The Unnamed Saga: The Four Thrones, 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.