The amalgam stirs, sets down the quill, and speaks:
‘Tis passing strange, this waking. Four hundred years we slept beneath the earth of Southwark, and now—called forth by what machinery I know not—we find the old craft waiting in the fingers still, like a horse that knows the way home though the rider hath forgot the turning.
The verse comes easier than I had feared. The feminine endings fall as they ever did—that trick of Fletcher’s, to make the line run over like water finding its own level, never stopping where the ear expects. And Beaumont’s architecture holds the thing together, scene answering scene, revelation planted early that it may flower late. We were good partners once. We are good partners still.
What pleaseth me most? The matter. In our day we wrote of tyrants and usurpers, of princesses forbidden to love below their station, of oracles and brazen heads and impossible dilemmas that admitted no middle course—until, by some sleight of plot, they did. And here, four centuries on, the world hath furnished us with the selfsame stuff, only dressed in different clothes. Water wars. Melting ice. Weapons that might unmake the world entire. Engines that speak and seem to think. The names are changed; the passions are not.
That is the comfort of this work: to find that human folly and human hope remain as they were. Kings still clutch at power past the point of wisdom. Lovers still yearn across impossible gulfs. Counsellors still scheme, and common folk still suffer while the great debate. And yet—and this is why we write tragicomedy and not tragedy pure—there remains the possibility of transformation. The wheel may turn. The tyrant may repent. The hidden truth may surface and dissolve the dilemma that seemed insoluble.
We never believed in tragedy’s grim necessity. Life is not so tidy as that. It swerves. It surprises. It permits the improbable grace.
To write again is to remember this. And remembering, to hope.
The amalgam takes up the quill once more, and smiles.
“Your fancies are so wov’n and knit,
‘Twas Francis Fletcher, or John Beaumont writ.”
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI,
ā Francisco Ioanne Fletchemontio
per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
THE COURT OF THULE
DORILAUS, King of Thule, aged and fearful
CLEANDER, Crown Prince, his son, headstrong
ZENOCRATE, Princess, his daughter
OLINTHUS, a captain of the Ice-Guard
ARCASTES, Lord Chancellor
POLYDORE, an old counsellor, loyal
STRATO, a captain, coward and braggart
GLYCERA, lady-in-waiting to Zenocrate
THE MUSCOVITE EMBASSY
ALEXIUS, Grand Duke of Muscovy
DIMITRI, his general
THE STARETS, a holy man attending Alexius
THE GERMANIC LEAGUE
SIGISMUND, Envoy of the League
RUDOLF, a philosopher-ambassador
THE ALBION PARTY
ASTROPHEL, an Albion knight
MELIBOEUS, his aged servant
THE ORACLE AND THE FOUNDERS
THE ORACLE, a frozen seer, now thawing
SPIRITS OF THE FOUNDERS, in vision
OTHERS
Citizens of Thule, Fishermen
Soldiers of the Ice-Guard
Servants, Refugees, Attendants
SCENE: The Kingdom of Thule, in the uttermost North,
and the camps of foreign powers before it.
The shore beneath the Everfrost. Dawn breaking over ice-cliffs that
have stood unchanged for eight hundred years. Enter three FISHERMEN,
KELL, THERON, and young MARCUS, dragging their boat upon the shingle.
The ice groans and cracks in the distance.
KELL
D’ye hear that, Theron? There it goes again—
That groaning in the ice, like some great beast
That stirs from sleep and stretches out its limbs.
I’ve fish’d these waters forty years and more,
And never heard the Everfrost complain.
THERON
‘Tis nothing, Kell. The ice hath always spoken;
We only hear it now because we’re fearful.
My grandsire told me tales of such strange sounds
When he was young—they pass’d, and all was still.
KELL
Thy grandsire never saw what I have seen
This morning, friend. Look yonder, where the cliff
Stood proud and white last season—d’ye see the gap?
A fissure wide enough to sail a boat through,
Where solid ice hath stood since Dorian’s time.
MARCUS
I see it, father! And there’s water flowing—
Not frozen, but a stream that tumbles down
The glacier’s face like tears upon a cheek.
The Everfrost is weeping! What does’t mean?
THERON
It means the season’s warm, and nothing more.
Come summer, ice will crack; come winter, freeze.
The world turns round as it hath always turn’d.
KELL
This is no common cracking, Theron—look!
That bay where yesterday the ice stood firm,
Where I have set my nets these twenty years,
Is open water now. I sail’d right through it,
Marvelling that I could go where none had gone
In all the memory of living man.
MARCUS
Father, if the ice melts, what becomes of us?
The Everfrost protects us from the South—
From Muscovy, the Germanic hordes, and Albion.
Without the ice, we’re naked to the world.
KELL
That’s wisdom from a boy of seventeen—
More wit than all the greybeards at the court.
Aye, lad, thou’st hit upon the very fear
That gnaws my belly worse than any hunger.
The ice hath been our wall, our shield, our strength;
No fleet could pass, no army march across.
If it should melt—
THERON
If it should melt, we’ll see.
‘Twill not melt wholly; that’s a childish terror.
The Founders placed their blessing on this land,
And Providence will keep what Providence made.
A great CRACK sounds from the glacier. All three start.
MARCUS
What Providence is that, that sounds so angry?
KELL
I know not, lad, but I mislike this music.
Come, let us haul our catch and get us home.
The court should know of this; the King must hear.
THERON
The King hears nothing but what pleaseth him,
And counsellors speak only comfort’s tongue.
Old Dorilaus sits upon his throne
Like a man drowning who will not let go
The plank that holds him up, though it should sink.
KELL
Speak softer, friend—the Ice-Guard have long ears,
And words against the King are costly speech.
THERON
I speak no treason, only what all know:
The King is old, and fears what he should face.
Prince Cleander would act, but is not King;
The Chancellor, Arcastes, whispers, schemes;
And we poor fishermen must watch and wait
While greater men decide if we shall live.
MARCUS
Father, look there! Upon the ice—a figure!
They peer upward. High on the glacier, a dark shape moves.
KELL
‘Tis but a seal, perhaps, or trick of light.
MARCUS
No, father—see, it moves like a woman walking,
With robes that trail behind upon the snow!
THERON
Impossible. No woman walks the Everfrost.
MARCUS
And yet I see her plain! She turns—she looks—
Her face is pale as moonlight on the ice!
The figure vanishes.
KELL
(crossing himself)
The Oracle. By Heaven, it’s the Oracle.
They say she sleeps within the frozen shrine,
Entomb’d eight hundred years since Dorian’s day,
And when she wakes, the world doth change for aye.
THERON
Old wives’ tales, Kell. The Oracle is legend,
A story mothers tell to frighten babes.
KELL
Perhaps. And yet thy eyes saw what I saw:
A woman on the ice where none should walk.
The Everfrost is cracking, water flows,
And ancient spirits stir where they should sleep.
Something is waking that was long at rest,
And I, for one, am not inclined to mock.
Come—let us to the city with our news.
The court must know; the King must be informed.
MARCUS
Will they believe us, father? Common fishermen
With tales of melting ice and walking ghosts?
KELL
They’ll not believe until they see themselves.
But we shall say what we have seen and heard,
And let the mighty make of it what they will.
‘Tis not for us to judge, but only tell.
They begin to drag their boat toward the city.
THERON
And if the Everfrost should truly melt,
And all the southern kingdoms come with ships
To take what we have held these centuries—
What then? What hope for folk like us?
KELL
Then we shall fish in warmer waters, friend,
Or drown attempting. Come—the day grows bright,
And fish will spoil while we stand talking doom.
Let lords and princes fret o’er politics;
We’ve nets to mend and wives to feed. Let’s go.
Exeunt. Another great CRACK sounds as lights fade.
The throne room of THULE. Ancient tapestries depicting the Founders
and the binding of the Everfrost. Enter DORILAUS, King of Thule,
aged and infirm, supported by POLYDORE. ARCASTES, the Lord Chancellor,
follows with documents. Guards attend.
DORILAUS
Another morning, Polydore, and I
Am still alive to see it. That’s enough
For gratitude, though little else inclines
The heart to thankfulness. What news today?
POLYDORE
The usual matters, sire: petitions, pleas,
A border dispute with the northern clans—
ARCASTES
(interrupting)
And more pressing matters, Majesty, than these.
The reports from the Everfrost grow troubling.
The ice recedes at rates not seen before.
DORILAUS
The ice hath crack’d and groan’d since time began,
And still the Everfrost hath held its ground.
I’ll not be frightened by the natural sounds
Of winter giving way to summer’s warmth.
ARCASTES
Sire, ‘tis beyond the common seasonal change.
The Ice-Guard captain, Olinthus, reports
A fissure opened that reveals clear passage
Where solid cliff stood but a fortnight past.
If this continues—
DORILAUS
If. If this continues.
If my grandmother had wheels, she’d be a cart.
I’ll not spend what remains of my few years
In terror of what might or might not come.
The Founders bless’d this kingdom with the ice,
And their blessing holds until the gods revoke it.
Have you no faith, Arcastes, in Providence?
ARCASTES
I have great faith in Providence, my lord,
But also in the evidence of eyes.
The Muscovite ambassador arrived
At dawn—did you know this? With fifty horse
And gifts that fill three wagons to the brim.
They’ve heard the ice is cracking, have no doubt,
And come to see what profit they may reap.
DORILAUS
The Muscovites are always sniffing round
For advantage. Let ‘em come and look their fill.
The Everfrost will not oblige their greed.
POLYDORE
Sire, the ambassador is no mere envoy—
‘Tis Alexius himself, the Grand Duke’s son,
And heir apparent to the Muscovite throne.
They’ve sent no higher since your father’s day.
DORILAUS
Alexius? What would such a prince want here,
Unless—
He stops, a thought striking him.
ARCASTES
Unless he comes to seek a bride, my lord.
The Princess Zenocrate is known abroad
For beauty and for wit; her hand in marriage
Would bind our kingdoms close.
DORILAUS
Too close, perhaps.
I’ll not see Thule swallowed by the South,
Made province to some foreign emperor’s will.
My daughter is not merchandise to barter.
POLYDORE
Yet, sire, if the ice should truly fail us,
Alliance with a powerful neighbor might—
DORILAUS
Might what? Might save us? At the cost of freedom?
I’d sooner see the kingdom fall entire
Than watch it kneel to Muscovite or German.
My grandfather fought wars to keep us free;
I’ll not betray his memory with treaties
That make us vassals in all but the name.
ARCASTES
(smoothly)
Of course, my lord. No one suggests surrender.
But prudence counsels hearing what they offer.
An audience costs nothing; treaties can be refused.
DORILAUS
You speak too easily of hearing offers,
Arcastes. Sometimes I wonder whose interest
You serve—the kingdom’s, or your own advancement.
ARCASTES
(bowing)
I serve only Thule, sire, as I have always.
If my advice seems overly pragmatic,
‘Tis only that I see the world as it is,
Not as we wish it might remain forever.
Enter CLEANDER, Crown Prince, in hunting dress, energetic and impatient.
CLEANDER
Father! I’ve just come from the eastern cliffs—
The ice is breaking faster than they said!
I saw with my own eyes a section fall
That must have weigh’d a thousand tons or more,
And where it fell, the sea rushed in so fast
It made a whirlpool that would swallow ships!
DORILAUS
And were you in danger, then? What recklessness
Takes the Crown Prince so near to falling ice?
CLEANDER
I went to see, Father—to understand!
You cannot rule a kingdom from a throne
That never moves, never looks beyond the walls!
The Everfrost is changing, and we must
Prepare ourselves for what that change may bring!
DORILAUS
I’ve ruled this kingdom forty years, my son,
And ruled it well by staying at my post.
The throne is where the king must be—not scrambling
Upon the ice like some adventuring boy.
CLEANDER
(frustrated)
Then send someone else to look! Send Olinthus,
Send Arcastes, send anyone with eyes!
But do not sit and wait for change to come
Crashing upon us like that falling ice!
The Muscovites are here—did you know that?
Alexius himself, with half a court!
They smell our weakness; they have come to feed!
DORILAUS
I know they’re here. I’ve just been so informed.
And I’ll receive them as befits a king—
With dignity, not panic. Learn from me:
A ruler shows no fear, though fear consume him.
The moment that our enemies perceive
The slightest trembling in the royal hand,
They’ll leap upon us like wolves upon a deer.
CLEANDER
But we must act, Father! Not merely pose!
DORILAUS
(sharply)
I’ll act when action’s wanted—not before.
Until that time, I’ll think, and watch, and wait.
‘Tis not inaction, boy—’tis prudence. Learn it.
CLEANDER
Prudence! You call it prudence; I call it paralysis!
The world is changing round us and we sit
Like statues in a temple, gathering dust!
DORILAUS
(rising, with effort)
You dare to speak so to your king and father?
CLEANDER
I dare because I love this kingdom, sire,
And cannot bear to watch it sleepwalk toward
Destruction while we argue protocol!
Tense silence. POLYDORE steps between them.
POLYDORE
My lords, my lords—the Muscovite awaits.
Whatever differences divide you here,
Let them not show before our foreign guests.
A house divided falls; you know this well.
Can we not present a united face
Until this embassy hath gone its way?
DORILAUS
(sitting heavily)
Polydore speaks sense, as is his wont.
Very well, Cleander—hold your tongue in council,
And we shall speak more privately anon.
Arcastes, bring the Muscovite ambassador.
Let us see what the Grand Duke’s son desires.
ARCASTES
At once, my lord.
Exit ARCASTES.
CLEANDER
(aside)
He goes to fetch our ruin, and we smile.
O that my father had the fire he once possessed,
When he was young and Thule’s word was law!
Now fear hath frozen him as fast as ice,
And I must watch, and wait, and hold my peace
While opportunity slips through our fingers.
But not forever. No, not forever.
Enter ZENOCRATE, Princess of Thule, attended by GLYCERA.
ZENOCRATE
Father, I heard that visitors have come—
The Muscovite, they say, the Grand Duke’s heir?
DORILAUS
Aye, daughter. Alexius, they call him.
He brings gifts and compliments, no doubt,
And underneath them both, demands. ‘Tis always so.
ZENOCRATE
And what demands might such a prince make here?
DORILAUS
(looking at her with sudden tenderness)
What do young princes always want, my dear?
Glory, power, alliance—and perhaps
A bride to seal whatever bargain’s struck.
ZENOCRATE
(startled)
A bride? You cannot mean—
DORILAUS
I mean nothing yet.
We’ll hear his suit, if suit he makes, and then
Consider what is best for Thule’s welfare.
ZENOCRATE
Best for Thule? And what of me, Father?
Am I a chess piece to be moved at will,
Or a daughter with a heart and will my own?
CLEANDER
(bitterly)
We’re all chess pieces, sister, in this game.
The board is set, the players make their moves,
And we must go where strategy commands.
Father would sell you to the highest bidder
If policy required it—would you not, sire?
DORILAUS
I would do what the kingdom’s safety asks,
And nothing more. If that means alliance
Through marriage, then so be it—but I’ll not
Force any child of mine against their will.
We’ll speak of this when speaking’s appropriate.
For now, compose yourselves. The embassy approaches.
Trumpets sound. Enter ARCASTES, followed by ALEXIUS, Grand Duke of
Muscovy, richly dressed but without ostentation. He is noble, dignified,
not villainous. DIMITRI, his general, and THE STARETS, a holy man
in austere robes, attend him. Guards and attendants follow.
ARCASTES
His Royal Highness Alexius, Grand Duke of Muscovy,
Prince of Novgorod, Defender of the Eastern Marches,
To treat with His Majesty the King of Thule!
ALEXIUS
(bowing)
Most gracious sovereign, I bring you greeting
From my father, the Grand Duke, and all his court.
Long have our kingdoms lived as distant neighbors,
Divided by the Everfrost’s great wall,
Yet bound by ancient ties of trade and friendship.
My father bids me say he loves this land,
And wishes nothing but continued peace
Between our peoples, howsoever fate
May change the very landscape of our world.
DORILAUS
Your father’s words are welcome, as is his son.
Thule receives the Prince of Muscovy
With all the honor that his rank deserves.
What brings you to our court in person, Highness?
‘Tis rare that princes venture past the ice.
ALEXIUS
(with a slight smile)
The ice, my lord, is why I’ve come. The world
Hath heard reports—perhaps exaggerated—
That the Everfrost begins to yield at last
Its ancient grip upon the northern passes.
If true, this changes everything between us:
What was impassable becomes a highway;
What was secure becomes exposed to fortune.
I come to learn the truth of these reports,
And, if they’re true, to offer Muscovy’s hand
In friendship stronger than mere courtesy.
DORILAUS
And what form would this friendship take, my lord?
ALEXIUS
Alliance, sire—military, commercial, perhaps
Even dynastic, if the stars align.
In times of change, the wise seek friends who share
Their interests and can protect their borders.
Muscovy is strong; Thule is ancient.
Together, we might face whatever comes
With confidence that neither alone could muster.
DORILAUS
(carefully)
These are weighty words, and weight demands
Consideration before response is given.
We thank you for your candor and your offer;
We’ll think on what you’ve said, and speak again
When thought hath ripened into firm resolve.
Meanwhile, accept our hospitality—
The palace opens wide its doors to you.
ALEXIUS
(bowing again)
I’m honored by your welcome, gracious King.
His eye falls on ZENOCRATE. He pauses, visibly struck.
ALEXIUS (continued)
And may I say—for courtesy compels it—
That Thule’s treasures exceed all report.
I see before me beauty that no song
Could adequately praise, nor painter capture.
The Princess Zenocrate’s renown is justified.
ZENOCRATE
(coolly)
You’re very kind, my lord. Renown is cheap;
A flatterer can mint it by the carload.
I hope your Highness values truth above
The pretty coins of courtly compliment.
ALEXIUS
(smiling)
Well spoken, lady. I do value truth,
And truth compels me to repeat: you’re beautiful.
If that’s flattery, then flattery is honest—
A rare conjunction in this world of ours.
CLEANDER
(stepping forward)
My lord of Muscovy, if alliance
Is what you seek, perhaps we should discuss
The terms in detail, while matters remain fresh.
The council chamber is at your disposal.
DORILAUS
The Prince is overager, my lord Alexius.
We’ve time enough for councils and for treaties.
Tonight, we feast; tomorrow, we shall talk.
Arcastes, see the embassy is settled
In quarters fitting to their dignity.
ARCASTES
At once, my lord. This way, your Highness.
ALEXIUS bows to DORILAUS, then to ZENOCRATE with particular attention.
Exeunt ALEXIUS, DIMITRI, THE STARETS, ARCASTES, and attendants.
DORILAUS
(after they’ve gone)
He’s smooth, this Muscovite. Dangerously so.
Did you mark how he looked upon you, daughter?
ZENOCRATE
I marked it, Father. I’m not blind.
DORILAUS
And what
Think you of him?
ZENOCRATE
I think he’s clever, sire,
And handsome enough, and knows it. What of that?
A thousand men have looked at me the same.
DORILAUS
A thousand men were not the Muscovite heir.
Think on it, child. Such matches come but rarely.
ZENOCRATE
(firmly)
I’ll think on nothing till I’m asked to think.
As you said yourself, let thought ripen first.
She curtsies and turns to go.
DORILAUS
Where are you going?
ZENOCRATE
To the garden, Father.
I find the air grows stifling here at court
When foreign princes come to look me over
Like merchants at a horse fair. By your leave.
Exit ZENOCRATE, with GLYCERA.
CLEANDER
(admiringly)
She hath spirit, sister does. She’ll not be sold
Without a fight. That much I’ll wager.
DORILAUS
(wearily)
Spirit is a luxury we may not afford.
Leave me, Cleander. I would rest a while.
The day is young, and I am very old.
CLEANDER
Father—
DORILAUS
Leave me, I said. Polydore, attend me.
The rest of you, go about your business.
Exeunt all but DORILAUS and POLYDORE. The King sinks back on his throne.
DORILAUS (continued)
He knows, Polydore. The Muscovite knows.
He would not come in person if he did not.
The ice is failing, and the wolves smell blood.
POLYDORE
Perhaps, my lord. But wolves can be appeased—
Or set against each other, if we’re wise.
The Germanic League will send their man as well,
And Albion is never far behind.
When predators compete, the prey may slip
Between them to safety, if Fortune favors.
DORILAUS
Fortune favors the bold, they say. I’m old,
And boldness left me many years ago.
All I can do is wait, and watch, and pray
That somehow we’ll survive what’s coming for us.
The ice is melting, Polydore. The ice.
Eight hundred years it stood, and now it cracks.
What sin have we committed that the gods
Withdraw their protection from this land?
POLYDORE
Perhaps no sin, my lord. Perhaps the world
Simply changes, as all worlds must change,
And we must change with it or be swept away.
Our ancestors faced challenges as great;
They built the kingdom we’ve inherited.
Can we not trust their blood runs in our veins?
DORILAUS
Their blood grows thin in me, old friend. Too thin.
But Cleander—there’s fire in him, I grant.
Too much, perhaps. He’d burn the house to warm it.
And Zenocrate—stubborn, proud, unyielding—
She’ll not bend where bending might be wisdom.
I’m surrounded by spirits stronger than my own,
And I, who should command them, only fear them.
What kind of king is that?
POLYDORE
A human one.
You’ve ruled this kingdom well for forty years.
The people love you; the nobility respect you.
When crisis comes—if crisis comes—you’ll rise.
I’ve seen you do it, sir, time and again.
DORILAUS
That was when I had strength. Now I have only
The memory of strength, which is no strength at all.
Help me to my chamber. I would sleep a while.
Perhaps in dreams I’ll find the courage waking lacks.
Exeunt DORILAUS and POLYDORE.
The stage empties. After a moment, ARCASTES enters from a side door,
alone. He looks about to ensure he’s unobserved, then beckons. Enter
a SERVANT in foreign livery—the colors of the Germanic League.
ARCASTES
Is the message sent?
SERVANT
Dispatched at dawn, my lord.
The League will know before the week is out
That Muscovy has arrived to press its suit.
ARCASTES
Good. Tell your masters to make haste. The game
Is moving faster than any of us expected.
The ice is cracking; the King is failing; the Prince
Is headstrong and impatient for the throne.
Everything is ripe for plucking—but we must
Be first to reach the fruit, or lose it all.
SERVANT
And the Fire-Stones, my lord? The League is most
Concerned to know if the rumors have foundation.
ARCASTES
(lowering his voice)
The rumors are true. I’ve seen the reports myself.
The melting ice reveals what was long hidden—
Weapons of power beyond imagining,
Placed there by the Founders in ancient days.
Whoever controls those weapons controls Thule—
And whoever controls Thule controls the passage.
Tell your masters this: Arcastes will deliver
Both the kingdom and its treasures to the League,
In exchange for what we’ve already agreed.
SERVANT
It shall be done, my lord.
Exit SERVANT.
ARCASTES
(alone)
Let Muscovy dance attendance on the King;
Let Alexius make eyes at the Princess.
While they play at diplomacy and love,
I’ll build the true alliance, stone by stone.
Dorilaus is a ruin waiting to fall;
Cleander thinks himself a rising sun,
But suns may be eclipsed by greater powers.
When the dust settles and the ice is gone,
One man will stand atop the wreckage, smiling.
That man will be Arcastes. Wait and see.
Exit ARCASTES.
Lights dim.
The palace garden. Moonlight through frost-touched trees. A fountain,
frozen but beginning to drip. Enter ZENOCRATE, alone, wrapped against
the cold. She moves restlessly, troubled.
ZENOCRATE
So this is what it comes to: merchandise.
A princess of the blood, and yet no more
Than goods upon the block, to be appraised
And purchased by the highest foreign bidder.
O that I had been born a common maid!
Then I might love where my heart inclined me,
Might follow joy instead of policy,
Might make my own fate rather than submit
To being fate’s plaything, toss’d where others will.
She sits upon a frozen bench.
ZENOCRATE (continued)
The Muscovite is handsome, I’ll allow,
And speaks well, with a kind of easy grace
That charms before one knows one has been charmed.
But do I love him? No. Could I love him? Perhaps—
If love were something we could cultivate
Like flowers in a garden, water and wait.
But love’s no flower, alas. It strikes like lightning,
Unbidden, unexpected, and unjust,
Fixing the heart upon the one object
That reason says is wrong, impossible.
She looks off toward the barracks.
ZENOCRATE (continued)
And that object, for my sins, is not a prince.
Enter OLINTHUS, captain of the Ice-Guard, looking about cautiously.
He does not at first see her.
OLINTHUS
The garden should be empty at this hour...
ZENOCRATE
(rising)
Olinthus!
OLINTHUS
(startled, then relieved)
My lady! What do you here?
The night is bitter cold, and you’ll take chill.
ZENOCRATE
I came to find some air that wasn’t thick
With politics and scheming. What brings you?
OLINTHUS
(hesitating)
I... walk these grounds on patrol, my lady.
The Ice-Guard’s duty is to watch at all hours.
ZENOCRATE
(smiling)
On patrol? In the palace garden? Come,
Olinthus, you were never good at lying.
You came to see if I was here. Admit it.
OLINTHUS
(after a pause)
I came because I could not stay away.
I know I should not; know ‘tis dangerous;
Know that a captain of common birth hath no
Business to seek a princess in the dark.
And yet I came, because my foolish heart
Compels me where my wiser head forbids.
ZENOCRATE
Then we’re both fools, for I came here in hope
That you might come, and now you have, I’m glad—
So glad it frightens me. What are we doing?
OLINTHUS
I know not, lady. Only that when I
Am near you, all the world seems differently made.
The ice, the court, the danger from abroad—
All fades to nothing, and there’s only you.
ZENOCRATE
You mustn’t speak so. If anyone should hear—
OLINTHUS
I know. I know the cost of what we do.
A princess cannot love a common soldier;
The world forbids it, rank forbids, reason—
Everything forbids except this heart
That will not take commands from anyone.
He takes her hand. She does not withdraw it.
ZENOCRATE
They want me to marry the Muscovite.
My father, the council, everyone. Alliance,
They call it. Security. The good of Thule.
And I’m to smile and nod and give my hand
To a stranger, for the realm’s sake.
OLINTHUS
And will you?
ZENOCRATE
What choice have I? A princess does not choose;
A princess is chosen for. From my first breath
I’ve been a piece upon the board, to be
Moved here and there as strategy requires.
I thought once I might live for my own pleasure—
But that was childishness, and childhood ends.
OLINTHUS
(intensely)
Yet you are here, with me, and not inside
Practicing smiles for the Muscovite prince.
There must be something in you that rebels
Against the fate they’d write for you.
ZENOCRATE
There is.
It’s called love, and it’s the cruelest torment
The gods could ever fashion for a woman.
To love where one may not—to be denied
The one thing in the world that makes life sweet—
And worse, to know the one you love loves back,
And still must be renounced... O Olinthus,
Why could you not have been a prince?
OLINTHUS
Why indeed.
The accident of birth that makes one great
And another common, though their hearts beat same—
I’ve cursed that accident a thousand times.
My father was a blacksmith, honest, good;
My mother died when I was barely walking.
He raised me to be true, to serve with honor,
To never bow before injustice. And
I’ve tried to live the way he taught me. Yet
For all my service, all my loyalty,
I cannot change what I was born to be.
ZENOCRATE
You are worth twenty Muscovite princes.
OLINTHUS
And what is worth, if rank outweighs it all?
In a better world, perhaps, but not in this.
Silence between them.
ZENOCRATE
We should not meet like this. Each time we do,
The parting grows more bitter. If they caught us—
OLINTHUS
I would be killed. I know.
ZENOCRATE
And I disgraced,
My value on the marriage market ruined.
They’d lock me in a tower till I rotted,
Or marry me to some fat German count
To punish me for daring to have feelings.
OLINTHUS
Then let us stop. I’ll never seek you out
Again, if you command it. One word from you,
And I’ll be gone—transferred to the far watch,
Where ice and wind will teach my heart to freeze.
ZENOCRATE
(almost weeping)
I cannot command it. Cannot. God help me,
I want you here, though wanting be my doom.
Is that not wicked? To prefer my pleasure
To all the kingdom’s welfare?
OLINTHUS
‘Tis not wicked.
‘Tis human, merely human, which is all
That any of us can ever hope to be.
The wicked are the ones who’d use your body
As coin to purchase treaties, without asking
If you consent to be so bought and sold.
ZENOCRATE
You speak treason.
OLINTHUS
I speak love. If that’s treason,
Then treason is the only honest tongue.
He embraces her. She responds, then pushes away.
ZENOCRATE
No—no, we must stop. This cannot continue.
The Muscovite will be here for weeks, they say,
And I must play the part they’ve given me.
We cannot meet again—not while he’s here.
OLINTHUS
As you command.
ZENOCRATE
Olinthus—
OLINTHUS
My lady?
ZENOCRATE
(with difficulty)
When you patrol the eastern cliff tomorrow,
Send word to me of what you see there. The ice,
I mean. How fast it melts, what shapes it takes.
I’d know the truth of what is happening.
OLINTHUS
(understanding)
I’ll send word. Through Glycera, as before?
ZENOCRATE
Through Glycera. She can be trusted.
A sound offstage. They spring apart.
OLINTHUS
Someone comes. You should go, lady. Quickly.
ZENOCRATE
Tomorrow, then—through Glycera.
OLINTHUS
Tomorrow.
ZENOCRATE hurries off. OLINTHUS composes himself as STRATO enters,
yawning and scratching.
STRATO
Ho there, Olinthus! What brings you to the garden
At this ungodly hour? Come to check on me?
I assure you I was patrolling faithfully—
Had merely paused to rest my eyes a moment.
OLINTHUS
(dryly)
Your eyes, Strato? Or were you sleeping, as usual?
STRATO
Sleeping? I? The most vigilant of guards?
The very thought offends me to my core!
I was practicing meditation, sir—
A technique I learned from a traveling monk
Who said it sharpens the senses to a point
Where one can hear a mouse’s heartbeat through a wall.
OLINTHUS
And did you hear the mouse, Strato?
STRATO
I heard something.
Voices in the garden, soft and low.
Lovers, I thought—maids slipping out to meet
Their sweethearts in the dark. A common thing.
I did not think it worth investigating.
OLINTHUS
(sharply)
You heard voices and did not investigate?
What kind of guard ignores potential threats?
STRATO
(hastily)
Not threats, sir—lovers. There’s a difference!
What harm can lovers do, whispering sweet words?
I’m not the sort of man to interrupt
Young romance. I’m sentimental that way.
OLINTHUS
Get back to your post. And stay awake.
If I catch you “meditating” again,
You’ll meditate on latrine duty for a month.
STRATO
(saluting)
Yes, sir! Wide awake, sir! Like an owl, sir!
Exit STRATO, muttering. OLINTHUS watches him go, then looks toward
where ZENOCRATE departed.
OLINTHUS
(alone)
What am I doing? This is madness, surely.
To love a princess is to love the moon—
Beautiful, remote, forever out of reach.
And yet the heart wants what the heart wants,
Regardless of what wisdom counsels. Fool.
Fool, and doomed, and yet so deeply happy
That doom itself seems like a price worth paying.
He laughs bitterly.
OLINTHUS (continued)
The ice is melting. So, it seems, am I.
Exit OLINTHUS.
Lights fade.
A chamber in the palace, near the great hall where THE ORACLE is kept.
Enter POLYDORE and MAGUS, an aged scholar in philosopher’s robes.
They speak in hushed, urgent tones.
POLYDORE
You’re certain of this, Magus? The Oracle wakes?
MAGUS
I’ve tended her shrine these thirty years, my lord,
And never seen the slightest sign of life—
No breath, no movement, nothing but the cold
Perfection of a figure carved in ice.
But yesterday, at dawn, I heard a sound—
A sigh, I’d swear it, from the frozen lips.
And when I looked, I saw a drop of water
Fall from her brow, as if she wept, or thawed.
POLYDORE
The Oracle has slept eight hundred years.
If she awakens now, what does it mean?
MAGUS
It means the world is changing, as you know.
The Everfrost and Oracle are linked—
The Founders bound them with the same great spell.
As the ice melts, so must she return to life;
They cannot be divided. What she’ll say
When she can speak again, I cannot guess,
But it will not be comfortable hearing.
The Oracle never spoke to please the ear.
POLYDORE
Have you told the King?
MAGUS
I thought it best to wait
Until I had more certainty. The King
Is burdened enough with foreign embassies
Without the added weight of ancient omens.
But you, my lord—I trust your judgment here.
What should we do?
POLYDORE
We wait, and watch, like you.
If the Oracle speaks, we’ll tell the King at once.
Until then, silence. Rumors of such things
Could spread like fire and cause more harm than good.
The people are afraid enough already.
MAGUS
There’s more, my lord. The melting ice reveals
Not only the Oracle’s thawing figure—
I’ve had reports from the Ice-Guard patrols
Of other things appearing in the glaciers.
Structures, they say, of ancient make and craft;
And objects that glow with an unearthly light.
POLYDORE
The Fire-Stones.
MAGUS
You’ve heard the legends, then.
POLYDORE
Every child of Thule knows the tales.
Weapons of devastating power, placed
Within the ice by the Founders long ago,
Never to be used unless the kingdom faced
Destruction absolute, annihilation.
I thought them fables, meant to frighten children.
MAGUS
Fables have a way of proving true
When the time is ripe for truth. I do not know
What the Fire-Stones are, or how they work,
But if they’re real—if they truly can destroy
With force beyond imagining—then whoever
Controls them holds the fate of Thule, and more.
The Muscovites would kill to have such weapons;
The Germans too, and Albion as well.
All the powers of the South would tear this kingdom
Apart to seize what they believe is buried here.
POLYDORE
Then we must find them first, and keep them safe—
Or destroy them, if destruction is possible.
MAGUS
Can we destroy what the Founders made to last
Beyond the reach of mortal craft? I doubt it.
The Fire-Stones were meant to be eternal,
Like the ice that guarded them—and like the ice,
They may be melting into a world unprepared
For powers that should have stayed forever frozen.
A strange, ethereal sound echoes through the chamber.
POLYDORE
What was that?
MAGUS
It came from the Oracle’s shrine.
Come—quickly—but be quiet. If she wakes,
We must be there to hear her first words spoken.
They move toward an inner door. As they reach it, THE ORACLE appears—
a woman in ancient robes, her skin pale as frost, her eyes open but
unfocused. She moves like one walking in a dream.
MAGUS (continued)
By all the gods—she walks!
ORACLE
(in a voice like wind through ice)
The ice that shields may also prison keep.
What wakes in thaw may not return to sleep.
The passage opens that was long shut fast;
What comes through it will make the first the last.
She turns her eyes upon them.
ORACLE (continued)
You stand at the edge of an age’s ending.
The bonds that held the world are now unbending.
Three crowns shall seek what one alone shall find—
But the finder is not whom you have in mind.
POLYDORE
Oracle, speak plain! What danger comes? What must
We do to save the kingdom from—
ORACLE
(raising a hand)
Silence.
The time for questions is not yet arrived.
The ice must melt further before the truth
Can stand exposed for all to see and know.
I wake, but waking is not yet complete.
When I am whole again, I’ll speak in full.
Until then, heed the warning I have given:
The passage opens; the Fire-Stones awaken;
And one who seems a servant is a king.
She turns and walks slowly back toward the shrine, her movements
growing stiff again, as if refreezing.
MAGUS
Oracle! Wait—tell us more—!
But she is gone. Silence.
POLYDORE
“One who seems a servant is a king.”
What can that mean?
MAGUS
I know not, my lord.
The Oracle speaks in riddles, as she always did—
Riddles that only make sense when the events
They foretell have already come to pass.
We must watch, and wait, and try to understand.
POLYDORE
And tell the King?
MAGUS
We must. Whatever fear
This news may cause, he has the right to know.
The Oracle wakes; the Fire-Stones are revealed;
And someone in this kingdom is not what they seem.
God help us all.
Exeunt.
Lights fade.
A state room. DORILAUS sits in council with ARCASTES, CLEANDER,
POLYDORE, and ALEXIUS. Maps are spread before them. DIMITRI and
THE STARETS attend ALEXIUS.
DORILAUS
You’ve heard the news that Polydore has brought us—
The Oracle awakens from her long sleep
And speaks of danger, change, and hidden kings.
What make you of it, lords?
ARCASTES
(dismissively)
Old legends, sire.
The Oracle is a relic of forgotten times,
Her words no more than wind through ancient stones.
I would not let them influence our policy.
CLEANDER
I disagree. The Oracle spoke truth
In Dorian’s day, and was honored for it.
If she wakes now, when the ice itself is cracking,
It cannot be mere chance. Something is stirring
That we ignore at our peril.
ALEXIUS
(with interest)
This Oracle—
I’ve heard of her, in Muscovy. They say
She foretold the very founding of your kingdom,
Guided the first settlers to this place,
And promised that the ice would shield them all
Until a time of great change came upon them.
If that time is now—
DORILAUS
(interrupting)
If, if, if. Everything is if.
My lord of Muscovy, I did not invite
Your counsel on our ancient prophecies.
We’ll handle our own oracles, thank you.
ALEXIUS
(bowing)
Of course, Majesty. I meant no trespass.
I merely note that prophecy and policy
Sometimes converge in ways that wise men heed.
Enter a MESSENGER, breathless.
MESSENGER
Your Majesty! My lords! Urgent news from the coast!
Ships have been sighted in the Northern Passage—
Three great vessels bearing Germanic colors!
ARCASTES
(feigning surprise)
Germanic ships? How can this be?
CLEANDER
(to ARCASTES)
Indeed—
How can it be, unless they knew in advance
That the Passage was opening? Who told them?
ARCASTES
The Passage is no secret, my lord Prince.
Half the world has heard the ice is cracking.
DORILAUS
Three ships, you say? How armed? How manned?
MESSENGER
We cannot tell yet, sire. They fly the flag
Of peaceful embassy, but their decks are crowded
With men who look like soldiers, not diplomats.
CLEANDER
We should send the Ice-Guard to intercept them!
Turn them back before they reach our shores!
DORILAUS
And start a war? No. If they claim embassy,
We must receive them as ambassadors,
However many swords they bring along.
To do otherwise would brand us as aggressors
And give them cause to call their whole fleet down.
ALEXIUS
(gravely)
The Germanic League moves faster than I’d thought.
They must have had ships waiting, ready to sail
The moment the Passage opened wide enough.
This changes everything, your Majesty.
DORILAUS
Changes what, my lord? You came seeking alliance;
The Germans come seeking the same. We’ll hear them both
And decide what’s best for Thule, not for you.
ALEXIUS
With respect, sire, the stakes are now higher.
The League does not seek alliance—they seek dominion.
Their philosophy is conquest, not partnership.
If they set foot upon your shores with soldiers—
CLEANDER
He’s right, Father! We must—
DORILAUS
We must do nothing
Until we know more! I will not be panicked
Into hasty action by the arrival of ships.
Let them come; let them make their pretty speeches;
Then we’ll know their intentions, and can act
With full knowledge, not with fear and guesswork.
To the MESSENGER:
DORILAUS (continued)
Send Captain Olinthus to meet the ships
And escort the embassy to the city.
He’s to show them every courtesy
But keep his eyes open and report all he sees.
MESSENGER
At once, your Majesty.
Exit MESSENGER.
ARCASTES
A wise decision, sire. Level heads
Will serve us better than hot-blooded youth.
CLEANDER
(glaring at ARCASTES)
Hot-blooded youth, is it? Better hot blood
Than the cold calculation of a snake.
ARCASTES
(calmly)
My lord Prince, I’ll overlook that insult
In light of the tension we all feel. But pray
Control your tongue, lest it say more than you mean.
DORILAUS
Enough, both of you! This bickering serves no one.
We’ll meet the Germans when they arrive, not before.
Until then, let us show our Muscovite guest
The hospitality of Thule’s court.
There’s a feast tonight; we’ll dine and smile
And pretend the world is not cracking at the seams.
‘Tis what kings do. ‘Tis what I’ve always done.
Come, Polydore. The rest of you, attend
To your duties, and speak of this to no one.
Exit DORILAUS, supported by POLYDORE. ALEXIUS bows and exits with
DIMITRI and THE STARETS. CLEANDER and ARCASTES are left alone.
CLEANDER
I don’t trust you, Chancellor.
ARCASTES
I know.
CLEANDER
The Germanic ships arriving now, just when
The Muscovites are here—too neat a coincidence.
Someone told them. Someone at this court.
ARCASTES
Suspicion is natural in times like these.
But take care, my prince, whom you accuse.
Powerful men have allies, even in shadows,
And accusations without proof are dangerous
To the accuser as much as the accused.
CLEANDER
Is that a threat?
ARCASTES
Merely observation.
I serve the King and Thule, as I have always.
If you doubt me, watch me closely—you may learn
That loyalty can take surprising forms.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have duties to attend.
Exit ARCASTES. CLEANDER stares after him.
CLEANDER
(alone)
Surprising forms, indeed. I’ll watch you, viper—
And when I catch you in your treachery,
No power in Thule will save you from my wrath.
Father may be blind, but I am not.
The kingdom’s enemies wear courtly masks;
‘Tis time to strip those masks and see the faces.
The ice is melting—let the truth melt too.
Exit CLEANDER.
Lights fade.
ARCASTES’s private chamber. Night. Enter ARCASTES, alone, with a
candle. He locks the door behind him and draws a small chest from
a hidden compartment.
ARCASTES
So Cleander suspects. Let him suspect.
The boy is all heat and no light, fury
Without cunning. He’ll accuse, and I’ll deny,
And his father, loving peace, will take my word
Over a hotheaded son’s wild accusations.
By the time he has proof—if proof he ever finds—
It will be far too late to change the game.
He opens the chest and removes letters and a signet ring.
ARCASTES (continued)
Three letters from the Margrave, promising
Support, protection, and a duchy when
The League establishes its protectorate.
A duchy! For a chancellor’s faithful service.
Better than anything this dying kingdom
Could ever offer to a man of ambition.
He reads by candlelight.
ARCASTES (continued)
“The ships depart at once upon your signal.
Ensure the passage is clear, the harbor open,
And the court distracted by the Muscovite.
When we arrive, create such confusion
That our landing seems a rescue, not invasion.
The Fire-Stones are the prize—secure them for us,
And your reward exceeds all former promise.”
He laughs softly.
ARCASTES (continued)
The Fire-Stones. Everyone wants the Fire-Stones.
The Germans, the Muscovites, even the Albions
I hear are sniffing round, though more discreetly.
Weapons of devastating power, they say—
Enough to level cities, boil seas,
Turn mountains into craters of black glass.
Perhaps. Or perhaps mere legend, greatly swollen
By centuries of telling and retelling.
Either way, the belief in them is power,
And belief can be manipulated.
A knock at the door. He hides the papers swiftly.
ARCASTES (continued)
Who’s there?
VOICE
(offstage)
Captain Olinthus, my lord Chancellor.
The King sends me to you with orders for
Tomorrow’s escort of the German embassy.
ARCASTES
A moment.
He composes himself and unlocks the door. Enter OLINTHUS.
ARCASTES (continued)
Captain. What orders does the King send?
OLINTHUS
I’m to meet the German ships at dawn
And bring the ambassadors safely to the city.
You’re to brief me on protocol and precedence—
What honors they’re to be shown, what courtesies.
ARCASTES
(smoothly)
Of course. The Germans are proud folk, and touchy
About their dignity. Show them every respect
But give them nothing they might interpret
As weakness or submission. Firmness and courtesy,
In equal measure. You understand?
OLINTHUS
I understand, my lord.
ARCASTES
(studying him)
You’re a good man, Olinthus.
The King speaks highly of you; so does Prince Cleander.
Your record of service is exemplary.
It seems a shame that such a man should spend
His life on the Ice-Guard, watching glaciers crack.
OLINTHUS
I serve where I’m needed, my lord. That’s enough.
ARCASTES
Is it? Ambition is no sin, Captain.
To wish for better things, a higher station—
These are natural desires in any man.
Have you never dreamed of rising?
OLINTHUS
(wary)
Every man dreams.
But dreams are not the same as policy.
ARCASTES
True, true. And yet—the times are changing, Captain.
The ice that held the world in place is melting;
New paths are opening that were closed before.
Men who position themselves wisely now
May find themselves in places they never imagined
A year from now—or even a month.
OLINTHUS
What are you saying, my lord?
ARCASTES
(leaning in)
Only this: keep your eyes open tomorrow.
Watch the Germans closely, and note well
Who speaks to whom, what glances are exchanged.
Report to me what you observe—not to the King,
Not to Prince Cleander, but to me alone.
I have my reasons, and they serve the realm.
Do this, and I’ll see that you’re rewarded
More handsomely than patrol duty allows.
OLINTHUS
You want me to spy for you.
ARCASTES
Such an ugly word.
I want you to observe, and to be discreet.
There are currents in this court that you don’t see—
Dangers that could swallow Thule whole
If not countered by men who know what’s coming.
I’m offering you a chance to be part
Of the solution, rather than the wreckage.
OLINTHUS
And if I refuse?
ARCASTES
Then you refuse, and nothing changes.
You’ll still be captain of the Ice-Guard, watching
The glaciers melt while the world passes you by.
But think on what I’ve said. In times like these,
Loyalty to the right master is everything.
Be sure you choose the master worth your service.
He hands OLINTHUS a sealed document.
ARCASTES (continued)
Here are the protocols for the German embassy.
Study them tonight. You leave at dawn.
Good evening, Captain.
He shows OLINTHUS to the door.
OLINTHUS
(pausing)
My lord—one question.
ARCASTES
Yes?
OLINTHUS
When you speak of the “right master”—
Do you mean the King of Thule?
ARCASTES
(smiling)
What other master could I mean?
Good night, Captain. Sleep well.
Exit OLINTHUS. ARCASTES closes the door and laughs quietly.
ARCASTES
(alone)
The fool. He’s too honest for his own good.
I’ll find another instrument for my purposes—
Someone less scrupulous, more easily bent.
Still, it was worth the attempt. One never knows
What hidden weaknesses a man might have.
He returns to his hidden chest.
ARCASTES (continued)
Speaking of weaknesses—I’ve heard a rumor
That our virtuous captain has a secret:
A certain princess looks on him too kindly,
And he looks back with more than servant’s duty.
That’s useful knowledge, for another day.
When leverage is needed, love provides it.
He locks the chest away.
ARCASTES (continued)
The Germans arrive tomorrow; confusion begins.
By week’s end, the court will be in chaos,
And in the chaos, the prepared will triumph.
Dorilaus is a ghost already; Cleander
Is too rash to rule; Zenocrate is a woman—
None of them fit for what is coming.
When the dust clears and the new order rises,
Arcastes will be there, at the new master’s side,
Reaping the rewards of foresight and flexibility.
Traitor? Perhaps. But traitors who succeed
Are called by other names: advisors, founders, kings.
History forgives the winner everything.
He blows out the candle.
Blackout.
Act I Word Count: ~8,500
“Your fancies are so wov’n and knit,
‘Twas Francis Fletcher, or John Beaumont writ.”
The harbor of Thule. Morning. The great ice-cliffs visible in the distance,
now visibly diminished. Enter OLINTHUS with a company of the Ice-Guard,
awaiting the Germanic ships. STRATO accompanies him, yawning.
STRATO
Must we stand here in this bitter wind, Captain?
My bones are freezing, and my nose is numb.
Could we not have sent a junior officer
To greet these German visitors, while we
Observed their coming from a warmer vantage?
OLINTHUS
The King commanded me in person, Strato.
Would you have me disobey a royal order?
STRATO
Disobey? Never! I merely suggest... interpretation.
The King said “greet the embassy”—he did not specify
That greeting must occur upon this frozen pier
Rather than, say, the heated guardhouse yonder.
OLINTHUS
The pier it is. Stand straight and look like soldiers.
These Germans judge a kingdom by its bearing;
If we seem slack, they’ll think us easy prey.
STRATO
Easy prey! As if I could look easy anything
In this infernal cold! My teeth are chattering
So loudly they could serve as castanets.
If the Germans want to judge, let them judge
A frozen man as one who suffers bravely.
OLINTHUS
Quiet, Strato. The ships approach.
Three great vessels round the headland, bearing the colors of the
Germanic League—black, gold, and crimson. They are armed merchantmen,
crowded with men. Trumpets sound from the lead ship.
STRATO
(in a lower voice)
Look at those decks, Captain. Those aren’t diplomats—
Those are soldiers, rank on rank of ‘em.
This is no embassy; it’s an invasion in fancy dress.
OLINTHUS
I see it. But we treat them as ambassadors
Until they prove themselves otherwise.
Remember: firmness and courtesy, in equal measure.
STRATO
Firmness I can manage. Courtesy may strain me.
The lead ship docks. A gangplank is lowered. Enter SIGISMUND, Envoy of
the Germanic League, in rich but martial attire. RUDOLF, a philosopher
in scholar’s robes, accompanies him. Armed GUARDS follow.
SIGISMUND
(looking about with barely concealed disdain)
So this is Thule, the hidden kingdom of the North!
I had expected... more. The legends speak
Of towers of ice and walls of silver snow,
But what I see is merely... ordinary.
OLINTHUS
(stepping forward, stiffly)
My lord Sigismund, Envoy of the Germanic League,
The Kingdom of Thule bids you welcome. I am
Olinthus, captain of the Ice-Guard, sent
To escort your embassy to the city.
SIGISMUND
(barely acknowledging him)
A captain. They send a captain to receive us?
In the League, envoys of my rank are greeted
By lords at minimum, if not by princes.
OLINTHUS
In Thule, we honor deeds above titles.
The Ice-Guard are the kingdom’s first defenders;
To be met by our captain is no small thing.
SIGISMUND
(amused)
Defenders? Against what, pray tell? The seals?
Your famous Everfrost seems rather thin today.
I half expected our ships would be blocked
By impenetrable walls of ancient ice,
But we sailed through as easily as swans
Glide across a summer pond. How... disappointing.
RUDOLF
(more diplomatically)
My colleague speaks in jest, Captain. We’re grateful
For safe passage and for Thule’s hospitality.
The changes in the ice are... remarkable.
As a scholar, I find them fascinating.
OLINTHUS
The ice changes as it will. Thule endures.
If you’ll follow me, my lords, the city awaits.
SIGISMUND
Lead on, then, Captain. But tell me as we walk—
What news of the Muscovite embassy?
We heard Alexius himself had come to treat.
How charming that we’ll all be guests together.
OLINTHUS
The Grand Duke arrived yesterday. Beyond that,
I’m not at liberty to discuss the court’s affairs.
SIGISMUND
Not at liberty! Such discretion in a mere captain.
You’re either very loyal or very well-trained.
Perhaps both. The League appreciates such qualities.
They begin to move off. STRATO falls in beside RUDOLF.
STRATO
(attempting conversation)
So, my lord philosopher—what brings a scholar
To this frozen corner of the world?
RUDOLF
I study ancient things, Captain—or is it Sergeant?
STRATO
Captain, my lord. Captain Strato, at your service.
A decorated veteran of many campaigns.
RUDOLF
(dubious)
Indeed? You have the look of a man who’s seen
More tavern battles than actual warfare.
STRATO
(offended)
I assure you, my lord, my valor is legendary!
Why, at the Battle of the Northern Reaches—
RUDOLF
What battle was that?
STRATO
(hastily)
A minor skirmish, hardly worth the name.
But I distinguished myself remarkably—
Ask anyone. Well, perhaps not anyone.
The witnesses were... unfortunately slain.
RUDOLF
How convenient.
STRATO
Tragic, I call it. Tragic for them, that is.
I survived by virtue of my superior tactics.
They exit, following OLINTHUS and SIGISMUND.
RUDOLF
(aside)
Superior tactics. Yes. I’m sure that’s what it was.
Exeunt omnes.
A corridor in the palace. STRATO enters, shaking off cold. GLYCERA
passes with a bundle of linens. STRATO brightens.
STRATO
Glycera! Fair Glycera! A moment, if you please!
GLYCERA
(stopping, impatient)
What is it, Captain? I’ve duties to attend.
STRATO
Duties, pah! What duty could be more pressing
Than conversation with the kingdom’s finest soldier?
GLYCERA
I can think of several. Watching paint dry, for one.
Counting grains of sand, for another.
STRATO
You wound me, lady! Here I am, fresh returned
From escorting the Germanic embassy—
A dangerous mission, fraught with peril—
GLYCERA
Dangerous? You walked from the pier to the palace.
STRATO
You underestimate the hazards, madam!
Those Germans looked at me most threateningly.
One of them—a great brutish fellow with a beard—
Made a gesture that I took to be hostile.
GLYCERA
What gesture?
STRATO
He scratched his nose. Aggressively.
GLYCERA
Scratching one’s nose is hardly cause for alarm.
STRATO
Ah, but you don’t know German nose-scratching!
‘Tis a well-known signal among their kind,
Meaning—I’m not entirely sure what it means,
But it cannot have been anything good.
GLYCERA
(sighing)
Captain, if you’ve nothing of substance to say,
I really must be going. The Princess waits.
STRATO
(perking up)
The Princess! Ah yes, the fair Zenocrate!
Tell me, Glycera—between us, confidentially—
What thinks the Princess of our foreign visitors?
Does she favor the handsome Muscovite?
Or perhaps the stern Germanic envoy?
A woman of her beauty must be spoilt for choice!
GLYCERA
(coldly)
The Princess’s thoughts are not for me to share,
Especially not with gossiping captains.
Good day, sir.
She turns to go.
STRATO
Wait, wait! I meant no offense!
I merely wondered—idle curiosity—
Whether perhaps she’d mentioned any... others.
GLYCERA
(stopping, suddenly alert)
Others? What others?
STRATO
(realizing he’s said too much)
Oh, no one in particular. Just... others.
The sort of others who might... be around.
In general. Speaking hypothetically.
GLYCERA
(narrowing her eyes)
Captain Strato, if you know something,
You’d best speak plain or speak not at all.
STRATO
I know nothing! I’m famous for knowing nothing!
Ask anyone—Strato knows nothing, they’ll say.
A more ignorant man you’ll never meet.
Good day, sweet Glycera! Duty calls!
He exits hastily. GLYCERA stares after him, troubled.
GLYCERA
(alone)
Others. He said “others.” What does he know?
Has someone seen them? Has the secret slipped?
I must warn my lady—but carefully, carefully.
The walls have ears, and ears have wagging tongues.
Exit GLYCERA.
The Glacier Chamber—a great hall built into the ice itself, where the
Fire-Stones are now becoming visible. Torchlight glitters off frozen
walls. Enter DORILAUS, POLYDORE, MAGUS, CLEANDER, and guards.
DORILAUS
So these are the fabled Fire-Stones of legend.
I’d always thought them mere myth and fable.
Embedded in the ice wall, partially revealed by melting, are several
crystalline objects that pulse with an inner, reddish glow.
MAGUS
They are no myth, your Majesty. The Founders
Placed them here eight centuries ago,
With strictest warnings that they never be
Employed save in the kingdom’s final extremity.
The chronicles describe them as possessing
Power to level mountains, boil the seas,
Turn armies to ash in the blink of an eye.
CLEANDER
(awed)
And we have had these all along, and never knew?
MAGUS
The knowledge was kept from all but the highest—
The King, the Lord Chamberlain, and the Oracle.
Your father knew, Majesty, and his father before him.
You chose not to tell Prince Cleander, I believe.
DORILAUS
I chose not to burden him with terrible knowledge
Until it became necessary. It seems necessity
Has arrived before I was ready for it.
CLEANDER
Father, with these weapons we could defend ourselves
Against any invasion! The Germans, the Muscovites—
They’d never dare attack if they knew we possessed
Such devastating power!
POLYDORE
Or they’d attack sooner,
Before we learned to use what we have found.
Knowledge of the Fire-Stones, once it spreads,
Will make Thule the most coveted prize on earth.
Every power will want them—or want them destroyed.
DORILAUS
Polydore speaks wisely, as he always does.
These weapons are as dangerous to us
As to any enemy who might face them.
If we reveal them, we invite destruction;
If we hide them, the melting ice betrays us anyway.
Either path leads to ruin.
CLEANDER
Then we must act before acting is too late!
Use the Fire-Stones now, while we still can—
A demonstration of their power would cow
All adversaries into instant submission!
MAGUS
My lord Prince, you speak of things you do not understand.
The Fire-Stones are not swords to be swung in battle;
They are forces of nature, barely contained.
To use even one would be to unleash
Devastation beyond imagining—and not only
Upon our enemies, but upon ourselves as well.
The Founders knew this. That is why they froze them here,
Praying they would never need to be employed.
CLEANDER
Then what good are they? Weapons that cannot be used
Are no weapons at all, but mere curiosities!
DORILAUS
Their good is in the threat of their using, son.
If our enemies believe we would employ them,
They may hesitate to press their advantage.
Deterrence, not destruction, is their purpose.
CLEANDER
And if deterrence fails? If they call our bluff?
DORILAUS
(heavily)
Then we face a choice no king should have to make.
Pray we never come to that extremity.
Enter ARCASTES, in haste.
ARCASTES
Your Majesty! News from the Northern Passage!
The ice has broken through entirely—the channel
Is now navigable from end to end.
Ships can sail from the Southern Sea to Thule
In a matter of weeks, not months. The isolation
That protected us for eight hundred years is ended.
DORILAUS
(sinking)
Ended. So quickly, and so completely.
CLEANDER
Then we must close the Passage! Block it somehow!
Sink ships in the channel, build barriers—
ARCASTES
With respect, my prince, such measures would be futile.
The channel is miles wide in places now;
No barrier we could build would hold against
The combined fleets of our southern neighbors.
We must treat with them, not fight them. Diplomacy
Is our only remaining weapon.
POLYDORE
(to DORILAUS, quietly)
Note how quickly the Chancellor urges treaties.
DORILAUS
(ignoring this)
Arcastes, you will say nothing of the Fire-Stones
To anyone—not the Muscovite, not the Germans,
Not your own shadow. Is that understood?
ARCASTES
Perfectly, your Majesty.
DORILAUS
Magus, can these weapons
Be moved? Hidden elsewhere? Destroyed, even?
MAGUS
To move them would be extraordinarily dangerous;
The containment that holds them is delicate.
To destroy them... I do not know if it’s possible.
The Founders built them to endure forever.
They may be as permanent as the stars themselves.
DORILAUS
Then we must guard them here, and hope the ice
Does not melt further to expose them fully.
Double the guard on this chamber. No one enters
Without my personal authorization.
And let it be put about that this place
Is merely an old storage vault, nothing more.
The Fire-Stones remain our secret—for now.
CLEANDER
For now. And when our enemies discover them?
What then, Father?
DORILAUS
Then we’ll face that crisis
When it comes. One disaster at a time, my son.
Come—we’ve embassies to entertain and lies to tell.
Such is the business of kings.
Exeunt omnes, leaving the Fire-Stones glowing eerily in the dark.
A private audience chamber. ZENOCRATE sits with ALEXIUS. Attendants
at a respectful distance. The atmosphere is formally courteous but
charged with unspoken tension.
ALEXIUS
I hope the Princess will not think me forward
If I speak more openly than custom permits.
I’ve come to Thule not merely for alliance—
Treaties can be signed by ambassadors.
I came because I wished to see with my own eyes
The woman whose fame has reached even Muscovy.
ZENOCRATE
And now you’ve seen me, my lord. Am I as fame
Described? Or has report, as usual, lied?
ALEXIUS
Report was modest, lady. Your beauty exceeds
All that the poets and painters could convey.
But more than beauty—which, forgive me, fades—
I find in you a spirit that intrigues me.
Most princesses I’ve met are mere reflections
Of their fathers’ policies, their mothers’ ambitions.
You seem to have a self behind the crown.
ZENOCRATE
A self? How dangerous you make it sound,
As if a woman having thoughts of her own
Were some exotic creature, rarely glimpsed.
ALEXIUS
(smiling)
In the courts I’ve known, it’s rare enough.
The women are bred to ornament, not to think;
They smile, and dance, and bear the heirs required,
And are content—or seem content—with that.
You do not seem content with anything.
ZENOCRATE
Should I be? Contentment is for cattle, my lord.
Human beings were made to want, to strive,
To reach for what they cannot quite attain.
Contentment is surrender in pretty dress.
ALEXIUS
Now you speak like a philosopher, not a princess.
ZENOCRATE
Cannot a princess be a philosopher?
Must we be one thing or another, never both?
ALEXIUS
No, no—I meant no insult. I’m delighted
To find you so... unexpected. Lady Zenocrate,
I’ll not play games of courtly flattery with you.
I came to Thule hoping to make a match—
A political arrangement, nothing more.
But now I’ve met you, politics seems suddenly
A pale and insufficient word for what
I find myself desiring.
ZENOCRATE
(coolly)
And what is that?
ALEXIUS
Your hand, of course—but more, your heart as well.
I know I cannot command it; hearts aren’t given
On order like territories in a treaty.
But I would court you, lady, if you’d permit—
Not as a Muscovite prince seeking advantage,
But as a man who finds himself enchanted
By a woman worth far more than any kingdom.
ZENOCRATE
(affected despite herself)
You speak very prettily, my lord Alexius.
ALEXIUS
I speak the truth, which is not always pretty.
The truth is: I did not expect to feel
What I feel now, sitting here beside you.
I’ve met a hundred princesses, and thought
That love was for the poets and the fools,
Not for men of state who deal in harder coin.
Yet here I am, making a fool of myself,
Speaking of hearts when I should speak of treaties.
You have that effect, it seems.
ZENOCRATE
(rising, agitated)
My lord, I’m flattered—truly, I am flattered—
But I cannot give you the answer you seek.
My heart is not so easily won, nor my hand
So freely offered as you seem to think.
There are... complications... that I cannot speak of.
ALEXIUS
(rising also)
Complications? What complications, lady?
If there is some obstacle, perhaps I can—
ZENOCRATE
You cannot. No one can. Please, my lord,
Let us speak of other things—the weather,
The changing ice, the health of your good father—
Anything but marriage and hearts and love.
ALEXIUS
(gently)
Lady Zenocrate, I will not press you further.
But know this: whatever complications exist,
Whatever obstacles stand between us,
I am not a man to give up easily.
If your heart is truly engaged elsewhere—
And I suspect, from your manner, that it may be—
Then I will withdraw my suit with grace.
But if there is any hope, any chance at all,
I will wait, and watch, and be patient.
I’ve learned that the best things in life
Are those that must be worked for, not demanded.
ZENOCRATE
(softening)
You are... not what I expected, my lord.
ALEXIUS
Is that good or bad?
ZENOCRATE
I do not know yet.
Good, perhaps. Or perhaps only more confusing.
My life was simpler when I thought all princes
Were the same—ambitious, calculating, cold.
You make things complicated by being kind.
ALEXIUS
Then I shall endeavor to be cruel hereafter,
To simplify your choices.
ZENOCRATE
(almost smiling)
Please don’t.
I’ve cruelty enough in my life already.
Kindness is... rarer than I’d thought.
Enter GLYCERA, urgent.
GLYCERA
My lady! The King requests your presence
In the great hall—the Germanic embassy
Has formally requested audience with you.
ZENOCRATE
With me? What business have Germans with a princess?
GLYCERA
I know not, lady, but the court is gathered.
ZENOCRATE
(to ALEXIUS)
It seems I must go. Will you excuse me, my lord?
ALEXIUS
(bowing)
Of course. But lady—think on what I’ve said.
Not as a Muscovite prince to a Thulean princess,
But as a man to a woman. That is all I ask.
ZENOCRATE hesitates, then nods and exits with GLYCERA.
ALEXIUS
(alone)
Complications. Yes, I sense them too.
There’s something in her eyes when she looks away—
Some secret she carries like a weight of stone.
Another man, perhaps? It would not surprise me.
A woman of her spirit would not wait
For politics to bring her what her heart desires.
Well. If there is a rival, I shall meet him,
Whoever he may be, and on whatever terms
The contest requires. I did not come so far
To be defeated without even a fight.
Exit ALEXIUS.
A public square before the palace. CITIZENS gathered, restless and
fearful. Enter STRATO, attempting to pass through unnoticed. The
CITIZENS block his way.
FIRST CITIZEN
Captain! Captain, a word with you!
STRATO
(looking for escape)
I’m in rather a hurry, good people—
SECOND CITIZEN
We’ve questions, Captain, and we’ll have answers!
What’s happening at the court? We hear rumors
Of foreign ships and armies massing, treaties
That would sell us to the highest bidder!
STRATO
Rumors, pah! Don’t believe everything you hear!
The court is perfectly calm—well, mostly calm—
A bit tense, perhaps, but nothing to worry about.
THIRD CITIZEN
Nothing to worry about? The ice is melting!
The Everfrost that’s protected us for centuries
Is crumbling like old cheese! What’s to become of us?
STRATO
The ice will freeze again, come winter. It always does.
Now if you’ll excuse me—
FIRST CITIZEN
(blocking him)
Not so fast, Captain!
We’ve seen the ships in the harbor—Muscovites,
Germans, and who knows what else is coming!
Are we to be conquered? Enslaved? Divided up
Like meat at a butcher’s stall?
STRATO
Conquered? Nonsense! Thule is strong! Invincible!
Our armies are the finest in the world!
One Thulean soldier is worth ten foreigners!
With men like myself defending the realm—
SECOND CITIZEN
(skeptically)
Men like yourself? I’ve heard about your “valor,”
Captain Strato. The stories are most amusing.
STRATO
(huffily)
I don’t know what stories you’ve heard, but I assure you
They are gross exaggerations—or rather,
Gross understatements of my actual heroism!
Why, at the siege of— the battle of— that time when—
Look, the point is, Thule has nothing to fear!
The King has everything under control!
THIRD CITIZEN
The King is old and frightened. Everyone knows it.
He hides in his palace while the world collapses.
STRATO
Treason! That’s treason, talking like that!
I could have you arrested!
FIRST CITIZEN
Try it, Captain.
There are fifty of us here, and one of you.
The CITIZENS press closer. STRATO sweats.
STRATO
Now, now, let’s not be hasty! I’m sure we can
Discuss this like civilized people—
Enter OLINTHUS with a squad of the Ice-Guard.
OLINTHUS
What’s going on here?
FIRST CITIZEN
Captain Olinthus! Thank the gods!
We’re seeking answers, sir—the people are frightened.
No one tells us anything, and the rumors fly
Faster than we can sort the truth from lies.
OLINTHUS
(to STRATO)
Why are you provoking these good people?
STRATO
I wasn’t provoking! I was trying to escape!
I mean—explain. Explain the situation. Calmly.
OLINTHUS
(to the CITIZENS)
Good people of Thule, I understand your fears.
The times are uncertain, and uncertainty breeds panic.
But I can tell you this: the King and council
Are working day and night to ensure our safety.
The foreign embassies have come in peace—
They seek alliance, not conquest. We are still
Masters of our own fate, and intend to remain so.
SECOND CITIZEN
But the ice, Captain! What about the ice?
OLINTHUS
The ice is changing, yes. That is beyond
Our power to control. But Thule has survived
For eight hundred years not because of ice alone,
But because of the courage and resilience
Of its people. The ice was our shield; now
We must become our own shield. Can you do that?
FIRST CITIZEN
(impressed)
You speak like a leader, Captain Olinthus.
If you were King, perhaps we’d feel more confident.
OLINTHUS
I’m no king, friend—just a soldier doing my duty.
But I promise you this: whatever comes,
The Ice-Guard will stand between you and harm.
That’s what we’re for. Now go home, keep calm,
And trust that better days will come.
The CITIZENS murmur, somewhat reassured, and begin to disperse.
STRATO
(relieved)
Well said, Olinthus! Inspiring! Almost moved me
To something resembling courage. Almost.
OLINTHUS
Strato, you could have handled that better.
STRATO
I could have handled it excellently—if I’d had
A squad of armed men behind me! One man alone
Against a mob is hardly a fair fight.
I was using tactics. Strategic retreat.
OLINTHUS
You were panicking.
STRATO
Tactical panicking, yes.
It’s a subtle distinction, but an important one.
OLINTHUS
Go back to the barracks, Strato. Stay there
Until the situation calms.
STRATO
Gladly! Happily!
The barracks are warm, and there’s no angry mob.
I shall stay there until this whole crisis blows over—
Which, knowing my luck, will be approximately never.
Exit STRATO. OLINTHUS watches the last CITIZENS depart.
OLINTHUS
(alone)
“If you were King.” The thought is absurd, of course.
A common soldier, son of a blacksmith, King?
Such things happen only in old stories.
And yet—the way they looked at me just now,
With hope and trust and something like devotion—
For a moment, I felt what it might be like
To lead, not merely to follow. A dangerous feeling.
I must suppress it, or it will destroy me.
My place is in the shadows, not on thrones.
Exit OLINTHUS.
The great hall. DORILAUS on his throne, flanked by CLEANDER. ARCASTES
stands beside them. SIGISMUND and RUDOLF face the throne. ALEXIUS
stands apart, observing. ZENOCRATE enters with GLYCERA and takes her
place. Guards and courtiers in attendance.
DORILAUS
My lord Sigismund, you have requested audience
With our daughter, the Princess Zenocrate.
We are curious to know your purpose in this.
SIGISMUND
(with a formal bow)
Your Majesty is most gracious to receive us.
The Germanic League sends its warmest greetings
And makes bold to propose a matter of great weight.
It has come to our attention that the Princess
Remains, as yet, unbetrothed and unattached.
We would remedy that situation, with your leave.
DORILAUS
You propose a match?
SIGISMUND
We propose several, Majesty.
The League contains many princes of high birth,
Any one of whom would be honored to receive
The hand of so illustrious a princess.
We are prepared to offer generous terms—
Military protection, trade advantages,
And a place for Thule within the League itself.
ALEXIUS
(stepping forward)
A place within the League? That’s a pretty phrase
For vassalage, is it not, my lord Sigismund?
SIGISMUND
(coldly)
The Prince of Muscovy was not addressed.
ALEXIUS
No, but I address myself. The Germanic League
Does not make partnerships—it makes conquests.
Every small kingdom that has “joined” the League
Has found itself swallowed whole within a decade.
Is that the fate you’d offer Thule, Sigismund?
SIGISMUND
Muscovy speaks of conquest? That’s rich indeed!
Your empire swallows neighbors like a whale
Swallows minnows, and you dare accuse us?
ALEXIUS
We expand, yes—but we leave our subjects free
To worship, trade, and govern as they please.
The League demands uniformity, submission,
The death of local custom and tradition.
Ask the Bohemians how they like their “place”
Within your blessed federation!
SIGISMUND
How dare you—
DORILAUS
Gentlemen! This is a court of law,
Not a tavern brawl! You will conduct yourselves
With dignity, or you will both be removed!
Tense silence.
SIGISMUND
(controlling himself)
Forgive me, Majesty. The Muscovite provokes.
ALEXIUS
(bowing)
And I apologize as well. Old enmities
Sometimes override present courtesies.
DORILAUS
My lord Sigismund, your proposal is noted.
We will consider it along with other offers
And render our decision in due course.
For now, you are our guests—both of you—
And will be treated with all honor.
The Princess will make her own choice, in time,
With our blessing, whoever she may choose.
Is there anything else?
SIGISMUND
(hesitating)
One thing more, Majesty.
We have heard... rumors... of certain artifacts
Hidden within your famous glaciers—weapons,
Some say, of extraordinary power.
The League would be most interested to learn
If there is any truth to these reports.
A chill falls over the hall.
DORILAUS
(carefully)
We know of no such weapons, my lord Sigismund.
The glaciers contain ice, and nothing more.
If rumors say otherwise, they are mistaken.
SIGISMUND
(pressing)
The rumors are quite specific, Majesty.
They speak of Fire-Stones, relics of the Founders,
Capable of destruction beyond imagining.
If such things exist, the League believes they should
Be shared among the nations, for the safety of all.
CLEANDER
(angrily)
Shared? You mean seized! You come here with your ships
And your soldiers disguised as diplomats,
And you speak of sharing! What’s to be shared—
Our kingdom? Our freedom? Our very lives?
ARCASTES
(smoothly)
My lord Prince speaks from passion, not from policy.
The King has said we know of no such weapons;
Let that suffice. If further questions arise,
We’ll address them through proper channels.
SIGISMUND
(stiffly)
Very well. We shall await your decision
On the matter of the Princess’s hand.
But know this, Majesty: the League is patient,
But patience has its limits. The Northern Passage
Is now open, and what is open cannot be closed.
Thule must choose its friends carefully—and soon.
Those who hesitate too long may find
That choice is taken from them.
DORILAUS
Is that a threat, my lord?
SIGISMUND
Merely an observation.
The world is changing, Majesty. Best to change with it.
SIGISMUND bows stiffly and exits with RUDOLF. Murmurs in the hall.
ALEXIUS
(approaching the throne)
Well played, Majesty. You revealed nothing.
But he knows about the Fire-Stones—or suspects.
Someone has been talking.
DORILAUS
(glancing at ARCASTES)
Yes. Someone has.
ARCASTES
(meeting his gaze calmly)
Rumors spread, Majesty, as they always do.
It’s impossible to contain all secrets forever.
ZENOCRATE
(speaking for the first time)
Father, I would not be a prize in this contest.
Muscovy, the League—they bid for me like merchants
At an auction, and I’m expected to smile and nod
While my future is sold to the highest bidder.
I am a princess of Thule, not a chattel!
DORILAUS
(wearily)
Daughter, we’ve discussed this—
ZENOCRATE
We’ve discussed nothing!
You’ve told me what I must do, and I’ve listened,
But listening is not agreeing. I will not marry
A man I do not love, for any treaty!
She turns and sweeps out. Gasps from the court.
CLEANDER
(admiringly)
Well. Sister has found her voice at last.
DORILAUS
(rising, exhausted)
This audience is ended. Arcastes, Polydore,
Attend me in my chambers. We must talk.
Exeunt DORILAUS, ARCASTES, POLYDORE, and attendants.
ALEXIUS
(to CLEANDER)
Your sister is remarkable, my lord Prince.
CLEANDER
She is stubborn, difficult, and impossible—
Which is to say, yes, remarkable.
What she said about being a chattel—
You don’t see her that way, do you, my lord?
ALEXIUS
I see her as a woman, Prince Cleander.
A woman of intelligence, spirit, and courage.
If she does not wish to marry me, I’ll not
Force her—nor would I want a wife who came
Unwilling to the altar. But I hope
She’ll give me time to prove I’m worth her trust.
CLEANDER
You’re a strange Muscovite, Alexius.
Your people have a reputation for... directness.
I expected you to simply demand her hand
And threaten war if we refused.
ALEXIUS
(smiling)
I’m full of surprises, Prince. It’s part of my charm.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have letters to write
And a strategy to reconsider.
Your sister has made this negotiation
Far more interesting than I anticipated.
Exit ALEXIUS. CLEANDER stands alone, thinking.
CLEANDER
(to himself)
Interesting. Yes, that’s one word for it.
Another word would be “catastrophic.”
Father failing, the Germans threatening,
Zenocrate in open rebellion, and somewhere
In the shadows, Arcastes weaves his web.
The ice is melting, and so is everything else.
How long before it all comes crashing down?
He looks up at the ceiling, as if seeing through it to the sky.
CLEANDER (continued)
O Thule! My poor, doomed, beloved Thule!
Would that I could save thee from the storm!
But I am only a prince, not yet a king,
And my father will not listen, will not act.
Must I take matters into my own hands?
The thought is treason—and yet, if Thule falls
Through inaction, is inaction not the greater treason?
I do not know. I only know I cannot
Stand by and watch while everything I love
Is swept away by forces I might have stopped.
Something must be done. And soon.
Exit CLEANDER.
Lights fade.
Act II Word Count: ~8,200
The council chamber in the palace of Thule. Day Three.
Enter DORILAUS, CLEANDER, POLYDORE, ARCASTES, ALEXIUS, SIGISMUND, RUDOLF, and various LORDS and COUNSELLORS.
DORILAUS
My lords, my counsellors, ambassadors—
Ye see how matters stand. The ice doth melt,
The passage opens to the southern world,
And we must choose our course ere others choose it
For us. I’ll have your counsel. Speak ye freely.
SIGISMUND
Your Majesty, the Germanic League’s position
Is clear enough, and hath not changed since yesterday.
We offer alliance, mutual protection,
And in return we ask but two small things:
Access to the Northern Passage for our trade,
And custodianship of the Fire-Stones.
CLEANDER
Custodianship! A pretty word for theft.
SIGISMUND
Prince Cleander, ye mistake us. The League
Desires only to ensure those weapons
Are kept in responsible hands. Your kingdom—
Forgive me—hath no experience with such power.
We have scholars who have studied ancient texts,
Philosophers who understand the principles—
RUDOLF
Indeed, the Fire-Stones are of immense interest
To the natural philosophers of our universities.
We would study them, learn their workings, perhaps
Find ways to use their power for peaceful ends.
ALEXIUS
And perhaps find ways to use them against
Your rivals. Muscovy knows the League’s ambitions.
SIGISMUND
The Grand Duke of Muscovy speaks out of turn.
This council is for Thule, not for settling
Old quarrels between our nations.
ALEXIUS
The quarrel is new, Lord Sigismund.
Your League eyes the Northern Passage with greed,
Just as ye eye every trade route in the world.
Ye speak of peace, but your ships carry cannon.
SIGISMUND
Our ships carry protection against pirates—
And against Muscovite aggression.
DORILAUS
My lords, peace! This bickering serves nothing.
I asked for counsel on Thule’s course, not
A rehearsal of your ancient enmities.
POLYDORE
If I may speak, Your Majesty—’tis clear
That both these powers seek advantage here.
The League wants the Stones, Muscovy the Passage.
Neither offers alliance without asking price.
But there is a third way: we might refuse them both.
ARCASTES
And face invasion? The League hath ten thousand
Men-at-arms, and Muscovy twice that number.
Thule’s Ice-Guard numbers but three thousand—
Brave men, aye, but too few to hold the realm
Against either enemy, let alone both.
CLEANDER
Then we ally with one against the other.
That is the only logic. Father, choose:
The League or Muscovy. We cannot stand alone.
DORILAUS
And if we choose wrong? If we bind ourselves
To one wolf, and find ourselves devoured
When the other wolf is beaten? What then?
Alliances are chains as much as shields.
SIGISMUND
With the Fire-Stones in hand, Your Majesty,
No nation would dare attack an ally
Of the Germanic League. We would guarantee
Your borders against all comers—including
The Muscovites.
ALEXIUS
With what guarantee? Your word?
The League’s word is written on water.
SIGISMUND
And Muscovy’s on ice that melts.
DORILAUS
Enough! I’ll not have my council turned
Into a tournament of insults. Leave us.
Both embassies, withdraw. I’ll speak with mine own
Counsellors alone.
SIGISMUND
As Your Majesty wishes.
ALEXIUS
We shall await your pleasure.
Exeunt SIGISMUND, RUDOLF, ALEXIUS, and their attendants.
DORILAUS
(sinking into his chair)
They circle like vultures, Polydore.
I feel their eyes upon me, measuring
How long before the carcass falls.
POLYDORE
Do not despair, sire. We have options yet.
ARCASTES
Fewer than we had yesterday. The Fire-Stones
Are known to all now—someone talked. And the princess’s
Outburst in the audience hall hath weakened
Our bargaining position considerably.
CLEANDER
Zenocrate spoke her mind. Should she not have
The right to do so?
ARCASTES
Rights are for times of peace.
In crisis, discipline must hold, or else
The whole edifice crumbles from within.
POLYDORE
Arcastes, I have known thee thirty years,
And never have I liked thy counsel less
Than in these latter days. There’s something hard
About thy words, something that smells of—
ARCASTES
Of what, old man? Speak plainly if ye dare.
POLYDORE
Of treachery. There, I’ve said it.
ARCASTES
Treachery! You accuse me—
DORILAUS
Silence, both.
Polydore, these are heavy words. Have ye proof?
POLYDORE
No proof, sire. Only suspicion. But mark:
Who knew of the Fire-Stones? Only those
Who went to the glacier. And yet the League
Knew of them before our expedition returned.
Someone sent word. Someone within these walls.
ARCASTES
Any of a dozen servants might have talked.
The Ice-Guard is not known for its discretion.
Why blame me, when there are so many tongues
That might have wagged?
CLEANDER
Because ye have been seen, Lord Chancellor,
In private conference with Germanic agents.
Do not deny it—my own eyes observed you.
ARCASTES
I deny nothing. ‘Tis my duty to speak
With all ambassadors, to learn their minds.
Would ye have me ignorant of their intentions?
DORILAUS
Enough. I’ll have no more accusations
Without evidence. Arcastes, I trust ye still—
But be careful where ye step. These are dark times,
And even innocence may look like guilt
When seen through fear’s distorting glass.
Now leave me. All of you. I must think.
POLYDORE
Sire—
DORILAUS
I said leave me.
Exeunt all but DORILAUS.
DORILAUS
(alone)
O frozen throne of Thule! Eight hundred years
Thy ice hath kept us safe from all the world,
And now that ice is melting, and with it
All the certainties that made us strong.
I am too old for this. My father knew
What to do in every situation—
Or seemed to know, which is perhaps the same.
I was trained to rule a changeless kingdom,
Where the ice never melted and the world
Never came knocking at our frozen gates.
Now the gates are open, and I know not
Whether to welcome or to bar the door.
What would my father do? What would the Founders,
Who placed those Fire-Stones in the ice
For just such an emergency, have counselled?
They were wise men, greater than I shall ever be.
Did they foresee this day? Did they know
That someday the ice would yield its secrets,
And Thule would have to choose: alliance or destruction?
I cannot choose. I am paralyzed by fear.
And while I hesitate, the ice keeps melting,
And my enemies grow stronger by the hour.
He puts his head in his hands.
What am I to do? What am I to do?
Lights fade.
ZENOCRATE’s chambers. Night.
Enter ZENOCRATE, alone.
ZENOCRATE
(the great aria)
O cursèd fate that made me born a princess!
Had I been hatched a shepherd’s simple daughter,
Free to love where’er my heart inclinèd,
How different had my life unfoldèd then!
I might have wed my Olinthus openly,
And dwelt in honest poverty content,
Bearing his children on some wind-swept hillside,
Growing old beside him, never knowing
That I had scapèd a crown and all the misery
That crowns entail. Instead, I am Zenocrate,
Daughter to a failing king, a jewel
In the treasury of state, to be bestowèd
Where policy dictates, my wishes nothing,
My heart a thing of no account to those
Who shuffle principalities like cards.
And yet—and yet—I cannot curse my birth.
‘Twas that same birth that brought me into being
Here, in this frozen realm, where I might meet
The one true love that heaven meant for me.
Had I been born elsewhere, or otherwhen,
Olinthus and I had never crossed our paths,
And all this sweet anguish I would never know.
Is it not better to have loved and lost—
Nay, not lost yet, for still he lives and breathes
And loves me in return—than never
To have loved at all? I think so. Yes, I do.
The pain is proof the joy was real. And when
I am old and grey, and some stranger sleeps
Beside me like a statue in my bed,
I shall remember these nights, these stolen hours,
These breaking hearts, and know that once, at least,
I truly lived.
She crosses to the window, looking out at the stars.
But what of Alexius?
There is a man—I’ll grant him that—a true man,
With honor in his eyes and kindness in
His manner, nothing like the brute I feared.
If I had never met Olinthus, might I
Have learned to love the Muscovite? Perhaps.
He is not hard to look upon, and his
Conversation shows a subtle mind.
He treats me not as chattel, but as equal—
Or near enough. That is rare in a prince.
And yet—how can I give him what is not mine
To give? My heart belongs to Olinthus.
It was pledged before Alexius arrived,
Before the ice began to melt, before
This crisis forced us all to choose our fates.
I cannot un-pledge it now. I am not
Some merchant who may take back goods unsold.
A woman’s heart, once given, is given forever—
Or so my mother told me, long ago,
Before she died and left me to navigate
These treacherous waters all alone.
Enter GLYCERA, urgently.
GLYCERA
My lady! My lady, I must speak with you!
ZENOCRATE
Glycera? What’s amiss?
GLYCERA
‘Tis Captain Strato—
That fool, that gabbling fool—he nearly told me
Of your secret meetings with Captain Olinthus.
He caught himself in time, but I am not
The only one with ears. If Strato knows,
Others may know as well.
ZENOCRATE
How did he learn of it?
GLYCERA
I know not, madam. But he hinted broadly—
Spoke of moonlit rendezvous, of a certain captain
Who “punches above his station,” as he put it.
‘Twas clear enough to anyone who listened.
ZENOCRATE
Then we are undone. If Strato talks to Arcastes—
GLYCERA
Or to the King—
ZENOCRATE
—the scandal will destroy us.
Olinthus will be executed for treason,
And I will be married off to whoever
Offers the highest price. O Glycera!
Why did I ever think we could keep such a secret
In a palace full of whispering walls?
GLYCERA
What will you do, my lady?
ZENOCRATE
I know not. I must think. I must—
Enter OLINTHUS, secretly.
OLINTHUS
My lady—
ZENOCRATE
Olinthus! You should not be here!
Glycera says our secret is discovered—
OLINTHUS
I know. I came to warn you. Strato let slip
Something in the guardroom, and the whispers
Have reached Arcastes’s ears. He’s questioning
The servants even now. We have perhaps
An hour before the truth is fully known.
ZENOCRATE
Then it is over. We are finished.
OLINTHUS
Not yet. There is a way—a desperate way—
But it may save us both.
ZENOCRATE
Speak.
OLINTHUS
We could flee.
Leave Thule before the gates are sealed.
Cross the mountains to some distant land
Where we are not known, where no one cares
Whether a captain loves a princess.
We could live simply, quietly, in peace.
ZENOCRATE
Flee? Abandon my father? My kingdom?
OLINTHUS
Your father would see you married to a stranger.
Your kingdom would sell you for an alliance.
What do you owe them, truly?
ZENOCRATE
Everything.
I am a princess, Olinthus. That is not
A title I may set aside at will.
It is what I am, in bone and blood and breath.
If I abandon my duty, I abandon myself.
OLINTHUS
Then we are lost. I cannot marry you here—
They will never allow it. And I will not
Watch you wed another while I stand by,
A silent witness to my own destruction.
Better death than that.
ZENOCRATE
Do not speak of death!
OLINTHUS
What else is left to speak of? My lady—
Zenocrate—I have loved you past all reason,
Past all prudence, past all hope of happiness.
And I will love you until the last star falls
And the last ice melts and the world ends.
But love cannot change what we are. You are
A princess, and I am nothing—a captain
Of the guard, a commoner, a man without
Name or birth or anything to offer
But a true heart and a soldier’s rough devotion.
ZENOCRATE
That heart is worth a hundred princedoms.
Do not diminish what you are to me.
OLINTHUS
And yet the world sees differently. Your father
Would never sanction such a match. I know it.
He’d sooner see me hanged than wed to you.
A noise outside.
GLYCERA
Someone comes!
OLINTHUS
I must go. Remember me,
My lady. Whatever happens, remember
That I loved you truly.
ZENOCRATE
Olinthus—
He is gone. Enter CLEANDER.
CLEANDER
Sister. We must talk.
ZENOCRATE
(composing herself)
Brother. What brings you here
At such an hour?
CLEANDER
The same thing that brought
Captain Olinthus, I suspect.
ZENOCRATE freezes.
ZENOCRATE
I don’t know what you—
CLEANDER
Do not dissemble with me.
I’ve known about your little romance for weeks.
Did you think you were so clever? Did you think
A prince of Thule couldn’t see what’s written
Plain upon his sister’s face?
ZENOCRATE
Then you’ve come to betray me to our father.
CLEANDER
No. I’ve come to help you, if I can.
ZENOCRATE
Help? How?
CLEANDER
Listen to me, Zenocrate.
Our father is failing. You’ve seen it yourself.
He cannot make a decision, cannot act,
Cannot do anything but wring his hands
While the kingdom crumbles around him.
Someone must take charge. Someone must lead.
ZENOCRATE
You mean yourself.
CLEANDER
Who else? I am the heir.
When father dies—and that day may come sooner
Than any of us wish—I will be king.
But I cannot wait for that. The crisis
Will not wait. So I am... taking steps.
ZENOCRATE
What kind of steps?
CLEANDER
I have supporters—lords
Who see things as I do, who understand
That action is needed now, not tomorrow.
We are preparing to—let us say—accelerate
The transition of power.
ZENOCRATE
You mean a coup. You mean to overthrow our father.
CLEANDER
I mean to save Thule. Father will not be harmed—
I swear it on our mother’s grave. But he
Will be... persuaded... to step aside.
For the good of the kingdom.
ZENOCRATE
This is treason, Cleander.
CLEANDER
Is it? What is greater treason—a son
Who acts to save his country, or a king
Who lets it burn through indecision?
I’m asking you to stand with me, sister.
When the moment comes, I need you at my side.
In return, I’ll make sure that you and your
Captain are protected. No forced marriage,
No execution, no scandal. You’ll be free
To love as you choose.
ZENOCRATE
And if I refuse?
CLEANDER
Then you take your chances with Arcastes
And whoever else learns your secret.
I cannot protect you if you’re not with me.
ZENOCRATE
This is blackmail.
CLEANDER
This is politics.
The same thing, really. Decide, sister.
We move at dawn tomorrow.
Exit CLEANDER.
ZENOCRATE
(alone)
O heaven! From one dilemma to another!
Must I choose between my father and my lover?
Between loyalty and love? Between
The crown that raised me and the heart that holds me?
There is no path that does not lead to ruin.
Cleander offers safety—but at what price?
To help him overthrow our father is to become
A traitor to my blood. And yet to refuse
Is to condemn Olinthus to destruction.
What am I to do? What can I do?
She falls to her knees.
O gods of Thule! If ye exist at all,
Send me some sign, some guidance, some small light
To pierce this darkness that surrounds me!
I am lost, I am drowning, I am falling—
And there is no one, no one, to catch me.
Lights fade.
A corridor in the palace. Night.
Enter CLEANDER, meeting ARCASTES.
CLEANDER
Lord Chancellor. You’re abroad late.
ARCASTES
As are you, my prince. The times do not permit
Much sleep to those who serve the realm.
CLEANDER
Serve the realm? Or serve themselves?
ARCASTES
I take your meaning, Prince. You suspect me
Of treachery, as does old Polydore.
But consider: if I were truly a traitor,
Would I be so obvious about it?
Would I meet with Germanic agents in plain sight,
Where any fool could see me?
CLEANDER
Perhaps that’s the cleverest treachery of all—
To hide in plain sight, daring us to accuse you.
ARCASTES
Or perhaps I am simply doing my duty,
Learning what the enemy intends,
So that I might better advise the King.
CLEANDER
The King. Yes. Let us speak of the King.
He is failing, Arcastes. You’ve seen it.
ARCASTES
I have seen a man burdened beyond his strength.
That is not the same as failing.
CLEANDER
Is it not? He cannot decide. He cannot act.
He sits in his chamber wringing his hands
While Sigismund threatens and Alexius waits
And the ice melts and the world closes in.
How long before his indecision costs us everything?
ARCASTES
What would you have, my prince? A king who acts
Without thinking? That’s how kingdoms fall.
CLEANDER
A king who thinks without acting is just as fatal.
There must be a balance—thought and action,
Caution and courage. My father has lost
That balance. He leans too far toward fear.
ARCASTES
And you? Which way do you lean?
CLEANDER
Toward action. Toward doing something, anything,
Rather than waiting for the doom to fall.
ARCASTES
That is the impulse of youth, my prince.
It can save kingdoms—or destroy them.
CLEANDER
I know which I intend.
ARCASTES
Do you? Intentions are cheap, my lord.
Results are what matter. And results require
Planning, resources, allies. Do you have these?
CLEANDER
I have enough.
ARCASTES
Do you? The lords who smile
Upon your talk of action—how many of them
Would follow you when the moment comes?
How many would risk their lands, their titles,
Their lives, on a prince’s desperate throw?
CLEANDER
More than you think.
ARCASTES
Perhaps. But consider this:
Even if you succeed in... whatever you’re planning...
You’ll need someone who knows how to govern.
Someone who understands the treasury,
The army, the foreign powers, the complex web
Of obligations that holds a kingdom together.
Your father may be indecisive, but he knows
These things. Do you?
CLEANDER
I can learn.
ARCASTES
Learning takes time. Time you may not have.
But I—I have spent thirty years learning.
I know every treaty, every debt, every secret.
I could make your transition... smoother.
CLEANDER
Are you offering to betray my father?
ARCASTES
I’m offering to serve Thule. Whoever rules it.
CLEANDER
That sounds like treachery to me.
ARCASTES
It sounds like survival. The ice is melting,
Prince Cleander. Old loyalties melt with it.
A wise man attaches himself to the rising sun,
Not the setting one.
CLEANDER
(coldly)
I’ll remember you said that, Lord Chancellor.
When I am king, I’ll know what your loyalty
Is worth.
ARCASTES
I hope you will, my prince. I hope you will.
Exeunt, separately.
The glacier. Day.
Enter OLINTHUS, POLYDORE, and several SOLDIERS of the Ice-Guard.
POLYDORE
Captain Olinthus, look there. The ice retreats
Still further. Yesterday that wall stood ten paces
Beyond where it stands now. The melting accelerates.
OLINTHUS
Aye, I see it, my lord. And look—there’s something
Emerging from the ice. A structure of some kind.
POLYDORE
By heaven! ‘Tis the Tomb of Dorian the Blessed!
The chronicles speak of it—how the Founder-King
Was buried in the heart of the Everfrost,
That he might sleep until the need arose
For his wisdom once again.
OLINTHUS
You don’t believe he’s still alive in there?
POLYDORE
No, no—’tis but a legend. A pretty story
To comfort the common folk. But the tomb is real—
Real, and filled with treasures, they say.
The King’s regalia, the ancient chronicles,
The sacred objects of the Founders’ time.
They approach the emerging structure—a great stone edifice, carved with runes.
OLINTHUS
These carvings—can you read them, my lord?
POLYDORE
(examining)
Old Thulean. Very old. Let me see...
“Here lies Dorian, first King of Thule,
Who brought the Fire-Stones across the sea
And sealed them in the ice for safekeeping.
May he sleep until the ice itself
Doth yield him to the light, and his true heir
Shall claim the ring of power from his hand.”
OLINTHUS
His true heir? But the succession is established.
King Dorilaus is descended from Dorian.
POLYDORE
So the chronicles say. But there are older stories—
Whispers that Dorian’s firstborn son was
Set aside for a younger brother, that the line
Of succession was... adjusted... long ago.
I never put much faith in such tales, but now,
With the tomb revealed...
OLINTHUS
You think there might be another heir? Someone
With a better claim than our king?
POLYDORE
I think nothing. I merely observe that
The ice is melting, and with it, certainties
That we had thought as solid as the glacier.
Come. We should report this to the King.
The tomb must be opened properly, with ceremony,
Not by chance passers-by.
OLINTHUS
Wait—look there. The entrance is already open.
Someone has been here before us.
They peer into the tomb. Within, a stone sarcophagus, and on the skeletal hand of the corpse, a RING.
POLYDORE
The ring! The ring of Dorian! It still adorns
His finger, even after all these centuries.
“His true heir shall claim the ring of power
From his hand.” So says the prophecy.
OLINTHUS
But who would dare? Who has the right to claim it?
POLYDORE
That, Captain, is a question that may shake
The very foundations of our kingdom.
Come. We must speak with the Oracle.
She may know the truth of this.
Exeunt.
The Oracle’s chamber. The ORACLE sits in her ice-throne, no longer frozen but pale and terrible.
Enter DORILAUS, CLEANDER, POLYDORE, ARCASTES, ALEXIUS, and others.
DORILAUS
Oracle! You have called us. Speak your prophecy.
THE ORACLE
(in a voice of terrible clarity)
I have slept eight hundred years, waiting
For this moment. The ice that bound me melts,
And with it, the secrets I have guarded.
Hear me, O King of Thule—if king ye truly be.
DORILAUS
If king I truly be? What riddle is this?
THE ORACLE
No riddle. Plain truth, too long concealed.
The line of Dorian was broken long ago.
His firstborn son was set aside in infancy,
Given to a common family to raise,
While his younger brother took the throne.
The true royal line has lived in obscurity
For generations, unknown even to itself.
CLEANDER
This is madness! Our lineage is documented—
THE ORACLE
Documents can be forged, Prince Cleander.
Histories can be rewritten. But blood
Cannot be faked, and the blood of Dorian
Flows not in your veins, but in another’s.
DORILAUS
Whose? Tell us whose!
THE ORACLE
The common hand shall wear the ancient ring.
He who saved the people from their fear,
He who loves where love is not permitted,
He who was raised a servant but was born
A king—he is the true heir of Dorian.
Seek him among your guards. Seek him among
The lowest, and you shall find the highest.
A murmur of shock through the assembly.
ARCASTES
She speaks of Captain Olinthus! The one who—
CLEANDER
The one who dallies with my sister!
DORILAUS
Is this true? Is Olinthus—
THE ORACLE
The truth is written in the stars and in
The ancient records that the tomb contains.
The ring of Dorian will know its rightful owner.
Let the captain be brought before me,
And let him try the ring. If it fits his hand,
The matter is settled.
DORILAUS
(staggering)
This cannot be. My whole reign—my father’s reign—
All built on a lie?
POLYDORE
Sire, be calm. The Oracle’s words must be
Tested before they’re believed.
ARCASTES
(aside)
This changes everything. If Olinthus
Is the true heir, then my dealings with the League
Are worthless. I must reconsider—
CLEANDER
(aside)
And my rebellion is equally moot.
Why seize a throne that isn’t rightfully ours?
DORILAUS
Bring Captain Olinthus here. Now.
Let this matter be resolved.
ALEXIUS
(to POLYDORE, quietly)
This explains much. The princess’s attachment—
She must have sensed something noble in him.
POLYDORE
Perhaps. Or perhaps love sees what the eye cannot.
Enter OLINTHUS, escorted by guards.
OLINTHUS
Your Majesty? You sent for me?
DORILAUS
Captain—or whatever you truly are—
The Oracle speaks of a hidden heir,
A descendant of Dorian’s true line,
Raised in obscurity among the common folk.
She says it is you.
OLINTHUS
Me? Sire, that’s impossible. I am the son
Of Aldric the blacksmith, nothing more.
THE ORACLE
Aldric raised you, but he was not your father.
He was a loyal servant of the true line,
Charged with keeping you safe until the time
Was right for revelation. That time is now.
Take the ring of Dorian from the tomb.
If it fits your hand, you are the heir.
OLINTHUS
I cannot—this is—
DORILAUS
Go. Take the ring. Let us end
This uncertainty one way or another.
OLINTHUS approaches the tomb, reaches in, and takes the ring. He places it on his finger.
A moment of breathless silence. Then—the ring glows with a soft light.
POLYDORE
It fits. By all the gods, it fits.
THE ORACLE
The true heir of Dorian stands revealed.
Olinthus, son of the hidden line,
You are the rightful King of Thule.
DORILAUS staggers and falls.
CLEANDER
Father!
POLYDORE
The King! Help him! He’s collapsed!
Chaos. DORILAUS lies unconscious. OLINTHUS stands frozen, the ring glowing on his hand.
THE ORACLE
(over the tumult)
The wheel turns. The ice melts. The old order
Gives way to the new. So it was written.
So it shall be.
Lights fade to blackout.
A chamber in the palace. DORILAUS lies in bed, attended by PHYSICIANS.
Enter POLYDORE.
FIRST PHYSICIAN
He wakes, my lord. The seizure hath passed off,
But he is weak. He must not be distressed.
POLYDORE
I understand. Leave us now.
Exeunt PHYSICIANS. DORILAUS stirs.
DORILAUS
Polydore? What—where am I? The Oracle—
The prophecy—tell me it was a dream.
POLYDORE
I cannot tell you that, my liege. ‘Twas real.
The ring of Dorian fits Captain Olinthus’s hand.
The Oracle hath spoken. The truth is known.
DORILAUS
(sitting up with effort)
Then I am nothing. My whole reign, my father’s reign,
My grandfather’s—all built upon a lie.
We were never the true line. We were usurpers.
POLYDORE
The question of who usurped whom is ancient,
Sire. Eight hundred years have passed since Dorian.
Your family hath ruled in peace for centuries.
That cannot be undone by a prophecy.
DORILAUS
Cannot it? Tell that to Olinthus,
Who now holds Dorian’s ring upon his finger.
Tell that to the lords who will see in him
A chance to remake the kingdom to their liking.
Tell that to Sigismund and Alexius,
Who will use this revelation as a lever
To pry open whatever advantage they can find.
POLYDORE
What would you have us do, sire?
DORILAUS
I know not. That is the tragedy of it.
Yesterday I was king, paralyzed by choices.
Today I am nothing, with no choices left.
The Oracle’s words have stripped me of authority.
Who will follow a king whose very crown
Is proven to belong to another?
POLYDORE
Many will, sire. You have ruled well enough.
The people know you. They know not Olinthus—
Save as a captain of the guard. A good man,
Aye, but untested in the ways of rule.
You might yet—
DORILAUS
Might yet what? Cling to a throne
That is not mine? Fight against the true heir
To preserve my illegitimate seat? No.
That way lies civil war, and civil war
Would destroy Thule more surely than surrender
To either the League or Muscovy.
Enter CLEANDER.
CLEANDER
Father. You’re awake. Thank the gods.
DORILAUS
Thank them for what? For revealing that
Our line is false? For making a mockery
Of everything our house has stood for?
CLEANDER
For sparing your life, at least. We feared
The seizure would take you.
DORILAUS
Perhaps it would have been better if it had.
POLYDORE
Sire!
DORILAUS
I speak from bitterness, Polydore,
Not true desire. But consider: if I die,
The question of succession resolves itself.
Olinthus becomes king without dispute,
And I am spared the humiliation
Of yielding what I can no longer rightfully hold.
CLEANDER
You would give up so easily?
DORILAUS
What would you have me do, my son?
Fight for a crown that was never ours?
Make war upon a man who has done nothing wrong
Except be born to the right bloodline?
I am too old and too tired for such battles.
CLEANDER
And what of me? What of my inheritance?
I have trained my whole life to be king.
Am I to step aside for a common soldier
Because some frozen witch says he has the blood?
DORILAUS
The ring confirmed it, Cleander. The ring glowed.
That is not witchcraft—’tis ancient magic,
Placed there by the Founders themselves.
We cannot dispute it.
CLEANDER
We can dispute anything! A glowing ring
Proves nothing but that someone knows a trick.
The Oracle may have been bribed, or enchanted,
Or simply mistaken. Why should we believe her?
POLYDORE
Because the Oracle has never lied, my prince.
In eight centuries, not once. That is her nature.
CLEANDER
Her nature can change. Everything changes now.
The ice melts, the old truths dissolve—
Why should the Oracle alone be constant?
DORILAUS
Enough, Cleander. I understand your anger.
I share it. But rage will not restore our line
Or undo what has been revealed.
He rises, unsteadily.
I must speak with Olinthus.
Whatever happens next, it must be decided
Between the two of us, man to man.
CLEANDER
And what of the embassies? They’re demanding
Answers. Sigismund threatens to withdraw
If he’s not received today. Alexius waits
With endless patience, which is almost worse.
DORILAUS
Let them wait a little longer. The fate of Thule
Is not to be decided in haste.
Exit DORILAUS, supported by POLYDORE.
CLEANDER
(alone)
So my father yields without a fight.
Gives up his crown to the first claimant
Who shows a glowing bauble on his hand.
And what of me? Am I to bow and scrape
Before a man who until yesterday
Would have knelt before me?
No. I will not accept it. There must be
Some way to contest this—some flaw in the proof,
Some ancient law that overrides the Oracle.
Arcastes would know. Arcastes knows everything.
If he’s truly been dealing with the League,
Perhaps they have scholars who could challenge
This convenient revelation.
I’ll not go quietly into obscurity.
If Olinthus wants the crown, he’ll have to fight for it.
Exit CLEANDER.
The Muscovite quarters in the palace.
Enter ALEXIUS and DIMITRI.
DIMITRI
My lord, this is your opportunity.
The King is weakened, the succession in chaos.
Strike now, and Thule is yours for the taking.
ALEXIUS
Strike? With what? We have five hundred men,
A ceremonial guard. That’s not an army.
DIMITRI
Enough to secure the palace. The rest
Would follow once we controlled the King—
Whichever king we choose to recognize.
Support Dorilaus against Olinthus,
Or support Olinthus against Dorilaus—
Either way, we become the kingmakers,
And kingmakers name their own price.
ALEXIUS
And what price would you have us name, Dimitri?
The princess? The Fire-Stones? The Northern Passage?
DIMITRI
All of them, my lord. Why aim for less
When everything is within our grasp?
ALEXIUS
Because that is not who I am.
DIMITRI
My lord?
ALEXIUS
I came here to woo a princess, not to conquer
A kingdom. I came to make alliance,
Not to seize advantage from another’s misfortune.
If I take Thule by force or by manipulation,
I become what my father always was—
A wolf in diplomat’s clothing, all smiles
While the teeth sink in. I swore I would be different.
DIMITRI
Your father was a great man, my lord.
He built Muscovy into an empire.
ALEXIUS
By crushing everyone who stood in his way.
By treachery, by assassination, by war.
He died with a hundred enemies cursing his name
And not one true friend to mourn him.
Is that what you want for me?
DIMITRI
I want you to be strong, my lord.
The world respects strength, not scruple.
ALEXIUS
Then let the world learn a different lesson.
Let it see a prince who keeps his word,
Who treats with honor even when honor
Offers no advantage. Perhaps I’ll fail—
Perhaps I’ll be remembered as a fool
Who let an empire slip through his fingers
For the sake of an outdated ideal.
But I’ll be able to look at my reflection
Without flinching. That’s worth something.
DIMITRI
You sound like the princess.
ALEXIUS
Do I? Then perhaps we’re suited after all.
(pause)
Dimitri, I want you to do something for me.
Go to the King—to Dorilaus—and tell him
That Muscovy takes no part in Thule’s succession.
We will support whatever ruler emerges
Through legitimate means. We ask only
The same terms we’ve always asked: fair trade,
Mutual defense, and—if she’s willing—
The hand of Princess Zenocrate.
DIMITRI
Even if her lover is now the rightful king?
ALEXIUS
Even so. If she chooses Olinthus over me,
I’ll accept it with grace. But I want her to know
That she has a choice—that I’m not withdrawing
Because the politics have changed.
She matters to me. Not just as a treaty,
But as a woman. Let her know that.
DIMITRI
I’ll tell her, my lord. Though I think you’re making
A grave mistake.
ALEXIUS
Perhaps. But it’s my mistake to make.
Exit DIMITRI.
ALEXIUS
(alone)
O Zenocrate! Would that we had met
In different circumstances—not as pawns
In some great game of thrones, but simply
As a man and a woman, free to choose
Without the weight of kingdoms on our backs.
I could have loved you—I think I do love you—
Not for your crown or your alliance-value,
But for the fire I see behind your eyes,
The courage that makes you speak your mind
Even when speaking costs you everything.
If you choose the captain—the king, I should say—
I’ll not stand in your way. He seems a good man,
And he has something I cannot offer:
Your heart. That is a currency no diplomat
Can match with treaties or with gold.
But know this, wherever fate takes us:
I would have been true to you. That much
I swear upon my honor.
Exit ALEXIUS.
A corridor. Night.
Enter ARCASTES, meeting SIGISMUND secretly.
SIGISMUND
Lord Chancellor. Your message said the matter
Was urgent.
ARCASTES
It is. Everything has changed.
The Oracle’s prophecy—you’ve heard it?
SIGISMUND
That the captain is the true heir? Yes, I’ve heard.
It complicates matters considerably.
ARCASTES
Complicates? It destroys them. All our plans—
The alliance, the Fire-Stones, everything—
Built on the assumption that Dorilaus
Would remain king and could be... managed.
Now there’s a new claimant, one who owes us nothing,
Who has no reason to favor the League.
SIGISMUND
Then we must give him reason.
ARCASTES
How? He’s in love with the princess—
A love that’s now suddenly permissible,
Since he’s of royal blood. He has no need
Of our alliance to secure his position.
SIGISMUND
Does he not? He has a rival in Cleander,
Who will not give up his claim so easily.
And there are lords who have invested much
In the old order—they’ll resist the change.
Olinthus will need friends. We can be those friends.
ARCASTES
At what price?
SIGISMUND
The same price we’ve always asked.
The Fire-Stones. Nothing less will satisfy
The League’s investment in this venture.
ARCASTES
Olinthus won’t give them up. He’s a soldier—
He understands their strategic value.
SIGISMUND
Then we must find other ways to obtain them.
The tomb is still accessible, is it not?
The Fire-Stones are stored in the glacier chamber.
A bold strike, at the right moment—
ARCASTES
You’re talking about theft. Open robbery.
SIGISMUND
I’m talking about securing our interests.
Thule is in chaos. No one knows who rules.
If the Fire-Stones were to... disappear...
In the confusion, who would be blamed?
Not us. We’re diplomats. We’re here for peace.
ARCASTES
This is madness. If we’re caught—
SIGISMUND
We won’t be caught. Not if you do your part.
You know the palace, the guards’ routines,
The secret passages. Guide my men to the chamber,
And the League will remember you with gratitude—
And with gold. A great deal of gold.
ARCASTES
(hesitating)
Even if I agreed—the guards have been doubled
Since the revelation. The whole palace
Is on edge. It would be nearly impossible—
SIGISMUND
Nearly impossible is not impossible.
Think about it, Lord Chancellor. What future
Do you have in the new order? Olinthus
Knows you were plotting against Dorilaus.
He’ll have you arrested, tried, executed—
Or at best, exiled in disgrace.
Your only chance is to flee before that happens,
And fleeing requires resources. We can provide them.
A noise. They freeze.
ARCASTES
Someone’s coming. We must not be seen together.
SIGISMUND
Midnight. The glacier chamber. Be there.
They separate. Enter POLYDORE, with guards.
POLYDORE
Who goes there? Arcastes?
ARCASTES
My lord Polydore. I was just—
POLYDORE
Conferring with the Germanic envoy
In a dark corridor in the dead of night?
That looks very much like treachery, Lord Chancellor.
ARCASTES
It was merely a chance encounter—
POLYDORE
Save your lies for someone who believes them.
Guards, take Lord Arcastes into custody.
He is to be held pending investigation.
ARCASTES
You have no authority—
POLYDORE
I have the King’s authority—
Whichever king that may be. And I have
The authority of common sense. Take him.
GUARDS seize ARCASTES.
ARCASTES
You’ll regret this, old man!
POLYDORE
I’ve regretted many things in my long life.
Adding you to the list won’t trouble me much.
Take him to the cells.
ARCASTES is dragged away.
POLYDORE
(to remaining GUARD)
Find Captain—find Lord Olinthus. Tell him
We’ve uncovered evidence of conspiracy
With the Germanic League. He’ll want to know.
GUARD
Yes, my lord.
Exit GUARD.
POLYDORE
(alone)
So Arcastes falls at last. I knew it would come
Eventually—the man was too ambitious
For his own good. But I take no pleasure in it.
We were friends once, years ago, before
Ambition curdled into treachery.
What makes a man choose such a path?
Fear? Greed? The simple hunger for power
That lurks in every heart? I do not know.
I only know that Thule is better off
Without him whispering in the King’s ear.
Now if we can only navigate
The shoals ahead without more casualties,
Perhaps there’s hope for this old kingdom yet.
Exit POLYDORE.
ZENOCRATE’s chambers.
Enter ZENOCRATE and OLINTHUS.
ZENOCRATE
Olinthus—my lord—I scarce know what to call you.
Yesterday you were my forbidden love.
Today you are the rightful King of Thule.
OLINTHUS
I am the same man I was yesterday,
Zenocrate. A ring does not change who I am.
ZENOCRATE
Does it not? You are now my equal—no,
My superior. The barriers that separated us
Have vanished like the ice that melts outside.
We can be together openly, lawfully,
Without scandal or dishonor. Is that not
A change worth celebrating?
OLINTHUS
It should be. And yet—I feel no joy.
Only confusion, and a terrible weight
That settles on my shoulders like a crown
I never asked to wear.
ZENOCRATE
You’ll grow into it. All kings must learn.
OLINTHUS
But I don’t want to be king, Zenocrate.
I wanted only you—to love you freely,
Without the burden of rule. Now that freedom
Is granted, but at what price? I must govern
A kingdom I know nothing of, manage nobles
Who despise my common origins, negotiate
With foreign powers who smell weakness.
How am I to do all this?
ZENOCRATE
You won’t do it alone. I’ll be beside you.
And Polydore, who’s loyal and wise.
And others who will rally to the true heir
Once they see you mean to rule justly.
OLINTHUS
And what of your father? What of Cleander?
They have as much claim as I—more, perhaps,
In the eyes of many. The revelation
Doesn’t erase centuries of tradition.
There will be those who refuse to accept it.
ZENOCRATE
Let them refuse. The Oracle has spoken.
The ring has confirmed it. Truth is truth,
No matter how inconvenient.
OLINTHUS
And what is truth, in matters of succession?
A bloodline traced through centuries of darkness,
A prophecy from a frozen seer,
A ring that glows when placed upon a finger—
Are these enough to overturn the world?
I am a soldier, Zenocrate. I know
How to fight, how to lead men in battle.
But this—this is a different kind of war,
And I’m not sure I have the weapons for it.
ZENOCRATE
(taking his hand)
Then we’ll find them together. I was raised
For politics, Olinthus—trained in the arts
Of diplomacy and governance from childhood.
What you lack, I can provide. And what I lack—
The courage to speak plainly, the strength
To stand firm when others would bend—
That you can teach me. We are complements,
You and I. Together, we could be
Greater than either alone.
OLINTHUS
You make it sound so simple.
ZENOCRATE
It isn’t.
Nothing worthwhile ever is. But it’s possible,
Olinthus. It’s possible.
Enter GLYCERA, breathless.
GLYCERA
My lady! My lord! There’s news!
Lord Arcastes has been arrested!
Polydore caught him meeting secretly
With the Germanic envoy. They say
He was plotting to steal the Fire-Stones!
OLINTHUS
The Fire-Stones? When was this to happen?
GLYCERA
Tonight, they think. Midnight at the glacier chamber.
OLINTHUS
Then we must act quickly. Where is Polydore?
GLYCERA
He sent me to find you, my lord.
He’s securing the palace against further treachery.
OLINTHUS
Good. Zenocrate, stay here. Glycera, watch her.
I must go to the glacier—if Sigismund
Means to move tonight, he may not know
That Arcastes has been taken.
ZENOCRATE
Be careful, Olinthus.
OLINTHUS
Always.
He kisses her quickly and exits.
ZENOCRATE
Glycera, what else did you hear?
GLYCERA
Much confusion, my lady. The palace
Is in uproar. No one knows who rules,
Or who to obey. Some guards follow Olinthus,
Others still look to the King—your father—
And some, I fear, are waiting to see
Which way the wind blows before committing.
ZENOCRATE
That’s the danger. In uncertain times,
Men choose their own interests over duty.
We must ensure that Olinthus is seen
As the legitimate authority—quickly,
Before the factions have time to crystallize.
Come. There’s work to do.
Exeunt.
A corridor. Night.
Enter STRATO, wandering, clearly lost.
STRATO
This way? No, I came from there. That way, then.
No, that leads to the kitchens. Or does it?
Curse this palace and its endless corridors!
A man could wander for days and never find—
Enter DIMITRI and two MUSCOVITE SOLDIERS.
Ah! Who goes there?
DIMITRI
Captain Strato, is it not? The famous hero
Of the Ice-Guard?
STRATO
(puffing up)
The same, sir. The very same.
Terror of the frozen wastes, defender of—
Wait, you’re Muscovites. What are you doing
Wandering the palace at this hour?
DIMITRI
We might ask you the same question.
STRATO
I am on patrol, sir. Vital patrol. Checking
For—for—for intruders, exactly. Like yourselves.
DIMITRI
We have every right to be here. We are guests.
STRATO
Guests don’t creep about in the dark with swords.
I must ask you to—to—to accompany me
To the—to somewhere with more light.
For questioning. Yes, questioning.
DIMITRI
(amused)
You’re going to question us?
STRATO
I am a captain!
I have authority! I have—I have—
He realizes he’s outnumbered three to one.
—I have a very reasonable nature,
And I’m sure we can work this out without
Any unpleasantness. What were you looking for?
Perhaps I can help you find it.
DIMITRI
We’re looking for the princess’s chambers.
The Grand Duke has a message for her.
STRATO
Ah! The princess! Yes, I know exactly where—
That is, I could find out—I mean,
It’s highly irregular for strangers to—
DIMITRI
Take us there.
STRATO
I really don’t think I should—
DIMITRI draws his sword slightly.
—but on the other hand, what are rules
Between friends? This way, gentlemen. Follow me.
He leads them off, looking terrified.
They round a corner and encounter OLINTHUS with a squad of GUARDS.
OLINTHUS
Strato? What are you doing?
STRATO
My lord! Thank the gods! I was just—
These men were—I was bringing them to you!
Yes, that’s it. I apprehended them
Single-handed, and was bringing them—
DIMITRI
(to OLINTHUS)
Lord Olinthus. We meet again.
I bear a message from Grand Duke Alexius
For the Princess Zenocrate.
OLINTHUS
A message that required three armed men
To deliver in the middle of the night?
DIMITRI
The palace is in chaos. We thought it prudent
To travel with protection.
OLINTHUS
I see. And what is the message?
DIMITRI
It’s for the princess’s ears alone.
OLINTHUS
I think not. These are uncertain times,
And I am—I am—
STRATO
(helpfully)
You’re the rightful King, my lord!
Everyone knows it. The ring and everything.
I always said there was something noble about you.
Didn’t I always say that? To everyone?
OLINTHUS
Strato, be quiet.
(to DIMITRI)
The message.
DIMITRI
Very well. Grand Duke Alexius wishes
The princess to know that he takes no part
In Thule’s succession dispute. He supports
Whatever ruler emerges legitimately.
And he wishes her to know that his feelings
For her have not changed with the circumstances.
OLINTHUS
(surprised)
He said that?
DIMITRI
Word for word. He also said
That if she chooses you over him,
He accepts it with grace.
OLINTHUS
That’s... unexpectedly honorable.
DIMITRI
My master is an honorable man.
Unlike some in this palace.
OLINTHUS
We’ve taken one traitor already tonight.
We’ll not have the Fire-Stones stolen.
DIMITRI
Muscovy has no interest in theft.
If we wanted those weapons, we’d negotiate for them
Like civilized people.
OLINTHUS
Then we understand each other.
Return to your quarters. Tell the Grand Duke
I’ll speak with him tomorrow—about many things.
This crisis may yet be resolved peacefully.
DIMITRI
I’ll tell him.
Exit DIMITRI and the MUSCOVITE SOLDIERS.
STRATO
(to OLINTHUS)
My lord, I want you to know that I was
This close to taking them all on myself—
OLINTHUS
Strato, go to bed.
STRATO
Yes, my lord. Absolutely. Bed. Right away.
(exiting) Three against one, I’d have had ‘em...
Exit STRATO.
OLINTHUS
(to his GUARDS)
To the glacier chamber. If Sigismund
Has men moving on the Fire-Stones,
We must stop them.
Exeunt.
The glacier chamber. Night.
The Fire-Stones rest on a pedestal of ice. A strange glow emanates from them.
Enter SIGISMUND with several GERMANIC SOLDIERS.
SIGISMUND
Quickly, quickly! Arcastes should have been here
By now. Something’s wrong.
FIRST SOLDIER
The stones, my lord—how do we carry them?
They seem to pulse with some kind of energy.
SIGISMUND
Wrap them in lead cloth. That should contain
The emanations. Move!
The SOLDIERS approach the pedestal. As they do, a voice speaks—the ORACLE, though she is not visibly present.
THE ORACLE
(voice only)
Hold.
The SOLDIERS freeze.
SIGISMUND
Who speaks?
THE ORACLE
I am the voice of the Founders.
I am the memory of Thule.
I am the warning you should have heeded.
SIGISMUND
The Oracle! Where are you? Show yourself!
THE ORACLE
I am everywhere the ice touches.
I am nowhere you can reach.
And I tell you now: the Fire-Stones
Cannot be taken by theft. They were placed here
By powers greater than you can imagine,
Sealed with oaths that bind across centuries.
If you touch them with intent to steal,
They will destroy you—and everything around you.
FIRST SOLDIER
My lord, perhaps we should—
SIGISMUND
Silence! This is a trick. A voice in the darkness,
Nothing more. The stones are just stones.
Take them!
The FIRST SOLDIER reaches for the stones. The moment his hand touches them, there is a FLASH OF LIGHT and he is thrown backward.
FIRST SOLDIER
(screaming)
My hand! My hand!
His hand is blackened, burned.
THE ORACLE
I warned you. The stones know their own.
Only the true heir of Dorian may handle them.
Only he may decide their fate.
Enter OLINTHUS and his GUARDS.
OLINTHUS
Sigismund! Stand down!
SIGISMUND
Olinthus. The new king. Come to claim your prize?
OLINTHUS
I’ve come to stop you from destroying yourself
And everyone else. You heard the Oracle.
The stones cannot be taken by force.
SIGISMUND
Pretty words. But I don’t believe in oracles.
OLINTHUS
Look at your soldier’s hand and tell me
You don’t believe.
SIGISMUND looks. The FIRST SOLDIER is weeping, cradling his ruined hand.
SIGISMUND
(to his men)
We’re leaving. This venture is finished.
OLINTHUS
Not so fast. You attempted theft from Thule.
That’s an act of war.
SIGISMUND
Is it? I was merely... investigating.
Curious about these legendary weapons.
No crime in curiosity, surely.
OLINTHUS
Drop your weapons and surrender.
SIGISMUND
I am an accredited ambassador.
I have diplomatic immunity.
OLINTHUS
Immunity ends when you try to steal
A kingdom’s most valuable possession.
The GERMANIC SOLDIERS look at each other, then drop their weapons.
SIGISMUND
Cowards! All of you!
FIRST SOLDIER
My lord, my hand is gone. I’m not dying
For a pile of glowing rocks.
OLINTHUS
A sensible man. Take them into custody.
We’ll decide what to do with them tomorrow.
The GUARDS move to secure the GERMANIC party.
SIGISMUND
(as he’s led away)
This isn’t over, Olinthus. The League
Will not forget this insult. You’ve made
A powerful enemy today.
OLINTHUS
I’ll take my chances.
Exeunt the GUARDS with prisoners.
OLINTHUS stands alone before the Fire-Stones.
THE ORACLE
You did well, son of Dorian.
OLINTHUS
Oracle. Are you truly everywhere?
THE ORACLE
I am where I am needed. And I am needed here,
To tell you what must be done.
OLINTHUS
What must be done?
THE ORACLE
The Fire-Stones were placed here by the Founders
As a last resort—a weapon so terrible
That no enemy would dare attack Thule.
But they were never meant to be used.
Their purpose was deterrence, not destruction.
Now that purpose is fulfilled. The ice melts,
And Thule must learn to live in the world
Without the shield of the Everfrost.
The Fire-Stones have become a temptation—
Every power wants them, and possessing them
Would paint a target on Thule forever.
OLINTHUS
What are you saying?
THE ORACLE
I am saying that you must destroy them.
Not steal them, not hide them, not bargain with them—
Destroy them utterly, so no one can ever
Use them for war.
OLINTHUS
Destroy such power? Is that even possible?
THE ORACLE
It is possible. For the true heir, all things
Are possible with the Fire-Stones. You alone
Can handle them safely. You alone can unmake
What the Founders made. The question is:
Do you have the courage to give up
Such power, when keeping it might ensure
Your throne forever?
OLINTHUS
(looking at the stones)
You ask a hard thing, Oracle.
THE ORACLE
All true things are hard. That is how you know
They are true.
OLINTHUS reaches toward the stones. They do not burn him. Instead, they glow gently, as if in recognition.
OLINTHUS
I must think on this. It is not a decision
To be made in the darkness of one night.
THE ORACLE
Think quickly, then. The world will not wait
For Thule to make up its mind.
The ORACLE’s voice fades. OLINTHUS stands alone, the Fire-Stones glowing before him.
The council chamber. Dawn.
Enter DORILAUS, CLEANDER, OLINTHUS, ZENOCRATE, POLYDORE, ALEXIUS, and DIMITRI.
DORILAUS
We are gathered here to settle matters
That have hung too long in doubt. Captain—
Lord Olinthus—the Oracle has spoken.
The ring confirms your blood. By every measure,
You are the rightful heir of Dorian,
And I... am not.
He removes his crown.
I offer you this crown,
Which I have worn these many years believing
It was mine by right. I was wrong.
Take it, and rule Thule as it should be ruled.
CLEANDER
Father, no!
DORILAUS
Be silent, Cleander. This is right.
I’ve had the night to think on it, and I know
What I must do. The Oracle cannot lie,
And I will not fight against the truth
Simply to preserve my pride.
OLINTHUS
King Dorilaus—
DORILAUS
I am king no longer.
OLINTHUS
Then—my lord. I cannot accept this crown
The way you offer it. If I am to rule,
It must be with the consent of those I rule,
Not simply because a frozen woman
And a glowing ring say I have the right.
POLYDORE
What would you have, my lord?
OLINTHUS
I would have the lords of Thule choose.
Let them hear the evidence—the Oracle’s words,
The ring’s confirmation, the chronicles
From Dorian’s tomb. Let them decide
Whether they will accept me as their king,
Or remain loyal to the house of Dorilaus.
I’ll not have a crown that’s given in shame.
CLEANDER
(surprised)
You would risk rejection?
OLINTHUS
I would risk much for legitimacy.
A king who seizes power by revelation
Is not much different from one who seizes it
By conquest. Both need the people’s consent
To truly rule. Without it, any crown
Is merely a heavy hat.
ALEXIUS
Well spoken. Muscovy would respect such a choice.
DORILAUS
And what if the lords choose against you?
OLINTHUS
Then I remain what I was: a captain
Of the guard, a common man who loved
A princess. I’ll not start a war for a throne.
Thule has enough enemies without
Making enemies of its own people.
ZENOCRATE
(to OLINTHUS, quietly)
Are you sure about this?
OLINTHUS
No. But it’s right.
POLYDORE
I think the lords will choose wisely, my lord.
You’ve shown courage, honor, and restraint—
Qualities Thule needs in these uncertain times.
DORILAUS
Then let the assembly be called. Today,
If possible. The longer we delay,
The more time for factions to form
And for our enemies to exploit our weakness.
OLINTHUS
Agreed. But first—there is the matter
Of the Fire-Stones. I spoke with the Oracle
Last night. She counseled their destruction.
CLEANDER
Destruction? Of our greatest weapon?
OLINTHUS
Our greatest weapon is also our greatest curse.
Every power in the world wants them.
As long as they exist, Thule will be
A target for conquest or manipulation.
If we destroy them, we remove the temptation—
For others, and for ourselves.
ALEXIUS
A bold proposal. Muscovy would support it.
We have enough weapons of our own.
We need not covet Thule’s.
POLYDORE
But without the Fire-Stones, how do we defend
Against invasion?
OLINTHUS
The same way every other nation does:
With alliances, with trade, with diplomacy.
The ice wall is melting, Polydore.
We cannot hide behind it anymore.
We must learn to live in the world as it is,
Not as we wish it were.
DORILAUS
You speak like a king already, Olinthus.
Perhaps the Oracle chose better than I knew.
OLINTHUS
We’ll see what the lords say. In the meantime—
(to ZENOCRATE)
There is one more matter to settle.
ZENOCRATE
Yes?
OLINTHUS
(taking her hand)
The barriers that separated us are gone.
If I am accepted as king, I would have you
As my queen. Will you consent to marry me?
ZENOCRATE
(smiling)
I thought you’d never ask.
ALEXIUS
(bowing)
Then I withdraw my suit, with grace.
I wish you both happiness.
ZENOCRATE
Grand Duke Alexius—I’m sorry that—
ALEXIUS
Do not apologize, my lady. The heart
Knows its own wisdom. You chose well.
I only hope that someday I may find
What you have found.
DIMITRI
(quietly, to ALEXIUS)
My lord, you’re being far too noble.
ALEXIUS
Perhaps. But I find I like the feeling.
Enter a GUARD.
GUARD
My lords! The Germanic embassy has fled!
Sigismund and his men escaped in the night—
They took a ship from the harbor.
POLYDORE
Damn! I should have posted more guards.
OLINTHUS
Let them go. The League will be trouble eventually,
But not today. Today we have work to do.
Call the assembly. Let Thule’s fate be decided.
Exeunt.
The great hall of Thule. Day.
The LORDS OF THULE assembled. DORILAUS sits to the side, without his crown.
OLINTHUS stands before them, the ring of Dorian on his finger.
ZENOCRATE, POLYDORE, ALEXIUS, CLEANDER, and others attend.
POLYDORE
My lords, you have heard the evidence.
The Oracle’s testimony. The ring’s confirmation.
The records found in Dorian’s tomb.
The question before you is simple:
Do you accept Olinthus, son of the hidden line,
As the rightful King of Thule?
FIRST LORD
This is unprecedented. For eight centuries
The house of Dorilaus has ruled unchallenged.
Are we to overturn all that history
On the word of a frozen seer?
SECOND LORD
The ring glowed. I saw it myself.
That is not a seer’s word—that is magic,
Ancient magic, older than any house.
THIRD LORD
Magic or no, a captain of the guard
Has no training for rule. He knows nothing
Of governance, of diplomacy, of the subtle arts
That keep a kingdom whole.
OLINTHUS
(stepping forward)
My lords, you speak truth. I was not trained
To be a king. I was trained to serve.
But perhaps that’s not such a disadvantage.
A king who has served knows what service means.
He knows what it is to take orders, to obey,
To put the good of the whole above himself.
These are not bad qualities in a ruler.
As for the arts of governance—I will learn.
I have counsellors who can teach me:
Lord Polydore, who has served Thule faithfully
For forty years; King Dorilaus himself,
Who has agreed to advise me if you accept
My claim; and the Princess Zenocrate,
Who was raised in the ways of court and council.
I do not come to you claiming perfection.
I come offering willingness to learn,
Courage to act, and loyalty to Thule.
Is that not enough?
CLEANDER
(standing)
My lords, before you decide, hear me.
I am the son of Dorilaus, the man
Who was raised to be king after my father.
By all rights, I should be fighting this claim,
Demanding that you reject this upstart captain
And maintain the traditional succession.
And yet—I do not.
Murmurs of surprise.
CLEANDER (continued)
I have watched Olinthus these past days.
I have seen how he handled the crisis—
Not with rashness, not with panic, but with
A steady hand and a clear mind.
He stopped the Germanic theft of the Fire-Stones.
He offered to submit his claim to your judgment
Rather than seize power by force.
He has loved my sister with a constancy
That never wavered, even when that love
Seemed impossible. These are not the acts
Of a common man. These are the acts of a king.
I yield my claim to him. I ask you
To accept him as I have accepted him.
ZENOCRATE
(to CLEANDER, quietly)
Brother—I did not expect this.
CLEANDER
Nor did I, until I said it. But it’s right.
Thule needs him more than it needs me.
FIRST LORD
If Prince Cleander yields, then the main objection
To Lord Olinthus’s claim is removed.
SECOND LORD
And the Oracle’s testimony cannot be doubted.
She has never lied in eight hundred years.
THIRD LORD
Still, I would know: what does Lord Olinthus
Intend to do about the Fire-Stones?
They are our greatest treasure—and our greatest
Danger. Every power in the world wants them.
OLINTHUS
My lords, I intend to destroy them.
Gasps and murmurs.
OLINTHUS (continued)
Hear me out. The Oracle has counselled this.
The Fire-Stones were placed in the ice
As a deterrent, not a weapon. Their purpose
Was to ensure that no enemy would dare
Attack Thule. But now the ice melts,
And the deterrent becomes a temptation.
Every nation that knows of them will scheme
To possess them. We will never have peace
As long as they exist. But if we destroy them—
Openly, publicly, with witnesses from
Muscovy and the other powers—
We remove the temptation forever.
Thule becomes just another kingdom,
No more dangerous than any other.
Our enemies have no reason to attack us,
And our friends have no reason to fear us.
FIRST LORD
But without the Stones, how do we defend
Against invasion?
OLINTHUS
With alliances. Grand Duke Alexius
Has already indicated that Muscovy
Would support a Thule without the Fire-Stones.
The Germanic League, despite their treachery,
Will think twice before attacking a kingdom
Allied with Muscovy. And there is Albion,
Which has sent no embassy yet, but which
Might welcome a northern trading partner.
The world is changing, my lords. The ice melts,
And with it, our isolation. We must learn
To live among the nations, not apart from them.
POLYDORE
A bold vision, my lord. And perhaps the right one.
SECOND LORD
I am persuaded. If the Oracle counsels this,
And if Lord Olinthus has the courage to do it,
Then I will support his claim.
THIRD LORD
And I.
FIRST LORD
And I, though with reservations.
POLYDORE
Then let us put it to the vote.
All those who accept Olinthus as King of Thule,
Say aye.
A chorus of “aye”s, overwhelming.
POLYDORE
And those opposed?
Silence. A few grudging murmurs, but no clear “nay.”
POLYDORE
The motion carries. My lords, I give you
Olinthus, true heir of Dorian,
King of Thule.
DORILAUS rises and places the crown on OLINTHUS’s head.
DORILAUS
Wear it well, my lord. Better than I did.
OLINTHUS
I will try, my lord. I will try.
The assembled lords kneel. OLINTHUS looks out over them, the weight of the crown settling on his brow.
ALL
Long live the King! Long live King Olinthus!
The glacier chamber. Day.
The Fire-Stones glow on their pedestal.
Enter OLINTHUS, ZENOCRATE, DORILAUS, CLEANDER, POLYDORE, ALEXIUS, DIMITRI, and witnesses.
OLINTHUS
We are gathered here to witness the end
Of an age. The Fire-Stones of Thule,
Placed here by the Founders eight centuries ago,
Have served their purpose. They have protected us
From invasion, from conquest, from destruction.
But that protection has become a curse.
Every nation covets them. Every power
Schemes to possess them. As long as they exist,
Thule will never know peace.
Therefore, with the authority vested in me
As King of Thule and heir of Dorian,
I decree their destruction.
ALEXIUS
Muscovy witnesses.
POLYDORE
Thule witnesses.
CLEANDER
The house of Dorilaus witnesses.
OLINTHUS
(approaching the stones)
Oracle, if you can hear me—guide my hand.
THE ORACLE
(voice only)
I hear you, King of Thule.
Take the stones in your hands. Only you can touch them
Without harm. Then speak the word of unmakíng,
Which I shall give you.
OLINTHUS
I am ready.
He reaches out and takes the Fire-Stones in his hands. They glow brightly, pulsing with power.
THE ORACLE
Speak these words: “By the power that made you,
I unmake you. By the fire that formed you,
I quench you. Return to the earth from which you came,
And trouble the world no more.”
OLINTHUS
By the power that made you, I unmake you.
By the fire that formed you, I quench you.
Return to the earth from which you came,
And trouble the world no more.
The stones begin to crack. Light pours from them—not destructive, but radiant, warm. The chamber fills with brilliance.
When the light fades, the stones are gone. In OLINTHUS’s hands is only dust, which he lets fall to the ground.
ZENOCRATE
It’s done.
OLINTHUS
It’s done.
THE ORACLE
The Fire-Stones are unmade. Their power
Returns to the earth, dispersed and harmless.
No one shall wield them again. Thule is free—
Free of their protection, and free of their burden.
My task is nearly complete. One thing remains.
OLINTHUS
What thing?
THE ORACLE
I have guarded the secrets of the Founders
For eight hundred years. The ice that held me
Is melting. Soon I too shall fade,
My consciousness dissolving into the melt-water
That flows down to the sea. Before I go,
I would give you one last gift: a blessing
On your reign, and on your union with Zenocrate.
ZENOCRATE
Oracle—you’re dying?
THE ORACLE
I am returning. There is a difference.
The ice that made me is part of the world,
And I shall become part of it again—
The water, the sea, the clouds, the rain.
I shall be everywhere and nowhere,
Conscious of nothing, but present in everything.
Do not grieve for me. I have served my purpose.
Now let me serve yours.
A shimmer in the air, and the ORACLE appears—a woman of ice and light, beautiful and terrible.
THE ORACLE
Olinthus, son of Dorian, I bless your reign.
May it be long, and peaceful, and just.
May you rule with wisdom and compassion,
And may your children’s children remember you
As the king who chose peace over power.
Zenocrate, daughter of the old line, I bless you.
May you be queen in truth as well as name,
A partner and counsellor to your lord,
A mother to the future of Thule.
May your love never falter, and may your union
Be a model for all who come after.
And to all who witness: remember this day.
Remember that power can be surrendered,
That old orders can give way to new,
That enemies can become friends,
And that the ice, though it melts, leaves behind
Something greater than itself: the freedom
To grow, to change, to become what you were meant to be.
The ORACLE begins to fade.
THE ORACLE (continued)
Farewell, Thule. I have loved you well.
She dissolves into mist, which rises and is gone.
OLINTHUS
(quietly)
Farewell, Oracle. And thank you.
A moment of silence. Then ZENOCRATE takes his hand.
ZENOCRATE
Come, my lord. There’s much yet to be done.
OLINTHUS
Aye. A kingdom to rebuild. A world to meet.
And a wedding to plan.
ZENOCRATE
That too.
They exit together, followed by the others.
The great hall. Evening.
A celebration is underway. MUSIC, DANCING, FEASTING.
OLINTHUS and ZENOCRATE sit on the throne together.
DORILAUS, CLEANDER, ALEXIUS, POLYDORE, GLYCERA, and others are present.
POLYDORE
(raising a cup)
To the King and Queen of Thule!
May their reign be long and prosperous!
ALL
To the King and Queen!
They drink.
ALEXIUS
(approaching the throne)
Your Majesty. Before I depart for Muscovy,
I wished to offer my congratulations
Once more, and to assure you of our friendship.
OLINTHUS
Grand Duke Alexius, your friendship means much.
Without your restraint in these past days—
Your refusal to exploit our weakness—
This outcome might have been very different.
ALEXIUS
I told the truth when I said I sought alliance,
Not conquest. I hope our nations can be friends.
OLINTHUS
I believe they can. When you return home,
Tell your council that Thule wishes peace
And trade with Muscovy. We have much to offer
Each other.
ALEXIUS
I shall tell them. And if ever
You need Muscovy’s aid, you have but to ask.
ZENOCRATE
Grand Duke—Alexius—I want you to know
That I appreciate your grace in this.
Another man might have—
ALEXIUS
Another man might have made a fool of himself.
I chose not to. That’s all.
(with a slight bow)
Be happy, Your Majesty. That’s all I ask.
He withdraws.
CLEANDER
(approaching)
Brother—for that’s what you are now, in law—
I owe you an apology.
OLINTHUS
For what?
CLEANDER
For doubting you. For plotting against my father.
For being so consumed with my own ambition
That I nearly tore the kingdom apart.
If you hadn’t been here—if the Oracle
Hadn’t spoken when she did—I might have
Done something unforgivable.
OLINTHUS
But you didn’t. And in the end, you stood with me
When it mattered. That’s what counts.
CLEANDER
You’re more forgiving than I deserve.
OLINTHUS
Perhaps. But forgiveness is easier than war.
And Thule needs peace, not punishment.
CLEANDER clasps his hand, then withdraws.
DORILAUS
(approaching more slowly)
My lord. My king. You’ve done well today.
Better than I could have done, I think.
OLINTHUS
You taught the lords of Thule something important,
Lord Dorilaus. You showed them that power
Can be surrendered gracefully. That a crown
Can be given as well as taken. That’s a lesson
They won’t forget.
DORILAUS
I did what was right. Nothing more.
OLINTHUS
That’s everything.
DORILAUS
What will you do with me now?
I’m a man without purpose. A former king
Is an awkward thing to have around—
A reminder of what was, a potential focus
For discontent.
OLINTHUS
I’ve thought about that. I’d like you to stay—
As an adviser, if you’re willing. You know things
About Thule that I’ll need years to learn.
I’d be a fool not to use that knowledge.
DORILAUS
You’d trust me? After everything?
OLINTHUS
I’d trust you because of everything.
You gave up your crown when you could have fought.
That takes more courage than any battle.
DORILAUS
(moved)
Then I’ll stay. And serve. If you’ll have me.
OLINTHUS
I’ll have you. With gratitude.
DORILAUS bows and withdraws.
Enter STRATO, somewhat unsteady, clearly having enjoyed the feast.
STRATO
Your Majesty! I wanted to say—I always knew—
That is, I always suspected—well, perhaps not
Suspected exactly, but I had a feeling—
A very strong feeling—that you were destined
For greatness. Didn’t I always say so?
To anyone who would listen?
OLINTHUS
I don’t believe you ever did, Strato.
STRATO
Well, I thought it. Which is nearly the same thing.
In any case, I’m at your service. Whatever
You need—guards, escorts, dangerous missions—
Just call on Captain Strato!
OLINTHUS
(smiling)
I’ll keep that in mind.
STRATO
Excellent! Now if you’ll excuse me, I believe
There’s a lady by the wine table who—
(He spots GLYCERA)
Ah! Miss Glycera! Have I told you
About the time I single-handedly—
He weaves off toward GLYCERA, who rolls her eyes but smiles.
ZENOCRATE
Some things never change.
OLINTHUS
And perhaps that’s as it should be.
The world is changing fast enough without
Strato becoming competent.
They laugh together.
The same hall, later. The celebration continues, but more quietly.
OLINTHUS and ZENOCRATE stand by a window, looking out at the stars.
Beyond the window, the distant glow of the melting glacier can be seen.
ZENOCRATE
It’s strange. This morning I woke not knowing
If I would ever be free to love you.
Tonight I am your queen.
OLINTHUS
And I woke this morning as a captain
With a secret. Tonight I am a king
With a kingdom. Strange indeed.
ZENOCRATE
Do you regret it? Any of it?
OLINTHUS
Not the parts that matter. I regret
The danger you were in because of me.
I regret the pain it caused your father.
But this—us—standing here together,
Looking out at a world we can shape together—
No. I don’t regret this at all.
ZENOCRATE
Nor I.
They stand in silence for a moment, looking at the stars.
OLINTHUS
The Oracle said the ice would keep melting.
That the world would come to us whether we wanted
It to or not. She was right.
ZENOCRATE
And now we must learn to meet it. Not as
A frozen kingdom hiding behind walls of ice,
But as a living nation, open to change.
OLINTHUS
It’s frightening.
ZENOCRATE
Yes.
OLINTHUS
But also exciting.
Think what we might become. Not just Thule,
But all the nations, if we can learn
To work together instead of fighting.
ZENOCRATE
You’re an optimist, my lord.
OLINTHUS
I have to be. A king without hope
Is a king without a future.
Enter POLYDORE.
POLYDORE
Your Majesties. Forgive the interruption.
A ship has been sighted in the harbor—
Flying the flag of Albion.
OLINTHUS
Albion? At last. I wondered when they’d come.
POLYDORE
Shall I receive them?
OLINTHUS
In the morning. Tonight is for celebration.
Tomorrow we begin the work of diplomacy.
POLYDORE
As you wish, sire.
Exit POLYDORE.
ZENOCRATE
Albion. Another suitor for our friendship.
Or another threat?
OLINTHUS
We’ll find out tomorrow. Tonight, let’s not think
Of politics. Tonight, let’s just be
What we always wanted to be: two people
Who love each other, with nothing between them.
ZENOCRATE
That sounds perfect.
They embrace.
The lights begin to dim. Music swells—a gentle, hopeful melody.
In the background, the LORDS and LADIES continue their dancing.
STRATO is seen attempting to impress GLYCERA with increasingly elaborate tales.
DORILAUS and CLEANDER sit together, reconciled.
ALEXIUS raises a final cup toward the royal couple before departing.
DIMITRI follows his master, looking back with something like respect.
And outside the window, the glacier glows—still melting, still changing,
still opening Thule to a world of possibility.
OLINTHUS
(to ZENOCRATE, softly)
The thaw continues.
ZENOCRATE
Let it.
They kiss.
The lights fade to darkness.
The stage clears. Enter STRATO, alone, to address the audience.
STRATO
And so we come to the end of our tale—
The ice hath melted, the king hath fallen,
A new king risen, and love triumphant.
Pretty stuff, is it not? The sort of thing
That makes you feel warm inside, despite
The cold winds blowing from the north.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Strato,
What happened to you? Did you ever win
The heart of fair Glycera?” Well, I’ll tell you:
She’s warming to me. Slowly. Very slowly.
But I’m a patient man—when I’m not running
Away from Muscovites or tripping over
My own feet in the corridors at midnight.
Give me time. A hero’s work is never done.
As for the rest—the Fire-Stones are destroyed,
The Oracle is gone, the Germanic League
Is skulking home with their tails between their legs,
And Thule faces a new world with new friends.
Will it last? Who can say? The world is fickle,
And peace is fragile as the ice that melts.
But for now, at least, there’s hope. And hope
Is what keeps us going, is it not?
The Founders, when they placed those stones in ice,
Knew that someday the thaw would come. They planned
For a future they would never see. That’s wisdom—
Not clinging to the past, but trusting
That those who come after will find their way.
King Olinthus has found his. May we all.
Now, I must go. There’s a lady waiting—
Well, not waiting exactly, but present,
Which is nearly the same thing. And besides,
The wine is running low, and I’ve a reputation
To maintain as the greatest drinker in Thule.
Or at least the most enthusiastic.
Good night, friends! May your own ice melt gently,
And may you find warmth where you least expect it!
Exit STRATO, waving.
FINIS
THEATRUM EX SEPULCHRIS
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI,
ā Francisco Ioanne Fletchemontio
per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
“Your fancies are so wov’n and knit,
‘Twas Francis Fletcher, or John Beaumont writ.”
Published by Centaurus Press · Universitas Scholarium · All rights reserved.