Uther and the Secret of the Dragon

by David William Kirby

  AGNESS

  Your home is in the city you say?

  ADRIUS

  It is.

  AGNESS

  I will order my adept to go with you and she will

  collect my sister’s body.

  How long has her life been gone?

  MERLAIN

  This is the second night since her death.

  AGNESS

  I see. Our traditions dictate that she must be

  burned before the next full moon.

  That is this forthcoming race day so, we do not have

  much time left.

  Once she is prepared the time will have elapsed.

  So when the sun goes down next I will have her

  carried into the great square before Minos

  and set between his horns.

  Merlain; I will thank you now for returning our sister to us.

  MERLAIN

  She was carrying some things which she wanted

  to give to you, what shall I do with them?

  AGNESS

  You will give them to the adept who collect our sister.

  They shall be burned.

  Nothing of my sister will remain in this city after

  the flames have done their work.

  SCENE 33. EXT NIGHT

  MERLAIN and ADRIUS are followed back to ADRIUS’ house by the ADEPT who opened the temple door, she is dragging a sleigh to carry Amber’s body away upon. As they go through the darkened streets Merlain whispers in |his friends ear.

  MERLAIN

  Did you notice anything strange in the

  manner of the high priestess?

  ADRIUS

  I have given up trying to interpret these witches’

  actions.

  Everything they do is clouded with magic and enigma.

  MERLAIN

  But for someone who claims to love her sister.

  I did not see much expression of grief when she

  learned of what happened to her;

  she didn’t even ask how or why.

  Doesn’t that strike you as strange?

  ADRIUS

  If we were talking of real women then yes,

  but these are a different breed.

  They do not have the same emotions as women

  as we know them.

  They give their life to the worship of Minos and he

  takes their virtue.

  In view if this I’m not sure how you would

  expect her to react.

  MERLAIN

  Yes, perhaps you are right. Let us get the body moved

  and then back to our friends,

  I want to make sure they are all right.

  SCENE 34 EXT NIGHT.

  UTHUR and ESUIT quietly wait and watch the forge. Shortly after Merlain and Adrius leave they see the Blacksmith’s boy run from the forge and dash through the streets. They slowly follow him. Keeping to the shadows and nocks and crannies they follow him down this street and up that ally. Eventually he approaches a large house which is protected by a large outer wall. Situated in the wall is a wooden door. After pulling on a bell pull the door is opened the boy enters. Soon he leaves and returns to the forge. Closely followed by Esuit and UTHUR.

  They return just in time to meet up with Adrius and Merlain. The moon is about to set and the first rays of the sun streak from the horizon bathing the scene in a blood red dawning light.

  MERLAIN

  Have we missed anything?

  UTHUR

  The boy was sent on an errand, he visited a house

  on the far side of the city.

  We saw him enter but not to whom he spoke.

  The boy has just returned to the forge.

  ADRIUS

  Then so shall we, come.

  The four go and enter the building.

  SCENE 35 INT NIGHT

  The forge is darker as the furnace has burned down low and just gives a small orange glow in one corner of the room. The crow calls loudly and as UTHUR closes the door behind them the shadow of the blacksmith fills the door on the far side of the room.

  BLACKSMITH

  So, you have returned.

  ADRIUS

  As we said we would.. Have you decided what

  you are going to do?

  BLACKSMITH

  I have.....

  Just then a group of hooded men with swords step from the shadows and surround the four. They disarm UTHUR, Merlain Esuit and Adrius quickly before one steps forwards. He pulls back his hood and they see he is one of the King’s guard.

  ADRIUS

  What is the meaning of this?

  GUARD

  Quiet, you will have a chance to plead your

  mitigation later, at your trial.

  MERLAIN

  Trial what do you mean by that, we have done

  nothing wrong.

  GUARD

  Silence.

  ADRIUS

  If you are to take us at least let us know what we

  are accused of doing.

  GUARD

  You are all under arrest, for the murder of

  The Ipsissamus of Medin, guard, and take them away.

  UTHUR slips his hand over the hilt of his sword before stopping when a knife is held to his throat.

  BLACKSMITH

  Go on, boy, give me the excuse to cut your

  treasonous throat.

  SCENE 36 INT NIGHT

  UTHUR, MERLAIN, ESUIT and ADRIUS are in a basement cell with only a barred window giving some light. It overlooks the street level of the great square. They sit in silence when a sound attracts their attention. Looking up to the window they see MEMET peering in.

  MEMET

  What are you doing to my nerves, just two moons before

  the race and here you are confined for murder; Murder no less...

  ADRIUS

  Thank Minos that you have found us.

  MEMET

  We only know because guards came to the house and searched.

  Now, I have not much time because this area is patrolled regularly.

  What were they looking for?

  UTHUR

  Probably this.

  He pulls from his clothing the arrowhead they had shown the smith earlier.

  Memet, take this and find out who it was made for.

  This will lead us to the real killer; but be careful who

  you show it too.

  MERLAIN

  Go and see Agnes, she may be of some help.

  ADRIUS

  Tell Sarah to speak to the King, he must know there is

  a conspiracy at work here and that we have nothing to

  do with it.

  MEMET

  It may be difficult to see Agnes they are, as we speak, building

  the pyre for her sister. These women are a private breed at most

  times but when they are mourning; well, it may be harder then

  you think.

  MERLAIN

  Try, she knows everything that happens in this city and when

  we spoke to her before she seemed friendly to our cause.

  MEMET

  I will try. But whatever happens you must be freed

  before the race in two moons. I will make it happen

  even if I have to pay the sisters to cast a spell; that’s if

  you don’t mind me breaking into your gold...

  UTHUR

  Spread as much gold around as you need, just find

  the owner of this arrowhead.

  SCENE 37 INT NIGHT

  MEMET goes from the windows to the great statue of Minos which is being decorated by the Magi for their sister’s burning on the following evening. They are streaming in and out of the temple carrying sweet smelling cedar wood and sandalwood for the pyre. Others are decorating the bull stature in ribbons and bronze charms. He manages to slip past them and into the temple.

  Memet knows Agnes has rooms on the seco
nd floor and slips up the stairs towards them. Just as he approaches the doors to her private apartment a sister challenges him.

  SISTER

  What are you doing in the temple after nightfall,

  don’t you know this is blasphemy.

  MEMET

  Sorry my blessed sister but I have to see Agnes,

  it is a matter of life of death.

  SISTER

  This would be impossible in times of joy and happiness,

  but now. As we prepare the cold body of our great

  Ipsisimus for her journey to the stars;

  now, it is wicked for you to even ask.

  Let alone sneak into this holy place like

  a thief; get out at once.

  MEMET

  Not until I speak to Agnes, I come regarding the death

  of your great sister and shall not be thrown out until

  she has heard me.

  The door to Agnes’ room opens and Agnes stands in the doorway wearing a floor length white robe, her face covered by a thin red chiffon veil.

  AGNESS

  What is this intolerable noise.

  SISTER

  I caught this man creeping through the temple Sister;

  I was just showing him the door.

  MEMET

  I will not leave until we have spoken; I have come directly

  from Adrius and Merlain with whom you spoke earlier;

  they are in great danger and want you to help them.

  AGNESS

  I am unsure what, if anything, I can do. But come,

  tell me your news.

  SISTER

  But...

  AGNESS

  Please wait here sister, to show the gentleman out,

  once we have spoken.

  SISTER

  I understand.

  She leads Memet into her private quarters and turns to face him once the door has been closed.

  AGNESS

  Well?

  MEMET

  They have been arrested for the murder of your sister;

  a wholly unfounded and deceitful lie.

  I know they were very close to her and that she trusted

  them enough as to place her care in their hands on the

  journey from Medin. It can only be some trickery at work

  that sees them as we speak prisoners below the

  Palace square.

  AGNESS

  You believe their arrest has been conceived to throw suspicion

  from the real culprit?

  MEMET

  Lady, I can and do, most heartily...

  AGNESS

  What do you think I can do to clear these muddy waters;

  I have a sister to care for and so my time is limited but I

  will say this. Your friends seemed sincere when

  I spake to them earlier; her passing aggrieved

  them as much as I and this would surely not be

  the case if they had killed her.

  MEMET

  True. They were in the process of finding the owner

  of this object when the tide turned against them and

  they still believe this will bring truth to light.

  Once its original owner has been located.

  He opens a rag and takes the arrowhead to show her. Agnes looks at the object and shudders.

  I am sorry Lady to show you the object that was

  embedded in your sister’s heart.

  Do you recognise it?

  AGNESS

  It is an arrowhead, a bronze arrowhead of particularly

  fine proportion.

  MEMET

  It is, have you seen anything similar in this city prior

  to tonight?

  AGNESS

  I need to ask you to come back here tomorrow when

  the sun is high, let me think about what has happened

  and pray to Minos for guidance.

  Will you be able to return, not too late in the day as

  I will be busy later.

  MEMET

  Midday you say?

  AGNESS

  Yes, come alone. I feel sure I will be able to help you then.

  MEMET

  I won’t be able to leave this object with you, you understand?

  AGNESS

  Take it, I have seen all I need to see. Goodbye. Till tomorrow.

  MEMET

  Till midday, tomorrow.

  SCENE 38. EXT NIGHT

  We see scenes of the funeral pyre and burning of the Ipsissamus of Medin interspersed with scenes of the uprising of slaves back in Albion.

  Crowds of people are standing around the edges of the great square looking towards a tall funeral pyre built in front of the bronze bull. It is a still and silent night and only the King, set upon his Diaz with its garlands and tapestries, moves to start the ceremony. He raises a hand and all the horn players arranged high upon the city walls, begin to play a long and harmonious drone.

  This is the signal for the temple doors to open, flooding the space before the bull in light, and Agnes to step into the square leading her group of temple adepts. She is dressed in a long white billowing dress of chiffon, a thin white veil over which she wears her crown of golden laurel. In her right hand Agnes carries a flaming torch. Behind her, emerging side by side, are her followers, each dressed in similar gowns and veils but without her crown and they too carry flaming torches.

  As the droning horns fill the air she leads them from the temple and the people stand on tip toes as the body of Amber emerges carried on a wooden bench painted gold. She is dressed in a pure white gown and her hooded face is crowned by a knot of fresh flowers. Between her fingers they see a sheaf of golden wheat. The four corners of the bench are held aloft by followers of the temple and together they march towards the funeral pyre. Behind them come more women holding flaming torches and when they reach the pyre the horns stop playing.

  In Albion a guard at the gates of the slave encampment relaxes as he watches a comet in the black star filled sky above his head. He does not hear the sound of someone creeping up stealthily behind and only groans a little as his throat is cut. The guard’s body falls to the dirt and his murderer pulls the body into a nearby bush.

  The man is joined by another and together they use their bronze daggers (stolen of bartered from their corrupt guards) to hack through the ropes that tie the gates closed.

  A drum beats a slow monotonous beat as Amber’s body is laid on top of the pyre and her gown draped over the sides. The women of the temple form a circle around the pyre holding they flaming torches in front of their veiled faces while Agnes circles the pyre three times before approaching the bronze bull.

  AGNESS

  Oh Great Minos, our Father and Creator of all things.

  Our teacher and bringer of light in the darkness;

  take pity upon your suffering sisters this evening.

  For we have lost a friend, a dearly loved Mother,

  Daughter and Sister to us all.

  We give her body to you now so that you may take

  her to your sanctuary, rise her spirit to the

  stars upon your great horns and show her the peace

  and beauty of your love.

  With this fire we give her mortal remains to you

  as a sacrifice and hope that you will look down

  from your realm and bring destruction upon those

  responsible for taking her from us so early in this;

  her divine life.

  The people trembled as these words brought forth a great snorting and groaning from the bull’s nostrils and its head rises up and down thrusting its horns angrily into the air. Agnes then turns and throws her torch onto the pyre. As it strikes the top of the structure all the others throw theirs creating a great fire in their mists.

  In Albion the gates are pulled aside and a large group of men emerge carrying stolen bronze swords. A party of guards encounter
them and they start fighting while others behind them take torches and burn the slave encampment. As the flames burn brightly the slaves overcome their guards and run for the forest and the cover of darkness leaving a pile of dead bodies and the burnt out encampment behind them.

  In Babylon the King steps from his Diaz and approaches the flaming pyre. The circle of veiled women sweeps aside and allows him to enter. He takes his golden crown and throws it into the flames before turning and returning to the palace. Each of his subjects then approach the pyre and toss flowers into the flames and bow before the adepts and Agnes who stand before the bull in silence as their sister is consumed by flames. When Amber’s body is lost in a fierce sea of flame one of the women throws her belongings onto the pyre; it is at that point that Agnes sees someone in the crowd.

  She looks about her to ensure that she is not being observed before stepping up to the dark figure who stands in silence watching the scene unfolds around him. He sees her approach and lifts his face towards her.

  AGNESS

  We need to talk about something of great importance;

  be at my quarters within the temple and midday tomorrow.

  She did not need to say another word and slipped back into the shadows before rejoining her sisters in front of the bull as the pyre burned intensely. Agnes looked above the flames and as small sparks left from the top of the blazing inferno she saw them lifted into the heavens by the heat. There, within the belt of Orion, she saw a comet flying and knew that it was an omen for things that were to follow.

  SCENE 39 INT DAY

  The following day Memet is let into Agnes’ apartments on the second floor of the temple. As the door closes behind him Agnes emerges and holds her index finger to her lips and she walks towards him dressed in a clean white chiffon dress. He sees that she looks tired and a little stressed but understands that she wants him to remain silent.

  She leads him across the room and places him in an alcove behind a thick curtain near the window as a tap came from the door.