The Highland Tale; The King Act Two Scene Four Sub Act One

 

THE OLD MAN

ACT TWO

SCENE FOUR

SUB ACT ONE

 

Ross of Cambria was not rare in his visits to Gladis. He had served with MacBeth in the infantry and was a friend of the Thane. He felt anxious for his friend.

“My Thane.” The voice took Ross out of his thoughts. “The day is nearing noon, and you stand in the sun.”

Ross turned to look at the one who spoke. It was the old man from the infantry ranks. The man was no officer, but his contribution was never in doubt. He served as the veteran and, at times, the one you refer to for your troubles.

“Old Man, I bid you good day.” Ross smiled. “It is in trouble that we are in now. First the rebellion and then the Danes, and to add woes to our pain, the King is dead.”

“I heard the King had died. Was he…. I heard from the others that he was murdered.”

“Aye, old man. King Duncan died in his bed. The King was stabbed in the heart by who, we are unsure.” Ross looked at the castle walls. “If only the walls can speak, we may never know.”

“I remember the past seventy years. In that time, I have seen some strange and dreadful things. But what I saw last night made everything I have seen before seem like nothing.”

“Did you see something? Tell me, Old Man.”

“My age makes the mind frail. Like the skies here, troubled by the acts of men, it threatened the bloody earth with storms.” One of the issues with the Old Man was that he spoke in riddles.

“Speak truly, Old Man.” Ross cut in.

“According to a clock, it is daytime, yet dark night continues to strangle the sun. Is darkness covering the earth when it is supposed to be light because the night is so powerful? Or is the day ashamed to show itself?” The old man looked at the sun. There was the darkening of the sun some moons ago, an event that was rare yet to recur in the years. The astronomers had said it was the ellipse of the sun and was to happen after some cycles of the planets.

All Ross cared about was that it stunned the battle to a halt when men were just killing. Once the event was over, the killing resumed. Such was the tragedy of the battle: kill or be killed.

“It is unnatural, just like the murder that was committed.” The old man said, “During nightfall, I saw the owl attack and kill a bird. It was not right, for the normal prey are mice.”

“And this is also just as strange: the King’s steed beautiful and fast horses... the best of their breed... the animals went wild and broke out of their stalls. They all refused to be calmed and acted as if they were at war with mankind.” The old man muttered. “It cannot be spoken loudly, but they... said that the horses ate each other.”

“They did. I witnessed it and was astonished.” The old man spoke.

“I had enough of your sayings, Old Man. I need to find the cause of King Duncan’s death. Now, here comes the good Macduff.” Ross was agitated. The old man left him with more doubts on the matter.

“How are things going, Ross?” MacDuff asked. “

Is it known who committed this bloody crime? I had my ears filled with chatter, but nothing made sense.” Ross looked at MacDuff. “I hope you have gotten better at it.”

“The guards that MacBeth killed were the ones.” MacDuff said.

“The guards? They were Duncan’s own. It cannot be. Someone must have made them do it.” Ross was questioning the other.

“They were bribed. The King’s two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, have snuck off and fled, which makes them the main suspects.” MacDuff added more to the accusation.

“Even more unnatural! You assumed on the princes.” Ross knew the princes. “What a wasteful ambition that would cause sons to kill the very thing that gave them life!”

“They fled in the day when we were in discussion. Their absence was suspicious then. The nobles and Thanes called on them but they had fled. They went different directions; Malcolm to the English where he sought sanctuary with their King. Donalbain was as expected; he fled to Ireland to be with his lover’s family. They may had offered him shelter there.”

“A sad outcome for the princes.” Ross sighed. “They held promising hopes to the land. And Malcolm was to be the next King.”

“The wait may be long and Malcolm may have other plans.” MacDuff explained. “I had like the two princes but to know in the heart and mind, I guessed it the works of the sorcerer.”

“Merlin perhaps.” Ross cut in. “The mage who could set one to be King.”

They both laughed.

“Then it seems most likely that MacBeth will become King.” Ross said. “He is the capable among us.”

“He’s already been named King and has left for Scone for the coronation.” MacDuff replied to Ross. “It was decided by the nobles and lords.”

“Where is Duncan’s body?” Ross asked.

“It has been carried to Colmekill, the sacred burial place for all Scottish Kings that guards their bones.”

“All had been decided then.” Ross looked at MacDuff. “Will you now head to Scone?”

“No, I am to head home to FiFe.” MacDuff surprised the others. “I have urgent matters to attend to.”

“Well, I will go to Scone.”

“May the ceremony there go well.” MacDuff wished Ross well. “Goodbye! Here is hoping that our new King is as suited to the role as our old King was.”

“God’s blessing on you and on all who make good things out of bad and turn enemies into friends!”

“We hope.” MacDuff smiled.