ACT II, Scene I – Valon’s House
Declan faces Valon. Inside the house, it is dreary and dark. There are books lying everywhere and alchemical experiments unfinished or just begun.
VALON
Who are you, that walks into my house unannounced?
DECLAN
Forgive me, sir, but I have a certain problem and I was told you might be able to help. I’m from the valley below. My name is Declan.
VALON
Ah, yes, one of the farm people.
DECLAN
No, I’m a mage, like you.
VALON
Hmph. You don’t seem it. So, what is this problem of yours? Cows not producing milk? No rain to water your crops?
DECLAN
No, nothing like that. I don’t even own a farm. It’s my wife.
VALON
Ah, yes.
DECLAN
(confused)
Ah, yes?
VALON
(faltering)
Eh, uh, nothing. Get to the point now. Speak.
DECLAN
There’s something wrong, sir. She’s one of the best mages I’ve known. But, of late, she’s lost her powers.
VALON
Curious. That’s a bit of an inconvenience, isn’t it? Any other symptoms?
DECLAN
Not that I can tell. She says she’s been losing her abilities for a few weeks now. It started slowly, but now she’s lost her powers completely. She’s very sick.
VALON
What makes you think she is sick?
DECLAN
What mage just loses their powers? After years of dedicated study? Unless the Order stripped her of them, that seems to be the only other explanation.
VALON
And you think Maya is above reproach? The Order would never have a reason to do something of the sort?
DECLAN
Never. She has always abided by the law. Wait—did you say Maya? How do you know my wife’s name?
VALON
I have heard of her.
DECLAN
(incredulous)
From whom?
VALON
I have dedicated my life to the study of magic that repairs broken bones, seals wounds, and sucks the plague from blood. There are many from your town, and neighboring towns, who seek my aid. It is not unusual for someone to have mentioned her, or you, you know.
DECLAN
No, I suppose not. Does her illness sound familiar to you?
VALON
(ominous)
Oh yes, very.
DECLAN
Good! You can tell me what it is, and I can set this straight.
VALON
Do not worry yourself with your wife. Leave this matter be.
DECLAN
What? No. I haven’t come all this way to be dismissed. You will tell me.
VALON
(sighs)
If you insist. Your wife has contracted a disease. A disease which attacks the very gene that allows us to use magic. It is biological, see?
DECLAN
Is it—permanent?
VALON
Well, yes. If it goes untreated.
DECLAN
So there’s a cure?
VALON
I know the cure, and only I know the cure. But it takes a very long time to make.
DECLAN
You said she contracted the disease. What do you mean by that?
VALON
It was given to her, from someone else. A miserable gift, wouldn’t you say?
DECLAN
Did someone do something to her? Hurt her?
VALON
No, sir, I’d say she rather enjoyed it.
DECLAN
Enjoyed it?
VALON
Oh dear me. I didn’t want to have to put you through this, but—this disease is contracted through… intimacies, you see? The act.
DECLAN
(angrily)
What are you implying?
VALON
I imply nothing, sir. I have said it simply. Your wife has contracted this disease through fornication. Copulation. A pairing with another. And I certainly think she wouldn’t have gotten it from you, since you are the one who has sought me.
DECLAN
No. No. She couldn’t have. That’s not Maya.
VALON
Perhaps your lovely lady is not as irreproachable as you thought, eh? In any case, I suppose you’ll be wanting that cure.
DECLAN
(a) Yes. I suppose I still do.
(b) I don’t know now. If what you say is true, I don’t know if she deserves it.
(c) What? Absolutely not. If she has betrayed me then she deserves my help no longer.
VALON (IF PLAYER CHOOSES A)
Right, then I’ll begin immediately.
VALON (IF PLAYER CHOOSES B OR C)
Well, I shall begin anyway, in the event that you change your mind, hm?
DECLAN
Fine. I’m going to talk to her. (ends conversation)
BEAT
Act II, Scene II – The Mountains
DECLAN V.O.
Maya. How could you do this to me? I want to believe that you didn’t. I want to. But why would this man lie to me? To think of you with another man— I can’t. It can’t be true. I have placed so much trust in you, to think that I’ve been blind, that I’ve placed it wrongly…I can only hope I haven’t. We shall see…
BEAT
Act II, Scene III – Declan’s House
MAYA
My love, have you come with news? Good news, I hope?
DECLAN
Good. And bad. There is a cure.
MAYA
Oh that’s wonderful! And the bad news?
DECLAN
The man, Valon… he told me a very disturbing thing. He told me you have contracted this disease from—I can’t say it.
MAYA
From what, Declan? I must know.
DECLAN
(a) Another man.
(b) You do know Maya. You’ve been hiding it all along.
(c) Don’t play coy with me. I know what you’ve been doing.
MAYA (IF PLAYER CHOOSES A)
What on earth are you talking about? What man?
MAYA (IF PLAYER CHOOSES B OR C)
I don’t understand. What are you blaming me for?
DECLAN
(a) Valon said you’ve contracted this from sleeping with another man.
(b) Who is he? With whom do you betray me? Speak!
(c) I know that you’ve been with another man while I’m away. Laughing at my expense, I presume? Then joining me in the war as if you’re concerned for my well-being.
MAYA (IF PLAYER CHOOSES A, B, OR C)
What? Declan, this is absolutely outrageous!
DECLAN
(a) I want to believe you. Please, for the sake of my sanity, tell me something that makes it true.
(b) Just tell me why? Why did you?
MAYA (IF PLAYER CHOOSES A OR B)
I love you too much. It is not in my capacity to hurt you. I would never do something like this.
DECLAN
(a) Wouldn’t you? You have always been faithful, Maya, but there is no other reason for your illness. Only if the Order had taken your powers, and we know this is not so.
(b) I cannot believe you. I will not. Was it Richard? You two have always been so close.
MAYA (IF PLAYER CHOOSES A OR B)
(sobbing)
Declan, please, don’t make me say.
DECLAN
What, tell me now!
MAYA
I had my reasons! I had them Declan, please believe me. You say I have always been faithful, so believe it! I was only being faithful!
DECLAN
(a) Maya, I cannot know your reasons. I cannot imagine them. What on this earth would spur you to do such a thing?
(b) Who you were with is besides the point, really. He can rot for all I care, but this will not go unpunished.
MAYA (IF PLAYER CHOOSES A OR B)
Please, don’t trust Valon, he’s a horrible man. He is lying to hurt you, to hurt us!
DECLAN
(a) He has offered to help. I see nothing wrong in that.
(b) End your lies! I have heard enough of them!
MAYA (IF PLAYER CHOOSES A OR B)
Declan, you must find out if you’ve gotten this disease, but not from Valon. I know we have lain together since my illness started. I don’t want the same to happen to you.
DECLAN
(a) Fine, I will see, but not for your sake. And I will go to Valon, he is already making the cure. (ends conversation)
(b) Spare me your sympathies woman! Valon is easier trusted than you!
MAYA (IF PLAYER CHOOSES B)
Declan, please forgive me.
DECLAN
(a) I don’t know if I ever can. But I’m leaving now. (ends conversation)
(b) To think of you, looking at him in a way you should have only ever looked at me—I will make you regret what you’ve done! (attacks Maya)
BEAT
Act II, Scene IV – Town
DECLAN V.O.
I must visit Valon again. I will not fall to the same illness as her. I will not suffer for her betrayal.
END
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