Mith's pretension reaches new heights.
So. It bit. And then it got infected.
Vayne II part I, Bartolo Bunansa
Dramatis Personae
GRAMIS Gana Solidor, Emperor of Archadia
his sons -
MIRAN Zargabaath Solidor, twenty-five, a cripple
CALEB Carudas Solidor, twenty-four
VAYNE Carudas Solidor, sixteen
Larsa Ferrinas Solidor, a babe in arms
his ailing wife, THEA Ferrinas
Judges Magister -
RION, senior
ZARGABAATH
GHIS
ASTOR
ZECHT
Judges of middle or low rank
BERGAN, Magister-elect, attendant to Vayne
DRACE, attendant to Larsa
DEWEG
GIBBS
GABRANTH
HARDIN
Senators SPERO, LORAS, and GREGEROTH
the MARQUIS of Bhujerba
the MARGRACE
his sons -
AL-DARAF, twenty
AL-CID, sixteen
Al-Ge, twelve
Al-Nir, six
King RAMINAS Dalmasca
his sons, Torias and Teles, fourteen
his daughter ASHELIA, eight
Royals of other lands, Archadian Courtiers, Servants, Guards of all retinue
I.i.
[Before the Emperor’s chambers. Gibbs and Deweg, at post; Gabranth, to the side.]
GIBBS: Right, I’ve got a good one, scare the poleyns right off you. So you’re maybe ten years ago, got a bunch of our boys in Landiser territory-my father told me this one, might’ve been his own corps-and they’re still waiting for a signal that won’t come. It’s been not hours but watches too long, and you’re only one of ten since it’s the forest. Watches. Enemy territory. Dead of Night. Outside, no paling, waiting for the order to move.
DEWEG: All green recruits, no less?
GIBBS: No less. Transmission never comes. [a pause] Wyvern comes instead.
DEWEG: You jest.
GIBBS: A wyvern, out of the barbarian songs. And let us just say, with proof enough of the late orders dangling from its teeth.
DEWEG: I can infer the rest; no survivors?
GIBBS: No such script; I did say it might have been my father’s corps. And he wasn’t the only one to live past felling the thing, if the story’s his to begin with.
DEWEG: They took down a wyvern.
GIBBS: They-and the-
GABRANTH: -and the five other squads, fallen before theirs. You are off by several years. This tale transpired before the war began.
DEWEG: He speaks as the other survivor.
GIBBS: Thunderstealer.
DEWEG: Ha, surely you two conspire in an effort to persuade me.
GABRANTH: Had I your delusion among my goals, you would not know, nor speak so freely of it.
GIBBS: Says he who trails his Honor Zecht like a cape.
GABRANTH: That visor on your brow hides no envy.
GIBBS: And yours no accent.
DEWEG: This is unsightly, not to mention unsound. Hold off, the both of you. Gods, before his Excellency’s chambers? With Dalmasca at audience? What if they were to hear you?
GABRANTH: Then Dalmasca would know that Archadia’s soldiers are neither faceless nor voiceless.
[Enter HARDIN, from the Emperor’s chambers. He goes to Gabranth, and they speak privately. Exit Gabranth.]
GIBBS: What, did they hear?
HARDIN: Nothing of the kind. We’re to fetch the sons.
DEWEG: Ah, that explains the presence of the sandrat Princess.
HARDIN: More mouse than rat. She’ll not be fair of face when she grows.
DEWEG: Truth told, our princes all are dragons, as yet-not a knight among them, unless lord Larsa snaps that chain.
HARDIN: Hold your tongue and man your post-speak any louder of Wyverns, and perhaps they will hear. [exit]
[Gibbs and Deweg, alone and silent. Scene.]
I.ii.
[Within the Emperor’s chambers. Gramis, seated; Ghis, beside the throne; Raminas, Ashelia, and guards, before him.]
RAMINAS: She is but eight. I would not cement an engagement, when peace may yet be carved from bonds already formed.
GRAMIS: There is time enough, with that I agree. And there are options further, perhaps ones of more worth to us both. Yet still, I propose this. And better they convene before us, formally and with full knowledge of the other’s mien and name. It is years since Dalmasca graced our Motherland; let her be welcomed in kind.
RAMINAS: Nay, it is for Archadia’s celebration that the sands have shifted. I would not divert the spirit of your son’s Naming Day.
GRAMIS: Larsa is but a babe. He knows no offense but the milk that grows tepid and the guard who neglects to stifle his rounds.
RAMINAS: And to announce his engagement before he is a year alive-
GRAMIS: I have four sons, and your Ashelia may evaluate them. Four sons, on three wives, and none of them my choice entire. I would not force the child to choose so soon. None of this is yet in stone.
RAMINAS: Yet speak you now with chisel poised to carve.
[enter Miran and Gabranth. Gabranth salutes and exits.]
MIRAN: Good day, father. Your Majesty. Your Honor. -Ah, and for the first time in my life, I thank this craft I ride, for it puts me at the level of your eyes, Princess.
ASHELIA: You do not look too old.
MIRAN: I am not, Princess.
ASHELIA: Then why are you in a-
RAMINAS: Ashelia…
MIRAN: It is no trouble to humor her, your Majesty. [to Ashelia:] I am as a tree without roots, Princess, but still boughs, still leaves.
ASHELIA: You can tell me straight, cousin, that you don’t have any legs.
MIRAN: She speaks like an awl, your Majesty.
RAMINAS: I apologize for her.
MIRAN: No need, your Majesty. Princess, I will do as you bid, for I would not have you likewise crippled by a lack of knowledge. I have never walked; either I came into this world so maimed, or was shortly after. But do not fret, Princess; my condition is impediment only in the most literal sense.
ASHELIA: That must have made your mother very sad.
MIRAN: Perhaps she was. I knew her not. That is something you and I have in common.
GRAMIS: [interceding] Miran is my eldest, first in my heart.
MIRAN: Not for long, the way you dote on Larsa. An unforeseen boon, that child; I have not seen my father so bright of face in all my years alive.
[Enter Vayne with Bergan.]
VAYNE: Your Excellency. Your Majesty, your Highness. Your Honor. Miran.
MIRAN: Vayne.
RAMINAS: I feel my years, to look upon you. What has it been, sixteen, since peace permitted me to attend your Naming?
VAYNE: It is so, your Majesty; though for me, time has flown swift, not having adequate reference for calm or surcease.
RAMINAS: May you no longer require a barometer for peace.
GRAMIS, BERGAN: Faram.
ASHELIA: [to Vayne] Are you hiding something?
VAYNE: Your Highness?
ASHELIA: I can’t see any of your skin.
RAMINAS: Ashelia-
VAYNE: I am not the only one in this room to wear gloves, your Highness.
ASHELIA: But your hair is in your face. No one else’s is.
VAYNE: Others have helms.
ASHELIA: Yes. Because they are hiding something. Are you?
VAYNE: I am hiding my derision for your undecorous questions.
GHIS: [aside to Gramis] The gods condone this union.
ASHELIA: All Archadians wear too much clothing. But not all Archadians are ugly.
[Gramis, Ghis, and Milan laugh.]
RAMINAS: I take this for a cue to excuse the Princess from these negotiations.
VAYNE: Bergan and I will escort her to your wing, your Majesty.
ASHELIA: Father-
RAMINAS: It is all right, Ashe, your Captain will be with you.
VAYNE: You did express interest in my face, your Highness. Perhaps one side of it is less adequately concealed.
[Exit Ashelia, attended.]
GRAMIS: Vayne.
VAYNE: Good day, your Excellency; your Majesty; your Honor; Miran. [Exit Vayne and Bergan.]
RAMINAS: His is a hardy soul.
GRAMIS: This world would brook him no other.
[Enter Hardin.]
HARDIN: Your Excellency, Rozarria arrives.
GRAMIS: Who greets them?
HARDIN: Caleb, your Excellency.
GRAMIS: Ah, he to his friend. Let them be, but have the Margrace escorted here.
HARDIN: My lord. [Exit.]
RAMINAS: That I should have the favor of the gods, to stand by when your empires reconcile.
GRAMIS and GHIS: Faram.
[Scene.]
I.iii
[Caleb, alone, secluded. Enter the Margrace, and his sons, attended. They speak in Rozarrian; the exchange is made that Al-Daraf will tarry a moment. Exit the Margrace, sons, and retinue, save Al-Daraf.]
AL-DARAF: You grow no subtler.
CALEB: Why hide? These are my grounds. To speak of subtlety is to invite commentary.
AL-DARAF: To speak at all is to invite commentary, in this country of yours.
CALEB: And in yours, all is commentary, and little is action.
AL-DARAF: Oh, Rozarria acts; just not how you would have it.
CALEB: Are your men in place?
AL-DARAF: Again, speak not so freely.
CALEB: What use are codes and subterfuge in this country of charlatans? We mean to incite. Let them hear.
Al-DARAF: You stand not to profit on your own machinations, proceeding thus without caution. And you stand to bring me down with you, and I will not have that.
CALEB: These are my grounds, and these my people-
AL-DARAF: Not yet, and possibly never so. We are the same, son of Solidor; both of us passed over, and perhaps rightly so, yet rightly discontent.
CALEB: Fine, then; if we are the same, you need not my aid, and can accomplish this on your own. Friendless, in my country.
AL-DARAF: Whereas you, among my kin, would find yourself gored on your own spire of arrogance. I admit, then, to some poetic notion that I know your heart. Not the same, son of Solidor. A complement, perhaps.
CALEB: Are your men in place?
AL-DARAF: They are not where I left them. That is all I can ascertain.
[Caleb begins to exit.]
AL-DARAF: Caleb.
CALEB: My father will want to meet you, Al-Daraf. You had best rejoin yours. [Exit.]
[Al-Daraf, alone. Exit. Scene, Act.]
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