CHAPTER 9 - PATH TOWARDS DEATH
EXT. ROCKY TERRAIN, THELBIAN COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
The breeze from the high foothills approaching the town of Fathria gave chills to the students. A couple of days passed and they seemed to be growing tired from the journey.
One or two fell sick from the wet and windy spring weather but the slightest bit of sun that pierced the odd cloud warmed the skin of the students' faces, comforting in a way and making the journey just bearable. A confrating cold so to speak.
Toren is writing on his parchment as he is muttering the words ever so slightly of an epic he is studying, parchments piled by his feet.
ALERIA
Are you getting the hang of it, Toren?
TOREN
Wasn't the best idea to study the same period of history as you… 'The Blank Years' are practically prehistoric and some of these accounts don't even sound real.
ALERIA
Well, on the exam they can't fact-check it nor have anything concrete to base the research on so there's a lot of wiggle room when it comes to errors.
TOREN
The poems are easy enough though at least.
ALERIA
Umhm… Twelve poems memorised by heart already… I'm impressed, but your handwriting needs improvement.
ZAVARIOUS
Hey Saffron, when will we arrive in Fathria?
SAFFRON, a small thin girl, the youngest in the class with pale orange fur and plush red cheeks driving the wagon possessing two tails, squinted in the distance trying to make out the landscape through the slight fog that blanketed the landscape.
SAFFRON
The town I'm unsure of but we're definitely in the province of Fathria.
ZAVARIOUS
Didn't you grow up in this place?
SAFFRON
I grew up in the town, not the countryside, it shouldn't be too long though.
TOREN
Aleria, why is she so small?
Aleria nudged Toren smirking slightly.
ALERIA
Rude-
SAFFRON
Hey! I can hear you y'know!
She turns to face Toren.
SAFFRON (CONT'D)
And for your information, I'm thirteen that's why I look so smal-!
TOREN
SAFFORA WATCH OUT!!!
SAFFRON
MY NAME ISN-
The wagon veers off to the side and slips down the muddy hill off of the ledge, breaking one of the wheels at an awkward angle, and tumbling down aggressively. Some Of the students jumped out in time but others got caught in the fall, launched out of the wagon, falling down the hill.
Toren, grabbing Aleria by the arm, and carrying her, JUMPS out, dashes back and softly lands on the road, his feet sliding and scraping the gravel underneath, as they both observe the wagon tumbling down.
Casias pulls the reins of the horses as his wagon suddenly jolts, aggressively snapping the passengers forward.
CASIAS
SAFFRON~!
RESHTOR, a skinny thelbian with thin tall ears and deep brown fur, possessing three tails and a thelbian traditional long coat lands on his feet sliding down the steep muddy hill. He pulls the earth upwards as it stops the students from falling to their doom with one hand and the other pulling the wagon still, mid-air, as the horses snap back and dangle from the raigns.
RASHTOR
H- HELP IT'S… HEAVY!!!
Casias assesses the situation from his wagon.
CASIAS
RESHTOR! SEVER WHATEVER YOU'RE PULLING!
RESHTOR
R- right!
Reshtor clenches his fists and puts them together and as if ripping a piece of paper pulls his hands away from each other.
RESHTOR (CONT'D)
S- SEVER!!!
He relaxes as the wagon stays afloat and the mounds of earth solidify to stone almost, staying in place.
Casias hops off his wagon and jogs over to find the students helping each other off the ground.
RESHTOR (CONT'D)
Sire… apologies… I needed to pull the earth and the wagon, I know I didn't pull the four core strings I appolig-.
CASIAS
Stellar work, fast reaction hahaha!
Casias braces himself as he shuffles down the hill, offering a hand to one of the students.
CASIAS (CONT'D)
Class! This is what is to be expected! In situations like thi-
LIPE
I TOLD YOU.
Lipe gets up drenched in mud with a vexed expression at Saffron.
LIPE (CONT'D)
You were never supposed to drive the wagon, a young girl is ludicrous! Now my favourite white silk shirt is stained!
CASIAS
LIPE!
LIPE
S-Sire… I- I apologize… sorry Saffron…
A guilty look consumes Lipes' face.
CUT TO:
INT. ROYAL CASTLE CATACOMBS - DARK
Amber standing, watching the long stretch of water, the same dark figure from before emerged from the darkness rowing, stopping at the cobbled stone bank, extending his hand out for Amber to reach.
She grabs it and hops on the boat looking back, her eyes orange and empty, hollow with what seems like her soul had just left her body.
LAVARIAN
Sheeba, are you sure it was a good idea?
SHEEBA
Devine knowledge is important for a royal… even a blood princess. Hopefully, she can find solace on her journey.
LAVARIAN
We'll see, after all, people kill and conquer countries for divine monarchs with floating glowing crowns like us to bless them with such a thing.
SHEEBA
I know… and I'm not looking forward to the consequences.
LAVARIAN
You're gonna be in big, BIG trouble once Lord Bayden finds out who you've passed it on to.
SHEEBA
I know…
Sheeba gets up, walks over to Amber and places her hand on her shoulder.
SHEEBA (CONT'D)
Amber, darling, you will not be yourself for some time, and will not remember much, but I'll say it to you anyway…
She kneels with her hand on Amber's chin and tilts her head downwards.
SHEEBA
The ferryman will lead you outside, follow him and head back to your aboad little one, seek refuge among your most trusted and stay with them until the visions lift.
She stands and the ferryman pushes his long stick from the cobblestone shores, slowly rowing. The light from their crowns grows dimmer, and before long, complete darkness sets in, as if blinding Amber once again.
FERRYMAN
Divine knowledge… Amber… was it… what did they teach you?
AMBER
I am dreaming… do not disturb my visions, or wake me-
She looks at the ferrymen eerily with empty eyes.
AMBER (CONT'D)
Or you will surely die.
The ferryman looks forward and continues rowing.
FERRYMAN
Oh, child… you don't know what you've asked for
CUT TO:
EXT. ROCKY TERRAIN, THELBIAN COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
Prolimus and the platoon soon arrived at the very foothills the class got stuck at.
PROLMIMUS
HALT…
He signals a closed fist raising it as the horsemen stop in their tracks, the road leading down to where the class were collecting their belongings from the muddy slope.
Casias noticed them but pretended to not pay attention, trying to help his students.
HISTOC
Casias and his class weren't too hard to track down- but suspicious it being easier than expected to find him.
PROMILUS
Histoc stay behind, we'll head over to apprehend him, keep watch and have a signal horn ready.
HISTOC
Sir!
Casias as he is helping up the last of the students from the hill, finally glancing at them.
The platoon galloped over with a few chains at the ready, diligently with their swords grasped at the hilt by their waist.
Toren holding and cloaking his sword tightly by his waist notices them suddenly stepping forward slightly. Casias intervenes, stopping Toren from stepping forward any further.
TOREN
Casia- Sire… They are part of the special forces for the Thelbian blood royal military… What are they doing here?
CASIAS
Don't speak Toren, unless spoken to, it's always trouble with them.
TOREN
Right.
PROLIMUS
Casias Son of Jaqius!
He dismounts his horse as he strolls confidently over, arms behind his back looking around at the situation.
PRLOLIMUS (CONT'D)
Good thing we caught you during an accident, otherwise we would've had to look for you in the town of Fathria.
CASIAS
Ah right… and you ar-
PROLIMUS
Prolimus, son of the Lost
CASIAS
THE Prolimus? I'm Honoured!
PROLIMUS
I wish I could say the same thing in different circumstances.
Prolimus circles his hand as his soldiers surround both Toren and Casias.
PROLIMUS (CONT'D)
under the first law past down by his majesty 'Fursoc the Old; first blood king of the royal kin, Casias son of Jaqius you are summoned to the royal thelbian castle at once by the authority of king Sorca to answer for your treason under section 32. Anything you say or do will be held against you.
CASIAS
I'm sorry there must be a-
PROLIMUS
Nope, no misunderstanding, king Sorcas orders.
CASIAS
Toren has nothing to do with anything!
PROLIMUS
Any raizian seen in the Thelbian realm must be banished or kille-
CASIAS
He is just as Thelbian as the rest of us, nobody is killing anybody here.
PROLIMUS
(looking at Toren)
Then we shouldn't have a problem once we interrogate him, right?
One of the soldiers heads over to Toren with shackles as he lifts his arms aggressively outward, Toren stays silent and doesn't resist.
CASIAS
I will comply if you let Toren be...
Prolimus signals his hand for the soldier to pause as he approaches Casais close to his face.
PROLIMUS
The boy… comes-
CASIAS
No, Toren stays and I will comply, accept my terms, or I will resist!
PROLIMUS
Orders of the king-
CASIAS
This… 'broken king' is going mad! The slaughter at the gates… have you seen-
PROLIMUS
You watch your tongue bard!
CASIAS
600! 600 raizians have been slaughtered. A new law has passed, for every raizian haunted, their heads weight will be rewarded in silve-
PROLIMUS
Somebody like yourself with no combat on the field will say such a thing. Master Brake was and still is one of the most powerful and disciplined bards in all of Mamseque. If he were still the Realmic Bard, then we wouldn't be in this situation.
Prolimus pulls out his sword pointing at Casias.
PROLIMUS ( CONT'D)
The war efforts do not concern us!
CASIAS
When the war efforts affect us… you will be concerned, I assure you, which will lead to that eventually. The Selcians are not only stopping at Raizia, once they fall. their conquest will continue.
PROLIMUS
The temptation to resist… I understand but if you do, you will feel the king's wrath!
CUT TO:
INT. ROYAL CASTLE MONOSTARY LIBRARY - NIGHT
Romulus, scans the books in the monastery library as he peaks through each book occasionally.
ROMULUS
Hmm- I swear I saw it somewhere- Ah! There it is!
His eyes snap back to a book above him. He stretches up on his toes.
ROMULUS (CONT'D)
C'mon on… just a little further-
A bearded FASIL carrying a naked candle on a stand with grey hairs possessing five tails draped in simple robes picks out a book above Romulus and he hands it to him.
FASIL
A book on the castle and its architecture? How suspicious.
ROMULUS
Brother Fasil i- I'm so sorry I was just-
FASIL
Not to worry… and who are you again?
ROMULUS
Romulus, son of lady Cerlincia… 167th child of king Sorca
FASIL
Ah but of course hahaha! I remember, you did seem to have a knack of sticking your nose into things. Everything's okay?
ROMULUS
Brother Fasil, I've heard you've become a monk to the fox goddess… why… I feel like I'm doubting our father. Amber, my full sister is lost and I can't seem to find her.
FASIL
Politics, child, hearing of lady Ambers' situation from the other siblings, the whole family have grown slightly concerned.
They began walking down the long hallway of books as the warm light from the torches guided them.
FASIL (CONT'D)
All men feel like they have to change things. That's how we are, from a religious standpoint since our distant forefathers. Long ago we were foxes who roamed the lands and defended our women, hunting for our pups, finding any trespassers in our territory and warding them off… It's innate.
ROMULUS
I feel as though I'm committing treason.
FASIL
Ahh, but you're not. That's where you're wrong.
He lights the torches with the candle as they are walking.
FASIL (CONT'D)
You are to protect your women folk, you are a man, and soon an alpha like your father.
ROMULUS
I don't want to be like my father.
FASIL
He held peace for so long… and maintained it he has done something right.
ROMULUS
I'm unsure… There's one place I need to check.
FASIL
The sewers…
ROMULUS
Fasil? How did you know?
FASIL
Hahaha… I didn't.
They turn toward the massive balcony of the library above the ground floor. The library had chandeliers and a sleeping fox statue just below them. The moon's lights pierced through the massive circular window as it entirely lit the library's corridors.
FASIL (CONT'D)
But your hunch for the sewers is a perceptive one.
ROMULUS
Now I'm scared to find what's down there.
FASIL
Have you ever wondered why they give us a number when we are born?
ROMULUS
Because of the amount of siblings?
FASIL
Yes… but there is more to it.
They walk down the stairs leading to the ground floor.
FASIL (CONT'D)
I became a monk and forfeited my title AS the definitive crown prince for the dirty history of our lineage… Numbers were ordered after I forfeited the position after my mother queen Halwa died. The five-tail promise vanished afterwards.
Romulus and Fasil finally reach the bottom and they both sit at a desk.
FASIL
Our blood… I feel it's simply just that, blood… the supremacy of tails is a disturbing one. Even the great Goddess possessing six tails does not assume any status to any being.
ROMULUS
I… I see. Should I be like you than… big brother… I lived in the castle for a mere 14 years, but you are nearly 60.
FASIL
That's for you to decide as one of the potential crown princes.
Romulus opens the book, flicking through the pages as Fasil does the same lighting the candle in front of them.
ROMULUS
The sewers… where do you lead?
CUT TO:
EXT. ROYAL CASTLE ENTRANCE - NIGHT - DARK
Romulus walking out the castle entrance sees a masked man with horns. It was McDune. His arm was braced with a cast, clearly broken and so was his mood.
Romulus felt a fierce aura emanating from him as the dark aura, almost like heavy smoke flowed on the floor. He hadn't seen anybody like him before… Baring a cursed aura of the dead.
McDune walks past Romulus, freezing in fear, staring at him just outside the castle gates. Romulus' existence seemed not to even catch McDunes attention.
CUT TO:
THE SEWERS - MOMENTS LATER
The manhole in front of the castle gate where Romulus left open as he wandered looking around holding a torch with a piece of scrap paper.
ROMULUS
The architectural blueprints lead nowhere… and that man… I heard of cursed people wandering this world but… I thought it seemed unlikely for a thing to exist.
He begins to walk further down and a small thin passageway leading away from the flowing waterway.
Walking down some stairs he finds a long dark alley leading to a figure cloaked in black. It's the ferryman as he is just tying up his raft.
FERRYMAN
I wasn't expecting a new prisoner-
He looks Romulus up and down.
FERRYMAN (CONT'D)
You don't have any escorts?
ROMULUS
P- prisoners? Escorts? Sorry, I'm in the wrong place.
He turns to walk away but the ferryman stops him as he sees Romulus' tails.
FERRYMAN
Wait…
Romulus turns to look at him as he approaches. It was dark but he could make out the scars on his face and see his tails and ears.
ROMULUS
You're… one of us?
FERRYMAN
It's five quotes.
ROMULUS
I- beg your pardon?
FERRYMAN
Crossing the lake… 5 quotes.
ROMULUS
R- right.
Romulus' curiosity grew, looking deep into the dark abyss.
He takes his pouch out of the inside of his robe, taking out a small rectangular piece of silver and handing it over to the ferryman.
ROMULUS
Well, I have only 10. I need to come back anyway.
CUT TO:
EXT. MARKETS, OUTSIDE THE CASTLE - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER
Amber was strolling through the dense crowd filled with bars and restaurants. Lust was in the air and the people seemed to be having a great time. However, the environment didn't phase her. Her eyes were clouded, her clothes were in tatters and her fingernails were rough-looking. She disregarded herself, her hunger her thirst and the injuries she sustained, still having visions.
McDune managed to find himself in that very place. Amber noticed his strange presence, his dark aura emanating from his body slowly seeping out.
Pushing through the crowd, as his aura draws her in she reaches him and tugs on his cloak.
AMBER
Oh cursed one… has death still not caught you.
McDune turns suddenly looking at her in a cold sweat and steps back surprised.
MCDUNE
H… How did you know?
He notices her eyes, taking a closer look he sees faint images flashing ever so vaguely on her eyes.
MCDUNE (CONT'D)
Devine knowlage… Damn… now Bayden and his people, I'll have to be worried about them if they find you!
END