Uther and the Secret of the Dragon Read online

  I return home I shall instruct my people to make glass from sand.

  ESUIT

  So you will be a glassmaker after you have been a racer?

  Very good, not all riders have long careers and it is

  always useful to have another talent to fall back on..

  GLASSMAKER

  A racer, what horse racing?

  UTHUR

  That’s right, I am riding in this season’s great race.

  A beautiful white stallion from Arabia; I’m told my

  chances are very good.

  GLASSMAKER

  Even though you are going against Jaspar and

  The King’s horse. They have won every race for

  the past five seasons. How confident are you of

  beating them?

  UTHUR

  I am very confident, I have a good horse and I have

  all the skills to take the prize; why, are you going to

  place a wager?

  GLASSMAKER

  I was going to last time but as the king’s horse always

  wins there’s not any point; but if you say you are

  going to provide real competition to them I’d

  wager on you. After all, the other riders appear to

  let Jasper win to gain favour with the king.

  UTHUR

  I don’t want favour, just the pot of gold, that will

  enable me to get things done...

  GLASSMAKER

  Let me give you some advice boy. The race has just

  one jump and it’s at the end of every lap.

  Once the wall is broken down they do not rebuild

  it so stay back for the first two laps and let the

  others crash against it. Once they have flattened

  the wall some will be too injured to continue while

  you will be able to use the damage to get

  faster in the later laps.

  UTHUR

  That’s good advice, I was told there were not jumps

  in the main race...

  GLASSMAKER

  Strictly speaking you are right; because once the wall is

  destroyed the race is on the flat. But during the first

  two laps the wall poses quite a threat to those

  who do not know.

  UTHUR

  Thank you friend; today you have taught me two great

  lessons and I will remember them both.

  GLASSMAKER

  Good luck, I will see you on race day.

  ESUIT and UTHUR head off and after walking for a while in silence she turns to him and whispers.

  ESUIT

  What ‘things’ do you want to do with the winnings,

  if you have them after the race?

  UTHUR

  It’s a long story...

  ESUIT

  Please tell me, I want to know, to understand

  what drives you?

  UTHUR

  Okay, well.... Back in my land my father was a leader

  of men. He organised them to work the land, raise

  livestock and form a protective guard...

  ESUIT

  He was a king?

  UTHUR

  If that’s how you see it, he was just my father to

  me. Anyway a great evil invaded our land and

  Merlain took me away so we might get the power

  to take this evil on and defeat it. It was to that I

  was referring.

  ESUIT

  You are a very brave man, young UTHUR. I......

  Suddenly a loud roar echoes through the city and they both look up to the huts high on the hill...

  UTHUR

  The dragon is noisy today...

  ESUIT

  They must be feeding him again, up there in

  the Tagil.

  UTHUR

  The what?

  ESUIT

  The Tagil, or we should say the Dragontagil, the

  place of dragons. In the same way we just visited

  the Glasstagil, the place of glass...

  UTHUR

  You are such a good teacher; I wish you could come

  with us when we go..

  ESUIT

  Go, but UTHUR, you have only just arrived, where would

  you be thinking of going?

  UTHUR

  After the race we will go further into this land, I have

  a dragon to catch...

 

  ESUIT

  Oh....

  UTHUR

  Just now you said you thought I was a brave young man...

  ESUIT

  Yes?

  UTHUR

  Then you were going to say something else but

  I interrupted you. What were you going to say?

  ESUIT

  Nothing master, I was about to say nothing...

  SCENE 11 EXT DAY

  It’s the day of the race and a circuit has been laid out around the central square. The great bronze bull on the centre is snorting steam and his horns are rising and stabbing the midday air as the King arrives and is placed upon a huge golden Diaz set in front of the bull.

  Behind him two Nubian slaves carry a chest of gold which is placed on the Diaz beside the king. He stands as the crowd roar their approval. In a side ally off the great square the riders are getting prepared including UTHUR, Merlain and Memet. UTHUR has not mounted his hose yet and is busy watching a procession of bald women dressed in long white robes as they carry offerings of flowers and corn around the square to the beating of drums. They approach the bull and lay the offerings at his feet.

  UTHUR

  Memet, who are these strange women?

  MEMET

  They are the keepers of the bull, they are the

  Magi. It’s to do with these people’s religion.

  All nonsense but we cannot hold their beliefs

  against them; each to their own...

  MERLAI|N

  I would like to know how the bull is made to

  dance like so, are they the people who service it.

  MEMET

  The Magi are very dangerous Merlain, they work

  at night when the people sleep so that no one is

  killed by their spells and witchcraft.

  Please leave them alone if you know what’s

  good for you...

  MERLAIN is intrigued by the leading Magi woman and as she lays her offering before the bull he notices her glance in his direction. Her green eyes alarm him and he looks away.

  MERLAIN

  What an interesting looking female, her eyes

  are beautiful.

  MEMET

  She is their Ipsissimus. The woman

  may be beautiful but her looks cover a well of

  destruction; you must treat them with respect my

  friend or suffer the consequences.

  A sudden commotion behind them draws the trio’s attention. They turn to see a large man dressed in black leather, holding a shiny bronze sword and attended by five helpers arrive. His black horse is big to hold the man but is weighed down by bronze medals which hand from the horses straps. Upon the rider’s head is a laurel and corn crown made of beaten gold.

  This is your opposition UTHUR, my boy, its Jasbar

  the King’s rider. See the crown he wears. It has been

  won by him for the last three races.

  MERLAIN

  He’s very fat for a fast rider.

  MEMET

  Don’t let his size put you off, he is a skilled racer and

  he uses his weight to bully the other riders.

  UTHUR

  Does the horse race with all that bronze weight?

  MEMET

  Each year more medals are added, now the man is

  a fool to think his weight combined with the weight

  of the medals will not hinder
him.

  You have a good chance to take that crown this

  year, just don’t let him frighten you.

  MERLAIN

  What is happening now?

  MEMET

  As the last winner he does a round of the track with

  his stable men in attendance. After showing reverence

  to the magi the rider must give up his crown and then

  we must line up with him with the horses rear

  against the wall there.

  Memet indicates a high wall of brushwood logs which has been built at an angle to the king’s Diaz. The watch Jasbar ride past them and into the square where the crowd roar their approval. With his men in attendance Jasbar does a full circuit of the track and then comes before the great bull and the magi. The leading priestess stands firm while her maidens prostrate themselves about her and Jasbar takes a sheaf of golden corn from his crown and tosses it in her direction. The priestess holds the sheaf aloft and the crowd roars before she turns and reverently places the golden corn at the bull’s feet. The bull roars and snorts his steamy approval.

  Jasbar the turns his steed and faces the king. He removes his crown, holds for the crowd to scream their voices for and then hands it to one of his attendants who place the crown on a red cushion. The attendant walks up the Diaz and presents the crown and cushion to the king; he smiles and instructs the attendant to place the crown and cushion upon the trunk of gold.

  MEMET

  Right UTHUR, you must mount the Queen, the race

  is about to start.

  UTHUR(As he mounts the white stallion)

  I have been advised

  to lay well in the rear for the first round so the others

  destroy the wall. Or do you think I should I lead from the start?

  MEMET

  Let them go, when you are ready just whisper in the

  queen’s ear and she won’t let you down.

  Just be careful of Jasbar’s whip; don’t let him frighten you.

  MERLAIN

  Good luck boy....

  A horn sounds and all the riders leave the side alley and enter the track to the screams of the crowd. They line their horses up against the wall and the King nods at the priestess. She lifts the golden corn sheaf and waits for the King’s instructions.

  The horses rear up with excitement and Jasbar uses the time to examine the other riders, his eyes fall upon UTHUR, dressed in his soft chiffon tunic and leather riding helmet. UTHUR throws his a wide smile as the Queen of Arabia rears up. At that moment the king nods and the Priestess drops the corn. The horses start to race.

  UTHUR stays two or three riders behind the lead and watches as they race around the square, within moments the high thicket wall approaches and he sees the first three horses smash into it throwing thicket bushels and logs in every direction. The first horse is injured and throws its rider as UTHUR points the queen at a newly formed gap in the wall.

  He hears another rider getting thrown from his horse as they jump the wall and races into second position behind Jasbar as they storm past the bull for the first time.

  An Arab riding a two tone stallion is beating at the queen’s heels and UTHUR looks around to see the rider’s expression of mad excitement as the two come side by side. UTHUR looks up and sees the gap in the wall approaching again and points the queen through it as the Arab and two tone smash into a part of the wall which is still strong and both go spiralling over the earth track, a second horse and rider comes over the wall and collides with the prostrate horse throwing both into the air as the crowd roars.

  UTHUR comes side by side with Jasbar who snarls at him and uses his long riding crop to beat out at UTHUR. His initial reaction is to slow and let Jasbar lead where he becomes out of reach.

  MEMET

  Don’t let Jasbar bully you boy, beat him back....

  They approach the wall again and Jasbar flies over it swiftly followed by UTHUR. As they pass the bull for a third times the boys whispers to the Queen to ride like the wind and pass the black steed before them.

  They come side by side and Jasbar hits out with his riding crop again which UTHUR catches and both men pull it this way and that as the wall approaches. As both horses leap through the gaps UTHUR pulls Jasbar’s crop and tosses it into the crowd, he leads as the bull is passed for the final time and the crowd get to their feet to scream him home. As he jumps the wall for a final time Memet screams with joy and hugs and embarrassed Merlain.

  They run onto the track and hold the Queen’s head as UTHUR dismounts proudly. Jasbar pulls up behind him and snarls as his attendants run to help him dismount.

  The king is amazed and happy about the young boy beating the favourite and picks up the cushion with the crown upon it as the priestess crosses from where she has watched the race and joins him.

  UTHUR dismounts and leads his horse to the Diaz as the crowd roar for him. The priestess hushes the crowd and picks up the golden crown from the cushion before bowing low before the king. She turns to face UTHUR..

  AGNESS (The Priestess)

  Tell me your name boy?

  UTHUR

  I am UTHUR of the island of Albion.

  AGNESS

  UTHUR of Albion, a stranger to this city and these shores;

  today the Minator has blessed you with gold....

  The crowd get to their feet and cheer loudly as the king stands beside Agnes and throws the favourite, Jasbar, a contemptuous look.

  MERLAIN (to Memet in the background)

  They say fortune favours the young...

  MEMET

  He had done us both proud today.

  AGNESS

  Kneel before your King, UTHUR of Albion, so I may

  crown you with his glory.

  UTHUR kneels before the priestess and she places the golden crown of laurel and corn upon his thick mop of brown curly hair. He looks up at the beautiful, bald and richly dressed Magi as the crowd eagerly roars their approval again...

  AGNESS smiles at him and steps aside as the King addresses the crowd.

  KING Sin-Muballit MINOS

  People of Babylon; this year my prize has been

  won by a visitor to this city. Not just a visitor

  but a young man whose youth hides his skill

  at horsemanship. I know I am not alone when I say

  this (the king gives Jasbar a condescending glance)

  you boy have surprised me greatly.

  And, we all love to be surprised.

  The crowd roars and claps as Jasbar tries to smile but manages to snarl instead.

  This being so, take this trunk of gold and glory

  in your success. Today the city of Babylon is yours;

  we welcome you and look forwards to seeing you

  spend in excess, party in excess and spread your

  good fortune around our great city...

  The crowd roars again as Jasbar looks about him and sniffs

  JASBAR

  Enjoy your fortune today boy because tomorrow

  you may have to pay for it with blood.

  SCENE 12 INT NIGHT

  UTHUR, MEMET, ADRIUS and MERLAIN are in a room drinking and eating, the trunk of gold is open on the floor and Memet keeps running his fingers through it.

  MEMET

  I will go to the coast and return with a hundred camels

  next time. Adrius, my friend, you must ensure there is

  room to store the goods I bring so we all turn the goods

  into more gold. Merlain, you and the boy will be able to

  buy your own camel train if you want but of course,

  you’re welcome to join us.

  MERLAIN

  Thank you my friend, but I and UTHUR will be leaving

  Babylon in the morning.

  UTHUR

  What?

  MEMET

  Leaving, no, surely not?

  MERLAIN

  We are tr
avellers, yes, but not without a goal. Our

  mission has a purpose and that is to get what we need

  to return and set our people free. If we grow fat and

  comfortable here we may lose sight of our goal and

  that will be doing a dis-service to all those who have

  died in our absence.

  MEMET

  But the races, you will be expected to defend your

  crown in the next race; who will ride the

  Queen to victory for us?

  UTHUR

  I will.

  MERLAIN

  UTHUR, calm down.

  UTHUR

  No, I must speak. If we have to leave tomorrow

  so be it but I will do everything in my power to

  return before the next race.

  ADRIUS

  I think the boy’s resolve is as strong as his grip

  on the reigns.

  MERLAIN

  I hear you UTHUR and I will not stand in your

  way if this is your true wish. Short term goals are

  always necessary to give us focus in our day to day

  lives; but our long term goal must never change.

  UTHUR

  I agree.

  MEMET

  So, you will have to buy a strong ox to carry your

  share of the gold. It is a dangerous land out there

  beyond the city walls. When I return to the coast

  I will have to pay a small army to protect my investment

  on the journey or I risk losing it all.

  MERLAIN

  I think we can trust Adrius to take care of our

  share until we pass through this city again.

  ADRIUS

  It will be safe here if that’s what you wish.

  MERLAIN

  You have been a good host to us Adrius; you

  welcomed us into your home and fed and watered us.

  In fact without your hospitality I doubt we’d