The Act
A play by Ashai

Cast
Lhiagh, the Knife
Lhiach, the Blade
Mother Night

Act the First
Equally Different

[Setting . In the grove of the Master Ravenwood. Brother Crow is perched
in the Great Tree, centered in the : he surveys the forest with a keen
eye. Mother Night lingers in the air, imperceptible against the backdrop
of a moonless night but for two rippling, bright orbs of utter stygian,
her all-seeing eyes. The forest does not stir. There is not a soul to be
seen.]

[Enter Lhiagh and Lhiach, emerging from opposite ends of the forest.
They stand facing each other with unwavering gazes. They wear austerely
intent expressions.]

[Lhiagh is a tall and slender elfen of a tenebrous aura: what little
skin is not covered by flowing, scrapped robes is of a pale, ashen grey
hue. His hair is disheveled and flecked with dirt and decaying leaves,
and he wears a crown of intertwined dead sticks and silver. Upon his
forhead, a pentagram is sketched in charcoal. Despite his rugged state,
his face is immacuately pale and fair, composed of slender bones and
elegant features. His inherent beauty as a follower of Mother Night
renders him a thorned rose, however; his charisma is a two-pronged. In
his hand, he grips a shadowy athame.]

[Lhiach is of fairly equal proportions to her brother, perhaps more
sturdy. She is similarly beautiful, yet asserts her charisma to a lesser
degree, perhaps due to inability, perhaps to austerity: this is the
mystery of her character. She wears a light suit of armor, composed of
an eclectic assortment of metals and gems in somber, dirtied, and burnt
shades. She carries two plain iron blades in makeshift scabbards of
cloth and leather at her side. She is equally smattered with earth and
bits of organic matter.]

Lhiagh and Lhiach (in unison):
In darkness may we be,
Her shade doth set us free.
Shadows wherein confined
Escape where might we find?
Our service gives realease,
Our service does not cease.
No longer are we weak,
Hallowed Night do we seek.
No longer are we weak,
For to us does she speak.

[The two approach each other in measured, restrained paces, as though
their true destination were true englightenment rather than each others
proximity.]

Lhiagh:
Led am I by Her call,
Service to Her trumps all

Lhiach:
Awakened I am too,
My blades She doth work through

[They pause, lips pursed. They regard their feet as if for some prompt.
Lhiach then raises her head, and addresses her brother in a speculative
tone.]

Lhiach:
Fair brother, what blessings
our Mother Night grants you.
And such fitting rewards
For a servant so true.

Lhiagh:
Your equal endowment,
Dear sister, you neglect:
You give unparalleled
Effort to self-perfect.

[Lhiach ponders these lingering words momentarily, but persists.]

Lhiach:
Such wisdom is indeed
To you solely granted.
By your authority
Are her followers led.

Lhiagh:
Blessed are you equally,
With strength and loyalty.
The singular backbone.
Of the Nights sovereignty.

[Confidently, he places a firm hand on her shoulder and looks at her
squarely and solemnly.]

You her powerful hand,
Her grasp upon the land.

Lhiach:
And you her clever mind,
That has her schemes designed

[She turns from him, broodingly gazing into the distance. She speaks
chiefly to herself, in a hushed, harsh voice]

Awakened we may be,
And together, no less.
But, I begin to doubt
We can share Her caress.

[She turns back and returns her brothers square gaze. She speaks coldly,
her tone unwavering.]

Though her thoughts She doth cover,
It must be: she favors
One over the other.

Lhiagh:
Different we may be,
Equal are you and me.

[He steps towards his sister, his intense stare wracked of graveness.]

Of our worths, fret you not
If brooding you pursue,
Disharmony is wrought.

[Lhiaghs words finally seem to have struck his sister, her face no
longer exhudes uncertainy, rather she placidly watches a seemingly
invisible object at the far side of the stage.]

Lhiach:
Sensibly you counsel;
Reconciled am I.

[He turns from her, his words uttered almost as an afterthought]

Lhiagh:
Enlightened we will be
If together we try.

[They part, assuming posts on either side of the stage. They are still,
and the stage is swamped in darkness.]

Act the Second
The Visit of Night

[The stage becomes faintly illuminated, the siblings Glomdorite as they
were before. They are plain and still. The silhouette of Mother Night
glidingly leaves the tree to join the company of Lhiagh. He stiffens,
unable to see, yet aware of her crawling presence. She caresses his
head, her shining eyes fixed and ravenous. She whispers in his ear,
arduously and raspingly.]

Night:
Dear child dutiful
Empowered, beautiful.
Thy heart beats but for me;
Tell me of thy fancy

[He remains rigid, yet responds calmly and slowly.]

Lhiagh:
Gracious superior
Concern yourself what for?
Service, my endeavor
Doth satiate forever

Night:
Flattering and clever,
Indeed thou art, however:
A will cunning as thine
Contents not to be blind

Lhiagh:
My mistress sees through me:
Fruitless to hide from she.
My desire is no less
To be first in service

[Night becomes silent for some moments. Her calculating eyes seemingly
bore into Lhiaghs soul. She begins to speak, rather towards herself.]

Night:
Lead my followers, yes?
Thyself I must assess.
Clever and wise thou art,
But thou hast soft a heart.

[She now adresses him blatantly, her tone provocative and empowered.]

Knowest thee not the Night?
No one equals her might
Thou wilt discover soon
But one may share her boon

[She becomes increasingly assertive, and her sentences end with a snap
of finality.]

That thy sister and thee
Remain equal to me:
Forsake your dream to lead
If thou art same in deed.

[Mother Night departs, returning to her tree. Again, she becomes still
as a cat stalking prey. Lhiagh collapses somewhat, deep in thought; he
talks to himself, his voice slow and wavering.]

Lhiagh:
Whispers she in my ear
My most terrible fear?
To betray my own blood,
Myself become like mud.

Yet, only this trial,
Does it matter how vile?
But a moment of greif
For a moment a theif.

Kill my sister would I
For favor in Her eye?
Treacherous would I be;
Yet betrayl doth please She.

[He is still, and the stage darkens, though not entirely. His silhouette
can still be seen, convulsing slightly with restrained sobs. The stage
then darkens entirely.]

Act the Third

[The stage lightens gradually, though there is now not a star nor the
moon to be seen in the vast night sky. It is darkest midnight, and
naught can be heard but for Lhiaghs footsteps across the stage.]

Lhiagh:
Hark sister! Rest you where?
Such night, never so fair,
No stars upon Her brow.
Sister, do you sleep now?

[She rustles for a moment, and responds lethargically.]

Lhiach:
Sleep tonight doth come fast!
Dreams magical and vast,
That I will join with soon,
Wait in skies without moon.

Lhiagh:
Many things I must tell
But for now, sleep you well.
Safe are we, hid by Her,
Peaceful sleep, I ensure.

[Sounds of sleep can be heard from Lhiach, and Lhiagh turns away from
her, deep within thought. His face is incredibly solemn.]

Her doom, I have ensured
No sounds since, have I heard.
Mother Night gives her sleep
Her blessings I will reap

Anxiety, my knife:
It doth beg for her life

[He turns, draws his dagger, and brings it down upon his sister.
However, he hesitate before it reaches her throat and she is so far
untouched. He collapses, distraught immensely.]

Murderer! Is this me?
Corruption! Will it be?

How cruelly I am torn!
Must I my crown adorn
With my sisters own bones?
Worth more than precious stones

[Night stirs, somewhat flustered. She addresses Lhiagh in a cruel, raspy
cry.]

Night:
What, dost thou hesitate?
What shall become thy fate?
The deed is commenced, dear.
Continue without fear.

Lest thou art a coward,
Feigning to be empowerd!

[Lhiagh draws himself up, moving mechanically. He mumbles to himself
now.]

Lhiagh:
This deed: for Mother Night:
Worthiness in her sight.

[He plunges his dagger into his sister. She is entirely still, and makes
not a noise. He retrieves his dagger from her, and turns to walk away.
He announces his thoughts dryly.]

Farewell; so grim an act
Completes my grimmer pact.

Bittersweet is success,
This truth I must confess:
Victory is thus gained,
And power is attained
Not without consequence:
There is always an expense.
In winning I have lost;
Gain equals not the cost.

A cruel creature am I
To let the helpless die.
Cruelty I embraced
But how sweet it doth taste

[Mother Night sits upon the Ravenwood as if it were a throne, and she
whispers rapturously to herself, adressing all.]

Night:
Our nature he doth know:
Embrace our joyous woe!
Travel the world and sow
The crawl of Night and caw of Crow!

[Night cackles raspingly, and the stage is, for the final time,
enveloped in darkness.]

The End