"Will I stay in your house with Ling?" "She doesn't live in my house." "She has her own with many servants." "As a princess should." "Do you still dance with her?" "Always." " I need to use a tree." " To stand or sit?" " Stand." " Stop." " Why?" " He needs to use a tree." " Take him." " It's your turn." "Not by my count." "Hey, hey." "Eyes on the tree." "Are we nearly there?" "What did I say yesterday?" "You'll know when you're there." "Same applies today." "What does that hold?" "My mantis." "Where is it?" "He died." "I'm sorry." "Move!" "Now!" " Do you see her?" " No." "We've been riding all day." "Have to stop soon." "Rest." "She's out there." "And she's coming." "How does she keep up?" "Stay." "Ask her." "Another flank shot." "My son will return with your target." "Orus is a fine boy." "Worthy of the Khanate in his own right." "Maybe even more ready than you, Kaidu." "I like it when you talk tough." "Makes it seem as if you have the muscle to back it up." "But you and I and everyone around us knows better." "We know how your army cowered in the canyons for weeks, surrounded by the Chagataids and how you cried for help in every direction." "And did Kublai's House of Tolui answer the call?" "No, it was the House of Ögödei." "My house." "The House of Ögödei has lorded the favors it's bestowed on every house represented here..." "for generations." "The best part of granting favors, gentlemen... is the day they return to you." " We were supposed to make it quick." " It was." "Too quick." "Oh, yeah?" "Besides, no one's going to know we were gone." "More important matters at hand." "When all this ends, we can hunt and fuck and live however we want." "You don't believe that." "Someone's going to lose." "Your father or mine." "Neither will do so quietly." "If my father loses fairly, he'll support Kublai." "He believes in the Khanate too much to disgrace it." "Not mine." "Kaidu is licking their boots as we speak." "That's how elections work, Kublai." "You should take note of his strategy." "Employ it yourself." "They're my chieftains!" "Mine!" "You may want to pretend you're enjoying my company." "I'm not upset at you." "They do not know that." " Oh, they don't care." " You should." "Perhaps you practice your politics here." "Spread goodwill among your own people." " My army's bigger than his." " Oh, excellent news." "You were fine with war when it was with Ariq." "Don't play dense, it's unbecoming." "How are you so comfortable mocking me?" "Ariq plotted with our enemies, endangered the life of your heir." "He deserved to die." "Kaidu challenged your rule under the laws of our land." "You cannot cut off his head." "If you do, the legitimacy of your Khanate will forever be in question." "Your people will wonder why the great Kublai Khan was so afraid to let their voices be heard." " I'm not afraid." " I know that." "Once again, they do not." "Nice day, uh..." "Good effort." "To challenge a sitting Khan?" "Unheard of." "Let alone one as unpredictable as Kublai." "We need assurances." "Should we side with you and you lose..." "What's to stop him from slaughtering us for supporting you?" "Other than killing him ourselves, what possible assurances can I give?" "No one is suggesting that." "I'd be lying if I said" "I was comfortable discussing matters in front of the Khan's bastard son." "We don't know where his loyalties lie." "Away from prying eyes." "Resolve." "How refreshing." "There are no secrets here." "The Khan knows he's been challenged." "Byamba delivered the message himself, like a good son would." "And returned with the Khan's acceptance of this challenge." "We heard about the heads." "Very Kublai of him." "You're concerned about Nayan's absence from our side this week." " He is the Khan's uncle." " Loyal uncle." "It's not about one man's vote." "It's about each of you taking a stand for what you believe in." "About unifying Mongolia as Genghis did." "And unlike the last Kurultai, I will win or lose this honestly." "Nayan's army and coalition of support is too great." "We must know who he plans to back." "Arban... your father was a drunkard who beat your mother and took her forcibly." "He lacked friends, brains, esteem." "Is this how you garner votes?" "What was the only regret that escaped his lips at the end of his pathetic life?" "That the people of Mongolia allowed the fat fuck of a thief Kublai to steal the election with impunity." "Something you'd like to say to me, bastard?" "My father was rightfully elected." "Your mouth was barely dry of your whore mother's tit during the last Kurultai." "Good shot, Arban." "We'll be home behind a wall soon." "Then he will be in someone else's safekeeping." "You said you didn't choose this place." " I didn't." " But you have that golden tablet." "I'd be hunted down and killed." "Every night, I have slept shackled and guarded." "You've retired to your quarters unguarded." "For months." "You could've had an eight-hour head start in any direction you chose." "And yet here you are, returning home with a child you just might be delivering to death." "Stop making excuses." "The Great Khan wouldn't lower himself to kill a boy." " Children die at the Khan's hands daily." " That's different." " Paupers and princes alike." " That is war." "And what do you call this?" "The boy is of more value alive." "Depends on who you're selling to." "Privileged guest might not be worth as much as cutting his head off and mounting it onto your fat Khan's wall." "Can't sleep?" "You know what I do when I can't sleep?" "I count the stars in the sky." "I usually get to 73 and don't remember anything but dreams until sunrise." "You want to try?" "Yes." "Right." "That's where I always begin." "Shen." "Is that what you call them?" "Shen?" "We start with Shen." "One, two..." "Three, four, five, six, seven..." "Eight, nine..." "The silver tree of Karakorum!" "Could go for a bowl of wine from its branches right about now." "So long as I rule Karakorum, the fountain will never flow again." "Father." "Prince Nayan." "I've never been so pleased to see a Christian in all my life." "Send word of the outcome, Kaidu." "Go to him." "Extend an invitation." "I don't know whether I gained or lost a vote there." "There are many months between now and the Kurultai." "I'm trying to overthrow your father." "Legitimately." "But still... there are things that you will hear you do not like." "Things you don't want to believe." "If you ever need to talk, you'll come to me, yes?" "Arban deserved it, by the way." "I'll be home as quickly as I can." "Of course the chieftains think I should be Khan." "When his days are done, who else would carry father's banner but me?" "You have the misplaced confidence of a Khan." "I'm strong, handsome, my wives cry out from my bed." "For you to stop." "Be good." "We don't need any more outbursts." " When have I ever had an outburst?" " The tree trunk!" "That was one time." "And you smashing Suren's jaw into it comes to mind." "That was one time." "Welcome." "It's an honor to welcome you to Karakorum." "My father expected you a week ago." "There's much to see between Cambulac and here." "How was the wedding?" "I was pleased to simply pay my respect to my Khan." "And Lord Kaidu of Karakorum wishes to pay his respects to you." "He invites you to feast this evening." "I decline." "He'll want us to convince you otherwise." "I'm surprised it's taken you this long to threaten me, Orus." "That's not a threat." "It's an appeal." "Should one cheek be slapped, turn and offer the other." " A good lesson in life." " Had I slapped, you would have felt it." "We need to find a way to bring you together with my father." "I'll be leaving for my pilgrimage in three days' time." "If Kaidu wishes to petition for my support, he can come to my camp... on bended knee." "We'll send Father your regards." "Hmm." " How many?" " Two riders." "And what appears to be a boy." "Rise." "Not you." "Your nose remains to the stone." "The empire is in your debt." "We will return the favor." "I do not serve for reward." "No, but rewards certainly help, hmm?" "My thanks, Sire." "But were it not for Mei Lin's assistance, I would never have found the boy." "Her contacts remained true." "She bled for the empire and she saved my life." "Bring me your horse and sword and I'll commend the whore as I do them." "All I ask is that you allow her to rise and pay tribute to her Khan." "All right." "Rise." "Pay tribute to me." "Great Khan, my Holy Emperor... you've honored me with this task." "I honor you with..." "You speak of honor, yet you have none to speak of." "In freedom, you must feel the blowing, whichever direction the wind takes you." "Do you disagree?" "Show me that you disagree." "Stand tall and resolute for the praise that you deserve in this moment as I order you down." "If you believe you deserve it, defy my order." "Down!" "Now, tell me, Marco." "Tell me of South China." "The South is still attempting to come to terms with the tyranny of their past." "Hmm." "They've been in the dark so long, the light can hurt their eyes." "Don't get too comfortable now, young man." "You weren't going to say hello?" " Apologies, Jingim." " Shut up and come here, brother." "I would like to introduce you to my new bride." "Princess Kokachin... this is Master Marco Polo." "Master Polo, welcome home." "My thanks, Princess." "All I hear are the praises of your good name." "Well earned, it seems." "Very kind." "We missed you at the wedding." "And I regret missing it." "Are you unwell?" "I believe I am." " May I retire to my quarters?" " May I escort you?" "No, please... stay." "Master Polo." "Princess." "She's quite intriguing." "Wise, funny." "She'll make a splendid queen." "Why did Marco praise you as he did in the throne room?" "Some people think jealousy is a sign of weakness." "I find it flattering." "It wasn't meant to be." "I don't like being kept in the dark." "I especially don't like you casting me there." "He defended me because I deserved it and he's ruled by decency." "Surprised he's survived this long." "What if the Khan wins the Kurultai?" "Back to the original plan?" "Killing him once seemed fulfilling." "A blade." "Poisoned dart." "Did you know Mongol burial dictates that the deceased be left in the open air, torn apart and churned in the stomachs of wild animals and then turned into shit on the steppe?" "There's something attractive about that." "But it's too simple, just killing him." "Better to take everything from him first." "His Empress." "His children." "His army." "And finally, that hideous golden chair he adores above all else." "I want to see Ling." "Were you not in the throne room earlier?" ""Find the Boy Emperor and I could see my daughter."" "Those were your words." "And I will live up to them, once I'm through with the Boy Emperor." "So you're still going to do it?" "You knew this was always the plan." "I know." "Don't let decency get in the way of seeing your daughter." "Let me take care of you." "Just relax." "Busy Kaidu." "Important Kaidu." "It has been hard to get out here to you, Mother." "You put me out here." "The tree had medicine, you said." "It had spirit." "I didn't say I wanted to live in it." "Nayan has refused to come to you?" "Yes." "It's been three days." "He's going to leave." "I will not beg and I will not make promises." "This is a question of honor." "Said just like your father." "How like you to seek out the worst of that drunken, useless shitsack to aspire to." "He claimed honor, too." "Did that stop our enemies of Tolui from stealing the Khanate?" "Does it bother you that you're always repeating yourself?" "You need Nayan." "I know." "Act like it then." "Go and say and do whatever it takes to gain his acceptance." "The road back to power is cobbled with indignities." "Be they spilt blood of family, scraping of knees, or scrapping of our morals." "When our days are done, morals are all that stand between reverence and infamy." "Obscurity is a much worse fate after death." "One I will not allow to befall you as it did your father." "Befall me?" "Or befall you?" "We are one and the same, son." "How long were you toying with them?" " What hour is it?" " Before sundown." "Hmm..." "then, give or take, their entire lives." "I brought you a present." "The conquering hero." "Convenient that you just missed the wedding." "We almost didn't return." "We were attacked by the Emperor's protector." "Home tastes splendid." "She was an extraordinary fighter and was beating us easily." "When she recognized my defense, she hesitated." "My training took her by surprise." "Show me." "Six Harmony Fist." "What do you think?" "I think she was surprised by how sadly you defile the technique." "What's wrong?" "There are servants for that." "Come here." " My hands are wet." " I don't care." "I failed you... again." "I believe it takes two to birth a child." "Well, it takes two to make a child, one of us births it." "I just get the fun part." "What is your mother going to say?" "Does that really concern you?" "You didn't marry me because you loved me." "It wasn't as if you were given a line of women to choose from." "I was forced upon you." "And how lucky I am for that." "We need to pretend that we like each other." "I do like you." "Pretend that we chose each other." "Then we'll try again." "Do you think about my mother when we..." " Maybe once or twice." " I don't know why I asked." "I really didn't want to know." "You raise the dead to life in spirit." " Lord, have mercy." " Lord, have mercy." "You bring pardon and peace to the sinner." " Christ, have mercy." " Christ, have mercy." "You bring light to those in darkness." " Lord, have mercy." " Lord, have mercy." "May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life." "Amen." "My disciples, we have guests." "Brother Kaidu, please..." "join us in prayer." "I was just coming to pay you a visit prior to your lunch with the Khan." "An honor." "Are you feeling better?" "We're members of the same court now." "We will have to learn to exist in that court together." "I hope you understand and respect that." "You were right." "All we can change is in this place." "I have done that." "And it's all due to you." "So thank you, Master Polo." "When I returned from Xiangyang, I looked for you." "I came for you." "And thankfully, I was already gone." "Enjoy your lunch with the Khan." " I don't wish to be a pessimist..." " But..." "Somewhere within these walls, a young boy's being dressed for the day ahead." "A young boy." "Not an emperor, a boy." "Nothing more." " And he's ours." " Yes, but what to do with what's ours?" "Your father will honor him as treasured prisoner." "Of course." "The more the Mongols are reminded of the conquest of the South, the more likely they are to side with Kaidu." "Not all Mongols, brother." "And we cannot cow to the lowest common thinkers." "We cannot stoke their resentment, not now." "There's too much at stake." "So, what?" "Hide him from view?" "Everything father's fought for in life has led to this point." "It is our responsibility to guide him from the past and into the future." "Understatement in victory is not exactly father's strong suit." "They drowned themselves." "Hundreds." "That was one bend of one river." "There are hundreds more who'd rather meet their God than fall to you." "The South is not secure." "You're ruining my lunch." "We liberated them." "We've been greeted more as occupiers than liberators." "Mongol soldiers are still stationed on every road, claiming favors in every brothel." "I won't punish my men for securing the peace or for reveling with whores." "Let the fish feast." "What happens if they stop killing themselves and find the will to start killing us?" "Then we bring the full force of my army upon them." "Well, if I can topple the wall, I can certainly topple their spirits." "What are we going to do about their last emperor?" "His people will want him freed whether he remains in a prison of stone or of gold." "And the Mongols don't care about the boy." "Or the future of their enemies." "Only their own." "Get on with it." "Well, perhaps it would be wise to not make a show of his capture." "Just let him fade from existence." "Precisely." "Sidao would not have imprisoned you, Great Khan." "He would have paraded your head through their streets." "What are you suggesting?" "Parade their emperor's head through our streets." "You're telling me to kill a boy?" "He's not a boy, he's a symbol." "Of a time, of a people, of a way of thinking." "He's hope to a vanquished foe." "And while he lives, hope lives." "Correct, Jingim?" "No." "Absolutely not correct, Ahmad." " Let him fade from existence." " You cannot kill him." "I cannot?" "Kaidu has challenged your authority." "You have the chance to send a powerful message throughout the kingdom." "No mercy." "No prisoners." "He's a child." "You just reported that the South is not secure." " I did." "But there is..." " No, there is no but." "Even a dog unknowingly craves discipline." "And by the time he attains it, he has forgotten how hard he was beaten." "I was taken prisoner, too, but you let me live and I've served you well." "The boy could prove an asset." "Still don't drink?" "As Genghis said," ""Find me a man that doesn't drink, and that man will lead my armies."" "Are you following Genghis or running from your father?" "Would it help you if I told you this wasn't wine but the blood of Christ?" "All the more reason for me to respectfully abstain." "It is difficult for the faithless to understand the faithful." "I have faith, Nayan." "In the sun, in the sky, in the animals I roast." "My children." "And who do you think created all those things you speak of?" "Not a man who claims his father rules from a palace in the sky and whose brother is a holy ghost." "You've read the scriptures." "What else do you know?" "My father told me... you can't get anything unless you ask for it." "Wise." "I need you." "You need my vote." " I do." " So, why do I need you?" "You will be a friend to the future Khan." "Kublai is my nephew." "Our relations are strong." "How many trips will he allow you to the pope before using you to slaughter them?" "Under my Khanate, the West remains unscathed." "You stay out of my business, I stay out of yours." "I don't concern myself with the future." "Only with what's before me." "And that's a man who loathes everything that I am but is now asking for my help." "The chieftains wish to know who you will support." "Hmm." "Should we discuss concessions then?" "I told you I don't drink." "I need to know what you're willing to concede." "I apologize for wasting your time." "Safe travels, Prince Nayan." "There is a monastery, I will not tell you where." "I could find out if I wanted to..." "But you won't, because there will never be reason to." "I'll take him, hide him away." "Gone is gone." "Memories are short." "They will forget." "And eventually, so will he." "He will never forget." "Cruel living has already stained his mind." "He'll grow older, stronger." "He'll remember." "Then he will come for me." "Who will protect me then?" "I will." "Always." "If you'll let me." "You are better than this, Kublai." "Am I?" "Better than this?" "You are the Khan." "And every reign will pass." "Out." " Have you seen the Khan?" " I have." "Our lord is in the throne room." "Good night, Master Marco." "All the power in the world and Yusuf chose to spend his time in this place." "For leisure." "He deserved to be trampled." " Suits me." " Well, you don't know any better." "And clearly you don't want to." "When I call for you and you don't scamper to my side," " I begin to question your loyalty." " I was busy." " Doing what, clearing the sewers?" " Gutters." " Moving up in the world." " And you?" "Still owe me for the last job I did for you." "You trust too easily." "If I count it out here, I won't make it home." "And if this is one coin short..." "I know where you live." "How many of your Song dynasty friends can you gather to work with you?" "Depends." "When, why, and how much?" "When is to be determined, but soon." "Very soon." "And why?" "The Khan is about to make a decision he's going to regret." "And what can we do for you?" "Unhinge the gates of hell." "Emperor Zhao Xian..." "I sentence you to death." "Do you understand?" "Stop, stop." "Stop." "Stop!" "Look... here's the dagger." "Place it here." "All right?" "When I was your age..." "I'd seen men die." "Did you kill them?" "At the time, I'd only killed a rabbit and an antelope." "Did they cry?" "The rabbit and the antelope?" "The men you watched die." "Some of them, yes." "I've seen bad men die." "Am I bad?" "Is that why you want me to die?" "I don't want to!" "It's all right." "It's all right." "All right."