01x04 - Otchigin

[bunniefuu]

You're the one who will be
teaching me this book, yes?

Incredible.

Tolui really found a copy
of Elements, just for me.

What's your name?

Fatima is me.

I help you in studies, Highness.

I look forward to it.

But...

What does Highness want with book?

It holds not much value.

What?

"A point is that which has no part."

"A line is breadthless length."

All it does is state obvious.

Not terribly useful.

Is that so?

I can't say for sure why she wanted
the book to begin with,

but that prince, Tolui,
didn't seem to understand its value.

She might part ways with the book
if she loses interest.

Stating the obvious.

Yes, that's true.

For your people, at least.

What?

But for us, this book marks the beginning.

Of our journey to acquire western
knowledge not found on the steppe.

Huh?

Tolui, my husband, is the Otchigin.

He is the keeper of the hearth,
tasked with watching over its fire.

Even after his older brothers set off
and received their own pastures,

the youngest son remained
in the household

to protect the family fortune
and eventually inherit it.

As the Otchigin,
Tolui will one day become emperor.

But well...

He's not exactly the brightest
at times, is he?

And it's not just Tolui. The same
can be said for many of our people.

They know only of life here on the steppe.

Vast as it may be,
the world is vaster still.

I wish to learn more.

About the many lands
within reach of Mongol hooves.

Your people have predicted the movement
of the stars since antiquity, yes?

How curious it is that you can
figure out the size of the Earth.

This person traveled
to the ends of the Earth?

Of course not. He used geometry.

What makes "obvious things" obvious?

It is by amassing examples one by one
that we prove universal principles.

Gaining knowledge to pass down
to future generations.

That is my role as the one
who will one day be empress.

Oh, why is it that she...

Why does she infuriate me so?

You don't know anything about how
that book came into your possession?

You can't imagine the misery
we must endure

when thanking those who robbed us of
everything for the charity you now offer?

You mean to say you know nothing
of how I'm feeling as I sit here?

What's wrong? Do you feel unwell?

No. I admire your mind.

A pleasure to serve Highness.
I shall do utmost.

I'm fortunate to have your help.
Thank you in advance.

I know you must be tired.
You may leave for now.

I excuse myself.

Your wisdom is something
we need greatly.

I'm ashamed that I wavered back then,
if only for a moment.

I must...

I alone must not forget this anger.

I will never yield...

to that woman!

Welcome back, Fatima.

I can't thank you enough
for venturing out in this sandstorm.

Think nothing of it.

Here in Mongolia, spring arrives
once the sandstorms have passed.

How I miss the Persian spring.

My mother hasn't adjusted well
to life here.

Fatima.

Princess Sorghaghtani asks you
to come to her tent.

She'd like you to start
teaching her Elements.

Certainly.

Fatima! What happened to your face?

There are too many animals in Mongolia.

They're nothing but a nuisance.

Perhaps.

But they can be quite charming
once you get to know them.

Can they now?

Here, just a moment.

It's already our second winter here.

Your health has improved
as of late, Mother.

I've finally gotten used to life
here in Mongolia.

This cold weather's the one thing
I can't get used to.

Tchou, tchou!

Three years after Sitara
became Sorghaghtani's tutor...

The Mongol army defeated
the shah of the Khwarazm,

a major power in Central Asia,

and returned in triumph
to their home camp on the steppe.

To welcome the Mongol army,
Sorghaghtani and her court

traveled southwest of the Altai Mountains
to the basin of the Emil River,

where they held a feast and a hunt
to celebrate their victory.

Father!

Hulegu! Kublai!

I k*lled a deer.

And I k*lled a hare.

You two truly take after your father.

Father!

It was my first time on a hunt.

Well? Aren't I amazing?

Yes, that's amazing,

Prince Hulegu. Prince Kublai.

Please get ready,
for the Great Khan will be here soon.

Fatima! Look at that!

My, what a splendid deer.

And taking down a nimble hare
is no small feat either, Prince Kublai.

All my practice with the bow has paid off.

Who's the girl?

She's the tutor for reading Elements
you found for me.

Oh, the scholar's daughter?

How is she? Does she perform
her duties well?

She is quite diligent in her work.
Not to mention, clever and thoughtful.

I can only tell how young she is
when she smiles so fetchingly.

You've brought me not just Elements,
but also a capable tutor.

Why, of course.

Don't I look dashing?

A force to be reckoned with.

It's tradition after a child's first hunt
to rub the animal's fat on his fingers.

The Great Khan himself
will do the honors.

The Great Khan has arrived.

Brother Kublai, let's go.

Yeah!

The emperor of the Mongols, Genghis Khan.

It was he who built this vast empire.

In three years' time, the fates written
in the stars of those present here...

would be set into grand motion by the fall
of that glorious star, Genghis Khan.

Rest assured, Great Khan.

The future of the Mongols
shall be as you willed it.

Dad.

The fourth prince, Tolui,
as the youngest brother and Otchigin,

in accordance with
the Mongol custom of ultimogeniture,

inherited the majority of his father
Genghis Khan's vast legacy.

In addition to land and fortune,

Tolui's family came to control
almost all of the Mongol military.

It's Prince Tolui!

Prince Tolui!

Prince Tolui!

Following Genghis Khan's death,
the empire needed to choose a new ruler.

However, the tribal council known as
a kurultai, where the imperial clan

and contending princes gather
to elect a new emperor

would not be called to convene
for another two years.

During this interim period,
Tolui led not just the military,

but all manner of state affairs
while acting as regent.

It doesn't look to be
in the best of health.

Still, should be safe to eat.

Let's slaughter it.

That should do it.

Keep on butchering away now.

A massive feast like this
is once in a lifetime.

Here you are.

Clean up these entrails for me.

In the name of Allah,
and Allah is the greatest.

Fatima.

Are you uncomfortable with butchering
by cutting into the abdomen?

Oh, I'm sorry. It's a habit of mine.

I hear Muslims only eat animals
that have had their throats cut.

That's right.

You spill the blood all over
the ground that way, though.

The worst part is draining the blood
makes the meat lose its flavor.

What a waste. The blood
is what gives it flavor.

Anyway, we do things differently here,
so just try and put up with it.

Don't worry. I'm used to it already.

I've lived in Mongolia
for eight years now.

I've even come to enjoy
eating unbled meat.

Really?

People who prefer the taste
of meat that's been bled

are like those who prefer sweets
that aren't too sweet.

Exactly!

Okay, I'll leave you to those entrails.

Thanks, Fatima.

It's my pleasure.

There's a good reason behind butchering
an animal by cutting its throat.

In the name of Allah,
and Allah is the greatest.

It's the most painless method
for the animal.

Meat that's been drained has a nicer color
and doesn't spoil as easily.

Still, it's no wonder I've gotten used
to dark meat that hasn't been bled.

Eight years.

I've now been here in Mongolia
for as many years as I was in Tus.

And I've yet to accomplish
anything in my time here.

That book...

It's been within my grasp all these years,
yet I haven't been able to take it back.

One could hardly say
I've reclaimed the book.

There's something hard in here.

Could this be...

Here, take this one as well.

Sure.

I still can't believe it's him.

Right?

Enough. Today's a day for celebration.

It's the day our new emperor
takes the throne.

I hear the new emperor will call himself
the "Kha'an" instead of "Khan."

Bringing back an ancient title
even Genghis Khan didn't adopt?

The Mongols have risen to greatness.

We're about to enter an age where Mongolia
is the center of the world.

The kurultai has entered
its 41st day now.

They must really be at loggerheads.

What holds meaning here
is the number 41.

The kam's prophecy said the 41st day
would be auspicious.

That is, the prince will be nominated
by the clan and take the throne...

today.

Onward, Great Kha'an.

To the throne.

Take our hands, so we may lead you.

Long live the new emperor!

Long live the new emperor!

Long live Ögedei Kha'an!

Huzzah!

Huzzah!

Huzzah! Huzzah!

Great Kha'an!

Allow me to heartily congratulate you
on taking the throne.

Bravo, Brother Ögedei.

Thanks, Tolui.

Someday, there may be born
among my progeny

those who if rolled up in grass
would not be eaten by a cow,

and if rolled up in fat
would not be eaten by a dog.

Faced with an elk emerging crosswise
and a mouse emerging lengthwise,

they are sure to let both flee.

Now this is cause for celebration.

Dad's will is to be carried out,
and I am free of governing duties.

You did well filling in
for all this time.

Sorghaghtani.

My only regret is I could not
make you empress.

Don't say that.

I mean, when Dad shared his will with us,
the thought crossed my mind.

"Why? Shouldn't it have been me?"

But this is how he replied.

"When a many-headed snake tries
to enter a burrow to outlast the cold,

the heads fight each other,
and it dies without making it inside."

"Conversely, a serpent with one head
will burrow inside and survive."

"Ögedei, use your brains
to become the head for us all."

As the Otchigin, I thought
he favored me the most.

But that's not what Dad was thinking.

The power he had given me
was for more than just me.

It is our bond as brothers
that will truly make the Mongols strong.

That is what my dad,
Genghis Khan, wished for,

and it's my greatest wish as well.

Your brotherly bond...

It doesn't matter to me
which of them becomes emperor,

but breaking tradition
just to have him succeed you?

Is the prince named Ögedei
so much more qualified?

Seems Shira backed the wrong horse.

In any case, the kurultai
can now finally come to an end.

Is this stone really what I think it is?

I read about it in one
of the mistress's books.

It's extremely valuable.

Fatima.

Princess Sorghaghtani?

Wh-What's the matter?

I have something important
to discuss with you.

With me?

After today, I want you
to be gone from my side.

What?

What? You're dismissing me?

Have I done something wrong?

That's not why.

Th-Then, what could it be?

Fatima. I want you...

to act as my spy.

Next time: "A Snake Shows Its Colors,
Man Hides His Colors."