Hemlock: Shadow Pages Page 5

  Smoke and ash fall like rain in her wake

  A kiss in the dark

  The long embrace that chokes my traitorous heart

  Too late

  Too late

  Geas

  Lights play gaily about my fingertips

  Silent breezes blow past this shrouded glen

  Sparkling waters flow over bare feet as I breathe the crisp morning air

  The sun and moon dance above me as the stars whisper promises of peace

  The rich soil sings to my flesh and bids me rest

  For I am weary

  My blood crusted armor and killing blade are discarded

  Tied once again to death's great tree of woe

  The children of light anoint my forehead and bring me mana

  I am coiled into the bosom of the dragon

  Until the weeping of the world seeps into the vines of my blissful cage

  To summon me forth once again.

  EPOCH

  There is always some bookish madman screeching about this cursed book or this evil play or this soul-burning song. What most folks don’t know is that there is more truth than lies in their ravings. There is a stage play called “Epoch” out there in the world, and it holds the keys to the light and to the dark. It exists simultaneously as a hidden grimoire and a single grand spell to be staged. The Nightmare Man, known to most as The Gambler, is said to have owed all of his powers to Epoch, having unlocked the secrets of the play. I had to kill a man to possess the copy of the play that I am now transcribing into this work, and it is my hope that by mass-producing the play it will find its proper audience. I believe in the enduring hope of humanity, and know that one day someone will master the Epoch, and will choose to walk in the light instead of wield the dark. To be godlike, what sacrifices would you make if presented with the means?

  ------- Adrian Hemlock

  Epoch

  (A Ceremonial Working)

  The stage is dark, save the spotlight that illuminates the solitary figure on stage.

  The Voice of History: I am the Voice of History. All things pass through Me. (hits staff on floor twice) In the Beginning there was only Chaos, the Dark. Then a god appeared from the Dark and made Order. The god saw that Chaos would consume Order, and made Life to protect it. The god then saw that Life could not prevail on its own, and created Magic. It is from this union of Life and Magic that the Enlightened Orders came forth. Mere humans, armed with the breath of Life and the touch of Magic, that stood against the endless assaults from the Dark. Champions served as the lords of the Orders, they were the paragons of all that was held in esteem, till their power waned and another was chosen, this was known as the Passing. All was well, then the Orders were tainted by the Dark. The champions held their lordships past the time of the Passing, and so wars were fought. While the Orders fought their civil war the Dark crept its way into Order and began to destroy it from within. This is the story of the Last Kanley and the Passing into the New Aeon, the final magical duel in the Enlightened Orders. This is the Rite of the Passing.

  (Voice backs up until enveloped by darkness as spotlight fades)

  An office room. The room is rather immaculate and has as occult feel to it. There is a large wooden desk to stage right with a small candle in a candle holder resting on top of it; an ominous looking chair sits behind the desk. In front of the desk are two identical wooden chairs. Near one door, which is stage left, there is a small table with several peculiar candles in equally strange holders. There is a large window with a view towards the darkness of backstage. All the rest of that particular wall is dark, nothing is actually there but it should be dark enough that the audience is not paying any attention to it. A few moments after the ambient lights come up to softly illuminate the office three humanoid beings that are black from head to toe appear from the dark wall and begin to mill about the room. Devlin enters from the door stage left, as he enters the three beings scramble about the room trying to hide. One ducks under the table near the door, another crawls behind the desk, another seems to panic as it can’t hide and retreats back into the dark wall upstage. Devlin takes off his coat and looks around for a place to hang it, and sees that there is nowhere to put it.

  Devlin: (forcefully clears his throat)

  The black being that retreated into the dark wall appears from upstage with a large coat hanger in its hands, it stays very much in the dark, making it appear as if the wall almost had hands.

  Devlin: Ah, there you are, good. (hangs his coat upon the rack and steps back) Begone.

  Devlin turns and walks over to his desk as the coat stand recedes into the darkness. He stands next to the desk and looks down, noticing the black being that is hiding under the desk.

  Devlin: Oh come now. All of you back to your places, we will be having company soon. I don’t want this to be more difficult than it already has too. Begone!

  The black being under the table and the one under the desk quickly, almost as if they were frightened, leave their hiding places and flee into the dark wall. Devlin sits down and opens the center drawer of the desk. He takes out a picture frame, maybe his family, and looks at it long and hard. Eventually he sets it on top of the desk in front of him. He takes a deep breath, sits back and check his watch.

  Devlin: The children should be in bed by now. As well they should be, they will have a busy day tomorrow. Well, unless this evening turns out to be a failure on my part. In which case everything we have accomplished will fade into obscurity. (claps his hands) Abaddon! My grimoire please. (a black being comes out of the dark wall and presents Devlin with an ancient looking leather tome) Foresight does have its disadvantages. Knowing what must be done, but never knowing exactly how to make it so. (looks up at the silent black being) Correct? (the being remains silent) Well I suppose that’s answer enough. Begone. (the black being retreats into the dark wall).

  Devlin carefully places the book upon the desk and reaches into his pocket and puts on his glasses. He opens the grimoire and begins to read, silently mouthing the words of some arcane language. While he is doing this there is a sharp knock on the door. Devlin carefully closes the book and sets it on the desk.

  Devlin: Yes, you may come in.

  A man, Lewis, who is dressed exactly the same as Devlin, walks into the room. He is very upset and somewhat anxious looking. He rushes in and stops at center stage. In his hand he hold a parchment scroll. As he begins to speak he gestures with the scroll.

  Lewis: What is the meaning of this? You intend to fight Him? Its lunacy!

  Devlin: It is my choice.

  Lewis: Its like you are just giving up. The Order is not accepting his leadership without a fight. You have no right to…(moves forward)

  Devlin: (angrily rises from his seat and makes a powerful gesture with his hand, almost as if he were casting some kind of spell) Silence!

  Lewis: (chokes up and then bows his head in submission)

  Devlin: I am Lord here. By My will I am Just. The Orders have fought over the Passing for far too long. Too much is lost, and it happens every time. Now is the time to break the cycle. I say no more. I delivered the terms. This is what I want.

  Lewis: (raises his head once more to speak, the steel and venom has left his voice, now he is just worried) What about Protocol? A Kanley duel hasn’t been held in years. It is the Old Way.

  Devlin: (as Devlin speaks he comes out from behind the desk and walks towards Lewis) A Kanley duel hasn’t been held because no one is willing to put their faith in one person, in that one moment where all is lost or won. If Kaine had it his way our Passing would be nothing more than what has happened so many times before, the Orders bear the burden of the struggle while the leaders sit back and wait for the Passing. Well I am not going to submit to that. I am not going to let him hide behind his Order, if Kaine wants Lordship he is going to have to prove how far he is willing to go.

  Lewis: But does it have to go this far?

  Devlin: (places his hands on Lewis’s should
ers) Of course it does Lewis, if Kaine is unwilling or incapable of taking this to the hilt then he is worthless to us all. Don’t forget that we are all in this together. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own Orders that we forget that we are basically on the same team.

  As Devlin talks there is a hard series of knocks at the door.

  Lewis: (looks down again as Devlin moves towards the desk) He’ll kill you.

  Devlin: Enter!

  Kaine enters the room with another man at his heels, they are dressed the same as each other, but differently than Devlin and Lewis. Kaine is noticeably younger than Devlin, and seems very aggressive in his posture and attitude. The man behind him is silent and moves to flank Kaine as if he were a bodyguard. Lewis looks very alarmed but stands his ground. It seems as if Lewis is going to fight both of the newcomers when Devlin diplomatically breaks the silence.

  Devlin: Ah, Kaine. Welcome. How was your journey here? Pleasant I hope? (Devlin’s fingers rap the desk, it should be obvious that Devlin is the only one in the room who is at ease with the situation)

  Kaine: (he moves past Lewis and stops center stage, as he walks he pulls a parchment scroll from inside his jacket) I tire of this stalling Devlin. (he gestures with the scroll) It is time you accepted the Passing. The longer you wait the worse things get out there. (points at the window as his voice rises) You stand there as if there isn’t a war out there and nothing’s the matter. You are weak, you…

  Devlin: (forcefully) I am still Lord here Kaine. (less so forcefully, making it obvious that once again Devlin has used his words to silence a person) Be patient. Calm yourself, you would be amazed at what civility can do for one’s disposition. Please, have a seat. (gestures towards one of the chairs in front of the desk then turns towards Kaine’s bodyguard and Lewis, Kaine is still center stage and very uncomfortable) Could the two of you allow us a moment of privacy before we continue? There are a few things I would like to discuss with Kaine…on a more personal basis. Would you mind? (Kaine waves off his guard, who leaves with a reluctant Lewis)

  Kaine moves towards the dark wall and takes off his coat. He looks around for a place to put it and can’t find one. It is almost as if he knows that it will come out of the wall when Devlin summons one of the black beings.

  Devlin: Ahrimane, take his coat. (a coat hanger comes out of the dark wall and Kaine hangs it on the hanger as if it had always been there) Begone. (the hanger disappears)

  Devlin: Now that’s better. (he goes and stands next to the window and looks out of it as if there were some street or landscape below)

  Kaine: So, what is it you want to discuss? (begins to move around, but never far from center stage)

  Devlin: Kaine, there are some things I just can’t say in front of those people. We all have images to uphold yes? (chuckles as he moves away from the window towards the desk)

  Kaine: Of course, that’s what leaders do. It is how we maintain the power.

  Devlin: Power, yes that’s it. But what’s that power for?

  Kaine: Being powerful for those who are not. I know the Order’s Law. But what does that have to do with the current situation? You are stalling again.

  Devlin: No Kaine, I’m preparing you.

  Kaine: Preparing me?

  Devlin: Yes. You have a great deal to learn before you will be ready for the Passing. Most of these things lie within yourself, I can only show you where to look. Even in the Enlightened Orders we are taught to be blind. Why else would we struggle so violently during the Passing?

  Kaine: Sounds a little too poetic for my taste (grins as his expression lightens a bit) but I am willing to listen, for a little while. (pulls up a chair at the desk and turns it towards center stage where Devlin is now standing near)

  Devlin: Well then, you have opened yourself to something already. You will discover that as you move through your journey of life and death that many of the things that you learn along the way are not things you have learned at all, you merely remembered them.

  Kaine: Example.

  Devlin: You knew where to put your coat, I know it seems a trivial example, yet perhaps not so. Have you ever learned how and why that is made possible? Were you ever taught that? Of course you weren’t. Why do you think that is?

  Kaine: I’m not sure, why?

  Devlin: Because you were born to be Lord. All of the people who came before you or I were all born this way. The things you will do in the future are things you have always been able to do, you just need reminding. It is our human curse that we forget.

  Kaine: (rises up from his seat) Is that why you have called me to the Kanley duel Devlin? To remind me? I’ve read the texts, I know how it is done.

  Devlin: (moves towards Kaine in an almost threatening way) Do you know what it is to kill? To drive the dagger of your mind into the life of another? Do you really know what it is to side-step reality and put all that you are, were, or ever will be on the line? Wager everything on the one moment in which you will succeed or fail?

  Kaine: (stands his ground with Devlin, they look as if they are in a staredown) Isn’t that what destiny is? All things leading up to one point, molding and shaping you until you reach that point? But when you reach that point it is up to you and you alone to do or do not, succeed or fail. Is that what you have called me here to prove? (turns his back to Devlin and seem lost in thought) It’s not just the duel itself for you is it?

  Devlin: Correct. I have brought you here to remind you of why. In your haste for the Passing you have forgotten what it is to lead. I have to know how far you are willing to go Kaine, and the manner in which you will proceed.

  Kaine: (turns to face Devlin) I’ll go as far as I have to.

  Devlin: Then call in the seconds.

  Kaine opens the door, his bodyguard and Lewis enter the room.

  Lewis and the bodyguard take the two chairs from in front of the desk and place one on either side of the window in front of the dark wall. Kaine and Devlin go over to the table next to the door and each take a candleholder. They light the candles with matches from the table. They take the candleholders with them and each take a seat. Devlin sits in the chair stage right and Kaine sits in the chair stage left. Once they sit down Lewis moves to stand directly behind Devlin’s chair, the bodyguard stands directly behind Kaine’s chair. Once they have seated themselves Devlin begins to speak.

  Devlin: Ready?

  Kaine: Yes.

  From out of the dark wall a black being comes out to stand next to Devlin, another comes out to stand next to Kaine. The black beings take the candleholders, once they do the lights begin to dim.

  Devlin and Kaine: (simultaneously) My eyes are open, I see that I am the sword of my cause, I see that this circle is the arena of the Righteous. By My will I show I am Just. It has always been this way. It shall always be this way. So let this be the Law. (the lights go out, leaving the only lights in the theatre the two burning candles on stage)

  Now a spotlight comes to rest upon a small circular space of center stage. Devlin and Kaine step into the light on their respective sides. They each carry a wicked looking ritual dagger. They pause to take a deep breath to focus themselves, then step forward and begin to do battle blade on blade. (It should be apparent at this point that the combatants that are presently being seen by the audience are the mental projections of the two men seated in the now darkened chairs.) After a few moments of this struggle Devlin begins to speak as they now converse while they do battle.

  Devlin: You are strong Kaine (strains) quite admirable (he says this last line quite forcefully as he attacks Kaine, who seems to falter before fully defending himself) but you must prove yourself (continues to harass Kaine, who is beginning to get worn down by the pain of his wounds) You’ve got to convince me!

  Kaine: (pleading as he slowly forces himself back into the fight) What do I have to prove?!

  Devlin: That you care enough to overcome! Powerful for those who are not! (strikes Kaine a mighty wound, knocking the other man to his knee
s) If you cannot overpower me how can you lead the others? This is the future, so get up and make it yours! (Devlin makes as if he is about to deliver the final blow to his fallen opponent) This circle is the arena of the Righteous!

  Kaine: (struggles valiantly with Devlin as he steadily rises to his feet, Devlin, in surprise, is slowly forced back) I have entered the circle to remind myself! (there is a visible change in Kaine’s posture, attitude, and voice, something in him has changed, he is more powerful now despite his wounds)

  Devlin: Yes! Fight me! Show me what you remember!

  Kaine: (slowly gaining the upper hand as he repeats his vows like a battle cry) I have entered the circle to remind myself. The Law and the Circle are One. The Lord is the servant and the servant shall be the Lord!

  Devlin: (falters as he is dealt a killing blow by Kaine’s dagger) My eyes are open. (Devlin collapses and fall out of the spotlight into the darkness of the stage)

  Kaine: (moves to stand at the center of the spotlight) By My will I show I am Just.