As I awaited Book 1’s completion I couldn’t stop thinking of the image directly above. A man’s severed head turned to face a grotesque, and obscure, message: “observe the Nine… or else.”
If you count the limbs in addition to the dead and dying men hanging above Undari’s head you’ll see it. Having Udonis, who just killed for the first time, taking it all in adds another “meta” layer: Udonis wants to be like Ulius in every sense but is he prepared to lead a life that includes this? These events were a wake up call for the young prince.
We see once again how Ulius would rule if he weren’t beholden to the Queen’s final say. When you juxtapose this scene with scene 3 you get to different takes on justice and a bit of insight into what political life might be like when Ulius is home from campaign. While we don’t know Ellaria too well at this early stage in the story, what we do know is that she is taking time to teach young nobles the value of asking questions, reflecting, and ultimately showing restraint when exercising power.
Early on in the scene, the first panel actually, we see a bit of a nod to Game of Thrones and other epic fantasy stories set in medieval settings. The prisoner being led behind the caravan is a staple that I knew I wanted to include. So much of this scene is tone setting for Ennead. I wanted readers to know that this world came with stakes. That the consequences here are harsh. Undari learns that the hard way when he’s drawn and quartered to kick things off. I spent a considerable amount of time researching medieval torture, among many other things relevant to the period, so don’t be surprised if we visit the site of another execution in Volume 2.
If you read “A Father’s Approval” then you know Ulius forbid Miika from joining the skirmish in the woods because he wanted the glory to go to Udonis instead. Miika is a few years older but much slower to take after their father. When our story starts off we see a father who is ready to cast off one son in favor of the other. This scene was meant to highlight that.
We also get to see Ulius the man at arms at work here. While we’ve yet to see the battle tactician side of Ulius (Volume 2) we see that he knows his way around a fight. I wanted Ulius to come off as keenly aware of the actions, and emotions, of men before, during, and after they’d been bloodied. Before, we see Ulius as a calming force, getting Udonis to focus on what he’s about to experience. During, we see a ruthless killer. After, a stern leader who knows better than to let his troops celebrate too soon.
PAGE 19 (4 Panels)
Scene 6 (/1/7 pages/)
*Panel 1*
BIRD’S EYE/HIGH ANGLE
Ulius leads a unit of 90 men, including his 9 personal Bondsmen who ride just behind him, and his two sons who ride at his side. Ripon is bound at his hands, he’s gagged, and being pulled along by Ulius’ horse. The unit of 90 are just behind the Bondsmen, mostly out of frame.
*Panel 2*
The King is now a few paces in front of his men as the trees closest to the road seem to encircle them, like a low ceiling in a small cottage. Their faces neutral as they ready themselves for the unknown.
1 UDONIS Did you know the men were from Tumahan?
1 MIIKA I wish I could say I did, but I’d be lying.
2 UDONIS What do you think it means?
2 MIIKA I can’t say. But I know we’d be *foolish* to underestimate what lies ahead…
*Panel 3*
They see a downed tree in the road, a dense thicket of trees surround it on either side. Ulius dismounts and walks towards Miika, Udonis, and the 9 Bondsmen, they all begin to dismount.
1 ULIUS This is it. We enter here. Spread out, 5 men abreast.
2 ULIUS Miika, you stay here with the bulk of the men, guard the rear. Make sure no one takes us unaware.
3 ULIUS And Sir Garrick...
1 GARRICK Yes, Your Grace?
4 ULIUS Let Undari’s *screams* serve as a warning for his companions.
*Panel 4*
With that, Ulius leads Udonis, 9 Bondsmen, and about 20 additional men into the woods. Its important that Ulius is directly flanked by Udonis and one other Bondsman. The men marched slowly in lines of 5, each man draws his weapon. Ulius, and Udonis, who struggles to hold his, both have their one and a half handed swords, the Bondsmen are each armed with polearm. Some have hooks, some axe heads, some spears, some a combination of the three.
The men in the rest of the cohort are carrying a variety of weapons: one handed swords, axes, hammers, maces, spears. The Bondsmen wear their uniforms and the rest of the soldiers wear a variety of armor types (see ref # 17)
1 SFX PLEASE!!!
2 SFX SChWaaK!
3 SFX AHHHHH!!!
4 SFX SChWaaK!
PAGE 20 (6 Panels)
Scene 6 (/2/7 pages/)
*Panel 1*
The men all enter the forest, trees get thicker, less light is let in as they pass. The men are shrouded in shadow to play up the tension. The SFX/dialogue filling the space between the men, their weapons, and the trees above.
1 UDONIS Does this mean we are at war?
1 SFX (Muffled by distance) SChWaaK!
2 SFX (Muffled by distance) AHHHH!!!
1 ULIUS War is nothing more than some men killing and other men dying. And Athea was *born* of it…
3 SFX (Muffled by distance) PLEEASE!
4 SFX (Muffled by distance) SChWaaK!
2 ULIUS I’m afraid it may be all she’ll ever know.
5 SFX (Muffled by distance) SChWaaK!
*Panel 2*
As they continue on, more signs of life start to show: tree stumps and rocks set up as benches, old fire pits, random clearings in otherwise dense brush, lean to’s (see ref # 18). Ulius keeps his eyes forward, while Udonis looks at his father. Udonis’ fear is more palpable.
1 UDONIS What was it like?
2 UDONIS The first time you killed a man?
1 ULIUS Bloody, I’d imagine, though a great many years sit between then and now.
2 ULIUS And a far greater number of men...
*Panel 3*
Ulius sees evidence of a recently doused fire, he freezes, left hand open at his side, signaling to his men to stop. The king’s bondsmen tense up as if ready for a fight. Udonis’ fear escalates.
1 ULIUS Do *not* slow your pace. Do *not* turn your head.
1 UDONIS What do you see?!
2 ULIUS Keep your eyes *fixed* on me.
2 UDONIS Are they here?!
*Panel 4*
Ulius lowers his sword low so the blade begins to run along the ground.
*Panel 5*
His men recognize the signal and tighten their formation. The line of men directly behind Ulius all drop their weapons just as he does to pass along the message.
1 ULIUS Just beyond our ranks on either side. I can’t say how many. They have matched their pace to ours.
2 ULIUS Smart.
*Panel 6*
Udonis still fixates on his father. His fear subsides. The formation is now tight enough to keep from breaking but not so tight as to restrict any man from turning in a circle. Ulius whispers. A creek lies in front of their path.
1 UDONIS Why are we not speeding up? Or stopping to engage? Should we turn back and get he- -
1 ULIUS *Steady yourself boy.*
2 ULIUS You see that creek up ahead? That is where we make our stand.
PAGE 21 (5 Panels)
Scene 6 (/3/7 pages/)
*Panel 1*
The king and his men reach the creek. They all position themselves for a fight. Weapons up and in position. With their backs to the creek Ulius and Udonis ready for a fight. Ulius reaches and with one hand lifts Udonis’ guard up a bit higher so he can proper protect himself.
The cohort that surrounds the king and his heir are fighting the first wave of attackers, who are all lightly armored with mail, some of steel breast plates but nothing else for protection, a few have helmets. Most of them are armed with swords of various lengths, a few have one handed axes. These men look either Asian (Western and Eastern) or European. Some are clean shaven with closed cropped hair, others have long hair and beards to match.
1 ULIUS By day’s end you’ll no longer have need to ask what it’s like to kill a man. That or you’ll lack the *ability* to do so.
2 ULIUS And keep your sword *up*. It is easier to drop one’s guard than it is to raise it to meet a blow.
*Panel 2*
The fighting ensues despite the first wave of attackers doing little damage. What attacks they do land do nothing to the superior armor of the king’s men. The second wave of attackers is now upon them, pushing the first wave just feet away from the king and his son. Udonis is nervous but ready.
1 ULIUS Do not waver Udonis.
2 ULIUS That is one *luxury* you and your brother do *not* have.
*Panel 3*
The third and final wave of attackers charges. The second wave isn’t fairing much better than the first. The dead bodies of the attackers are starting to pile up.
None of the king’s men have fallen despite being hit, the slashes and cut of the attacker’s are swords useless against the armor and reach of the king’s men. Ulius impales a man who leaps at him. Udonis is hit with a shoulder and driven backwards into the creek. The man who rams him is wearing no armor save for a gambeson top with a loose fitting helm. No mail underneath.
*Panel 4*
The focus is tighter on Udonis, now on his back, as he shifts to his right side to avoid his attackers downward strike. The momentum of which sends his attacker stumbling to the other side of the small creek.
Sounds of the battle continue all around.
1 SFX KRAANG!!
2 SFX CLANG!
*Panel 5*
Udonis picks up his sword which lay at his feet as the man on the other side of the creek works to regain his balance. With the creek between them, their eyes meet.
PAGE 22 (4 Panels)
Scene 6 (/4/7 pages/)
*Panel 1*
The two meet in the middle of the creek. The attacker slashes his blade upward and across his body, from right to left, sloppily. The momentum carries him into an exposed position. Udonis leans back to dodge the wayward strike.
*Panel 2*
Udonis seizes on this mistake, he thrusts his sword forward two hands on the hilt. He drives it directly into the man’s torso, penetrating almost to the hilt. The sword enters on the right side of the man’s abdomen and exits just opposite, on his back.
1 SFX SCHluNK!!
2 SFX Uughh…
*Panel 3*
Udonis pulls the sword out of the man as quickly as he drove it in. He now finishes the man with a two handed strike to the base of the right side of his neck, almost cutting the man’s head off.
1 SFX CRUNK!
*Panel 4*
With a fight dying behind him, Udonis freezes. He stares at the man and watches as his blood spills into the waters of the creek. He hears his father’s voice in his head say:
1 UDONIS /“Bloody…”/
1 SFX KRAANG!!
2 SFX CLANG!
3 SFX UGH!
4 SFX AHH!
PAGE 23 (2 Panels)
Scene 6 (/5/7 pages/)
*Panel 1*
Ulius exits the woods, followed by 5 men who each have a man draped over their shoulders. Udonis walks behind them. Garrick greets them with a smile. Ripon hangs from the trees… four to be exact; each arm and leg is hanging separately. With his head propped up against his torso which is placed nicely on one of the logs that block the road. His head tilted upward as though he’s looking into the trees.
Udonis is visibly shaken while Ulius is unfazed, the difference should be emphasized here as much as possible.
1 GARRICK None for ransom, Your Grace?
1 ULIUS These men were worth *little* when the sun rose this morning… and even *less* so now.
2 ULIUS We did however bring some *company* for Undari.
*Panel 2*
Udonis emerges from the woods last. As soon as he reaches the road he violently throws up.
1 SFX oomMMBLUUHHHAAAH!
PAGE 24 (3 Panels)
Scene 6 (/6/7 pages/)
*Panel 1*
Some of the other men laugh at Udonis. Udonis wipes his mouth, Ulius heads directly for his horse. Some men work diligently to hang the bodies they hauled out of the woods.
1 FOOT SOLDIER Finally wet that sword of yours there, little Lord?
2 OTHER FOOT SOLDIER Maybe now he’ll convince some wench to let him wet the little now, aye?
*Panel 2*
Udonis stands and looks angry while wiping his mouth, but Miika steps in the defend his younger brother, hand on the handle of his dagger. Ulius is on horseback. The men continue working and laughing all the same.
1 MIIKA Bugger off! Both of you best mind your tongues.
2 MIIKA You must forget yourselves so far from home.
1 FOOT SOLDIER The little Lord’s right. We’ll all be in our own beds before you know it- -
2 OTHER FOOT SOLDIER Aye! And at least *some of us* are likely to have some company!
*Panel 3*
Ulius and his Bondsmen, all on horseback already begin to ride away back the direction they came. Udonis, Miika, and the rest of the men are still standing.
1 ULIUS *Enough.* No more talk of home. It may be some time yet before any of us see it again.
2 ULIUS Gather your things.
3 ULIUS We ride for Freemount.
PAGE 25 (1 Panel)
Scene 6 (7/7 pages/)
*Panel 1* Splash
We see the “message” Ulius left behind. 5 men were strung up by their necks, some still struggling for life, with their hands at the ropes around their necks, along with Ripon’s limbs; his arms and legs each hung up separately. With Ripon’s head and torso below on the logs, left on a tilt to look at the carnage. The message:
The Rule of 9 was to be observed… or else.
Udonis sits atop his horse and stares at it all… he knows he will never forget the first man he killed.