MYTHICA: STORMBOUND | Full Fantasy Movie | Will Kemp, Ryann Bailey, Paul Cartwright

Nineteen years have passed since Zorlock the necromancer slew the gods, raised an army of the undead, and was finally defeated by Marik and the Redthorns. The events Darren now refer to as the Year of the Dead. In the aftermath, Darren retook their land from the tenuous hold of their battalion occupiers. But there's been little in the way of rebuilding. Instead, the country is largely lawless and disordered. Communities struggling to survive amongst the ruins. And Tela's prediction that in the absence of the gods, magic would soon fade from the world has proven prophetic. The ways of mages and sorcerers are vanishing. Only petty witchcraft remains in dark corners of the land. Oh, I didn't mean to spook your horses now. My name is Ristol Chriswood. I'm a marshal of Dera, and the elf he's called Learis. Now, these two well, only introduction they need is hanging around their stretched necks. You see, Learis and me, we've been appointed by the magistrate's council to purge the last of the red and black rat bags still befouling our Raw's beautiful and free land. You see this right there? Yeah, that is the mark of an Italian legion. No matter where these fers run, no matter how many years, they've been marked. So there's no doubt. So who are you, friend? Just a stranger. All right. Where are you headed? Somewhere else. What you got in your wagon? That's not your concern. Is that right? Got to tell you, we had a hell of a night tracking those two bleeders into the valley. I mean, they put up quite a fight. You know, Learis and me, we lost both our horses, for our blades tasted flesh. Bit stranded out here, to be honest. You know, we could really use a ride to Desolation's End. Yeah, it's a roadside in a ways up the mountain. What you say? That's out of my way. I need to make it through Cricer's Pass before the storm hits. I've heard of you. Not just a stranger. The stranger they call him. Bounty hunter, mercenary, murderer, travels with a black iron wagon. I'm an apothecary by trade. By the look of it, that wagon was built for more than herbs and medicines. You, uh, you got a bounty capture in there? Stay away from the wagon. All right, stranger. You see, we've heard of Italians still paying good money to get smuggled out of there. Roughly close to the border up here. Could it be some rich vital Italian rotter you're carrying in there? I don't work for the red and black. Never have, never will. Well, then there's no reason why you shouldn't give a marshal and his deputy a ride. I could order you. You know, by authority of the magistrate's council. That authority only gives you the right to kill vitals. You have no command over law-abiding or their property. And what if we insist? You think you can stop both of us with those? The tips were soaked in manticore then. We'd be dead within twenty heartbeats. Hopper carry my ass. You [expletive] bastard. Heat. Heat. Your companions look a little peaky there. Traveler found this boy injured on the road. He's got the mark of a slave. Might be someone's runaway. God's in their graves. Someone's runaway slave. All right. Mine. Ireland. Bring the grog from my room. The strong stuff. If this one survives, it'll be a good beaten. Well, give it here, you duff girl. Get started on a pus. Passed a couple of red and black hunters on the road. The bloodthirsty kind. And I thought they might have cut the boy up for sport, but that wound wasn't made with a blade. Oh, this is magic. Dark magic. Good luck with them. You're leaving? I need to make it through Cricer's Pass before the rest of this storm hits. Well, you're too late for that by now. Not all what's coming down out there. I'll take my chances. There's no chances to be given, I assure you. I've been on this mountain over forty years. I know how she storms. Unpassable for another day at the very least. Do you have any animals in your barn? My wagon can't be kept with others. Why is that? What you got in it? Delicate cargo. I need my wagon untouched. I need that barn to myself. Nothing in the barn at the moment. Likely to stay that way as long as a storm lasts. I'm Gibllock, by the way. Owner and keeper. What do they call you? They call me stranger. Arlland here will take you to the barn and help you stable your horses. Keep an eye on you. I'll do it alone in my island. The stranger here needs his horses fed and watered. Just one more moment with Erid. But she can't, you ducking back in front of a guest. You don't hit her. You don't lay a finger on them while I'm here. You returned the boy to me, so I'll forgive you this once. But no one tells me what to do under my own roof with my own property. You call that stranger. Let's go. There you are. Thank you for bringing Erid back to us. We any idea what happened to him out there? She's good luck. She keeps the barn clean and the Burman away. She'll watch over your horses for you. What's in your wagon? It's alive. It's hurt. It's a dangerous animal, but it can't escape. So, you have nothing to fear from it. Now, I need you to promise me something. While I'm here, you won't come into this barn alone. Now, there may be others that are curious about the contents of this wagon. So, if your master takes an interest, or anyone else for that matter, starts to ask questions, wants to come in here, you tell me. Agreed. Agreed. Come on. Come on. Boy's wake. And he's got a story to tell. One, lad. Tell them the village. Slaughtered, burned to the ground. I saw the smoke this morning. He ran away in the middle of the night, got as far as Lynwith, saw the massacre himself. Tell him what you saw. A witch. An old woman with a limp, half her face fallen, and great. Who is this witch? That's Mahitable Crow. She lives alone on the mountain. Used to be stories of her learning herself the old dark magic, but it's been years since she's bothered anyone. She wanted me dead. The village's cursed. The life turned out of them. Then the poor place caught fire. She said it was the power of so long. A necromancer is dead. Defeated by America the Red Thorns nineteen years ago. The dark spor was destroyed. I woman's mad. You're safe now, Erin. No. No. You don't understand. What is it? When I got up and ran, she called to me, screaming that she'd find me wherever I went. She swore that I'd see her again before the sun rose the next day. And that would be the last thing I saw. Great Hills. She's helped her. She's coming for me. She's coming tonight. You're safe here. You're home. And we won't let anything happen to you. Oh, lad. Uh, nothing to fear now. Take this. It will help you sleep. Go on, lad. Drink it. Do your nerves good. I think my own nerves could use some good doing too as well. This Mable Crow, she know who the boy belongs to? Would you know to find him here? I don't know. I never said word one to the woman. Seen her shape across the mountain once a year, maybe. Smoke from a chimney on occasion. You said it's been years since she bothered anyone. What was it like when she did? He's asleep. Oh, good. Best thing for him. What now? What are we going to do? Do the witch if she's coming here. She's an old crone. Walks with a limp. I can hardly believe she made it down to Lenworth. We're making the climb up here in this storm. Whatever happens, will you protect Aaron? Please protect him. No evil will harm the boy tonight. Even the heartiest of wayfarers won't be brave in this weather. Trust me, you're the last traveler who will have darkened this doorway for tomorrow. Help me with the boy. I'll take him to the lauder. All right. Come here. Don't answer that door until I come back. Come on. Keep your hers on. Who's there? It's us, you bastard. Who? Bristol and Lei. You in the business of keeping in or not? We're soaked to the bone out here, Gibb. Anyone else out there with you? Well, there's a couple of Italian legions. No, we're all alone. All right. You see buckets out there? Your welcome's gotten a little cold since last we lodged with you, Gib. Well, I wasn't expecting to see anyone comi

retook their land from the tenuous hold of their battalion occupiers. But there's been little in the way of rebuilding. Instead, the country is largely lawless and disordered.

Communities struggling to survive amongst the ruins. And Tela's prediction that in the absence of the gods, magic would soon fade from the world has proven prophetic. The ways of mages and sorcerers are vanishing. Only petty witchcraft remains in dark corners of

the land. Oh there didn't mean to spook your horses now. My name is Ristol Chriswood. I'm a marshall a dera and the elf he's called Learis.

Now, these do well. Only introduction they need is hanging around their stretch necks. You see, lay and me, we've been appointed by the magistrate's council to purge the last of the red and black rat bags still befouling our Raw's

beautiful and free land. You see this right there? Yeah, that is the market of Italian legion.

No matter where these fers run, no matter how many years, they've been marked. So there's no doubt.

So who are you, friend? Just a stranger. All right. Where are you headed? Somewhere else.

What you got in your wagon? That's not your concern. Is that right? Got to tell you, we had a hell of a night tracking those two bleeders into the valley. I mean, they put up quite a fight. You know, lay and

me, we lost both our horses for our blades tasted flesh. Bit stranded out here to be honest. You know, we could really use a ride to desolation's end.

Yeah, it's a roadside in a ways up the mountain. What you say? That's out of my way. I need to make it through Cricer's Pass before the storm hits.

I've heard of you. Not just a stranger. The stranger they call him. Bounty hunter mercenary murderer, travels with a black iron wagon.

I'm an apothecary by trade. By the look of it, that wagon was built for more than herbs and medicines. You uh you got a bounty capture in there?

Stay away from the wagon. All right, stranger. You see, we've heard of Italians still paying good money to get smuggled out of there. Roughly close to the border up here.

Could it be some rich vital Italian rotter you're carrying in there? I don't work for the red and black.

Never have, never will. Well, then there's no reason why you shouldn't give a marshall and his deputy a ride.

I could order you. You know, by authority at a magistrate's council. That authority only gives you the right to kill vitals. You have no command over law-abiding or their property.

And what if we insist? You think you can stop both of us with those?

The tips were soaked in manticor then. We'd be dead within 20 heartbeats. Hopper carry my ass.

You [ __ ] bastard. Heat. Heat. Your companions look a little peaky there. Traveler found this boy injured on the road. He's got the mark of a slave.

Might be someone's runaway. God's in their graves. Someone's runaway slave. All right. Mine. Ireland. Bring the grog from my room.

The strong stuff. If this one survives, it'll be a good beaten. Well, give it here you duff girl. Get started on a pus.

Passed a couple of red and black hunters on the road. The bloodthirsty kind. And I thought they might have cut the boy up for sport, but that wound wasn't made with a blade.

Oh, this is magic. Dark magic. Good luck with them. You're leaving? I need to make it through Cricut's past before the rest of this storm hits. Well, you're too late for that by now.

Not all what's coming down out there. I'll take my chances. There's no chances to be given, I assure you. I've been on this mountain over 40 years. I know how she storms. Unpassable for another day at the very least.

Do you have any animals in your barn? My wagon can't be kept with others.

Why is that? What you got in it? Delicate cargo. I need my wagon untouched. I need that barn to myself.

Nothing in the barn at the moment. Likely to stay that way long as a storm lasts.

I'm Gibllock, by the way. Owner and keeper. What do they call you? They call me stranger.

Arlland here will take you to the bar and help you stable your horses. keep an eye on you. I'll do it alone in my island. The stranger here needs his horses fed and watered.

Just one more moment with Erid. But she can't you ducking back in front of a guest.

You don't hit her. You don't lay a finger on them while I'm here. You returned the boy to me, so I'll forgive you this once.

But no one tells me what to do under me own roof with me own property.

You call that stranger. Let's go. There you are. Thank you bringing Erid back to us.

We any idea what happened to him out there? She's good luck. She keeps the barn clean and the Burman away.

She'll watch over your horses for you. What's in your wagon? It's alive. It's hurt.

It's a dangerous animal, but it can't escape. So, you have nothing to fear from it. Now, I need you to promise me something. While I'm here, you won't come into this barn alone.

Now, there may be others that are curious about the contents of this wagon. So, if your master takes an interest, or anyone else for that matter, starts to ask questions, wants to come in here, you tell me. Agreed.

Agreed. Come on. Come on. boy's wake. And he's got a story to tell. One, lad. Tell them the village. Slaughtered, burned to the ground.

I saw the smoke this morning. He ran away in the middle of the night, got as far as Lynwith, saw the massacre himself.

Tell him what you saw. A witch. An an old woman with a limp, half her face fallen, and Great. Who is this witch? That's Mahitable Crow. She lives alone on the mountain.

Used to be stories of her learning herself the old dark magic, but it's been years since she's bothered anyone.

She wanted me dead. The villages cursed. The life turned out of them. Then then the poor place caught fire.

She said it was the power of so long. A necromancer is dead. Defeated by America the Red Thorns 19 years ago. The dark spor was destroyed. I woman's mad.

You're safe now, Erin. No. No. You don't understand. What is it? When I got up and ran, she called to me, screaming that she'd find me wherever I went. She swore that I'd see her again before the sun rose the next day.

And that would be the last thing I saw. Great Hills. She's helped her. She's coming for me.

She's coming tonight. You're safe here. You're home. And we won't let anything happen to you.

Oh, lad. Uh, nothing to fear now. Take this. It will help you sleep. Go on, lad. Drink it. Do your nerves good.

I think my own nerves could use some good doing too as well. This mable crow, she know who the boy belongs to. Would you know to find him here?

I don't know. I never said word one to the woman. Seen her shape across the mountain once a year, maybe. Smoke from a chimney on occasion.

You said it's been years since she bothered anyone. What was it like when she did?

He's asleep. Oh, good. Best thing for him. What now? What are we going to do?

Do the witch if she's coming here. She's an old crone. Walks with a limp. I can hardly believe she made it down to Lenworth. We're making the climb up here in this storm.

Whatever happens, will you protect Aaron? Please protect him. No evil will harm the boy tonight.

Even the heartiest of way farers won't be brave in this weather. Trust me, you're the last traveler who will have darkened this doorway for tomorrow.

Help me with the boy. I'll take him to the lauder. All right. Come here.

Don't answer that door until I come back. Come on. Keep your hers on. Who's there?

It's us, you bastard. Who? Bristol and Lei. You in the business of keeping in or not? We're soaked to the bone out here, Gibb.

Anyone else out there with you? Well, there's a couple of Italian legions. No, we're all alone.

All right. You see buckets out there? Your welcome's gotten a little cold since last we lodged with you, Gib.

Well, I wasn't expecting to see anyone coming in out of that tonight. You Well, isn't this just perfect? Thought this place was too far out your way, you lying sack of slop.

And how did the two of you make it up here without your horses? We [ __ ] hoofed it on our own two feet. What's left of them anyway?

Between a boot rot and a blisters. Oh, not sure what's left when I take this boot off.

Oh, my poor dearies. If I lose a toe cuz of you, I will cut yours in your sleep tonight. There'll be no threat swearing under this roof. Huh?

Or you'll be right back out there in that cold wet. Well, you got anything warm to eat, Gibb? I am dog hungry. The last will have soup in not too long. I can have a bring it to you if you want

to wait for it in your bed chamber. Uh, no. I'll do my waiting right in front of that fire. Thank you very much.

Fine then. You two know of any going on down at Lynworth this morning? I know what I seen from across the valley before the storm hit. It's burnt to the ground, mate. Whole damn village.

You weren't close enough to see what happened. Uh, no. had our hands full with a couple of rascally vitalian fers as this man can attest.

Why? What have you heard? You saw the smoke. Same as you. Did you see anyone else coming from that direction today?

Well, besides you, no. How about tonight? Anyone else coming up the mountain towards this end?

In that storm? But you can't see shite out there, mate. I mean, I couldn't see Lay's ass in front of me face when the lightning flashed.

Why you uh you expecting a guest coming in out of that wet hell tonight? Gibb, not expecting a damn soul.

I'm sorry I didn't go with you, Eric. Two more borders for the night. I'll soup.

What are you doing when you touch his forehead like that? It's all right. I won't tell them more.

It's a gift. Sometimes when I touch people, I see the things they want to hide.

What do you mean? It's like my way with animals. But when it comes to people, I see what makes them different from animals.

I see their shame. Animals don't feel it. Pain. They can feel fear. grief even but animals don't feel shame only people do you know anything more about what happened at Lynworth no only I know why Erid went there

to find the grave of his parents so he's been planning to run away for a while We both have. I'm not ungrateful.

I'd imagine Gibllock's a fairer master than many when he's not been drinking. But Erid and I always wanted to see more of the world. When it came to it, though, I didn't have the courage.

And and I thought if I didn't go, he wouldn't either. I told myself I was protecting him, but I was just a coward.

Don't be hard on yourself. Your fate might have been like the rest of Limworth had you have gone with him.

Do you think it's true that the witch has found a way to harness the power of death like Zorlock?

I don't know much about that sort of thing. But you're in Draa during the year of the dead.

Mhm. Why is it as horrible as they say? What do they say? They say it was an unimaginable hell.

That sounds about right. Did you ever meet Merrick? Merrick of the Red Thorns. She defeated Sorlock.

She was a slave. Did you know that? A runaway. I I heard that. Every guest that comes to Desolation's End, I ask them for their accounts of the year of the dead. If they've ever met Merrick C or Dean,

Tao or Thain, they know their stories. But it's Merrick I most like to hear of.

Most just repeat stories they've heard from others. Some claim to have met themselves, but most of those probably lying.

But every tale I hear, I write down in this. It's what Erid and me dreamed of.

We wanted to be like the Red Borns. They didn't leave the world the way they found it.

They sacrificed for the good of others. They saved us. Sometimes I wonder if we were worth saving.

Tell me what do you see from the boy? What's his shame? I think every orphan is the same.

The shame of being an orphan. Arlin the soup. Sir, I said animals don't feel shame like people do. There's one animal that does.

Only one I've come across my whole life that does. And which animal's that? The one you're keeping in your wagon.

How much coin you got stashed away here? Huh? Cuz I noticed you ain't spent much on upkeep or on this soup so thin you can read a book through it.

If you knew how to read. Keep laughing, knife ears. Shouldn't surprise you to hear I'm scraping by lad.

I don't believe you, Kim. There is a miser horde here somewhere. Believe it or don't, but it's true.

Desolations ends it. Ghost of what he used to be. Who the hell is out tonight? Guess there's someone even unluckier than you and me. I you going to open a door, Gibb?

What? You gotten too feeble to slide the bar yourself, old dwarf? Hey, who's there?

Master Dwarf. My name is Aean Thaddric. I have a young woman with me who's been injured. We're both in need of shelter tonight.

Drop your heads. What? So I can see your faces. Good evening. And the woman.

Anyone else out there with you? I would hope not on this dreadful night. Welcome to Desolation End. Please warm yourself by the fire. Thank you, good boy.

And hello to you. As I said, my name is Aean Patrick. This young woman is Resai.

You're hurt. I came upon a village this morning. Massacred, burnt to the ground. Poor woman was the only survivor.

Lynworth? Yes, we heard none survived. Who did you hear it from? Let's get our entity to this. I as a dwarf, my horse is in need of stabling. I trust you have someone that can feed him water. Huh?

I that can be arranged. And there is another matter. We'll discuss that later. Right.

May I this wound, it's not a burn, it's dark magic. I've seen something like it in the northern tribes of my people.

Such wounds are difficult to heal. Was it the witch of the mountain? Then the witch was there to be sure.

All night. My sleep was full of terrors. Then I woke to a nightmare. Everyone dead.

Everyone but me. Ghastly. The state of that village when I came upon it. Dead in the road and their homes, in the beds, young and old alike.

By some miracle, this woman was spared. Fate, I suppose, led me to her. Who is this witch in a mountain you're talking about, Gibb?

Mahitable crow. An old recluse. Lenwith was once her home till 17 years ago when she was banished.

Banished for what? Evil. They say she was a healer. Quite skilled at it, too.

Till the year of the dead. She saw Zorlock's power and became obsessed with necromancy herself.

determined to resurrect the children she lost in her infancy. She was deeper, darker, she dealt until she went mad with it. The villagers, it could wise her witchcraft forced her to leave.

That weren't the end of Lyn with trouble with her, was it the beast? I not one moon after Mahit left, a monster came to Lynwith, killed more than a dozen villagers before they drove it home.

You tell me that weren't the witch's doing. Perhaps this morning with a new and final act of vengeance on the village.

But But why now? The gods below only know. I did the best I could.

You've got some skill there. Where are you from, Greybeard? I'm from Gelton. You're a long way from home. What brought you to the valley?

What's that? What was Lynworth your destination? Oh, no. Um, hunting elk. Elk. Yes. A favorite hunting ground of my youth. A sort of pilgrimage to my glory days.

Any luck? The hunt? No, but I think Providence has found me a more worthy purpose. Master Dwarf, my horse is still out in the wind and the rain. It'll be ruined by morning if it's not suitably sheltered.

Arlland, the man's horse, sir. Take it to the barn. Let the girl stay put.

I'll stay with your horse. Very good. Fine. Yes. Thank you. Let me do it.

I'll stable the man's horse. You can't go out there alone. Not tonight. I don't want you leaving, Erid.

I don't trust this man, Aean. He's hiding something. I don't know what it is, but he's desperate not to be found out.

Anyway, the witch is coming here. It's Er's after, not me. It should be me that goes straight back.

and stay away from the wagon. That's a well-crafted hilt at your side, Greybeard. The uh rest of the sword is masterfully made.

My name again, Zean Thadrick. This was a gift from General Rogar when I commanded the sixth cavalry.

General Rogar, you fought the armies of the dead. Fending the from the necromancer's hordes has been my life's highest honor and privilege.

How long after the attack this morning did Aean find you there? I can't be sure.

2 hours perhaps. And the decision to come here to Desolation's End, was that your idea or his?

He said it was the nearest place to seek shelter. Is it painful? You're on.

The girl's a natural healer. Tell me, did you hurt your leg this morning as well?

I noticed you favoring your left when you walked in. No, something I've had since a child. A bad foot.

I once had a friend with a similar ailment. Stranger, do I have that right? That's what you'd prefer to be called. now heard the colorful story of what brings the marshall and his off deputy to desolation's end tonight. May I hear

yours? I'm just passing through. Oh, come now. Indulge an old man who enjoys hearing the wayfairing tales of his fellow dearans.

Now, the stranger is a ruthless bounty hunter. Huh? So, we all have come hunting, it would seem. And whose bounty are you currently after?

I'd rather not speak of it. Now, he'd rather not say because he's got him caged in his wagon in that barn out there. Ain't that right, stranger? Must be a hell of a bounty, too. Won't let anyone near it, nor tell the man's name.

Am I to understand? You have a live prisoner out there in that barn in this cold. You realize come morning you may have killed the man.

You told me nothing of this, lad. It's not a man. It's a wild animal.

And the barn shelter is plenty. a wild animal. And my mare has just been sent to share its roof. It's shackled and caged.

Your horse is fine. You'll be safe and warm here. Are you cold? Hungry? Can you hear me?

I hear you. You're You're not an animal at all. Don't be so sure. Who are you?

Was that Lynwith? Lynwith? What do you know of Lynwith? Are you the beast? The The one the witch summoned years ago for her vengeance on the village.

This little I know. Before before before the curse was it Mahitable Crow? Did she curse you?

Meditable. I can't I can't remember her. What can you remember? A child, a girl, her mother was killed.

Stop. Stop asking me to remember. Was there any indication this morning of where Mahitable Crow may have headed to?

Whether she continued down the valley or back up the mountain? No. Did you see anyone on the mountain road on your way up here tonight?

No, but truthfully, it was hard to see anything at all. Well, you two asked me and Lelay the same question. What's this about? They think the witch is coming here.

Oh, gods in their graves. That is what you think. Now, what the hell is going on here? What are you not telling us?

That witch coming here, what for? Is it true? If you've reason to suspect it even a possibility, I think we deserve to know.

I found Gibllo slave boy injured on the road and I brought him here. He was down in Lynworth and saw the whole thing.

But before he escaped, the witch made a threat. A threat? She said she'd find him by night and kill him.

You mean to tell me that that witch that just massacred an entire village using dark magic and hellfire is making her way here?

There's no reason to believe that the witch even knows where he's from, let alone where he went.

Once more, it's storm as a hard out now. The old Cron couldn't make it up here if she wanted to. Uh, well, these two just made it here, and they ain't got powers beyond the natural.

Where's the boy now? Resting. Given Beable Crow's story, I can make some cruel sense of her attack on the village, but the boy is just a runaway.

Why would she be so determined to go after him? Apparently, he was born in Lymouth before he was orphaned.

Could Could I speak with the boy? Perhaps our families know each other once he wakes.

You folks are acting like this is all well and good. There is a murdering mad hag out there who's more than likely on her way to this inn tonight.

We will deal with the witch if she comes. Oh, really? Yes, really. That's all we can do.

Well, you know what me and Learos are going to do? If that witch comes here raising hell, we're going to offer her to boy in exchange for her leaving in peace. That's really your position as a marshal debeard.

Quiet. Listen. It's Arlin. You sure about that? Arlon, that you? Yes, sir. Anyone else out there with you last?

Hey, sir. Uh, you see anything out there, sweetheart? No. Good. Everything all right in the barn?

There's no bow or arrows with a horse, nor on his person. Strange to bring only a sword for an arc hunt.

Ireland, after you done the washing up, why don't you check on the boy? Erid, you shouldn't be up and about. You need to rest. No, he's off now. Come on then. Let's give him a moment.

I've got some questions for you. Now, this witch, you saw her, boy? Yes, sir.

And what she look like? She riding in on a horse or on foot? Witches don't ride horses, they ride the wind.

All right, that's enough questions for now. Erid, this is Resmanai. She was at Lynorth when it all happened.

Yes. I'm glad to know I wasn't the only survivor. It's given me hope there may be others who escaped like you.

Perhaps it would be less overwhelming for you if we spoke privately in your room. You could lie rest in.

Could I have some supper first? More than a day since he's had anything to eat.

Of course you can. I've wondered this world so long many thousand years. What names I could speak?

The girl. She's young to be so skilled a healer. Where is she from? Lynworth, actually. Same as the boy.

Not siblings, though. Might as well be. Both lost their families years ago. Far too young.

The girl's parents. Do you know their names? Sure. I have it written somewhere. I'm curious.

How has a youth from Geling come to hunt so far from home? My father was a valet to a battalion magistrate.

Afforded me some privileges of travel and education not available to most young boys. I was lucky.

What was the battalion magistrate's name? Caline. Caris Calaldine. all to ash and spread their death.

All I've seen and forget. I'm I'm sorry. That's all right. I'll get you another.

Get a rag and clean it up, you doth girl. I will close. Herod, you look like you need to lie down.

We'll let him finish his supper first. Herod. Come here. Stay back. What's going on here?

Keep your hands off that crossbow. Let him go. I can't. You don't understand. There's so much you don't understand.

You don't know what you brought here, stranger. Something evil. You have doomed them all.

Holy hell. I [ __ ] knew it. An alteration's done. I've done that. When the storm's passed, we'll take her body out and burn her.

Hey, the animal you have in your wagon. Was it the beast that attacked Lyn with years ago?

It may be. If it was, then it's the beast that killed Verit's parents and mine.

Why haven't you killed it? I may yet. There's something I've wanted to ask. You don't have to tell me.

When I took your hand in the barn, I heard something from you. It was a woman's scream.

It sounded as if she was beaten. That's from long ago. I was young, but old enough to have done more before the year of the dead hardened us all.

I was a coward. I was an apprentice to an apothecary near Guelt. He had a slave girl with a lame foot, one he was sure he could beat into submission, but she was no ordinary girl.

A spirit wouldn't break. But this only made the Apothecary's anger grow until the night a guard brought her home as a runaway.

The apothecary was so angry that he beat her within an inch of her life.

I should have stopped him. I should have done something. But that night, I was just as much a coward as all the nights before.

So she stopped him, nearly killed him in the process. That was the night that she ran away forever.

She asked me to go with her. Still, I was too afraid. Merrick. The girl was Merrick.

I've done a lot of shameful things since the year of the dead, but nothing haunts me more than that night when I stood by doing nothing while Merrick was beaten.

In the frozen Stranger. He's dead. What's happened? I got up to put more coal in the stove the way he likes on cold nights.

What's wrong with his dark magic? No. Is it the witch? There's a vengeance still among us.

The witch is dead. Boy, let's get you back to bed. Come on. Could she have could she come back to life? I mean, can they do that?

Why don't you and Leares take the dwarf down to the cellar and find out for yourself?

Yeah. Le got work to do. Find something. What? No, I'm just looking for any hint of what may have happened. Nothing of note.

Let's all meet in the front hall, shall we? I'll tell the marshall the self once they move the body.

still dead. You'll be all right. The stranger won't let anything happen to us. The witch is cold as ice.

So, who killed the dwarf? Well, if no one will say it, then I will. Graybeard, you were the one that brought the witch here in the first place.

That's ridiculous. I thought I was helping a young woman in distress. You know that.

What we don't know is what brought you to the valley to begin with. I've told you an elk hunt with no bow nor arrows. If this really was your favorite hunting ground as a youth, then you know better

than I. This is the wrong season for elk in this valley. Their herds move west this time of year. A migration so reliable that the Garand Dan used to measure their age by it.

So, what really brings you here? I had business with the dwarf. Business? What business?

Oh, is that a dwarf that's now lying dead in the cellar? But looks like you came out ahead in that transaction, eh?

There were certain papers I needed from him. So, that's what you were searching for in the dwarf's room.

What's it say? Aean Fadrock. Darren Bourne. Geling. What? These are your papers of identification. I don't understand. Why did Gibb have them?

Because the dwarf was a forger by the looks of it. A good one. So these aren't his real name, nor where he's from.

What's your name, Graveyard? Caline is my guess. Caline? That's a fattalian name. [ __ ] hell. A red and black.

General Rogar's right-hand man. Huh? And look at that. A Legion commander. How many Darren lost their lives, dignity, and property so you could earn that rank? H.

It's true. I carried out the will of the empire. Vader has always been my home.

When the year of the dead came, I did serve under General Rogar fighting the armies of the undead alongside Terren.

That was no lie. My wife is Taran. My son is Taran. I only sought out that forgery to protect them from the stain of my past.

Well, Commander, looks like Desolation's End is going to get his third corpse tonight. Sheath your sword. What the hell, stranger?

You're going to prevent a marshall from performing his duty? I guess I am. What for? Huh?

You think because he killed a few undead alongside our countrymen, that makes up for decades of abuse?

No. But being a Vitalian doesn't change the fact that there is a murderer in here amongst us.

In fact, it proves it wasn't him. How do you figure? What if he killed the dwarf to cover up his little secret?

When have you known of a Vitalian even before the year of the dead? Then knew the ways of old magic.

But who killed the dwarf? You're so smart. Well, there's the obvious sensor. The elf.

Didn't ask you. Red and black. He's flaunted his knowledge of dark magic since I arrived. The woman's wound, the witch's stone. Clearly, he's seen plenty of it before. How do we know he's not a practitioner himself?

After seven years, partner with himself. If he knew how to use magic to kill someone, I'd have seen it before. Trust me.

I don't trust you. You've been pocketing the dwarf's trinkets all night. Did he find you out?

So, you had your partner kill him in the night. Yeah, keep talking, Vitalian. Your noose is round your neck the more you speak.

I don't hear a denial. What did the witch say? She said, "You brought something evil here." What did you bring?

It's the animal he's got in his wagon. That's what it is. The witch. What did she say? Uh uh uh. You have doomed them all. And now it's gone and killed the damn dwarf. Just like she said.

That animal didn't kill the dwarf. How do you know that? Because I know. Well, maybe that's not good enough right now with the four of us trying to kill each other in the middle of the night.

I think we deserve to hear a bit more about this animal. Yeah. What the hell is it, stranger?

Lower your blades, and I'll tell you. I captured the beast of Black River. You lie.

I'm sorry. Should I know of this beast of Black River? Yeah, for the past 15 years, maybe more. No traveler dare cross the Black River Forest. There's a beast there and tear you limb from limb.

Large bounty on its head. Most hunters gave up on it years ago. Why? Because they're dead.

The beast is shackled and caged. That iron has held strong across half of Dera. It cannot escape.

In my experience, cages hold until they don't. Hang on. Hang on. You had a chance to kill the beast of Black River and instead you captured it live. Why?

That's not your concern. No, no, no. That is our concern. Because if that's the beast that you've brought here, you've put us all at risk. Now, to keep Rudy in dead and what seems like a fulfillment of a witch's sue saying, and

I think we deserve to see for ourselves whether that thing is still in its cage or not.

I have to agree. You're not going to that barn. Why the hell not, stranger? If you think that's so secure, then what's the danger? The danger is there is a murderer in here with us.

Yeah. Who is it then? I don't know. But it's not the beast. Are you sure?

Whatever is in your wagon. It is cursed. See, even a girl agrees. Get back in the ladder. Stay with Herod.

Lock the door. You come with me. You can see for yourself that it hasn't escaped. You two stay here.

The hell with that. We're coming to fine. But when we get back, I don't want to hear another word about this beast.

Understood. Yeah. Yeah, of course, mate. Yeah. I couldn't find them all. I couldn't find my parents' graves at Lynworth.

When I touched the woman's arm, I saw the dead of Lynwith, the village burning.

I saw it because she was ashamed of it. And I thought it was just the guilt of surviving. I didn't realize it was the guilt of having done it herself.

I still don't understand why she came for you, though. The old witch went mad.

Your face. You're hurt. It must be from when the witch grabbed me. It's white.

I think we need to tell the stranger you met midvil before yesterday. No one needs to know that.

They wouldn't understand. I think the stranger would knew Merrick. He was her friend. The witch said it was Zoro's power that slaughtered the village. Could it somehow be what killed Gibbllock as well?

I don't know. The others have gone to check on the stranger's wagon. It may be what Mahit warned of when she died.

Erid, I think it's the beast that attacked Lynwith years ago. The beast that killed our parents.

I want to see it. No, no. I I promised the stranger we'd stay here.

Please sleep. You need your rest. That beast is a pitiful creature. Whatever it is, it hates itself.

I think deep down all evil things hate themselves. See? Secure. Now, wait. How do we know that thing is in there at all? Huh?

We can't see nothing in here. Oh, wait. No, no, no. Yeah, there's something in there.

That's enough. Hang on. Hang on. Give me that lantern. Eh, this ain't a beast. I don't think this is an animal at all.

All right, come on down. You got a man in there, stranger. Huh? Why are you lying to us about it? Oh, I'm not lying. Yeah, we'll see about that eh?

Yeah, there's only one reason why you and Wallace believing that this is a beast and not a man.

See that? You're a red and black lover, huh? You've been transporting of Italian to his freedom.

Shut the door. Oh, I am sick of you acting like you're in charge. I'm the gods damned in their graves, Marshall.

Not you. Looks like we're going to be spilling some Italian blood tonight after all. Hi. Hi.

Heat. Heat. N. Oh, you don't want to fight back. You think that's going to make this go quicker for you? You're wrong. I am enjoying this.

Ah, don't worry. Your apothecary friend is next. Dane, we're still leaving be. Yeah, crawl away, scum.

You're a real [ __ ] bastard. You know that, stranger? You know, aiding of Vitalian and their escape from there is a hanging offense.

Are you hearing me? You're a dead man, stranger. Knock the door. Lock that door.

Rock. You are It was you. You killed Matlock. No Aaron. You all right? Yes. But arid Pain.

Sane. Aaron. Aan dead. They are as he hasn't come back. Oh, it's my fault. I should never have brought the beast here.

Don't move. Please. I've sent you the best I can, but the wound is deep. The boy's a murderer.

If that beast hasn't got to him already, he's going to pay for his crime.

Has Eron ever done anything like that before? What he did to the beast? Not like that.

There were times when we were young, if he was upset, he could hurt people without touching them.

Hurt people? Make them suddenly ill or weak. We told you block about it once, called it devilry, tried to beat it out of him.

It's been years since it happened, though. We'd almost forgotten about it. Almost. I should have told you.

Er was afraid to let anyone know. But it wasn't yesterday he first met the witch last moon. He happened upon her on the mountain and she asked him about his gift.

How did she know about it? I don't know. But she said she wanted to help him with it. Teach him to use it properly. I I told him to stay away from her.

He thought it would get us closer to becoming a team of heroes like the Red Thorns.

Twice he snuck out at night after Gibllock had gone to bed to meet her at her cottage.

And Lyn, did he go there to meet her too? No, I don't know. That's not what he told me. But I fear he's been keeping secrets.

But you didn't suspect that he killed your master. No, but when I examined again the witch's arm, it became suddenly clear to me.

The same magic that killed Gibllock was used against the witch at Lynwith. Who else would try to protect the village from the witch but Erid?

Why did the beast go after Erid? Like it was drawn to him. I don't know.

I do. It was the old dark magic the boy wields. My people, when someone is cursed by dark magic, he forever recognizes it in others.

The beast sensed within the boy that same power that has tormented him for you.

Arin he needs it's time to say goodbye partner. No. And I won't say it even if you bastard.

point to be so young to wield the power of death. You can person come with me.

I heard you out there. calling for thing. That beast wasn't Thain of the Red Thorns.

It once was. What happened to him? Well, sometime after the year of the dead, after he and Tie had set up life together as husband and wife, Fain was cursed.

by a sorcerer who called himself the disciple. The disciple? Yes. Dame remembers little about how it happened. But one thing he is certain of.

The disciple killed Tie. For more than 15 years, Thane remained a beast. How did you find him?

I was only after the bounty. But when I realized that the creature was cursed, I thought that curing it might be easier than killing it.

Finally, I worked out a mixture of monks and star leaf. That did the trick. But I wasn't prepared for the man who emerged or the condition he would be in.

The little that thing remembered only made him want to die. And his form his form wasn't stable. So I had to keep him caged for his own safety as much as anyone else's.

Where were you taking him? They say there are still masters of the old magic in Golosha. So I was headed there in the hope for a permanent release of the curse.

Finding thing. It felt like a chance to make amends to Merrick. I was too cowardly to help her in my youth. But now I could help her friend.

Her friend who had been the brave companion that she needed to stand by her when I wouldn't.

Failing thing now feels like failing Merrick all over again. Wait. Your name is Egan.

The apothecary's apprentice. You You made me Merrick's leg brace. She wore it for years.

She wouldn't have been able to escape without it. She She couldn't have done half the things she did if it weren't for your kindness.

You've more than made up for any cowardice. I've failed you and Herod as well.

Even trying makes you the most selfless man to ever walk through those doors. Alan, there's something that I need to talk to you about. Something that I found in Gibllock's room.

Boy, there's smoke up on a mountain. That's Midable's chimney. Eric must have gone to a cottage. He's alive.

Yeah. Makes it easy enough, eh? What are you doing? You're going after him. Oh, yeah. And I'm hauling him to the magistrate's court. He's just a boy.

He's confused. He's a slave who killed his master. That's not going unpunished. What's more, the dwarf's murder directly led to my partner's death.

Oh, your own stupidity did that. I ain't putting that boy in shackles. Right. And if he shows any resistance, magical or otherwise, I'm going to kill him.

I'll come with you. What? So, he can protect him from me. If that elf was right, then the beast is after the boy as well.

And you don't want to be alone when you cross its path. I don't want the boy hurt.

I'll convince him to come willingly. You can hardly stand up, mate. How are you going to climb that mountain?

Fine. Fine. We'll go together. You just remember this is Marshall's business. All right. I'm in charge.

Yeah. You're in charge. You've given up hope for thing. You're willing to kill him.

Trying to cure him has cost too many lives. If killing him means sparing another of his victims, then it has to be the right choice.

I want to go with you. Whatever's happening with Erid, he thinks he's all alone in it, and he's scared.

You have to stay here in case he returns. I won't let the boy come to harm.

You have my word. Yeah. Wow. You have doomed them all. Where is it? Eric, do you know who that belongs to?

Mine. So lock. Yes. Why is it here? I cannot say. The Hibble and her conjurings were after my time.

But you know one who can, don't you, Arid? One who could grant you what you wish most.

To know where you come from, to know who you are, the disciple. Only he can give you the answers you seek.

Mel warned me to stay away from him. She would. She feared you, didn't she?

The disciple will not fear you. He will put you on the path to your destiny.

I don't want this. You are singular. The gift you bear is a burden and a lonely one.

The disciple understands that. Erand. You must seek him out. Can Alan come with me?

Alan wouldn't understand. She sees you only as a murderer now, just as the witch did.

Only the disciple can help you now. You're dying. I'll instill my friend. You know I'm right.

You feel it. Well, you wouldn't have run away from her. No. Leave me alone.

Go away. I'll go in alone. I don't want the boy frightened. If you're not back with him soon, I'm coming in after you both.

Error. No. You stay back. What are you doing here? I just want to talk to you, son. The beast is loose on this mountain. We think it's coming after you.

I don't believe you. This power you have, the thing that came out of you when the beast attacked. The power that killed Gibllock, it scares people.

But I bet it's pretty damn scary for you, too, isn't it? See, I once had a friend with the same power.

Merrick. Yes. That power scared me. It scared everyone who witnessed it. And people told her that there was an evil inside her.

She began to wonder if they were right. But Merrick learned how to control that power. She decided to use it for good.

It's that power that Merrick used to save the world. But it's also that power that the beast is drawn to. That's why we need to get you off this mountain and down to safety.

If I if I go with you, what's going to happen to me? You killed your master.

You'll have to face the consequences of that. But I will be with you every step of the way, right?

I'll plead lenience in front of the magistrate. I will protect you. Maybe I don't need your protection from the beast or the magistrate.

You saw what I did to it. But do you really want to spend the rest of your life running in fear?

I'm an orphan and a slave. My whole life has been fear. It doesn't have to be that way anymore. Please come come with me. Huh?

No. Are you I'm all right. How could you? He wants to see me punished. That's all any of them want to do with me. The witch, Master Gibl, all of them.

Why did you do it? Why did you kill Gibllock? I gone down to the cellar to retrieve the talisman from Aitable's body. The key to my past, she called it. Gibllock couldn't sleep. He couldn't make sense of it.

The witch so determined to kill me, she was willing to die trying. When I got up from the cellar, he was waiting for me.

Boy was you. You know you got evil, ain't you? I've always known it. Don't deny it. You snuck out before you're doing it again. I don't want Let that be a lesson to you.

He was going to separate us all. And had he figured out what really happened at Lynworth?

What do you mean? The witch's vengeance. wasn't what cursed the village, was it? I didn't mean to.

It just happened. I just wanted them back. Arin, your parents, you thought you could bring them back from the dead. Is that's why you were looking for their graves? I could have done it.

Is that what Mahibal was teaching you? No. The witch was scared of my gift.

She only wanted to show me how to restrain it. When I got to the graveyard that morning, my parents' names weren't there among the dead.

But myable crow was there. That's when she confessed. It wasn't the beast that killed my parents all those years ago.

it was her. She wouldn't tell me why, only that she regrets it every day since. And that it was her fault. That I was born the way I was with this gift, this cursed power of Zoron.

I didn't mean to hurt the villagers. only her. And when she saw what I'd done to Lynwood, she blamed herself.

She said the only way she could fix what she'd done was to kill me.

Erid, you should have told me. I was afraid you'd hate me. How could you not? Your your gift is so good.

Evil. I will never hate you, Erid. You will never lose me. We're a team.

We always will be. But right now, we need to get to safety because the beast is still on the mountain.

Right, that's enough jabbering on in here. What's going on, Bristol? It's fine. Did it again, did he? Boys, you are going to hang for what you've done. I'll make sure of it.

No, Crystal Lake is more powerful than we think. Don't get moved, you little shite. You try any of that dark magic, I'll send this poison bolt right through your heart.

Bristol. Ristol. Stay back. Aaron. She doesn't understand. None of them do. They will only fear you.

You cannot trust them. You can only trust yourself. You shouldn't have come. The witch's warning. I realized it wasn't about the beast. She met Erid after what he did to Lynwood.

The Hitibal was trying to stop him from harming anyone else. And I I didn't see her because I didn't want to. But Erid's become too dangerous.

Eric, you said we'd always be a team. We still can't be. You're right, Arin. I am dangerous and I don't need you anymore.

Come on. Come on. Come on. I'm sorry. Erin, where are you going? To find out who I am.

If you come looking for me, I won't hold back. We're enemies now. All in.

I can redress this. I can But this says I belonged. to Tila. Your mother, my mother, and my my father.

They They would be so proud of you. No, please. Please don't leave me. You'll be all right, Anna.

You're braver than you think. No please. No, no. Honey, no. Please. Hey, Bristol. Where's my meat?

All right. All right. Wait. O, keep your unders on. Ah, you're off then. Well, there's no claim on you for now, but if any relation to Gibbs turns up, you'll be their legal property. You'll go to them.

And so will this tavern you've taken ownership of. I guess we'll both be hoping that old dwarf's the last of his line, eh, Arling.

Mind yourself out there. Yeah. I've wondered this world fought So long, many thousand years.

What names I could speak, mighty ones mourned with anient tears. Stars burned out, still I can't let go of you. Seas dried up and valleys move.

Only you could move me. Empires and races sunk beneath the earth. And still your names live on my breath.

Echoes passing slowly. A world that was free. Golden leaves, forest full of wonder, now known but to me.

All I got who once called me brother. Armies tread all to ash and spread their death. Will you have me linger yet? all I've seen and can't forget.

I would give my next 10,000 silver moons just for one more day with you.

Take me home across the sea, across the sea. Echoes passing slowly.