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