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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

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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

0:25

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

0:43

more details, see the episode description. Cue code

0:47

presents Birds of Empire Season 2,

0:49

created by Jason Liu. This

1:15

is the cover of the wolves, people of

1:17

the grass. There

1:19

were many times the words would

1:21

wash over Azira. Once,

1:24

while soaked in blood, lids

1:27

heavy as she knelt, asking

1:29

her sister to possess her

1:31

blade. To her

1:33

enemy, she would become the demon of White

1:35

Rock. To her

1:37

people, she would become

1:40

much more. But

1:42

now, a child of

1:44

the plains, spear in hand, the

1:46

thrill of a night hunt, a wish,

1:49

a nightmare, a dream, all

1:52

in a single moment. The

1:56

new children of gods must make their

1:58

way against the wild. The wind is

2:00

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. What's the

2:34

plan? What's the plan? Jesus,

2:37

you are alone now! It

2:39

is God's way for a plan when we must start

2:41

apart and spread them across the sky. We

2:45

are hardly the God's. It is God's way

2:47

for us. We

2:50

feel the herd surging. The

2:52

beasts are angry, driven, the

2:55

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

2:59

think we should go back. Go back? You

3:02

mad. We're here now where we wanted

3:04

to be. Where you wanted to be.

3:06

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

3:08

do I let her talk to you? Oh, you

3:10

mad again. There. 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.

3:22

What? You thought we were coming just

3:24

to sit by and let those bitches get the glory?

3:26

I haven't exactly had time to consider how insane

3:29

your plan was going to be. Well,

3:31

now you have and now you know. We

3:34

spear the Alpha and bring her

3:36

head back on a pike. The mother will finally

3:38

see my place among our people. Finally

3:41

give me marriage to Beckett. We already have

3:43

her respect, Azi. This Obey, her direct orders

3:45

is likely to only anger her. I don't

3:47

care! I don't care if she's angry

3:50

or what she feels. I'm sick of caring about

3:52

minding her more than living my life. Decide

3:55

what more can she do. How could you humiliate me more than

3:57

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. Wendy,

6:26

do you want to come? You can. It's

6:28

better than it might. It's

6:31

hard. You can't hurt. I

6:40

just want to come up to her and say, I want to

6:42

come in and take her look. Let's

6:44

keep and listen to another girl. It's

6:47

a Yupa. Aah! Go.

6:56

Go. Go back to work. Go. Go

6:59

back to work. Go. Go back

7:01

to work. Before you lost me. Kaya, I don't

7:03

know. Go. Huh? I

7:07

will. With my kid.

7:10

Not because of me. Kaya. I

7:12

have my bow and I will do it. Oh

7:14

yeah. I'll put this arrow through your throat. I'll

7:20

be six pounds each

7:22

as I

7:28

enter the wind room. My

7:32

blood is yours. My life

7:34

was but a thing in your mouth. Kaya,

7:39

you take me upon the threshold. I'm

7:42

gonna look upon your face. You

7:46

will not fall without a fight. So

7:52

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 kill.

11:56

You're your pocket warrior. You're

11:58

our pocket warrior. Here,

12:02

Kaya, take

12:05

this magic. Tonight

12:13

you eat with us. Your

12:15

pack! Is there a hunter

12:18

of white fangs? I'll see you

12:20

there. Kaya, come on! I'll

12:34

see you

12:38

there. I'm

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gonna take a second to thank our

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Thank you HelloFresh, America's number

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one meal 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

20:05

there

20:08

maybe you know a

20:10

familiar smell come you should

20:13

go all right as he will

20:17

be looking for me wanting to spar all that

20:19

girl wants to do is fight perhaps

20:21

she'll be saying of the Queen one

20:23

day what's my left tomorrow in the pit

20:26

if you're still among us to

20:28

fight thank you

20:31

don't thank me yet you still have

20:33

to beat me okay so

20:42

what you loved

20:44

her no it wasn't it

20:47

was only the beginning of something but the next

20:49

day after a fight she was caught thrown

20:52

from her horses she rode across the plane Reza

20:54

said her horse Zula wasn't right that she was

20:57

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

20:59

to me too they were out on the scout

21:01

and an accident a

21:04

flick of the God's fingers and she was no more why

21:06

are you dragging this up from the bog Kaya you

21:09

what you want to make sure that my moment of peace

21:11

and victory is marred by my greatest sadness oh

21:14

wait is this some fucking trick who's

21:16

out there are Reza on

21:18

the rest of the pack watching what no should

21:20

have never trusted you only yesterday you were

21:23

trying to humiliate me in front of our

21:25

people and now what a sea don't touch

21:27

me what's wrong with you

21:30

I'm trying to be kind to you Oh

21:32

trying as if you'd be kind to me

21:34

is some effort of the gods to be

21:36

nice to little Azzy the butcher whoever one

21:39

hates fine you know what you're

21:42

right everyone does and

21:44

you know why because

21:46

you're arrogant and you push and push and everyone

21:48

who comes near you I don't need your help

21:50

and I should have left you to die I

21:52

wish you had Reza would have come back for

21:54

me we didn't need you

21:56

we never did but sure 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.

24:02

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. 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.

30:22

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp.

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Hi, this is Jason Liu,

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creator of Birds of Empire.

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Our show really, really functions

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That's betterhelp.com. Find

32:07

me, Marlin.

32:11

Find me, my darling. Mother.

32:23

Mother. Come back to me. How

32:27

am I to lead them? To

32:30

lead anyone? Show

32:34

me the path. Young

32:43

Marlin, you've been

32:45

here at the bluffs for hours now. Should...should

32:48

we walk back to the peak?

32:53

Sit with me, Hephaestint. Oh,

32:55

okay. I

33:01

know nothing of the

33:03

world below. The lowlands, yes,

33:05

but beyond that? Have

33:08

you never longed to see the world beyond? Like

33:10

Orin the ogre. Like

33:12

Orin. My mother

33:14

used to tell me that tale. It's a

33:17

favorite of the lowlanders. Do

33:20

you believe it? That there's a lake

33:23

with no shores out there beyond the horizon?

33:25

I do. But I'm

33:27

a superstitious old ghost. I

33:29

believe that the world is wild and

33:32

great beyond our imagining. I

33:34

want to believe that too. What...what

33:38

stops you, young master? My

33:44

whole life, I

33:47

felt that there was some unseen force holding

33:49

me back. Like not...not

33:51

just holding my arms down, but my

33:53

very spirit. I

33:56

would picture it as a serpent with

33:58

iron 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. Urdu's

42:23

empire stars Bea as Azera

42:25

and Jorge Diaz as Barlin

42:27

Midstone, Gwendolyn Riley Strand

42:29

as the Keeper, Andrew

42:31

Liner as Yaffa, Heidi Kwan

42:34

as Kaya, Meg Gilacy as

42:36

Reza, Michelle Zifo Mia

42:38

and Nora, Jake Hart

42:40

as Hephaestion, with

42:42

additional performances by Carolina Hoyas,

42:45

Shari 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 Hu, co-executive

42:58

producers Bea and Jorge Diaz,

43:01

producers Kyle Smithers and Lawrence

43:03

Zanelli, co-producer Nick

43:06

Shink, original score

43:08

and composition by Darren Johnson and

43:10

with Hugh Kersenti, music

43:12

editor and additional music Ben

43:14

Milchis, audio engineering

43:16

by Gabe Burch, Ben Milchis

43:19

and Sarah Ma, assistant

43:21

engineer Alex Chalk, edited

43:24

by Neely Offtering, additional

43:26

editor Sarah Ma, supervising

43:28

sound effects editor and sound

43:30

designer Randy Torres, mixed

43:33

by Ben Milchis, additional

43:35

mixer Sarah Ma, casting

43:38

director Chrissy Feir-Willis, script

43:40

supervisor J.C. Hain, production

43:43

coordinator Ryan Coulter, production

43:46

assistant Alex Yuda, production

43:48

label Christina Bulbruck and Lindsay

43:51

Kiel, production accounting

43:53

Pinchin Liu, special

43:55

thanks to Mara Shuster-Lefkowitz and

43:57

Ashton Harrell. 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

44:19

of Empire is presented by HelloFresh.

44:22

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44:24

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44:26

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