The Magic Sword

He's gone again.

He left home hours ago.

What good is my sorcery If I can't help my own boy?

Answer me, someone.

He's not fooling me.

I know where he is. He's at the magic pool again.

Love is his curse. He is in love.

You think I don't know it? I've tried to cure him of it.

Am I losing my skill as a sorceress?

No. No, Sybil.

Doesn't my witchcraft cure snakebites...

chilblains, carbuncles, pinkeye, hangnails...

and unhappy memories?

Yes. Yes, Sybil.

Then why can't I rid the boy of this fever?

George is a man. And human.

Human, yes. But hardly a man. He's a mere boy of 20.

In love.

George. Already a man. In love?

He ought to be at home learning a good trade.

Like mine.

Pool of magic, obey my wish.

Bring her vision into my sight. That's right. Find her.

She's at the palace.

No, inside.

Perhaps the throne room.

No. Try the sunken garden in the palace by the Oriental pool.

That's right. There she is.

There she is.

I hope the cold water's chilled your hot temper, my lady.

- No, I'm Just as furious as ever. - Oh, Princess.

It's easy enough for you to talk. You can do whatever you please.

Fall in love, fall out of it again.

A squire one day, a stable boy the next.

But I might as well be a prisoner in a tower.

I can't even speak to a man, let alone have him look at me.

It's the penalty of being a princess.

But even a princess should be allowed romance.

- How will I ever meet him? - Who, my lady?

The one I could love.

You'll have your chance someday.

You run along.

- But your gown? - I'll dress myself.

- Well, then what will you do? - What I always do. Sit here and dream.

Princess Helene?

Who are you?

What do you want?

Stay away.

- Don't you come any closer. - No, Princess, I'm going to take care of you.

Helene!

Sybil, where are you?

You needn't shout, George, I can hear you.

I must leave here. She's in danger.

Who in the netherworld are you talking about?

Princess Helene. I loved her from the first moment I saw her.

A reflection in the water and you call it love, you silly child.

Something terrible has happened to her.

Let me see what you're talking about.

Magic mirror, show me what has upset my boy.

The Princess is gone, Your Majesty.

She's not in her quarters, not in the garden, not by the pool.

Yet no one saw her leave the palace. We've searched everywhere.

- Then turn out the guards, Branton. - We have done that, my liege.

Until she is found, no one will be permitted in or out of the palace.

Who is this?

We found him skulking within the eastern postern, my liege.

- He won't speak. - There are means to make him speak.

Sir Branton.

Your Most Serene Majesty. You can call off the search.

The Princess, your daughter, is in my castle. Under lock and key.

Who are you?

Lodac.

The sorcerer?

I am flattered that my reputation has preceded me.

Lodac, you say my daughter is at your castle.

But why? How have I hurt you? Why have you done this thing?

The answer is very simple.

Your father executed my sister for witchcraft when she was only 18 years old.

I have waited until your daughter reached that age...

so that my dragon could relish the flesh of the Princess.

- Lodac, I beseech you. - Beseech nothing, my liege.

Will you have this worm-eaten sorcerer frighten us?

- Be careful, Branton. - Not I.

Lodac, I shall find your castle, free the Princess, and see you destroyed.

Finding my castle is no great task. It's a short Journey of about a week.

You simply follow the yellow star of the north.

The trick is, how to get there alive?

I shall.

I'm afraid not.

Now seven times do I curse the road that lies between this castle and mine.

Let no one live who dares the Dark Journey.

Let no man face my seven curses and reach the dragon's lair.

Your curses won't stop me from reaching your castle.

The Princess Helene will make a delicate dish for my dragon...

in exactly seven days time.

And now, if you will excuse me.

Sir Branton, my daughter will die.

No, sire, for I will rescue her.

You'll risk the seven curses?

For Helene, I'd risk 70.

The man who saves Helene will have her hand in marriage, and half my kingdom, too.

Trust me, sire.

No, it is I who must save the Princess, not Sir Branton. I love her.

Do you think I'd let you face Lodac's sorcery?

I'm not afraid.

Three hundred years ago, my father and brother were devoured by Lodac's dragon.

And my family were great sorcerers in their own right.

But they were no match for Lodac. I am no match for Lodac, I confess it.

- I fear him almost as much as I hate him. - But Sybil, I...

You will stay right here at home where you are safe.

You can have anything you want, but you're staying here.

All I want is my freedom So I can save the girl I love.

But you wouldn't understand that, not being mortal.

I've tried to do my best.

- I know you have, Sybil. - Can't you call me "Mother"?

I'm sorry, Mother.

You were only a week old when your royal parents died from the plague.

I found you, reared you as my own son.

You've been kind and loving, and I'd do anything for you.

But I can't stay here with you anymore.

I'm not a child. I'm 20, and I love Helene.

Talk to me of love when you are 420.

When you're human, 20 is old enough to feel love and misery.

Give me my freedom.

I must say you're being very difficult tonight.

Oh, well, boys will be boys. we'll have to cheer you up.

Watch Mother now.

Mother, not that trick again.

George, I've never seen you like this before.

Look, If you'll cheer up, forget about that girl and Lodac...

I'll let you see the presents I've chosen for you when you're 21.

- What sort of presents, Mother? - Come along.

I'll show you.

Do you like him?

He's magnificent.

He's yours when you are 21. His name is Ba yard.

He's no ordinary animal. He possesses magic.

This is the fastest horse in all the world. No other steed can beat him.

See this? You'll wear it when you ride the stallion.

- Does this armor possess magic, too? - No weapon can pierce it.

And this is Ascalon, the blade.

None like it since the world began. It defies all swords in battle.

Black magic is overcome by a touch of the blade. So there.

All yours when you are 21.

Then I'll let you go after Lodac, for my revenge as well as your own.

With the help of their magic, I could save the Princess now.

No, you're not old enough. You wouldn't know how to use them.

Just let me hold the sword. Just to get the feel of it.

- Please? Just for a while. - Very well.

It feels like a part of my own body.

- I feel stronger. - Of course.

Now come along. It pleases me to show you something else tonight.

Who are they?

Once, the six most valiant knights in the world.

- That's real black magic, Mother. - I wish I could take the credit.

I've never been as good as that. No, it was my brother.

You like Ascalon, George?

It's just great.

- Did the sword do that? - Certainly.

One touch of the blade, and it opens and shuts floors, doors, walls, and portcullises.

It shuts things too, you say?

What's down there?

I haven't been down there in centuries.

It used to be my brother's safe deposit box...

for spells, enchantments, magic ritual, and the like.

Want to see?

Is there any other way out if the crack were closed again?

Depends on how hard you work at it.

A cousin of mine took 80 years to whomp up a spell...

that blew the roof off.

But don't be afraid. We won't close the crack behind us.

I'm not afraid.

You go first, Mother.

- Coming, dear? - Yes.

George, what have you done? George, let me out!

- Goodbye, Mother. - George, son, let me out this instant.

You can't leave me here. I told you about my cousin.

I'll come back and let you out after I've rescued the Princess Helene.

What if you can't come back?

With a magic armor, magic sword, magic steed, what can stop me now?

You don't know Lodac, George. Let me out.

If I had six brave men like these, I'd have nothing to fear.

Monsieur, you have been a long time to come.

But on the behalf of my friends, merci bien.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, I pledge my sword to your service...

my life to our mutual hope, and my heart to the Princess Helene.

Very well said, Branton.

But I can't help but feel a little nervous.

You still won't take these 50 knights who have offered to ride with you?

No, sire, they are all brave men, but one man can venture where 50 cannot.

You are the bravest of all.

Return Helene safely, and I'll be the proudest father-in-law in Christendom.

That's a strange ring, Branton. Do you wear it for luck?

Luck must not play a part when your daughter's life is at stake.

Go, my friend. And all my good wishes go with you.

Your Majesty, these knights and I have come to serve you in your hour of need.

That's very kind. Who are you?

I am Sir George. A knight by virtue of 400 years of noble lineage.

Welcome, good sir.