IPOLA: How odd.  Hearing you put it like that …   Another man like you - in some ways - spoke of the same things to me just days ago.  But he wasn’t so full of hate as you are.  His way didn’t need for others to die or be destroyed so his people could live and create themselves, owing nothing to Erogenia.  He was … a wise man, I think.   Even if all the Erogenian nations are destroyed and all of us killed - you would still remember us, no matter how you tried to forget.  If we did the same to you - we would still remember you. You can rewrite history all you want, but you are from our seed.  We are part of each other, even in our blood.  We have been since the beginning, for ill and for good.  Perhaps there is another way.  A way I couldn’t see  when I made that oath twenty years ago.   There must be - if we can only find it.  




GORSHASH: No. 




IPOLA: We could destroy you, as I promised.  You have found the dragons, but there is more and greater power in the world than even the dragons - and there always has been.  If this war goes forward, it could end in a hollow victory for us all.  

 

GOSHASH: That is your weakness, Ipola Queen.  You speak as one who fears destruction.  God revels in it, and in all that dies for His glory.  That is why we will prevail. 

KOR LACHNIS: <Now, woman, trapped as thou surely art now, must thou yield! >

IPOLA: <You’re a slow learner, aren’t you?  Unlike you, I don’t fear death, and I will never surrender to you.  You will have to kill me. > <And you’d better do it quickly before I have a chance to recover.>




KOR LACHNIS: (admiringly)  <See now, Owner Gorshash, the steel in the soul of an Erogenian? Of such are all true Erogenians made.  And when thou look’st in thy heart and findest strength, it is of this stamp, and cometh from Eroghen. All dost thou owe unto Shuach and to thy makers, my people.  Shuach granted us this power - and these will never bow to thee, but only to Him through m --! >




 While he was monologuing Gorshash was behind him and plunged a blade into his heart. 




KOR LACHNIS: (Blood bubbling from his mouth) Hah hhh … hahahaha!   Oh, my … my son. That … is … perfect …




Kor Lachnis dies.

TRANSCRIPT:

IPOLA: KAN URRTAN ESSHATAKU!

IPOLA: (in Erogenian) <So this verifies what is written in the chronicles of Dav the Maker, then. Constructs made from dead flesh are inherently unstable.>
<Now - what say you stop your dithering and we finish this absurd encounter?>

IPOLA: MACH ERAN LIGATA!

KOR LACHNIS: MITHU NAGA KRYU!

TRANSCRIPT:

The Eshtakk's corpse suddenly erupts with tentacles which reach out to ensnare Ipola

KOR LACHNIS: <Mock me now, moon queen!
Where are your clever jibes n- >
IPOLA: <Please don’t distract me.
I’m working on a poem in my head
as I deal with this obvious substitute for
your masculine inadequecy. How many words
in Erogenian are there that rhyme with
“impotent?”>

TRANSCRIPT:





KOR LACHNIS: <What is this?!  Thou saidst - >

GORSHASH: (taking a stance)< It was, lord, by Shuach! The other one was powerless!>





IPOLA: <Yes - “The other one” - my daughter.  I am proud of Tula, more than you could know, but she is still very young, and has a lot of growing to do, yet.  Her power flows from the Goddess - she is a conduit for the Moon. Such learning has taken her very far already, but not as far as I have come.  I am Ipola Thantic-Ravonna, queen of the Moon Tribe. In every way that matters to you, I AM the Moon! >

PAGE 1166

Kor Lachnis and Gorshash enter. Kor Lachnis is laughing and clapping

KOR LACHNIS: <HA-HA! It is as I said! The true Erogenian seed survives! Is she not magnificent, Gorshash? All she needed was a moment’s opportunity and she unchained herself and made a victim of that piece of waste.>
PANEL 2

GORSHASH: <Yes, lord - it is as you said, and as I warned - this family is formidable.>

KOR LACHNIS: <Yes, well, formidable or not, she cannot be free. This has been highly entertaining, Moon Queen, but back into chains thou must go. Thou art yet my prisoner, and I have plans in which thou must play a part. Let us lock her magickally as well this time, eh, Owner Gorshash?>

PANEL 3
IPOLA: <No. I will not be chained again, and I will not be made a pawn of anything you plan. I’ve had just about enough of this place for one day. I will leave - alive or dead, but you will not have any power over me.>


PANEL 4
KOR LACHNIS: <Prattle on! Thou speak’st as if this were a choice thou could’st make!>

Kor Lachnis aims a bolt at Ipola to paralyze her.

KOR LACHNIS:Thuu Duthracani!

PANEL 5
IPOLA: Eyal!
To his surprise, she bats it aside.
PANEL 6
IPOLA Paio!
She aims a bolt of moonfire at Kor Lachnis

TRANSCRIPT:


Blood is pouring from Eshtakk’s mouth, he is gurgling and can’t speak, he begins to crumple to the ground, and as he does, Ipola expertly snags the key ring at his belt with her great toe and tosses it to her manacled hand. 




She begins unlocking her chains. 




IPOLA (NARR): Poor dumb bastard. I did try.  I even said “please …”