Transcript:A Little Blood, Part 4

EPISODE FOUR 
 DREAM SEQUENCE: COUNTRY COTTAGE - TIME UNCLEAR
 NARRATOR
 Brennen looked warily at the demon, but it sat calmly
 on its mount.
 YOUNG GIRL
 Trouble coming, Brennen. Wake up. WAKE UP!!!
 INT. SUBTERRANEAN LAKE - EARLY MORNING
 NARRATOR
 Brennen groaned, and the Redmoor soldiers standing over
 him quickly sheathed their knives.
 Regan, who had gone to some trouble to merely appear to
 be sleeping that night, closed her open eye.
 BRENNEN
 What is it?
 SERGEANT
 (AT A LOSS)
 ...Breakfast, General, if you’d like some.
 BRENNEN
 You need six men to wake me up for breakfast?
 SERGEANT
 You’ll have to pardon my men. They’ve never seen a war
 hero in person before.
 NARRATOR
 Brennen dreamt of a cottage from his youth. He was
 chopping firewood, with his battle-axe strangely
 enough, when two horses appeared on the horizon - one
 white and one black.
 One carried the wounded young girl who had become
 common in Brennen’s dreams as of late, and the other
 carried the similarly ubiquitous demon. Strangely, the
 two were not locked in any kind of conflict. They
 simply rode together, and when they reached Brennen,
 the girl addressed him.
 YOUNG GIRL
 There are seven things you must know to save me. The
 third thing is: the vessel must crack, but it shall not
 break.
 INT. same - a few minutes later 
 SOUND: Grease frying
 NARRATOR
 Brennen was not without suspicions, but saw no reason
 to decline the offered meal. He did, however, watch
 them prepare it and waited to eat until they did.
 REGAN
 General, can I have a word? You too, Ms. Holy. His
 Majesty’s business. Best discussed in private.
 BRENNEN Aye.
 SERGEANT
 You talk about His Majesty’s business with whor--camp
 followers?
 BRENNEN
 No insult meant, sergeant. But I’ll decide with whom I
 discuss His Majesty’s business.
 SERGEANT
 Dangerous times, General. A man can’t help but be wary.
 NARRATOR
 Regan realized she would need to defuse the tension, or
 at least redirect it.
 REGAN
 You caught us. We were gonna fuck. I was trying to be
 polite about it.
 NARRATOR
 She could not help but take some joy in the profound
 discomfort she read on the faces of Brennen, Nia, and
 the soldiers.
 REGAN
 "His Majesty’s business" is what the General calls his
 axe. He likes the handle right up the old stink hole.
 Yes sir, nothing like biscuits and buggery to start the
 day off right, that’s what he always says, dont’cha
 General?
 NARRATOR
 Brennen was too mortified to speak.
 REGAN
 So please, a bit of privacy.
 NARRATOR
 Regan leaned close to Brennen’s ear as though to
 whisper a lover’s secret.
 REGAN
 (WHISPERS)
 I know you can hear me, elf. So listen up and don’t
 take your eyes off those motherfuckers.
 INT. AN ALCOVE BY THE LAKE - CONTINUOUS
 NARRATOR
 Yllowyyn’s hand covertly crept a little closer to his
 knife, and Regan pulled Brennen behind some rocks.
 BRENNEN
 You dare mock me after what--
 REGAN
 --Those men were ready to stab you right before you
 woke up. I heard the phrases "fat reward," and "kill on
 sight, leave no witnesses." You know what that’s about?
 NIA
 Were you planning to inform us of their plans before
 they succeeded?
 REGAN
 I was waiting for the best tactical moment.
 BRENNEN
 You mean you were waiting to see if you’d be better off
 letting them kill me and escaping while they did.
 REGAN
 ...Well I never accused you of being stupid.
 INT. CASTLE GUERNATAL MAIN HALL - SIMULTANEOUS
 NARRATOR
 At around the same time, King Gunther Guernatal was
 addressing his court in light of "good news" he had
 gotten from Ardel Redmoor about an alliance with House
 Redmoor.
 GUNTHER
 Let us take a moment to congratulate Maid Redmoor on
 her betrothal, and to praise Lord Redmoor for his
 foresight.
 ARDEL
 Our enemies will be crushed, Your Grace.
 NARRATOR
 Arlene faked a smile as her brother beamed.
 GUNTHER
 This is a time to forge alliances, not fan the flames
 of war. Especially if House Ironhertz falls to Traft,
 as it sadly seems it will. This is a lesson that Leif
 Felghir will soon learn to his woe. Are Mooncrest’s men
 in place, Lord Redmoor?
 INT. SUBTERRANEAN LAKE - SIMULTANEOUS
 NARRATOR
 In the cave, Brennen, Nia, and Regan had rejoined
 Yllowyyn and the Redmoor soldiers by the fire. As they
 ate, they all did their best to conceal their mutual
 distrust.
 BRENNEN
 Fine biscuits.
 NARRATOR
 Nia reached for another biscuit a bit too quickly, and
 everyone jumped, but caught themselves. They then
 pretended that that had not just happened.
 Several yards away, one more Redmoor soldier supervised
 the three young humans. Nia carefully monitored this
 situation out of the corner of her eye, as Nelson
 clumsily practiced with his sword.
 JEN
 Nelson, can you maybe do that a little further away
 from us.
 NELSON
 Oh, sorry.
 REDMOOR SOLDIER
 Stay here. And put the sword down.
 BILLY
 Why’s he gotta stay here?
 REDMOOR SOLDIER
 Because I said so.
 NARRATOR
 Nelson stuck the sword in his belt.
 REDMOOR SOLDIER
 You ain’t got a scabbard?
 NELSON
 I dropped it.
 REDMOOR SOLDIER
 Fucking brats. Your swords ain’t even been blooded,
 have they?
 BILLY
 Oh yeah? Well...blood is like fucking,
 because...when...I had sex with your mom and I’ll stab
 you.
 BEAT OF SILENCE.
 INT. CASTLE GUERNATAL MAIN HALL - SIMULTANEOUS
 NARRATOR
 In the main hall of Castle Guernatal, Ardel Redmoor
 furtively signaled the Court Treasurer. With a final
 wipe of his sweating brow, the man stood and cleared
 his throat.
 TREASURER
 I wonder if we could have a report on what Your Grace
 has been doing to protect us from our foes, if it
 please.
 GUNTHER
 Has that not been the subject of the last hour’s
 discussion?
 TREASURER
 We’ve heard quite a bit about what Your Grace’s
 bannermen have been doing. But disturbingly little
 about what House Guernatal has been doing.
 GUNTHER
 You would be well-advised to mind your tone, my lord.
 TREASURER
 Where has General Brennen been for the past fortnight?
 GUNTHER
 Have you forgotten your oaths?
 TREASURER
 Have you forgotten yours?
 GUNTHER
 I could call your words seditious and no one who heard
 them would disagree. Explain yourself or face the
 consequences.
 TREASURER
 Let it not be said that I did not give Your Grace a
 chance to confess your crimes.
 GUNTHER
 CRIMES?! How dare you?! GUARDS! GUARDS!!
 NARRATOR
 Despite Gunther’s bellowing, not a single Guernatal man
 came forwards. Instead, after a moment had passed, two
 guards in Redmoor colors approached the bewildered
 king.
 GUNTHER
 Where in Selbirin are my men?
 ARDEL
 It’s all right Your Grace. Guards, arrest The Lord
 Treasurer.
 TREASURER
 Not until I’ve had my say. Shortly after news of the
 war came, Lord Guernatal asked me to arrange the
 transfer of our Talisman of Dominion to House Felghir.
 NARRATOR
 Talismans of Dominion will be explained in depth later
 in our tale, but for now suffice it to say that this
 lie, believed whole-heartedly by the court, was
 considered deeply disturbing.
 Arlene Redmoor looked more disturbed than most,
 however, although her disgust was directed at her
 brother rather than the King.
 GUNTHER
 That is a bald-faced lie and you’ll hang for it!!
 ARDEL
 This is a most grievous accusation, my lord. Have you
 any evidence?
 TREASURER
 Of course not. He ordered me to burn all
 correspondence.
 ARDEL
 If this is true then why did you wait to come forward?
 TREASURER
 Like all of you, I had hoped to give the King the
 benefit of the doubt, that there was some reason. But
 as time passed I could no longer deceive myself.
 HEAD PRIEST
 I’m afraid there have been troubling Selbiric portents
 as well.
 GUNTHER
 Portents? What portents?
 HEAD PRIEST
 Many of the servile class, as of late, have come to me
 with dreams.
 NARRATOR
 Suddenly, Arlene recalled the fabricated dream that
 Gwen had been made to describe, and, with a sickening
 shock, realized its import.
 She sat up straight and took a breath as though to
 speak -- her brother caught her eye. She trembled under
 his menacing gaze.
 She found herself wondering "Why, oh why, did His
 Majesty’s guards not come?"
 INT. CASTLE GUERNATAL BARRACKS - SIMULTANEOUS 
 NARRATOR
 Her handmaiden, Gwen, had just discovered the grisly
 answer to that question. At the sight of dozens of
 throat-cut Guernatal soldiers dead and bloody in their
 bunks, she vomited on the floor of the barracks. She
 was once again forced to flee when she heard frantic
 chatter heading her way.
 INT. CASTLE GUERNATAL MAIN HALL - SIMULTANEOUS
 HEAD PRIEST
 I wish I could ignore what the sum of these dreams
 seems to suggest. But I must acknowledge the
 possibility that the King is a traitor.
 NARRATOR
 There were cries and gasps in the hall. The King stood,
 furious, but Redmoor’s men detained him.
 Arlene knew this was her chance. She dug down into her
 heart, searching for her courage. If you’ve ever had a
 nightmare where you could save yourself from danger by
 screaming, but somehow could not find the breath, well,
 so had Arlene Redmoor. She tried once more to speak,
 but any flickers of courage were snuffed out in the
 shadow of her brother’s malicious eyes.
 She sank back into her chair, trembling and defeated,
 as Ardel snickered, and turned his gaze towards the
 court philosopher.
 This unfortunate man kissed his young daughter,
 swallowed his pride, and stood to speak.
 DOCTOR
 Circumstances seem dire, my lords. But, perhaps some
 good can come of them. I think it fair to say there is
 sufficient reason to appoint a Lord Regent while we
 investigate any possible wrongdoing by His Majesty.
 NARRATOR
 To Arlene’s despair, there was a noticeable murmur of
 approval.
 DOCTOR
 Furthermore if the regent were powerful enough, we
 might re-gain the protection of the Th’ar lo-Hyyl.
 CROWD, VARIOUS
 (AD LIB.)
 Hear hear! Mind him!
 DOCTOR
 Lord Redmoor has served this Kingdom well, and showed
 great foresight in joining his house with that of
 Mooncrest. With the army of Marcus Mooncrest and this
 stronghold on his side, he might just be recognized.
 SOUND: APPLAUSE in the hall.
 ARDEL
 Please, my lords, I could not dream of such
 responsibility.
 NARRATOR
 Bitter tears wet Arlene’s cheeks. They were tears of
 helplessness, of a life lived in pain and fear, of the
 belief that she would never find the strength to do
 anything good for the world.
 INT. SUBTERRANEAN LAKE - SIMULTANEOUS
 NARRATOR
 Now, it is said by some that only simple minds get
 bored. I don’t suppose that’s true in all cases, but
 back in the cave Billy was indeed quite bored.
 BILLY
 Well this is boring as fuck. Jen snap me that
 rock. Nelson, go long.
 NELSON
 This setting seems better suited to riddles than
 football.
 BILLY
 Just shut up and catch.
 NARRATOR
 Jen bent over in front of the stone. I’m told that this
 stance was a reasonable imitation of the Pennsylvanian
 game called "football."
 JEN
 Billy, just so you know, this rock is a lot heavier
 than a football.
 BILLY
 Whatever, I’m the quarterback, I’ll adjust.
 JEN
 Kinda slimy too.
 BILLY
 Okay, you don’t know how to do this. Nelson! Come back,
 play center. Jen, go catch.
 NARRATOR
 Now Nelson bent in front of the stone, as Jen shook her
 head and ran away.
 REDMOOR SOLDIER
 What the fuck are you doing?
 BILLY Hike!
 NELSON
 [GRUNT]
 NARRATOR
 Nelson threw the stone to Billy backwards between his
 legs. Billy pretended to hand the stone to...no one,
 for some reason, then wound his arm back and snapped it
 towards where Jen--
 BILLY
 --Shit!
 NARRATOR
 As Billy released the rock, it slipped out of his hand
 and smashed the Redmoor soldier in the face.
 REDMOOR SOLDIER
 You shit!!
 NARRATOR
 Seeing their comrade bleeding, the other Redmoor
 soldiers jumped up and drew their weapons, but not as
 fast as Regan. She kicked embers from the campfire into
 their eyes. She, Brennen, and Yllowyyn made short work
 of the blinded ruffians.
 But the one Billy had hit was still standing, and
 charged at the boy.
 BILLY
 Blitz! Blitz! Nelson, block!
 NARRATOR
 Nelson tried to stop the sprinting soldier, but was
 knocked right over. He did, however, manage to hold
 onto his legs. When Billy tried to tackle him, the two
 boys were somehow able to trip the bigger man.
 The soldier fell on top of Nelson. He tried to rise but
 soon noticed the blade of Nelson’s still-unsheathed
 sword protruding from his gut.
 REDMOOR SOLDIER
 AHHHHHHHH!
 BILLY & NELSON
 (IMPROV, AD LIB.)
 AHHHHHHHHHH! Holy shit! What the fuck?!
 NARRATOR
 Brennen ran over and pulled the screaming, bleeding man
 off of Nelson.
 BRENNEN
 Why did you want to kill us?! Answer me! In the name of
 the King!
 REDMOOR SOLDIER
 Fuck your king. He’ll fall.
 NARRATOR
 Without another word, the soldier’s eyes went dark.
 Billy and Nelson both stared in silence at the blood
 covering Nelson and his weapon.
 They both looked ill, as Nia mentally searched her
 extensive knowledge of scripture for some useful words
 of comfort.
 REGAN
 A little blood never hurt anybody, right?
 NARRATOR
 At this, the boys vomited. Jen and Nia tried to comfort
 them. Unfortunately, Brennen knew there was little time
 for comfort.
 BRENNEN
 We need to split up. I fear some of House Redmoor’s
 soldiers may be in mutiny. I need to get back to my
 men. And His Majesty. Aerona, you know your way through
 to the other side of these caverns?
 REGAN Yeah.
 BRENNEN
 We need to get out past the encampment, and make haste
 back to Castle Guernatal.
 REGAN
 Sorry, but what if your King does fall? I take it we
 won’t be very welcome there.
 BRENNEN
 If the throne is usurped, you and I won’t be welcome
 anywhere. We must try to stop it.
 JEN
 What about us?
 BRENNEN
 Is there anywhere back in the city that they can wait
 safely for a few days?
 REGAN
 I know some places where people wont’t ask questions.
 BRENNEN
 That will have to do. Tell the Kalth’yr how to get
 there. Everyone else, gather your things. We must leave
 for Castle Guernatal as soon as we can.
 MONTAGE - VARIOUS AROUND CASTLE GUERNATAL
 NARRATOR
 Unfortunately for Brennen, as he made these very plans,
 Redmoor’s men were donning Guernatal uniforms and
 setting up patrols on all major roads to the Castle.
 END OF EPISODE FOUR.
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