The Unnamed Saga: Sisters and Song Script, Chapter Thirteen: "A Light in the Dark"

Chapter Thirteen: A Light in the Dark

Open on the Fionan military barracks interior, inside of the war room.  The wall is lined with armor pieces and weapons hung ornamentally.  Black Fionan banners hang from the walls.  They bear the image of the Fionan wolf.  Nick is sitting in a chair against the wall.  General Niko paces before him with his hands behind his back.

General Niko stops and stares at Nick.

 

Niko: “And you run the troupe?”

 

Nick: “Well, no, but I’m here as the representative.  I’ll take whatever we discuss back to the others and…”

 

Niko: “Do you speak with the authority of a leader or not, boy?”

 

Nick: “Well…”

 

Niko: “This is a question of yes or no, son.  We live in an age of black and white.  So, do you speak with authority or do you not?”

 

Nick: “I guess I do.”

 

Niko: “Hmmm.”

General Niko resumes pacing.

Niko: “The king recalls your troupe from last year’s harvest festival.  He said your performance was quite extraordinary and recommended you highly.”

 

Nick smiles.

 

Nick: “Well, that’s quite flattering of him.”

 

General Niko stops and glares.

 

Niko: “It’s a waste, son.  This is not a time for plays or players.  It is a time of war, of conflict.  A time for soldiers.  Are you a soldier, son?”

 

Nick: “Not technically speaking.  No.”

 

Niko: “Not technically speaking?”

General Niko scoffs.

Niko: “I suppose you’ve played one on a stage?”

 

Nick: “Many times.  There are many plays written about soldiers, and many that capture the essence of war.”

 

Niko: “Yes, I’ve seen these plays. They are insultingly inaccurate.”

General Niko paces while watching Nick.

Niko: “I was there during the war with Opalia, just as I was there for the raid on Emeraldine.  I was there during the initial border skirmishes with Silvara.  None of your fancy words can capture war, true war, no matter who writes them.  There are no words that capture bloodshed or death, and there is nothing to say when your comrade, your brother-at-arms, dies beside you.  There’s nothing but an empty pit in your stomach.”

 

Nick: “Yes, sir.”

 

General Niko stops.

He stares at Nick and rubs his beard.

 

Niko: “Perhaps you’re not a total waste.  Let me ask you, son.  Are you a patriot?”

 

Nick: “Sir?”

 

Niko: “The Fionan military needs you.  The Fionan people need you.  I’m not one for such games, but the new magistrate has been very particular in how she wants to handle this.  Silvara has been keeping a resistance.  They’ve been raiding trade routes, stealing food, attacking guards in the night.  Nothing large, but always organized and precise, and it’s my job to weed this out.  The magistrate, however, wants no more violence.  She wants no war in the streets or rivers of blood, and she insists there is a simple, safe way to handle this problem.”

 

Nick: “She sounds very wise.”

 

Niko: “She’s an idiot, and she’s wrong, but she’s in charge, so we have to follow her fool idea.  You’re of her stock though, aren’t you, son.  You’re not fond of war.”

 

Nick: “Sir?”

 

Niko: “I can see it in your walk.  You players, you’re soft.  Not men, really.  You’ve got the constitution of a woman, a soft, Silvaran heifer at that, but that suits me.  So, I ask again, are you a patriot?”

 

Nick: “I like to think I am, sir.”

 

Niko: “Then you won’t say no when your country calls on you, will you?  And your country is calling.  So, how about it?  What do you say to bringing a little peace back to this nation?”

 

Cut to the Fionan forests by night.  The sky is clear, and a crescent moon stares down at the forest.  The trees are dark.

Show Silvaran soldiers moving within the forest.  Some are hiding behind trees.  Others are marching ahead, leading.  They are all outfitted with weapons, ranging from swords to bows.

Show Dawn peeking around a tree.  She is wearing a cloak and has her bow strung and an arrow ready.

She looks back and waves soldiers forward.

Show Silvaran soldiers marching past her.

Dawn peeks around the tree again.

Show a Fionan camp in the distance.  The camp is small.  A fire burns at the center.  Fionan soldiers patrol the outside and talk quietly among themselves.  It has more soldiers than the previous camp.

Cut back to Dawn.  She is now closer to the camp, hiding beside a tent.  Two Fionan soldiers are standing with their backs to her.

The Fionan soldiers leave.  Another soldier is just past them, staring at the sky.

Dawn approaches from behind and grabs him.

Dawn throws him to the ground.

The Fionan Soldier tries to draw his blade on her.

He turns to find an arrow staring him in the face.

Show Dawn from his view, standing above him with the arrow knocked and a resolute expression.

 

Dawn: “Have you heard what happened to that Silvaran resistance camp they found?”

Fionan Soldier11 nods.

Dawn: “Then you might imagine how desperate the survivors must be.”

Fionan Soldier11 gulps.

Dawn: “I’m one of those survivors.  So, answer my questions honestly, and I might let you live.  Lie to me, and you’re already dead.  Understand? Yes or no.”

 

Fionan Soldier11: “Y-Yes.”

 

Dawn: “Good to hear.  Now, I heard a rumor that there are Silvaran soldiers held captive here, and you are going to tell me where.”

 

Cut to a tent interior in the Fionan camp.  Show a cage set up with prisoners packed tightly inside.  They are all sitting quietly.  Some are sleeping.  The rest look fatigued.

Outside there is a grunt.

A Fionan soldier falls through the opening and into the tent.  He has an arrow in his eye.  Show the prisoners staring at him.

Dawn steps in over the guard.

She drags the body inside.

 

Silvaran Prisoner1: “You—You’re Princess Dawn, aren’t you?”

 

Dawn shushes them while going to the cage.

 

Dawn: “Keep quiet while I get you all out.”

 

Silvaran Prisoner2: “Oh, thank the gods.”

 

Silvaran Prisoner3: “I knew someone would come.”

 

Dawn takes the keys from the guard.

She starts trying to unlock the cage.

Silvaran Prisoner4 comes to the doorway.

 

Silvaran Prisoner4: “What’s going on out there? Are you attacking the camp?”

 

Dawn: “Not exactly.  We’re here for some information.  There’s a massive offensive planned, and we want to sabotage it.  I saw you were all here, so…”

The key turns, and she pulls the cage open.

Dawn: “I came to rescue you.”

 

Silvaran Prisoner4: “Oh, thank you, princess! Thank you!”

 

Dawn: “It’s nothing.  Now, you all go and don’t look back.  We’re burning this place to the ground.”

As they run by Dawn grabs Silvaran Prisoner2.

Dawn: “Hey, before you go, I have a quick question.  Do you know a woman named Umber?”

Silvaran Prisoner2 shakes his head.

Silvaran Prisoner5 stops.

 

Silvaran Prisoner5: “Did you say Umber?”

Dawn nods.

Silvaran Prisoner5: “I was stationed with someone named Umber.  We were in the same scouting party when I was captured.”

 

Dawn: “What happened to her? Where is she now?”

 

Silvaran Prisoner5: “I’m sorry, I don’t know, princess.  We were attacked by this shadowy monster, and we got separated.  I was captured, and I never saw what happened to her.”

 

Dawn: “I see.  Thank you.  Now, get out of here.”

 

Silvaran Prisoners 2 and 5 run off while Dawn stands in the tent, holding the cage door open.

 

Cut to the camp exterior, just inside of the forest.  Show the resistance standing around and watching the Fionan camp burn.  It is so bright that it illuminates the forest.

 

Cut to the Anthem Cathedral interior.  It is early morning, and Zara is in there beside the palanquin.  Sunlight is shining through the open archways.  Outside, birds are singing.

 

Zara: “I’ve come back.”

Zara peeks past the veils.

Show Aria’s impassive face.  Her veil is still off.  She stares blankly ahead.

Zara: “You can understand me, right?  But you can’t speak.”

Aria looks at her emptily.

Zara: “I wonder how much you really can understand.”

Zara climbs into the palanquin with Aria.

She sits and hugs her legs while watching Aria.

Zara: “How long have you been here like this? Were you captured?  Did they take you from your family?  Are they…I guess you wouldn’t know, even if you did want to talk about it.  Even if you could.”

Zara goes quiet.

Show the palanquin exterior.  The wind blows, moving the curtains.

Return to the interior.

Zara: “I have a sister, you know.  I had a whole family, but…Well, now I just have the one sister.  She stayed behind in Silvara during the attack, went to find that stupid boy.  She was supposed to follow after me, to escape, but…I think Glenn, and Mary, and even Elsea, I think they think she’s dead, but Dawn is stubborn.  She’s too stubborn for death.”

Zara laughs and wipes her eyes.

Zara: “The reaper would show up to take her away, and she’d just give him one of her looks and says, ‘No, I’m not done living yet.’”

Zara looks at Aria.

Zara: “I feel bad, doing all of the talking.”

She reaches out and touches Aria’s lips.

Zara: “Does it hurt?  I mean, it must have, when they did it, but…Who in the world would do something like this?”

Zara sighs and peeks out of the curtain.

Zara: “I know you’re scared and confused.  This may be the only thing you’ve ever known, but there’s a whole world out there.  It’s great and big, and there are so many different types of people, and so many sights…”

Zara climbs out.

Zara: “And I’ll figure something out. I promise.  Until then, take care.”

Zara leaves.

Show Aria staring blankly ahead.

 

Cut to the Fionan forests by night.  Show Silvaran shadows moving through the darkness in tight rows.

Show Dawn leap from a ledge and land kneeling.

She looks up and makes a bird call.

She waits, and a bird call is returned.

Dawn approaches a make-shift camp.  Two Silvaran guards are standing between the trees.  They salute at her approach.

Dawn enters.  Show Silvaran soldiers around her.  They look wary but hardened.  Some are sleeping.  Others are awake and working.

Dawn weaves through the camp to a canopy set up in the center.

Show the canopy interior, where a box has been set up to be a makeshift table.  A map is stretched over it.  Diando, Remi, and Niva sit around the map with a few soldiers around them.  They notice Dawn’s approach.  Remi stands straight.

Dawn smiles.

 

Remi: “You’ve returned.”

 

Dawn: “I have indeed.”

 

Diando: “And?”

 

Dawn: “And I bring news.”

Dawn stops beside the box and leans forward.

Dawn: “The camp we raided didn’t have an airship, but it did have information. So we need to prepare and get some rest while we can.  We leave by morning.  Before we strike, I want to get some scouts out there, see what the defenses are like, and see where they’re weak.”

 

Silvaran Attendant: “Yes, m’lady!”

 

Silvaran Attendant leaves.

Dawn looks at Remi.

 

Dawn: “Also, we found some captured soldiers and set them free.  A few followed us back.  I’ll need them healed up and then outfitted with whatever we have left.”

 

Remi: “We have plenty after…”

 

Remi sighs.

Diando touches his shoulder.

 

Dawn: “Right.”

 

Remi: “I’ll be on it.”

 

Remi leaves.

Dawn looks at Diando and points at the map.

 

Dawn: “They’re launching from here.  It’s on the water, near the mainland.”

 

Diando: “They want a short trip.”

 

Dawn: “Right, and they want a short battle, like Silvara.  They’ll use force and won’t hold back.”

 

Diando: “That makes our job easier.  We just need to weaken them enough to give them pause.”

 

Dawn: “Exactly.  I’m thinking two teams, distraction and infiltration.  The distraction team will be made up of what mages we have left.  They’ll do a little light show, and the infiltration team will sneak in and do some damage while the enemy is distracted.”

 

Diando: “It’ll be a suicide mission.”

Dawn grins.

Diando grins.

Diando: “But we’re all dead anyway, right?”

 

Dawn: “Stole the words right from my mouth.”

 

Diando: “I’ll get the volunteers.”

 

Dawn: “Thank you.”

 

Diando stands and leaves.

Dawn and Niva are left alone.  Show Dawn standing by the box, and Niva sitting across from her.  Niva looks tired and dirty.

 

Dawn: “Niva.”

Dawn sighs and settles beside Niva.

Dawn: “I let the prisoners go.  They’ve been through enough.  I couldn’t ask them to come with us.”

 

Niva: “I understand.  That’s very considerate of you.”

 

Dawn: “No, not really.  Used to, I wouldn’t even consider making anyone do anything.  It always seemed wrong to order people about.  Life—Life has changed so much in such a short amount of time.”

 

Niva nods.

Niva: “It really has.”

They lean into each other.

Niva: “Dawn, I want to thank you for letting me come along with you.”

 

Dawn: “You shouldn’t.  I’ve done nothing but expose you to danger and heart break.”

 

Niva: “No.  It all would have happened anyway, even if I had stayed in Silvara.  Hells, now that I’m here, I can’t even imagine what staying would have been like.”

 

Dawn: “Probably a lot quieter.”

They laugh.

Dawn: “All of our information says the city is doing well under her rule.”

 

Niva: “On the surface, maybe, but these cuts run deeper.  I think—I just can’t see how life comes back like that.”

 

Dawn: “Me neither.”

Beat.

Dawn: “When I let them go, the prisoners, I—I asked about your sister.”

 

Niva: “And?”

 

Dawn: “One of them knew her name, but…”

Dawn sighs.

Dawn: “There was an attack.  They got separated, and they didn’t know what happened to her.”

 

Niva: “Oh.”

Beat.

Niva: “Good.”

 

Dawn: “Good?”

 

Niva: “Means she might be alive.”

Niva tilts her head back.
Show the night sky through the branches in the trees.  The stars are out, and the moon is waning.

Niva: “And if she is, then I’ll find her. I know it.”

 

Dawn: “Hope springs eternal, huh?”

 

Niva looks at her.

Niva: “Hope is all we have left.”

Niva stands.

Niva: “Now that you’re back I’m going to get some rest.  Good night, Dawn.”

 

Dawn: “Yeah, see you in the morning, bright and early.”

 

Dawn watches Niva leave the canopy.

Remi approaches and bows.

 

Remi: “M’lady, I’ve led them to the armor.  They’re going through and finding what fits.”

Remi turns back to look at Niva.

Remi: “How is she?”

 

Dawn shrugs.

 

Dawn: “I don’t know.  I can’t tell if she’s optimistic or in denial.  After everything that has happened, I just can’t see her sister being alive.”

 

Remi: “Would you accept it so easily if it were your sister, m’lady?”

 

Dawn’s face hardens.

 

Dawn: “No, I’ll never accept that, but I won’t hold onto lies, either.”

 

Remi: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

 

Dawn: “You’re fine.  I’m tired, and I need to sleep.”

 

Remi: “Of course.  You’ve been busy lately, you deserve a rest.”

 

Dawn: “Right.”

Dawn stands.

Dawn: “We leave in the morning.  See to it that I am awake.”

 

Remi: “Yes, princess.”