Death of Malcolm III
Malcolm III (Canmore), King of Scots, lies mortally wounded in an ambush by forces of Robert de Mowbray at Alnwick Castle. Surrounded by his loyal retainers, he struggles to give final orders as his v
Setting
Alnwick Castle's outer bailey, a muddy expanse near the castle walls where Malcolm III's forces have been ambushed. Fallen leaves mix with churned earth and blood.
Characters
Malcolm III
primary
A middle-aged man of sturdy Scottish build, his face weathered from years of battle and rule. His dark beard is streaked with gray, and his piercing blue eyes, though dimming, still hold the fire of kingship. A deep wound mars his side, staining his tunic crimson, and his skin is pale from blood loss.
Loyal Retainer
primary
A grizzled veteran in his late fifties, with a thick, graying beard and deep-set eyes that have seen countless battles. His face is weathered and scarred, with a prominent old wound running from his left temple to his jawline. His muscular frame, though aging, still shows the strength of a seasoned warrior.
Squire
secondary
A young noble-born attendant, no more than sixteen years of age, with a lean build and a face still soft with youth. His fair hair is tousled and streaked with dirt, and his blue eyes are wide with shock and fear. He clutches a broken sword, the hilt still gripped tightly in his hand, the blade snapped near the middle.
Dying Soldier
background
A clansman in his late twenties, wiry build, with a weathered face framed by a tangled beard. His tunic is soaked with blood, and his breathing is labored. His eyes are glazed with pain and exhaustion.
Dialog
Malcolm III
Hold, my friend—spare your cloak. The wound is beyond binding.
Loyal Retainer
Nay, mo rìgh! The men still fight. We must—
Malcolm III
Listen to me. Carry word to my sons—tell them... Northumbria was worth the price.
Loyal Retainer
By the blood of our fathers, I swear it.
Malcolm III
Good man. Now go—before Mowbray's curs find you kneeling.