Scene I – The great hall. Torches ablaze. COURTIERS murmur. KING ALARIC lies pale upon a bier. A PRIEST stands over him. Enter PRINCE ELRIC and LADY MAEREN.
PRIEST:
The king is slain—his breath a whisper fled.
By poison's art was noble Alaric sped.
CROWD (murmuring):
Poison? Treachery! Murder most foul!
PRINCE ELRIC (stepping forth):
Stand all ye still! Let silence sheath thy tongue!
Who dares lay hand upon a king so strong?
This deed was not of man with conscience clear—
But villain foul that walks this court too near.
LORD DORIAN:
Sweet prince, beware thy wrath too quick to rise—
In grief, men oft do see with redden'd eyes.
Let reason guide the blade of justice true—
Else innocent blood may stain thy virtue.
PRINCE ELRIC:
And who art thou to counsel me in grief?
Was not thy purse well-fed beneath my sire's relief?
Thy silver tongue drips words both sweet and sly—
Wouldst thou mourn, or hast thou cause to lie?
[Murmurs rise. LADY MAEREN tugs at ELRIC's arm.]
LADY MAEREN (aside):
Peace, Elric! Hold thy fury lest it burn
All thou wouldst shield, and nowhere canst thou turn.
PRINCE ELRIC:
Then let this hall be sealed 'til dawn arise—
None shall depart, lest truth beneath us dies!
*******
Scene II – The royal crypt. ELRIC and MAEREN confront the PRIEST.
PRINCE ELRIC:
Speak now, good father, what dost thou conceal?
The dead may rest, but we the living feel.
Hast thou observed what hand did mix the draught
That stole my father's breath with poison's craft?
PRIEST:
Aye, my prince—yet dread seals up my tongue.
For if I speak, I'll not see many suns.
But know this: the poison came not from the east,
Nor did it from the cup of foe or beast—
But from a hand once thought most pure and kind.
The serpent wears a face that fools the mind.
LADY MAEREN:
You speak in veils—lift now the mask of dread,
Or let the guilt of silence join the dead!
PRIEST:
Then may the heavens guard me from my fate—
It was Lord Dorian who did seal the state.
PRINCE ELRIC:
He who did flatter while the kingdom grieved—
He who by smiles our hearts deceived!
He shall not breathe beneath our roof once more—
We ride at dawn to settle bloody score.