EXT. MUEIN TEMPLE OF THE SUN DAY
Without the blanket of clouds, the air within the Muein
sanctuary in the Alps became increasingly cold. Master Ishraq
went about lighting bonfires throughout the compound, hoping
they would bring heat, light, and a place for meditative
focus. Golda had caught up with her, though she didn't need
mention that Wimarc, Aaron, and Samantha had departed.
Ishraq, in her enlightened wisdom, already knew they were
gone.
ISHRAQ-MASTER
It distresses us greatly that they
have demonstrated a lack of trust to
the flow of the river which carries
us all. Have we not taught that
there are no such things as
coincidence in the world, it is only
our lack of understanding?
GOLDA
Yes, master. But is it also not
important to give aid and service
when we know such service is
desperately needed? Especially if
they are kin?
ISHRAQ-MASTER
Are we all not each other's kin? I
truly admire the power of love that
compels them, as it does a mother
bird to compel her young to eventually
fly from the nest. But the mother
bird also knows when the time is
right. And that time is not when
the nest may be watched by hungry
predators.
GOLDA
My husband is a Master-Apprentice.
Samantha and Aaron, Guardians. Their
tracks will be hidden.
Ishraq perched her torch, then placed a warm hand on Golda's
shoulder.
ISHRAQ-MASTER
Yes, my beloved Golda, their knowledge
and skills will serve them. It is
their selfish attachments that do
not, and to which I fear may put us
all at grave risk.
INT. NUNNERY SMALL ROOM
A haze obscured the ceiling of a small room. At first, things
were blurry ... fuzzy ... then the faces of THREE NUNS came
into focus, looking down ... upon Rachel.
RACHEL
Where. Am. I?
She tried to sit up, finding herself on a tiny bed, but one
of the nuns gently coaxed her back down.
NUN 1
No. You must rest easy. Quite a
fright you surely had.
RACHEL (MORE ALERT)
Where am I?
NUN 1
The Convento del Santo Rosario.
Another nun wiped Rachel's face with a damp cloth.
RACHEL
How did I arrive here?
NUN 1
You were brought in by Abadia de San
Juan de la Siera two days ago. They
found you and your companion stumbling
into the village, who knows from
where. Your clothes were all covered
with blood.
RACHEL
Where's my companion?
The Nuns looked at each other ... evading Rachel with their
glances.
NUN 1
Do not worry about that now. You
need to keep rest to regain your
strength.
RACHEL
No. Take me to my companion.
One of the young ladies hurried out while the others did
their best to keep Rachel on the bed.
NUN 1
Now is not the time. Let the Lord
feed you His healing graces.
RACHEL
Let me out of this bed.
Rachel pushed them aside, then sat up ... Just as the third
nun returned with the Abbess. The elder leader kept her
gaze in stern reflection; her skin as pale and cool as what
laid behind her eyes.
ABBESS
My young lady, the Lord has seen fit
to retake possession of your comrade.
Now you would do well to remain here
until such time as you are deemed
fit for travel.
(Steps forward),
ABBESS
We do not much know the circumstances
of your arrival, but in our place,
we do not need to know, for it is
His providence and not ours. What is
our providence is your well-being,
which, considering the state of how
you came to us, we cannot let you go
without thorough examination.
Rachel paused, feeling the sudden overwhelm of the
circumstances which had led her here. (Rachel weeps). The
abbess nodded with some mild compassion to one of the younger
ladies, then stepped out. One of the nuns placed a comforting
arm around Rachel.
INT. NUNNERY SMALL ROOM (LATER)
(Door closing/lock) The sound of the door woke Rachel from
the sleep she had eventually fallen into. The low light
streaming through the slit of a window suggested twilight
had come. She took a moment to get her bearings, centered
herself, then sat up on the bed. (Measured breathing). She
carefully took hold of her legs ... and moved them into
meditative position ... then closed her eyes.
EXT. FOREST NIGHT
(Rainfall). Aaron, Samantha, and Wimarc had taken to a dense
patch of forest to rest. They kept dry beneath the lean-to
of branches they had salvaged and put together. Per usual,
Aaron was too consumed with anxiety to sleep, so did his
best to meditate instead. And good thing, as Rachel's
presence suddenly made entrance into his awareness.
AARON
Mother
(Measured breathing). He closed his eyes again to strengthen
the blend with Rachel's incoming thoughts.
EXT. FOREST MORNING
At first light, Aaron informed Wimarc and Samantha of the
link. They quickly took their horses.
AARON
She is at a place that cloisters
women. Felt like a religious
institution.
WIMARC
Did she say where?
AARON
She wasn't sure exactly herself. She
couldn't remember how she got there.
SAMANTHA
If on foot, shocked from the invasion
probably a nearby village, just
beyond the barrier marker of the
school.
(A CAW bursts overhead). Aaron held out his arm and Theia
landed on it.
WIMARC
Very good. You called her home.
AARON
This house of the religious ladies,
she'll hopefully be able to find.
He ran a gentle hand over Theia's head, looking deeply into
her eyes; blending with her energy. Then released her back
into the sky.
Not far behind, they were being spied by Pierre ... and his
Gascon entourage.
PIERRE
Devilry.
EXT. MUDDY ROAD
Aaron casually drew closer to Wimarc and Samantha.
AARON
Theia didn't see how many, but they
are following.
WIMARC
Look at those clouds. No moon or
stars will be out tonight, I'm afraid.
Samantha smiled, understanding his meaning.
EXT. RIVER VILLAGE TWILIGHT
By evening vespers, the trio strode calmly into a village
resting upon the banks of the Rhone. The town center
consisted of a half dozen buildings, a parish church, and a
splattering of homes nestled among the gentle slope of a
nearby hillside forest. They parked their horses at an inn
near the edge of the river, then slid off the steeds, looking
calm and in control... They walked casually into the shadows
of the coming night ... Moving through the town, heading
back up the slope ... Staying to the side of the main road
and hidden in the shadows.
EXT. ROAD TO RIVER VILLAGE
Pierre and his group of 20 trotted down the road leading
toward the village. What they didn't realize ... they were
being watched in the canopy of trees ... by Aaron on one
side, Wimarc and Samantha on the other, high up.
Pierre motioned for his team to halt as the village finally
came into view ... its streets barely glowing from the light
of torch lanterns.
PIERRE
That's where they will stop for the
night.
GASCON 1
Cross the river?
PIERRE
No ferry movement. (beat) Take five,
settle in the village. The rest of
us, find camp here. If they do cross
the river
The lead Gascon pulled a short sword. Pierre glared at him.
PIERRE
Just mark where they land. Do not
get close.
(Gascon expertly swipes his sword )
PIERRE
That will do no good against their
witchcraft.
GASCON 1
I thought the Lord wanted to learn
more about them.
In a flash, the Gascon found Pierre's sword at his throat.
PIERRE
Let him risk his own soul for them.
We need only follow.
The Gascon paused, then sheathed his weapon and motioned to
five comrades. (Horse trot to the village). Pierre waved,
moving the rest of the troupe deeper into the forest.
EXT. FOREST CAMP NIGHT
The marauders quickly set up camp: eight tents surrounding a
central bonfire. Their horses were tied loosely to the trees,
just at the edge of the barracks. A few knights had already
fallen asleep at the fire, while many of the others had turned
into their tents.
Two CAMP GUARDS were on patrol, away from the central ring
... moving through dense patches of forest greenery.
GUARD 1
I say capture, bound, throw them on
the fire.
The crumpling of foliage caught his attention. (Draws sword).
He took a few steps, wondering if it might be an animal.
(More crumples). It certainly sounded like one. Getting
closer ... closer ... (crumples). (Swish)! A figure leapt
down from the tree behind him. At the same moment, Aaron
stood up in front of him, and together, he and Samantha took
him out with relative silence.
At the same time, the second watchman suddenly fell, also
quietly tackled covertly by Wimarc.
AARON
You were right. We do make a good
team.
Samantha kissed him, then they separated ... moving into the
next phase of the plan.
EXT. THE CAMP (CONTINUOUS)
Wimarc silently stepped toward the bonfire, holding two small
branches. After affirming the duo of knights were still
asleep, he lit the branches and handed one to Samantha as
she gingerly came closer.
Meanwhile, Aaron approached one of the horses. The equine
didn't mind him. Aaron placed his hand on the stallion's
head, then closed his eyes to find that space within ...
where his consciousness could blend with the steed's.
Wimarc moved to one of the tents, still carrying the burning
branch. He knelt and peeked inside, then cautiously sneaked
in.
INT. TENT (CONTINUOUS)
He saw Pierre and another Gascon sleeping on the ground.
Behind, a small chest sat along the tent's back wall. Wimarc
quietly passed between the two, making it to the chest ...
Then delicately opened it.
EXT. THE CAMP
Aaron carefully broke his mental link with the stallion,
then gently untied it from the tree. The horse remained
steady ... as if it were still tethered.
Meanwhile, Samantha peeked into a tent ... then silently
entered in.
Aaron then took to another horse ... Placing his hands upon
it and blending with its consciousness.
INT. TENT
Not caring for the chest's contents, Wimarc dropped the
burning branch inside the box.
EXT. CAMP
Finished with the blend, Aaron untied the horse from the
tree. Like the other, it remained still.
INT. TENT
(Snoring knights) Like Wimarc, Samantha also found a trunk
inside the tent. Keeping watch on the snoring knights, she
dropped her torch inside it.
EXT. CAMP
All the while, Aaron blended with yet another horse.
Samantha and Wimarc re-emerged from the tents. Wimarc
silently took a vial from Samantha's pack, opened it, then
emptied the contents, forming a circle upon the camp's
perimeter ... When finished, Samantha reached into Wimarc's
pack, smiled, then took one of his vials. She opened it,
and laid a few extra lines from the circle to two of the
tents ...
Then she softly broke camp to help Aaron in blending with
the horses ... while Wimarc retrieved another broken branch
from his previous hiding spot. With an affirmation from
Aaron, he lit the branch, then placed it to the dust-ring he
had made. (FIRE!) He then ran to join Samantha and Aaron,
each taking to one of the horses.
(WHISTLE or BELLOW) All the horses suddenly bolted away ...
(NEIGH!!) The commotion woke everyone ... a few realizing
the trunks inside their tents were engulfed by fire!
The group rushed from their tents into the open ... only to
come face-to-face with Wimarc's Ring of Fire. Within seconds,
the two tents attached to the circle went up ... (FIRE)
Pierre seethed ... seeing all their horses gone Supplies
and tents being burned to ashes. (SCREAMS).
EXT. FOREST ROAD MOMENTS LATER
Wimarc, Aaron and Samantha burst onto the road and galloped
in the opposite direction of town.
EXT. CAMP MORNING
When morning arrived, the lead Gascon returned from the
village ... What he saw was pitiful. The camp was in utter
ruins ... Pierre and the others were still putting out small
fires among the charred remnants of the tents, supplies, and
parts of the terrain. The Gascon stopped his horse only
feet behind Pierre.
GASCON 1
This explains why we didn't see them
in town last night.
(Pierre explodes). Pierre pulled the Gascon from the horse
... then turned him into a pin-cushion with his best dagger.
(STOPS ... PANTS). He stood ... the remaining soldiers
staring in awe. He licked the blade, then mounted the
Gascon's stallion.
PIERRE
We take horses and supplies from the
village! Then cross the river!
(then) We will burn them in the
hottest fires of Hell!
(The knights yanked their swords and bellow with righteous
affirmation).
KNIGHTS
Burn them! Stake the cocksuckers!
EXT. RHONE RIVER DAY
Wimarc led Aaron and Samantha to another town a bit further
downriver. There, they crossed on a ferry raft, taking the
stolen horses with them.
When the ferry docked, they rode into a small town ... but
didn't bother stopping.
EXT. AVIGNON PALACE GRAND ENTRY
Back in Avignon, Pasquier had returned from his villa near
Paris. He stepped pleasantly from the coach and strode
confidently for the entrance of the grand Palace of the Pope.
Behind, handlers carried his luggage ... including the prized
box from Renier.
INT. AVIGNON PALACE ENTRY
He was suddenly intercepted by a priest.
PRIEST
Your Eminence.
PASQUIER
Yes, Father?
PRIEST
I regret to inform you, during your
return here from Paris, our holy
papa has died.
PASQUIER
Do not regret what is so obviously
the will of God. When has the
Conclave been scheduled?
PRIEST
The 29th.
PASQUIER
Very good. Thank you.
INT. AVIGNON PALACE PASQUIER'S CHAMBER NIGHT
Candlelight cast a warm glow over Renier's gift box.
Pasquier, looking expectant, opened the lid and took out one
of the severed fingers. He put a tight grip on it ... then
closed his eyes.
EXT. AVIGNON PALACE COURTYARD
Within a few days, Pasquier saw from one of the palace's
private upper windows, a regiment of Papal soldiers mounted
and marching, as if leaving on a crusade. He smiled at the
sight.
INT. AVIGNON PALACE PASQUIER'S CHAMBER DAY
Later that afternoon, inside Pasquier's private chamber,
Pierre Roger de Beaufort (future Pope Gregory XI), sat
comfortably alongside his slightly older colleague, sharing
a cup of tea with him.
PIERRE
I am merely a Cardinal Deacon. Not
someone capable of filling the role.
PASQUIER
What if I were to tell you, the
College of Cardinals thinks more
highly of you?
PIERRE (CHUCKLING)
I would decline.
PASQUIER
What if it's God's will?
PIERRE
Then He first should have made me a
Cardinal Priest.
He stood and extended a hand in gratitude.
PIERRE
A most fanciful consideration. Always
good speaking with you.
He pat Pasquier on the shoulder, then politely left.
INT. AVIGNON PALACE HALLWAY (CONTINUOUS)
Cardinal de Beaufort chuckled at the thought of being Pope
as he strode down the hallway. Suddenly, Pasquier turned in
from another corridor, looking on him with intensity. De
Beaufort stopped, startled.
PIERRE
I thought I just How did you?
PASQUIER
All things are possible with God,
wouldn't you agree?
His eyes drilled into him ... de Beaufort became ...
frightened.
EXT. FOREST CAMP
A large company camp filled a newly cleared patch of forest
near the base of the Alps. So close to the peeks, it was
already beneath a fresh layer of snow in conjunction with
the mountains. A regiment of Knights and Squires looked up
at the scraggly peeks, looking for something ...
INT. RENIER'S TENT
In one of the tents, Renier sat in a stiff chair meditating,
holding an unseen object tightly within his closed palm.
PHILIPPE entered.
PHILIPPE
Forgive me, Lord. Our scouts have
returned. Again, they see nothing.
RENIER
Because they are not looking from
the right vantage.
He stood, placing the chopped finger he was holding into the
cuff of his sleeve. He peered out from the tent opening ...
gazing upon the mountains.
RENIER
I see them so clearly up there. And
more. (beat) We will need thicker
pelts. Provisions to travel at night.
Only a small team this time, until
we have secured what we have come
for.
PHILIPPE
Yes, Lord.
Philippe marched away, leaving Renier to fantasize himself
inside the mountain temples of the school.
EXT. ALPS
(CAW!) A hawk ascended to a peak, then zoomed behind it.
EXT. MUEIN SCHOOL RAMPART
A woman Guardian raised her arm and the bird landed firmly
on it. The young lady closed her eyes and blended into her
companion's consciousness.
INT. MUEIN SCHOOL MASTER SANCTUARY
Later, the temple's seven Master Guides were seated in a
circle inside their secluded sanctuary, surrounded by the
glow of candles.
MALE-YELLOW ROBE
Maybe we should descend and engage
with them.
BLUE ROBE-FREYA
We are not certain these knights and
routiers are here looking for us.
This war with the Anglos carries on.
GUNDLACH-RED ROBE
Shall we do nothing?
Everyone looked at Master Guide Ishraq for an answer.
ISHRAQ-MASTER
Master Freya [Blue Robe-freya] is
correct. Until we know more, we cannot
be sure why they are there. And if
they are the same people who did
attack our brothers and sisters in
the West, then we dare not risk
revealing our position. (to Ordonio-
indigo) Master Ordonio [Ordonio-
indigo], you specialize in seeing
and hearing distant places. Can you
try and see what these men are up
to?
Ordonio, the master dressed in indigo robes, nodded.
ISHRAQ-MASTER
Then we will all report back here by
the falling of the sun on the southern
peak. Blessed be the light of all of
you.
The group stood and dispersed.
EXT. NUNNERY
A nun politely escorted Rachel from the main convent into
the afternoon sun. She showed her to a stone bench looking
out upon a beautiful flower garden.
NUN 1
May you momentarily enjoy God's
splendor in the warmth and the breeze.
RACHEL
Thank you.
Rachel sat on the bench ... then noticed Theia circling high
above. (CAW!) She rose to her feet and strained to get a
better look ... then smiled ... to which Theia took off across
the horizon.
NUN 1
You like the birds, milady?
RACHEL
I most certainly do.
EXT. OPEN ROAD FRENCH BORDER(?)
Meanwhile, while riding near the border of France at the
edge of the Pyrenees mountains, Aaron could see what Theia
had witnessed.
AARON
She is showing me the village. Across
a river, but also near the sea. The
path toward it, I can feel in my
awareness.
WIMARC
Then, Guardian, you shall take the
lead.
Aaron opened his eyes, smiled, then hurried his horse to the
front.
EXT. MUEIN SCHOOL MASTER SANCTUARY
Master Ordonio met Ishraq at the platform looking out upon
the southern-most peak. There wasn't a hint of sunlight
upon the rock, due to cloud cover. Feeling solemn, they
turned into the sanctuary temple and joined the others already
knelt in circle.
ISHRAQ-MASTER (PROMPTING)
Master Ordonio.
ORDONIO-INDIGO ROBE
In much the same way that the overhead
clouds have obscured the sun's light,
there is also a cloud that darkens
our ability to look in and listen to
this army gathered in the valley.
MALE-YELLOW ROBE
How is that possible?
FEMALE-GREEN ROBE
Has there been this kind of shroud
to block our awareness before?
ORDONIO-INDIGO ROBE
In earlier chronicles, there is
mention of lower thoughts creating a
thick fog that sometimes resists
penetration.
The other masters were baffled by the report.
ORDONIO-INDIGO ROBE
It is rare because it requires one
fundamental principle Someone who
also knows far-sight and far-hearing,
deliberately enacting a barrier
through their own efforts.
Everyone was shocked by such precedence. Was it possible -
someone who wasn't a Muein acolyte had enough knowledge ...
skill ... to confound them?
ISHRAQ-MASTER
Which presents an even greater danger
to us than we previously thought.
GUNDLACH-RED ROBE
It is perhaps how the Western school
was able to be breeched.
MALE-YELLOW ROBE
And the deceased without answers as
to their own demise, if they are
unable to see through this darkness.
BLUE ROBE-FREYA
What about us? Could they be seeing
and hearing us right now?
ISHRAQ-MASTER
Without us even knowing it. (affirming
statement)