INT. CASTLE. DAY

A knight rides into the courtyard. As he comes out of the shadows the sun shines brightly on his high polished armor, his horse is white and has bells on his heralding. Riding up to the stableman, the knight hands his reigns over and grabs a dark red sack from behind his saddle and walks into the castle. The familiar sound of mail ringing with the sounds of plate armor clinking echoes down the hall as he marches into the waiting room for the king. A small man in the king’s livery bows. The livery matches the knight’s tabard, red with a blazing sun in gold reaching over the horizon. The knight removes his helm and places it under his arm. His dark golden hair falls around his shoulder plates and his face seems truthful and honorable.

HERALD NILS
My lord, Sir Shamir.

The herald rises from his bow.

His royal highness awaits you, sir.

SIR SHAMIR
Then let’s not keep him waiting, Nils!

HERALD NILS
Yes, my lord.

NILS bows again and opens the door to the king’s chamber. SHAMIR strides in five steps into the king’s chamber and bows on one knee. The chamber is decorated with banners displaying the setting sun in red and gold the same as the tabard and livery worn. The king’s throne is a gold throne with red fabric padding. The top of the throne looks like the sun coming over the horizon, the rays reaching into the sky. The king’s crown also looks like the sun with red and yellow gems sparkling in the gold metal. Behind the kings throne is a young woman dressed in a red robe with a gold cord holding it together. In attendance in the king’s court are elves and dwarves as well as humans. The elf from the previous scene is also in the court in a blue robe. All eyes are on the knight.

SIR SHAMIR
My Liege.

KING RADILMIN
Rise. Any word of my daughter?

SIR SHAMIR
No, My liege

Shamir rises from his bow and stands before the king.

SIR SHAMIR
The traitors of the crown still hide her from us. I found some of the traitors and questioned them, but they knew nothing.

Shamir throws the red bag to the king’s dais. Red liquid seeps from the bottom.

SIR SHAMIR
What remains of these traitors, my liege.

The king signals to a page who hops and crosses to the dais and opens the bag. Two heads, faces frozen in terror and shock for all eternity, stare up at the king. The page gasps and puts a hand to his mouth and exits the throne room appearing to be sick. Many of the guests and attendants whisper and gasp placing handkerchiefs to their mouths. The woman behind the king, AISI, stares at SHAMIR

AISI
Sir Vorn and Sir Quon, Two of King Radilmin’s most honorable knights.

KING RADILMIN
Peace, Aisi, I am sure Shamir has reasons for calling them traitors.

SIR SHAMIR
Of course, my liege.

SHAMIR reaches into another bag and pulls out a scroll. The king points to a blonde page older than the last who runs up to SHAMIR and grabs the scroll he then walks around the severed heads with distaste.

SIR SHAMIR
Here In Vorn’s own hand a statement suspecting the king of wrong doings and also implicating Aisi of causing some of this also signed and sealed by both Vorn and Quon.

RADILMIN takes the scroll and opens it examining the broken seals as he does. One seal is scarlet wax with a dragon on it the other is golden wax with a horse rearing up his legs. He unrolls the scroll.

KING RADILMIN
This is addressed to Bycan.

SIR SHAMIR
Yes, my liege, the knight well known for deserting his post. It is believed he leads the traitors, however his whereabouts are unknown.
KING RADILMIN
It says here that they believe Aisi has bewitched me.

AISI
If I were to bewitch you, Your Highness, I would be in a much higher position than just wizard.

SIR SHAMIR
As you can see, your highness it is treachery. Upon finding them I confronted their duplicity and they attacked me. I had no choice but to dispatch them.

AISI
If you will, your highness, allow me to check the scroll for forgery.

The king wordlessly hands the scroll to AISI. She unrolls the scroll and closes her eyes.

AISI
(mutters)
Earth, lend me your knowledge.

The scroll and her hand glow green for a moment then she hands it back to the king.

AISI
My liege, I detect no dark magic. Also it seems to have been drafted in the hand of Vorn, as Shamir has said.

KING RADILMIN
This is clearly their seals as well. It seems your service has saved us more trouble. I hope you will continue to do so, Sir Shamir. Please continue the search for my daughter and these traitors. I believe there may be some connection between her disappearance and the
traitors’ plans.

SIR SHAMIR
As always, my liege. I will find your daughter and bring her back to you as you command.

SHAMIR bows to the king once more and leaves the throne room.

KING RADILMIN
Someone come and clean off these traitors. I will not have my dais soiled with the blood of traitors.

A servant in livery jumps at the king’s word and picks up the heads in the bag as another quickly begins to mop up the blood and sweat at the king’s feet. The elf stands up and bows to the king. The king does not even take notice of her and she backs out of the throne room as well.