The Tragic Fall Of Wizlaw, The Count Of Rügen

Act III, Scene III

11th December. The keep in Rugard. Two chairs are in the centre towards the back.

Enter WIZLAW & MARGARETA sitting on chairs, HERALD 1

HERALD 1: My liege, I have received news of a hefty gathering of ruffians in the vicinity of Gagern.

WIZLAW: [alarmed:] Are they armour'd?

HERALD 1: I know not of how well but yes. There appeared to be eight score.

WIZLAW: That many?! Oh may our god protect us. This cannot be happening again.

MARGARETA: Indeed, may God protect us. Is this some sort of a revolt?

WIZLAW: Why art thou asking me? Thou art in charge of knowing such things. I put thee in control of knowing these internal affairs.

MARGARETA: But thou didst not give me any orders to do so. I may be thy spymaster but I shall not risk mine own life. How dost thou think my homeland would react?

WIZLAW: Well thou should've asked thy homeland to do something.

MARGARETA: Well how was I meant to know all this would happen?

WIZLAW: Look, we must stop this dissent at once. I need thee and our children to go into hiding. However, bring me my eldest sons, Jaroslaw and Petrus. I will personally look after them.

MARGARETA: Where should we go?

WIZLAW: I know not of where exactly, but perhaps Arkona. Yet then, we are unaware where that band of ruffians is now. [he thinks and then turns to HERALD 1:] Herald, take them to some safe place and instruct my marshal to raise some militia. Order him to send it towards the direction of Charenz. Scout the west of Rügen with some runners and cavalry as well in order to gather as much information as possible on this.

HERALD 1: Aye sir. Follow me ma'am.

WIZLAW: [he goes to MARGARETA and holds her hands] One more thing, I know that we had some minor disputes in th'past, but I want to tell thee that I love thee and there is nothing happening between me and thy sister. Please, keep thyself and our children secure. Farewell, my love.

MARGARETA: I will, dear. Adieu.

[Exeunt HERALD 1 & MARGARETA

WIZLAW: I do admit that I fear uncertainty during this period. If th'time comes, I shall personally lead my men to war in order to end this once and for all. I still have hope that th'talks with the Margrave of Moravia went well. Whose are these footsteps that I hear?

Enter PEASANTS & JESTER

[JESTER enters in a comical way and does four star jumps]

[to JESTER:] Speak fool. What brings thou here and who are these folk.

JESTER: I had a strange dream.

WIZLAW: This is not th'time for these stories fool.

JESTER: But it was not an ordinary dream, my lord.

WIZLAW: Fine, tell me of't in a concise manner.

JESTER: When my eyelids have been shut this afternoon, I dreamt and saw a tree which was felled by some disfigured persons. From th'outside, the tree look'd healthy but its insides appeared to be grizzly and slowly decaying.

WIZLAW: How is this supposed to make sense?

JESTER: Let me finish liege. The fruit that the tree bare were of seven in number just like those forbidden acts. Three of them were arid and dead and another three were rotting. Only one fruit stood in great health and produced its own fruits.

WIZLAW: This dream that thou had is occupying too much time. I also possess no understanding of't.

JESTER: But sir, I did not even get to th'part about its gardener.

WIZLAW: Enough. Thou can tell me at a different time for there is a potential emergency under way. But tell me, who are those people who wear ragg'd clothing here before me.

JESTER: They are thy people who are rather distress'd.

PEASANT 1: Please, m'lord. Hear us out.

WIZLAW: I do listen.

PEASANT 1: Our village on the outskirts of the area surrounding Ghynxt was raided by some barbarian folk.

WIZLAW: [visibly concerned] Barbarians?

PEASANT 2: Aye, barbarians. They was armour'd with spears 'n' cords 'n' swords 'n' many more weapons. They came from th'direction of Garz. Many of them loot'd our homes and destroyed th'marketplace.

WIZLAW: How many?

PEASANT 2: A few dozen attack'd our settlement but we suspect there were many more.

PEASANT 1: Yes, we saw some marching in th'distance.

WIZLAW: When was this and what direction were they marching towards?

PEASANT 1: Some hours ago. They were marching somewhere towards Charenz or Gagern.

WIZLAW: I thank ye for this report as it confirms th'words of my herald. We are currently gathering up folk to combat them.

Enter ENVOY

[ENVOY runs in breathlessly]

ENVOY: My liege, [he breathes heavily] th'Margrave will not send help.

WIZLAW: What dost thou mean?

ENVOY: [breathing heavily] He doesn't trust us with the payments and we are called Pagans. He doesn't wish to do any business with us unless we gain his trust. He said something 'bout sending some gift.

WIZLAW: Well he will get none.

[ENVOY & WIZLAW talk in the background as JESTER takes the stage]

JESTER: O this is quite the conundrum for those folk. This situation reminds me of th'words I had with some three, strange men. They foretold of a moment like this approaching. Something along the lines of "Father Time is peeling the time away 'til the boulder falls into th'lake". These words are as confusing to me as my words were to my master earlier. What could they mean? I know not.

[JESTER goes to the side and the background conversation is heard]

WIZLAW: Then this must be a revolt. Those Schwabs must have something to do with this.

ENVOY: I know not enough to confirm this.

WIZLAW: We must raise all the troops we can at once.

ENVOY: I would suggest calling thine entire court and discussing this. Who knows where those bandits will go next or where they are now.

WIZLAW: Thou is right. 

[to PEASANTS:] Ye peasants, ye can seek refuge in Rugard tonight at an inn.

[Exeunt PEASANTS

[to ENVOY:] Dubizlav, go to th'yard and gather mine advisors. I will gather those that are in this keep. We will meet here in th'main chamber. Now, go.

ENVOY: Aye sir.

[Exeunt in opposite directions