Winter arrives early in Tara and the Otherworld, while both Tierney and Bracken feel the weight of their choices, and the burden of the Shattered God's curse.
Music Composed and Performed by Eamon Coughlan
Cast (in order of appearance)
Tara - Alice Dennis
Tierney - Stephanie Evers-Ard
Liam (Baby) - Elizabeth Smith
Windswift - Amber Walker
Bracken - N. K. Schlaudecker
Duir - Ashley Kuppersmith
Reginald - Jeff Blakeney
Iollan - Ashley Kuppersmith
Margery "Mags" Rodach - Molly Laurendine
Hugh Rodach - Trista Lackey
Jack - N. K. Schlaudecker
Sound Effects sourced through Splice
Winter arrives early in Tara and the Otherworld, while both Tierney and Bracken feel the weight of their choices, and the burden of the Shattered God's curse.
Music Composed and Performed by Eamon Coughlan
Cast (in order of appearance)
Tara - Alice Dennis
Tierney - Stephanie Evers-Ard
Liam (Baby) - Elizabeth Smith
Windswift - Amber Walker
Bracken - N. K. Schlaudecker
Duir - Ashley Kuppersmith
Reginald - Jeff Blakeney
Iollan - Ashley Kuppersmith
Margery "Mags" Rodach - Molly Laurendine
Hugh Rodach - Trista Lackey
Jack - N. K. Schlaudecker
Sound Effects sourced through Splice
CHAPTER TWO, Scene One
(SFX person walking in a snowy forest. Wind and creaking branches, muffled steps, a baby crying, answered by a woman sobbing)
TARA Tierney…
TARA (motherly) Oh, my child...You laid the childbirth protections yourself? What has happened here? Where is Bracken?
TIERNEY (exhausted and grieving) Bracken. Mother…Mother, he sent me to safety but the Shattered God—they struck him with iron.
TARA I did not feel him die…
TIERNEY: He didn’t. I felt it when it happened. Mother, they cursed him, they broke his magic and turned him human.
(pauses, this next piece is hard for her to acknowledge)
And it’s…it’s done something to our son, too.
TIERNEY The newcomers…those monsters of the Eye…they drove all of the others away, but we stayed because the villagers in Darach—we thought we could still help them, and they’d protect us like we’d protected them. And I was afraid to leave because of the baby. I didn’t know, Mother—ye gods, I didn’t know this could happen!
TARA (shushes her gently) You are not at fault for this…
TIERNEY I wanted to wait…
TARA You could not have known.
TIERNEY But my child is a half blood now, because of them, because of me.
TARA No. The false god and his followers did this, Tierney, not you.
TIERNEY I cannot keep him. Fíaglen will be too harsh and his body too frail without full blood. He will not live among the Fía.
But I cannot send him to Bracken, either. The Eye knew what we were. They will know him, and kill him. Or worse, take what magic he retains.
(SFX baby noises)
TARA I see the forest in his eyes But you are right, Tierney. He cannot be raised among your people, nor among those who are, by force, his father’s.
TIERNEY Mother, what do I do?
TARA I will raise him. I know it is not what you planned, but for now, it is the safest road.
TIERNEY Am I to give up my son as well as his father?
TARA No. You shall give him a name, and he shall know you. As for Bracken, it is unfair that this new order should cut him off from us completely. Though he must live among men in mortal shell for a time, when his grief begins to abate, he will hear the trees again.
TARA I will call a companion for him, a gatekeeper and go-between, who will keep your bonds strong through this separation.
(SFX, chant, magic. Rabbit hop into snow)
His name is Windswift. He will be your messenger to Bracken, and his to you.
TIERNEY Windswift, tell Bracken his son is alive and healthy, and in the care of the Earth Mother.
Tell him I love him.
WINDSWIFT What is the name, my lady?
TIERNEY I name you Liam in the presence of the Earth herself.
TIERNEY When will I see him again?
TARA Come to me in the spring. Until then, rest among the Fía, and wait for Windswift’s return. This will be a bad winter.
Scene 2
BRACKEN Months…it’s been months since they crossed the standing stones. Tierney…There should be some sign…some way for me to know you’re all right. (long pause) Even if I’m not. I can’t hear anyone anymore. Not the dryads or sprites. Not even our own people. This is wrong. (intensifying) I should be there with you.
(gasps, he’s struggling)
Damn it.
(building to rage)
Damn you Sloan! You and all the Shattered God’s new pets. And him, too! You could’ve done me the favor of aiming true at least!
(falls, wind grows stronger)
I’m so tired. If I could just lie here and die, let this body go, and go home to her. To them.
Tierney…
(shivering, building wind, tree groaning in the gusts)
DUIR (tree, waking from sleep)
Bracken? Bracken, is that you?
BRACKEN (between awe and desperation) Do you know me?
DUIR Bracken. Of course, I know you. Come here, son.
BRACKEN Then they haven’t taken everything. Not everything.
Scene Three
REGINALD We never should have left the monastery.
IOLLAN Brother Dominic had a dream.
REGINALD Fie on dreams. That’s almost the kind of superstitious…
(Crow (Cohort) caws, lands on Dominic's shoulder, caws and chortles)
DOMINIC There's something in the trees ahead.
IOLLAN It looks like a rabbit, and a small one at that.
DOMINIC Wait… I’ll look here.
There’s a man in here. Likely a waylaid traveler.
REGINALD Are you sure it’s not one of those damned shape-shifting faeries?
DOMINIC You’ll be pleased to know, Reginald, that he has perfectly human, unfaerylike features. Even if he didn’t, we would help him.
REGINALD Indeed, put an iron spit through his heart and call it done.
DOMINIC (harsh, Cohort caws) Enough. Are you going to help me move this man or are you content to leave him here to die?
IOLLAN Are you sure he’s not already dead?
DOMINIC He is on the knife’s edge, Iollan. But there is hope. We’ll do all we can for him.
DOMINIC (quietly—he’s seen Bracken’s odd scar) They can’t see that scar, I fear. It looks like tree bark.
(giving an order to the men)
We’ll need a sledge-make what you can out of our bedrolls and staves. I hope we can get him to Tinewald before it’s too late.
REGINALD Tinewald?! But they’ve made it plain they won’t welcome the Shattered God.
DOMINIC They’re also the closest village. And they won’t turn away a wounded man. If we try to take him back to the monastery, he’ll die before we get there.
Scene Four
Moorhen
(horses dragging a sledge approach a tavern-there is crowd noise and cheerful, upbeat music (Irish Traditional - "The Moorhen" filtering outside)
DOMINIC Iollan!
IOLLAN Yes, Brother Dominic?
DOMINIC I think our friend needs to part ways with us here. I’m going to send you and the others back to Darach in the morning, and I’ll remain to see to his condition.
IOLLAN Very well. The brothers will ask what became of you.
DOMINIC Tell them, and Father Loxias, that I am tending a waylaid traveler.
IOLLAN It’ll make you responsible for him, you know.
DOMINIC I do. So, let’s hope he’s not a criminal.
IOLLAN I’ll see the men on the road first thing.
REGINALD I’d just as soon go tonight.
(Dom goes into the tavern)
MAGS (alerted, on guard) Hugh!
HUGH Aye, Mags?
MAGS I don’t know what you think you’re doing here, priest. But…
DOMINIC Peace, Mistress. I’m-
MAGS Don’t ‘peace’ me. You and your god aren’t welcome here.
DOMINIC No, you don’t understand. I’ve found a traveler. A woodsman, I think, on the Marsh Road. He needs a place to stay and recover.
HUGH A woodsman? From Darach?
DOMINIC I don’t know. He was half frozen in a tree hollow. He’ll die before we get him to safety if I keep him exposed any longer. Do you have room?
HUGH Room, but I can’t take care of him. Not as a healer. Certainly not if he’s as far gone as you say.
DOMINIC That’s no concern. I’ll stay with him.
HUGH And those men what rode in with you?
DOMINIC My guard. Just a bed and stall for them and the horses overnight, and they’ll be gone.
HUGH If they don’t mind sleeping in the stable. We’ve only the one room left.
DOMINIC It will suit.
HUGH Let me see this woodsman of yours.
Lead on…
(hesitates—realizing he doesn’t know Dom’s name)
DOMINIC Dominic.
HUGH Hugh Rodach. Headman of Tinewald Village.
DOMINIC Thank you, Master Rodach.
HUGH Hugh.
DOMINIC Iollan, they have a room for our guest. Will the stables suffice?
IOLLAN Better, in my opinion. Young Eirnan’s feeling his oats and wants watching.
DOM Have Reginald and the boys stable them. If you’d tend Empress, I’ll be in your debt.
IOLLAN Of a surety.
DOM After we get him inside.
HUGH He’s half wasted.
DOM Injured. I’ve no clue how long he’d been lying there. And it’s been so cold.
HUGH You did right with these hides. Come. You’ve a strong back, lad?
DOM Strong as an oak, my da always said.
DOM (to Iollan) Just the door.
HUGH We’ll get him upstairs and settled. On three… (calls his boys) Jack! Collin!
JACK Yes, Da?
HUGH Which room is free?
JACK First one up the stairs.
HUGH Run up and open the door. Collin Have Mam boil some cloths and get hot water in skins.
DOM We need a fire,
HUGH Anything else you need?
DOM Just a place for my guard, and some food for them and the horses.
HUGH And yourself?
DOM We won’t need anything till later. If he wakes, I’ll have a better idea.
HUGH I’ll send the lads around to check on you time and again, then.
DOM Thank you. What do I owe you?
HUGH Three silvers should cover it for you and the men. I’ll not charge for him. You’re doing a good thing. I won’t see you punished for it.
DOM Take four, with my thanks.
HUGH Jack’ll be up in the hour. Thank you, sir.
DOM Thank you. (SFX Door shut)
(to Bracken) It’s a close-run thing, my friend. I say that like you’ll know me, and not hate the very blood in my veins.
HUGH In case your friend wakes up. Mags is closing the kitchen soon, so she sent up his supper. You can heat the pot. Your guards are settled and fed, swearing to be on their way at first light. And you’re free enough to stay and help this man, if he’s not past it.
DOM But?
HUGH Your god isn’t welcome here.
DOM I’m not…. Please, it will be my death if you speak it to a soul. But I imagined Tara would still be honored here.
HUGH She, and Lord Fyre, and all the Worthies, with their consorts, the Hunter and such like him.
DOM Why not the Shattered God?
HUGH Begging your pardon, but I’m not going to have my people follow a faith that bathes in the blood of faeries and holy men.
DOM So you know of the fate of the Druí?
HUGH Hard not to, Lad.
DOM My father was burned with them.
HUGH And yet?
DOM I was sent to keep an eye on the cult’s movements, and do whatever little good I was able.
(Bracken has taken a breath that might be his last) Don’t die,
HUGH I think he’ll be all right, in the long run,
JACK (muffled, through a door) Da?
HUGH Aye, lad?
JACK Mam sent some clothes. She said the man might be more comfortable not in rags.
DOM Come in, Jack.
JACK I dropped the socks on the stair.
DOM He’ll be grateful when he wakes, I’m sure, But we won’t disturb him right now.
HUGH It does beg the question. Why didn’t you change his clothes sooner.
DOM He wasn’t wet. Had the presence of mind to shelter in a tree hollow. And I have no clue of yet how he’ll react.
You don’t have to stay. I know you’ve a family to take care of.
HUGH I stay out of Mags’ way. She’s got her own method for doing things, and all the gods help me if I interrupt.
Besides, should you find you’ve a madman on your hands, I’d just as soon not have to clean blood. The Moorhen’s got a good reputation. It should keep it.
DOM Indeed. In that case, thank you for your trouble.
HUGH Wait.
BRACKEN Who the hell are you?
DOM Easy, friend, We found you in the forest, almost dead.
BRACKEN You’ve got their mark.
DOM Yes. I…
HUGH That’s one hell of a scar, Here, let me help. You’re in no shape—
BRACKEN (wild) Get away from me!
DOM Hugh, perhaps you should…
(SFX struggle)
HUGH I’m not going to be spoken to like I’m common trash, You’re under my roof, and I’ll have you out, by Tara’s heart, wounded or no. Now, two things. What’s your name?
BRACKEN Bracken,
HUGH Well, now, Bracken. I’m Hugh Rodach. This is Dominic, and you are a guest of the Tinewald Moorhen Tavern and Inn. I take it you’re hungry?
It’s pork, not poison.
HUGH Mags’ll be glad to hear he’s up I’ll see you lads in the morning.
DOM There’s clean clothes, if you’ve a mind to change them.
BRACKEN I’m fine.
DOM You’ll overtly reject your hosts’ hospitality? I imagine they belong to Hugh.
BRACKEN He can have them back. I’ll just mend mine.
DOM Bracken of Sadbh-Oisín, it’s not your skin anymore.
BRACKEN What did you say?!
DOM I said, It’s not your skin now. That magic is broken, and you know it.
BRACKEN You should’ve left me where I was. And let me die.
DOM No. I didn’t find you by accident. I know who you were, and what happened.
BRACKEN Oh, yes, because your blinded, mad god sees all, doesn’t it?
DOM My father was Domhail of Saille, a hunter and woodsman, made bloodkin of the Druí. The Lady Orla, Dryad of Oak, is my mother. And I am wed to Ianthe of the Ring Rowan. Make sure of yourself, before you judge me, Bracken. I was sent to find you. I heard old Duir call out on the winds on your behalf. And I had absolute hell convincing Loxias I’d had a portentous dream.
BRACKEN Loxias…the…
DOM The ‘prophet’ of the Shattered God.
BRACKEN So, you’re Orla’s son.
DOM And apparently, you’re deaf.
BRACKEN How in the…
DOM Tara sent me. Six years ago, after my father and the Druí were burned for defying the new cult. So she could keep an eye on him, his movements, his plans, and so I could keep my wife safe with the rest of the Ogham dryads.
BRACKEN (surprised) Loxias kept the Druí’s grove?
DOM And built his monastery on their grounds, just a few miles south of Darach. To spit in Tara’s eye.
DOM Why do you long for death?
BRACKEN (slowly) I…I don’t. (whispers) I want to go home, To my wife, to my son. I gave the last of my magic to get them to safety, and now I cannot even see their faces. I’ll never get to hold my boy.
DOM I’m sorry.
DOM Here. Drink this, and try to rest. My guard is leaving in the morning, but I’ll remain a few days while you get your bearings.
Tara chose that you should live. Take it.
I’ll be back shortly. If you decide to change, the clothes are by the table.
BRACKEN There’s nothing for it. He’s right. These are just rags now. My magic is gone. (sobs) Tara, what do I do?