CHAPTER 12: "INTERROGATION" FADE IN:
INT. KEISE'S DETENTION TENT - NIGHT Only minutes have passed since the battle with Smonir. Outside, the sounds of weapons, running footsteps, and chaos still echo.
KEISE is tied to a log. Wrists bound, head bowed.
At the other end of the tent, SETSUKO and ERETT. They are not prisoners, but they are deliberately kept away from Keise. Both stand, worried.
SETSUKO (whispering to Erett) Why won't they let Keise stay with us?
ERETT (quietly) Because he attacked. The Kağan. Disobedience.
SETSUKO (angry) But Smonir is the enemy! Okay, but still arresting him without questioning…
ERETT (firm) That's the rule here, Setsuko. The Kağan's order. Once someone disobeys, they do it again. Let's pray he keeps his head.
Setsuko falls silent, looking at Keise.
The tent flap OPENS.
BİLGE KAĞAN and METE HAN enter. Both tired, dusty, bloody. But Bilge Kağan's usual cold expression is gone. Thoughtful.
BİLGE KAĞAN (to the soldiers) Out.
The soldiers leave. The tent now holds only Bilge Kağan, Mete Han, Keise, Setsuko, and Erett.
ERETT (worried) Smonir… what happened to him? Is he dead?
METE HAN (shaking his head) No. He escaped.
Erett's face tenses.
BİLGE KAĞAN steps in front of Keise. His eyes sharp, voice cold. He paces in the tent. His tone carries an inexplicable chill. A bad omen kind of chill.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cold) Keise. This is the steppe. The steppe is harsh. The wildest place to survive. And every steppe has its Kağan. The Kağan has orders. You know that, right?
Keise is silent. Bilge Kağan stops, looks at Keise.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cont'd) So. Do you know what happens to those who disobey the Kağan's orders in the steppe?
Long silence.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cold) We take their heads. We will gather the council. And you will stay here until then.
He pauses.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cont'd, voice dropping even lower) Who knows… maybe you'll fall to the island.
Mete Han's eyes narrow at the word "island."
The island. The one his brother has been searching for 20-25 years, perhaps found, lost comrades and soldiers for. What is it? What does his brother want so badly?
ERETT and SETSUKO exchange glances.
ERETT (curious) So, my Kağan… the island? What is the island?
BİLGE KAĞAN (narrowing his eyes) Hmm. Erett… you brought these new members, didn't you?
Erett immediately understands.
ERETT (shouting) Setsuko! RUN!
SETSUKO freezes in shock. She doesn't understand what's happening. But she can't move. Bilge Kağan's eyes pierce her.
ERETT (gritting his teeth) Damn it!
The tent fills with SOLDIERS.
METE HAN shakes his head hopelessly.
Keise tied to the log, helpless. Setsuko frozen, unsure what to do. Erett angrily looks around.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cold) Take them.
FADE TO BLACK.
[CHAPTER 12 END]