The Chronicles of Sir William
Ch 7
The Hounds of War
OPEN ON:
EXT. THE OWL HOUSE, FRONT LAWN - DAY
We see the Owl House in the dog days of summer, cicadas
chirping. Instead of the wilderness, it seems nestled in a
quaint suburban neighborhood in Bonesborough.
A softball goes flying past the frame and we see King
playing a spirited game of catch with Elder Tarak.
ELDER TARAK
Go long, King! Or was it..."pop-
fly"?
(shrugging)
I've never played this game before.
KING
It's okay. You're doing great!
The other denizens of the Owl House are all gathered on the
lawn as well. Hooty is busy grilling some ballpark franks
on a propane range, alongside a few rats, voles, and other
unsavory specimens of roadkill. Meanwhile, Eda pours some
lemonade for Luz and Amity, seated together on a picnic
blanket.
Sir William busies himself mowing the lawn, "accidentally"
scattering grass clippings in Amity's drink. Lilith sits
under the shade of a tree, her nose buried in the pages of
a good book.
ELDER TARAK
Get ready. This one's going to go
far!
Tarak winds up and throws the ball in a long arc. King
eagerly chases it.
KING
I got it!
The ball flies across the street and over the palisade
fence of a sandlot. King scrambles over the fence and
retrieves the ball, looking up to see a group of demons
playing their own game of baseball.
They appear just like King, only far larger and more
monstrous. They pause to take notice of him with malicious
grins.
DEMON BALL-PLAYER 1
Hey, look at this little squirt!
DEMON BALL-PLAYER 2
Ha-ha! He's so tiny!
DEMON BALL-PLAYER 3
What a shrimp!
King frowns, withering a bit under their sadistic gazes.
KING
(nervous)
Umm...Hi there...
(hopeful)
Do you guys need more players for
your game?
DEMON BALL-PLAYER 2
No...But we could use another ball!
One of the demons scoops up King in his catcher's mitt and
hurls him into the sky. King screams as he rockets into the
stratosphere, the demons cackling on the ground below.
King eventually slows in his ascent, peeling open his eyes
to see that he's floating in space.
KING
Wegh?!
He looks down to see the world below him is no more than a
collection of earthen mounds, floating like islands in the
cosmos. Suddenly, they all start gravitating to a point
behind King. He turns to see a giant vortex spiraling into
the maw of the skeletal Titan. Horrified, he frantically
swims in the direction of the Owl House.
KING (cont'd)
Whoa-Whoooahh! H-help!
The Titan's jaws engulf the idyllic little neighborhood in
which King had so joyously frolicked. They now start to
draw him in as well.
KING (cont'd)
(panicked)
Help! Help me! DAD!
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. STEAMSHIP, THE BOILING SEA - MORNING
King tosses and turns in a coil of ropes, in the throes of
a nightmare.
KING
Unfh! Nyeh! Dad! Dad!
Sir William hovers over him, looking concerned. He gently
prods him awake.
WILLIAM
King? Alright there?
KING
(groggy)
Nyeh?! Dad, look! I caught a pop-
fly...
He turns his tired gaze on William.
KING (cont'd)
Do you know what a "pop-fly" is...?
WILLIAM
Can't say I do. So...feeling
nervous?
King sits up and rubs the weariness from his eyes.
KING
Yeah...a little.
King takes out Elder Tarak's letter, along with the photos
he took from the mysterious island that was his birthplace.
KING (cont'd)
I'm worried I won't fit in. Elder
Tarak said he was part of "warrior
clan", but I'm not much of a
warrior.
He glances down helplessly at his little paws.
WILLIAM
You certainly have the heart of one.
It seemed like he saw that too.
KING
(unsure)
Yeah...maybe...
WILLIAM
Whatever happens, King, you already
have a family that is proud you're a
part of it. Don't forget that.
KING
(determined)
I know. And I won't let that family
be broken.
He ardently gazes out across the Boiling Sea.
KING (cont'd)
We're coming for you, Luz...
CUT TO:
INT. EMPEROR'S CASTLE, INFIRMARY - MORNING
Luz lies asleep in a hospital bed, wrapped in bandages. She
begins tossing and turning, finally jolting awake,
breathing heavily.
HETTIE CUTBURN
Oh, good. You're awake.
Luz is approached by the Healing Coven Head-Witch, Hettie
Cutburn.
LUZ
Ah! Stay back!
HETTIE CUTBURN
I'm not going to hurt you, dear.
Just relax.
With a quick spell circle, she makes Luz's bandages glow
and dissolve into thin-air. With another wave of her
finger, she conjures ribbons of fresh bandages that snake
through the air and tie themselves around Luz's wounds.
HETTIE CUTBURN (cont'd)
(doting)
There. Doesn't that feel better?
Luz rubs her bruises and scrapes.
LUZ
Yeah, it does actually...Thank you.
HETTIE CUTBURN
You're little friend there seems to
be convalescing as well.
She points to a little cage by her bedside in which the
echo-mouse, transformed back from a giant monster, is
contentedly snoozing.
LUZ
Aw, there you are, little guy!
The mouse pops awake with a curious squeak,
LUZ (cont'd)
Don't worry. I know it wasn't your
fault...I forgive you.
The little mouse returns a grateful titter. As Luz fawns
over her pet, Head-Witch Cutburn is addressing a visitor.
BELOS (O.S.)
Head Witch Cutburn. How is the
patient?
Luz gasps, hearing Belos' voice through the threshold.
HETTIE CUTBURN
None the worse for wear it seems.
BELOS (O.S.)
May I speak with her?
She frantically scans the room for an escape, settling on
the mullioned window overlooking the castle courtyard.
Acting fast, she scoops up the mouse's cage in her arms and
climbs out onto the ledge beneath the window.
She cautiously shimmies along the curtain wall, trying to
avoid looking down from the dizzying height. She doesn't
get far before she's intercepted by long tendrils of
magical linen bandaging.
LUZ
Ah, no! Stay away!
She tries to escape as the tendrils wrap around her arms.
She nearly falls from the precipice, but the bandages wrap
themselves around her body and drag her back through the
window. Head Witch Cutburn awaits her with a disapproving
shake of the head.
HETTIE CUTBURN
Darling, please. You're not in any
danger.
Luz continues to struggle against her bonds, seeing an
unmasked Belos also awaiting her with an amused smile.
HETTIE CUTBURN (cont'd)
I am sworn by oath to not allow any
harm to come to my patients. Now
compose yourself. You have a
visitor.
Cutburn gently sets her back down on the bed. Luz shrinks
herself against the headboard and protectively cradles the
mouse cage.
LUZ
What do you want with me, Belos?!
BELOS
Please. Call me Philip...
CUT TO:
EXT. STEAMSHIP, THE BOILING SEA - DAY
The steamship approaches a gnarled, skeletal finger jutting
up from the waves.
SALTY
Land ho!
William and King join him on the deck.
KING
Is that a finger? It's a long way
from our Titan.
SALTY
That's 'cause it's not from our
Titan. This be part of a different
beastie.
WILLIAM
There are other titan corpses
littering the Boiling Seas, though
ours is the largest.
Some are host to other kinds of
pictoglyphs than what we have in our
isles...
(smoldering)
Or at least that's what Philip told
me..
The steamship drops anchor. King and William row a longboat
out to the finger island.
SALTY
(waves)
Come back with a good story, sea-
squirts! If ye come back at all!
WILLIAM
Optimistic chap, isn't he?
They make landfall and march up a flight of steps. King
eagerly takes in the scenery but sees little else besides
the pitted bone facade of the fingers base.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
It doesn't look like anyone's here...
I thought you were expected, King?
KING
Maybe they got tired of waiting.
That letter was over a month old.
William takes a closer look at the wall of bone stretching
out before them, noticing something.
WILLIAM
Hold on. What have we here...?
He finds a basrelief etched into the bone, surrounded by
strange writing. In the center of it is a small
indentation. King takes out the bone fragment from his
letter and holds it up to the indentation.
KING
Do you think?
WILLIAM
It's worth a try.
King inserts the bone, a perfect fit in the surrounding
carvings. The writing all glows blue and thrums with
energy. The energy then courses through the surrounding
bone, forming the outline of a door that dissolves into an
inky black portal.
King takes a cautious step toward the portal, but William
holds him back.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
We don't know if it will bring us
back.
KING
It's a risk I'm willing to take.
William nods and follows him into the doorway.
EXT. LEVIATHAN ISLAND - DUSK
They both emerge on the shoreline of a massive island,
comprised of the bones of a dragon-like creature.
KING (cont'd)
Wow! We're sure not in the Boiling
Isles anymore!
ELDER TARAK
Certainly not.
They turn to see Elder Tarak marching across the beach to
meet them.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
Welcome to Leviathan Island, King. I
feared you hadn't received my
letter.
KING
Well, just for future reference,
never trust Hooty with important
mail.
ELDER TARAK
Noted...It is good to see you again.
KING
It's good to finally meet you. So
you're the one who sent me the
letter?
(shy)
Are you...are you my-
ELDER TARAK
-Father? No. Frankly I'm not
certain who your father is, King.
King looks downcast, but Tarak kneels down to him.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
But this I know. You are one of us!
King smiles, wagging his tail.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
Come, let me show you to our
village...
Before Tarak guides King along the beach he holds out a
hand, stopping William.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
(stern)
He must remain here.
King pauses, conflicted.
WILLIAM
It's alright, King. I understand.
I'll wait back on the ship.
William starts marching back to the portal, but King tugs
on Tarak's sleeve.
KING
Please. He's here to help me with my
mission. Both our families are in
danger.
Elder Tarak regards William shrewdly.
WILLIAM
(contrite)
I'm not the man I once was. I mean
your people no harm.
Seeing King's beady eyes, he relents.
ELDER TARAK
Very well. This way.
CUT TO:
INT. EMPEROR'S CASTLE, INFIRMARY - DAY
BELOS
I'm not going to fight you, Luz.
Luz stands in the corner of the room like a cornered cat,
tensed and with a fire glyph at the ready.
LUZ
(shaking)
Wh-why?! Afraid I'll chip your mask
again?
Head Witch Cutburn steps forward with a syringe to sedate
her, but Belos stops her.
BELOS
I'll handle this.
His hand morphs into a tendril of sludge that snakes across
the room and douses the fireball in her hand.
BELOS (cont'd)
Now that you know my story, I just
wanted a chance for us to talk-
human to ex-human.
LUZ
I have nothing to say to you. Not
after what you tried to do to Eda!
BELOS
Hmm. A shame then.
Belos feigns aloofness, casually exiting the room.
BELOS (cont'd)
It appears you won't learn the
details of my diabolical plan for
our world...until it is far too
late...
Belos tauntingly disappears out of the door frame.
Groaning, Luz follows him out.
EXT. CASTLE COURTYARD - DAY
Belos strides through the castle gardens, among many
carnivorous plants and thorny hedge mazes. Terra Snapdragon
is seen tending a few of them in the background.
BELOS (cont'd)
Try to understand, Luz. What
happened between the Owl Lady and me
wasn't anything personal.
He stops to help Head Witch Snapdragon prune some flower
bushes.
BELOS (cont'd)
I hoped after reading my journal you
would see why I punish wild witches
like Eda Clawthorne.
LUZ
What I saw is how you and your bogus
Coven system are all a scam! Not
that I didn't know that before...
BELOS
(rolling eyes)
Oh, yes. What a terrible charlatan I
am for building the society you have
flourished in for so many months...
He snaps a few withered blooms from the bushes and gathers
them in a wicker basket.
BELOS (cont'd)
Even in worlds as magical as this
one, sacrifices are necessary to
maintain order.
LUZ
Then what do you want with the human
world?
(petulant)
What is the, quote-unquote, "Titan's
will"?
Belos chuckles a bit and rises to his feet.
BELOS
Follow me.
INT. ALCHEMY LAB
Belos paces down a stone flight of stairs into a dark
dungeon. As they near the bottom they are bathed in the
glow of an alchemy lab, filled wall-to-wall with
distilleries and alembics.
The Head of the Potions Coven, Head Witch Vitimir, hovers
over a misting cauldron emitting a pale blue glow.
BELOS (cont'd)
How is the next batch coming along,
Vitimir?
Vitimir wordlessly nods and extracts a vial of blue liquid
from the mist with a pair of tongs. Belos takes the vial in
his hands, gently rocking it.
LUZ
Is that-?
BELOS
Yes. More of the titan-blood potion
I concocted all those years ago.
Heavily refined since those days.
Of course, I have yet to test it...
Luz looks up at Belos and Vitimir, both giving her an
expectant glare. She shrinks away.
BELOS (cont'd)
Those silly little paper glyphs can
only do so much. Why settle for
that...when you could be a real
witch?
Luz pauses, gazing at the vial with a mixture of longing
and apprehension. Finally, she shakes her head.
LUZ
(fearful)
N-no. I'm not taking that chance.
BELOS
Very well then.
Belos replaces the vial in the cauldron, not pressing her.
Vitimir looks dejected.
BELOS (cont'd)
But there will be others who will.
This is my plan, Luz. On the Day of
Unity I will expand my Empire into
the Human World.
LUZ
(horrified)
So, you do want to invade...?
BELOS
Not by force. They will join me
willingly.
LUZ
You don't know that!
BELOS
Of course I do. When you arrived I
saw things had scarcely changed. Our
world is still filled with wistful
souls like us, yearning for some
wonder in their lives.
LUZ
I-I'm not like you.
BELOS
When will you see we don't have to
be enemies? I brought you here
because I need your help.
Belos paces over to a table strewn with human devices in
various states of dismantlement and dissection.
BELOS (cont'd)
I need a guide. Someone to advise me
on the things that have changed.
Science has clearly marched on
without me.
Among the devices is Luz's phone. Belos inquisitively palms
it, prodding the glowing screen and thumbing through
various photos.
BELOS (cont'd)
These devices all confound me-
Luz snatches the phone out of his hand, blushing. He
chuckles a bit.
LUZ
Forget it. I'm not helping you.
Disappointed, Belos snaps his fingers, summoning a pair of
guards.
BELOS
Don't be hasty. Take some time to
mull it over.
(to the guards)
Take her to her quarters. She will
be joining me for dinner this
evening. We can continue this
discussion then.
The guards take her by the arm and march her out of the
dungeon. On her way out, her gaze lingers on the cauldron.
CUT TO:
EXT. LEVIATHAN ISLAND - DUSK
Tarak guides King and William to a ledge overlooking a
settlement in a valley. King gasps, seeing a village
populated by demons who look like him.
ELDER TARAK
These are your people, King. We are
the Barghest Tribe.
He leads them further into the village.
KING
Wow. I've never seen so many demons
that looked like me.
They pass by a squad of warriors training with glaives.
KING (cont'd)
Look at 'em go!
He then turns to see a group of little demons about his
size. He scampers up to greet them.
KING (cont'd)
(nervous)
Um, hi...
LITTLE DEMON 1
Hewwo.
LITTLE DEMON 2
Was youw name?
From their voices, it's apparent that they are toddlers.
King looks a bit confused. Tarak paces up behind him.
ELDER TARAK
Say. How old are you again, King?
KING
(shy)
I'm eight-nine in a few months.
ELDER TARAK
Hmm. You should be bigger for your
age.
Tarak looks over to where another group of the barghest
children are playing. They appear at least a head taller
than King, their fur more scruffy. King looks at them
wistfully.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
But that is probably the curse's
doing. Do not dwell on it. Today we
celebrate.
Tarak turns to the villagers and loudly proclaims.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
Kinsmen! Our lost son has returned
to us!
Many of the villagers gather around the trio with
curiosity.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
Let us rejoice!
They all cheer and carry King into a large roundhouse at
the center of the village.
INT. VILLAGE ROUNDHOUSE - NIGHT
King and William sit before a blazing fire, enjoying
braised meats and the company of reveling demons. Tarak
sits beside King, pointing up to tapestries hung between
the rafters of the building.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
It is time you learned the story of
our people, King.
He looks at one of the tapestries, depicting giant monsters
ravaging the world. The images seem to come alive to
illustrate Tarak's story.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
The world was not always covered in
boiling oceans...not until the
Titans came and ravaged our world.
They had devoured many worlds before
our own. None was more feared than
their leader, the greatest Titan of
them all!
WILLIAM
What? This is blasphemy!
Tarak pauses in his story, the other demons staring at him
with shock.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
The Chantry teaches us that the
Titan was a life-giver; a savior! It
sacrificed itself to give witchlings
a land to call home!
ELDER TARAK
It was not so. Demonkind lived under
the yoke of the Titans long before
witchlings arrived in our realm.
KING
So, the Titan was really evil?
ELDER TARAK
Who knows if they had a concept of
good or evil; saw us as anything but
ants. But we could take their
depredations no more.
It was a member of our tribe that
stepped forth and challenged the
beast.
A large, burly demon approaches the Titan and hurls his
spear. He then lets out a mighty shout, sending ripples of
magical energy through the air, propelling the spear ever
farther and faster.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
Born with great power, Haligar the
Night-Howler took his spear and
hurled it into the heart of the
creature.
It struck true and felled the
monster, creating the Boiling Isles
that we know-or rather knew...
KING
So, what happened? Why did you
leave?
ELDER TARAK
He happened.
Tarak points his claw at William, who looks back with
surprise.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
In the ages that followed, demonkind
grew more divided and churlish. The
other tribes had long forgotten our
achievement.
FLASHBACK:
EXT. DEMON MOOT - DUSK
A young Chief Tarak approaches a gathering of the Demon
tribes with a retinue of his warriors. He sees the Cyclops
Tribe Chief posturing with grandiose gestures.
ELDER TARAK (V.O.)
Growing bold, they saw little
reason to live in peace with the
witches.
CYCLOPS CHIEFTAIN
It is done, brothers! The fall of
Ossigard is nigh! I have slain their
king and his heir!
CHIEF TARAK
You did what?!
CYCLOPS CHIEFTAIN
What you could not do for so many
years.
CHIEF TARAK
What I dared not do! Now the
Ossigardians won't just drive us
away, they'll wipe us out! We have
to leave!
CYCLOPS CHIEFTAIN
You leave, Tarak, with your tail
between your legs like the dog you
are! We will stay and fight! Without
their leader, Ossigard is helpless!
CHIEF TARAK
Fool!
Tarak leads his people away, the other demons laughing or
cheering for the Cyclops Chief.
EXT. THE BOILING SEA - DAWN
The Barghest tribe all gather by the shore, boarding
catamarans and rafts, preparing to set sail. Tarak takes
one more wistful glance at the Boiling Isles before
leaving.
ELDER TARAK (V.O.)
We left all our holdings and cut all
ties.
INT. MYSTERIOUS ISLAND - NIGHT
We see the mysterious Isle where King was born. The
tribesmen are seen leaving the stone tower, tearfully
carrying clutches of their eggs and boarding their ships.
ELDER TARAK (V.O.) (cont'd)
We even abandoned our old hatchery.
INT. HATCHERY
The tower is stripped bare of eggs, all but one, hidden
beneath a pile of slime.
ELDER TARAK (V.O.) (cont'd)
It seems in our haste, we had left
an egg behind...
END FLASHBACK:
INT. VILLAGE ROUNDHOUSE - NIGHT
King looks at the tapestries with sorrow and bows his head.
Tarak kneels down to his level, clasping his shoulder.
ELDER TARAK
But fate did not keep us apart for
long...Welcome home, King.
King finally smiles, wiping away a tear. The other demons
raise their tankards and stamp their feet, cheering.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
(concerned)
But you mentioned some danger? Is
all not well in your home across the
sea?
KING
Oh, yes, that's right!
King rises on his bench and beckons the crowd.
KING (cont'd)
Friends. Kinsmen. Lend me your ears!
It's been great meeting you all, but
part of the reason I came was
that someone very important to me
needs help.
My best friend, Luz, has been
captured by the Emperor.
The crowd murmurs with concern and excitement.
KING (cont'd)
And that's not all. We learned that
he cursed himself by drinking the
blood of the Titan. He feeds on the
magic of the Boiling Isle's people.
Tarak looks aghast. Many in the crowd gasp.
KING (cont'd)
On the Day of Unity he's enacting a
plan to expand his empire. I don't
know exactly how, but the whole
world could be in danger...
Will you help us?
Tarak rises from his bench, swelled with pride.
ELDER TARAK
We will gladly fight alongside you!
The other tribesmen cheer with approval, stamping their
feet.
LYKON (O.S)
You forget yourself, Tarak!
From the crowd resounds a harsh, steely voice. The crowd
parts to admit a wicked-looking barghest, his fangs and
horns gnarled, his fur grizzled. Scrimshaw dangles from his
dark, torn cloak.
He approaches Elder Tarak with venom in his eyes.
ELDER TARAK
(bowing his head)
Forgive me, my friends. I spoke too
soon. This is Lykon. He is our
chieftain now.
LYKON
Do not forget it, old fool! Not like
you apparently forgot the curse!
You would lead us on a charge to the
Emperor's castle only for us to
shrink into little whelps outside
his walls?!
ELDER TARAK
I have visited the Isles many times,
my liege. So long as it is for a
short duration, the curse does not
take hold.
LYKON
Perhaps not on your body, but
clearly it has softened your mind!
These matters do not concern us.
ELDER TARAK
But, my liege-!
LYKON
I HAVE SPOKEN!
His hackles flare as he stares down Tarak with menace. The
Elder bows his head. Satisfied, Lykon turns and takes his
leave.
WILLIAM
Yes, spoken like a coward!
A stunned hush comes over the crowd. Lykon freezes and
slowly turns his head towards William.
LYKON
Who. Dares...!
WILLIAM
I dare. Unlike you. I am Sir William
Reinhardt of Ossigard, shield-bearer
for King Clawthorne. I fight for his
honor, not that you'd know much of
that!
LYKON
You fight for the honor of this
runt?!
Lykon throws back his head and fills the room with a
chilling laugh. King hides behind William, who continues
staring down the chieftain.
WILLIAM
On his behalf, I challenge you for
leadership of this tribe.
His laughter fades and he leans into William.
LYKON
Very well then. I will make you
regret the day you were born,
witchling!
WILLIAM
This world regrets the day you were
born, demon.
LYKON
Save your insults for our melee.
They'll be coming out the other end
of you when I'm through.
WILLIAM
(wry)
At least one can tell the difference
between my ends.
LYKON
(chuckling)
You have until dawn to prepare.
Lykon turns and leaves the roundhouse, flanked by guards.
Clasping at his cape, King looks up at William.
EXT. TRAINING ARENA - MORNING, OVERCAST
King and Elder Tarak watch from the stands as William
prepares for his bought, slashing his sword at a training
dummy.
KING
You didn't have to do that, Will.
WILLIAM
Of course, I did. We've come too far
to be waylaid by walking roadkill.
KING
But it feels wrong. How can I call
myself a leader if you fight for me?
ELDER TARAK
The sole measure of a leader is not
in his personal strength, King, but
in the strength he inspires in
others.
WILLIAM
(smiling)
Consider me thus inspired.
The villagers begin pooling into the stands, awaiting the
fight. Chief Lykon then enters the arena and faces William.
With a flourish, he whips off his cloak, standing in a
loincloth.
He is thin, with ribs showing and patches of fur missing over
many battle scars. But he is still well-muscled. In his
talons, he grasps a cruel-looking sickle.
Sir William similarly poses himself for battle. The
combatants stare each other down. A throng of drummers
pounds out a battle hymn from the stands, heightening the
tension. Finally, a guard demon rings a gong, signaling
their match.
Lykon strikes first, drawing a spell circle in the sky and
raining hellfire on William. Protecting himself behind his
blue bubble shield, he is able to fire back with lightning
bolts.
Lykon evades with beast-like agility and instead tries to
strangle William with thorny brambles. William cuts through
them with his flaming blade and swipes at Lykon's feet. The
blue fire knocks him prone and William encroaches to deal a
finishing blow.
But, with a malicious smile, Lykon kicks a swathe of sand
in his eyes, blinding him. The crowd gasps at his
underhandedness. His foe distracted, Lykon leaps back to
his feet and aims a harrowing punch at William's
midsection.
The air is knocked from his lungs and he doubles over.
Lykon follows up with another punch, and another,
unleashing a hail of merciless blows. King averts his eyes,
streaming with tears.
The beating continues until William manages to rouse
himself. He catches Lykon's fists in his hands and manages
to strain back to his feet. The glyphs on his armor glow,
showing he is being aided by magical giant strength.
They continue to grapple until, with his giant-strength
bolstering him and his gold circlet protecting his
forehead, William counters with a head-butt. The force of
the blow sends Lykon reeling back. He clutches his skull, a
web of cracks appearing at the impact point.
He is dazed and sees double, but his gaze drifts from
William, clearly his match, to King in the stands. With an
evil grin, he draws a spell circle, switching his aim to
King at the last second. Seeing this, William runs to
intercept the coming blast.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
My King!
The world seems to be frozen in slow motion. William looks
upon King, frozen with surprise, his vision vacillating to
a flashback of wicked demons descending on his father.
A black lightning bolt erupts from Lykon's spell circle,
writhing and clawing its way toward King before exploding
on William's cuirass. He is sent rolling across the sand,
landing by King who scrambles to his side.
KING
Will!
Laughing, Lykon approaches William, lifting his body over
his head and snapping it across his knee. The demons in the
stands gasp at his ruthlessness, wincing at his brutality.
King watches with horror, weeping.
ELDER TARAK
Lykon! Stop this! You shame
yourself!
LYKON
You would know shame, old man! We
turned tail and ran to this
backwater at your behest. Since then
I have defended our tribe, yet you
have the audacity to censure me?!
Tarak descends into the arena, his gaze locked with
Lykon's.
ELDER TARAK
You may have protected our tribe,
but you have not guarded our ways.
We are warriors of honor!
LYKON
We are whatever I say we are! I am
your Lord. You are all my minions!
King looks up at Lykon's grandiloquent gestures and
posturing, in no small way being reminded of his own.
Furrowing his brow, King wipes away his tears and stands up
to Lykon.
KING
(determined)
No! We won't bow to you!
LYKON
*laughs* What is this? Does the little runt challenge me?
KING
If Haligar could defeat the Titan,
this should be easy.
The demons in the bleachers all look worried for King, but
he stands tall.
LYKON
(smiling)
"Easy". Took the words right out of
my muzzle, little brat!
Lykon raises his sickle, preparing to cut through King. The
little demon stands his ground, taking a deep breath.
KING
WWWWWEEEEEEEGHHHH!
In his most powerful outburst yet, King sends Lykon flying
into the far wall like a bullet. When the dust clears, the
demon chief remains embedded in the crater of the wall,
coughing and wheezing.
LYKON
*gasp* Haligar's Howl?! *wheeze* You
have the power?!
KING
Yes, I do!
(turning back)
That's good, right?
The crowd, at first shocked into silence now erupts with
cheer and applause. Tarak approaches him.
ELDER TARAK
Indeed! It means you are his direct
descendant and have more right to
lead us than this cur!
Lykon peels himself out of the wall and staggers over to
Tarak, panting and clutching his aching bones.
LYKON
*pant* I have the only right!
Lykon lunges at him, grabbing his arm and holding a dagger
to his face. The demon guards all raise their weapons.
LYKON (cont'd)
Back away! No one move!
Both the crowd and the guards tense to attack but can only
watch as Lykon drags Tarak away.
LYKON (cont'd)
(crazed)
I am your leader! Me! Me alone! You
will all pay for this mutiny-agghh!
Lykon freezes, eyes widened in shock. He drops the knife
and slowly collapses to the ground, gurgling from his
throat. Behind him stands William, a black scorch mark on
his otherwise undamaged cuirass.
Having stabbed Lykon in the back, he goes about discretely
cleaning the blood off his sword with the edge of his cape.
WILLIAM
(pensive)
So it seems my vengeance is
complete...I have slain every last
chieftain of the demon tribes...
The crowd sighs with relief that Tarak is unharmed. A
squad of guards covers Lykon's body with his cloak and place
him on a stretcher, carrying him away.
ELDER TARAK
You were very brave, King.
KING
Honestly, you have no idea how
scared I was. How scared I still
am...
ELDER TARAK
The mark of a warrior is overcoming
fear, not the absence of it.
KING
All the same, I don't know if I'm
ready to lead the Barghest Tribe
just yet...
Would you be my regent until I'm
ready?
ELDER TARAK
I would be honored. And for my first
act as regent, I pledge myself and
my warriors to your fight against
the Emperor!
A band of barghest warriors gathers behind Tarak and thumps
their chests in assent.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
We opposed the Titan's evil in ages
past and we shall do so again!
KING
Belos only claims to speak for the
Titan, but really its just a sham.
ELDER TARAK
I am not so certain, my liege. Have
you heard the phrase, "you are what
you eat"?
CUT TO:
INT. EMPEROR'S CASTLE, DINING HALL - NIGHT
Luz is seated opposite Belos at a long dining table,
laiden with a spread of exotic Boiling Isles delicacies.
BELOS
So, have you given thought to my
proposal?
Luz pokes at her food, trying to avoid his gaze. As he
awaits her reply he takes a long sip from his goblet.
Suddenly he is seized by a bout of pain, nearly dropping
the goblet. His body seethes and writhes with slimy
tentacles.
The giant heart suspended in his throne room can be heard
beating through the walls, quickening its pace at his
episode. A guard appears at his side with a tray bearing a
palisman. He quickly tears it apart, inhaling its vapors.
The beating heart then slows its pace as Belos sighs with
relief. The entire display puts Luz off her food.
LUZ
Philip, listen. You can't keep going
on like this. You're just making
things worse for yourself the more
you keep expanding your empire.
BELOS
I appreciate your concern, but I do
not see any other recourse. Perhaps
once I have some breathing room in
the human world, I can start
researching a cure...
LUZ
I'm not going to help you convert
the human world. But there is
something I can do for you.
Your curse isn't too different from
Eda's and she's found other ways to
manage hers. Maybe we could show
you-
Belos raises his hand to stop her.
BELOS
Please. I think my situation differs
considerably from transforming into
a mangy beast...
And I will not be dissuaded. With or
without you, the Human World will be
mine.
LUZ
So why go through all this to bring
me here?
He resumes eating from his plate, pausing every so often to
talk.
BELOS
I merely wanted to give you the
benefit of my resources. There are
ways in which you need me as much as
I need you.
LUZ
How do you figure that?
BELOS
For one, I am the only one with a
currently functioning portal door
and enough titan's-blood to power
it.
Luz averts her gaze, realizing the truth to his words.
BELOS (cont'd)
But even if you chose to stay, I
wonder what you'd accomplish here.
(amused)
Did you really think you could waltz
into a world where society is built
upon magic and learn it well enough
to impress? Enough to be a hero?
LUZ
W-well, maybe I could! After all,
you made it big here!
BELOS
(nostalgic)
Because I had a mentor wiser and
more powerful than any other.
(smiling)
You, on the other hand, seem quite
impoverished.
Belos waves his staff, conjuring magical holograms in the
flames of the two braziers flanking the head of the dining
hall.
In the one to his right, images of Eda's less flattering
moments can be seen.
BELOS (cont'd)
A wastrel squandering her talents on
peddling rubbish?
In the one to his left, scenes of Sir William's rancor and
brutality are on display.
BELOS (cont'd)
And a barbarian who sees the world
balanced on the edge of his blade?
LUZ
Stop! There's more to them than
that!
BELOS
But still not enough to make you
shine.
Belos rises from his seat and paces to the other end of the
table.
BELOS (cont'd)
(earnest)
Luz, I am about to remake the Human
World in the image of this one.
Without me, there won't be any world
in which you could be considered
something remarkable.
Luz tries to hide her growing sense of dismay. She looks
away, refusing to answer him. Looking impatient, Belos
snaps his fingers, summoning his guards.
BELOS (cont'd)
Perhaps you still need some time to
think...Guards, take her away-this
time to the Conformatorium.
They take her by the arm and march her from the room. She
is too stunned to offer resistance.
CUT TO:
EXT. EMPEROR'S CASTLE, COACH HOUSE - NIGHT
Luz is marched into the back of a paddy wagon and carted
off into the woods surrounding the castle. She spends the
entire ride hunched over, her mind echoing with her
anxieties.
LUZ (V.O.)
I knew there was wonder here, and
I...I think I came here for a
reason!
ADEGAST (V.O.)
...all because you wanted to think
you were special!
NEVERATH (V.O.)
Luz, why would you want to live in a
world where people laugh at you?
EDA (V.O.)
...if we all waited for a prophecy
to make us special we'd die
waiting...
PRINCIPAL BUMP (V.O.)
What do you hope to accomplish with
your magic...?
VEE (V.O.)
You had it GOOD, and you still
wanted to run away...!
CAMILLA (V.O.)
Were you trying to live out some
witch fantasy...?!
WILLIAM (v.o)
Thought you could be a hero?!
BELOS (V.O.)
...there won't be any world in which
you could be considered something
remarkable.
The voices torment her. She curls up into a fetal position,
crying.
After a few moments, the carriage is rocked by an unseen
force. Shaken, Luz looks out to see the guards in a panic,
surrounded by attackers obscured in the shadows of the forest.
Luz tries desperately to pick the lock on her manacles as
the bedlam continues outside...until suddenly it stops and
all is quiet. Luz pauses, anxiously looking out the doors
of her carriage. She flinches as something rips the doors
clean off the paddy wagon.
She curls up in a ball, quivering with fright until she
peels open her eyes. Waiting outside the carriage is Eda
and Lilith in their harpy forms. They are joined by Raine
Whispers and his fellow bards in cloaks.
EDA
Luz! You're alright!
LUZ
Eda!
She leaps into Eda's arms. She continues sobbing, her tears
turning to those of joy. Eda gets emotional herself.
EDA
It's alright now. You're safe. I'll
never let Belos get to you again!
Luz looks over Eda's shoulder, now at ease in her embrace.
But as she wipes away her tears, she cannot shake away a
troubled look.
LUZ
(unsure)
...Me neither...
THE END
