Mulk - The Epic Betrayal (Act IV): Mulk - The Epic Betrayal, #4

By alaa zaher

At first you may think it is a story about a kingdom and its ruling family and the hardships they face in order to stay together, but in the end you discover that it is not something like that, but rather a story that tells about a father who did the impossible to take revenge on the killer of his son, who is a member of the ruling family, and his success in doing so.

• Language: English
• Publisher: alaa zaher
• Release date: Apr 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224700998

alaa zaher

I am an Egyptian young man, I was born in a poor neighborhood, and although life was difficult, I have nothing to complain about. Some people spends a life time searching for meaning in their lives, for the reason for which they were born to do, but in my case, I discovered that writing is my life, rather it is the reason which I was born to do, and all I'm asking from the universe and the world is only one thing, a chance to prove my true talent, and all you have to do is to decide whether I deserve to be given a chance or not

Book preview

Mulk

(THE Epic Betrayal)

ACT IV

(FINALE)

Written by

Alaa Zaher

Warning

You must read act i and act ii and act iii

Before reading this finale

Chapter 25

Scene 1

LOCATION: ROQAYAH'S Cell Time: Day - Interior

Roqayah is sitting in the cell, crying, and Numen and Malik come to interrogate her.

Numen: Roqayah, are you ready?

Roqayah: First, my lord, my father is not guilty of what I did; he continues treatment until he recover.

Numen: If you cooperate, you'll get what you want.

Roqayah: I am under your command, my lord.

Numen: Why did you kill him?

Roqayah, crying: Because he was a coward and a traitor. He tricked until I fell in love with him, then he threw me to the dogs... I had to avenge myself... He had to pay the price.

Numen: How did you kill him?

Roqayah, crying: I went to him at night, begging him one last time to confess and clear my name, but he refused, so I killed him and ran, but you caught me in the end.

Numen: So, you're pregnant now?

Roqayah, crying: Yes.

Numen: Last question, Roqayah, how did you kill him?

Roqayah, crying: With a knife, my lord.

Numen starts to leave, but Roqayah calls out to him.

Roqayah: my lord... Please don't let My father know what happened between me and Anas when you execute me, tell him any other reason.

Numen doesn't respond to her and exits the cell.

Numen to Malik: This girl is lying, commander, she didn't do this.

Malik: Why do you say that, my lord? Her motive is clear.

Numen: Because the patrol leader says Anas died from a stab with a dagger, not a knife, commander.

Malik: So, why is she incriminating herself?

Numen: To spare herself the disgrace, she wants to die before her disgrace is exposed.

Malik: What should we do, my lord?

Numen: There's nothing else but the dagger, commander. Go get it from the patrol office and start your work. I want to know whose dagger this is, cpmmander.

Malik: As you command, my lord.

Scene 2

LOCATION: BLACKSMITHS' shops Time: Day - Exterior

One of Malik's informants holds the dagger and goes around the blacksmiths' shops to find out who owns the dagger. He reaches the first shop and asks the blacksmith.

Informant: Can you tell me, sir, whose work is this?

Blacksmith 1: I don't know.

Informant: Alright, thank you.

He goes to another shop and asks the blacksmith there.

Informant: Good morning, sir. Do you know whose work this is?

Blacksmith 2: It's a clean piece, but unfortunately, I didn't make it... Do you want to sell it?

Informant: Thank you, sir. I was just asking.

Blacksmith 2: No problem. If you want to sell it, come to me, and I'll give you the best price in the market.

Informant: Thank you, sir, I won't forget.

The informant goes to a third shop and asks the blacksmith there.

Informant: Excuse me, sir, everyone says that you are the big man of all the Blacksmiths and you know your way around every one

Blacksmith 3: Yes, what can I do for you?

Informant: Whose work is this piece?

Blacksmith 3: This piece is imported, not made here, and only one person works with it.

Informant: Who is it, sir?

Blacksmith 3: It's Naeem Al-Jahsh, the owner of the workshop at the beginning of the market.

The informant realizes that Naeem Al-Jahsh is the same blacksmith he asked at the first shop, so he confirms that Naeem knows something about the dagger and continues to observe him.

Scene 3

LOCATION: MORGANA'S Room Time: Day - Interior

Durra is sitting with Morgana in her room, consoling her.

Durra: I can't believe it, my lady... My lord would do such a thing.

Morgana: Over the years, I've slept next to him while he lied to me, Durra.

Durra: I don't know what to tell you, my lady. Maybe you should hear him out first and then decide.

Morgana: Hear him out? Hear that I wasn't enough for him... Hear that he knew someone else behind my back.

Suddenly, Numen enters.

Numen to Durra: Please, Durra, my daughter, leave me alone with the queen. I need to talk to her.

Morgana to Numen: I don't want to talk about anything.

Numen to Durra: Come on, Durra, please.

Durra gets up.

Durra to Morgana: With your permission, my lady.

Durra exits, and Numen sits next to Morgana.

Numen: Her name was Malika. I met her during the wars between Karzdan and Dagran  when I was on my way to Talistan to make an agreement with your father. I truly loved her with all my heart.

Morgana: You're trying to hurt me more than I am already hurting, Numen.

Numen: Please, Morgana, let me speak... I was thinking of marrying her, and it would have happened if something hadn't happened to me that changed all my plans.

Morgana: What happened?

Numen: Your father insisted that I marry his daughter to keep him out of the war. I married her, and she became more than just my beloved. We lived together for the most beautiful years of our lives and had four children, who were not just a blessing but also my entire world.

Morgana: And you hid all this from me for years, why?

Numen: Because I never thought that someone would dig into the past, Morgana... But let me tell you the final word: you are my wife, my queen, my beloved, and nothing will change that.

Morgana: I don't know if I can believe you again, Numen. All I know is that I need some time.

Numen: You're entitled to it, Morgana, and no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you.

Scene 4

LOCATION: IN FRONT of Naeem's shop Time: Night - Exterior

Naeem closes his shop and starts moving, with the informant following him. The informant tracks Naeem until he reaches a house and knocks on the door. A young man, who had a fight with Anas at the tavern, opens the door, and the informant moves closer to hear their conversation.

Young man: Why are you here? Are you crazy?

Naeem: Hold on, sir. Someone came to me today and asked about your dagger, whose is it.

Young man: Don't you dare drag my name into anything, you brute.

Naeem: Relax, sir. I told him I don't know who made it in the first place.

Young man: Alright, keep it that way, and don't come here again. You understand?

The young man closes the door on Naeem's face, and Naeem leaves. The killer then starts recalling how he killed Anas.

Scene 5

LOCATION: ANAS'S HOUSE Time: Night - Interior

Anas is drinking alcohol when the killer arrives.

Anas: Whoa, it's you... What are you here for?

Killer: I'm here to apologize. I was drunk and not in my senses... Please forgive me.

Anas: Now that you know your mistake, it's fine. Nothing happened.

Killer: Let's have a couple of drinks together as a sign of reconciliation.

Anas: Why not.

Anas pours two drinks for them to have.

Killer: What's with the calmness? Are you living alone?

Anas: No, I live with my father, but he's currently away.

Killer: So, you're alone now.

Anas: How am I alone when you're here?

Killer: You're right.

Anas: cheers.

Killer: cheers.

As Anas drinks from the glass, the killer stabs him with a dagger.

Killer: I told you, you'll pay for what you did.

Anas staggers around the room in pain until he sits on a chair and dies. The killer hears voices approaching, panics, and flees.

Scene 6

LOCATION: SADIQ'S SHOP Time: Night - Interior

Sadiq enters his shop and finds