MENTL: (to the Book) Okay - you’re going to take us where we belong, right? Where we’re supposed to be - right?

So please … please …

Been beat up and battered around
Been sent up, and I've been shot down
You're the best thing that I've ever found
Handle me with care




Been stuck in dungeons, terrorized
Sent to hell and hypnotized
Been chained up and victimized
Handle me with care

TRANSCRIPT:
TULA: Farewell, until we meet again.
CHERA: Here. (gives her a bracelet) To remember me by.
TULA: As if I could forget - I owe you so much.
CHERA: You know better than that.
TULA: So do you.
ZONA: Goodbye, Father. It’s been good to finally know you a little, and to like what I know.
ZONN: Let’s hope we can know each other better. Someday.
ZONA: Someday.
ZONN: Just … be careful.
ZONA: Ha! I never get anywhere being careful, Father. “Be bold and trust to luck,” that’s what I say.

IPOLA: But seriously - only use it when it’s vital you send the message instantly. There’s so much we still don’t know about these rings. Whether the enemy can detect them, for instance, or if there is a limit to how much energy is in them - everything we find out just raises more questions.
ZONN: I understand. And you’re leaving tomorrow.
IPOLA: Yes.
ZONN: Let’s make good use of the time, then.
IPOLA: Zonn …
ZONN: Mm?
IPOLA: Zonn, there’s still so much to discuss, to plan … to … arrange …
ZONN: Of course. Hours until noon. We’ll talk about it over breakfast.
IPOLA: It’s just … we … I … oh, Goddess, I wish I didn’t love you so much …
ZONN: So inconvenient.
IPOLA: Terribly …
JEEVIK: Good morning, my l -
JEEVIK: Ah.
JEEVIK: Very good. I’ll keep the breakfast warm for awhile, then.

TRANSCRIPT:

ZONN: Is this real?

IPOLA: Hello, Yanora. Yes, Zonn, it’s real. We found a cache of these in the Tower of The Moon after the war. I give them to important people I really need to keep in touch with.
YANORA: Like me. Hello, Zonn. For a man who’s been dead for twenty-five years, you look very good.
PANEL3
ZONN: Yanora. You look … lovely, as ever.
YANORA: Flattery, from Zonn The Wanderer? You’ve gone soft while you’ve been away.
ZONN: I’m not one of your Kivalian dandies but I call it as I see it.
YANORA: Part of what I always found so charming about you.
YANORA: So - another piece on our side of the Tuntach board, Ipola?
IPOLA: Yes. We still have to work out how to bring them to the game, but that is just a problem, and I already have ideas about solutions.
VOICE: Your Grace - someone coming.
YANORA: Must go now. Lovely chatting. Tat-ta!
ZONN: That’s … handy.
IPOLA: I still prefer to use the birds for most things, but this is instant.
ZONN: I can definitely see the advantages. So I will be able to see you, then.
IPOLA: Yes, when it’s important.
ZONN: What if I just miss you, and want to see your beautiful face?
IPOLA: Well, that almost sounded like something from a Kivalian courtier.

ZONN: And you are right about one thing: With what’s at stake, we have no right to hold ourselves apart from the fight. I know the Urtts as well as you do. It wouldn’t end in Erogenia.
IPOLA: No - no, it wouldn’t. Have you spoken to Uissan?
ZONN: Yes. I understand that they look at the Urtts as … victims like themselves, in a way. But even he acknowledges that three thousand years later they’re as responsible for themselves as we are. But … well, they’re talking among themselves about it. We’ll see if they come up with something. Anyway. The answer you were looking for from me is - yes. If you call, I will come. Alone if necessary, but with all our strength if possible.
IPOLA: I have something for you, then. These are few and precious. We still have not figured out how to duplicate the magick in them, but I brought this one for you.
ZONN: What … what does it … do?
IPOLA: I’ll teach Chera and you together, to make sure that there’s always someone who knows how to use it. Watch:
YANORA: Yes, Ipola? Ohhhh … Well, well, well!


TULA: For what it’s worth, I think you made a very persuasive case.
IPOLA: I am glad the three of you were there to add your voices.
TULA: Me too.
IPOLA: Zonn’s right. They’re … an unallied tribe. We can’t hold them to an oath that only some of them took twenty-five or thirty years ago.
TULA: We could. There’s a precedent.
IPOLA: I won’t.
TULA: I know.
POLA: I … am so glad you are here. So glad you found Mentl, and that you and Zona are well.
TULA: Not half as glad as we are, but yes, I appreciate it.
IPOLA: What about the artifact?
TULA: The Book? Mentl has It - or It has him. It pops in and out when It pleases Itself to do. We no longer worry about It when It disappears. It always comes back eventually.
IPOLA: Ah - until the time It doesn’t.
TULA: I try not to think about that.
UISSAN: Your Majesty …

TRANSCRIPT
ZONA: When the time came, Kevin had me put my good foot in his hands and just “whoosh!” sent all three of us flying into the hole in the worlds!
KID1: Wow! He must be strong!
MENTL: Oh yeah. He’s … legendary in my world.
KID2: Is he as strong as Zonn?
KID1: NO-body is as strong as Zonn!
MENTL: Well, I don’t know, but he’s probably the strongest man in my world. If “man” even applies to him.
KID3: Who would win in a fight? If Zonn and him had a fight?
ZONA: Oh - I don’t …
KID2: Zonn can beat anybody!
KID3: He can lift anything! He kills the big monsters with his bare hands and stuff!
MENTL: Aren’t you forgetting something?
KID3: What?
MENTL: Well … what would they be fighting about? Zonn’s a really good guy, and so’s Kevin. I think they wouldn’t fight each other. I think they’d probably team up.
KID3: Ohh … yeah.
ZONA: I don’t know how it goes here yet, but back home we sometimes have contests and we fight for fun. But Kevin’s not an Erogenian - he’s a different sort of person. I saw him stop a fight and make it all right with everybody just by talking and calming people down. I think that shows a lot of strength, too. A different kind of strength. I think he would rather not fight at all if you gave him a choice. I think Zonn - well from what I’ve seen my father is kind of like that now, as well. He’s ...
IPOLA: “Hectoring?” Where did you even learn that word? You mean “nagging” don’t you?
ZONN: No, no, I don’t. Besides, I know you don’t like me to say the “N” word unless I’m talking about horses. But it’s just not that simple, Ipola!

TRANSCRIPT: 



IPOLA:  So - hello, Mentl.

MENTL: Ma’am.  Uhh … your Majesty.  Ma’am. (oy)

IPOLA: You did it.

TULA: Yes.

IPOLA: Of course you did.  And so much more. I could not be more proud of you right now, Tula.

TULA: A lot more was at work than just us.

IPOLA: It always is. I’m still proud of you. Both of you.  My girls!

IPOLA: (To Mentl) And you.

MENTL: Your Majesty.

IPOLA: I need to balance a few things between us.

MENTL: Wha - no ma’am, you didn’t do anything …

IPOLA: I know what I did and what I didn’t do, Mentl.  I also know what I bear responsibility for.

MENTL: You were just trying to look out for your people.  I … freaked out. That’s on me, not you.

IPOLA: Yes it is, but not completely.  I was afraid. I acted and spoke out of fear and I passed that fear on to you when there wasn’t anything to gain by it.  To act out of fear alone is always an offense to the cha, no matter the cause.   There are always consequences. And I owe you for my part in it.  

MENTL: So - what do we do?

IPOLA: It can be very simple. Ask any honorable thing of me, and if it’s within my power I will grant it.

MENTL: Wow … well, I don’t need … I mean, you don’t have to.   You -

ZONA: Yes, she does.

TULA: Yes. She does.

MENTL: Oh.  Umm …



MENTL: Well, you know, now I think of it, yeah.  There is something.

JEEVIK: The climate here is a trifle warm for such a cloak, your Majesty, May I ?

IPOLA: You may, thank you, and these as well.  

JEEVIK: Very good, Majesty. 

IPOLA: Hm. Have we ever met before?

JEEVIK: The possibility is an extremely remote one, your Majesty. 

IPOLA: Zona ...

ZONA: Mother ...

IPOLA: Oh ... you’ve been through so much. My baby ...

ZONA: Mother!  I'm so sorry!  Cha na amanh ...

IPOLA: Me too, my child. Cha na amanh.

ZONA: I ... I said awful things ...

IPOLA: Some of them were well deserved. But it’s balanced, now. At least for me.

ZONA: We just need to go home now and it will be.