Uther and the Secret of the Dragon

  and Medin?

  I don’t believe it, highway robbery is unheard of in

  these parts.

  There is little, if no, poverty and people are superstitious

  to the point of stupidity.

  They believe that all actions have an opposite reaction

  but threefold.

  If you give love, it is returned threefold. The people

  believe that robbing someone will lead to they

  themselves being robbed; but robbed threefold.

  It is unthinkable for the locals to counter such a thing.

  MERLAIN

  Then perhaps the robbers were not locals.

  It’s good that they have left us something that may

  uncover their identity.

  He pulls from his cloak a bronze arrow head still stained with Amber’s blood. He had removed it from her body and the arrow’s shaft after her death. Merlain placed it on a small table situated between Adrius and Memet.

  The two men look over the bronze arrow head and pick it up to examine it closer.

  ADRIUS

  A fine weapon.

  MEMET

  Exceedingly sharp;

  ADRIUS

  The workmanship is perfect. This is an expensive

  weapon and, unlike a spear, made for one shot;

  so this was made for someone important; someone wealthy.

  MEMET

  A soldier would use a sharpened hardwood or flint

  for their arrow-heads.

  Dipped in poisons or puss to kill slowly;

  they would make hundreds and overwhelm their

  target with an avalanche of arrows..

  ADRIUS

  But this killer; he is like a snake. He creeps up on

  his prey, silently, biding his time and watching patiently.

  Then, when he cannot miss, this weapon is deployed

  and strikes home killing instantly.

  MERLAIN

  Where would such a weapon be manufactured;

  or is this impossible to say?

  ADRIUS

  There is only one city in this land where smiths

  create weapons of such high standards.

  MERLAIN

  Where, where is this place?

  ADRIUS

  Here of course; Babylon.

  MERLAIN

  Here?

  ADRIUS

  Yes, and I think I could take you to a man who

  would know who made this tool.

  Where did you get it from?

  UTHUR

  He pulled it from the heart of

  The Ipsissamus of Medin.

  MERLAIN

  Our would be robbers murdered her.

  SARAH (returning with a tray containing a tall co0ntainer filled with red wine and 5 glasses)

  Murdered her; murdered Amber? The Gods weep

  at such news.

  UTHUR

  Yes, it’s true; did you know her?

  SARAH

  What terrible news, of course we knew here

  She grew here in Babylon and went to Medin as a teen.

  How tragic, has anyone told Agnes?

  MERLAIN

  We have told no-one about this evil act

  SARAH

  Her body; what have you done with her body?

  ESUIT

  She is across the mule we arrived with.

  ADRIUS

  Sarah, go quickly and get a man to move her into

  the cool room. Ensure she is draped in a shroud

  fitting her high status while we discuss how we should

  inform Agnes and the others.

  MERLAIN

  So you see why it is important to find out who

  made this arrow head.

  Who is the man you mentioned?

  ADRIUS

  He is the King’s own metal smith. His shop trains

  all the metal workers in this city and he would

  know who has the skills necessary to make such a

  weapon.

  We must go to his shop now.

  UTHUR

  Now?

  ADRIUS

  I understand you may be tired, it is a long journey

  from Medin and you have all had a traumatic experience.

  But if you are to shift any suspicion that you three

  were responsible for the Ipsissimus’ death then

  you must find out who really is.

  MEMET

  Oh, I can see my sleep being stolen again.

  Any restful slumber will be forsaken.

  Replaced with nights of worry and terror; what am I to do?

  MERLAIN

  Worry not, dear friend, before the sun rises tomorrow

  we will know who should be blamed for this terrible

  crime.

  MEMET

  I hope so, I truly do.

  SCENE 31 INT NIGHT

  MERLAIN, UTHUR, ESUIT and ADRIUS, have entered the darkened metal shop. A furnace of coals burns fiercely in one corner bathing the room in a flickering red and yellow light. A small child sits beside a set of bellows which he works with his blackened feet. In the centre of the room, surrounded by hanging implements, tongues, hammers, grips and other heavy tools, stands a huge stone anvil.

  UTHUR is the last to enter and he closes the door behind them. He looks at the dirty small boy working the bellows and then his attention is caught by a large black crow which sits upon a blackened perch; it crows loudly.

  BLACKSMITH

  Who is there?

  Through a doorway next to where the boy sits a huge, giant of a man, dressed in a dirty, ripped woollen shirt and pants which are hidden behind a calf length leather apron deeply stained with coal dust and dirt, enters. His wild black hair hangs down to his shoulders and only a pair of intense green eyes can be seen through the mass of hair which makes his brows and bush-like beard.

  Speak up, who comes to my workplace so late

  after the sun has set?

  He stops in his tracks upon recognizing Adrius and then surveys the three others who accompany him.

  Adrius, what brings you to this part of the city.

  Normally if you want to see me you call me to visit you at home.

  ADRIUS

  This isn’t a normal enquiry.

  BLACKSMITH

  Really; what can I do for you?

  MERLAIN

  This matter is of the gravest importance. Do you

  swear to keep what goes on here to yourself;

  to breath nor utter a single word of it beyond this room?

  BLACKSMITH

  Is this what you want, Adrius?

  ADRIUS

  It is!

  BLACKSMITH

  Then I swear.

  UTHUR

  What about the boy?

  He nods towards the small boy sitting in silence watching the scene unfold about him. The blacksmith looks towards the boy and sniffs loudly before nodding towards the black empty space beyond the doorway through which the giant had entered. The boy scrambled up and disappeared into the darkness. The blacksmith turned to face his four visitors.

  BLACKSMITH

  We are alone now; so, what is the problem?

  ADRIUS

  We want to find out who made this!

  Merlain opens his cloak and takes the arrow head from his belt. He places it down onto the anvil. The blacksmith squints before leaning forwards and examining the weapon carefully. He then lifts it up and holds it in the light, running his thick fingers against the barbed point and up and down the grip where the arrow shaft would be held.

  MERLAIN

  Tell us, can you identify this weapon’s maker?

  BLACKSMITH

  I can.

  UTHUR

  How sure can you be?

  BLACKSMITH

  I know without a doubt.

  ADRIUS

  I knew you’d be able to help us.

/>   MERLAIN

  Tell us, who made this tool.

  BLACKSMITH.

  I did. I recognised my work at once. I’d know it

  anywhere, this particular arrowhead was one of an

  order placed quite recently.

  It is part of that order; without a doubt.

  ADRIUS

  Who paid you for this order?

  MERLAIN

  We have to know, tell us; who?

  The blacksmith sighed and wiped his brow. Taking the arrowhead in his palm he stepped back and sat upon a stool which rested beside the furnace before looking at the three men and Esuit hesitantly. The crow breaks the silence with its loud calls.

  BLACKSMITH

  Is this blood I see dried on the head.

  Is it human blood?

  ADRIUS

  It is.

  BLACKSMITH

  Then I am in a very awkward position.

  In this land murder is taken very seriously and if

  it were known that I was involved in one my

  business would suffer. I may even loose the

  allegiance of the royal court.

  It does depend though...

  UTHUR

  Depend, upon what?

  BLACKSMITH

  It depends upon the circumstances of the death.

  In war murder is perfectly justified but as far as

  I know this land has no war with any other just yet.

  If one is being robbed you can claim justifiable

  murder in the eyes of the law and most would agree

  that it was a righteous act.

  Any other time the legality of the act may require

  further investigation.

  Can I ask who was killed?

  ADRIUS

  You can ask but for the time being we cannot tell you.

  BLACKSMITH

  Why?

  MERLAIN

  The person’s family has not yet been found and told

  so we are delaying the news until we know who was

  responsible for the deed; for the family’s sake.

  BLACKSMITH

  I see...

  UTHUR

  Come man, who placed the order and paid you

  for this arrowhead?

  BLACKSMITH

  I need to think; come back tomorrow and

  I will tell you then.

  ADRIUS

  Tomorrow, what can change overnight that

  you would have us come back?

  MERLAIN

  I fear we are being tricked here...

  ESUIT

  He is protecting the person.

  UTHUR withdraws his sword and places it at the BLACKSMITH’S throat.

  UTHUR

  If you value your life you will tell us now.

  BLACKSMITH

  Go on, kill me. You may as well because once

  you know who ordered this tool I will be dead

  anyway.

  So go on, slice my throat. I care not.

  ADRIUS

  Put your sword away young UTHUR.

  You want to have some time to think?

  BLACKSMITH

  I must have time.

  ADRIUS

  Then we will return before the moon crosses the sky.

  We will expect to have the answer then.

  Come, let us leave him to his thoughts.

  The four leave the Blacksmith’s forge and walk into the street outside. A short distance from the building ADRIUS turns and whispers to UTHUR.

  Can we trust you to hide yourself out of sight?

  UTHUR

  Of course.

  ADRIUS

  Then keep an eye on the forge, see what the Smith

  does in the coming moments.

  If he leaves follow him and see to who he speaks.

  We will return before the sun rises.

  ESUIT

  I will stay with you UTHUR.

  UTHUR

  I can manage; you go with Merlain.

  MERLAIN

  No, she is right. You will both need to stay to ensure

  we get a clear picture of who this worm is protecting.

  Adrius and I will go to see Agnes.

  ADRIUS

  We will come to this spot before the night is out.

  Be alert friends and keep each other safe.

  SCENE 32 INT NIGHT

  In the Temple of Minos situated beside the great bull in the city centre the women are busy preparing for the coming races. They have to weave their cotton tunics and dye the woven cotton in the deep red boiled from small sea creatures. Others beat gold foil and roll it into wheat and corn sheaf’s to carry during their procession round the race track.

  The city temple’s leader, AGNESS, is in her private quarters looking at the temple’s accounts for the previous season. Suddenly her attention is drawn by the sound of the great gong at the temple’s entrance being struck. Since the public rarely enter the temple and never usually at nightfall Agnes leaves her desk and goes to the window which overlooks the entrance. She sees two men about to bang the gong once more.

  One of the temple adepts approaches the temple door and opens a hatch set in the thick oak. She sees the two men who look back at her glumly.

  ADEPT

  Why do you disturb the sleep of Minos;

  don’t you know the temple is closed?

  ADRIUS

  We know the temple is closed

  but we have to see Agnes;

  we have news she must be informed of.

  ADEPT

  Any delegation can come to the temple

  during the daylight.

  Agnes will see people then if she is not

  involved in the worship of the city’s deity

  or other work within the temple.

  MERLAIN

  This news cannot wait until sunrise;

  get your mistress and allow us to enter.

  The adept huffs and shakes her head before closing the hatch and pulling open the bolt in the great door. She opens it slightly and the two men barge past her into the temple’s hall.

  ADEPT

  you cannot just barge your way in here;

  this is sacred ground, protected by the King.

  ADRIUS

  We must see Agnes now, tell her we are here.

  ADEPT

  I have said already, Men are only allowed

  in the temple during the day and any news

  you have can be delivered then.

  MERLAIN

  And we have said already, our news cannot wait.

  ADEPT

  Please, step outside or I shall go and

  call the King’s guard.

  ADRIUS

  Are you deaf of something woman...

  ADEPT

  How dare you....

  AGNESS

  Stop this commotion.

  The Adept turns and seeing Agnes on the stairway, falls to her knees and lowers her head. Agnes has pulled up her thin white cotton hood and put on the golden crown of her office, she stands on the stairwell draped in white and blood red robes which trail behind her up the stairs from the direction she had come. The blazing oil lamps behind her make her shimmer in their flickering light and she surveys the scene with all the majesty of someone with royal blood.

  Adept, who are these men?

  ADEPT

  They say they have news which cannot wait until dawn.

  ADRIUS

  We are sorry to disturbed the temple’s work

  but we have information of the highest importance

  and felt you should be informed as soon as possible.

  MERLAIN

  If you would grant us private audience you will

  understand why we could not wait.

  AGNESS

  Armed men are not welcome in this place

  especially in the moon light.

  ADRIUS

  Then we will leave our arm
s

  at the door to the temple.

  The two men take off their sword belts and lay them in the temple’s doorway. Adrius removes a dagger from his shirt and Merlain takes one from his boot. Thus disarmed the two men follow Agnes through the temple in silence as a Adept carrying a bright oil lamp lights their way. They follow her through a deep set wooden door into a brightly painted room overlooking the central garden. The adept light a set of oil lamps and then leaves the two men with her mistress who stands framed by the window overlooking the garden and examines her visitors.

  AGNESS

  Well, what news could not wait for morning?

  ADRIUS

  Would you like to sit; what we have to say

  is rather shocking...

  AGNESS

  Can you introduce yourselves first;

  I like to know with whom I am conversing;

  especially if they come with shocking news.

  ADRIUS

  Yes, forgive me. I am Adrius Seronius, a merchant of this city.

  MERLAIN

  And I am Merlain of Albion; a visitor to these lands.

  AGNESS

  Merlain of Albion. I have been told that you would

  be visiting me but with me sister.

  The Ipsissimus of Medin wrote a short while ago

  to say she would be travelling to this temple and

  that you would be her guardian on the journey.

  MERLAIN

  She was correct when she relayed this news

  although I have failed her.

  We were set upon during the journey and your sister

  was killed;

  we did all we could to protect her but unfortunately

  we were unsuccessful.

  AGNESS

  She is dead?

  ADRIUS

  We are so sorry.

  AGNESS

  I see. Where now is my sister’s body?

  ADRIUS

  We have laid her in my home for the time being.

  What would you ask us do with her?