The Golden Blade Page #3

lies in the kiss of a pretty damsel.

Well, let us

only dine tonight.

Next time I shall bring

my own wench.

Your own wench?

Well! Spoken like a man.

You!

I knew you were a girl,

but I had no idea that...

The last time I saw you, the

guards were taking you away.

If the guards recognize me now,

they'll be taking me away again.

Then, my horse isn't

the only thing you've stolen?

Stolen! Why, I...

Stealing?

Who speaks of stealing?

It was said in jest.

In jest?

We shall see what

a search will yield.

Guards, guards!

Move, move!

What has been written

in your book of fate

that brings riot

to follow wherever you go?

You're angry with me.

I should be.

Yet, if heaven knew

of my desire to find you,

I cannot be too angry

if it grants my desire.

You mean

you wanted to find me?

Well, I...

Yes.

I even bought you

a present.

Oh! It's beautiful!

It's the most wonderful

present I've ever had.

You'd better put back

your disguise.

If you, a girl,

are found here with me,

we'll rot here

in jail forever.

Is this indeed a jail?

It's a paradise to me.

Still I'd best think

how to escape this paradise.

Escape it? Why? Don't you

like being here with me?

Must I like being

here with you in jail?

What difference where,

if, as you say,

you were happy to find me.

Well, I was happy

to find you.

Well, that's not what you said.

You said you wished to escape.

Heaven aid me,

is there no end to your folly?

So, now you think me a fool?

Well, what else shall I think

when you speak like a fool?

Perhaps it would have been

better if you hadn't found me.

Well, perhaps it would. At

least I wouldn't be in jail now.

Stubborn fool. Jail is

better than you deserve.

This is my reward

for pitying you.

Pity!

So, now it's pity!

When all I asked for

was a little protection.

Protection?

I wouldn't protect you

for all the gold in Baghdad.

You haven't the brains!

Stop screaming.

You'll probably bring

more trouble. I won't.

I won't stop screaming.

I won't!

What is this riot?

By heaven, It's a woman!

The lash for you,

betrayer of women.

And I say I will not be bargained

for like a litter of sucklings.

A lame excuse for ignoring

my orders and running away.

Cavorting in male clothing

with a Basranian enemy.

He is not my enemy.

A jackal who abducted my

betrothed. I am not your betrothed.

You, who can be whipped

by any passing traveler.

I can defeat any man

in the land.

It did not seem so when you

lay helpless without your sword.

It was an accident.

Accident?

Father, have I grown

so distasteful in your sight

that you want me to marry

an accident?

I can bear this no longer.

My son has been dishonored.

I shall redeem myself in Khairuzan's

eyes. Name but the manner of it.

Let there, then, be

a great joust for my hand.

If you should become victor,

Hadi, let that be your redemption.

Only then shall I marry you.

I accept.

Is this truly your wish?

Yes, it is.

Let him whom I marry earn

my consent. It's done then.

Since Hadi is one of my suitors,

he cannot remain my guard.

It's true it would not be

proper. I shall choose my own.

The Basranian, Harun.

Basranian?

Oh, I'm sure it will promote

sympathy and understanding

between Basra and Baghdad.

An excellent idea.

Let it be so arranged.

Have I gone mad?

So, you refuse to protect me?

In Baghdad

we keep our promises.

Behold him, Bakhamra.

Victor over Hadi.

Rescuer of

the Princess Khairuzan.

I admit that was a mistake.

You have important business in

Baghdad. I wish to know what it is.

It is not for a willful girl.

My business is with

the Caliph or the vizier.

It isn't now.

You see, you fought with

the vizier's son,

and you abducted

the Caliph's daughter.

Abducted her?

No one in Basra

would be gifted with her.

It was difficult to preserve

your head on your shoulders.

I managed, however,

to reduce your punishment.

To one more suitable

to your purpose, no doubt.

You shall serve in the Guard

as my personal attendant.

I would rather lose my head.

That can be arranged, too,

at some other time.

Now, settle your affairs

and report in the morning.

Didn't I handle him well?

Isn't he wonderful?

But, yes,

O Princess. Handsome.

And he will joust for me, too.

You will see.

You think

he can best Hadi twice?

Twice or a thousand times! It was

for him that I contrived the joust.

I have learned that he

carries a magic weapon.

The invincible

Sword of Damascus!

A magic sword.

You are certain?

ye.

And for certain the prize goose

is now beyond your selfish grasp.

So, that, then, is how I was

beaten. The treacherous dog!

Is no one to be trusted?

You must help me plan some

action to foil this scheme.

And help you

to wed Khairuzan?

Marriage to her

is only a convenience.

When I take the throne,

shall I not have beside me

the woman of my choice?

If your words were

in truth from your heart.

You must help me

obtain the magic weapon.

And if I do?

You shall not regret it. I swear.

What foolishness is this?

This foolishness has gained

me useful information.

The Basranian defeated me

with a magic sword.

In truth, a magic sword

or superstitious rumor?

Do not always brand me stupid.

I have seen the sword in action.

Unless I can acquire it,

we may lose the joust.

Leave such matters

to me, tall son.

They cannot be attacked

with the clumsiness of a bull

but rather handled

with the cunning of a serpent.

A prisoner in the Guard.

My own purpose forsaken.

Calm yourself.

Being in the palace

may suit your purpose better.

Look at this.

I have etched the first inscription here so

that your children and your grandchildren...

I shall have no children!

Have you, then, given up

the purchase of trinkets?

Having learned

of women's mischief, yes.

But for such mischief,

the race would soon end.

Well, I refuse to share in it.

You might as easily refuse the

embrace of a boa constrictor

which has you in its grasp.

And is not the clutch of a reckless

woman like the embrace of a snake?

From the day of our birth,

we're ruled by their tyranny.

They beat us into dull submission

when we're small and curious

and then beat us in turn

when we display no wit.

We submit, helpless, helpless,

awaiting manhood.

And then what happens?

A woman crosses your path,

pretending helplessness. She traps you

to guard her, marry her, provide for her.

The whole ghastly tyranny

of childhood repeats itself.

Harun, spoken like a man,

but a very young man.

Uh-uh.

Well, must I cross

through the mud?

And don't drop anything,

clumsy.

My experience as a mule

is limited.

I should say your experience

as anything is limited.

Is this where we stop?

There are my friends.

Aschia!

Now you see why I go through the city to

the dismay of my father and the vizier.

Here You see,

I have not forgotten you.

Take this and buy that shop

about which we spoke before.

Is he your husband?

No, Aschia, he's not.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes