"Hah!" "Hah!" " You fight well." " Thank you, sir." "So, you want to be a soldier in my Dragon Legion." "I've passed all your tests." "No, no." "Not all." "This... is for chopping wood!" "A barbarian tool." "This-- yes-- is for waging war." "A nobleman's blade." "Hah!" "You!" "Hah!" "You give away your position." "Hah!" "So do you!" "Silence!" "Perhaps you should go back to your ax." "Ah, don't feel bad." "Few men can hold their own against me." "Who are you?" "Kull... of Atlantis." "Atlantis?" "You're wasting your time here." "Every man in my legion is of noble blood." "My blood's red as any man's." "Take heart, Kull." "There's a place in this world for all of us." " General Taligaro!" " Even a barbarian like yourself." "General Taligaro!" "General Taligaro, the palace is in chaos." "The king is slaughtering his heirs." "Noble blood... all over the palace floor." "Hyah!" "Hyah!" "Hyah!" "Faster!" "Faster!" "Whoa!" "What have you done, Borna?" "My elders challenged me for the throne, so I've spared all my children any future disappointment!" "This is madness, sire." "Taligaro, so you, too, will have my crown." "You want it." "Take it!" "Here!" "Take it!" "There'll be no more blood spilled tonight, except your own if you insist on it." "Treason!" "I spare your life tonight." "The crown, Kull." "Give it to me." "It's my birthright." "Succession falls to me." "Give it to me." "Hold!" "I am next in line, cousin!" " Ahh!" " Lords, points of law must be clarified." " The crown is mine!" " No!" "It's mine." "And I give it to-- I give it to you, Kull." "Here!" "Take it." "And keep it if you can." "The sacred law of succession-- undeniable and irreversible." " Long live the king." " Long live the king." "Long live the king." "Long live the king!" "Long live Kull." "Sire, you, you no longer need bow to anyone." " My king." " Sire." "Borna's harem, Your Majesty." "And now yours." "Indulge me, Tu." "Even a king should bow to the ladies." "Down." "You still read the hands of fate." "You read them for me once." ""King by the hand of a king," remember?" "I'm surprised you remember, milord." "You were very drunk." "Silence!" "You are insolent." "But honest." "Yes, I was drunk, though I do remember." "Borna had a fit because I grabbed you about the waist and tried to kiss you." "You did kiss me, and it wasn't my waist you grabbed." "What is your name?" "Zareta." "Ah." "Bring your cards to my chambers, Zareta." "Leave us." " Shall I undress, sire?" " No." "Shuffle." "Unfold my kingdom's destiny in the cards." "First, the hand of the spirit." " The tiger." " That's my totem." " I was called "the Tiger" when I was a pirate." " A sign of majesty and power." "Next, the hand of being." "A quest." "My whole life has been a quest." "The hand of destiny." "Destiny." "The kiss." "The fate of your kingdom will be found within a kiss." "A kiss?" "Is that so?" "Shall I undress now?" "Are you in a hurry?" "I am whatever you wish." "My women don't play games." "I'm not your woman." "I'm your slave." "Tu was right." "You are insolent." " But honest." " I do not take women against their will." "As long as they come to you on command and not by choice, how will you know?" "I'll do my best to satisfy you in the bedchamber now, but do not mistake compliance for enthusiasm." "The destiny of a slave is to submit." "Now, shall I undress?" "I don't need to be taught a slave's destiny." "I learned that lesson chained to the oar of a pirate galley." "For five long years, I learned." "Tonight I sleep alone." "Your Majesty." "Hear me now." "All slaves of Valusia shall be set free, starting with my own." "You, go home." "I am home, Majesty." "I was born here in the palace." "Oh." "Well, from now on, you will receive a fair wage." "You, where are you from?" "Zalgara, Your Majesty." "You wish to go home?" " Well, do so now." "You're free." " Kull!" "Free Valusians have a right to own slaves under the law." "The law is changed." "Sire, look, um, for thousands of years, this law has been on this stone." "It was carved by our forefathers, and it may not be altered." "No matter how cruel or unjust the law?" "The law is greater than any king, uh, and as Royal Eunuch, I am sworn to protect it." "Long live the king!" "Long live the king!" "Freedom!" "Our days are numbered!" "The force of the people never rests." "Your time is short, too, Mandara." "Mandara." "Who is this man?" "Ascalante, High Priest of Valka." "He was trying to reopen his temple." "He was exiled by King Borna for heresy." "No!" "For speaking Valka's truth." "Valka allows the unholy flame to burn as a reminder of godless times... and as an omen of things to come." "Nonsense!" " Release him." " You can't!" "Is there some ancient law which prevents this too?" "If so, tell me now." "Until then, let men worship what gods they will." "Reopen your temple, priest." " You're going too fast, Kull." " Not fast enough." "Long live Kull!" " The staff goes in the other hand." " Oh." "Long live Kull!" "Long live Kull!" " Long live Kull!" " Members of the Royal Court, people of Valusia." "For centuries the Topaz Throne... has been the center of all the world's power, and now, I give you your new king." "Long live Kull!" "Long live Kull!" "Long live Kull!" "Enemy spies, Your Majesty, no doubt sent from Commoria." "No doubt." "You sent for me, sire?" "Yes." "To say good-bye." "Good-bye?" "I will not command your affections, Zareta." "You're free to go." "We'll all be damned." "I choose to stay." "Why?" "To be king is to be alone." "Today's event made that clear." "I am used to court intrigue, sire." "I can help you." "I" "Is this the only reason you stay?" "Tonight, I sleep alone." "I do go too fast." "Where is he?" "It's about time, Taligaro." "Why have you summoned us to this evil place?" "I didn't." "I received a note marked with our sign." "As did we, cousin, but if none of us sent it" "Someone knows of our plot against the king." " That's right." "And why it has failed." "Enaros." "I'd heard rumors of your ghost haunting the city." "I've had no need for the company of men." "But I see you still crave the flame's embrace." ""Let men worship what gods they will."" "Isn't that what your new king said?" "Wizard, what do you want now?" "I've come to help with your plot to kill the barbarian king." "How?" "You can't slay this tiger with mere weapons." "You have to trap him first." "Finally, the time has come for ancient Acheron's long-dead nobility." "Akivasha, the Red Witch." "There she is, the sorceress queen of ancient Zakerof." "Let's see." "The left breast above her heart." "The scroll!" "The scroll spoke true." "Akivasha's blood." "Kanah maya kalunia gud gamesh." "Kanah maya kalunia gud gamesh!" "Return, O Queen!" "Acheron's kiss-- kiss of the sacred flame-- let it fire your soul." "Awake." "Awake and rise." "And live!" "Live!" "And rule!" "Ohh, Akivasha." "Akivasha?" "Akivasha." "You are Akivasha." "Remember?" "O Queen." "The sacred flame of Acheron that's burned since your time." " And my kingdom?" " Gone, but the scroll foretold that you would rise and reclaim the Topaz Throne." "And so you shall, with my help." "And then, six days from that time, darkness will shroud the Earth... and Acheron will rise again." " Who are you?" " Enaros, your humble servant, who's devoted his life to your return." "The world has much changed during your long sleep." "Too long a sleep." "Good morning, king." "Today, you'll meet the finest people in all Valusia." "Who knows?" "Perhaps you'll find your queen here." " My queen?" " Yes, yes." "You can have your choice." "A proper marriage would appease the nobility." "I can have any woman I want?" "Your Majesty." "Good morning, sire." "Uh, come." "Take your place for the presentation." "You see, milord, every noble has brought the prize of his house." "Fanara, from the House of Ballin." "As pure as virgin snow." " We've met." "She's not that pure." " Shh." " My niece, eunuch." " Nalissa, niece of Ducalon, came to pay homage, sire." "Come to me." "Be my lover." "Queen." "The next girl, sire." "Sire, the next girl." "Take off your veil." " Let me see your face." " Oh." "Protocol does not permit." "The king... makes protocol." "Make love to me now." "Milord, the others." "There are no others." "I am yours." "Mmm." "My queen!" "My Queen." "A toast to the king and queen." "May your wedding night last longer than your courtship." "And may fate smile on you both." "Well, let's see." "Zareta, come tell us our fate." "Zareta." " What are you doing here?" " Borna is dead." "Haven't you heard?" "I've missed you." "You are mad to come back." "Not long ago, I was just a pirate." "Today I am king, and I have one of the loveliest of noblewomen." "Who'd have thought it?" "I thought it." " Really?" " It was in the cards." "Sit." "Divine our future." "Will you choose?" "Oh, why worry for tomorrow, when we know our destiny tonight?" "No!" " You mustn't!" " Ow." "Your plaything is jealous, husband." " It's nothing." "It's-- - the death card." "Must I publicly compete for your affection with a palace whore?" " Away." " The cards do not lie!" " You forget your place." " No!" " Let go!" " Ohhh!" " You okay?" " It seems our priest here fancies you, Zareta." "Perhaps you'd like to go with this... admirer." "I will stay and serve the king." "Enough!" "Tonight is my wedding night." "Everyone must share our joy." "Yes." " Ahh." " Nalissa." "Come." "Kiss your bride." "He's dead!" "He's dead!" "It wasn't the wine." "I had some." "But poison, yes." "How?" "Who?" "The whore!" "This way!" "Inside!" "You've done well." "You've honored our pact, and when I am king, you will be richly rewarded." "Psst." "You like the flame's embrace?" "You shouldn't play with fire, Enaros." "It holds so many painful memories." "Oh, my hand!" "My hand!" "Restore it!" "Make it whole again!" "No!" "It will remind you who is master." "What are you, witch?" "I am queen..." "thanks to you." "What do you want?" "I want you, husband." "I was going to kill you, but after last night" "Join me." "I will make you immortal, and the Earth shall be our empire." "You are mine." "I would rather die." "So be it." "Do it!" "Slowly." "By the grace of Valka, I will send you back to the darkest pit of hell!" "Don't waste your prayers, dog." "Soon hell will be coming to us." "You are ugly." "Your Majesty!" "I suspected foul doings." "I rejoice to find you alive." "Of course I'm alive." "I've escaped grimmer dungeons than that." "All of Valusia believes you've been murdered." "Zareta is to be executed for the crime." "When I get my hands on the bitch demon," "I will rip out her evil heart." "She won't be so easy to kill." "This mark burns on her breast." "What is it?" "The coin of ancient Acheron." "Your queen was once queen of that evil empire... when the world was cloaked in darkness and demons ruled over men." "The Red Witch?" "Your bride is over 3,000 years old." " She said she was 19." " She is Akivasha reborn." "From the Topaz Throne she will bring back ancient Acheron... and open the gates of hell." ""The fate of your kingdom will be found within a kiss."" "Comfy?" "Fleas." "Halt!" "Hold." "Hold it there." "A guard, Your Majesty." "Get away from there!" "Come on." "Move." " Go." "Outta my way." " Excuse me." "You killed the king." "You must die!" "Let's go." "Something stinks." "Well, it's not me." "It's me." "Ach, the stench!" "I think the body's gone ripe." "It's a good thing we're burning it." "A bit more liberal with that incense." "May this dog suffer an eternity of pain." "But not today!" "Stop him!" "Hopeless." "Watch out!" " Head for the temple!" " This way!" "This way!" "Let's go!" "Hurry!" "Who is it?" "Who else?" "You desire him." "My passion burns, slave." "Close the gate!" "Faster!" "Get inside." "Hurry!" "Go, go, go!" " Out of my way." " Don't let him out!" "Keep going!" "Not good." "Damn!" "Oh, shit!" "Oof!" "Ohh." " The passage!" " Stop!" "In the queen's name, lay down your arms." "In the king's name, lay down yours." "Kull lives." "Your Majesty!" "Sire!" "Your Highness." "Get up!" "I say to you, Kull is dead." "And never again will a foreigner sully our throne." "Impostor!" "Traitor!" "On your feet." "Go!" "Ascalante!" " What are you doing?" " I can't take a man's life." "Now you tell me?" "Put that down!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" " Are you all right?" " I'm okay." "Hey!" "Just who is this priest to you?" "My brother." "Brother?" "Her brother?" "Good." " Hyah!" "Hyah!" " Hyah!" "Hyah!" "Are you deceitful or just clumsy?" "You betrayed me." "He's not here." "You said he was dead!" "Remember your place!" "My place is on the throne." "What game is this you're playing?" "The dog knows a few tricks, that's all." "Find him, kill him, and then we'll rule together." "No." "That was not part of our pact." "I have altered our pact." "Pray I do not alter it further." "Move out!" "First we deal with Kull." "Then we'll see her festering in her grave where she belongs." "The port of Tatheli." "From here we must sail north, find the Isle of Ice and bring back the breath of Valka." "The breath of Valka is just a myth." "For centuries men have searched for it, but no man has ever found it." " It doesn't exist." " It does exist." "Only Valka's breath can extinguish the flame which flows in Akivasha's veins." "If you fail, Valusia is doomed." "Whoa." " Stay here." " Where are you going?" "To see an old friend." "Excuse my partner." "H-He doesn't know what he is saying." "All right." "Yeah." "It's good." "Hey!" "Kull!" "Kull!" " They told me you were dead." " Uh, they tried." "But here I am, drinking your wine." "It's good wine too." "Oh, Kull, you haven't changed at all, my friend." "Come, you bulging bag of muscle and hair." "Come." "Talk to me." "Pucci, cocktails." "It's good to see you, Juba." "Look at this place." "It's, uh, not like the old days." "Well, I've gotten rich off pirates like you." "You can never have too much money... or too many good friends." "I don't see any friends." "So, come on, Kull." "We're back in business, right?" "I need a favor." "What do you want, a woman?" "Pucci!" " No." " What, two women?" " Ten women?" " No women." "No women?" "Kull!" "Have you got a problem?" "Juba." "I need a ship." "Well, here she is, my fastest ship." "Take her, my friend." "She's yours." "Why don't you come with us?" "Oh, Kull, you know I hate the smell of fish." "I insist." "We have a lot of catching up to do." "Captain." "Sail north." "Wake up, scum!" "Prepare to row!" "The wind is up." "Unfurl the sails." "Do it." "Ship the oars!" "Don sails!" "He sailed from Tatheli, headed due north." "He seeks the Isle of Ice." "He seeks the breath of Valka." "No man has ever found it." "Kull is no ordinary man." "Taligaro, you must stop him." "With my help, you can defeat him." "Now, first, you must prepare a ship." "Where do I sail?" "Leave that to me." "Obey and you will share in glories far beyond your earthly ambitions." " Yes?" " Power, immortality." "Do my bidding." "Share my throne." "Yes, my Queen." "Bitch." "The breath of Valka!" "Fool." "The world could have been yours, Kull." "I could have been yours." "Blow, winds of hellfire!" "Blow!" "Send my swift destruction across the sea." "Oh!" "Can I do anything for you?" "I'm fine." "Don't love where there's no hope, sister." "Food." "You?" "Come, my precious flower." "You'll feel better if you have something to eat." "You like fish eye?" "No fish eye." "Okay, bring on the meat." "Forget the hors d'oeuvres." "Come eat, my friends." "Eat." "There's always plenty to eat at Juba's." "Come and feast, my friends." "Forgive me, sire." "Where are my manners?" "Eating before the king." "Where are your brains?" "Eating before Juba." "What?" "Well, you think" "Oh, Kull, you're breakin' my heart." "You think I'd poison you?" "Of course not." " See, it's not deadly." "It's just a little dry." " Well, then, some wine to wash it down." " Absolutely." "To your health." " No, no, no." "To yours." "Drink up." "Come, my friends." "Don't be silly." "Eat, drink, fill yourselves." "Oh, Kull." "Things... have just not been the same... since you and I" "It's okay, Zareta." "You'll get your sea legs in a day or two." "Hey!" "Hey." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on." "Ahh." "Finally awake." "Ohh." "Oh." "You got nice equipment." "Think I'll get a nice price for that." "Well, you certainly did make a pig of yourself last night." "By the way, the food was not poisoned." "It was drugged." "Oh, your queen's gonna be happy to see you when we dock in Valusia." "I think you're gonna make me a nice profit." "Meanwhile, you can earn your keep here at the oars." "I'm sure you can pick it up again in no time." " What have you done with Zareta?" " Oh, her." "Bring the fine young lady." "Come." "Bring her." " Yes, bring her." "Bring her, bring her, bring her." " Let go of me." "Maybe I could, uh, sell her too." "You know, I think she cleans up very nicely." "You dog!" "Why, you" "You are not fit to wear a fine lady's things." "Dangle her in the drink." "I'll kill you." "I don't think so." "Those ropes are strong." " Mmm." " Pity your ship isn't." "Where's that sword?" "Where's that sword?" "Kull." "Kull, come on." "It's me." "No, I was jokin'." "It was a joke." "Come on." "Oh, boy, you should've seen your face." "You should see yours." "Ohh." "Kull!" "Pull out the knife." "Pull it!" "Kull!" "I can't swim!" " I can't swim!" " Zareta!" "Don't go anywhere!" "Hang on!" "Down here!" "Down here!" "Come on!" "Not bad, priest." "No!" "Zareta!" " Where the hell have you been?" " Busy." "Give me your hand." "Thuron!" "Run our course." "Sail north." "Aye, Tiger." "Hey, Kull!" "You can come back now!" "Kull!" "Citizens of Valusia, rest assured that we will find the whore who murdered our beloved king... and the impostor that keeps her from justice." "We will have their blood!" "Kull's legacy will not die." "I will lead Valusia into the future, and our kingdom shall reign supreme!" "What's wrong?" "You squander your affections on unworthy men, when the one who brought you back from the dead... remains your devoted servant." "Enaros." "You forget your place." "The Isle of Ice." "The wind is up!" "Raise the sail!" " Man the oars!" " Man the oars!" "Keep rowing!" "She should be in regal robes, not bearskins." "She wasn't born a slave, Your Majesty." "Borna sentenced me to death for heresy, but Zareta begged him for mercy." "She traded her virtue and freedom for my life." "Put some more torches on the deck!" "Keep your eyes open!" "Soon." "Ascalante!" "Steer away!" "The ships that never returned!" "Give me your hand!" "There!" "The cave!" " Ascalante!" " I'm all right." "Valka!" "Kull!" "Look!" ""What was false must be true." "Cause be the carrier of Valka's might... to defy unholy flame."" "What does it mean?" "Ascalante." "The praying maiden." ""Cause be the carrier."" " Zareta!" " Zareta!" "Ascalante!" "Wait!" ""Cause be the carrier."" "Akivasha was the cause!" "A woman!" "Only a woman will bring forth the breath of Valka!" "Tiger!" "Tiger!" "Tiger!" "Kull!" "I kneel before you, Valka, to pray for your son Kull, whom I love, and though I am not pure, my love is strong." "Come, barbarian!" "I'm yours." "I see you've yet to master a nobleman's blade." "Let me be the carrier of your might!" "Let me extinguish the flame that mocks your rage!" "Zareta!" "Zareta, speak to me." "It is inside of her." "The breath of Valka." "So... so cold." "Zareta." "Zareta must stand in the flame of Acheron." "That is how Akivasha will be vanquished." "You can't have her." "Hah!" "Huh?" "Ascalante!" "Finish what you started, priest." "No!" "No!" "You can't win." "You already lost!" "Everyone and everything you hold dear is doomed because of you-- an arrogant dog who would be king!" "Come here!" "Zareta!" "Kull!" "Ascalante!" "Kull, if Zareta dies, the breath of Valka will be lost forever, and Valusia will become a living hell." "She loves you very much." "Such love was wasted on a fool!" "I was blinded by pride and greedy dreams of nobility, and now a kingdom will pay the price." "Let me look at you." "Cold to the touch." "Ah." "The flame dies." "Ah, yes, the priest was right." "You will stand in the unholy fire until it burns no more." " Take her away." " Sir." "Now, I will destroy the lying witch... and take my rightful place as king." "After all we've done in Valka's name, look." "Your god laughs at us." "Forgive me, Valka." " Ducalon." " Your Majesty, your proclamation has caused unrest among the nobles." "The nobles?" "Did you really think I'd step down?" "Hmm?" " What is this?" " The future." "All I wanted was to be king!" "It was my right!" " Hmm." " What did you dredge up out of hell?" "I have bartered my soul, and Valusia is lost." "Yes, and Acheron will be Acheron again." "The past will be restored." "I shall make you the past." "Witch!" "Hmm." "Enaros, help me." " Help me!" " Not me, fool." "What's happening?" "It is done, my Queen." " Mistress." " It is time." "Kull?" "Kull!" " Impossible!" " No." "Stop him!" "Kill him!" "Or suffer my wrath!" "Sacred flame, protect us from the cold!" "Hurry, Mistress." "Cause be the carrier." "The Topaz Throne is mine, witch!" "I take what is my due, and now I give you yours." " The flame does not die." " No!" "The flame does not die!" "No, Valka." "She must not die." "She must not die!" "You're still a barbarian, Kull." "Kull!" "You have failed, Kull!" "You have all failed!" "The breath of Valka has died with her, and in moments," "I will be invincible!" "Kull!" "A kiss." "A kiss." "Husband." "Husband." "Come kiss your bride." "Yes." "A kiss." "Husband." "You're so cold." "Cold!" "The fate of my kingdom will be found within a kiss!" "Back!" "Her life for the crown!" "Hey, hey, hey!" "The crown!" "That's how a barbarian fights!" "Give me that." "People of Valusia, now I give you your new king!" " Hail!" " M-Milord, milord." "Sire?" "Uh, sire, sire." "Uh, uh, uh, sire?" "All slaves of Valusia are now free." "Oh!" "No, no, no!" "But the laws!" "Oh!" "The laws!" "The laws!" "Take this." " Move!" "Move!" " The harem is dispersed." "The king commands no one's affections." "No." "Don't kneel to me." "I should kneel to you, my Queen." "A common girl, sir?" " The woman I love." " B-B-But, my liege, she's a-a" " She is not of noble birth." " Nor am I." "It's a good thing too." "From our loins, Valusia will be reborn red-blooded and strong." "But, milord" " Oh!" " If you don't like my kingship, come take the throne." "By this ax, I rule." "Long live the king!" "Long live the king!" "Long live the king!" "Long live the king!" "Long live the king!" "Long live the king!" "Long live the king!" "Long live the king!" "Long live the king!" "Long live the king!" "Long live the king!"