(Iveni is seated on her throne, Ivesh and Miros are seated on chairs beside her. Atuyo and Itolias Camara come in and kneel before her. She gives them a nod and they rise and stand on either side of her throne.)
ATUYO:
I bring grave news, my queen.
IVENI:
[I wish to hear it.
Report, my friend, what makes you hasten so?
ATUYO:
A band of soldiers tore through our borders;
We beat them back nigh on an hour ago.
IVENI:
What is this? Who are these invaders?
Bore they a flag? And was it recognized?
ATUYO:
They bore a golden eagle on a red field,
The colours by the Kaveyani prized.
But why? Did we ever enrage them?
IVENI:
No, I know the reason well enough.
You see, our ground is rich and fertile,
And Kaveyan ground is pitifully rough.
They have never had the best of soils
And now the drought has ravaged their land.
Their ruler, Soran, seeks to steal our harvest,
Instead of trading like an honest man.
ITOLIAS:
Can he be reasoned with? Is there a way?
IVENI:
No. This man is made of ice and stone.
As long as he has weapons, he will fight us,
But let him, in defence lies our hope.
Build barricades, Atuyo, build up walls!
The Kaveyani then can wait out there
Until the frost has bitten off their fingers
And all we have to do is wait in here.
MIROS:
My queen, are quite sure this is the way?
Surely you could try to talk and wait?
IVESH:
He's right! Soran must know his limits.
Send an envoy, ask him to debate.
IVENI:
I will not. You do not understand.
That king is evil right down to his bones.
He will not listen if he might fight instead,
And he will not be stopped by gentle words.
(Ivesh makes to say something, but Iveni holds up her hand)
IVENI:
Silence! I want no more talk of parlay!
Build our defences strong and then retreat.
Protect our land, protect all of our people,
And we will see our enemy's defeat.
IVESH:
But mother, listen, you must understand me,
I speak for our people, just like you.
Come with me to Kaveyan, speak with Soran
And you will see what good it might yet do.
IVENI:
Very well, your words ring true and thoughtful,
And as my son you know you have my trust.
But if the talk of peace proves to be falsehood,
Know that I will do that which I must.
(She waves her hand regally and they disperse before the scene goes dark.)
YOU ARE READING
The Iveni Saga
FantasyIs it really ppossible to stay truly neutral? And is neutrality something you can afford in a war? An epic, written in verse, tells the tale of two cities, intertwined by fate... The city-states of Marthala and Kaveyan have lived peacefully side by...
