Dragon Slayer Page #12

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The inhabitants of Swanscombe have decked out the town square

and are making a night of it. By torchlight they dance merrily

to jigs and reels provided by the local fiddlers. Ale flows

freely from oak casks.

VALERIAN'S HOUSE

Valerian is kneeling before a trunk full of women's clothing.

She pulls out a long simple frock, goes to a crude mirror,

and holds it up against her body to gauge the effect. Her

father comes up behind her. He is angry and frightened.

SIMON:

Put that away. What if you were seen?

VALERIAN:

I'm going to be seen. I want to be

seen. Tonight the world finds out

that you never had a son.

SIMON:

No, you mustn't do that. It's too

soon. We've got to think about this,

we've got to make a plan.

VALERIAN:

Father:
the danger is over.

He sits on the bed and puts his head in his hands.

SIMON:

I know. What am I going to say to my

friends who still mourn for their

lost girls.

VALERIAN:

You'll say you did what you had to.

This is a time for celebration --

and forgiveness.

He looks up at her, trying to imagine what it's going to be

like having a daughter.

CELEBRATION:

Galen is surrounded by a crowd of wide-eyed kids and not a

few adults, entertaining them by pulling duck's eggs out of

their ears and causing coins to disappear. Presently he feels

the attention of his audience shift away to someone standing

behind him. He turns to find a shy but determined Valerian

sweetly decked out in her blue frock. A buzz goes through

the crowd. Valerian blushes and wavers: she seems ready to

bolt for home. But Galen takes her by the hand, and with

conspicuous politesse leads her to the dance.

DANCE:

It's forward, back and around sixth-century style: the young

sorcerer can't take his eyes off his partner. But she's too

shy to return his gaze.

GALEN:

Looks like you've been up to a little

sorcery yourself.

Valerian doesn't know what to say.

GALEN:

Or is it witchcraft?

She still doesn't reply. It's all she can do to keep on

dancing.

GALEN:

What's the matter? A real woman never

stops talking.

VALERIAN:

I think it was much easier being a

boy.

SIMON & GREIL

They stand on the sidelines, watching the young couple step

to the music.

SIMON:

The damnedest thing is, she was twice

the man of anyone else in the village.

Now she's twice the woman.

GREIL:

(grim)

Would that I had been as clever as

her father.

SIMON:

Come now, Greil. Don't begrudge a

life spared.

GREIL:

I begrudge nothing. But I wonder at

what we have seen and how it was

done.

SIMON:

You were there.

GREIL:

I saw what I saw. But this jack-anapes

was barely ready to carry his master's

chamberpot. Isn't it strange that at

the very moment the beast is put

down we should have a holy man here

in the village?

SIMON:

You don't believe that superstitious

Christian rot, do you?

GREIL:

(defensive)

It is said God works his wonders in

mysterious ways.

CELEBRATION:

While the proud Simon dances in the background with his

daughter, a group of tipsy villagers clusters around Galen,

belching forth a drinking song. The young magician raises

his own mug and joins in on the chorus. Abruptly the music

stops. The singing dies away. The ensuing silence is broken

by the sound of galloping hooves. Presently three horsemen

appear at the end of town: Tyrian and his henchmen. They

guide their horses forward into the midst of the merry-makers.

Tyrian dismounts and looks around in his usual friendly way.

TYRIAN:

A celebration! Don't stop on my

account. You -- musicians, more music!

The musicians leave their instruments in their laps. Tyrian

draws himself a measure of ale and raises it above his head.

TYRIAN:

A toast! To the deed of the day! You

see, good news travels fast. The

King himself has already heard it.

And like yourselves, tonight he's

overcome with joy.

MALKIN:

What would you have of us then?

TYRIAN:

Not a thing. It's this one.

(he gestures toward

Galen)

The King would meet our new benefactor

and offer his gratitude to the man

who succeeded where so many have

failed.

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