FADE IN:

 

INT. DIMLY LIT STUDY – NIGHT

 

A MAN, bound and dressed in rugged clothing, is brought into the room by TWO GUARDS. His head is covered with a bag. A THIRD GUARD follows, carrying a bladed weapon wrapped in canvas.

 

DEEPER IN THE STUDY, standing by the window, are BALTHASAR SILVA, a well-dressed nobleman adorned with heavy jeweled rings, and JOAQUÍN, a scrawny man in a fine doublet.

 

Balthasar gestures briskly. A guard removes the bag from the captive’s head.

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

Long time away from home, aren’t you?  

 

MAN

What’s the meaning of this? Why am I—  

(The man squints at Balthasar, recognition dawning.)  

Don’t tell me I’ve managed to piss off the Imperial Advisor.  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

Well, at least you aren’t with the Parliamentarians.  

They have come up with a much less respectful title for me.  

 

MAN

They lost me when they threatened to shut down the brothels.  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

(smirking)  

Ah, a true patriot.  

 

MAN  

(with a mocking bow)  

Long live the Empress.  

(stretches his bound hands)  

Is it too soon to ask what crime I’m here for?  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

Hardly a crime. I’ve heard you were a traveler. Is that true?  

 

MAN  

I came here by ship, so I must have sailed from somewhere first.  

I suppose that does make me a traveler, yes.  

 

Balthasar eyes the man, wordless. The guards exchange uneasy glances.

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

(grumbling)  

You are lucky I’ve gotten used to lacking manners. No civility these days.  

 

Balthasar extends his hand. The third guard unwraps the canvas, revealing a short sword with an ornate hilt and a dark blade, shiny as if made of black glass. An artifact from another world. 

JOAQUÍN visibly livens up.  

 

MAN  

(grim)  

I’d like that back when we’re done.  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

You were telling plenty of tales about it last night, at the taphouse.  

 

MAN  

Don’t mind it. It’s a counterfeit.  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

And yet you want it back?  

 

MAN  

(uneasy)  

Sentimental value.  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

This came from Proskynos, didn’t it?  

The land of, uh… witching serpent-women and rivers of liquid gold?  

 

MAN  

No, that’s Ondura.  

And even then, those are drunkards’ tales — Ondura is a bone-covered jungle full of painted man-eaters.  

Proskynos is worse.  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

(glances at the man, then slowly swings the weapon side to side)  

So tell me, why keep a blade from Proskynos?  

A rapier is longer, more precise. A civilized man’s weapon.  

Is sentimental value all there is to it?  

 

MAN  

It holds a blade like nothing you’ve ever seen.  

Goes through steel easier than a bullet.  

(looking aside)  

It is also proof that I’ve been where I say I’ve been.  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

And lived to tell the tale about it.  

You know what to expect when you go back.  

 

Balthasar turns towards the window.

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

I need a person found and delivered back to me safely.  

A young man who went to Proskynos—and disappeared.  

A young man who was a capable explorer himself, mind you.  

 

MAN  

Whatever for?  

 

Balthasar says nothing. Instead, he nods at Joaquín.

 

JOAQUÍN  

If I may, señor.  

 

(Joaquín steps forward.)  

 

JOAQUÍN  

Last anybody has heard from him, the boy went by "Dahl," but that is the sixth name he’s used so far.  

And the likeness… oh, it wouldn’t help you.  

I learned that the boy had employed a mage to change it.  

 

MAN  

So no name or likeness—how is anyone supposed to find him then?  

How do you know if he is even still alive?  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

Because I am Balthasar Silva, and I need him to be alive.  

And I will not accept a different outcome.  

You’ve returned from Proskynos, so it is possible.  

 

MAN  

I got lucky! And you better believe me, I couldn’t do it a second time!  

The island, it shifts — sometimes once a fortnight, sometimes once a day.  

There are forests sprouting up, hillocks rising and falling — your man could’ve already been swallowed up by dirt for all we know, and you won’t even find his bones!  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

Joaquín.  

 

Joaquín raises his hands and makes a series of arcane gestures. His fingertips light up with green flame. The man twitches, grunts, then starts screaming. 

 

Joaquín barely holds back a satisfied smirk as Balthasar looms over the bound man, who is catching his breath.

 

MAN  

(at Joaquín)  

You are really bloody lucky my hands are tied.  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA   

Look at me.  

 

The man obeys.

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

My mage is skilled in many forms of sorcery.  

You’ve experienced but one of them.  

Joaquín, how much?  

 

JOAQUÍN  

(grinning)  

A year.  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

(grimly)  

A year to live. For the curse to burn through you.

Find Dahl alive, bring him back to me, and the curse is removed.

More than that, enough coin to retire early. More than that, my favor — Balthasar Silva’s favor.  

Buy a taphouse of your own. A port of your own. Hell, have the Empress for a night. And even if we lose this civil war, the Empire may sink, Balthasar Silva won't.  

 

(He pauses.)  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

Dahl was last spotted arriving at the port of Lull, a waystation on the way to Proskynos.  

Begin your search there.  

 

The man is silent, thinking.

 

MAN  

Fine. Can your men untie me then? So we could shake hands on it.  

 

BALTHASAR SILVA  

Guards, escort our guest outside.  

And give him back his sword — he has a long journey ahead of him.  

 

FADE OUT.