Original subtitles

In a time before this, I saw a land divided.

Its king dying and its people tired of war.

Its dukes, lords, and warrior knights all searching desperately for peace.

Following the ancient law, it was decreed that on the death...

of the old king, the virgin daughters of each warring lord and lady,

would come to the forest of the sacred cave over the first snows fell.

There, a wife for the king's son would be chosen by the high priestess of

Mithras, keeper of the sun.

According to time-honored ritual, each of you shall

be cleansed of evil.

And from that moment on, you are consecrated twofold.

Once to the king, or who you may be chosen to marry.

And once to me.

For I will now be your sacred guardian until the new king's bride

is chosen.

The ritual has ended.

You are now consecrated to the king as if each of you was his wife.

I will pray for your guidance.

Soon the king's delegation will arrive.

and take back the chosen one to be well.

You will pray as well.

Pray to the old gods and the new.

Pray for the king who was once a prince, and the one woman among you who

shall become his queen, and the others his court.

and spirit of the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, and now, and ever.

Amen.

Glory be to God.

Give me the power to keep them safe during this time of their consecration.

For these are dark and difficult times.

One shall be a queen, and the rest will be her court.

And by your decree, then peace will rule the land.

and she caught out an interesting and long example.

This is for my feasting.

UGH!

Rest, my child.

Go to the gods in peace now.

I will find your companions and see them safe, I promise you.

Oh.

There is no need for any of you to bow.

I am not your better.

Perhaps not our better, but our only hope.

Unless the gods have deserted us as well as the king.

We are united by our common fate.

Each one of us has lost a daughter.

And with violence.

Lord Roland's daughter killed.

There was no reason for it.

The law is clear.

The new king can take any one of our daughters for his bride.

And he has the same right to choose one over another.

Then why take all of them?

Perhaps he intends to hold them to ransom.

This is madness.

The old king was a man of truth.

Yes. And honor.

His heir...

Apparently, it's evil to his father's good.

He wouldn't be the first prince to turn on his king.

We have come to you seeking answers.

But I am a priestess of the light, not a sorcerer or a seer.

We do not come to you for magic spells, but to claim our daughters.

Put this on and say nothing.

You said the king's men were seen.

This evil is his doing.

Of that I have no doubt.

What would you have us do then? Attack the king at his castle?

He has an army larger than all our forces put together.

Not to mention the mine at the foot of his castle keep.

He has enough silver to buy all the mercenaries he needs.

There is no way for our daughters to be rescued.

You will be rewarded for your silence.

Or you shall be flogged if you break it.

Men bought for money can be bribed.

And without that mine, the king has no power.

You intend to take it from him?

I intend to negotiate with him first.

Perhaps convince him of his folly.

And how will you accomplish that?

Set your hand and seal to a document that makes me your proxy in this affair.

Then I will have the power of each and every one of you.

to shield me from whatever evil awaits me at the king's hand.

Go with God and all our gratitude.

Yes, I will.

Who are you?

My name is Nora, from the village of the Stone Chapel.

No maiden?

And certainly no princess.

Who dressed you this way?

I don't know her, your highness.

But she said I would be rewarded.

You will lie too.

I know that now.

Spare me.

I meant no harm.

You were wise not to try and deceive me.

Hyda.

The little princesses have arrived at last.

Yes, your highness.

And the high priestess, what of her?

She wasn't there, your highness.

Oh, well... I shouldn't complain.

The eight princesses are perfect prize.

With them and the silver from the mine, nothing will stand in the way of my dear

brother.

You did bring me eight, didn't you?

Or is it only seven?

Hm?

Well... How many?

Since this one is neither princess nor virgin.

Seven only.

How did you know?

Did you really think you could fool me with your little ploy?

What happened?

One died, your highness. Died?

Or was killed by an overzealous blade?

Which of them was it? Or... should I guess?

Eleanor.

Rowlyn's daughter?

Yes, your highness.

I thought as much.

But your blade was too greedy.

The fifth time that I promised you, you wanted it now, without waiting for it,

to come to you as it should have.

Might have.

But we'll know more.

It was an accident, your highness.

Your dagger.

Is this what you killed her with?

Yes, your highness.

Then no.

It has cost you everything I promised.

And perhaps more.

How shall I punish you?

Slash your pretty cheek?

Or slice open your throat from ear to ear?

Suggest a reason why I should not do one or the other of these things.

Or do you think I will spare you just because your horrorful mother whelped

you from my father's seat?

If that's your reason, think of another.

Your thinking is far too slow.

Count to five aloud.

Your five last seconds of your paltry life.

One.

One.

Two.

Four... Five... You have a reason now?

Yes. Impress me.

She was trying to escape.

Very clever.

It is the truth.

One man's truth is another's lie.

And truth or not...

You won't see Roland's castle with your pennant flying above it.

You would steal my legacy?

Not a legacy.

Merely a traitor's payment.

I could have paid a tenth as much to someone else to have the poison put into

our father's wine.

I offered you Roland's land from pity.

And I take them back with spite.

Assemble the seven in the castle hall. I will see them when I am ready.

Yes, your highness.

Dress me.

So... This is the stuff that Queens are made of.

I don't believe it.

My brother deserves better than anyone of you for a bride.

Narrow as a boy.

You will breathe no air.

I'd wait or anything on it.

Send them all to the mine for a while.

Break them of their royal ways.

Except for her.

She might do for the king.

If not for my brother, then for me.

She had spirits in the cave.

Perhaps she will breathe through to it.

I'll choose the lover who first takes my honor, lady.

Choice has nothing to do with it.

Let her think for a while about her future and then... Break her spirit.

Guards!

My brother's wedding.

He really will expect me to attend.

Especially since he's about to become a father as well.

We all meet again, you can be assured of that.

But brotherly love and duty calls.

So I must be off.

Since my soldier's urges cannot be trusted.

See to it that the royal honor is secured.

But make sure they can work where they can see my riches.

Move it.

Come on.

Your new home ladies get to work

Get on with it.

Who gives this woman into marriage?

I do, her father.

And do you give her willingly?

Of course he does.

Doesn't Caroline look lovely?

Already heavy with a king's child.

This is blasphemy.

Don't be silly, old man.

We have a new god now.

He forgives everything for a few mumbled prayers.

Very accommodating.

Get it done.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I make two of one,

bound by love until death.

What is his shall be yours.

What is yours shall be his.

Rise, King Alexander, and kiss your bride.

A bit late for that, don't you think?

But I like the part about what is yours shall be his, don't you?

Sadly, your father is dead.

Of course, now that you are married to my brother, the child you are carrying

becomes the new Duke.

State your business.

Stand aside. My business is with the king, not you.

Pass.

What's your business, woman?

Be more careful how you speak to a high priestess of Mithras.

Now let me pass.

I cannot be held responsible for my actions when I am angry.

And I am getting angrier by the minute.

Pass, then.

I need more of a challenge than he can offer.

Bring me someone fresh.

The Crown Princess Brianna bids you wait.

I am here to see the King, not his sister.

He has not been well of late.

I see.

Well, then I suppose Brianna will have to do.

Please wait.

I will come for you.

Tell her I have no interest in Mithras or any other god.

Yes.

Sealed by all of them?

Yes. Tell her to wait.

I must have time to think.

Yes, your highness.

My audience with Brianna?

Her Highness's time is valuable.

Brianna is a spoiled child.

She always has been.

You speak that way of the King's sister?

False titles do not impress me.

I will wait five minutes more and no longer.

Now go tell her.

You fared well.

I could use more like you.

Next one.

Enough.

The mage appears.

I am no mage, as you well know.

And what is the meaning of the slaughter?

Not slaughter at all.

Fair fights.

Each and every one.

Your sword is edged. It is not dulled for practice.

In a real battle, would my enemy carry a blunted blade?

I think not.

I prefer my opponents alive and bleeding.

Even when it is only to hone my skills.

What about you?

I am not here to fight.

I am here to see your brother, the King.

He's not himself these days.

As you have been told.

But I deal with most of his affairs.

Including hospitality for his guests.

Especially important ones like yourself.

I still wish to see him as soon as possible.

Of course.

But not before you've washed away the dust from your long journey.

and select your thirst.

No, please.

You could have been a princess and bear the royal children for my fiefdom.

But instead, you betrayed me.

You cost me everything.

The lady promised I would be free.

She lies.

Almost as much as I do.

Now I have a real princess to educate

you take your ease with the sound of the lash so near i find it rather comforting

discipline is the key to almost everything in this world

love and hate peace and war

what

is this madness this woman is of royal birth

You cannot treat her in this way.

I can treat her any way I see fit.

But why?

What crimes has she committed?

A serious one, as I am sure you will agree.

She refuses to marry my brother.

If so, he should have no difficulty choosing another from the seven

princesses he took by force.

His taking of all seven young ladies is only prudent.

as evidenced by this willful creature.

It is his right to choose a wife from the pantheon of lords, not force her to

his bidding.

And by all the laws, she has the right to reject whomever she pleases.

Laws change.

She should be privileged to become my brother's queen.

And her rejection of him is an attack on the realm that can only be considered

treasonous. She is lucky to be alive when it comes to that.

Others before her have died for less.

I cannot endure this any longer. You have betrayed the covenant agreed to by

the old king and taken the princesses against their will.

Even kings are not above the law.

he will have to answer for this and so shall you now take me to your brother

if

that is what you wish clean her up and

bring her

Believe me, I have gone to great lengths to ensure that their virtue

remains intact.

There will be no question of whose child the king's chosen bears.

This goes against all the laws, let alone simple decency.

These women are little more than slaves.

This is the royal mine.

They are real Indians.

I see no contradiction.

Oh, man.

The lazy ones.

It is unseemly not to bow before your king, my lady.

High priestess of Mithras or not.

This is the king?

None other.

Alexander I.

Master of all his surveys.

King of the underworld.

Why do you have him in this terrible place?

For his own safety.

As you have been told, he is not well.

And down here, he is protected from all manner of dangers.

Assassins, supplicants, poison in his food.

Can he speak?

He mumbles mostly.

I seem to be the only one who understands him. How fortunate for him

to have such a... able translator.

I do what I can.

His condition is a secret?

And it shall remain one.

This is monstrous.

I cannot allow this to continue.

You cannot be allowed to stop it.

I cannot have you or your gods interfering with my plans.

The world is round, Brianna.

And the sun comes round like a wheel.

Your time will come.

It already has.

Put her to the winch.

Perhaps her guts will give her extra strength.

Get him ready Let

her

join with my brother we need another heir

by the red and the white, the black

and the light.

May all the gods, old and new, accept this woman of sin

into their midst.

Once a virgin.

Then a whore made it to a king.

Mother of a king killed for a king.

sister to Alexander and region to this woman's child by him.

I hereby proclaim possession of the kingdom of Caer Parawil

and all of the Western Sea.

If there is anyone present who contests my claim, let him speak

now or forever keep his silence.

Then the claim is without dispute.

Let it be written.

Let it be known.

So be it forevermore.

Have no fear, my little lady.

I'll be a proper mother to your little child.

And treat the little Duke's lands as though they were

my very own.

I will be a proper mother to each and every one of my brother's children.

Come with me, my little baby.

Not working?

Not for you, Brianna Then we shall see

Done your duty, sweet princess.

And with the king what the queen cannot.

And the king will not.

No matter what manner of drugs I give him.

All the silver in the world can't buy me the one thing she cannot have.

How sad for the queen.

even sadder for you back to work until we see you the

king's paltry gift has caught in your belly especially since he is now

a widower once again a widower was he married he did

so to caroline of care parable alas she died

giving birth

As you will.

But... I have more important things to do than gossip with princesses.

Take her!

Six?

That's all you can reach up?

The law says you can take a tenth of everything, including their daughters.

You take the tax four times a year now, instead of only once.

There are a few things left to take.

Then... let's take them!

Are there any maidens among them?

Answer her!

Yes.

There

is

one more.

Find out who is telling the truth.

This one for sure.

Bring me the one you are sure of.

What is your name?

Laura, my lady.

Stay a moment.

Two skin.

Show me the rest of them.

Next one.

She looks healthy enough.

Enough.

Satis!

Let's mark them.

Don't move!

We will start with her

Next

My beauty.

So...

Here I am with a few prisoners who work their minds, without which I cannot

pay my soldiers, without whom I cannot protect my kingdom.

And people think my life is easy.

Eventually,

I will run out of silver.

And then... What will I do?

I need slaves for the mines.

And women... To breed an army for the future.

I need more.

Put this lot to work.

And bring this one to my quarters.

Perhaps a little pleasure will ease my disappointment.

Great high priestess transform into a slave.

There's magic for you.

You have tied your fate to evil.

Killed your soul for it.

An evil fate begets an evil end.

Believe me.

To hell with you and your empty curses.

I've tied my fate to power.

Better than to your old gods.

Any god is better than the devil.

Your words are whole, Priestess.

With the King's whelps, this kingdom increases tenfold.

And when his death comes, I shall rule it with an iron fist.

You needn't be afraid.

Do you feel it in you?

The pulse of my brother's seed.

From virgin's white to direct of life.

A prince within you.

I do not know, my lady.

And if I would...

You'd be the last to know.

Careful.

There are six others to choose from.

I can't live without your lands.

Or your wealth.

Your father is Baron of Tanith. Is that not so?

And the Lord of Sanjia as well.

since his uncle's death.

Excellent.

How long has the king been in such distress?

He has good days and

bad days.

Today, he was not at his best.

Am I really supposed to rule with him in such a condition?

Perhaps.

In time.

But we must ensure that you are with child.

And if I am?

Then he can be his rightful queen.

Even we alone?

As you wish.

But you will spend your confinement in the mines.

Would you do that to a royal heir?

you think a great deal of yourself princess you forget i have enough like

you to breed an army of heirs

bring

her back to the mine and see to it that she works hardest of them all

Prepare her.

What a lovely maiden.

I hate maidens.

Go on.

In the holy name of Mithras, you wear the red dress.

I am the king's next bride.

Briony intends to bring all of us to the king.

Dispose of us.

Order you?

Yes.

She has already done it once to Caroline of Gabbo. I will be the next time.

Then you must escape.

And a king with you. Is it possible?

Be careful.

Shh. Quickly now.

Help me with him. He defiled me.

It was never his choice.

He was out of his right mind and not responsible for the deeds put upon him.

Now help me or we'll all die here.

Come. We must hurry now.

I know a way. The old priest's passage into the forest.

One of them will know where they have gone.

Have them all flocked, if that's what it takes.

Send Sluzos into the forest and look for the path.

Yes, your highness.

I may know where they are.

I'll get it out of you.

If it takes me all night.

Child's treasures.

They seem so trivial now.

At least I remember them.

And the way to this place?

A king's treasure now.

I am no king.

I never wanted to rule with the truth be known.

I'm not the man my father was.

Your father was a good man, it's true.

He spent a lifetime with the dream of creating a single realm.

A kingdom of peace.

Peace for a kingdom, perhaps.

But not for me.

I'm ashamed of what I've done to her.

There's no forgiving it.

Perhaps not.

She may already be quick with your child

Look I give her nightmares

She's

very beautiful and brave I've seen her courage

More than you've seen mine.

The potions she fed you are beginning to lose their power.

You sound more and more yourself.

And what good am I to anyone?

Myself or out of my mind?

You are your father's son.

Heir to his good heart and title.

A king.

Without a kingdom.

Then we must take it back.

You may already have a queen to rule it with you.

I was having a bad dream.

That was easy enough to tell.

I suppose I was in it.

No.

But your sister was.

I am sorry for the dishonor I have done towards you.

I would rather die than have you think I was that kind of man.

She ever explained?

Even under the circumstances.

As king, it is your right.

It is no man's right to dishonor a woman in such a way, even a king.

Right or not, I may be quick with your child.

Then I shall marry you and make you my queen.

I stole your honor. It is only right that I return it to you.

We speak again of right.

What of joy in love?

I feel joy in your presence already.

Who knows what time they bring.

If we have time.

What's wrong?

Something is not right.

There is danger about I can taste it in the air like wood smoke from a distant

fire And we should leave this place

So

soon brother

Are you really fool enough to think that I didn't know of this place?

I followed you here on many rainy afternoon, watching you play your stupid

childish games.

But now the games are over, brother.

You bewitched me with your potions.

Used me like some sort of bull set out to stud.

Bull?

More like a sheep.

You stole my kingdom.

Because you had no vision for it.

You were a king only because you were a man.

When in truth, I am the one who can lead the kingdom to greatness.

Even though I am a woman.

Our father knew it.

Which is why he sued for peace with the last breath left in his body.

He feared you, Brianna.

He knew what you would do and how.

He knew that you would leave a trail of blood behind you on your journey.

Hold your thoughts, priestess.

Or I will see you sliced into pieces small enough for the dungeon rats.

Afraid to meet me on equal terms?

I offered you a sword.

You refused it.

I would not refuse it now.

Perhaps I will give you the chance.

Once I have got these two safely locked away.

Fight you coward!

Or I will show you your own belly on the floor!

The lamb comes to the slaughter.

If this is a match, then there should be a prize.

Fair enough.

If I take the day, I will blind, hobble, and draw and quarter

you in the castle courtyard for my army's pleasure.

And if victory is mine, then return the kingdom to its king.

Now, choose your weapon.

Then let us begin.

My sister is one of the best swordsmen in the realm.

She sure doesn't stand a chance.

What can we do?

We can hope.

You spoke of joy, and what it might lead to.

You are a king in your heart.

And that's more than enough for me.

And in my heart you are a queen.

Leave us.

Oh, King and his mistress.

Like true dungeon rats.

Queen Brianna wishes you well.

But I wish you death.

You lash no woman out, royal or otherwise.

Tell me the hell I go to.

Brianna, there is always remorse.

And in remorse, there is forgiveness.

To hell with you.

I regret nothing.

Do you hear me?

Nothing.

My brother is a weakling fool.

And you are nothing but a ghost in this world.

A meaningless spirit who haunts me to my grave.

Your brother forgives you.

And so do I.

I will take your forgiveness with me to hell.

And watch it burn.

The kingdom is the king's.

Will you, King Alexander, take this woman as your wife and queen?

How could I not?

She saved my life.

The peace is made.

What will you do now?

The time of the old gods is passing, and I think that soon I must pass with them.

With the kingdom safe, I can rest for a time.

And after that, who knows what great and wondrous mystery awaits.

You may kiss the bride.

The king and his queen.

The king and his queen.

The king and his queen.

The king and his queen.

The king and his queen.

Hear my plea.

Bring the force of your wrath into the stronghold of evil.

Let it fall into the pits of hell from where it had ascended.

Let peace be forged and the oppressed be free.

I go now to other times and other lives.

And adventure ends.

A new one begins.