Tag: Politics
TRANSCRIPT
AGLOR: Cousin, I can’t tell you how good it is to have you with us again after all this time.
DARVIK: It feels … a bit strange, I don’t mind telling you. My children have never been in Erogenia.
PANEL 2
AGLOR: Well … as you know, in my opinion, the Fox Tribe hasn’t really been in what you or I would call Erogenia since my aunt …
DARVIK: Went crazy?
AGLOR: In a word. Yes.
DARVIK: Well, she’s in Summerland now, gone to be reunited with her wits at long last. Poor stupid b-
AGLOR: Darvik …
DARVIK: Right . Least said about that the better.
AGLOR: Well, we are still all … adjusting. Most folk are welcoming the change back to normalcy, but some people in high places seemed to benefit from Kurya’s eccentric way of doing things, so I am running into opposition here and there. And, well … we’re all foxes, aren’t we?
DARVIK: Yes.
AGLOR: Which is why I need you, and I hope you will take a seat on my council. Please.
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.
KOR LACHNIS: <Hah! Well, such a female should definitely be bred. Eshtatkk!>
ESHTAKK: <Yes, owner?>
KOR LACHNIS: <Wouldst thou like to breed this one?>
ESHTAKK: <I … will do what owner says to do … and like what owner says I may like.>
KOR LACHNIS: <Quite.>
IPOLA: Pitiful.
KOR LACHNIS: <Nonetheless, methinks thou shalt enjoy the thing for its own sake. Take care you do her no lasting physical harm. >
ESHTAKK: <Yes, owner.>
KOR LACHNIS: <Come, my son - let us leave these lovers to their pleasure. I have some details to attend to …>
GORSHASH: <Lord, this one should be closely watched, and by …>
KOR LACHNIS: <Tut-tut, Owner Gorshash. She is but a woman, and chained. Yon eshtakku is quite capable of taking her and, we hope, teaching a lesson in humility>
GORSHASH: <As … you say, lord.>
Door shut. Eshtakk grins lasciviously, approaches Ipola
ESHTAKK: <You’re … very very pretty …>
IPOLA: <Oh, thanks.>
ZONA: Yes, Zonn is alive. And he will fight for Erogenia when we call. You’ll all hear that story in full soon. But the word and the order is this: It is time for all of us to go back home, and quickly. This mission is over. The War is about to begin in earnest.
ZONA: That is *not* the reason we came after you. The reason … I … came after you.
TULA: There was more than one reason. More than one purpose in our actions. Not all of it is under our control. But you are here. Zona and you are together. And that is a powerful good, not just for you two.
PONTAGAR: And that? (pointing at the torc)
ZONA: Mentl is my silver-bonded and a member of our tribe.
PONTAGAR: Charming.
MENTL: You got a problem with that, Big Red?
PONTAGAR: (shrugs) If I do or don’t, what does it matter to you? Just kill a dragon, little man, and this I swear - any problems I ever had with you will go away. Gen venon co Eroghen. Welcome to the tribes of Erogenia.
ZONA: I’m proud of you, Pontagar. You’ve learned some rudimentary manners.
PONTAGAR: Hmf!
ZONA: But we also have some important news. From my mother.
(Pontagar and Rannik’sears prick up)
ZONA: And also from my father.
(Pontagar and Rannik: “WHAAAA?”)
TRANSCRIPT
IPOLA: (in Aburor speech) <Greetings wind wandering Hrraarch, Hanch-Daughter. Ipola Ravonna-Daughter greets you with gratitude.>
HRRAARCH: <Greetings, Ipola Ravonna-Daughter. Hrraarch, Hanch-Daughter comes as agreed. We ride the wind now back to our own eyries.>
TULA: <Honor follows you, noble Hrraarch Hanch-Daughter, and from us take gratitude for bringing our Mother to us.>
ZONA: <Honor-bibble Hrraarch Daughter-Hanch, me is too thanks also you as eldest daughter’s mother child.>
HRRARRCH: You do me honor, children of my friend. But as the speech of Aburori folk seems difficult in your mouth, let me return your greeting in the tongue of Erogenian folk. Well met, though briefly. You are Tula Ipola Daughter, and you are Zona Ipola Daughter. We know much of you from speech with Ipola Ravonna-Daughter. Respect to you.
ZONA: Thank you...
TULA: Thank you
ZONN: Welcome, Hrraarch, daughter of Hanch, to the Sun Tribe. I lead these people. I am Zonn.
HRRARCH: Of course you are. Ipola Ravonna-Daughter has spoken much of you, Zonn Tera-Son.
TRANSCRIPT
BETHELA: Poor boy …
YANORA: “Poor boy?”
YANORA: That “poor boy” conspired with the Urtts, gleefully embraced treason, attempted to kill the Erogenian princess as well as his own brother - the king of Kivalia! To say nothing of landing me unjustly in this bloody jail!
YANORA: He is a traitor, Bethela, and whatever hand Kendrik and I played in warping him, that name belongs to him alone. And now, after refusing twice my offer to help the ungrateful little moron climb out of the pit he eagerly dug with his own hands, he will surely die a traitor’s death, or worse.
YANORA: Or perhaps we will, eh,? If our plans fall through, which they very well may: The forces against us are colossal, and my son has helped make absolutely everything worse. “Poor boy”, indeed. My ... poor boy ...
YANORA: Well, it is my doing. It’s far too late to say I’m sorry - but for what little it’s worth, I am. I’m sorry we hurt you - and to no good purpose. But: Now you’re where you are, with some problems I know and others I can guess - and unless you’re going to go into exile with Dole the Enchanter or something else melodramatic, you need to use the power you currently have to correct your own course.
MALDIK: Hmff.
YANORA: So - if you’ll forgive an impolite question - who are you marrying? As the prospective mother-in-law I ought to know, after all. Needlework, trousseau, that sort of thing?
MALDIK: I’m … uh ... Anina …
YANORA: The bishop’s niece. Well, he’s become bolder and bolder.
MALDIK: Yeah.
YANORA: The entire family is abominable, even compared to ours, and as you can understand better than most, that is a very low bar, indeed. Naturally, the nuptials cannot happen without your brother’s consent and the council’s stamp of approval.
MALDIK: Yeah.
YANORA: Hmm - with enough threats and bribery, I think the Council Of Bishops would vote for it. Nonetheless, your brother is still in the middle of a holy war far far away, so I think that it’s unlikely to happen any time soon.
BETHELA: More wine, your Highness?
MALDIK: Yeah.
YANORA: Paradoxically, I think Gudik’s quite safe in combat, barring the unforeseen. A very good thing that no one is planning to assassinate my older son. Isn’t it?