 

Zelos: "No more than your constant bathroom breaks!  Come, Glenn, I don't think she's capable of waiting much longer."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the stone-laid streets surrounding the Magical Research Facility in the Academy.  Metis stands outside of the dining hall, wrapped in his winter travel cloak.  The windows are frosted with ice and a thin snow has gathered outside.  He has his arm extended with a messenger hawk perched on him while he ties a message to its leg.

Metis releases the hawk, which sets off into the sky.

Metis enters the Magical Research Facility.

The facility’s interior is crowded.  He removes his cloak as he moves through the sea of figures.

Metis is greeted by researchers and scholars as he passes their tables and is friendly in turn.

Metis stops to speak to an elderly man at another table.

Metis enters the door at the end of the hall.

Metis finds a personal meal waiting for him.  He has his cloak off and folded over his arm.

Metis leaves the folded cloak neatly on the seat.

Metis seats himself as a waitress approaches him.

 

Waitress1: "Your meal is ready, my lord.  Can I get you anything else?"

 

Metis: "Nothing for now, thank you.  Have my guests arrived?"

 

Waitress1: "Yes, my lord, they are waiting on you."

 

Metis: "Send them in, if you would."

 

Waitress1: "Is there anything I can get for them?"

 

Metis: "Privacy."

 

The waitress’ eyes adopt a purple glow as he speaks.

The waitress bows.

The waitress leaves as a foreign woman enters the room. The woman is of average height, has dark hair and slender eyes.  She is muscular and tattooed and has bones and trinkets woven into her hair.

Metis stands to greet the woman, both bowing to each other.

Metis shows her to her seat.

 

Yue: "Prince Metis, I am pleased to see you again."

 

Metis: "No more pleased than I am, your ladyship.  Come, sit."

 

Yue joins Metis at the table.

 

Metis: "How are things with you and your people."

 

Yue: "As they always are."

 

Metis: "And your Dragon Hunters?"

 

Yue: "Brave, fierce, and determined, as they should be."

 

Metis: "That is good to hear.  I often feel somewhat guilty for stealing you away as I do."

 

Yue: "It is for the best that I am here.  The research your people are doing will someday wipe my land clean of those beasts."

 

Metis smiles.

Metis: "That is the plan, isn't it?  I take it you've been to see the prototype."

 

Yue: "Yes.  They took me to it upon my arrival."

 

Metis laughs politely.

Metis: "Yes, Daedalus and his men are quite proud."

 

Yue: "They should be."

 

Metis: "I take it you approve."

 

Yue: "Yes, their work—your work—is incredible."

 

Metis: "And here I was fearing our progress was insubstantial."

 

Yue: "It is progress, and that is all that matters.  We have fought dragons for hundreds of years.  We can continue to do so for hundreds more.  I want a real solution, a final solution, so there is no need to rush."

 

Metis: "And does your lord agree?"

 

Yue: "My lord is kind enough to leave these matters in my hands."

 

Metis: "Then I am quite lucky, aren't I?"

 

Yue smiles.

Yue: "Don't misunderstand me, Lord Metis.  I am not giving you an invitation to stall your work so that you might keep me to yourself.  I do have an existing obligation to my people and my soldiers."

 

Metis: "As do I, but I see no harm in forgetting it all for one night.  Do you?"

 

Yue: "An...arrangement might be made."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the party walking the cavern paths.  Zara leads, with Mary and Elsea flanking her.  The light from outside casts long shadows that bleed into the darkness.

Zelos and Glenn join them.

 

Zara: "It's quite dark in there."

 

Zelos: "You're not losing your nerve now, are you?"

 

Zara: "Hardly.  I just don't know how we'll find our way without the aid of a light or a map."

 

Mary: "You worry overmuch, princess.  We magicians have ways of making light out of the air, don't we, Lady Elsea."

 

Elsea nods quietly.

 

Zara: "Of course, magic.  I hadn't thought of that."

 

Glenn: "Let’s go.”

 

The party goes deeper, Elsea leading, Zara and Zelos following, with Glenn and Mary at the rear.

Mary stops Glenn.

Mary: "Sir Knight, may I have a private moment with you?"

 

Glenn crosses his arms.

Glenn: "What?"

 

Mary: "There is magic within this cavern."

 

Glenn glances into the tunnel.

Glenn: "Why tell me?”

 

Mary: "Because Lady Elsea would already know, and the children would worry over it."

 

Glenn: "Should we take the Royal Road?”

 

Mary: "No, this is nothing so dramatic.  The magic is subtle, not enough to cause much of a stir."

 

Glenn: "Then why tell me?”

 

Mary: "Because, even magic as light as this can stir up unimaginable things.  While magic does exist in this world naturally, this magic is anything but natural."

 

Glenn: "What does that mean? Have people been casting spells here?”

 

Mary: "Indeed, there were spells cast here, though how far back I am uncertain.  The magic is stale, old, but not nearly as old as that of Emeraldine."

 

Glenn: "And Zelos?"

 

Mary: "Is something of an uncertainty.  We must be vigilant."

 

Glenn: "Right.  We'll keep an eye on him.  Now, let's go before they ask questions."

 

Mary: "Let's."

 

They enter together, following the party at a distance.

Elsea conjures a sphere of sky-blue light.  Behind her, Mary conjures her own sphere of red light in the rear.

Fade to black.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the chambers beneath the Black Castle.  The shadows clung thick to the center of the circular stone platform.  The torches were dimmed.  Mary stood at the base of the stairs, wide-eyed and breathless.

The shadows receded, leaving a bloody mass of lacerated limbs and shattered bones that were once the queen.

The queen’s maimed body landed wetly on the stone.  The torches grew brighter.

The black guard clanked down the stairs.

Mary swayed as she sighed with relief.

Mary: "It's over..."

The guards stopped at the base of the stairs, Victor at their lead.

Mary turned to them.

The black guard collectively recoiled, Victor included.

Show the queen’s mangled body, nearly unrecognizable save for her long hair.  Blood pooled in the stonework around and beneath her.

Show the collected guards again.  One in the back vomited while the others recoiled and grimaced at the sight of their queen so mangled.

Victor stepped forward, sweat gathered at his brow, his sword and shield ready.

Victor: "The queen..."

 

Mary: "You know very well her crime and her punishment, Victor."

 

Victor grimaced.

Victor: "So, you killed the queen with your own hands, then?"

 

Mary: "In a sense."

 

Victor approached as the runes on Mary’s body came alive.  Her eye glowed red.

Show Victor from the front, body cast in red light, sword extended, shield up.  Behind him was Metis, cowering in the stairwell.

Show Mary’s recognition.

Show Mary’s guilt as her magic faded.

Mary extended her arms, wrists up, showing her defeat.

Victor hesitated.

Victor: "And now you're...surrendering?"

 

Mary: "I have finished this, blood for blood.  There is no sense in losing any more innocent lives."

 

Victor sheathed his sword.

Victor took a pair of strange, rune-etched cuffs from a nearby guard.

Victor fastens the cuffs about Mary’s wrists.

Victor: "Maybe you should have thought of that before killing the queen."

 

Mary: "That bitch was anything but innocent!"

 

Show Victor lead Mary up the stairs in chains.  The guards behind her gave a wide berth.

Show Victor lead Mary through the halls which she ravaged, the bodies of guards scattered, limbs displaced, blood soiling everything.

Show Victor remove a stone at the chapel entrance, the wall clicking open.

Cut to the chambers beneath the castle, Victor standing in the water, a guard holding a torch nearby.  There were a cluster of magicians gathered, using magic of various colors to lift Mary in the air.  Everything was cast in color.  Mary’s tears glistened on her cheeks as she screams.  A nearby apprentice held an ornate box in his hand.

 

Mary: "I will not allow this!"

Mary flexed her hands.

When nothing happened, she went into shock.

Mary: "My magic?

 

Victor smiled.

Victor: "We had thought something like this may come to pass."

Victor drew a jagged coil from inside of the ornate box.

Victor: "Those rings about your wrists bear the same runes as this.  Specially crafted by Lord Metis himself to limit your magic and keep you in check."

Using magic, the mages pinned Mary to the wall with the jagged coils.

The cuffs about her wrists snapped off.

The coils spilled blood down the stone around her while she screamed.

Victor: "Did you think this crime would go unpunished?  Or did you hope we would be foolish enough to try and kill you?"

 

Mary: "You know well the power I have, Victor!  You know that these bindings shan't hold me forever."

 

Victor: "Metis used your staff to create those runes.  That steel absorbs the magic around it.  The more you struggle, the more you fail."

The second cuff fell as blood ran down the creased in the stone.

Mary sagged.

Victor: "You always thought you were so damn clever, but this time you got ahead of yourself.  You forgot what you are: a tool, and a dangerous one at that.  Now it's time to dispose of you."

 

Mary: "I swear, I will get free, and I will make you pay!"

 

Victor: "Even should you get free, by then the world will have changed, have no place for someone like you.  You'll just be a ghost, wandering around with nothing to sate its revenge on.  Goodbye, Mary, I can't say that I'll miss you."

Victor turned his back on her, his cape flourishing, while Mary screamed in frustration.

Show Mary scream, struggling against her bindings, blood gushing from her arms and pouring down the wall face.

Show a droplet of blood hit the water.

Show it spread.

Fade to black.

Chapter End.

11: Chapter Ten: "The Long Road"

Chapter Ten: The Long Road

Open on the party walking the cavern.  Elsea leads with a sky-blue flame writhing in her palm, Zara trailing close behind her.  Glenn walks at the center with Zelos at his side and Mary carrying her own red flame at the rear.  Together, the two lights illuminate the surrounding area.

Show Zara looking about anxiously, clinging to Elsea’s cloak.

Zelos smiles back at Mary.

Zelos: "Magical torches!  Ha!  Being a magician must be so convenient."

 

Mary: "Certainly so, it does have its advantages, though there remains a fair share of difficulties involved, as well."

 

Zelos: "Such as?"

 

Mary: "Many think magic is a gift simply innate, but that is untrue.  As with any skill, magic is something that must be learned, cultivated through many long years of study and practice."

 

Zelos: "But most people can't use magic, so there must be some part of it that must be inborn."

 

Mary: "Never did I say or imply that it wasn't present from birth.  It most certainly is, but how does that distinguish it from anything else?  Everyone is born under a special star.  Some are born with keen eyes.  Others with beautiful voices.  Whatever gifts given are rendered without worth if left uncultivated.  An example: Your brother, Metis, was born with the gift of magic, yet he spent many years away from home, studying his craft before he could be considered an expert.  Your brother Kratos was the very same when it came to his archery.  There is no luck in this world, only those willing to work and those unwilling."

 

Zelos: "Still, the things you can do once you put that work in are amazing.  Like those magical torches in your palm, and they don’t need tender but still burn forever.”

 

Mary: "Another false assumption as well, my naive little pumpkin.  These flames are draining our own energy and will dim as we do.  Fortunately for you three, the Lady Elsea and I are true masters of these arts, and we would reach Silvara herself long before these flames tire either of us.  Is that not so, Lady Elsea?"

 

Elsea: "I wouldn't go that far, Miss Mary."

 

Zara: "Oh, you don't need to be so modest, Elsea.  You've worked hard to become as skilled as you are.  You should be proud of it."

 

Elsea blushes.

Elsea: "Thank you, m'lady."

 

Mary: "All of that said, there are many other things that you have left unconsidered."

 

Zelos: "Such as?"

 

Mary: "Such as the uses that monarchs get out of magicians such as myself.  Oft times those displaying magical abilities are left little choice of profession.  Instead, they are sent off immediately to the Academy to master their gifts so that they might be of service to the ruling government.  Even your brother, a prince himself, was not spared such a fate."

 

Zelos: "Maybe, but at least that gives you purpose.  Some people don't even have that much."

 

Mary: "Perhaps, but that purpose is not our own.  Magicians are frequently seen as tools and used toward ambitions that might repulse us."

 

Zelos: "What do you mean?"

 

Mary: "Magical warfare is a prime example.  A properly trained line of magicians can raze an entire village before its inhabitants even have time to draw their blades."

 

Zelos: "Like Emeraldine."

 

Mary: "Precisely, but there is more than even that.  To use magic is to grab the very fabric of space and time and bend it to your will.  Magicians are, at times, asked to take natural things and distort them, to create abominations that should not have even been imagined.  In point of fact, there have been stories of such creatures being loosed in these very tunnels."

 

Zara: "There...are...?"

 

Mary: "Many.  An example: serpent without eyes what turn you to stone with only a single gaze."

 

Glenn: "They gaze without eyes?”

 

Mary: "That is the question, is it not? Also, there are stories of three-headed hounds with flames of pure crimson what roll from their meaty jowls.  Or birds, the size of men, covered in plums of electricity what incinerate any they come upon."

 

Zara shudders, while Zelos is put off.  Glenn walks with his hand at rest on his sword hilt.

 

Mary: "Most frightening are the stories of the shadow men, what watch from the darkness and slip into your shadows.  Then, they grab you by the heel and drag you to the nether realms with a sharp yank."

 

Zara: "And you didn't think to warn us beforehand of such atrocious beasts?"

 

Mary: "Worry not, princess, these creatures are simple myths meant only to frighten away those too dim or ignorant."

 

Zara: "S-Surely."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the Black Castle by night, the Black City stretching out around it, surrounding the castle walls on all sides save for the area open to the sea.  A handful of lanterns stick out in the darkness.  The sky is overcast.

Show the moon peeking through the thick, dark clouds.

Show the Black Castle’s exterior, windows peeking into the dimly lit interiors.

Show the Black Castle’s interior, illuminated only by faint moonlight.

The interior brightens as the clouds drift by.

Show another hallway within the Black Castle, downstairs, the Head Steward walking the halls with a candle in hand.

The Head Steward passes two guards who greet him with smiles.

Show the Head Steward locking the front door in the foyer, a cloaked figure watching him from the top of the staircase.

Show the Head Steward leave, the cloaked figure descending the stairs to follow him.

Show the Head Steward entering his room with the cloaked figure watching from the end of the hall.

Show Eros waiting in the Head Steward’s room, dressed in a fine vest, head resting on his fist.

The Head Steward releases a gasp while clutching his chest.

 

Steward: “Oh my word, prince Eros! You gave me quite the start.”

 

Eros stands and they shake hands.

Eros: “I don’t mean to scare you.  I just want to be discreet.  You never know who is watching here.”

 

Steward: “How do you mean, my prince?”

 

Eros: “Never mind, it’s a subject better left silent.  Come in and close the door behind you so that we can have at least a little privacy.”

 

Steward: “O-Of course.”

The Head Steward sets the candle on the table beside Eros.

The Head Steward cuts across the room to a jug and two glasses.

Steward: “Would you care for a drink, my prince?”

 

Eros: “Please.”

 

The Head Steward pours two drinks.

The Head Steward hands off Eros’ drink at the table.

Eros smells his drink, grimacing, while the Head Steward downs his.

The Head Steward pours another drink.

Steward: “Not to overstep my rights, prince, but why do you visit me so late at night?”

 

Eros: “Let me start by saying that none may know of this meeting.  It is between us only.”

 

Steward: “Why ever not?”

 

Eros: “Because I have questions.  Questions which might bring trouble.”

 

Steward: “I am afraid I do not follow, my lord.”

 

Eros looks from side to side.

He locks the door.

Eros: “And you don’t need to.  All you need to do is listen and answer.”

 

Steward: “I see.”

The Head Steward eyes his glass.

The Head Steward downs the drink again.

Steward: “What questions do you have?”

 

Eros: “You know all that happens within the castle walls, don’t you?’

 

The Head Steward smiles while setting his glass to the side.

Steward: “Of course, it is one of the reasons your father made me head steward!”

The Head Steward stares ahead sadly.

Steward: “May he rest peacefully.”

 

Eros: “May he.  Now then, do you know of a delivery made to the castle dock recently?”

 

The Head Steward looks shocked and frightened.

Steward: “My prince, I must apologize but I haven’t any idea of what you mention.”

 

Eros: “I don’t believe you.”

 

Steward: “Prince Eros, this subject is…best left alone.”

 

Eros: “Why?”

 

Steward: “I am afraid I have been ordered to the strictest silence on the subject.”

 

Eros: “By whom?”

 

Steward: “My prince…”

 

Eros: “I demand an answer from you, steward.  Bear in mind who you are speaking to.”

 

The Head Steward shifts in his seat, reaching for his glass.

The Head Steward leaves the glass alone, looking away in guilt.

Steward: “If you insist. It was your brother, prince Metis.”

 

Eros: “As I suspected.  What is he hiding?”

 

Steward: “Again, I must respectfully ask that you change…”

 

Eros: “I will not ask you again.”

 

Steward: “You must understand that such commands compromise me…”

 

Eros: “As does your unwillingness to cooperate, steward.  Disobeying direct commands from a prince—at this time the acting king, to be precise—has severe consequences.  Often fatal ones.”

 

Steward: “My prince, you wouldn’t…”

 

Eros: “I wouldn’t enjoy it.”

 

The Head Steward sighs while taking Eros’ drink.

The Head Steward downs Eros’ drink.

Steward: “The prince Metis ordered my silence because your late father—may he rest peacefully—did not approve of his activities.”

 

Eros: “You mean to say that father didn’t know.”

 

Steward: “No, not in the least.  Your brother hid it from even him, though he had been quite open and vocal about the idea of it.  Your father fought it from the start.”

 

Eros: “And Metis went ahead with the trade agreements.”

 

Steward: “So it would seem, my lord.”

 

Eros: “And how long has this gone on?”

 

Steward: “For nearly a year at least, I would say.  I first learned of it while walking the grounds.  It was late last autumn and winter’s chill was coming in.  I saw him out at the docks with Zion.  The ships had just come in, and your brother was directing them personally.  I approached out of concern, and he demanded I keep quiet about it.”

 

Eros: “And so you obeyed.”

 

Steward: “I had meant to tell your father, but your brother…He convinced me that it was for the good of our nation.  After that it slipped my mind, and only came back once you made mention of it.”

 

Eros: “I see.  Has he involved you at all?”

 

Steward: “Not at all, though I have come upon them more than once.”

 

Eros: “And yet you never took it to my father?”

 

Steward: “It never seemed a priority.”

 

Eros leans against the door while staring across the room at the Head Steward, who turns the glass around in his hands.

 

Eros: “Who exactly is he trading with?”

 

Steward: “From what I can remember they are hunters from the land of dragons, from across the sea.  Your father called them savages and thought they were unfit to walk our lands.  How he would have reacted if he only knew…”

 

Eros: “I am inclined to agree with his assertion.”

 

Steward: “Of course, my prince.”

 

Eros: “Do you happen to know what it is that they are trading?”

 

Steward: “No, but I can tell you that the shipments are consistent.  They come once every few months and always bring large boxes.”

 

Eros: “How in the world has he kept it hidden for so long?”

 

Steward: “The shipments are never here for long.  He has them carried off almost immediately, most likely for storage.”

 

Eros: “Or use.”

 

Steward: “Perhaps.”

 

Eros: “I see.  Well, that is enough for now.” 

Eros stands at the doorway.

Eros: “Before I go, I must thank you.  You have always been loyal to my father, and to the crown as a whole.”

 

Steward: “It is my pleasure.”

 

Eros: “This conversation never happened.”

 

Steward: “I will drink enough tonight to make that a truth.”

 

Eros laughs.

Eros: “Thank you.”

 

Steward: “My prince, before you go…”

 

Eros: “Yes?”

 

Steward: “Do you think any of this is related to your father—to the king’s murder?”

 

Eros: “At this point I am uncertain.  I have my doubts, but even still, I find Metis’ games unbecoming.”

 

Steward: “I see.  Sleep well, then.”

 

Eros: “You as well.  And for safety, keep your door locked, would you.”

 

Steward: “Of course, my prince.”

 

Eros steps out into the hall and waits.  The door clicks locked behind him.

Eros checks the empty halls.

Eros departs into the darkened end of the hall.

Eros ascends the darkened staircase.

Show the cloaked figure step out of the shadows in the foyer, a thin shaft of light cutting through the darkness of the room.

Show the man’s face, hidden beneath the cloak—Zion—barely visible in the darkness.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to cavern tunnel interior.  Stalactites hang high from the ceiling, water running down their rocky form.  The tunnel is empty, save for the small pinpricks of sky blue and red light.

Show the party walking across empty strips of earth held together by strips of wood and rope.  Zara looks frightened, clinging to Elsea’s cloak as she walks.

 

Zara: "How much longer must we waste in this despicable place?"

 

Elsea: "I'm not sure, but once we reach the otherside we will be back inside of Silvara."

 

Zara: "Yes, so Mary says, though I am beginning to doubt her judgment in this."

 

Elsea: "Why, m'lady?  She has yet to lead us astray."

 

Zara: "That we know of, and even were that true, that doesn't mean she wouldn't start.  I'm certain that she hadn't killed people until the day she started, either."

 

Elsea: "With all due respect, m'lady, I feel that you may be acting a bit irrational."

 

Zara: "And with all due respect, I feel that you are not being irrational enough!  We're stuck underground with a known murderer from a foreign nation and no witnesses.  In the dark, no less!"

 

Elsea: "But there are witnesses, m'lady."

 

Zara glances back and huffs.

Zara: "Please, Glenn and that brat of a prince are nothing but more bodies between her and us.  Their bones will be found a few feet from ours when future explorers excavate this damned place."

 

Elsea: "That is quite dark, m'lady."

 

Zelos: "One of us has to look in dark places if we're going to survive.  Still, I guess you have something of a point.  If she had any desire to kill us, then she would have done it long ago."

 

Elsea: "Exactly."

 

Zara: "Still don't like this place, though."

 

Elsea: "I'm sure we'll be through in short time."

 

Cut to Zelos and Glenn, walking side-by-side, Mary just behind them.  Zelos staggers while Glenn and Mary look worried.

Zelos falls to his knees, his left eye glowing a blinding gold.  The light continues to swell.  Glenn kneels beside him.

 

Glenn: "Zelos?"

 

Zelos: "My—Ah! My eye is burning!"

 

Glenn: "We should rest."

 

Zelos: "No, I can...Just keep going, okay?"

 

Glenn: "No, you need your rest."

 

Mary: "Think on that, sir knight."

 

Glenn: "What?"

 

Mary: "When last our prince found himself ill it was due to lingering magic in the air.  I had mentioned earlier the magical experiments done here, did I not?"

 

Glenn looks around at the cavern.

Glenn: "It's feeding."

 

Mary: "Exactly correct!  If we were to stay it would only serve to malign him.  A swift advance is the only cure."

 

Glenn: "Right."

Glenn slips his arm under Zelos and lifts him up.

 

Zelos: "I'm fine."

 

Glenn drags Zelos alongside him, the party moving more briskly.  Zara walks holding her cloak.  Mary lifts her skirt to ease movement.

Show the cavern top, the shadows of stalactites shift.

Show a pair of eyes in the darkness.

More eyes open, joining the first pair.

Return to Zelos and Glenn, the party surrounding them.  Zelos is staring into the darkness.

Zelos: "Mary..."

 

Mary: "Yes, pumpkin?"

 

Zelos: "You said that there was magic here, right?"

 

Mary: "I believe so, yes."

 

Zelos: "What sort of magic?"

 

Mary: "That would be a very complex and very long answer to give, and one best saved for another time, at that.  For now, try to breathe and focus on feeling better."

 

Zelos: "Please, I think it might help if you gave me something else to think about."

 

Mary: "Oh fine, if you do insist, then I will explain.  The types of magic found in this place are most likely of varied origin.  You see, magic is a curious thing.  Some places, by their very nature, possess so much magic that life cannot exist within their borders and whatever life can must take on strange and malevolent forms.  Yet, places entirely devoid of it are rendered more barren even than that.  This place, truth be told, was most likely closer to the latter than the former."

 

Zelos: "Then what happened to it?"

 

Mary: "Emeraldine was founded, the cave was cut out into a merchant's road.  Then the Royal Road was built, and Emeraldine destroyed, and the Academy was built nearby.  Needing a place to test magic that was safely away from Fionan cities but close enough to the enormous reservoir of ambient magical energy they chose the mine as much for convenience as seclusion."

 

Zelos: "And what did they do here?"

 

Mary: "Your guesses would be as good as mine.  The Academy was still quite small when I was incarcerated, and after that I wasn't in much of a position to ask on its progress."

 

Zelos: "I...see..."

 

Zelos, sweating profusely, collapses, hanging from Glenn, who stumbles to support him.  Mary rushes forward to catch him, her light dimming in the process.

Elsea and Zara return to help Zelos and Glenn.  The shadows above the party shift.

The shadows spread, enormous wings silhouetted in black.  An ear-splitting howl echoes.

Enormous bird-like creatures—Harpies—drop from the ceiling.

Elsea draws runes.

A sky-blue barrier knocks them away.

The Harpies return to their perches on the stalactites, hanging from them, illuminated by Elsea’s lingering magic.  Zara screams.

 

Zara: "What in the hells are those things?"

 

Mary: "Monsters, I would presume.  Be grateful that they are not of the tentacle variety.  Elsea, I will protect the princess.  You care for the prince."

 

Elsea: "Yes!"

Elsea takes Mary’s place, kneeling beside Zelos, while Mary steps into the fore.  Elsea feels Zelos’ forehead.  His eye continues to shine through his fingers.

Mary conjures a red flame in her palm, the runes on her body gleaming red.

 

Zara: "Those things were created by magic?"

 

Mary: "So it would seem.  What a wicked mind our prince Metis has."

 

Zelos screams behind Mary, Glenn holding Zelos’ head in place while Elsea writes runes upon his flesh.  The runes shine sky blue and cast colored light upon his flesh.

 

Glenn: "What's going on?"

 

Elsea: "The magic is building up again.  We need to find a way to alleviate it before—Please, let me see him."

 

The Harpies swoop down, their talons gleaming in the red light.

 

Mary: "There we are."

Mary extends her palm and ejects flames from her fingers.  An arc of red light cuts through the darkness.

A Harpy caught by the red light and is set aflame.  The other Harpies part, screeching.

Mary shoots another Harpy as they circle, and it explodes into fiery, feathery bits.

Elsea pulls Zelos onto her lap, holding him by the head and pressing her fingers to his temples. The runes upon his body shine brighter.

Light spreads across Zelos’ body and focuses around his eye.  The golden light in his left eye fades.

A Harpy strikes at Zara, raking its talons across her arm.  Zara screams as she recoils.

 

Elsea: "Princess!"

 

Elsea looks up and the magic fades around her.

A golden light erupts from Zelos’ eye, a surge of flame jets upward.

A Harpy is incinerated as it flies by.

The flame hits the cavern ceiling, the flames rolling around the stalactites.

The ceiling collapses, boulders crashing down around the party as the flames recede.

Mary uses magic to pull Elsea, Glenn, and Zelos to her.

Mary conjures a shield of red light around her.

The bridge of stones beneath their feet crumble as Zara scrambles for them.

Zara falls into the darkness before they can catch her.

Zelos leaps out after Zara.

 

Glenn: "Zelos!"

 

More rocks fall onto the party, obscuring the view of them.

Fade to black.

Chapter End.

12: Chapter Eleven: Assignation of Guilt

Chapter Eleven: Assignation of Guilt

Open on the Black Castle exterior on the night of the gala.  The sky is dark, the party goers are stumbling about in the cold, singing merrily.

Show the Black Castle interior richly decorated, the party hall sparkling as nobles mingle with one another.

Show Kratos dancing with his son on his feet, his wife watching in amusement.

Show five thrones empty.

Show the interior of Zelos’ room, Zelos on his back, sweating and panting, one eye glowing, Glenn watches over him from beside the bed.

Show the interior of the King’s room, the wall where the ornamental swords are hung on the wall, one of the swords missing.

Show the King staggering back, one of the ornamental blades buried in his stomach.  He is holding the blade, trying to pull it from his stomach, the blade cutting his hands.  Zara is holding the hilt, blood soiling her gloves.

The King falls onto his back, coughing fitfully as Zara stands over him, dress soaked with blood, a faint purple glow to her eyes.

The room goes quiet.

Zara comes to, the glow fading from her eyes.  Tears come to her eyes.

Zara shrieks.

Zara: "M-My Lord...King...Sir...What have I....?"

Zara kneels beside the king, staring at her shaking hands, tears running down her cheeks.

Zara: "No! No, no, no!"

Zara pulls the blade from the King’s stomach.

Zara tries to staunch the wound with her hands.  Blood bubbles up between her fingers while she cries.  The King has gone pale, his eyes glassy as he stares at the ceiling.

Zara: "No. No!  This cannot—Someone!  Someone, come and help, the king...!"

 

Elsea bursts through the door and Zara looks back at her.

Elsea settles beside Zara, who turns to her, falling into her embrace.

Zara: "Elsea!  Help, quickly, the king—He’s..."

 

Elsea checks the King while Zara watches, crying beside her.

Elsea: "The king is dead."

 

Zara: "What? No.  No! That can't be!"

 

Elsea: "Princess, what happened?"

 

Zara: "I—I don't...We were...."

 

Elsea grabs Zara by the shoulders and stares her in the eyes.

Élsea: "Please, princess, you need to calm down.  Take a deep breath, and then tell me what happened."

 

Zara closes her eyes and breathes deeply while Elsea squeezes her shoulders.

Zara opens her eyes, sniffling.

Zara: "We spoke with Metis...And then I came here...And I—I'm not so sure what happened, but I think I..."

Zara looks at the King’s corpse beside her.

Zara resumes crying while Elsea comforts her.

 

Elsea: "Please, come with me."

Elsea stands.

 

Zara: "But the king..."

 

Elsea: "He’s already dead, m'lady, and there is nothing I can do to fix that."

 

Zara: "But..."

 

Elsea: "We must leave quickly!  I understand your confusion, but whatever happened here cannot be solved by us being caught in so compromising a situation."

 

Metis, off-screen: "And yet you were caught!"

Elsea, standing, and Zara, kneeling, look toward the door to find Metis there.  Metis watches them with a smug smile on his face.

Metis: "So, you came tonight only to assassinate our king, a man who has wanted only peace with your nation.  Disgusting filth!"

 

Zara: "No, it's not what you think!"

 

Metis: "What I think is unimportant, princess, because before me stands all the proof I need."

Metis extends his hand toward them.  There is a faint glow of purple magic around his fingers.

Metis: "Come, turn yourself in."

 

Zara’s eyes glow again.

Zara staggers forward while Elsea takes her hand.

Show the hallway, a flash of sky-blue light filling the hall as Metis is hurled against a wall.

Elsea leads Zara from the room, dragging her down the hall while Metis groans.

Metis sits up, smiling, as they disappear down the hall.

Fade to black.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to darkness lit only by a faint golden light at the center of the screen.

Show Zelos on his back, his left eye glowing, surrounded by rubble his body is coated in dirt.  He is whole, save for a few superficial cuts across his limbs and cheeks.  Zara is at rest beside him, her arm on his chest.  She is largely unharmed.

Zara stirs, her fingers curling as Zelos winces.

Zara sits up, rubbing dust from her eyes while Zelos groans.

Zara and Zelos make eye contact.

 

Zara: "Zelos?"

 

Zelos: "Yes?"

 

Zara: "What in the world am I doing on top of you?”

 

Zelos: "Honestly, I’m trying to figure that out myself.  Could you move?”

 

Zara: "Right, sorry."

Zara and Zelos stand, Zelos stretching while Zara knocks the dust from her cloak.  They are surrounded by rubble.  Deep fissures in the walls show where the stones have collapsed together.  A makeshift cavern has formed around them.

Zara and Zelos look up.

Show a thin passageway leading further in, far too narrow and steep for an escape.

Show them staring up at the ceiling again.

Zara: "Where are we, exactly?"

 

Zelos: "Not sure.  The creatures attacked and then..."

 

Zara looks around while Zelos continues to stare at the hole in the ceiling.

Zara: "Where are the others?"

 

Zelos: "Not here."

 

Zara: "Obviously!  Do you think they're dead?"

 

Zelos: "They've got Mary and Elsea with them.  If you and I survived, then they're fine."

 

Zara: "Right, they're fine. Though, it does raise the question..."

Zara runs her fingers along the jagged rocks while Zelos watches her.

Zara recoils as she cuts her finger on the rocks.

Zara: "Ow!”

Zara sticks her finger in her mouth and sucks the wound.

Zara: “How exactly did we survive?"

 

Zelos: "I'm trying not to think about it too much.  Consider it a miracle and leave it alone."

 

Zara: "Fine."

Beat.

Zara: "Is that your..."

 

Zelos: "My eye?  It appears so."

 

Zara: "And so you can see in the dark."

 

Zelos: "As if it were day."

 

Zara: "Well, are either of us injured?"

 

Zelos: "Don't worry.  Not even falling rocks could do anything to make your face look any worse."

 

Zara: "Really, Zelos? This isn't the time!"

 

Zelos: "We'll be fine.  Glenn and the others are probably looking for us as we speak."

 

Zara: "If only all of us were simple enough to remain optimistic in impossible circumstances."

 

Zelos: "I like to think of it as my gift."

 

Zara: "Don't you take anything seriously?"

 

Zelos: "I take a lot of things seriously, but if this situation is as impossible as you say, then what's the point in worrying?  Should I just curl up and cry to myself until I die?"

 

Zara: "I'd prefer that over your thoughtless rambling!”

 

Zelos: "Rambling?  By the gods!  I can't believe father intended to have us marry!"

 

Zara looks at Zelos in surprise while he stares at another wall with his hands on his hips.

Zara: "He...?"

 

Zelos: "You didn't know?"

 

Zara: "I hadn't even imagined, considering how much we...Well, you know..."

 

Zelos: "Hate each other."

 

Zara: "I was trying to be polite."

 

Zelos: "Why start now?"

 

Zara: "And why did your father want us to marry?"

 

Zelos scoffs.

Zelos: "He favored you, thought you were a sweet girl with a good head on your shoulders.  Said you would have a sobering effect on me, kept saying how my head was in the clouds, 'but that girl, she would bring him back down to earth or else bring the earth up to meet him!'"

Zelos pauses.

Zelos: "He said we balanced each other.  Just a bunch of nonsense."

 

Zara: "So, he meant to put US on the throne?"

 

Zelos: "So it would seem."

Zara goes silent and watches Zelos survey the cavern.

Zelos tries to get footing on the rocks.
Zelos slips, cutting his hand in the process.

Zelos: "Just as I thought.  Looks like we'll just have to wait."

Zara sniffles off screen while Zelos regards the rocks.

Zelos turns to face her and finds her back to him.

Zelos: "What's with you?  Are you that scared?"

 

Zara wipes her eyes while Zelos approaches.

Zara: "It's nothing!"

 

Zelos: "Oh, come off it, it's obviously something, otherwise you wouldn't be crying.  Even you're not that crazy.  At least, I didn't think you were."

 

Zara scoots closer to the wall.

Zara: "I don't want to talk about it."

 

Zelos sighs.

Zelos: "Listen, I'm sorry.  I should have kept my big mouth shut.  I mean, this entire situation must be difficult for you, too, but I promise you, no matter what, I won't let them blame you for his death.  We'll figure out who’s framing you, and we'll bring them to justice.  I mean it."

Zara bursts into loud wails.

Zelos rushes to her side.

Zelos: "Come on, don't...Why are you crying?"

Zelos kneels beside Zara, reaching toward her with his bloody hand, and he pauses.

Zelos takes her shoulder with his clean hand and directs her toward him.

Zelos: "It's alright.  So, you don't have to..."

 

Zara: "But it was me!"

 

Zelos: "What?"

 

Zara: "It was me, Zelos.  It was me!"

 

Zelos: "You said that already, but what was you?"

 

Zara: "Are you really this dense?  It was me!  I killed your father!  I killed the king!"

 

Hold on an image of Zelos staring wide-eyed at Zara, who is still crying.

Zelos laughs.

Zelos: "Yeah, real funny."

Zelos recoils from her while she continues to cry.

Zelos: "You didn't. You wouldn't.  Why are you saying this?"

 

Zara: "I didn't mean to.  I don't know why—I was just...It wasn't ME, but it was my body.  It was like I was watching myself, my body, moving, speaking on its own.  It wasn't my thoughts or actions.  I tried so hard to stop, to scream, to warn him, but—But when I finally got control, he was bleeding. Everywhere. I tried to put pressure on the wound, to keep him...But he died. Right there, right in front of me."

 

Zelos stumbles away from the sobbing form of Zara, staring at her in horror.

Zelos: "You did—You did what!"

 

Zara looks up from her wet, bloody palms, tears streaking down her dirty face.

Zara: "I am so sorry!  I promise, I never meant...I would never have..."

Zara hides behind her hands and continues to cry while Zelos falls to sitting and stares at her in silence.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Elsea, Glenn, and Mary sitting inside of their own cavern.  Red magic burns across Mary’s hands.  The runes across her body glow, illuminating the cavern that has formed around them.  Elsea kneels beside Glenn, examining his shirtless body.

Elsea stands and smiles.

 

Elsea: "You look fine."

 

Glenn stands, slipping his shirt back on as he does.

Glenn: "Thanks.  Now what?"

 

Mary: "We make our escape, of course."

 

Glenn: "You make it sound so easy."

 

Mary: "It is easy.  We're trapped beneath the earth, so all we need to do is move the earth.  Why, you're here with two top tier magicians, sir knight.  We'll have these rocks cleared before you can even give me one of your signature disapproving glares."

Glenn regards her with his arms crossed.

Mary: "Fine, mayhap that is a bit of an exaggeration, but we'll make quick work of it, mark my words.  Lady Elsea, if you would assist."

 

Elsea: "Yes."

 

Mary: "Good.  Now, just keep the stones above from collapsing in on us.  While you do, I'll remove the bits before us so that we may tunnel our way out."

 

Elsea: "Alright."

 

Elsea draws sky blue runes in the air while Mary conjures magic from her flesh.

A sky blue barrier forms, illuminating the cavern walls and casting light through the fissures.  Red light forms around stones which Mary then picks away from the rubble.

Mary creates a small incision in the rubble that is just wide and tall enough for them to pass through.  Glenn follows her as rubble is dislodged around him.

Elsea follows at the rear into the tunnel.

 

Mary: "What I would do for a moment with my staff."

 

Glenn: "Why?"

 

Elsea: "Staves and wands can act as magical focal points.  While it’s not impossible for magicians to perform spells without one, it is more difficult to cast precisely."

 

Mary: "And precision is paramount in a situation such as ours. One wrong twist and I fear I shall send the tunnel crumbling down around us, crushing any that do not possess the gift of magic."

 

Elsea leans forward, smiling, and whispers to Glenn over his shoulder.

Elsea: "She's kidding."

 

Glenn: "Right."

 

Mary: "Now then, we have time to ourselves with the children away.  Why not indulge in a little adult conversation?"

 

Glenn: "About?"

 

Mary: "Well, you and I have had many, many private conversations, alone, in the shadows, yet we've never thought to include the pretty, young Lady Elsea in our nocturnal affairs."

 

Elsea blushes.

Elsea: "I am quite fine with that, thank you."

 

Glenn: "She's being facetious."

 

Mary: "I am being no such thing, sir knight!  Why, all I am doing is speaking of our periodic discussions about the state of our great nation, Fiona, and the goings and comings of certain figures of considerable political and social clout.  Anything else is simply imagined on your part and speaks more to your character than to mine, thank you!"

 

Glenn: "So, Elsea, thoughts?"

 

Elsea: "On what, exactly?"

 

Mary: "The current situation, as in, possibilities of war between the two nations, identity of the true murderer."

Mary glances back while removing a large boulder, crumbling it with a series of deep cuts into the stone as she dislodges it.

Mary: "Mayhap you could shed some light on events that transpired on the night of the gala.  The princess—sweet and gentle as she is—was covered head-to-toe in blood, and while I wouldn't consider her a regicide outright, I will go so far as to assert that was royal blood what soiled her gown."

 

Elsea: "How did you know?"

 

Glenn: "Mary is familiar with royal blood."

 

Mary: "Oh, you do go on at times."

Mary’s tunnel forms a gentle curve up while Glenn and Elsea follow.  Glenn uses the rock wall for balance.

Mary: "Lady Elsea, please do tell the happenings of that night."

 

Elsea: "I don't really know much myself.  The princess went off with the king.  When I found them the act was already done."

 

Mary: "The act being?"

 

Elsea: "It seems that she…had run the king through with a blade."

 

Glenn and Mary make eye contact over Mary’s shoulder, Glenn looking concerned while Mary is amused.  Elsea is watching her feet as they walk.

Glenn: "Go on."

 

Elsea: "After that we ran."

 

Glenn: "Nothing else?"

 

Elsea pauses.

Elsea: "Metis had stopped us at the door.  He told the princess to turn herself in."

 

Mary: "And how did you manage to solve that mess?"

 

Elsea, looking embarrassed, blushes.

Elsea: "I threw him into a wall..."

 

Glenn grins while Mary laughs.

Mary: "Highly effective!  Now then, Lady Elsea, I have a question that may seem strange to you: how was Metis behaving?"

 

Elsea: "How do you mean?"

 

Mary: "I had hoped to ask in a manner that would not lead your answer, but did he seem at all surprised to find you?  Or was there not an appearance of a job well-done written upon his features?"

 

Elsea stops suddenly behind them as rubble dusts the floor.

Elsea: "You don't mean..."

 

Glenn: "There's no proof."

 

Mary: "Maybe not, but there is evidence enough, and the theory certainly fits."

 

Glenn: "What would he gain?”

 

Mary: "Metis is a schemer.  He was as a child and is as an adult.  With him everything is like a game of chess.  He makes moves that seem without sound logic, but his end game will make them relevant, of that I am certain."

 

Elsea: "But how would he..."

 

Mary: "Have controlled the princess?  Metis is skilled both in magic and rhetoric.  That he would be able to manipulate the princess is not impossible.  Why, I've always said that words do possess great power.  Quill mightier than the sword and all that."

 

Elsea: "Manipulate, possibly, but what occurred was more like puppetry.  No words have that sort of power."

 

Mary shrugs.

Mary: "Then the alternative: the princess is a cold-hearted murderer and bears the king's death squarely on her sleek, yet attractive shoulders.  Tell me, in this dark hour, which seems the most like story?"

 

Elsea looks between Glenn and Mary.  All three have stopped in the haphazard tunnel.

Elsea sighs.

Elsea: "So, Metis is behind this, then?"

 

Mary: "Seems most like, considered those who were issued blame."

 

Elsea: "Why would Metis blame his own brother, though?"

 

Mary: "Metis was never fond of Zelos.  Always saw him as something of an outsider."

 

Glenn: "It's more than that."

 

Mary: "Oh, and what have you been hiding from me, sir knight?"

 

Glenn: "What you said earlier: Metis is a schemer and if this is his plot, then it's working toward some invisible end, right?"

 

Mary: "Yes, yes, now you're just being redundant."

 

Glenn: "What if that end is Silvara?"

 

Elsea: "Then that is even more mystifying. Why take by force what he was already being offered?"

 

Glenn: "He was offered nothing.”

 

Mary: "He aims to take both thrones with one move."

 

Glenn: "Maybe."

 

Elsea: "That still lacks sense.  He murdered his father, made his brother a traitor, and the princess a murderer, and for what?  A throne better taken through proper appeals?  Silvara was already on its way to becoming a Fionan colony.  He simply complicated things."

 

Glenn: "Agreed, and that's why this is just conjecture.  All we can do is theorize at this point."

 

Mary: "Which we've done more than enough of for the day.  Lady Elsea, Sir Knight, I do believe we have a duo of tortured nobles what need rescuing."

 

Mary turns, adjusting stone, with Glenn and Elsea following, the tunnel they have formed crumbling just beyond the reach of Elsea’s magic.

Chapter End.

13: Chapter Twelve: Brothers

Chapter Twelve: Brothers

 

Open on Zelos and Zara in the collapsed cavern.  Zara is still crying while Zelos stands over her, staring down at her in stunned silence.

 

Zelos: “You…”

 

Zara: “I am sorry, Zelos.  I am so, so sorry.”

 

Zara curls up, hugging her knees, sobbing into her cloak with Zelos’ shadow cast over her.

Zelos kneels beside her, his hand alighting on her shoulder, near her neck.

Zelos shushes and hugs her.

Zelos: “It’s okay.  It’ll be okay.  I know you didn’t mean to do it.  I know you wouldn’t.”

Zelos sighs, tears rolling down his cheeks, while he sooths her.

Zelos: "Listen, Zara, we'll figure it out."

 

Zara hugs Zelos back, burying her face into his chest, his cloak falling over her.  She cries while he holds her.

Cut to black.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

The sound of scrapping like stone on stone.

 

Mary: "Just a bit more..."

 

The screen goes white.

Fade into the image of the mountains with a forest in the fore.  There is a cavern mouth in the mountainside.

Show the mountainside hole, Mary crawling from it, Glenn just behind her.  The tunnel into the mountains is shadowed.

Mary dusts herself while Glenn shields his eyes.  Elsea leads Zelos and Zara from the tunnel.

Elsea checks Zara for injuries while the party adjusts to the twilight.

Elsea thumbs Zara’s tear-stained, dirty cheeks.

 

Elsea: "Princess, have you been crying?"

 

Zara: "It's fine. I'm fine."

 

Zelos approaches Mary and Glenn.

Zelos: "May I speak with you two privately?"

 

Glenn and Mary exchange glances.

 

Mary: "Why, of course, pumpkin.  Elsea, Zara, we will return shortly."

 

Elsea watches the three of them march off toward the forest together.

 

Elsea: "I wonder where they're off to."

 

Zara: "Elsea...I...I told him."

 

Elsea turns back to Zara.

 

Elsea: "Forgive me, princess, but what did you tell him?”

 

Zara wipes her nose.

Zara: "I...I told Zelos about his father and what I..."

 

Elsea wipes away a few stray tears.

Elsea: "M'lady, it wasn't you.  You were..."

 

Zara: "He hugged me."

 

Elsea: "Excuse me?”

 

Zara: "Before you found us I told him what I did, what had happened, and he was quiet for a moment.  Then, he just held me and cried with me."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Zelos, Glenn, and Mary standing in a circle in the forest.  Beyond Zelos, in the background, Elsea continues to fuss over Zara.  Glenn stands with his arms crossed.  Mary can be shown from the back, eying her nails.

Show the party again from over Zelos’ shoulder.  Mary is seated on a log, legs crossed, frowning at her cuticles.  There is snow on the ground.  The sky is flat.

 

Glenn: "You wanted to talk?"

 

Zelos: "Zara, she..."

Zelos rubs his neck.  There are tears in his eyes.

Zelos: "Let me put it this way, someone has been causing a lot of trouble for me and the princess, and I want to know what you two know.

 

Mary and Glenn exchange glances.

Mary meets Zelos’ gaze, her hand still up, fingers spread as she surveyed her digits.

Mary: "Why, my prince, we know nothing more than you do at this point.  I do consider us quite as lost in the woods as you, and unfortunately I am distracted right now by a hangnail what was garnered during our daring escape from the collapsed tunnels from where you were only just recently plucked.  Mayhap we sleep on this and reconvene at a later date more conducive toward critical th…”

 

Zelos: "I'm not stupid, Mary, so don't treat me like I am."

 

Mary: "Why, I would never!  I am offended by the mere accusation of it."

 

Zelos stands with his hands on his hips and looks at Glenn, who meets his gaze steadily.  Mary is not shown.

Zelos: "Well?"

 

Glenn frowns.

Glenn: "You won’t like what we have to say.”

 

Zelos: "Try me."

 

Mary: "In all honesty, you won't care much for what we have to say on this subject, especially considering the mercurial state of your emotions at this very moment.  Why not allow it a night and return to the issue with a clear head in the morning."

 

Zelos: "We don't have time for that.  Someone is in my nation, attacking my name. What's worse, they made Zara..."

Zelos’ features darken as he scowls at the ground.  His hands tighten into fists.

Zelos: "I've never, in my entire life, done anything I didn't want to.  The very idea makes me sick, and someone did something to Zara and....And she is not a weapon!  So, please, tell me something, anything!"

 

Mary: "I really must insist that you..."

 

Glenn: "Metis."

 

Zelos: "What?"

 

Mary: "Yes, Sir Knight, I fear that bears repeating."

 

Glenn: "We think it was Metis."

 

Zelos: "You think my brother did it?  Killed my father?  Framed Zara?  Why?  How?  What proof do you have?"

 

Glenn: "None.”

 

Zelos: "Then how dare you make such accusations!"

 

Mary: "It bears remembering that we did warn you of potential displeasure with our theory."

 

Zelos: "Yeah, but you didn't even hint at how absurd it really was.  Metis is my brother!  He would never do something so...so...cruel!"

 

Mary: "Please, Zelos, offer us your ear at least long enough to hear us.  I understand how difficult it may be for you to even consider this, but you must clear your heart and..."

 

Zelos: "I don't need to do a thing!  First Zara is blamed and now my family?  How do I know you two aren't the ones who killed father, who framed me?"

 

Glenn punches Zelos hard enough to knock him to the ground.

Mary stands, runes gleaming, while Zelos spits blood out on the ground.  Glenn stands over Zelos with his arms crossed, face unmoving.

 

Mary: "Glenn!"

 

Glenn: "Done yet?”

 

Show Zelos on the ground, staring up at Glenn, blood oozing from his lips.  He looks defiant.  His features glow faintly from Mary’s residual magic.

Zelos stands, dusting himself.  Glenn stands still, arms crossed, regarding Zelos.  Mary is framed between them, the glow of her runes fading from her flesh.

 

Zelos: "Yeah. Sorry, I guess I got carried away."

 

Glenn: "Yes.  Sorry about your cheek.”

 

Zelos: "I kind of had it coming.  I still don't think Metis is involved, though."

 

Glenn: "I know.”

 

Zelos: "We'll figure it out together though, won't we?"

 

Glenn: "Of course."

 

Zelos: "We should probably head back."

 

Glenn and Zelos leave together.

Show Mary standing in stunned silence, jaw agape, left hand slightly lifted.

Mary sighs.

 

Mary: "Men!"

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Kratos walking the Emeraldine wastes.  He stands at the edge of the city, staring into the red horizon.  Barren streets stretch out before him, disappearing into nothing.  There are faint footprints left in the sand, the winds erasing them as they stir the sands beyond the buildings.

Kratos walks to the edge of the buildings, where the footprints disappear.

Kratos squints into the distance.

Show the bloody red sky, darkest at the center.  A small golden scar is cut across the sky.

Kratos enters the city.

Show Kratos walking the sands, his cloak whipped by the wind, his hood up, his beard dusty.

Show Kratos stop at the fountain, where he finds remains of a fire.

Kratos prods the burnt kindling with his boot.

Kratos: "Curious, why make camp here?"

Show Kratos walking the later streets, hood down, following footprints.

Kratos stops to stare into the tiered ruins of the city’s streets.

Show the blackened ruins where Mary had rampaged.

Kratos finds arrows wedged into the stonework nearby.

Kratos hops from the roadway, into the tiered wreckage.

Show Kratos trace his fingers along a soot-blackened stone wall.

Kratos: "Magic. This is recent, too."

Kratos finds broken arrows left in the streets and a bloody handprint against one wall.

Kratos: "Broken arrows? Signs of combat. There are bounty hunters.  And they lived to survive the battle.  That means I have to hurry.”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to party gathered around a campfire at night.  The fire is small.  Glenn and Elsea are sleeping soundly while Mary watches the camp, sewing thin pieces of fabric as they rest.  Zelos and Zara are missing.

Show Zelos at a short distance from the camp, his back lit by the fire behind him.  He is resting his arms on his knees while watching the sky.  There are footsteps behind him.

Show the sky, clear and lit by stars.

Show Zelos from the front, Zara behind him, her cloak wrapped around her body.

 

Zara: "Can't sleep?"

 

Zelos: "Today has been rough. And I need some time to sort it out.  What about you?"

 

Zara: "I could say the same."

Zara: "Zelos, if it wouldn't bother you, I have a question.”

 

Zelos: "You stopping to ask if you may ask a question?  What's wrong with you?  You've never been so considerate before."

 

Zara: "I guess you're right.

 

Zelos: "Go ahead and ask."

 

Zara sighs and sits beside him.

Zara: "It's that—You forgave me for my hand in what happened."

 

Zelos: "Yes, and?”

 

Zara: "I don't know how to put this..."

 

Zelos: "Then just say it."

 

Zara: "Why?"

 

Zelos: "Because if you sit here all night starting and stopping we won't get very far, will we?"

 

Zara: "No, I mean, why did you..."

 

Zelos: "I know what you mean.  It's just..."

 

Zara: "Yes?"

 

Zelos: "Because—You're you.  You're Zara.  You complain.  You irritate me.  You don't kill.  Not of your own will.  That's how I see it, anyway."

 

Zara: "How do you know that, though?"

 

Zelos: "I..just do.  You wouldn't kill anyone, and you definitely wouldn't do anything that could bring trouble to your people.  For all your fussiness, you're very fond of your nation.  Killing father would be nothing but trouble for you."

Show Zelos staring out at the sky, his face lit from the stars above and his back lit by the fire behind him.  The night is quiet and safe.  Zara is watching him from the side.

Zelos: "Besides, you're so scrawny I doubt you could even lift the sword."

 

Zara punches Zelos’ arm while he smiles.

They sit together in silence.

Zara sniffles while wiping her eyes and Zelos hangs his head.

Zara: "You're so damn confusing at times."

 

Zelos: "I'm sorry?"

 

Zara: "Sometimes you can be so terse and thoughtless.  Always off, doing your own thing, never considering the ramifications of your actions.  Then you go and do something like this."

 

Zelos: "I didn't do anything."

 

Zara: "You've done a lot.  As they say, forgiveness is more difficult than vengeance."

 

Zelos stares absently at the moon.

Zelos: "Murdering you won't bring back father.  Nothing will.  Vengeance, to me, just leaves the world with a lot of dead bodies."

 

Zara: "Still, I don't see how you do it, how you can be so—believing."

 

Zelos: "And I don't see how anyone can be anything else.  It's the only natural way to handle this world."

 

Zara: "Hardly.  Look at the state of things, from your father to Emeraldine.  Forgiveness, mercy, all of that, they are rare traits these days."

 

Zelos: "But they shouldn't be.  People shouldn't hate so much.  Hurt, hate, these things are so heavy, and they keep you rooted in place, leave you paralyzed.  Maybe the world is tough—even I can see that—but to me that just means everyone should be a bit softer.  We should be able to trust each other, to celebrate each other, and have faith in each other.  That's how I feel, anyway."

 

Zara smiles Zelos, who is still eying the moon.  His left eye glows in the darkness, casting a yellow light.

Zara: "That actually sounds rather nice. Will you be coming back to camp soon?"

 

Zelos: "Later.  I have a bit more to think about."

 

Zara unhooks her cloak, which fans out around her body.

Zara drapes her cloak over the both of them while scooting in toward Zelos.  Zelos stares at her in shock.

 

Zelos: "Zara, what are you...?"

 

Zara: "You looked cold."

Zara leans into Zelos, who is now staring ahead in shock, cheeks flushed. 

 

Zelos: "I..."

 

Zara: "Please, can we stay like this just for a while, until you're ready to sleep?"

 

Beat.

 

Zelos: "Yeah."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Baby Zelos at rest in his crib, a human shadow cast over him.

Show the Black Castle in the morning, the hallways lit.  Mary is in the hall, walking, a smile on her face, when she hears a cry.

Show the baby’s room, the door now ajar, Mary entering in a rush, her dress trailing after her.

Show Child Eros standing over the crib, his arms inside of the crib, Baby Zelos crying.

Child Eros looks back over his shoulder at Mary, a mixed look of fright and guilt on his face.

 

Mary: “Eros!  And just what in the heavens are you doing here, boy?”

 

Child Eros: “I was just looking, I promise.”

 

Mary: “From the ruckus I’d say you’re doing much more than that.”

Mary crosses the room to the crib.

Mary scoops up Baby Zelos while Child Eros steps away.

Mary cradles Baby Zelos, soothing him while he cries.  Child Eros watches with a sulk.

Mary: “Now then, save yourself the lecture and just tell the truth.”

 

Child Eros: “I was poking at him.”

 

Mary: “What possessed you to harass your very own brother in such a barbaric manner?”

 

Child Eros: “I don’t know.  Because I could.  Because he’s not my brother.”

 

Mary casts a withering gaze at Child Eros while holding Baby Zelos to her shoulder.  Baby Zelos quiets.  Child Eros hangs his head.

Mary: “He very much is.”

 

Child Eros: “Nuh-uh.  Metis said he wasn’t.  He said he’s something called a ‘bastard,’ and he said that means we don’t have to be nice or nothing.”

 

Mary: “Did he now?  Is there anything else that the brilliant Metis has told you recently?”

 

Child Eros: “He said that you’re stupid, and that I don’t have to do what you say.”

 

Mary: “And do you believe him.

 

Child Eros looks briefly defiant while Mary stares him down, swaying with Baby Zelos in her arms.

Child Eros looks fixedly at the floor.

Child Eros: “No.”

 

Mary: “A mark of good judgment, that.  A damn sight better than your brother has.”

Mary pulls a blanket from the crib while Child Eros watches.

Mary swaddles Baby Zelos while cradling him with one hand.

Mary puts Baby Zelos at rest in the crib.

Mary: “Listen, Eros, and listen well, because this advice may prove vital someday.  Your brother, Metis, wise as he could be, says a great many things.  Much of it is nonsense.  Much of it will forever remain nonsense.  You must heed his advice with great…discretion.”

 

Child Eros: “What’s that mean?”

 

Mary: “It means that sometimes Metis is wrong.  An example: Your parents have adopted Zelos.  He is your brother, and that means you very well should be nice to him.”

 

Show Child Eros’ face scrunch up at he contemplates this.

Child Eros smiles.

Child Eros: “Okay!”

 

Mary: “Good.  Now, make nice.  We wouldn’t want bad blood between you, would we?”

 

Child Eros shakes his head.

Child Eros leans over the crib and looks down at baby Zelos.

Child Eros: “Sorry I was poking at you.”

 

Show Baby Zelos, swaddled, smiling up at the screen.

Show Child Eros smiling with Mary watching, smiling over his shoulder.

 

Mary: “There, now doesn’t that feel better.”

 

Child Eros turns to smile at her. 

Child Eros: “Yeah.”

 

Mary: “Good, now come over here, if you would.”

 

Child Eros approaches Mary, who kneels down to speak with him.

 

Mary: “Listen, Eros, and listen well.  If there is but one thing you remember about me, I want you to remember these words: Someday one of you will be king of this great and powerful nation.  When that day comes, I hope you have the both the clarity of mind and resolve of heart to care for one another.  Because, regardless of what circumstances you live in or what stories Fate has writ for this house, there is one fact that will forever be true both in your blood and your history: you will always be brothers.  Will you remember that for me?”

 

Child Eros: “I’ll try.”

 

Mary messes Child Eros’ hair while he giggles.

Mary: “However Metis has turned out, you may yet be a good one, Eros.”

 

Show Child Eros smiling.

Transition to Eros standing alone at the window in his room.  It is early morning, and it is snowing outside.  The sky is dark and heavy with clouds.  Eros holds a drink in one hand and wears a robe with a blanket wrapped about him.  Behind him, a woman can be sleeping in his bed.

Eros: “Brothers? Huh.”

Eros finishes his drink with a grimace.

Show the glass upside down on the desk while Eros’ approaches the bed, stripping the blanket and robe, revealing his naked back underneath.

Show the window, the snow gliding down to the docks.  Off screen, a woman’s moan can be heard.

Chapter End.

 

14: Chapter Thirteen: "Cage of Flames"

Chapter Thirteen: Cage of Flames

Open on Metis’ bedroom within the Black Castle.  The curtains are drawn, the room is dark.  A fine dust covers the desk against the far wall away from the door.  Everything is organized and neatly tucked away.  The room was once the library where Mary took the queen for the sacrifice.  A wardrobe has replaced the area where the secret entrance was.

Show Eros at Metis’ work desk, digging through papers.  Drawers are open.  A small candle is lit on the table.

Eros pulls another drawer to the ground, papers scattering around it.

Eros punches the desk in a fit of anger.

Eros: “Nothing!”

Eros stares at the drawer while rubbing his chin.

Eros: “Metis is too thorough to not keep a record.”

Show Eros standing, holding a ledger.

Show the ledger interior, numerous figures written in neat rows across the page, fine notes made in the margins.

Show Eros tapping various portions of the desk.

Show Eros sagging against the wall with a sigh, the desk in tatters, drawers deposited around the floor, papers scattered around it.

Eros: “And he’s far too paranoid to leave such records lying about.”

Eros looks about the room while tugging his vest.

Show the wardrobe over Eros’ shoulder.

Eros: “So he would hide them…”

Show Eros replacing papers haphazardly.

Eros stops at the wardrobe, opening the doors.

Eros carelessly dislodges boxes and boots, neatly organized robes parted about his body.

Eros sighs.

Eros: “Damn!”

Eros sits back against the wardrobe.

Eros: “This is pointless.  Metis is the smartest man alive.  Whatever he’s doing, he wouldn’t leave record of it anywhere that I might find.”

Hold on Eros sitting, eying the room.

Eros: “No point in waiting around.  I should clean up and get out—“

Eros uses the wardrobe to balance himself and hears a click.

Eros stares curiously at the wardrobe’s far panel, which has come open, dark shadows showing beyond it.

Eros pushes the wall.

Hold on Eros, arm extended, as the wall drifts open.

Show Eros from below, a long spiral staircase leading to where he stands, him looking down into the darkness.

Show Eros from above, staring into the darkness, his body the sole image seen in a bottomless darkness.

Eros: “What is…”

Show Eros from the side, staring, his hand gripping tightly to the thin stone railing of the staircase.

Eros: “…Looks bottomless…”

Show Eros approaching the desk from the candle’s vantage point, the small candle halfway melted.

Show Eros at the staircase now holding the candle, holding it in front of him.  The shadows seem to swallow the light.

Eros extends Metis’ pen from the desk.

Eros releases the pen.

Show the pen disappearing into the darkness, growing smaller in each panel.

Hold on the bottomless darkness for a few seconds until there is a faint tapping.

Eros: “Close enough to bottomless.  I wonder where it leads.”

Show multiple images of Eros’ descending the spiral staircase, changing only as he winds around, holding the candle before him.

Eros stops at the bottom of the staircase, in the chamber where the queen was killed.

Show Eros from the back, looking out at the large, circular stone laid platform with lupine runes cut into the surface.  Four torches burn at four points within the runes, their light casting color and signifying magic.  The shadows are darker here.

Eros rests his candle on the stairwell.

Eros: “How long has all of this been here?”

Show Eros’ foot touch the runes.

Show the torches dim as the shadows swell.

Show the candle snuff.

Eros stops, staring wide-eyed at the shadows, shaking.

Eros: “S-Something is wrong…”

A growl is heard.

Eros: “I shouldn’t be here.”

Eros sprints past his candle.

Show Eros scaling the stairs from above.

Show multiple panels of the stairs as Eros passes.  The shadows follow him up the steps.

Show Eros pulling the wall shut in Metis’ room.

Eros hastily reassembles Metis’ closet.

Eros stops at he doorway, checking the room, body wet with sweat, panting heavily.

Eros shuts the door behind him.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to party traveling through the Silvaran forests.  The trees are thinner here, with darker wood, but they seem healthier.  A light snow has dusted the ground.  Leaves crunch beneath their feet.  Zara leads with a smile, Elsea trailing just behind her.  The other three follow, fatigued.  Zelos is farthest back.

 

Zara: "Come on, it shouldn't be much further.  The sign we found said we should arrive within the day."

 

Mary: "Yes, lady princess, so you've reminded us.  Though, I am curious, what finds you so jovial today?  On the average you behave as if the weight of the world rests solely upon your lovely little shoulders."

 

Zara: "I'm just excited to be back in Silvara.”

 

Mary: "Really?  I, personally, can hardly tell the difference between the two nations."

 

Zara: "There are many differences, though.  For example, the air here smells much cleaner."

 

Mary: "I'll take you at your word, then. However, the sun will soon set.  I think we should make camp for the night."

 

Zara pouts at the gathered party, who has stopped to speak.  Elsea stands quietly by.  Mary crosses her arms and tries hard to stare Zara down.  Zelos yawns behind them.

Zara: "But the town..."

 

Mary crosses her arms and looks at Gleen while Zara continues to pout.

Mary: "I fear that pout has left me incapable of refusal.  Sir Knight, you're of the heartless sort, are you not?  Why not try your cold, ice-veined hand at it?"

 

Glenn stares at the two of them flatly.  Zelos is looking somewhere off-screen, bored.

Glenn: "Princess, we really should rest."

 

Zara: "But the..."

 

Glenn: "The town will be there tomorrow.  We're all tired, and Zelos still looks a bit pale."

 

Zelos: "I'm just cold."

 

Glenn: "We rest."

Glenn walks away, leaving Zelos to look apologetically at Zara while Mary and Elsea stand nearby.

 

Zelos: "That means that's the end of it."

 

Zara sulks ats Mary passes her.  Elsea pats Zara’s shoulder.

Zara: "Fine, I suppose you're right, but I want to leave at the break of dawn."

 

Show Glenn dropping his pack while Mary is writing runes upon ground.

Glenn: "Feel free to wake us."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the party by night, Zara and Zelos seated close to a brightly burning fire, Elsea tending the flames.  Glenn lies on his back, staring up at the sky.  Mary is sewing.

Zelos scoots to Mary’s side, surveying what she is sewing.

 

Zelos: "What are you doing over here?"

 

Mary: "Quite funny you should ask, actually, I'm making you an accessory of a sort."

 

Zelos: "An accessory?"

 

Mary: "Yes, and a functional one at that.  Let me ask you this: since the tunnel how has your eye been?  Aching?  Straining?  Do you feel as if an immense pressure has built up behind it?"

 

Zelos touches his left eye self-consciously.

Zelos: "I guess."

 

Mary: "Then there may yet be ambient magic in the air.  In fact, some was released earlier by the flame what Lady Elsea had prepared."

 

Elsea: "Oh my!  I am so sorry, it wasn’t my intention to…”

 

Mary: "Think nothing of it.  Such things are necessary on a journey.  We can't very well go without fire in winter, can we?  No!  And since the behavior cannot be changed, we must find a way to circumvent Zelos' affliction entirely."

 

Glenn is watching now, as is Zara.  Elsea pokes the flame with a stick while Zelos leans over Mary’s work.

 

Zara: "And how exactly might we do that?"

 

Mary: "Simple!"

Mary holds up a cloth eye-patch with finely written runes lining the interior and exterior.

Mary: "Functional accessorizing!"

 

The party stares quietly at the eye patch while Mary smiles.  The fire crackles in the silence.

 

Zelos: "What is it?"

 

Mary: "An eye patch, of course.  We simply place it over the offending eye and the runes on the outside keep the magic at bay while the runes inside diffuse any magic what might be released.  So, should you somehow overflow with magical force yet again, it will do nothing but release it into the aether quietly rather than in an admittedly impressive but highly dangerous display of the flaming pillar what we are used to.  Also, should you think to start a career in the circus or some such other business of its ilk then remove the patch and the powers of blistering destruction are once again at your finger tips—eyes—whatever have you.”

 

Mary places the eye patch on Zelos’ lap while the party watches.  Zara is smiling in the background.

Zelos lifts it up and holds it between his parted hands, eying it uncertainly.

Zelos: "Seriously? An eye patch?”

 

Zara bursts into laughter.

Zara: "You'll look like a pirate! HA!"

 

Glenn lies back, grinning.

Elsea smiles while tending the flame, hiding her smile behind her hand.

 

Mary: "Quite like one, yes. Now then, go ahead and try it on, let's see how it looks."

 

Zelos: "Mary, I don't think..."

 

Mary: "I will allow no arguments on this one!  It is for the best, come, come."

 

Zelos looks hopefully back at Glenn while Zara continues to laugh.

Glenn closes his eyes.

Glenn: "Save us the headache.”

 

Zelos sighs, shoulders slouched, body sagging.

Zelos: "Fine, I'll put it on, but I'll remember this."

Zelos slips the eye patch on.

Zelos looks at Mary petulantly while Mary smiles.

 

Mary: "There, there, and you do look quite fetching!"

 

Zara falls over, holding her side and nearly crying with laughter.

Zara: "HAHAHAHAHA! PIRATE! HAHAHAHAHA!"

 

Elsea: "Oh, m'lady..."

 

Zelos: "Know what?  I'm going to bed."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the late night, the fire having dimmed, Zelos sleeping soundly nearby. Glenn is sleeping across the camp, while Elsea sleeps closely to the flame, alone in her bag.

Show Mary sitting cross-legged while staring up at the stars, the camp just behind her.

 

Mary: "Yes, princess?  Is something wrong? Can't you sleep?"

 

Zara joins Mary, standing beside her, holding her cloak to her body.

Zara:  "Can't you?"

 

Mary: "You know what they say: when I'm dead and all of that."

 

Zara sits beside Mary.

 

Zara: "I'm too excited to sleep.  We're finally back in Silvara!  I want to keep going, to make it home as quickly as possible."

 

Mary: "Understandable, though not all of us share your fervor.  For some it isn't a homecoming, but instead a flight from home."

 

Zara: "Like Zelos."

 

Mary: "Not just him."

 

Zara looks over her shoulder. Show Glenn sleeping, hands folded over his chest.

 

Zara: "Sometimes I forget."

 

Mary: "That is unsurprising.  The good knight is often quiet and prefers to suffer in silence."

 

Zara: "That doesn't seem healthy."

 

Mary: "People are rarely healthy things, princess."

 

Zara: "True."

Zara rubs her hands together for warmth.

Zara: "Mary, how long were you the court magician in Fiona?"

 

Mary: "Since before you were born.  Why do you ask?"

 

Zara: "I was just curious.  I had asked Elsea who you were when we met in beneath the castle, and all she knew was that you had served the royal family as a court magician."

 

Mary: "I see.  Do you have any more questions what have been bothering you as of late?"

 

Zara: "Well..."

 

Mary: "Feel free to ask.  My life is an open book."

 

Zara: "And like some books, I imagine most of your stories are fiction."

 

Mary: "I leave that to the discretion of my readers."

 

Zara: "Had you met Glenn before you were..."

 

Mary: "Incarcerated?"

 

Zara: "Yes."

 

Mary: "Yes, I had.  Glenn joined the military at a young age and earned himself a place in the Black Guard in short time.  He was there before Eros was born, if I remember correctly."

 

Zara: "What was he like?  I mean, when he was younger.  I find it hard to imagine him as anything but him."

 

Mary laughs.

Mary: "Yes.  Truth told, the young Glenn and the Glenn you see now were very much the same.  He was always quiet, and serious, too, almost comically so.  He was loyal, as you might imagine, and very, very driven.  His promotion to captain was well-earned, I would imagine, though that did happen while I was underground.  Mostly, he kept to the walls and did his duty."

 

Zara: "That sounds a bit lonely."

 

Mary: "Hardly.  Glenn was well-respected by his peers, and he always had Zelos."

Mary laughs again.

Mary: "Even from a young age the two got on famously.  When Zelos was a toddler only learning to walk he would disappear from whatever room he was in, almost as if in a burst of smoke.  You would search and search, frantic, afraid the poor babe had found the stairs and had a tumble.  Then, Glenn would come around a corner with the prince crawling in his wake."

 

Zara laughs quietly.

Zara: "That's so sweet!"

 

Mary: "It was downright delightful, for us at least.  Glenn always seemed exasperated.  Still, he clearly developed quite the attachment."

 

Zara: "So did you."

 

Mary: "Everyone did.  Zelos brought something to the castle with him, something that had long been missing from our lives."

 

Zara: "Trouble."

 

Mary: "No.  I don't mean to say he brought none, of course he did, look at him.  But he brought something else.  Contentedness, maybe, or the beginnings of peace.  For most, at least, but not all.  Certainly not all."

 

Zara: "And you were arrested after Zelos was born, correct?"

 

Mary: "Shortly after, yes."

 

Zara: "And the crime you committed, you did that afterward as well."

 

Mary: "Yes."

 

Zara: "Mary, if I may, what did you do to be sealed beneath the castle for so long?"

 

Mary: "Are you sure you wish to know, princess?  Knowledge is easily given, but not so easily forgotten."

 

Zara: "We've been travelling together for some time now, and by how Glenn acted I imagined you to be some great terrible monster.”

 

Mary: "I am unimpressive, then?"

 

Zara: "No, your magic quite impressive, but the way you carry yourself is unexpected.”

 

Mary: "Considered it my poor posture.  My mother was always quick to lecture me on it."

 

Zara: "Mary."

 

Mary: "Fine, if you must know, I killed many people."

 

Zara: "How many?"

 

Mary: "Depends on the story you're told."

 

Zara grows quiet and stares thoughtfully at the ground in front of her.  Mary continues to watch the sky.

Zara: "Did they deserve it?"

 

Mary: "One did."

 

Beat.

 

Zara: "Do you ever regret it?"

 

Mary: "That is quite enough of such talk.  You should get some sleep now."

 

Zara reaches toward Mary’s shoulder but stops short, hesitating.

Zara hugs her knees to her chest and stares at the ground.

Zara: "Mary, you don't need to carry all of this alone."

 

Mary: "That's quite sweet of you, princess, and cute as can be, but I've carried it this long, haven't I?  Some things needn't be shared with the world."

 

Zara: "It's strange that you and Glenn bicker so often considering that you’re practically the same person."

 

Mary: "Not even in the least.  For one thing, I am a woman.  Now, off with you.  We have an early morning if you have your way, no?"

 

Zara stands and dusts herself.

Zara: "You should take some time and sleep as well."

 

Mary: "Not quite ready for the grave, princess, but thank you all the same.  Now, shoo, leave me to my reveries."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to darkness and the sound of burning kindling.

Open on a dimly lit room, red and golden flames burning on all sides.  Zelos lies on the floor, bathed in light and color.

The room grows brighter while the edges of the hall grow dim.

Zelos sits up and looks around.  Neither of his eyes are glowing.

 

Zara: "So, you return."

 

Zelos turns, staring down the hall.

Show Zara appearing from the shadows.  She wears a sheer nightgown with skimpy pink lingerie beneath, and she is smiling seductively.  Both of her eyes are golden in color.

Show Zelos staring, wide-eyed, jaw slack, blushing.

Zelos: "Zara? No, wait, you’re not her.  It’s you again.  Who are you?”

 

Zara: "I've told you be before.  I am flame."

Zara disappears in a burst of smoke.

Show Zelos from the front, staring in shock, Zara appearing behind him.

Zara wraps her arms around him, raking her fingers along his chest.

Zelos leaps away from her, out of her grasp.

Zara: "Do I ignite your passion?"

 

Zelos turns on Zara, who is now standing over him.

Zelos: "Where are we?"

 

Zara: "You."

 

Zelos: "Me?"

 

Zara: "Of one body but two minds, two souls, one eternal and one decaying as we speak.  It is an imperfect solution, but it is only the first step."

Zara approaches Zelos, while Zelos is scrambling away on his hands and feet.

Zara reaches him, touching his chest gingerly.

Zara stops with their lips almost touching.

Zara: "With you I shall reclaim my throne."

 

Zelos: "What are you talking about?"

 

Zara: "You mortals, you burn so brightly but so briefly.  When impassioned you illuminate the sky.  When at rest you grow dim."

Zara walks away, shimmying dramatically while doing so.

Zelos stares at her rear as she moves.

Zara: "There will come a day when you will burn so brightly that you set the world aflame."

Zara looks back at him over her shoulder.

Zara: "Then, you will die.  You will burn until you are hollow and black, black as the night and thin as dust."

 

Zelos: "You want to kill me?"

 

Zara: "I want to seize you, use you.  You are a tool, after all.  All your kind are.  You resist, but it is futile, and I have and can wait an eternity.  This is your birthright.  I am your birthright.  Your fate.  Impermanent as you are, you are vital."

Zara smiles viciously, with hunger.  Flames crackle behind her eyes.

Zara: "I will devour you, use you as tender.  Take your remains and make them my own, and then you will be eternal through me.  You will last forever."

 

Zelos: "And what if I don't want that?"

 

Zara appears before him suddenly.  She is gripping his arms and has him pinned to the stone floor.  Flames roll from her mouth and her eyes.

Zara: "Struggle if you like, but you cannot overcome your fate.  In time, it will come to pass!"

Zara kisses Zelos.  Fire continues to roll from her mouth and washes over him.

The entire screen goes blank white.

Zara, off-screen: "It is your fate.  Your spirit will wither and fade, and in its place I will shine."

 

Zelos, off-screen: "Why?"

 

Zara: "Because you are a tool meant only to facilitate my needs, to help me fulfill my destiny."

 

Zelos, off-screen: "Which is?"

 

Zara, off-screen: "To...BURN!"

 

Zelos sits up, covered in sweat and breathing heavily.  The sun is rising in the distance behind him, its light making the snow glow.  The camp is partially broken down.  Elsea is packing her things with Zara’s aid.  Glenn is finished with his work.

Glenn tosses Zelos’ pack to him.

Glenn: "You're awake."

 

Zelos nods while rolling his bedroll.

 

Zara: "It's about time you woke up.  We've been waiting on you!"

 

Zelos: "I'm sorry."

 

Mary: "There is no need for an apology.  The young princess had a late night of tossing and turning and woke only a scant few seconds before you did."

 

Zara: "I—Well, Elsea, come on, we'll scout ahead."

 

Elsea: "Yes, m'lady."

 

Zara storm off, Elsea trailing while slipping her pack on.  Mary follows them, laughing.

Glenn shoulders his pack while Zelos ties his.

 

Zelos: "You can go on ahead.  I'll catch up."

 

Glenn: "I'll wait."

 

Zelos: "Right. Thanks."

 

Zelos wipes his forehead when finished with his pack.

Zelos tugs irritably at the eye patch he is wearing.

 

Glenn: "You okay?"

 

Zelos: "What? Why?"

 

Glenn: "Just curious."

 

Zelos: "No, I'm—I’m fine.  Just had a bad dream."

 

Glenn: "Hm."

 

Zelos: "I'll be fine."

Zelos stands, lifting his pack.

Zelos slips his pack over his shoulder.

Zelos : "I'm ready to go."

 

Zara, offscreen: "If you don't hurry then we WILL leave you behind!"

 

Glenn: "We're coming!"

He looks at Zelos, who is still sweating and tugging at his eye patch.

Glenn: "You don't need to hurry for her."

 

Zelos: "I'm not. I'm fine."

Zelos looks at the ashy remains of the fire.

Zelos: "Honestly, I could do with a little civilization myself."

 

Glenn: "Then let's go."

 

Chapter End.

 

15: Chapter Fourteen: Rest and Rumination