01x05 - Hebi no madara wa sotogawa ni: Hito no madara wa uchigawa ni

[bunniefuu]

Fatima. I want you...

to act as my spy.

Your spy?

As you are aware, Brother Ögedei
has taken the throne as emperor.

Both Tolui and I can accept
that outcome if all goes well.

However...

Brotherly bonds are a fragile thing.

Despite being passed over for emperor,

Tolui, as the Otchigin, now wields
the most military power in the empire.

Left alone, this imbalance
is sure to bring misfortune.

I think I'm beginning to understand.

So what would you have me do?

I want you to insinuate yourself
into Brother Chagatai's court,

and tell me in great detail
about his movements.

Prince Chagatai?

Yes. Let us assume the worst.

If anyone were to come
between the Great Kha'an and Tolui,

it would be none other
than Brother Chagatai,

for he has always been closest
to Brother Ögedei.

You would not raise suspicion,
since he does not know your face.

You will become a spy
for our sake, won't you?

Tomorrow morning, head to the tent
marked with a flag.

You will then be told
how you will go undercover.

A flag. A tent with a flag.

That must be it.

All I was told was to come here.

Fatima.

Hey.

Shira? Is that you?

I hardly recognize you as a grown man.

What are you doing here?

Aren't you in Prince Tolui's employ?

His consort, Princess Sorghaghtani,
came asking for me.

So now I'm here to help you out.

Oh?

Not to mention, it sounds like
the winds of change are blowing.

Let's both do our best
to climb our way to success.

I see you haven't changed.

So what exactly is this tent?

Oh, that's the tent
of the lost property officer.

It's where cattle and sl*ves of unknown
ownership are kept for safekeeping.

After the autumn move and the kurultai,
I imagine things are quite hectic.

We'll exploit that to have you replace
one of Prince Chagatai's sl*ves.

The two of us will swap places, huh?

Will we really find a sl*ve
who resembles me so easily?

Well, I'm sure it will go as planned,
if the stars so will it.

Let's head inside.

Huh?

I'm worried this won't end well.

Excuse me, good sir.

I came across a lost sl*ve.

Can I leave her here with you?

Anything that might help identify her?

What? I couldn't say.

She seems no different
from other sl*ves.

As you can see, she's quite unremarkable,
save for her friendly smile.

Hey!

Why, you...

Don't get mad at me. The switch
will be easier if you don't stand out.

You didn't have to say it like that.

There, there.

You dropped something.

What's that?

This is a bezoar stone.

I found it in some sheep entrails.

Oh, that stone that's used
as an antidote? I've heard of it.

Hold on. Isn't that a jada stone?

Huh?

I've never heard of a bezoar,

but we refer to the stones
formed inside animals as jada stones,

and they're used to summon rain.

When a kam soaks it in water...

it's said to instantly call forth a storm.

How did one find its way
to a sl*ve like you?

What?

Was it a bad idea
to bring this along with me?

Um... Oh, right.

I planned to give this to my master,
but I lost sight of him.

By the way, officer, I'm actually looking
for a lost sl*ve myself.

Do you have any girls who resemble her
and are subjects of Prince Chagatai?

A sl*ve from the west
belonging to Prince Chagatai?

Not a chance you'll find one that easily.

Just yesterday,
I took in three such sl*ves.

What?

I have plenty of lost sl*ves now
after the kurultai.

Squint a little and you might say
this girl resembles her, I suppose—

Looks just like her!

Ah, there you are!
I've been looking all over!

We look nothing alike.

You can say that again.

So long. Hope you manage
to find your master soon.

Nothing alike.

Thanks a lot!

Okay, we'll have you wait
with the other girls.

I'm sure someone will come for you soon.

There really are so many lost people.

Wait, could they be...

Um, do you speak Persian?

We do.

Oh, wow. So you two are
from Mashhad and Merv?

I hail from Tus.

Oh, really?

I always wanted to visit.

Is that true?

I heard it was a nice, bustling city.

You're absolutely right.

Then, we perhaps might have
come across each other one day.

Yes!

I remember those days fondly.

I used to love shopping at the bazaar.

I serve Prince Chagatai's family now.

But I lost my way before I knew it.

I'm worried about my family.

Your family?

Yes. My husband is a fellow sl*ve.

He's a skilled craftsman
who was born in Bukhara.

I felt scared and hopeless
when they first brought us to Mongolia,

but I now have my husband
and our children.

I could never have imagined
how well my life would turn out.

They say home is where you make it.

Prince Chagatai's ulus
is a peaceful one at that.

So there are those
who have found new lives here.

I mustn't.

At times, I feel myself
about to forgive them.

Despite my vow to never forget...

what the Mongols did to all of us...

Hey, the girl who just arrived.

Do you mean me?

Yes. Follow me.

Did Shira get someone
to come after me already?

That was faster than I expected.

Here you are. This is the girl.

I hear you've got a jada stone?

Y-Yes.

Let's see it.

What do you want with it?

Come.

Huh? Wh-What?

Hurry up and get on.

What's happening? It's like he's...

You're heavier than you look.

What?

Don't run away, you rotten thief.

What?

Chuu!

What?!

Did you just call me a thief?

There must be some mistake!

Who are you?!

You're not one of Prince Chagatai's men
here to take me back!

If I say "camel," you say "goat."

Huh? Come again?

I'm trying to say
you're completely mistaken.

Give it up and confess your crimes.

"Confess"?! I haven't done—

Chuu!

Chuu, chuu!

You're hurting me!

Where am I?

Shut up. Just follow me.

It's Qadaq. Pardon the intrusion.

I've brought the girl who stole the stone.

I didn't steal anything!

Get in here.

What?

Good work bringing her here, Qadaq.

I remember her.

It was you...

It was you who stole my jada stone?

Wh-What are you talking about?

Don't take me for a fool!

It was Ögedei who ordered you
to do it, wasn't it?

He means to deprive me of even this?

F-Forgive my ignorance,
but may I ask who you are?

I fear there's been a grave error—

You don't know to whom you kneel?

This is Töregene Khatun,
the sixth wife of Ögedei Kha'an.

The Great Kha'an's sixth wife?

I finally understand.

I've been brought to Ögedei's ulus
and mistaken for a thief.

What a predicament I find myself in!

You stole my jada stone, didn't you?

Return it at once!

A jada stone.

In my homeland,
it's treasured as an antidote,

but here, if I recall...

When a kam soaks it in water...

it's said to instantly call forth a storm.

I'm sure she must've had her
own jada stone, which she lost.

That's why she thinks I stole it.

So if I show her my stone,
she should realize it's not hers.

But can she tell the difference
between these stones?

What if they look the same?

So it was you after all!
Put her to death!

S-Still...

What's wrong? Give it back to her now.

I-I have no choice but to show it to her.

That's not it.

My stone is smaller
and has a more pleasing shape.

What?

Right. This stone is one I found myself.

Qadaq, what's the meaning of this?

Um...

My apologies. It seems
we had the wrong person.

That's enough. You've displeased me.

Leave me at once.

Didn't you hear her? Get out.

Um, so what about me?

We have no more need for you. Begone.

No need for me?
I'll have you know I'm a lost sl*ve!

I don't know how to get back,
and it's getting dark.

- No! I'm scared!

- H-Hey!

I was forcibly abducted
by Lady Töregene's retainer, Qadaq—

Q-Quiet down.

Fine. I'll take you back
to that tent tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

You can stay the night here, so follow me.

Also, I'm not Lady Töregene's retainer.

It's a long story, but I'm acting
on someone else's orders.

I can't divulge whose, though.

It's at their behest that I serve
by Lady Töregene's side.

She's gone!

Those are...

Ögedei, Great Kha'an or not,
you're still no match for me on a horse.

I applaud your skills.

It's not often I see you
more drunk than me, Chagatai.

How could I not drink at a time like this?

My beloved little brother
has officially been crowned emperor.

Could there ever be
a more festive occasion?

Haven't you drunk enough?

Prince Chagatai and Ögedei Kha'an?

What are they saying?
I can't hear them very well.

Who goes there?

Seize the scoundrel!

Get her!

Don't let her escape!

Suspicious girl,
what were you doing back there?

Isn't she one of our sl*ves?

I don't recall ever seeing her before.

Perhaps she's a spy.

Why must everything go wrong today?

Is something the matter? Kirgistani? Möge?

Great Kha'an, you mustn't come near.

We've restrained someone dangerous.

Someone dangerous?

Let's see what she has to say first.

Who are you?

So this is Ögedei Kha'an...

the new Mongol emperor.

She disappeared?

Yes. Somewhere here.

Lady Töregene, there's something odd
about that sl*ve.

And I have news to report.

Ögedei.

So who is your master?

My master?

Right now, it's supposed
to be Prince Chagatai.

But if I say that, it'll only
complicate things further.

What answer should I give?

Go on. Out with it. The truth.

E-Empress Töregene is my mistress.

What could she mean by that?

Töregene?

Oh, that sounds plausible.

Ögedei, you give that woman
far too much freedom.

You there. Girl.

I don't know what Töregene asked of you,
but you'd do well to stop your prowling.

Don't violate the law.

You're a woman and a sl*ve.
All the more reason to obey the law.

Muslims in particular have
a vexing tendency to disobey our laws.

Cutting the throats of sheep.
Bathing in rivers.

Why must you weaklings insist
on bringing ruin upon yourselves?

I'm certain...

I'm certain you could never
understand, Highness.

Oh, it's Töregene.

This girl claims to be your sl*ve.

Is this true?

I'm done for.

How clumsy to let yourself be caught.

Yes, it's true.

I ordered her to k*ll you...

Great Kha'an.

That's the end of that, then.

Huh?

Your ploy has come to light.

You are all free to disperse.

Great Kha'an!

You look beautiful
as ever tonight, Kirgistani.

And Möge, I bid you a good night.

Yes.

You too, Töregene.

Ögedei, why must you—

That goes for you as well, Chagatai.

Everyone will worry
if you don't head back soon.

You're kindhearted, Chagatai.

Huh?

I recall you saying before.

As the Mongol Empire expands,

it becomes a massive throng of people
following different customs and faiths.

The first to suffer as they dispute
are women, sl*ves, and the weak.

However, they can be protected
by spreading the laws of Genghis Khan.

Even the weak.

Guilty!

So you said, yes?

I'm leaving.

You really are kind of heart.

But not everyone can grasp
their own standing as clearly as you do.

There are some things
that simply cannot be changed.

That is all. You may leave.

As you wish.

Wh-Why did you decide to save me?

I took a liking to your smile.

Say, girl.

You appear to be Persian, yes?

Uh, I am.

Do you loathe the Mongols?

Answer me honestly. I won't tell anyone.

Or rather, you were there earlier.

You saw how they treat me.

No matter what I say,
no one will take me at my word.

Do you loathe them?

They took everything from me.

I cannot forgive them.
I mustn't let myself do so!

Even so, with the passage of time,
you feel yourself about to forgive them.

Am I wrong?

Lady Töregene, could it be...

Will you listen to my tale?

Next time: "The Mergen People."