Scene 1
Fire crackling. Crickets singing. An owl hoots, and there is the sound of meat sizzling on the fire. There’s a pop, and the sound of someone chewing. Footsteps on the forest floor. A twig cracks, and there’s silence for a few moments. All noise but the crackle of the fire stops.
Paladin
Are you here to avenge your husband?
WIFE
Is that only what is right?
Paladin
‘Right’ is subjective. In my mind, I was ‘right’ to kill him. If in your mind, it is ‘right’ to kill me, well, it’s only ‘right’ for me to want to live.
Wife
Draw your sword.
There is the ringing sound of a sword being drawn, and then a swish as the Paladin cuts it through the forest floor.
Paladin
You don’t have to do this.
Wife
I loved him. Do you even know what that means?
Paladin
I can’t say I do. So I can’t say that I truly care.
There is a clash of swords, and Wife grunts. Another clash, and the fight begins. It’s slow paced, not fast at all, with heavy pants and the sound of muffled sobs. About two minutes.
Wife
WHY DID YOU KILL HIM?! HE CHANGED!
Paladin
A Drifter never changes.
There’s a slick sound as the Paladin runs her through, and Wife makes a choked sound. the Paladin steps closer, her feet crunching in the ground, and there’s a wet cough.
Paladin
We’re all monsters.
There’s a thump as the Paladin lets her body drop to the ground, and then a quiet sigh.
Paladin
Why did you have to do unnecessary things?
There’s a grunt of effort as the Paladin lifts Wife up and starts walking, her steps heavier in the loam. Footsteps continue for a while, and the sound of crickets gets louder. After about thirty seconds of this, we hear a thump as the Paladin drops the body on the ground, and then the sound of a shovel hitting the dirt and digging. A cow moos in the background, placing them at a farm, and we’re just going to gloss over how close the Paladin was to the farm because I can’t do twenty straight minutes of walking. The digging continues for a while, about one minute.
Paladin
May the Owl watch over your rest.
The digging continues again, and then there’s the sound of the Paladin sitting down.
Paladin
My meat is probably burned now. Why did you have to interrupt my dinner?
A hiss, and the Paladin is silent. The hiss grows louder, and then the Paladin sighs.
Paladin
Where did you come from?
END SCENE 1
(Editor’s Note: This piece continues, but due to size constraints, we must include the rest as downloadable attachment. We do hope you continue to read.)
Hello, my name is Minty Lee, and I’m a writer hailing from Arizona. This is half of an audio drama I got talked into making by my friends. My twitters are sensibleshroom and tsumsaudiodrama.