Dragon Slayer Page #20

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LIBRARY:

Galen enters the library, his enormous shadow dancing crazily

on the torchlit walls. Hurrying through, his attention is

drawn to some open books on a table. Closer inspection reveals

magical writings and symbols. Galen paws over everything,

suddenly aware that he must be close to the amulet. But where

is it?

COURTYARD:

As the crowd disperses Valerian watches Elspeth walk back in

the castle, lofty and composed. She looks for Galen and

discovers he has gone.

LIBRARY:

By now, the room is in total disarray. Galen has opened all

the chests and trunks and knocked half the books from the

shelves. No amulet. He's feverishly working on a locked drawer

when a voice interrupts him.

KING:

Don't go to all that trouble.

Galen whirls around to find the King standing in the doorway.

The monarch looks shattered. Galen edges toward the split in

the wall and finds that it has been shored up with timbers.

At that moment Tyrian comes through the door, sizes up the

situation and draws his sword.

GALEN:

I'm unarmed. If you want a fight, at

least give me a weapon.

TYRIAN:

(pushing by the King)

I think not!

KING:

Stop! Don't harm him.

(to Galen)

And you -- don't run away... please...

The King's voice is cracking. Galen and Tyrian are equally

taken aback. The King searches through the books remaining

on the library shelves.

KING:

(shaky)

I've always had the greatest

admiration for the black arts. You

chaps with your mysterious spells...

I didn't think it would be necessary,

you see. Vermithrax is an old dragon.

And that, I thought, was the beauty

of my plan -- buying time. We'd wait

her out. I'd live to see the end of

her.

(firm)

That's still going to happen.

The King finds the book and takes the amulet out. With

trembling hands, he passes it to Galen.

TYRIAN:

Sire!

KING:

He shall have it.

(pleading)

It's my daughter. Save her, I beg

you.

CUT TO:

VILLAGE - DAY

The people of Swanscombe are clearing up the rubble and

beginning repairs on their dwellings. Standing in their midst,

lecturing every passerby, is Greil. He holds up the charred

remains of Brother Jacopus' wooden cross.

GREIL:

Holy of holies -- he did not die in

vain. Can you hear me, brothers?

Some workmen go by lugging new thatch. Malkin is with them.

MALKIN:

(gently)

We hear you, Greil.

GREIL:

Well and good, but I'm Greil no

longer. Call me Gregorius, after the

Bishop of Rome.

Malkin and the others stop to listen.

GREIL:

I saw him die. Like Our Lord Jesus

on the cross he was, scourged by

evil. But he showed no fear. Such is

the power of the Holy Ghost.

BLACKSMITH SHOP:

Galen lurks in the shadows of Simon's metal shop looking out

on the square where Greil is holding forth.

GREIL:

Of what avail is magic? The old gods

died with our daughters. From whence

comest my help? My help comest from

the Lord!

Galen quietly shuts and bars the door. He moves deeper into

the gloomy workroom where Simon is pumping a bellows to heat

up the forge. Galen looks at the coals.

SIMON:

Good and hot.

GALEN:

Don't bother. That's not the kind of

fire we need.

Valerian is staring at the sword, sitting on the anvil in

its silk wrapping. Galen uncovers it, holds it high, and

puts his hand on the amulet.

GALEN:

Nunc, per Potestatem Hermeticum --

ex flammis, ferrum sangrinarium!

The sword starts to hum and to heat up. From the hilt outward

the blade glows brighter and brighter: red, orange, white.

It lights up the room, throwing long shadows into the corners.

Galen lays the white hot steel on the anvil. Simon takes up

his hammer and begins the reforging. Valerian sees their

resolve. After watching for several moments she slips out

the side door, looking sad.

CUT TO:

DRAGON COUNTRY - DAY

Clouds scud low over the lifeless region. The dragon's lair

now has a newer, bigger entrance. Vapors drift upward from

it. Down the slope a lonely figure works its way from rock

to rock:
it's Valerian with a wicker basket on her arm,

searching for dragon scales. The basket is already more than

half full when she finds herself ominously near the mouth of

the cavern. She's about to turn back when she spies a

particularly large and beautiful scale just a few yards

further on. As she reaches for it, there is a sudden hiss!

She jerks her hand back and freezes. There in the shadows is

a baby dragon, a basilisk, all coppery bronze with stubby

winglets. As she backs away, she sees two more come up to

join the first. They watch her retreat through wicked little

green eyes.

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