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Birds of Empire is presented by

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HelloFresh. Use code BIRDSFREE

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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

0:14

listeners, we're excited to introduce the next chapter

0:16

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

0:25

and catch up before the season finale on

0:27

February 22nd. Hello

0:30

listeners, be advised that this show

0:32

is an immersive audio experience. It

0:34

may seem like sounds are coming from the sides or behind

0:36

you. Listener discretion is

0:38

advised as this content is intended for

0:41

adult audiences only. For

0:43

more details, see the episode description. Cue code

0:47

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,

2:31

wait. Where is

2:34

the wind? Where is the

2:36

wind? Where is the wind?

2:39

Look out! It's a god. Wait for a plan. Let

2:41

me help you turn your party. Spread them across the

2:43

sky. They are hardly the gods. They are the gods.

2:49

I feel the herd surging. The

2:52

beasts are angry, driven. The

2:55

ground is moving in a way I've never felt. And

2:57

it's... I

2:59

think we should go back. Go back? You

3:02

mad. We're here now where we

3:04

wanted to be. Where you wanted to be.

3:07

Don't you want what I want always and ever? Why

3:09

do I let her talk to you? Oh, mad

3:11

at you. That ridge

3:13

up ahead is perfect to watch them move. You

3:16

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 thought we were coming just to sit by and let those

3:26

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

3:28

consider how insane your plan was going to be. Well,

3:30

now you have and now you know. We

3:34

spear the Alpha and bring her head

3:36

back on a pike. The mother will finally

3:38

see my place among our people. Finally

3:40

give me marriage to back at me. We

3:42

already have her respect, Azi. Disobeying her direct

3:44

orders 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? The

4:05

beasts are shifting

4:07

step. It feels like they're

4:10

wrecking something. Strange.

4:14

Almost like music in time with... You're

4:19

right. I can smell a change in the air.

4:23

What did I have to do? God.

4:26

It looks like they're flanking around the pack. I

4:29

didn't think they could... That

4:32

smell. What is it? Something.

4:35

I recognize you from other pack animals. How

4:38

they signal each other with smell of it. There's

4:40

something bad is happening. I

4:43

can feel it through the earth. Tell me

4:45

what you see. They're... Retreating.

4:49

It looks like. Our

4:51

hunters are scattering. No,

4:53

no, no. What? Kaya is splitting

4:55

the pack to run down the stragglers. It's

4:58

a trap. We have to warn them. No.

5:01

She thinks we trust the

5:04

other one. Maybe. She'll

5:06

be heavily buried in a dangerous theater this

5:12

way. What's happening?

5:15

What's happening? They're

5:18

just coming in the rest of the earth. You heard

5:20

the birds. What I was

5:23

knowing is you heard from the blinds.

5:26

Wait. I can't remember your mind. Do

5:28

you? The

5:34

hunters on me have a running

5:36

scare. What was

5:39

that? I don't

5:41

know what's happening. It's

5:43

like they're flying. The

5:45

hunters speak and heard to the father. The

5:48

dead of your spirit and the scared and the lost. Hunters,

5:55

warm up. You're

5:58

dead. I'm

6:01

going to put my hands on your feet or down

6:03

to the right side of this area. I need you

6:05

to come up. Don't

6:10

take my hands off. I don't

6:12

think you don't have a fear. I'll be

6:15

right back. I'm

6:21

done. I'm

6:23

done. Wendy,

6:26

do you want to come? I'm

6:28

sure you can. It's better

6:30

than it might be. You're so good. I'm

6:34

sorry. I'm sorry. I'm

6:39

sorry. I'm sorry. I'm

6:42

sorry. I'm

6:44

sorry. I'm sorry.

6:49

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

6:54

I'm sorry. Go.

6:58

Go. We're

7:00

back to face over. We're

7:02

fine. Before

7:05

you lost me. Kara, I

7:07

don't know. Are you with

7:09

me? I'm with the naked.

7:11

Not because of me. I have

7:14

my bow. And I won't do it. Go. I

7:20

can't do it. I'll

7:28

meet six paths as I enter the wind room.

7:32

My blood is yours. My

7:34

life was but a thing in your mouth. I'm

7:38

client. You'll be deep on

7:40

the threshold. I'm gonna look

7:42

upon your face once more. I

7:46

will not fall without a fight. Fall?

7:52

So come and take it! I'm

8:02

going to kill you.

8:07

Take my hand. Zabira,

8:10

they're killing you. It's too late. Let me

8:13

worry about them. One,

8:16

two, three, mouth. Where's Reverend

8:18

on the back of the pack? He

8:21

went north. I

8:24

have a plan. We

8:27

should be good. We have what

8:29

it's using to help guide the planet. It

8:31

keeps you invisible. I'm

8:34

not a survivor. I'm not

8:36

a survivor. Please,

8:38

good. You have to kill Helper

8:40

with an overwhelming. You can't command them, but we

8:43

need you to be calm. This

8:45

is a trouble. I

8:48

wish. I

8:50

have to leave you here. Leave me right.

8:55

I know. I know. And

8:58

then the packs are there. We do

9:01

not have what you want. We can feel a certain way

9:03

of going through the planet. Mother

9:11

board will guide me. Where?

9:19

Here? There.

9:27

I found her. There's

9:30

no one. She's close. We

9:33

need a pack to focus and follow close. Cut a packet.

9:37

Get up. Run,

9:39

Zab. Is

9:41

that her? We

9:44

don't have much time. Oh, no. Listen

9:48

to her. I

9:50

know what Helper is, but he's treating Parker behind the guard

9:52

to the friccest part of the Earth. How did

9:54

you know? Because I'm a fucking

9:57

dinosaur researcher. I

10:00

know you hate me but I'm right. I hate him.

10:04

Oh, doctor.

10:07

He's quite late. I will die. The king's

10:09

done with death! You'll pass

10:11

me up. You will

10:13

listen to me and I'm ordering you to blow up on Lalo

10:15

and Sarah. Go to Lalo and Sarah, I'll tear your tongue from

10:17

somehow. We're ready. Pass

10:20

your tongue. Hah!

10:23

I ask for you! What happened

10:25

to Sarah? We can't stay in Yahuah

10:27

at all! Thank

10:31

you. Brother, I need you to be

10:33

with me. I have no commitment. For

10:36

what the king's doing for us, today

10:38

is my fate and the king's will is let

10:40

us be next to my sisters bathed in

10:43

the blood of my enemy. I

10:46

hope you have the blood that's stuck with

10:48

you, Lady Elma. Don't go over to the

10:50

mine until we are the court. Yours are

10:52

dead. Yours

10:55

are dead. You're in your

10:57

place. You're in your place.

11:00

You're in your place. Yahuah!

11:04

I am ready to go to your

11:06

boat. Ready to start? Oh,

11:08

you're fucking too many. On

11:10

the line. On

11:13

the fucking line. You're in your place. You're

11:17

in your place. You're holding in. Do

11:20

it. Fire

11:22

now! Fire!

11:28

Fire! Fire!

11:32

You're fucking dead! You're

11:34

the first American Cape,

11:56

there's a pop to glory Fuck

12:00

you! Here,

12:04

Taya, take this much. Tonight,

12:13

you eat with us. Your

12:15

pack. If you're a

12:18

hunter of white sand, I'll

12:20

see you there. Taya, come on! Fuck! Hey

12:38

listeners, it's Jason Liu, creator of Birds of Empire.

12:42

I'm gonna take a second to thank our

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sponsor HelloFresh. This season was a huge

12:46

labor of love, which didn't leave me

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a lot of time to do one

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of the things I love to do

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the most, which is cook. Luckily,

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kit. Marty

14:09

Blood Bowl, I thank you

14:11

for keeping me upon your plane this night. Cloking

14:15

me in your glory that I might bring some

14:17

to my people and and

14:20

letting me hunt. I thought I was the

14:22

only one who spoke to the great mother

14:24

that way. Taya, Daniel, I came to

14:27

pray with you. Here.

14:33

Let me mark you with the blood of the Alpha.

14:39

Let's pray. Marty

14:42

Blood Bowl. Mother.

14:45

Killer. Guide. We

14:49

give thanks to you and honor one of your

14:51

children who walks with you in the windrope. Taya.

14:55

Why are you invoking my sister? There's

14:58

things you don't know about us. What do you mean? I

15:02

felt things for Taya. Resin,

15:04

I... We made like we hated her

15:06

and you but truly we were jealous. You

15:08

saved me actually. From what?

15:12

Myself. Who's

15:27

there? You have

15:29

the blade in the wrong place. Your heart's

15:31

on the other side of your chest, Taya. Leave

15:35

me alone. You sure that's

15:37

what you want? Do

15:39

not rush. We

15:42

have a soul who wishes to leave us for the wind world.

15:44

By her own hand, no less. You

15:48

come to humiliate me again. Opening

15:50

up my face in the fight pit wasn't enough. There's

15:53

no shame in the loss. The

15:55

girl who never loses. I fight because it's what

15:57

they have us do. I

16:00

win because... I win because... Because you're

16:02

not weak! I'm nothing! I'm just fish, sin, eagle,

16:04

dirt, tear, worm! the altar

16:06

like 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! Someone

20:06

is there! You might be in a place. Who's

20:08

there? Maybe an elf. A

20:10

familiar smelt. Zula!

20:13

Calm! You should go. Aye.

20:16

Azi will be looking for me wanting to spar.

20:19

All that girl wants to do is fight. Perhaps she'll

20:21

be fang of the queen one day. Watch

20:24

my left tomorrow in the pit. If

20:26

you're still among us to fight. Thank

20:29

you. Don't

20:31

thank me yet. You still have to

20:33

beat me, Kaia. So...

20:41

what? You

20:43

loved her. No! It

20:45

wasn't... It was only

20:47

the beginning of something, but... The

20:49

next day, after a fight, she was gone. Thrown

20:52

from her horses, she rode across the plains. Reza said her

20:54

horse Zula wasn't right. That she was spooked

20:56

by something. I wasn't there, but that's

20:58

what she said to me too. They were out

21:00

on a scout and... an accident.

21:03

A flick of the god's fingers and she was no more. Why

21:06

are you dragging this up from the bog, Kaia? You-

21:08

you what? You want to make sure that my moment

21:10

of peace and victory is marred by my greatest sadness?

21:13

Oh, wait, is this some fucking trick? Who's

21:16

out there? Are Reza and the rest of

21:18

the pack watching? What? No, I should have never

21:20

trusted you. Only yesterday you were trying

21:22

to humiliate me in front of our people, and now what?

21:25

Azzy! Don't

21:27

touch me! What's wrong with you?

21:30

I'm trying to be kind to you! Oh,

21:32

trying. As if to be kind to

21:34

me is some effort of the gods. To

21:36

be nice to little Azzy, the butcher who

21:38

everyone hates. Fine. You know what? You're

21:41

right. Everyone does hate you.

21:44

And you know why? Because

21:46

you're arrogant and you push and push at everyone who

21:48

comes near you. I don't need your help. And

21:50

I should have left you to die. I wish you

21:53

had! Reza would have come back for me. We

21:55

didn't need you. We never did. But

21:57

sure, that wasn't what it looked like.

22:00

Bitch, can you just shut up for once

22:02

Azera you and Reza are up to something You

22:04

always have been and gods help our people if

22:06

you end up Queen You're gonna be alone and

22:08

angry your whole life as just because you wanted

22:10

to fuck my sister You think that gives you

22:12

the right to talk to me like you know

22:15

me like you know what I want You don't

22:17

know what you want. I want you in the

22:19

dirt. Now 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.

24:02

As those soak you in the blood of

24:04

our kill, remember that it should be yours that

24:06

waters the earth. They're shippin' your

24:08

blade, Butcher. Much worse

24:10

for you, Lay-A-Head. My blade is ever sharp

24:12

for all that Lay-A-Head. Hold on me! Yeah!

24:17

Come! Are you all that

24:19

level? We're not safe,

24:21

sister, and we never again be. First

24:24

time's high enough. Come. Tonight,

24:27

you sleep with an eye to the gods. What

24:40

do you think Mother will say? She'll be

24:42

angry we disobeyed her. But

24:44

at least she'll know I'm meant for more than a

24:46

butcher's flowl. Much more. Kaia

24:50

has something strange about Gaia and her

24:52

death. What did she say? I

24:54

can't tell what may be lies or the truth, but she

24:57

confessed she loved her. And that Gaia

24:59

threw a fight to protect her in the bloodtrend. Loved

25:02

her? I thought they

25:04

hated each other. I did too? What

25:06

does this have to do with her death? I don't know. But

25:10

I don't mean to find out. Those

25:12

two are making a move from other's crowns enough.

25:17

What, the bloodtrend? They'd be

25:19

magical. Even though her humors are

25:21

unbalanced, Mother could slice those cows with her

25:23

eyes closed. Perhaps. Her

25:26

coughing and physically worse. Your

25:28

approaches. I'll make sure to tell her

25:30

it is my idea. I don't think she'll

25:33

need much convincing. Nothing will happen

25:35

to you, brother. Much will.

25:38

Only gods know the nature of it. Do you ever

25:40

just answer normally? No. Still

25:43

smell like shit, you know? Well, you think

25:45

I can smell all of a sudden? The

25:47

queen approaches! Blood

25:50

keeps the queen! Blood

25:52

keeps the queen! Hunter!

25:54

Wait away! The queen approaches!

26:01

We attribute with our own. The

26:05

hunt was fruitful. The outside is

26:07

dead. Our people will no longer

26:09

stop. Why are the prisoners riding free? They're

26:12

so... my friend. Azera

26:15

and Yaffa. You mean your

26:17

children? Invaders. Breakers

26:19

of pack law. Or as pack leader, do you

26:21

not know the laws of the hunt? Yes,

26:24

but we didn't know they

26:26

were there until... Until what?

26:29

Until they almost got us all killed. We

26:31

tried to stop them, but... But... answer the

26:34

queen. But they got on the way and

26:36

we took mercy on them. How were you

26:38

hurt? You let the beasts

26:40

take your blood. I saved

26:42

her, my queen. She availed

26:44

herself a leader. By allowing a butcher and

26:46

a keeper to tag along on a sacred

26:48

hunt. My queen... You'll be

26:51

well, queen. Later. Then

26:54

come with me. Ready the bindings.

26:57

Yes, my queen. Then

27:03

seize her, the boy too. Is this some

27:05

joke? Some lesson? The time for lessons have

27:08

passed, Azera. My queen, what is this?

27:11

A reckoning. Mother, I'm sorry. I just... we

27:13

sloped the pack. Bind them both. This

27:15

is madness. I know I disobeyed, but...

27:18

Look at what happened. We did it.

27:20

I am a hunter. You are a prisoner

27:22

and a disgrace. A

27:24

disobedient little girl. Mother,

27:26

you're too hard on her. She saved

27:29

the whole pack from destruction. She is the only

27:31

reason they live. Save your stories, boy. It's

27:33

true. Please do not. It's

27:35

true that you allowed a butcher and

27:38

a blind boy to save you from a pack

27:40

of wild beasts. Beasts who you have dedicated your

27:42

life to besting. It's not true. And

27:45

now, get off your mounds and

27:47

kneel before me. Now.

27:51

All of you. Woot

27:57

Woot, woot woot! You

28:00

think my orders are mere wishes?

28:02

I am the queen of the wolves,

28:04

the terror in the for every

28:06

night as his blood cells land. And

28:09

to disobey on order for me,

28:11

it's it's disobey the gods themselves. Mother

28:14

I only one is to help.

28:17

Him. If he were asking be what

28:19

I am, I am not your mother

28:21

nor am I can we. Do

28:24

cater to the binding post he the iron.

28:27

Have carved the mark of the crow

28:29

into her forehead. Added know visits me

28:31

a H S we only was. I

28:34

hope you're not to follow with boy

28:36

I order you look at Missouri you

28:38

send it for yourself. One if you

28:40

could do it again for one month

28:42

you could return to our people. Are

28:45

you? This was this is better so

28:47

your power for was. Other

28:49

would always do you. What more do

28:51

you have? The processor? Disobey me is to

28:53

sink into the. Dark to

28:55

lose everything. He

28:58

the Nes. Even if

29:00

it's all you have in this work, do

29:02

you say? Come to the edge of the green expense

29:04

and see that he had nothing. As his

29:06

exile from this try these old nothing

29:08

leave him out of it. With.

29:10

Me hundred Rpm have a child as

29:13

though he will not be punished. It

29:15

weren't a new or you. Said.

29:19

The Boys now. Get

29:26

her to the ground and the she moved out against

29:28

mothers' Wombs,

29:36

Hunters much disgrace has been

29:39

marred your glory. Never

29:41

forgive Zach. For. If you

29:43

do, you will forgive too much. You think

29:46

you could hurt me any more than you

29:48

are. You're wrong and me here and now.

29:50

Let me be with Gaia. Get away from

29:52

you. You all that stuff like New Growth

29:55

is, there could be there. With are

29:57

you never deserved to be anywhere with

29:59

her. And

30:03

get to cook. We

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have was. In

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Marlins. Your

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vineyards of love for hours

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now shows. Sure

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we will read should have reached. Sit

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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? Imo

33:14

these to tell me that tail is a

33:17

favorite of the lowland. Do

33:21

believe that that that there's a

33:23

leak with no source out there

33:25

beyond the horizon? I do. but

33:27

I'm a superstitious old goes. I

33:29

believe that the world is wild

33:31

and great beyond our imagining. I

33:33

wanna believe that to. Work.

33:38

Soft. Shoe young must. Life

33:45

I felt 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

sixers 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 dead long

38:03

so according to what I've been told

38:05

but you think she still live I

38:08

don't know anymore perhaps

38:10

there's some other meaning to it

38:12

find something she left behind or

38:15

finds what she truly was do you suspect she

38:17

wasn't as you thought my

38:19

memories of her like like fish

38:21

from different streams she had terrors

38:23

tremors father told us she had grown mad

38:26

but she appeared to me it was

38:28

like like she was she always

38:31

should have been I can't

38:34

quite explain it or if it was

38:38

even real perhaps

38:41

perhaps I have her madness in my

38:43

blood after all and it grips me

38:45

here on this rock overlooking a sea

38:47

of tangled life you

38:50

sound clear of mine to me

38:52

boy but

38:54

I'm fucking crazy so I have

39:04

a feeling my father's hiding something something

39:07

about my mother and

39:10

who she was I intend

39:12

to find the truth even

39:14

if it should kill me you

39:16

think he would kill you he tried when I

39:19

was young but mother always stopped him and then

39:22

my friend grew to this ogre that you see before

39:24

you and I suppose he thought

39:26

it too much the effort I

39:29

will protect you boy let

39:32

me be your arms and hands and

39:34

fingers and elbows the joints

39:36

that move you toward the knowledge you seek

39:38

and then to trust you oh what

39:43

are you doing that blade opening

39:46

my hand for a blood over you

39:48

don't have to by

39:51

this blade and the old

39:53

gods and as my blood

39:56

drips to the earth I swear to

39:58

you barlin of Helena 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. Earth

42:23

is Empire stars B as Azera

42:25

and Jorge Diaz as Barlin Midstone,

42:28

Gwendalen Briley Strand as The Keeper,

42:31

Andrew Leiner as Yaffa, Heidi

42:33

Kwan as Kaya, MegGylacey

42:36

Azreza, Michelle Zifomia

42:38

as Nara, Jake

42:40

Hart as Hephaestion. With

42:43

additional performances by Carolina

42:45

Hoyas, Mashari Bain. Written

42:48

and directed by Jason Liu. Executive

42:51

produced by Jason Liu, Rob

42:53

Hurting, David Henning and Shin

42:56

Yin Yu. Co-executive

42:58

producers Bea and Jorge Diaz.

43:01

Producers Kyle Smithers and Lawrence

43:03

Zunelli. Co-producer Nick

43:05

Shanks. Original score

43:08

and composition by Darren Johnson and

43:10

with Hugh Carson. Music

43:12

editor and additional music Ben

43:14

Moeches. Audio engineering

43:16

by Gay Burch, Ben Moeches

43:18

and Sarah Ma. Assistant

43:21

engineer Alex Chalk. Edited

43:24

by Neely Offering. Additional

43:26

editor Sarah Ma. Supervising

43:28

sound effects editor and sound

43:30

designer Randy Torres. Mixed

43:33

by Ben Moeches. Additional

43:35

mixer Sarah Ma. Casting

43:38

director Chrissy Feir-Willie. This

43:41

supervisor Casey Hain. Production

43:43

coordinator Ryan Coulter. Production

43:46

assistant Alec Buda. Production

43:48

label Christina Bulbruck and Lindsay

43:51

Kiel. Production accounting

43:53

Hinchen Liu. Special

43:55

thanks to Mara Schuster-Lefkowitz and

43:57

Ashton Harold. This podcast is about to

43:59

end. was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA

44:02

collective bargaining agreement. Birds of Empire

44:04

is a Q-Code production. Sound

44:06

recording copyright 2023 by Q-Code Media Inc. Birds

44:19

of Empire is presented by HelloFresh.

44:22

Use code BIRDSFREE for free

44:24

breakfast for life at hellofresh.com/birdsfree.

44:26

One breakfast item per box

44:28

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