AMBER
There is one thing you could do for me.
MERLAIN
Anything.
She reaches out and touches his finger tips very softly and their eyes meet against the backdrop of stars. AMBER leans forwards and her hood covers her eyes for a second. Merlain sees only her pale white chin and rose red lips.
AMBER
Let me be a woman again; if only for one night.
He sees a small tear roll down her pale white skin and collect as a glass bead upon her chin. This is all he needs to slowly push her hood back and face the sensitive and passionate woman cloaked beneath it. A short crop of dark hair frames her face and her blue eyes stair at his intently as their lips gently brush against one another.
SCENE 23 INT NIGHT
Meanwhile on the other side of the temple UTHUR and ESUIT are sitting watching the moon crawl across the sky.
UTHUR
I love your skin colour; in our land black people
are unknown. Of course we know they exist but
none have ever travelled through.
ESUIT
How do you know they exist then?
UTHUR
I’ve heard stories from those who have travelled far.
They say there are lands where white people are
considered strange and unusual; that white faces
scare the children and horses.
ESUIT
It’s true, but only because the sight of a white faces
normally means death or slavery.
That’s why the children get scared and why my
father taught me to fight as if I were his son.
UTHUR
When your skin is hot and wet it looks like the
finest jet from the cliffs of our coves.
Your teeth and eyes are so bright that
I was startled when you first held me in your gaze;
I knew that day that you were going to be either a
loyal friend or a deadly enemy; there is no indecision
in that gaze. It is pure determination; I like that.
ESUIT
Have you decided yet?
UTHUR
I decided the first night we looked over the city
together. Under that veil of stars I knew then you
would be with me for the rest of my life. Not as a slave,
but as a loyal friend.
ESUIT
And lover, perhaps?
UTHUR
I hoped so; but that is up to you.
She stands and lets her robe slip from her shoulders and onto the stone floor. UTHUR looks at her naked body and becomes bashful.
ESUIT
Don’t be shy; in my village girls are married younger
then both of us. How do you find my body; does it excite
you UTHUR of Albion?
UTHUR
You have no idea...
ESUIT
Give me your hand...
He does as she asks and Esuit takes his fingers on a journey across her chest and down to her crutch.
You may only be a boy but are you ready to become a man?
UTHUR
I am not ready for such things. Sorry, perhaps when my heart
is older, but not today.
She sighs and goes to bed alone
SCENE 24 EXT DAY
Back in Albion the slaves are working under the whip digging rocks from an open cast mine. We find ULAN a little older discussing those guarding them.
ULAN
When the time is right we shall collect the swords we
have hidden and cut their throats. Have you noticed that
every night at dusk only two men guard us?
FEIN (another slave)
I have, that would be the best time to strike, and then we
should make for the forest and get others to join us.
We’re not the only ones forced to crush these rocks all
day; help is out there, we only need to show them the way.
ULAN
You’re a good man Fein, everyday tons of these rocks
are put into boats and sent off to lands over the seas,
what on earth are they doing with it?
FEIN
I’ve heard it’s used to feed a dragon...
ULAN
Bhaaa, what nonsense..
FEIN
I know, I know. Dragons are a myth but seriously,
I have heard them talking of feeding one with this rock.
ULAN
What, a fire breathing, winged monster. Rubbish, if
sea and come themselves. Not send these bastards to
get it for them.
FEIN
It’s only what I’ve heard..
ULAN
Crooked whispers and plain lies. I don’t know why they
value this stuff so readily that they kill for it but I bet it’s
far more important than just food for a mythical creature.
One day we’ll find out...
A guard sees them talking and cracks his whip.
GUARD
You two, stop gossiping or you’ll both feel the heat of
this on your b ack.
He shakes his whip towards them. Both me start to work again as Ulan whispers to his friend.
ULAN
Soon, my friend...Soon.
SCENE 25 INT DAY
The sun rises over the temple of Medin and the women awake to do their daily chores. Merlain and Amber are in a large bed s a cool breeze blows the cotton fabric over the window against the rays of the sun.
MERLAIN
I wish we could lie like this forever.
AMBER
Unfortunately, the lives of women in this
place are bound by rules and darkness.
This intimacy would have me buried to my neck
and stoned to death if any should hear of before it is atoned in law.
MERLAIN
Then no-one better hear.
He leans forwards and kisses her before lifting himself from the bed and dressing.
I know now that you were a maid before our meeting,
Why give yourself to me, a stranger from these part and
not someone of your own kin?
AMBER
Here in this temple, I swore an oath to keep my body
as a child for all my life. If my own people felt this
oath was taken without faith, they would surely have
another reason to stone me to death. When I saw you for
the first time I knew we were just passing ships in the
night and that I could explore that land of passion,
with you, without fear of retribution or death in my
heart. I have used you; I’m afraid.
MERLAIN
If only I were used like that more often....
AMBER
Tell me, you are a man of experience and years, have
you no wife waiting beside a wicker fence for your return.
Is there no one grieving you?
MERLAIN
There was someone, once. We met at the beginning
of a beautifully hot spring-time. Her hair was bedecked
with fine petals and the scent of strawberry; that fine
cotton shift she wore almost translucent in the summer sun.
We had a passionate romance among the long, dry
grass of summer and shared each other’s bodies in the
forest meadow beside the village brook.
Her shrill laughter sang in the tree tops with the song of
sparrows and other sweet birds. My blessed Marion,
I loved her so.
AMBER
Does Marion not miss you during your extended absence;
or did she break your heart like young lovers often do?
MERLAIN
As winter approached a foul and pernicious evil invaded
our pretty island. It initially struck in the East and then,
as news of its malevolence spread among the people of
our tribe, the first were struck down by its terror.
As the first crop of winter snow fell on our green and
pleasant land, Marion became ill and slowly withered,
with the leafs on the bough and the flowers in the fields.
She lost her breath on the last day of the winter moon just
as the ice froze the rivers and the great lakes became
hard as rock.
I collected what wood I could and laid her fair body
in a simple sheath upon the top of the pyre.
In the mid-winter equinox nightfall her body was raised
up to the gods upon the sparks of that great fire;
all night I sat and watched it burn.
Each faggot of thicket creating such sparks and small
beads. Fire-flies that lifted themselves from the blaze and
rose into the brooding night sky.
Eventually they became stars there, above my head;
now my Marion is but a constellation for me to ponder
in the cold months of winter.
Since that short and passionate period of life I have had not
the heart to follow romance; to think of love.
Not even the sweet scent of a woman in her pure state
aroused within me a single wish to roll in the hay;
not until I met you; that is.
AMBER
Then we have both fed only for the sake of our
physical selves. Let this be our secret?
MERLAIN
I promise.
AMBER
Good, let me dress I have something I wish to
show you.
SCENE 26 EXT DAY
We find UTHUR, ESUIT, AMBER and MERLAIN in a small green field behind the temple. A bald woman is arranging a small mound of black powder upon a rock and once this has been down she stands back and lights it with a long candle. The black powder flairs up into a cloud of thick black smoke.
ESUIT
Amazing, what is this substance that burns so
fiercely?
AMBER
We call it Dragon’s breath, it’s creation was taught
to us by a traveller from the far east. Watch what happens
when small flakes of the red metal are added to it.
The woman creates another small pile on the stone and then sprinkles a small amount of copper onto the black powder. She stands back and once again sets it ablaze with the long candle. It immediately flares up in a mass of green/red smoke.
MERLAIN
That is astounding, it’s the same as the flash of green
smoke which hid your disappearance though the
trap door on our first night here.
I knew it was a good illusion and now I am even
more impressed; is there no end to your talents
AMBER
I’ve only shown this to you all because I know
why you have had to leave your land and we have
discovered something about this substance that my
prove useful to you should you choose to return and fight.
UTHUR
The day will come, I swear it. Any assistance you
can give will be taken with the thanks of all our
people back in our stricken land.
AMBER
Show them.
The woman placed some of the powder into a small clay pot and screwed on a tight lid. Protruding through the lid is a long piece of candle wick which the woman lights and steps back from with hast.
A sense of tension ripples through those assembled as the wick slowly burns down. Then a sudden explosion rocks them as the pot disintegrates with an almighty bang sending shards of clay-pottery in every direction. UTHUR and MERLAIN gasp, they step forwards and examine the crater left where the small pot had been; UTHUR looks up and sees a shard of pot stuck into a nearby tree as if banged there by a hammer.
MERLAIN
That is shocking; I’ve never seen or heard such
percussive force before. How is this possible?
UTHUR
look here, this piece of pot has been forced into
this tree three inches deep.
AMBER
We’re not sure how it works. I was told that
perhaps so much smoke is created that the pot
fills until it can contain the pressure no
longer, then bang. Well. you see the result .
MERLAIN
What is this powder; you must tell us where
you mine it.
AMBER
It’s not mined; we make it from a recipe; like a cake.
UTHUR
Surely not?
ESUIT
This would make a weapon that would fill our
enemies with fear and have them running for their lives.
UTHUR
Or cut them to shreds with the shards of pottery.
AMBER
We knew it was dangerous but never conceived
it as a weapon; just a party trick.
Magic to astound guests and glean donations.
But now you mention it I can see the potential of
these pots on a battle field.
MERLAIN
I would pay a king’s ransom for the recipe; if
you would entrust us with it.
AMBER
Merlain, I will show you how to make this
powder; perhaps you can use it to get your
land and property back when you go home.
MERLAIN
Yes; thank you; but we are not leaving for a while.
Especially when I have so much to keep me here.
AMBER
Then you won’t mind me travelling with you and
your party when you leave for the races in three weeks?
MERLAIN
I could not imagine anything better.
AMBER
Good; I will send a message to my sister Agnes to
be expecting us.
SCENE 27 EXT DAY
THREE WEEKS LATER
The horses are saddled and ready to leave. AMBER and MERLAIN ride next to each other as ESUIT and UTHUR tether a mule to their horse. One of the Medin sisters brings the ceremonial sword from the temple and steps towards Amber.
WOMAN
Do you wish to carry the gift from the lady of the
lake with you.
AMBER
UTHUR, is there room on your mule for this
sword? It is very precious and I would hate to lose it.
MERLAIN
If it is so precious why take it to Babylon at all;
it would be safer to keep it here.
AMBER
I have promised it to my sister, Agnes,
the Ipsissamus of Babylon.
I feel my present company is well equipped
to protect both the sword and my person on
this journey. If you have doubts that this is so
Merlain, please say now. I wouldn’t want to
burden you with the responsibility if you felt you
were not up to the challenge.
ESUIT
We will get you and the sword there safely.
AMBER
Merlain?
MERLAIN
My friend speaks the truth. If we cannot guarantee
your safety; no one could.
AMBER
That’s all I needed to hear. Are we all ready?
UTHUR
(climbing on his horse) I am ready.
ESUIT
I am ready.
MERLAIN
After you.
He smiles towards Amber and the f
our set off at a gallop with the mule stomping at the rear tethered to UTHUR’s horse.
SCENE 28 EXT NIGHT
JASBAR is looking over a map in the middle of his camp site in the woods. He knows that the party has left Medin and are travelling through the forest he currently hides within. Looking over the map he sees that all the paths to Babylon cross at a point a little further ahead and smiles wickedly. He taps the map with his leather clad finger and speaks to his deputy, a thick set, bald killer caller Rarp.
JASBAR
This is the place we shall take them; here.
Far from prying eyes and so deep within the
forest their screams for mercy with fade upon
the wind.
Rarp, take ten men and cover the north side of
this path, I shall take the other ten and
cover the south.
RARP
I have a man ten miles ahead on the south path
looking for them; once they are spotted he will
ride to us so we can be prepared in advance.
JASBAR
What about the north path?
RARP
A man waits there also. As this is not the usual
route from Medin to Babylon I have told him to
come to us if he sees nothing for two days.
JASBAR
Good, when they enter our trap, spears and arrows
will cut them down from either side.
You must ensure they cannot run back by
closing the path behind them.
I will block their progress so they will have no
choice but suffer the indignity of death from
unseen assailants.
They will wither like dogs under a storm
of barbed death.
SCENE 29 EXT DUSK
The party are entering a small forested area on their journey and ESUIT rides alongside UTHUR behind MERLAIN and AMBER
ESUIT
He likes her.
UTHUR
Merlain is a friendly man; people are generally
drawn to him.
ESUIT
No, I mean he really LIKES her.
UTHUR
What are you saying; that he wants to form a