My name is Talon.
I'm the last Blackblood, or so I've been told.
I escaped when Everit Dred killed all my people.
I cut off the points of my ears to hide in plain sight.
A tiny creature lives inside me,
passed to me by my dying mother.
It gives me the power to open portals to another world
and summon powerful demons called Lu-Qiri.
But I can only summon them when I have their names,
something that's proving to be a challenge.
The Prime Order wants me dead, but I've found sanctuary
at the farthest edge of the Realm in a place known as the Outpost.
Previously on "The Outpost"...
- You summoned another demon? - And a Blackblood.
We don't have enough men.
We'll have to make do until our allies arrive.
What about your promise to Gwynn?
I can't control a demon army.
I'll give you three days to consider my offer to marry me.
- I want you to guide him. - Janzo?
Make him into the man that Talon needs in her life.
This is for Talon and your Queen,
I decided I'm giving Rebb the Asterkinj.
Did you really think the prophecy could be about you?
You dare to come before us
after such a massive failure, Ambassador Dred?
I am honored to bow before The Three,
and I pledge my heart and blood.
But with respect to The Holy Three,
I do not consider my journey a failure.
I brought you...
...another prize.
What prize could be more valuable
than the head of the false queen
or the corpse of the Blackblood?
Both of which you've failed to procure.
I bring you the means to yet achieve those goals, my Three.
Commander Garret Spears,
the false queen's betrothed and organizer of her guard.
He will provide us with the information that we can use
to bring down the rebellion.
He's no good to us dead.
Take him to the Institute.
Now, as for you, Dred.
You have indeed brought us a valuable tool
to use against the false queen.
But he would not be necessary
had you simply done what you were sent to do.
You failed to kill the false queen.
You accomplished nothing of your mission.
The punishment for such failure is death.
However, we will not give you death yet.
But you may wish we had.
You will live out your life in a cell so small,
you won't be able to lie down.
- Synced and corrected by VitoSilans - -- www.Addic7ed.com --
Tell me, Naya, do you think I've kept
Baron Aegisford waiting sufficiently
in order to demonstrate who has the power in this relationship?
- I do, Your Majesty. - Then send him in.
Her Majesty will see you now.
It's about time.
Ravishing as always.
That was a long wait for your future husband.
Yes, well, I'm a busy woman, Baron.
And as of now, you are most certainly not my future husband.
Do you play?
I dabble.
Shall we play a few hands?
Hmm.
And, um,
what would be the wager?
Well, I played strip Octor one time.
That's where we remove a piece of...
- You may leave now. - That was a joke.
Does Your Majesty not have a sense of humor?
Enough to know that that was less of a joke than the man who told it.
Ouch. Do you play Octor as well as you spar verbally?
How about this? If I win, then you give me your armies
without the condition of marriage.
- And if I win? - You won't.
If you're so sure, if I win, marry me.
Agreed. Five hands.
If you win three out of five, I will marry you,
and you will give me your armies, your gold, and everything else you own.
But if I win, I will not have to suffer the indignity of marrying you,
but you will still give me your armies, your gold,
and everything else you own.
Maybe we should play simply as a pretense to get to know one another.
Hmm. I do believe you're afraid I might beat you.
On the contrary.
A gentleman never wagers at cards with a lady.
Hmm. Fine.
Sit.
The man usually deals.
Not in my kingdom.
I couldn't help but notice
that the Outpost's mining operations
and the weapons forging haven't been restarted.
Both were manned by slave and prison labor,
and I refuse to use either.
Then how do you hope to outfit our army?
My army.
I will pay the workers a fair wage to mine the ore and forge the weapons.
Mm, I wasn't aware your treasury was so full.
Rumor has it you're broke.
Hmm.
- Octor two. - I have nothing.
Then I win.
Don't you wish we were playing for clothing?
- Deal the cards. - Me?
- But I'm a man. - Oh, is that what you are?
- You haven't answered my question. - Which is what?
How are you going to pay to restart your mines and your smelters?
I don't know.
Are you laughing at me?
The Prime Order army could be a day away from wiping you out.
I'm laughing at how much you need me.
This game of Octor is over.
You may take your leave.
Your Majesty.
This is insane, Talon.
Who agrees to meet in the forest
in the middle of the night, huh?
I didn't set the time.
Besides, she's a Blackblood. She's not going to hurt me.
Her demon sure did a number on you.
Which proves my point. He didn't kill me.
Yeah, but still, there could be...
there could be Greyskins or...
or there could be Plaguelings
- or even there could be... - Demons?
I asked you to come alone.
- He's no threat. - She's right.
I'm no threat at all. Just pretend I'm not even here.
Stay there.
Where's the Dragman?
Healthy as an ox.
So glad you came.
You have decided to give me the Asterkinj?
First tell me what you're going to do with it.
Save our people, like I said.
If I agree, you have to promise to help the Queen.
With a Lu-Qiri army, she can defeat the Prime Order,
and she'll reward Blackbloods and Lu-Qiri with lands of their own.
How are you so sure this human queen will keep her word?
'Cause I know her well.
Then so be it. I trust you.
Pass the Asterkinj, and we can get started.
Tell it to stop, or I won't hesitate to kill you.
Stay there.
Go with Janzo.
Why the sudden change of heart?
Because you lied.
- Am I... - Lucky to be alive?
Yes.
Where am I?
- Who are you? - A healer.
How long have I been out?
Almost two weeks.
I'm Sana, First Healer to the Court of The Three.
- You are in my care now. - So I'm a prisoner?
I don't consider you as a prisoner.
As long as you're here, you're a patient.
But if I step outside?
Then you will no longer be in my care.
Why are you letting me live?
Why even keep me alive?
- I want to help you. - Why?
You don't know me.
- How's the pain? - Ah!
It's nothing that I can't handle.
Thank you...
for the healing and all that,
but I have to go.
- Where? - Home.
I have duties.
And...
You cannot make it on your own.
Not just yet. You lost too much blood.
You need time to regain your strength.
I've lost a lot of blood before,
and I could always walk two weeks later.
You've never lost this much blood.
You only survived because of my skills.
Don't lack for confidence, do we?
Any other healer and you would be dead.
Now lie down.
You're in good hands, Garret.
I won't let anything bad happen to you.
Take your medicine.
- What is it? - The reason you're alive.
Take it.
Now go to sleep.
How do we know we can trust her?
Well, she warned me Rebb was lying.
If she was working with her,
she would have let me transfer the Asterkinj.
How do we know that that's not all part of her nefarious plan now?
I mean, she's the one who chose the name
that summoned Rebb in the first place.
I gave her the name I was taught to give.
You can hear us?
Huh. Of course she can.
Of course she can.
Who told you to give me that name?
My mother, and her mother before her.
Like your mum and your grandmum
with the, um, Asterkinj... the gift.
Although I'm starting to question whether it was a gift or a curse.
My purpose was to find the one Blackblood
and give her the name Ekkundi.
- Hogswash. - Janzo!
Don't "Janzo" me. She's the one who...
who rode in with Dred, of all people.
I rode with Dred because I knew he would lead me to the One.
But only so she could give you a demon name
that would then summon a Blackblood, which who...
who I might add, she left with.
When the second Blackblood arrived,
I had to decide which was the One.
And you decided it was Talon, did you?
I decided it was not Rebb.
I looked into her mind, and I saw it was full of lies.
What is this?
- The key. - To what?
I do not know, but it's meant for The One.
Wait, so if I put this Vex Rezicon in the fire,
can you give me the names you were trained not to give?
Come.
Your Majesty, there is, um,
a strange woman here to see you.
Strange how?
She appears to be a... a Blackblood.
Have the guards disarm her,
then escort her in, but remain by her side.
They've already taken her weapons, ma'am.
Come no closer.
Your Majesty.
My name is Rebb of Norebben,
a Blackblood village that no longer exists.
You're the Blackblood that took Talon's little girl.
I assure you I did not take her. She went willingly.
- She knows who she serves. - What do you want?
I'm here to offer my help.
And how can you help me?
I can pro...
I can provide you a sizeable demon
and Blackblood army to defeat your enemy.
So could Talon, if you hadn't stolen her translator.
As I said, the Dragman went willingly,
and she did so because she knows that Talon is not the One.
- Go on. Explain. - If Talon knew her own history,
she wouldn't imagine she could ever be the Blackblood of prophecy.
She can barely control one Lu-Qiri.
I, one the other hand, don't need the Book of Names or the Dragman.
I already know the name and disposition
of every creature on the other side.
They will follow me into battle
or anywhere else I lead them.
And why should I trust you?
If you are as wise as your forefather,
you already sense that what I say is true.
And if I were to put my doubts at rest,
what would you wish from me?
Simply to order your friend Talon
to give the creature that controls the portal
to its rightful owner... me.
Commander Spears.
It's always a pity when I have to ruin such a pretty face.
Bring him.
This is what gods do to those who serve a false queen.
That's funny.
You don't look like a god to me.
Yeah.
So all these names are new to you?
You weren't trained to summon any of these specifically?
Ah, Talon, there you are.
The Queen would like you to come to her quarters.
- Well, tell her I'm busy. - Now. It's urgent.
Sorry about that.
I brought Talon, Your Majesty.
Leave us, Naya.
The other Blackblood came to see me.
Did she hurt you?
No. On the contrary, she offered to help me.
She said that she can summon a demon army and a Blackblood army.
You can't trust her.
- Can she? - Only with my help.
Well, then help her. I need that army.
- What's the rush? - What's the rush?
At any moment, the Prime Order could bear down on us.
Then until that time,
until you're ready to mobilize your army and begin the war,
do you really want a few hundred demons wandering around?
She said that she could control them and you can't.
- She lies. - How do you know?
Because the Dragman told me.
And how can you trust her? She's only a child.
She's more than a child.
She can see into people's minds.
Oh, I have such a headache.
Gwynn, do you trust me?
Undyingly.
Then trust me to look after your best interests.
You don't need Rebb.
May I confess something to you, Talon,
that I've not told anyone before?
I'm terrified.
Don't be.
I've got your back.
Oops.
Did I get you wet? Sorry.
I had to wake you. It's, uh... it's no fun
beating a man when he's asleep.
Then you won't even know how much you're suffering for a false queen.
What was that?
You were saying?
She's not a false queen?
If so, you can blink once.
I mean, uh, with the eye you have left.
Stupidity. It boggles the mind.
This can all stop, you know?
Soon as you come to your senses
and realize the truth.
That woman is not Rosmund. Rosmund is dead.
The false queen is nothing but a commoner like you.
You see, uh, they lied to you,
and you fell for it.
They played you for a fool.
Stop!
You took that man from the Institute against orders.
I demand you to return him immediately.
So you can baby him some more?
Why do you care so much about this one?
I don't care about him any more than I care about anyone else.
I'm a healer, that's what I do.
Well, not this time. Now leave me to my work.
Fine.
But the first place I will go is to the Chamber of The Three
to tell them that you have disobeyed their wishes.
- Are you okay? - I've been better.
Who is it?
It's me, Naya. I've got the flowers you asked for.
And the Mistress says she needs more ale.
Thank you. I'll be right there.
Stay here, stay quiet, and, um,
stay away from those cages.
I thought he'd never leave.
You failed me, Dragman.
I do not serve you.
Then you serve no one.
I've brought some more flowers.
Hmm, thank you.
I had no idea where I was going to get more from that we're already half dead.
- Janzo? - Hmm?
What do you say to Talon?
- What do you mean? - When you're trying to woo her.
I wouldn't dare try to woo Talon, Naya.
The Queen has tasked me with helping make Talon
see you in a different light.
But I can't do it without you making an effort.
Right.
I... I wouldn't know where to begin.
Well, I can teach you.
That's a bit optimistic, isn't it?
Just give it a try.
For example, um, what could you compliment her on?
I don't know, okay? Um, her... her combat skills.
She's quite spectacular at fighting.
It's not exactly romantic.
Um, how about her hair, her attire, her...
Her eyes.
Definitely her eyes.
That's great. Sit.
Pretend I'm Talon. Look straight into my eyes,
and tell me what you think of them.
They're very nice.
Janzo, you must make an effort if I am to help you.
How are they nice? What do they remind you of?
Don't know.
Look me in the eyes and describe them.
Naya, your eyes are very pretty.
They are.
But they don't hold a candle to Talon's.
Pretend.
Talon...
your eyes are like sapphire pools
reflecting the sky of a spring sun.
Naya?
Um, that was beautiful, Janzo.
- Really? - Mm.
I mean, you have really pretty eyes, too.
You do. They're, like, this really rich brown color,
like dung beetle blood once it's crushed up.
Um, so the next time you see Talon,
tell her exactly what you just told me...
about her eyes, not mine.
Let go.
Is it night?
I didn't mean to wake you. I was just checking on you.
Sleep.
My sleeping quarters are right down the corridor.
I couldn't sleep. I was afraid they'd take you away from me.
- What? - Go back to sleep.
Why do you care so much?
I don't want you beaten again.
There are only so many times
the body can handle that much damage.
Oh.
But why do you care if I live or die?
It's not important.
It is if you want me to trust you.
You remind me of someone.
That's all. Not a big deal.
Who?
- Tell me. - His name was Breeon.
He was my husband.
You remind me of him.
Where is he now?
- Dead. - I'm sorry.
He was a diplomat sent by The Three
to the East Quarter to inquire about the village
that had been sacked and burned.
He was brutally killed at the hands of a Blackblood.
The Blackbloods are gone.
You know as well as I do one remains.
No, they were all wiped out.
I was honest with you, Garret.
Don't you think you owe me the same consideration?
The Blackblood wanted revenge on the Prime Order
for a massacre they knew nothing of.
Nobody wipes out an entire village
without the knowledge of The Three.
It was done by private mercenaries working for Ambassador Dred.
The Three did not approve,
and would have stopped him had they known in time.
- I don't believe you. - It's true.
When Dred brought you here, they stripped him
of his rank and put him in a cell.
May he rot there forever.
That doesn't prove anything.
It proves that you don't know what's true and what's false.
But how do you know it was a Blackblood?
Because I witnessed it with my own eyes.
She had long, black, filthy hair
and eyes that looked right through me.
She fought off half a dozen Covenant soldiers
and walked away with just a scratch.
But that's all it took for me to see
that her blood ran as black as coal.
I can see you're a good man.
Just like him.
I haven't felt like this since he was taken away from me.
You need to heal. Go back to sleep.
Sleep. Sleep.
Hey, Talon...
What's wrong? What happened?
What does it look like happened?
Rebb?
I can't believe a Blackblood could be so evil.
And she burned all the names the Dragman gave me.
All of them?
Janzo, I can't bury another person who died because of me.
- Especially a child. - It's all right.
I'll do it.
You know, I just promised Gwynn I could summon her a demon army.
Hey, we'll figure something out, okay?
Not without the Dragman.
- Okay. - Not without some names.
Talon?
A name. A demon name.
Brave child.
She must have been hiding it even when she was dying.
Or Rebb put it there,
and it's one of her evil friends.
I think it's time we got you up.
Okay, easy.
- Ah! - There. How does that feel?
Like my entire body is one big bruise.
There's still a way for you.
What, renounce my Queen?
That is never going to happen.
- Remarkable. - Which part?
The fact that I won't betray my Queen?
The fact you won't give up on the lie.
I mean, despite...
- Despite what? - Nothing.
It's clearly something. Tell me.
They would take my head off if they find out what I did.
I swear to you, I will tell no one.
After the Tormentor took you away,
I was afraid they would kill you next time.
So I did something I should have never done,
against the will of The Three.
And what was that?
I sent a message to your so-called Queen
offering to meet her or her representative and hand you over.
I'd rather see you live with a false queen
than die at the hands of a Tormentor.
Come.
What happened?
You don't want to know.
Tell me.
The return message simply said,
"I already have a new Commander".
- I'm sorry. - No.
No.
No, you're lying.
You would never send such a message.
You wouldn't take the risk.
I'm telling you the truth.
All I want is for you to be safe,
even if it's not with me.
I sent a message because I care for you.
As a patient, not like Rosmund.
Just like Rosmund.
Have you decided what you're going to do?
How can I decide?
Can't beat Rebb without summoning my own demon,
and every time I open that portal, people die.
I buried the girl for you.
Thank you.
I said some words on your behalf.
Thanks.
I guess, if anything, it lets us know
that Rebb is pure evil.
I was kind of hoping I was wrong about that.
It would be nice not to be the only Blackblood.
Talon?
Janzo?
Your eyes remind me of sapphire pools
reflecting in the sky of a spring sun.
Janzo, what has gotten into you?
- Why are you acting so weird? - What do you mean?
I mean, the new hair, the new attitude.
"Your eyes remind me of things of whatever".
Sapphire pools reflecting in the sky of a spring sun.
Just trying to improve myself, Talon.
Is that such a bad thing?
They're coming for you. We have to hide you.
- Who is coming? - Quickly.
- Just the man I'm looking for. - You're not allowed here.
I'm so glad to see you up and around, Commander.
What is it you want?
Just one question, Commander Spears.
Do you still support the false queen?
Rosmund is not the false queen.
She's the rightful heir to the throne.
I had a feeling you would say that.
- Take him. - No.
You clean that up.
Janzo!
You. You made a fool of me.
You made a fool out of me, Naya.
Actually, I made a fool of myself, but still.
You instigated it, so it's all your fault, Naya.
Or maybe it's just half your fault.
I don't know. I can't believe that's...
Janzo, slow down. What happened?
I listened to you,
and I told Talon about... about the eye thing.
And do you know what she did?
She laughed at me.
I mean, maybe it's a good thing, because she was upset.
Janzo! I'm proud of you, Janzo.
- I'm proud of you. - For what? For what, huh?
For making a fool out of myself?
You surprised her. That's why she laughed.
It was a nervous laugh.
Women do that when they're flattered.
Yeah, I don't think so.
You know what you have to do next, don't you?
What?
Kiss her.
No. No, I don't think she'd like that, Naya.
If you don't think she'd want you to, you're right.
Maybe you shouldn't.
It's just that last time, that's the feeling I got when...
- when I kissed her. - Wait.
- She kissed you? - Mm-hmm.
Once. I... I got stabbed.
And then I was bleeding profusely.
It was very bad. And then... then I had an oozing wound
and she came over and she kissed me.
She stuck a hot poker rod in it.
But nonetheless, she kissed you.
Now it's your turn. She's waiting for you to return the favor.
- Really? - Sure sounds like it to me.
You have to take her in your arms and kiss her like you mean it.
No! No, I mean, what if she doesn't want... what if... what if...
what if she wants to kill me? I mean, literally?
I don't have time for this.
You know Talon better than I do, but I'm a woman.
And I know if I were Talon, it would make me see you in a different way.
Yes, in an "I'm going to kill you", sort of way.
I'm honored to bow before The Three.
I pledge my heart and blood.
Is there a problem?
Our method was working as planned.
But, uh, this last round,
well, this last session
of negative conditioning...
...unfortunately...
I'm afraid he even went beyond my healing skills.
I beg forgiveness, my Three.
I'm not used to the need to keep them alive.
This is inexcusable.
My Three, I'm certain my method was working.
We built him up to break him down for several rounds,
but Spears is stronger than anyone we tested the procedure on.
We refrained from sending
an army to destroy the false queen
because you assured us that your plan would work.
And it still can, my Three.
I'm sure this final positive conditioning will be enough.
If you will just...
Our eternal devotion to the divine power of The Three.
Our army will be ready to march on the Outpost in five days.
You have that long to prove your plan is better than our general's.
I'm certain it is, my Three.
Let us hope so.
If you fail, you will die in inexpressible pain.
We won't fail. My wife here, she's very good at what she does.
I assure you, my Three,
by the end of the week,
Garret Spears will be yours to command.
- Synced and corrected by VitoSilans - -- www.Addic7ed.com --