Ep 227 Script

227

P: the rest of you wait here, we’ll go scout the area, there’re usually wolves in these parts.

Rb2: or bands of miscreants

Rb3: if we’re lucky.

C: (to other ashguard) go with them.

P: we don’t need babysitters

C: not for you, I’m concerned for the wolves.

Brothers smirk and fly off. Everyone waiting in trees.

Scra: …what’s a wolves?

K: big dogs. Sharp teeth

S:…ah.

C: right. If I’m to vouch for you in the Capitol, I’ll need to know the truth about you all.

R: you’re not vouching for us, you’re taking us to trial

C: yes, but the word of the High Crow holds weight, and away from Purtch I am his voice. Whether I use that voice in your favour depends on whether you continue to lie to me. (To ky and scra) are you wo actually bonded?

K: we’re -

S: we are.

C: (to scra) I thought you were from Koup?

R: that was just a cover. We didn’t want anyone to know his identity until necessary. Crow nobles get mixed reactions and we couldn’t be sure you were who you were saying you were.

C: the neck tattoo didn’t give it away?

R: Ashguard rarely leave Purtch, what were the odds of one being so close to a hostile nation like Kooup?

S: you werent the first crow with a tattoo i’d encountered there.

C: (to ky) and you? are you even Redguard? You said you weren’t, anymore. But then you claimed to be their bodyguard On Kooup while they searched for the Crow King, then you claimed to be a deserter, now you’re claiming to be his Bondmate -

K: …Redguard’s not something you can leave, as you know.

C: and yet you abandoned your post and left the country? so you ARE a deserter?

K: im just a coward -

S: he left because of me. i asked him to accompany us for extra protection.

C: if that’s what you’re going with, so be it. (To ree and Farrah) are you two actually Bonded?

R:…yes.

C: how?

R: Icarus,we’re doing this now then?

C: your brothers have decided to impose themselves on us, and I assume you’d be more willing to talk freely with them gone

R: fair. (Looks at farrah who shrugs)…ok. Well, I mean, as you witnessed, my family are…less than thrilled about our relationship. My ancestors have always been ardent monarch supporters, and my parents have carried on the tradition. Farrahs family are notorious anti-monarchists, and there’s been animosity between the two for generations. we met at a ball and…fell for each other pretty quickly, not realising who the other was until it was too late. our families weren’t supportive, so we defied them and went through with the ceremony without their blessings. it became a point of contention between us all, so we came up with a plan to show them the strength of our relationship…by going and finding the Crow King.

F: we followed a clue to Kooup in the hopes of finding the lost King, or an heir. but it was all a waste of time, and our families resent us more for it now, im sure. there’s no coming back from any of it, anymore, and theyll never accept us.

C: this isnt adding up, especially how the family of a Crow noble was able to fly under the radar up until now. I hope for your sakes your stories are more believable to The Council, you have until we reach Sky City to get them straight -

philo: no Inn for miles, but we’ve found a clearing that’ll have to do. no sign of creatures or thieves, we’ll just have to rotate watch between us.

C: sleeping on the hard ground again, great. and i was getting so used to castle beds.

rb2: sorry princess, looks like we’ll be roughing it tonight.

C scowls: get moving, we’ve got an early start.

in new clearing, everyone unrolling packs. the four have placed their sleeping bags noticeably far from each other.

P: (raises eyebrow) why’re you all so far away from your partners? it’ll be cold tonight, you know. might want to snuggle for warmth.

they all realise he’s right and drag beds closer.

K: (to scra) sorry

S: night.

Scra lying down looking at others sleeping

S:( everything’s so awkward between us all again, now that we’re stuck in even more lies. just when we were getting back to how it used to be, too. At least it’s hopefully just until we reach the Capitol, and ditch the Ashguard and Ree’s brothers…who knows when that’ll be, honestly. Although…maybe a bit of forced proximity will be good for those two, at least (looking at ree+farrah), if they keep talking to each other they might actually manage to work through their problems. (looks at ky)...and i’d be lying if i said having to pretend to be bonded to ky is hard for me. i’ve…missed talking to him so openly. I’ve missed seeing him every day. …I’ve missed sleeping next to him. (sits up suddenly) Icarus, what’s wrong with me - it was only like a week ago that we even agreed to try being friends, again. give him space, scra. the last thing ky needs is me pushing him into anything, too, after all he’s been through -)

(hears voices from forest)

S:( was that…voices?  )

looks at ree bro keeping watch across camp

S:(did he not hear?)

stands up, brother raises eyebrow.

S: I’m, uh, gonna go pee

rb2: i didn’t ask (goes back to keeping guard)

scra goes into woods, voices getting louder. sees two figures around a tree. he trips on a stick and they fly away. scra approaches tree and sees it’s strung with talismans and a shrine.

S: a tree hollow? what were they - (sees egg in tree) an egg?! why have they - who did - it’s freezing tonight, it’ll die - (grabs egg and shoves it under shirt) did they not realise they almost - (stick snaps behind him and he freezes, breath misting. many yellow eyes appear from darkness.) i…was too careless.