01x03 - Keshienu honô

[bunniefuu]

Hey! Listen!

Don't you want to get that book back?

Huh?

The 13th century saw the rise
of a vast empire across Eurasia.

Genghis Khan, the "universal ruler."

Hailed as the Great Khan, he and his kin
built the Mongol Empire.

Although the Mongols
were originally but a tiny tribe,

by A.D. 1206, they had conquered the other
steppe tribes and become a major power.

Not long after, they forayed into
the various nations bordering the steppe.

Greetings, brothers.

Tolui.

Haven't you drunk enough?

Welcome back.

How did the campaign in Khwarazm go?

Favorably, except...

We lost a lot of soldiers.

The shame is mine.

Your indecision is to blame, Jochi.

All you had to do
was follow Father's orders.

That's enough, you two.

What about you, Tolui?
You were in Persia, I believe?

Indeed.

I did the name of
Genghis Khan proud in battle.

As befits the Otchigin,
our future emperor.

Not to mention, I acquired something good.

A book in a foreign tongue?

I hear it's called Elements.

My wife asked me for this book
as a token of my exploits.

What a modest woman she is!

She could have asked
for gold or jewels instead.

I would do anything to make her happy.

So what's written in this book?

No idea.

Oh, so you have a scholar
who can explain its contents?

Nope.

Can your wife read foreign tongues?

I don't think so.

Oh dear.

As such, I was hoping
to introduce you to Prince Tolui.

You're a scholar's daughter, no?

I'd have preferred
to volunteer myself instead,

but sadly, I can only read
and write simple things.

I do pick up
new languages quickly, though.

Why did she want the book?

Huh? No clue.

She can't even read what's in it.

And she asked for it
instead of gold or silver.

An odd request, to be sure.

Still, this is your chance
to serve the imperial family.

And to have that book in your hands again.

Not a bad deal, wouldn't you say?

The Mongol emperor? Serve his family?

No, before that... Before all of that...

My wife asked me for this book.

My mistress died for that?!

Um, what happened to your family
was, uh, unfortunate.

So let me apologize.

But I didn't have a choice.

I'm doing all I can
to get in their good favor.

I don't want to be sent
to the front lines.

Boys my age end up at the very front
of their expedition armies.

To act as human shields.

You're not old enough to grow a beard.
They took you c*ptive?

That's right.

No, enough talking about the past.

This is my chance to move up in the world.

With this new social order,

a path to success based on merit
has opened up to us.

I'll do whatever it takes
to survive and make it big.

Now's your chance to make
the most of your education.

And that fetching face of yours.

If the stars align, you could become
an attendant to a high-ranking figure.

As you can see,
her smile is quite fetching.

That's why you should do something.

But what, exactly?

How could I possibly know
what course of action to take here?

What should I do?

But if you study and become wise,

you will know the best course of action
to take, whatever trouble you're in.

I am well-versed in ancient wisdom
and modern teachings alike.

It goes without saying...

that I can read that book,
Euclid's Elements.

You're right.

I want to lead a cushy life,
eating good food every day.

This might just be my big chance!

I'm sure we can make it happen
if we work together!

Y-Yeah.

M-My name is Shira. I hail from Samarkand.

I'm Sitara.

Sitara?

Uh, hold on.

An ostentatious name like that...

Yes, I'm a sl*ve. What of it?

It may be a new social order,

but being wellborn
still gets you a long way.

Especially when dealing
with the imperial family.

Well, I guess you can just lie.

Let's go with a more dignified name.

In that case...

Tumen commander.

This is the young lady I spoke of.

Oh, I'm her interpreter, Shira.

Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Listen up.

Anyone granted an audience with
the Mongols must pass between two fires.

They believe fire has
the power to purify evil.

A heathen ritual, huh?

Also, definitely don't step
on the entrance's threshold.

If you do, you'll be put to death.

Greetings, scholar's daughter!

Glad to see you're still alive.

"Greetings, scholar's daughter! Glad to see
you're still alive," says His Highness.

"'Greetings, scholar's daughter!
Glad to see you're still alive,'

says His Highness," he says.

Yes, you seem much more obedient now.

Commendable.

Have you been told the details?

I want you to wait on my wife
and explain that book to her.

She'll surely be delighted.

Oh, right. What's your name?

My name...

is Fatima.

These fires will never be enough
to erase them.

Not those tender days that no longer exist
outside of my memories.

Nor my ties to the mistress
and the others.

If there's one thing I can still do,
it's taking that book back.

I shall remain my mistress's sl*ve
until that day.

I've avoided a fate on the front lines,
thanks to the commander's good word.

Is she Tolui's wife?

No, Princess Sorghaghtani should be
at the Mongols' home camp, way out east.

Who could she be?
One of the generals' wives?

What?

The Mongols always bring a number of women
with them, even on military expeditions.

Women on an expedition?

I can't even begin to imagine it.

First, I need to learn about them.

Shira, teach me some
simple Mongolian words.

I want to get ahead apace.

Then, in return, I ask that
you help me in times of need.

Why, of course.

We're on the same side, aren't we?

Everyone here is my enemy.

I'll fight to the bitter end,
as alone as I may be.

I searched all over for you, Töregene.

Prince Ögedei.

Dear me. Not a single word of appreciation
for your husband returned from battle?

I am not your wife.

I'm your enemy.

The year is 1221.

After a brief period of rest in Taloqan,
the Mongol army...

sets out once more in the autumn.

One of Central Asia's great powers:
the Khwarazmian Empire.

The Mongols head south
to vanquish its last ruler.

This conflict would go down in history
as the Battle of the Indus.

Meanwhile, unlit by
the spotlight of history,

those taken c*ptive in Persia continued
their long march to the Mongol home camp.

Half a year has passed.

How much longer will it take?

Halt!

Begin constructing the tents at once!

An honored guest of the Great Khan
is heading this way from the east.

We are to set up camp and provide him
with lodging for the night.

Help. I can.

No, this is a job for a man.

Understand.

There's still much about the Mongols'
way of life that puzzles me.

But slowly, I'm growing to understand it.

They're all hopeless without me.

For example, the entrances of their tents
always face southwards.

You there! It's time to give water
to the livestock!

What's more, they follow
a rigorous daily schedule.

I wonder how they keep track of the time.

I see. It's a sundial.

Where the light falls inside the house
tells them the time.

That's pretty clever,
having the whole house act as a clock.

An astrolabe would tell the time
more precisely, though.

This is nothing but the wisdom of savages.

Have you heard?

Tonight's guest is an eastern sage who
knows the secret to immortality, they say.

Immortality?

Excuse me.

We are Uyghurs from the city nearby.

We come with an offering
for the master sage.

Could you show us to him?

What?

No, I'm too scared.

But...

I admit the idea of an immortal
is rather creepy. Even so...

This way.

Is that you, chieftain?

Oh, Chinqai!

You were accompanying the sage?

Oh, pardon me.
I meant to call you Lord Chinqai.

No need for that. You helped me out
greatly when I was a mere peddler.

For the master sage.

Wine, bread, and watermelon
from our city of Janbaliq.

W-Watermelon!

These look wonderful. Please head inside.

Here. You bring this.

Huh?

U-Um, I'm not...

What's the matter? Follow them.

But...

An immortal?

Someone like that can't really exist.

I'll go see the truth for myself.

Allow me to introduce him.

Invited by the Great Khan,
and currently making his way westward:

the sage, Master Changchun.

Has he been alive for 200 years?

I'm terrified!

The offering, if you will.

Master Changchun asks the following.

"Did anyone here see the solar eclipse
on the first day of the fifth month?"

The solar eclipse?

Oh, yes, there was one, indeed.

During the hour of the snake.

About 7/10ths of the sun
must have been obscured.

I-I, too.

I also saw.

That day, passing near Samarkand.

Sky grew slightly dark.
Sun, about 6/10ths, blocked.

Crescent shadows through the trees.

A solar eclipse.

Master Muhammad might've kept
a record of this.

But I don't even know
the exact time right now.

That time. Light from the sun.

Shone on edge of roof poles. In tent.

The edge of the roof poles
signals the hour of the dragon.

In other words, the eclipse
started later around here?

Master Changchun saw the eclipse
at the Kherlen River to the east.

The time was midday.

So even later.

He was able to see the stars in the sky.

There are different degrees
of eclipsing as well?

"During a solar eclipse,
the moon casts its shadow over the sun."

"One could liken it to obstructing
this flame with a fan."

"From where I sit,
the flame is not visible,

but the rest of you
see a different picture."

The world is a wide place, indeed.

I'm sorry I didn't realize
you weren't with them.

I'm Chinqai, an Uyghur.

I learned a bit of Persian
in my peddling days.

M-My name is Fatima.

I'm traveling east so I may serve
the consort of Prince Tolui.

Oh, Tolui's wife, Princess Sorghaghtani?

So you're her lady-in-waiting, huh?

The cleverness you displayed
makes sense now.

You're too kind.

And well, um...

May I be so bold as to ask, um,
how old the master sage is?

You wish to know more about immortality?

Unfortunately, I can't reveal his secret
to you before the Great Khan.

No, I have no interest
in becoming immortal.

There was a story in a book I once read.

It was about a man who traveled
to India in search of longevity.

But the men he found there

cared for their fathers and grandfathers
who were too elderly to even stand.

Furthermore...

My great-grandfather.

I must cover him with this sheet,
lest the rats nibble away at him.

Even so, he's alive
and blessed with longevity.

Upon hearing this, the man
no longer sought an extended life.

Instead of attaining immortality
by defying Allah,

it's better to welcome a healthy
and natural death.

That was the moral of the tale.

Actually, Master Changchun
divulged it to me.

The secret to immortality.

You're a bright girl, so I'll make
an exception and share it with you.

The secret to immortality is...

...nonexistent.

We must all welcome a healthy
and natural death.

I see sages can be found
to the east and west alike.

Our empire may be mighty,
but it's also still young.

There are many things
we have yet to learn.

Fatima, your wisdom is something
we need greatly.

A path to success based on merit
has opened up to us.

What exactly can I do?

I... intend to go on a journey.

Back then...

Why did I feel such frustration?

Keep walking! We're almost there!

We have returned.

According to the map of the world
by al-Biruni I once saw...

I now find myself at its very edge.

So cold!

I-I can't believe how cold it is!

I'm freezing!

Put these on.

Welcome to Princess Sorghaghtani's orda.

Her Highness has prepared coats
and warm tents for you.

Is there a girl named Fatima here?

Princess Sorghaghtani, I've brought her.

Thank you for making
the long journey here in this cold.

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

Next time: "Otchigin."