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Birds of Empire is presented by

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for free breakfast for life

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at hellofresh.com/BirdsFree when breakfast item

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per box while subscription is

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active. Hi

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listeners, we're excited to introduce the next chapter

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in the Birds of Empire saga. Season

0:19

2 continues our hero's journey as

0:21

destinies collide, revolution brews, and new

0:23

alliances are formed. Listen now

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and catch up before the season finale on

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February 22nd. Hello

0:30

listeners, be advised that this show

0:32

is an immersive audio experience. It

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may seem like sounds are coming from the sides or behind

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you. Listener discretion is

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advised as this content is intended for

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adult audiences only. For

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more details, see the episode description. Cue code

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presents Birds of Empire Season 2,

0:49

created by Jason Liu. The

1:45

new children of gods must make their

1:47

way against the world. The

2:00

wind is a safe with no shelter. For

2:04

they are the sheen. Upright

2:07

against the storm they must walk.

2:11

So too must you, young one, if

2:14

you are to keep the flame from blowing

2:16

up. Listen

2:18

to me. Listen to

2:21

me. I am

2:23

telling you, the birds are

2:25

alive. No,

2:30

wait. Where is it?

2:32

The land is a place. Where is it? The land

2:34

is a place. Where is it? The land is a

2:36

place. You have to slow down. It is gone. Wait

2:39

for a plan. Let me help you turn the party. Spread them across the

2:41

street. Guys? They are hardly

2:43

the dogs. They are the birds. They are the birds.

2:45

You feel the herd surging. The

2:49

beasts are angry, driven. The

2:55

ground is moving in a way I

2:57

have never felt. I think we should

2:59

go back. Go back? You mad.

3:02

We are here now where we wanted to be. Where

3:05

you wanted to be. Don't you want what

3:07

I want always and ever? Why do I let her talk to

3:09

you? Oh, mad at you. That

3:13

ridge up ahead is perfect to watch them move.

3:16

You can tell you what I see and then... We

3:18

plan our strike. Our stroke? You

3:20

never said we were actually joining the hunt. What?

3:24

We were coming just to sit by and let those

3:26

bitches get the glory? I haven't exactly had time

3:28

to consider how insane your plan was going to

3:30

be. Well, now you have and now

3:32

you know. We spear

3:34

the Alpha and bring her head back on

3:36

a pike. The mother will finally see my

3:38

place among our people. Finally give

3:40

me marriage. We already have

3:42

her respect, Azi. Disobeying her direct orders

3:45

is likely to only anger her. I

3:47

don't care. I don't care if she's

3:49

angry or what she feels. Instead of caring about

3:51

minding her more than living my life. I'm

3:54

just dying. What More can she do? How Did

3:56

you humiliate me more than she already had? I'm

4:14

a Music in Time with. He

4:19

went. On the change of yeah.

4:26

It looks like a flanking around the pack.

4:28

A I didn't think they can. Smell.

4:32

What is it? Ironic.

4:36

That is what other pack animals how

4:38

they signal each other with smells. As

4:40

do something bad is happening. To

4:44

the Earth through to see

4:46

aired. Retrieve It

4:49

Looks like our hunters are

4:51

scattered. No

4:53

no was. Higher is putting the

4:55

path to run down the stragglers. Is

4:58

a threat with the one of. Know.

5:05

Heavy. Seas

5:46

and heard. That

5:48

it is feared and they program. My.

6:12

You know how. Many

6:26

new on. The

6:45

mother got. The

6:57

hang time. Been we.

7:01

For you, watch. Because

7:10

at least. Three of my both

7:12

when it was. A

7:15

roster you're supposed. To

7:29

fly In terms of which. Is

7:32

yours. My life has been a saying in

7:35

your. Fire.

7:39

Tv upon the first. Half.

8:10

If you're up there for you,

8:12

it's like I'm the one who.

8:18

Were regarded. As he went North Dakota

8:20

life is. Good.

8:40

For the whoa whoa whoa man. then

8:42

they. Will.

8:48

Push. Your. Race:

8:56

You. Are there? I'd

9:12

me. out

9:26

there. And

9:32

follow clues. And

9:42

the her we'll have a. I

9:50

know we have a dream of

9:52

the behind the guards political parties

9:55

you come up. Oh.

10:01

Hi mom who he is. A

10:04

year. Later.

10:19

The. Red you would. Rather,

10:34

Than a. Little.

10:42

A in a lot of my enemy. Is

11:56

the path to go. Hurt.

12:05

What? Unite

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Bible as thank you for keeping

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the upon your plane. Cloaking

14:15

we're in your glory that I might

14:17

bring some to my people and and

14:19

letting me months I thought I was

14:21

the only one. Spouse is a great

14:23

mother that way tie a stain. Years.

14:26

He can to see. Anymore,

14:33

you know? Where

14:49

he thinks you. Wind.

14:55

Fire you invoking my sister. The

14:58

Things You don't know about? What do you mean. They

15:02

sell things for Guy President I.

15:04

We made like we. Hated her new

15:06

which we we were tell. Me:

15:29

The of blade on the wrong place your hearts

15:31

on the other side of your chest. Care. He'll

15:35

have. He said that's what

15:37

she was. Soon

15:39

as. We

15:42

the so who wishes to leave us for the

15:44

when world fire on hand to the less. You

15:48

can see humiliate me again. Opening

15:50

up I say send. the site

15:52

pit wasn't enough. There's no shame

15:54

in the loss the girl who

15:56

never eyesight because it's what they

15:58

have. Us do I? I win

16:00

because... I win because... Because you're not

16:02

weak! I'm nothing! I'm just fish, sin, eagle, dirt,

16:04

tear, worm! the altar like

16:06

a... It's better I send myself to the wind

16:08

world rather than bear the slow deaths of

16:10

shame in

16:13

the eyes of the altar. You're

16:23

very much alive in my eyes, Kaya. And

16:27

Reza's! She hangs on

16:29

your every word, moves like your

16:31

shadow. The eyes of a sterile cub,

16:34

a soul like the picked bones of a... She

16:37

loves you. She

16:40

believes I'll be queen one day, convinced

16:43

of it since we were pack sisters. Well

16:46

because I saved her from a wild dog when we were girls. She

16:48

tells that story like you're a hero. I am sick of hearing it!

16:52

Give me the blade. You

16:56

were aiming at a lung, you know? Not

16:59

your heart? It would

17:01

have been painful and slow. Like

17:03

a water death? How

17:06

do you know? Mother makes Azera

17:08

trail the butchers. Afterward,

17:11

she tells me of her studies. Where

17:13

organs are. What they do. We're

17:16

not animals, Kaya. The butchers cut

17:19

open our people. When

17:21

illness or possession takes them. What?

17:25

Why? The shamans extract

17:28

the evil. For elixirs,

17:30

healing, battle oils. And

17:34

Azera watches all this? Mother bids

17:36

her do it. I

17:38

don't know why. She has

17:40

her heart, stone hunting. Not

17:42

butchering. For

17:45

twins you can feel us alike. The

17:47

sun is only the moon of flame. She

17:50

hates me. And Reza. You

17:53

do much to earn it. If

17:56

I lose tomorrow, they'll carve the

17:58

mark of the crow into the sky. my forehead. I'll

18:01

be shamed for life lucky to sharpen the blades of

18:03

my betters. I think the mark

18:05

would suit you. Not a

18:07

joke, Kaya. The only

18:10

way to rid the shame of the mark is to survive

18:12

a blood tournament. We

18:14

know I'd never be able to. No one

18:16

is carving the mark of the crow

18:18

onto your face, Kaya. Because I'll die

18:20

before I live in exile. I wouldn't

18:23

let them ruin a face like that.

18:25

Kaya. Oh,

18:28

my left side is feeling sore.

18:31

What do you mean? During

18:33

our match, I might favor

18:35

my right. I might be

18:37

weaker, less focused. I

18:40

might swing wildly, leaving my

18:42

flanks unguarded. Kaya, I may

18:44

even lose grip on my

18:46

spirit. I don't need you to help me out

18:48

of pity. I never said you did. I'm just

18:50

telling you. How is

18:52

it? Zula!

18:56

Calm! Lately,

19:02

she's spooked by frog tree branches, this dangerous

19:04

thing. She all but blocked me off when we

19:06

came upon a pile of them the other day.

19:08

The tree of the dead.

19:12

Your blades still

19:15

off to the wind world, then? Why

19:17

are you doing this? We're

19:19

so cruel to Azi. Is

19:22

it some trick to venture? Let me

19:24

have to think I can best you only to

19:26

make my fall more brutal. Reza isn't the only

19:28

one who thinks you're meant for great things. Everyone

19:30

knows you'll be clean, Kaya. Your

19:32

mother favors you. The peck already follows

19:35

your every word. I don't want to be clean.

19:38

I've seen what it's done to my

19:40

mother, but she must be ruthless always,

19:42

only to prove her worth. Why

19:45

are you doing this? Showing

19:47

me this kindness. A

19:51

foe made friend is like a death undone.

19:53

A death

19:55

undone. And I like

19:58

your face. who's

20:02

there? someone is there! he's

20:07

made to bleed maybe an elf a

20:10

familiar smelt Zula, calm! you should

20:13

go aight,

20:16

as he will be looking for me wanting to spar all

20:19

that girl wants to do is fight perhaps she'll be fang

20:21

of the queen one day watch

20:24

my left tomorrow in the pit if

20:26

you're still among us to fight Kaya?

20:29

thank you don't thank

20:31

me yet you still have to beat

20:33

me, Kaya so...

20:41

what? you

20:44

loved her no! it wasn't... it was

20:47

only the beginning of something but the

20:49

next day, after a fight, she was caught thrown

20:52

from her horse as she rode across the plains Reza said her

20:54

horse Zula wasn't right that she

20:56

was spooked by something I wasn't there but that's what

20:58

she said to me too they were out

21:01

on a scout and... an accident a flick

21:04

of the god's fingers and she was no more why

21:06

are you dragging this up from the bog, Kaya? you- you what?

21:09

you wanna make sure that my moment of peace and

21:11

victory is marred by my greatest sadness? oh, wait,

21:14

is this some fucking trick? who's

21:16

out there? are Reza and the rest of the pack

21:18

watching? what? no, I should

21:20

have never trusted you only yesterday you were trying to

21:22

humiliate me in front of our people and now what?

21:24

Azzy! don't touch me!

21:28

what's wrong with you? I'm trying

21:30

to be kind to you oh, trying as

21:33

if to be kind to me is some effort of

21:35

the gods to be nice to little

21:37

Azzy, the butcher who everyone hates fine

21:40

you know what? you're right everyone does

21:42

hate you and you

21:44

know why? because you're arrogant and you push and

21:47

push at everyone who comes near you I don't

21:49

need your help and I should

21:51

have left you to die I wish you had Reza

21:53

would have come back for me we didn't need you

21:55

we never did butcher that

21:58

wasn't what it looked like Bitch, can

22:00

you just shut up for once Azera you

22:03

and Reza are up to something You always have

22:05

been and gods help our people if you end

22:07

up Queen You're gonna be alone and angry your

22:09

whole life as just because you wanted to fuck

22:11

my sister You think that gives you the right

22:13

to talk to me like you know me like

22:15

you know what I want You don't know what

22:17

you want. I want you in the dirt. Now

22:19

is your chance then I

22:30

know I've had to be gay by day How

22:32

do you like it, Arya? Fuck!

22:38

And you bitch! You're

22:41

a fucking bitch You missed

22:43

Yatha. I guess that's not a surprise If

22:45

I missed you'd be dead Haha, aren't

22:48

you two a pair? A cripple and

22:50

a girl who can't see past your own fucking nose Worse

22:54

to be crippled by rage, jealousy Worse

22:56

to be crippled by cowardice To be one thing

22:58

to one person and another to another Talking out

23:01

of both sides of your face like the god

23:03

of deceit Sister, let's leave. We'll ride back I'm

23:10

glad I wasn't invited yet I don't want

23:12

to invite you anywhere Reza Sharp

23:16

tongue, no eyes and a death wish Careful

23:19

boy, we should have left you all

23:21

to die Arya, the pack is waiting

23:23

to soak you in the blood of

23:25

the kill Leave the

23:27

butcher Just wait until the tribe hears The

23:30

tribal hear what we tell them and we will

23:32

tell them The hunt was a success, was it

23:34

not, Arya? I... success fit for the

23:37

gods Shame

23:39

will take your throat, Arya, one day Not

23:41

before I take yours, butcher girl You

23:44

invite your own end, Reza Your mother

23:46

is weak and Arya will soon wear the blood crown I

23:49

know it burns you inside to think of it, but

23:51

it burns you because you know it's true Reza, enough!

23:55

Azera, Yaffa, ride back with us We'll set

23:57

aside our anger and tell the queen you

23:59

did your shit No more no less

24:01

as though so few in the blood of

24:03

our kill remember. That it should be

24:06

yours. That waters the earth. Sexist. And

24:08

your blade. The chess match works for

24:10

you. Lay ahead. my blood is ever.

24:12

Shop for all that man has. Logo

24:19

those. Bullets A

24:21

System and Minnesotans. Are

24:24

some home. Tonight

24:27

to sleeping an eye to the go. Hunting

24:41

Medusa survey Angry We deserve

24:43

better. That at least are

24:45

now and then for more than a butcher's flour. Much

24:48

more. Highly Had

24:50

something strange about Canada is she

24:52

says i see how are moving

24:55

lies at the truth that she

24:57

confessed she loved her. And

24:59

that guy or through a fight for Catcher in

25:01

the Blood Loved. Or

25:04

hated. Each other I did to. What

25:06

is this has to do that I

25:08

know. On

25:10

on the find out. Who

25:13

are making a move from. Others Consonants. Fought

25:17

for blood? shouldn't they be magical? And

25:19

even though her she was or and

25:21

vows was it a slice those cars

25:23

with her eyes cove her have her

25:25

coughing and fiverr him where. He

25:29

approaches of makes you the teller is

25:31

my ideas for health issue most convincing.

25:34

Nothing will happen too. Much

25:37

will kill. You guys know the nature of

25:39

it. Is answer normally. Feel

25:43

croatia enough noise ago can smell all

25:46

the sudden. Rush.

25:55

Hour. Away

25:57

the process. I've.

26:07

Had people will no longer wire

26:09

the prisoners writing. Free. Movies

26:13

as era. And

26:15

refer you. Meet. Your children

26:18

invaders. Breakers a pack

26:20

law or it's athlete or do you

26:22

not know the laws of the on

26:24

each. We

26:26

didn't know they were there until I

26:28

was in what and feel the almost

26:31

thought us all killed We try to

26:33

stop them like the answer the queen

26:35

that they've got under way and we'd

26:37

have mercy on how will you hurts

26:39

you Let the beasts take your blood

26:42

I saved for like me. See,

26:44

avail yourself a leader by allowing a

26:46

butcher and a keeper to tag along.

26:48

And a sacred on my queen, we'll

26:50

be dealt with. Later.

26:54

Then come with me. ready the

26:56

bindings, Yeah, Merkley. Then

27:03

see her husband a boy to

27:05

visit some jokes. Unless the time for

27:07

lessons have passed as era. My queen,

27:09

What What is a reckoning? smooth

27:11

as far as we hope to

27:13

find them both. I

27:16

know because a lot of a

27:18

hobby he did. It came a

27:20

hunter. You are a prisoner and

27:22

a disgrace. A disobedience little

27:25

girl's mother, your Psu hard on

27:27

her to save the whole pack from

27:29

destruction. See is the only reason

27:31

they live. Save your stories Boy it's

27:33

true. It's true,

27:36

That you allowed a butcher and a blind

27:38

boy to save you from a pack of

27:40

wild beasts. Be so you have dedicated your

27:43

life. Too bad thing it's true. And

27:45

up. There up your mounds and

27:47

kneel before me. Now.

27:51

All of you. who

27:57

move you

28:00

think my orders are mere wishes?

28:03

I am the queen of the wolves. The

28:06

terror in the forever night of this

28:08

blood-soaked land and to disobey an order

28:10

from me is to disobey the gods

28:12

themselves. Mother, I

28:15

only wanted to help to

28:17

make you see what I can be what I

28:19

am. I am not your mother,

28:21

nor am I your queen. Mother, what are

28:23

you doing? Take her to the binding post,

28:26

heat the iron, and I'll carve

28:28

the mark of the crow into her forehead. Mother,

28:30

no! Please, it's me. It's

28:32

us. We only wanted to help. You're

28:34

not the followest boy. I

28:37

order you, exile. Mother, mother! You've fended

28:39

for yourself once. If you

28:41

could do it again for one month, you could

28:43

return to our people. Are you this heartless? This

28:46

bent on showing your power for what? Everyone

28:49

already fears you. What more do you have

28:51

to prove? That to disobey me is to

28:53

sink into the dark, to

28:56

lose everything, even

28:58

if, even if it's

29:00

all you have in this world. Do what you

29:02

must. Take him to the edge of the green expanse and

29:04

see that he has nothing. As an exile

29:06

from this tribe is owed nothing. Leave him

29:09

out of it. It's me

29:11

who you should punish. He

29:13

is not a child, and so he will

29:15

not be punished at once, and nor will

29:17

you. You heartless bitch! There's the boy, now.

29:20

Get up, get up! Stop

29:22

her up! Stay alive! Please!

29:26

Get her to the ground, and if she moves again,

29:28

split her to rest. Help! Yaffa!

29:32

Yaffa! Brother! Wolves!

29:35

Let him go! Hunters! Much

29:38

disgrace has marred your glory.

29:41

Never forgive that, for

29:43

if you do, you will forgive too much. You

29:46

think you can hurt me any more than you have? You're

29:48

wrong. Just end me here

29:50

and now. Let me be with Gaia and

29:52

away from you. You old half! Do it!

29:54

You don't deserve to be there with her.

29:57

You never deserve to be anywhere with her.

30:01

Take her to the post and get

30:03

these corpses to the butcher. We

30:05

have one. Don't find

30:07

me and let me spark you to the death,

30:09

you fucking bitch. You

30:12

fucking bitch. You fucking bitch.

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32:05

Oh he. Comes

32:25

comes. How

32:27

amazingly be. To

32:30

leave any would. Show

32:34

me the process. Young

32:43

Marlins. Your

32:45

vineyards of love for hours

32:47

now shows. Sure

32:50

we will read should have reached. Sit

32:53

With me Assistant! Oh. Hey.

33:00

I know nothing of the

33:02

world below the low with

33:04

yes but beyond that have

33:06

you never long to see

33:09

the world beyond like or

33:11

the over like orange? I'm

33:14

of these to tell me that tail is a

33:17

favorite of the lowland. Do

33:21

you believe that that that there's

33:23

a leak with no source out

33:25

there beyond the horizon? I do.

33:27

but I'm a superstitious old goes.

33:29

I believe that the world is

33:31

wild and great beyond our imagining.

33:33

I wanna believe that to. Work.

33:38

Soft. Shoe must. Life.

33:45

I thought that there was some

33:47

unseen force holding the bag was

33:50

not not just holding my arms

33:52

them, but my Billie spirit. our

33:56

pictures as a serpent the

33:58

siren eyes It's body

34:00

wrapping around my constricting, squeezing the life

34:03

out of me. It

34:05

sounds like the lowland legend of the

34:08

Serpent King, who ruled with

34:10

an amber tongue, draining the

34:12

life from whole tribes. My

34:15

mother used to speak of the Serpent King in

34:18

her moments of desperation.

34:21

I thought it

34:24

was an invention of her illness. It was

34:26

a tale in the old tongue, meant

34:28

to scare our children into behaving. And

34:30

is that what you were meant to do, Hephaestin? Or

34:34

you my Serpent King? Young

34:36

Master, what do

34:38

you mean? I know that

34:40

my father sent you to spy on me,

34:43

to gain my trust... Wait, wait now!

34:45

To pretend to care for me! I

34:47

did no such pretending! Oh, I

34:50

do! So care for

34:52

you! That was never a lie! But

34:54

you care for riches more. You

34:57

care for my father's favor. I

34:59

care for food and shelter. And

35:02

that's what he offered me when word

35:04

reached him that you'd taken a shine

35:06

to my idiot tales. And

35:09

he asked that... That

35:12

I get closer to you and tell

35:14

him of your mind. My mind?

35:18

And to keep an eye on you that you might not

35:21

dream to do things. Say

35:24

it. Things that you could not do.

35:28

He offered me a bit of extra

35:30

bread and rations and use of

35:32

a stable for shelter. For

35:34

that I betrayed you. Boy,

35:37

I can't imagine a life where those things are

35:40

out of reach. You can't imagine most lives below,

35:42

young sire. I'm

35:46

not angry. My

35:48

father has a way of pushing those around him

35:50

like gang pieces, on carrying

35:52

of the cause, replacing them as they go.

35:56

Once when I was a child, he

35:58

watched as a group of children's

36:00

slandered and struck me mercilessly. Barlin,

36:03

the crippled king of the peak!

36:07

They tied me to a horn tree and

36:10

made me a crown of branches, and he didn't

36:12

stop them. It was only

36:14

when my mother came upon me, still bound, that

36:16

he bade them release me. Such

36:19

cruelties leave marks upon the heart.

36:23

That they do. I

36:26

hate him. I've always hated

36:28

him. And now, I'm

36:31

done fearing him. Boy.

36:36

The festen.

36:40

I think, perhaps, I

36:43

have not been living as I ought. I

36:46

think it's impossible to know how one should

36:49

live. Or if at all. Hey.

36:54

I was gonna end my life. My

36:56

suffering, back there in

36:58

the great hollow. But, a

37:01

vision came to me of my mother.

37:05

Our people think much of visions in the

37:07

lowlands. That they come

37:09

from the old gods, the outlawed spirits

37:11

of ancient days lost. I

37:14

could feel her face up against

37:16

mine, like when I was a boy.

37:20

She lifted my chin, and in the

37:22

vision, my arms moved

37:24

freely and embraced her.

37:27

I held her so tight, like I

37:31

might never let go. It

37:35

felt so real. Something

37:37

that I'll never

37:39

feel. What

37:41

did she say? Born

37:43

in the light to lead them all. Lead

37:47

them all. And then she

37:49

drew close and

37:51

faintly whispered,

37:54

Find me. Find

37:58

me. Forgive me, young master. Isn't

38:01

she said? Long.

38:03

So according to what I've been

38:05

told, you think she's doing this?

38:08

I don't know anymore. Perhaps there's

38:10

some other meaning to and find

38:12

something she left behind The or

38:15

find who she truly was. Do

38:17

suspect she wasn't as you thought.

38:19

My memories of her like this

38:21

from different sleeves she had hers

38:24

tremors, father told the shit groomer

38:26

but she appears. He.

38:28

Was lunch. which she was

38:30

a C O. He should have been. A

38:34

I can't quite explain it

38:36

or. Is. It was

38:38

even real. Perhaps perhaps

38:40

I have or badness in my

38:43

blood after all. And he grips

38:45

me here on this rock overlooking

38:47

a sea of tangled life. You

38:50

sound clear of mine to boy.

38:53

When I'm fucking crazy. So. Ah,

39:04

Of ceiling before signing something. Same

39:07

thing about my mother and

39:09

who she was. And

39:12

since find the truth. Even

39:14

if is to kill me you think he

39:16

would kill you. He tried when I was

39:19

young but mother a we stopped him and

39:21

then. My friend

39:23

grew to this ogre that you see

39:25

before you and I suppose he thought

39:27

it through much the effort or you

39:29

will protect you. Let

39:32

Me be your arms and hands and

39:34

fingers and elbows. the joints that move

39:36

you toward the moment you see them

39:39

and to trust you. Over

39:43

would he do that blade? Opening my

39:45

hand for a blow? Don't minute, you

39:48

don't have to. buy

39:51

displaced and the old gods and

39:53

as my blood drips to the

39:55

years i swear to you bar

39:58

than of her lane know That

40:00

my last breath to you will be a

40:03

loyal one. That

40:05

this broken body and simple mind

40:07

will serve you. You don't owe

40:09

me blood. I

40:11

do. I

40:14

betrayed you. It's

40:17

haunted me each night I

40:19

pass in that flea-infested sable,

40:21

each crust of bread choking,

40:24

fearing that you'd discover my treasure. It's

40:26

not as if you slit my throat.

40:29

Your father was worried about

40:31

how you might interfere with

40:33

his affairs. So what?

40:37

You used to have you kill me? Finish

40:39

what he tried to do when I was a helpless child? He

40:42

asked me if I would

40:44

do whatever it took to prove my

40:46

loyalty to him. I had been long

40:49

obsessed with loyalty. Now

40:51

he grows paranoid. Once

40:54

I came upon him ranting about

40:57

something to a noble, saying

40:59

in harsh tones, The seed

41:01

is not safe here. They'll come to

41:03

finish what she started. A

41:06

seed? My father

41:08

has never tended so much as a leaf. Are

41:11

you sure he said the seed? Aye.

41:14

It was as clear as dawn. In

41:17

the lowlands we call a child a seed.

41:20

Perhaps. Was... was

41:23

my mother with child? I wish I

41:25

knew more. But he glanced my

41:27

way and I was worried he'd strike

41:29

me down for even being so near.

41:32

I bolted. What

41:35

does it mean? You

41:37

have quite the family, young master.

41:40

Aye. And I believe it's time

41:42

I know the truth about them. I need

41:45

to know who she was. And I owe it

41:47

to my mother to find the truth about her and what became

41:49

of her. And I'll be there,

41:51

boy. I fear

41:53

I'll make enemies. And you'll need friends.

41:57

And I have one in you? You have

41:59

one in me. Then come,

42:02

off to the stone palace, to find my mother.

42:06

Whatever that may mean, whatever the cost,

42:09

I have questions and no longer fear the

42:11

answers. Erga's

42:23

empire stars B as Azera

42:25

and Jorge Diaz as Barlin

42:27

Midstone, Gwendolyn Briley Strand

42:30

as the keeper, Andrew Leiner as

42:33

Yaffa, Heidi Quan as Kaya, Meg

42:35

Delacy as Reza, Michelle

42:37

Sifomieh as Nara, Jake

42:40

Hart as Hephaestion, with

42:42

additional performances by Carolina Hoyas,

42:45

Shari Bain, written

42:48

and directed by Jason Liu. Executive

42:52

produced by Jason Liu, Rob

42:54

Hurting, David Henning and Shin

42:56

Yin Hu. Co-executive

42:58

producers Bea and Jorge Diaz.

43:02

Producers Kyle Smithers and Lawrence Zunelli.

43:04

Co-producer Nick Shink. Original

43:07

score and composition by Darren Johnson

43:10

and with Huper Cincy. Public

43:12

editor and additional music Ben Milchis.

43:16

Audio engineering by Gabe Burch, Ben

43:18

Milchis and Sarah Ma. Assistant

43:21

engineer Alex Chalk. Edited

43:24

by Neely Offtering. Additional

43:26

editor Sarah Ma. Supervising

43:29

sound effects editor and sound designer

43:31

Randy Torres. Mixed

43:33

by Ben Milchis. Additional

43:36

mixer Sarah Ma. Production

43:38

director Chrissy Feir-Willi. Script

43:41

supervisor Casey Hain. Production

43:43

coordinator Ryan Colter. Production

43:46

assistant Alex Yuda. Production

43:49

label Christina Bulbruck and Lindsay Kiel.

43:52

Production accounting Pinchin Liu. Special

43:55

thanks to Mara Shuster-Lefkowitz and Ashton

43:58

Harold. was

44:00

recorded under a SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining

44:03

agreement. Birds of Empire is a

44:05

Q-Code production. Sound recording copyright

44:07

2023 by Q-Code Media Inc. Birds

44:18

of Empire is presented by HelloFresh.

44:21

Use code BIRDSFREE for free

44:23

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44:25

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44:31

Hello listeners, be advised that this show

44:33

is an immersive audio experience. It may

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