THE DUEL

Act 2 Scene 1

King Caesar commits suicide but on his death he drops the mode of retribution and Cornelius is locked up in the dungeon.

People : No!!! Not the king!!!

Cornelius : (halts chariot) What is happening here?

Guard : Our great King is dead, King Caesar John III has given up the ghost.

Cornelius : Oh no!!!, the King?, no the king cannot be dead, this is a blatant lie.

Guards : It is true sire, the land will continue to weep and mourn till he has completely rested.

(Cornelius badges into the king's courtyard, runs to the inner chamber, opens the residual folder and finds a note written by Caesar stated below)

My friend,
The turn out of the war will be of no lasting gain if i am alive to witness it. With the knowledge that i possess i cannot bear the menace of falling down to duress as my ego may plunder and waver thoughts of contempt. I know i will never be a legend. For i have dropped this message so that whosoever finds it becomes the rightful heir to the throne . I took my life because i was scared of not facing the reality of death and i sent my best armed advisor on a journey that will proper my advances to reign in peace.
My people should know by now that i killed myself for i prefer to be the first dead and save shame. Lionel, if you read this, do not let to know one's fault before you escape but the key to unlock the mishap is left for you to engage your fame. As for me, and all those who expected more, support my son in any endeavour.

Cornelius : Oh no!!! (Breaks into tears). Why Caesar? Caesar why?

Lionel : What are you looking for Cornelius?

Cornelius : My prince , i just heard that the king is dead (Sobs).

Lionel : My father never deserved such a crooked and tilted fellow like you. You made him poison himself and you ran away!!!, you deserve to rot.

Cornelius : i went to finalise the dealings of alliance with the districts of the south and the Eastern provinces, my prince.

Lionel : Of what use are you to this kingdom? The first thing you do is badge in leaving the door ajar and scatter files in search of the mode of retribution. You are pathetic. You make me sick. Guards!!!, seize him!!!

Cornelius : My prince, my prince, you do not understand, it is a different quest i embarked on.

Lionel : A different quest i see, guards!!! Take him to the dungeon where the birds of the heavens look down to feed upon. Massage his intestines amongst the worthless of the land.

(Guards take him out to the districts and polish him into the dungeon).

Lionel : Oh father!!!, why? Why? Why do you cause such great pain to me? How do i start to pick pieces? What do i know about ruling? Which quest should i embark on? You escaped from a great death. So what should i dare breed into? Father!!!, look from before your writings that i always loved you and we'll never fail to be together. (Soliloquy).

Agada : My son, it is time to announce fully your father's death.

Lionel : Mother, you do not even sob, why?

Agada : Your father was a man no one fully understood not because he was impossible to predict but because he hid a big secret no one else knew.

Lionel : I'm not fit to be king. How do i rule mother?

Agada : It takes massive investment son. But, with the great war ahead, we will have to prepare from dusk to dawn to stand a chance against the "four heavens".

Lionel : (Kneels and cries) If the God's of the heavens are alive, why should there be great pain on this land? We've always been kind to neighbour's we always help refugees...

Agada : But we fight oppressors.

Lionel : Only if they resist kindness.

Agada : Not everyone is kind, so we should not build an empire any longer because no one is out there for peace.

Lionel : Mother, Cornelius spoke of a certain quest he embarked on but he deserves to be executed for causing father's death.

Agada : Your Father killed himself.

Lionel : Why did he? Mother it doesn't make sense.

Agada : Just because something doesn't make sense, means its wrong. Cornelius deserves to die only because he is greedy. Look at the bright side, he knows a lot about war. We could need some help.

Lionel : Mother please, i cannot stand such a persona. I hereby excuse myself.

Agada : Go well my son.
Guards! Call the men of the high districts and the stretches of Anila, tell them the King is dead and take his body to the West of the land where the burial can be done.