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Welcome to the country's most exclusive boarding

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school, Bishop Gray, where rules mean

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nothing and money means everything. Academy

0:07

is a new scripted podcast that follows

0:09

Ava Richards, played by HBO's industry Myhala

0:11

Harold, a brilliant scholarship student who has

0:13

to quickly adapt to her newfound eat-or-be-eaten

0:16

world. Her ambitions take hold and her

0:18

values bend in hopes of becoming the

0:20

first scholarship student to make the list,

0:22

Bishop Gray's all-coveted academic top ten, curated

0:25

by the headmaster himself. Becoming

0:27

a chosen one means she's on a path to

0:29

big things. After realizing there's no

0:32

way she'll make the list on her own,

0:34

she accepts an invitation to an underground society

0:36

that promises her one of the ten coveted

0:38

spots. If she bends to their

0:40

will for her own success, she could have everything

0:42

she's ever dreamed of, but at what cost? Ava

0:45

must navigate a game of high-stakes chess and

0:47

risk throwing it all away for love. If

0:50

she makes the right moves, she could be set

0:52

for life, but one misstep could cost her everything.

0:55

Academy takes you into the world of a cutthroat private

0:57

school where power, money, and sex collide in a game

1:00

of life and death. Prime members,

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you can binge all ten episodes of Academy

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on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app

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today. Birds of Empire is

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presented by HelloFresh. Use

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breakfast item per box while

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listeners, be advised that this show

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is an immersive audio experience. It

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may seem like sounds are coming from the sides or

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behind you. Listener discretion is

1:28

advised as this content is intended

1:30

for adult audiences only. For

1:33

more details, see the episode description. QCode

1:36

presents Birds of Empire season 2,

1:39

created by Jason Liu. In

1:43

the Crow Age, the

1:45

bone-breaking warriors of the People of

1:47

the Rock would cover

1:50

their faces in blood and rust

1:52

before battle. This

1:54

was when the priests led their

1:56

charges, swung blades, and

1:58

made pacts with the people. many heavens. When

2:02

the gods of old moved within

2:04

their spines and fingers and guided

2:06

their axes to the

2:08

necks and spines of their enemies,

2:11

feared and ferocious. The rust was believed

2:16

to be the blood of iron and

2:19

therefore a source of great power. The

2:22

rams believed that to consume it and to

2:25

mark their bodies with it would

2:27

turn their skin to heart and armor,

2:30

their hearts to stone. Through

2:33

the song age, the green age,

2:35

their machines grew and their gods

2:38

dwinded, retreating to

2:40

the caves and chests of the few. And then

2:42

there was Barlin, child of

2:45

unknowing seeker of a way to the light. It's

2:48

rare to recall the first step in a journey,

2:53

to really know that it's begun as

2:56

to already be in

2:58

remembrance. The boy with no arms walked

3:00

upright into the

3:02

dawn age. Other later would guess

3:04

at which was his first thought,

3:06

but many more

3:08

would marvel at his last. Why

3:11

won't you believe me, Aaron?

3:13

You're my husband. I believe what the surgeon said.

3:15

What? That I'm mad? That these voices and

3:18

visions are the work

3:20

of a cracked mind? You shouldn't have heard that. You

3:22

shouldn't have heard that because it's lies.

3:24

I hear cries. I hear the cries of the

3:26

gods. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm

3:37

clearly what I hear. Is it spoken

3:39

to me by you or my sister

3:41

or Barlin? I see the things

3:44

I see as if laid upon the landscape.

3:46

You're sick, Helena. I am

3:48

not sick. I am where I've

3:51

ever been. And I hear some too, both

3:53

voices. One a woman, one a man. Perhaps

3:56

it's something that was passed from your father. Do not speak his

3:59

name. My love, please.

4:02

I want to hope. I want to

4:04

believe you and see what you see.

4:07

And hear what you hear, what

4:09

it says. You point

4:11

to a corner and it's empty. There is

4:14

never silence. There's always and ever

4:16

movement, noise, both of them, shh,

4:19

burning in my ears. I'll summon the surgeons

4:21

again tomorrow. I want a

4:23

priest. I want one of my people. It's against

4:25

the binding. Fuck the binding, Aaron. Please,

4:28

my lamb. The weak children.

4:31

He should be awake. It's

4:34

like everyone else around me is asleep. Not

4:37

me, mother. I'm awake. Marlon, go back

4:39

to your chambers. No. Come

4:41

here, my mama. Papa, what's happening?

4:43

Come here, Laura. Your

4:45

mother and I were playing a game. Don't lie

4:48

to them, Aaron. Mama was

4:50

having visions of things that may come

4:52

and have come. Sweet, are sweets coming? Sweet

4:55

days. I will not live to his

4:57

mother. What do you mean? Gods, you're

5:00

frightening them. They should be scared. If

5:02

what he says is true, if all

5:04

the old whispering is more than old

5:06

whispering... Enough, my love. Children, back

5:08

to bed. No. Never

5:10

to bed. That's when he

5:12

comes. That's when the king comes.

5:15

Mother. You're hurting me. Elena,

5:17

let go of them. Mama,

5:20

just... The perfect

5:22

king comes at night. He

5:25

marries himself in the shadow. Everybody

5:27

comes for our children. Elena,

5:30

let go. Just calm the

5:32

shadow. I will kill them before

5:34

you can take them. You'll

5:37

never take them from me. Elena! The

5:40

sun will keep rising. So

5:52

she feared the serpent king. The one

5:54

from the lowland story.

5:57

I didn't feel like she was scared of a stor-

6:00

It felt like it was real to her,

6:02

but... Father would tell us anything

6:04

she said in that state was... simply

6:07

her madness. Who's to say

6:09

what's real? Indeed.

6:13

What did the old Lowland tell about the Serpent King?

6:17

Well, my mind

6:19

and memories and the great story

6:21

it once was, but... I

6:24

remember he had an ember tongue, and

6:27

would use it to fall entire tribes.

6:30

And if you weren't obedient, you'd

6:32

be sent out into the unknown, where

6:34

he and his servants would drain

6:36

the life from your body. Perhaps

6:40

she was simply mad, demented

6:42

beyond reason. My

6:45

father likes to say that sometimes the answer

6:47

is the answer. An asshole. A wise

6:49

one, but an asshole. Your

6:53

words have festered. There.

6:56

The palace ahead. Are you

6:59

sure you still long to venture along with the

7:01

cripple of Stonemount? I go where he goes. Onward,

7:07

then. So, forgive

7:10

me, young master, but... I don't

7:13

think I understand the, uh, plan here.

7:15

I... I want to find

7:17

my auntie Anaya. Of

7:20

late, it feels as though she's trying

7:23

or wanting to tell me something.

7:25

I can see her fighting with the voices in her

7:27

head. I see. And

7:30

then, I hope to find my mother. Whatever

7:33

that may mean. I aim to

7:36

honor her order. Follow

7:38

me. Will your auntie speak

7:40

freely? We'll find

7:42

out. I'll, to her

7:44

quarters, you keep a watch out for any of

7:46

my father's men you recognize. You can count on

7:49

me, boy. I know I can. He's

7:57

hiding something! Anaya, please!

8:00

Please slow your steps. I haven't the time,

8:02

nephew. Is there Uncle Risson? Still

8:05

no word. And Aaron, your

8:07

father denied my worry. Sifles, my

8:09

queries, will... No more! Quiet,

8:12

father. I... ...be

8:15

not... Let me... Listen. After

8:18

the council's out of session... I'll... I'll... Right

8:21

now, nephew. Right now, in this very moment...

8:23

You mean interrupt the stone council as it's

8:25

business? We have to believe

8:27

it's the only business at hand. What else would

8:30

they mean to me? Shame, huh? Of

8:32

course. Your

8:34

father cares only about the standing.

8:37

He's a young man, young and people-friendly. Don't

8:39

overhand him. So what? I'm

8:42

not going to give you a second indication. He

8:45

will give us some... So, Lord, they are loyal

8:47

to rest, not his brother.

8:57

Madame Anaya. Aside, young man. By

8:59

order of the council, no man is to disrupt going

9:01

on. Luckily, I am no

9:03

man. Now, part your spears before I part

9:06

you from your station. We are under order.

9:08

You are under orders now, from me. You

9:11

have my word that nothing shall fall on you. I

9:14

will answer to my father on your behalf.

9:16

Part your spears. Already your

9:18

speech to my husband, your captain.

9:21

As you wish, Lady Anaya. And

9:28

what choice do we have? The

9:30

bears, by nature of their homeland, are

9:32

the ones most well-built to last the

9:34

dryness. We can choose not to allow

9:36

them to gouge us for the most

9:39

basic of human needs, Father. This dryness

9:41

will pass. The rains

9:43

will come, and through it all

9:45

we will maintain good standing with the

9:47

other land tribes. Even

9:49

the wolves. Ridiculous. Why

9:51

don't we ask Queen Nara how she

9:54

sees our standing? Where

9:56

is my husband? Anaya.

10:00

What is the meaning of this interruption? Vahlem!

10:03

What did I tell you of meddling in Fusil Bizly? You

10:05

know something? Something about Raphson and where

10:07

he is? I tried to suffer for the-

10:09

Guards! Remove my son and unblood

10:12

sister before she scuttles a whole day's

10:14

work with her bleeding. Bleeding? You

10:16

want a seat bleeding? Auntie, please! This

10:18

is neither the time nor

10:21

place for family squabbles. Forgive

10:24

my Auntie. Lately she's been

10:26

unwell. Yes! Nephew!

10:29

Lately I have been up through the night. Wrath

10:31

with visions of a great slaughter!

10:34

She deserves an answer. Vahlem, what has

10:36

gotten into you? Another outburst

10:38

I'll have you locked away in the stone-deep.

10:41

Guards, remove them. Where is Uncle

10:43

Resden, father? You do owe

10:45

her this. Vahlem, now you're

10:47

encouraging our poor Auntie to interrupt

10:50

real men's business just so you

10:52

can be near it again? Guards, escort

10:54

the trespassers out of the cavern. I

10:57

will answer all of your inquiries when

11:00

you've calmed down. We sent a messenger,

11:02

Auntie, to bring word from the bears.

11:05

I'm sure that Uncle Resden has long

11:07

overstayed his welcome in Green Palm, regaling

11:10

those dirt eaters with tales of our

11:12

greatness and boring them more and more

11:14

with each hour. Yeah, sure. Something

11:18

is not right. Someone

11:21

is hiding something. You

11:23

take your ridiculous lowland premonitions and

11:25

get out of my sight, woman.

11:28

Guards, if she

11:30

remains here one moment longer, I'll have

11:32

you demoted to stable cleaners. You are

11:34

a liar! Aaron, I know it's since

11:37

the day our father suddenly survived me. You

11:39

speak one more word and I'll have you hung

11:41

for treason. Hang me then, mighty leader. You've

11:43

already taken my system. You

11:45

know my husband is missing one. Or

11:48

do I have? Come on, Auntie. We'll try another way.

11:51

Who's off? No need for my father's pageantry. It's

11:53

sad to see him. People in it are crazy.

11:55

All lined up together like these kids in a

11:58

bag. members

12:00

forgive me and my sweet auntie we long

12:02

for the safe return of our dear husband

12:04

the people should have the captain of the

12:06

guard that's all I thought I

12:08

told you would you mind your place many

12:10

things I'm beginning to wonder wonder of the

12:13

truth counsels

12:15

please do go on we

12:17

cherish your wisdom and grace forgive the

12:19

interruption my auntie Naya has the greatest love

12:21

for my uncle something I

12:24

believe we can all in my house brother this

12:27

is no business of your power business

12:30

is one of the same brother one

12:33

day you'll see hey

12:40

listeners it's Jason Liu creator of Birds

12:42

of Empire I really hope you've been

12:44

enjoying the show so far and thank

12:46

you to our sponsors Hello Fresh this

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season of the show definitely kept me

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busy building this big old world for

12:52

you and like many people I don't

12:54

always have the time to find a

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12:59

make a mess in the kitchen and

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sit down for a meal but luckily

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with crispy potatoes yes please and

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I'll be saving time without compromising on

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flavor or quality doesn't that just make

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can be super time consuming and a

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lot of the times you can ask

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my wife I totally lose track of

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time especially when I'm world building and

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digging deep on this mythology for you

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guys So it's really cool

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just go right from the computer to

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the kitchen and make dinner. Before

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one meal kit. He's

15:03

hiding something.

15:06

What would he be hiding? I can't say,

15:09

but I feel, I feel

15:12

something. The way that the women in

15:14

our family always have. Your mother more

15:16

than any of us before

15:19

the binding. What is this

15:21

binding? Much has been kept from you, young

15:23

nephew. And perhaps it's best

15:25

to be in the shade than the harsh heat of

15:27

the sun. I have lived too long

15:29

in the dark. Tell me, please. I

15:32

am old enough to know some truths. I believe you. The

15:35

visions, the voices. I believe

15:37

you. I long to know who she was.

15:40

Some things must stay beneath the water. The water?

15:42

To speak of the binding could be to damn you

15:44

to death. I don't fear it. I fear

15:47

not knowing who I am, from where I

15:49

came. You come from a line of kings,

15:52

rulers of the open plains and

15:54

guardians of our gods. Sweet boy,

15:56

your mother was the greatest of

15:58

us all. Had she been? been born a

16:00

man. Tell me, I remember so

16:02

little the only flashes of strife, her visions

16:04

and her madness. She was not mad. This

16:07

above all you must know. She

16:09

was gifted with the

16:11

things from an ancient flood line. She

16:14

was a tragic peace and an ancient

16:17

game between Lowland and Highland, between

16:19

the old ways and the wastes now. After

16:23

being went to your father, she was unhappy,

16:28

deeply so. Soon

16:30

the Nash raced. We

16:33

had been paired with brothers and

16:35

sold off like livestock into a family

16:38

of snakes. But you loved

16:40

Uncle Reston. Aye,

16:42

boy, I was lucky. Me

16:48

and I were like spirits charged from

16:50

the bodies of the ancient dead, come

16:53

to fetch each other in his life. In

16:56

spite of everything, our

16:59

hearts grew together like

17:02

ivy up the granite. My

17:06

brooding king, face

17:08

of the old gods, warrior.

17:13

He protected me from the life in the high peak.

17:17

He would take me back to the

17:19

Lowland's undercover of costume on the festival

17:21

days. His kindness, no,

17:24

no bounds, and I'm grateful for all the

17:26

days we've had. But

17:30

your mother, she

17:32

wanted more than to be bound by some ancient

17:36

bargain to a horrid man so

17:38

in love with his voice, his hands. I

17:42

never knew. She ran many

17:45

times. She disappeared

17:47

into the tangle of the green expanse

17:49

to escape him. Mingling

17:52

with bears and tribeless travelers

17:55

even told me she came upon a

17:57

wolf warrior, bathing in the dawn.

18:00

waters of Owl Head Lake. None

18:03

could resist her. Few

18:05

tried. One

18:08

thing, and one thing alone

18:10

made her plant her feet. Stop

18:12

running. What? You.

18:18

When first she held you, her

18:21

eyes became rivers. Deep

18:24

and cool. The

18:27

calm came over her. Was

18:30

she not... disappointed?

18:35

Far from it. My arms. That

18:37

you were, my boy. She

18:40

loved you just as you

18:42

were. Ever she

18:44

will. The night Jasmine reminds

18:46

me of the sweetness of her neck. It's

18:50

one thing I remember clearly. When

18:53

we were girls, we'd

18:55

play upon the field and stare up at the

18:57

peak, wondering what the

19:00

royals were like. We

19:02

would play at how they spoke,

19:04

moved and dreamt. But

19:08

you always shoot such disdain for Lowlanders,

19:10

spoke of them as if they were

19:12

beneath us. I was well practiced, learning

19:16

to inflect the straight spined

19:18

knobbery in my voice. And

19:22

there was a part of me that believed it. The

19:26

finery, the machines, the robes, and

19:29

servants and things. All

19:32

of the masks took up with the truth. How

19:34

do I am where I long to be? Back

19:38

with our people. I

19:41

know that mask, but

19:44

masks are meant to be removed, are they

19:46

not? Auntie,

19:52

are you all right? I

19:55

don't know. I'm sorry. It's

19:57

wrong. Oh, wrong.

20:01

You must go, nephew! Why? I've said too

20:03

much. Forget what I've said, for your

20:05

own good. Forget that I am past the age of unknowing,

20:07

Auntie. That's why I'm here. Seeking

20:10

the truth. The truth about her.

20:12

Some truth. Carrie Boggs that wound

20:14

all who hold them. Okay. You

20:17

must away, your father's met approach. Like they

20:20

don't move to quiet me until Ruston returns, and

20:22

then... Who knows

20:24

my fate after that showing in the castle. Oh,

20:27

my impulses. Ruston tells

20:30

me they will one day be my end, and perhaps

20:32

that day is here. I am

20:34

no longer afraid of my father. You should be. Was

20:36

she? Mother? I

20:38

can say no more. Where did

20:40

you get that? Open the door! You

20:43

must away. Sometimes

20:49

I use it when I wish to be unfollowed by the

20:51

palace. Auntie, I need to know what happened to my mother.

20:53

I have to find her. She was taken by the fever.

20:56

The madness. And this. I

20:58

can see you don't believe her. I

21:00

need the truth, Auntie. Whoa! My

21:04

mother came to me in a

21:06

vision and bid me to follow her. To

21:09

find her. A fish? Yes.

21:11

Yes, in the great hallow. Now

21:13

please, I beg you to help me. For

21:16

her. I can't help you. But

21:19

from the land. Go on

21:22

home and enjoy your night. We

21:24

will not be easy to find if you even live a life.

21:27

You've been before him. When

21:29

did you ask the great walled Christ? I follow

21:31

you. I ask him for it. I

21:34

ask him for it. I know. There's

21:36

a storm which I'll... Open

21:41

the door! Open the

21:43

door! Oh! We

21:50

were blind! I'm told

21:52

to see you. Open

21:57

the door! I

22:00

can't slow down. Not now. Yes,

22:02

yes. My face hurts me. Your throat

22:04

hurts me. It's just hurling yourself, Gert. Where is it you're going?

22:08

Hi. That'll certainly get you tossed in the key.

22:10

I've never seen her like that, Danny. I'm sorry. I'm

22:12

sorry. I'm sorry. I'm

22:14

sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm

22:17

sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm

22:20

sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm

22:22

sorry. I'm

22:25

sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm

22:27

sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

22:30

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Danny, you're like

22:32

that. The witch, she spoke to me after in the end. She

22:34

told me. I feel like like a hornet's nest, but

22:36

we need to hurry away

22:38

to find the witch, the Torian the elder. Oh,

22:41

one, one damn minute, boy.

22:45

What in ancient gods are

22:47

you all about? What

22:50

happened in there. My auntie. She

22:53

made me find a man named Torian the

22:55

Elder and to ask him about the

22:57

stone witch of Arden Lake. Arden

23:00

Lake is meant to be cursed. It's

23:02

waters filled with the spirits of the dam.

23:05

Maybe, maybe that's where she

23:07

died. I have

23:09

to find this man though. This Torian.

23:12

My father's men are fanning

23:14

us. We have to go.

23:17

There's a path by the mines that leads

23:19

into the heart of the lowlands. That's all

23:21

right. If they drag me back, I'm certain my

23:23

father will lock me away. And who knows

23:25

what fate he'll have for you. Likely one

23:28

full of torment. Come, the

23:30

night falls. But that will

23:32

be treacherous. Indeed it will, young master.

23:36

I'll bear the torch. You

23:45

think keeping me in a cell is

23:47

going to keep me quiet, Arryn?

23:49

I never imagined anyone could keep you

23:52

quiet, Anya. But after today,

23:54

I can no longer

23:56

afford to let anyone hear your ramblings.

23:59

She would be so a... ashamed of what you've

24:01

become. You do not speak for

24:03

her. I am a great man.

24:06

I gave her a great life, and

24:08

she repaid me with madness and shameless.

24:10

The shame was only yours. She

24:13

gave your life meaning. Two beautiful

24:15

children, one bent by

24:17

the glass and one sowed by grease. You

24:19

do not speak of the gods. I used

24:21

to be so ashamed of where we

24:24

came from. But now, my

24:26

only shame is where we ended

24:28

among the enemies of our people,

24:30

traitors to our bloodlines. Willa is my

24:32

son. Away, far away

24:35

from you, off

24:37

to find the truth of who he is, who

24:40

she was. What did you tell him? Enough.

24:44

You will not tear at the fabric of

24:46

my greatness. She was the fabric of

24:48

your greatness, and you threw it

24:50

away, you arrogant fucking man. Anaya.

24:52

When Reston returns, he'll hear of

24:54

this. All of this, and

24:56

you'll answer for it. My brother is a

24:59

fool who believes too much in the myths

25:01

and ceremonies of your people. His

25:03

mind is polluted. His mind is

25:05

beautiful. And while his

25:07

hands may not be filled with the knowing

25:10

that yours possessed, his love

25:13

admired the power you

25:15

will never possess. Which we'll

25:17

see if a knight here in the Stonekeep

25:20

cools that tongue. Aaron,

25:24

do you still have the dream? The

25:27

ones where you're standing before a lake

25:29

of fire and an

25:31

elk gores you

25:33

through the chest. Shut your

25:36

fucking mouth. I

25:38

don't care who you are, who anyone

25:40

is. I will order you

25:42

opened upon the rack of souls for my

25:45

brother and everyone to see. The

25:49

elk are coming, Aaron.

25:52

The elk are

25:54

gone forever. The.

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27:48

I thought you said you knew and were known among

27:51

the lowland. I am. I didn't

27:53

say anyone likes me. No one

27:55

we've asked has any idea who Torian is or

27:57

heard of the witch. They just keep

27:59

getting cursed and... I

28:01

may have exaggerated a bit. Exaggerated?

28:05

It's only that, well, once

28:08

I was someone here, and that's

28:11

who I wanted you to

28:13

believe I still was. But this

28:16

isn't a game of puzzle, Hephaest. I needed your

28:18

help, and you said you could give it, and

28:20

now, what, it was all

28:22

lies? Not lies. If you

28:24

needed help stealing a goat, or swindling

28:26

a gambling house, or finding keypales, then

28:28

I would be your man, but finding

28:31

some mysterious elder of the ancient

28:33

lore, who might be married to

28:36

a witch, or king of a

28:38

curse link, that's more than I've ever

28:40

been asked to do, boy. So... So

28:42

what? What are we gonna do now? Like

28:45

to live as a beggar in the lowlands ever

28:47

dodging my father's men? They're our worst, fate. Just

28:50

leave me. You're hungry. We've

28:52

been at this all day, with nothing to

28:54

fill our stomach. I know a woman who

28:56

makes meat pies that would ignite the- I

28:58

don't want a meat pie, Hephaestus. You

29:01

wouldn't find this man, and find my mother.

29:03

Wonder what? You'll not eat a bite until

29:06

you do? Listen to what...

29:08

No. Look there. My

29:11

father's men. Oh, they're

29:14

everywhere. I... Wow,

29:16

they found us. I told you to

29:19

use the false name I gave you when

29:21

introducing your- Flavius! What kind of name is

29:23

Flavius? Not yours. That was

29:25

the point! The head's down! How

29:28

did we even get spotted? There are

29:30

so many. Let the swarm

29:32

of beasts- Where do we go? There

29:34

isn't any way. We need to stretch

29:36

it. What if I slay one? What?

29:38

Too much? There! The pentawall would- Good

29:40

idea. Yes, swallow among the boars. No.

29:43

We'd let them lose to create a bit of

29:45

chaos. Then we'd throw it away. Yes! Boar

29:48

chaos! The best type! Come! Now we

29:50

open the gate. There. Ah!

29:55

Ah! The locks. I know these

29:57

locks. My father used to give them to Lora

29:59

when he was a child. Well, tell me

30:01

how to open it. Eric, did

30:03

you look for a pin beneath the bolt? Here.

30:07

Yes, you can push it in gently as

30:10

you rotate the bolt. Yes,

30:13

yes. Do you have it? Calm

30:15

yourself, I'll move it. There.

30:18

As you release the pin, rotate the bolt

30:21

back three times in the other direction. I

30:23

got it. I

30:26

got it. I got it now. Just

30:29

try to do pieces of it. Ha

30:31

ha! He got it. How

30:34

was it? Just standing there. Not

30:36

moving. Not for long. Ha!

30:41

Go! Go! Go! Quickly,

30:46

while they're docking, the touch. Well

30:49

done. Ha ha! Here,

30:59

boy. In this brain store. I

31:05

think we've lost them. You did it

31:08

again, boy. Thanks to you,

31:10

my arms and hands. Perhaps your

31:12

father will look elsewhere now. Perhaps.

31:17

What was that? Wait. It's coming

31:19

from... Wait! Don't move,

31:21

I'll come this way. Wait, wait, wait. He's done

31:23

nothing. It's me. My father wants me.

31:25

I'll go. I don't swear guilty to your father.

31:27

Nor I. Why are you asking

31:30

about Tori and the Elder? My auntie paid

31:32

me fines him to ask him about... About

31:34

what? The stone... the stone witch of Arden.

31:36

You ask after things that are best left

31:38

alone. Please. The Elder is a

31:41

powerful, dangerous man. But most of all, a

31:43

secretive one who isn't above killing to keep

31:45

his name being spilled about the lowlands by

31:47

a mid-stone air. If you know who

31:50

I am, then you know I am far from an

31:52

heir to anything my father built. I'm

31:54

more of an exile. I'm

31:57

here because... It

31:59

sounds mad, but... My mother came

32:01

to me in a vision and bade me to

32:03

find her. A vision? She was, uh, Griswold. Does

32:06

that mean anything? Your name, Griswold, is

32:08

the only reason you're still alive right

32:10

now. Varlyn, leave! Why? Why?

32:13

What did my mother's family do? Who

32:15

was she, please? Just tell me and I'll leave you

32:18

be. You'll leave me be because if you don't, you'll

32:20

be in pieces small enough for the wild dogs that

32:22

scrap the roads for rot. Oh,

32:28

forgive us, Sire. We meant

32:30

no harm to you or the great,

32:33

uh, Elder. We'll go our

32:35

way. You should listen to the old

32:37

man. Let me speak to him. If

32:39

he deems me a threat or some agent

32:41

of my father's doom, then you can open me

32:43

up there. I know my aim, and

32:46

it's not to do any harm to him or you.

32:48

I am not afraid. Go back to the palace

32:51

where the walls keep you from knowing any rough,

32:53

keen parts of life. Fine. If

32:56

that's what you want, I'll do it. I'll

32:58

return to my father and tell him

33:00

there's a rumor of a dangerous secretive

33:02

brigand named Torian the Elder. Hold your

33:04

tongue, boy. Perhaps I'll tell him

33:06

that this man is plotting against him. Perhaps

33:09

my father will become angry, paranoid.

33:11

Perhaps he'll turn the lowlands inside

33:13

out looking for this curious

33:15

man who bristles at the very mention of his own

33:17

name. You don't know the depth of the water that

33:19

you swim in, boy. Take

33:21

me to him. Threaten me an audience now

33:23

or later when he's chained with the stone's

33:26

keep. Treat me as a

33:28

prisoner, an enemy, I don't care. I just

33:30

need to know what happened to my mother. Put

33:33

these on to bind your ass, and know you

33:36

may never see the light again. But what?

33:38

Torian is a man with whims as quick

33:41

as his blade. If

33:43

I should die in the dark searching for the light, so

33:46

be it. So be it. Wait!

33:58

Wait! Ru-

34:00

Run! Run!

34:02

Wait! Wait,

34:04

Run! I

34:08

was like, no one, Timo! How are you

34:10

so fast all of a sudden? I've

34:12

always been fast. Maybe you got slower, could

34:14

be. Hornet's fast! Oh,

34:16

hey! Perfect! Run!

34:22

Hey! The water's just

34:24

up here. Come! Run!

34:27

I lost sight of you. Wait! Run!

34:32

Brother? I'm

34:35

here. I'm here. What is this place?

34:40

I don't recognize it. Where's

34:43

the water? The stream? I can

34:45

hear it. Do you remember that day when

34:47

we were boys? We came upon a snake's

34:50

nest, behind the temple of Evergreen. Blue eggs?

34:54

Yeah, I do. You picked one up

34:56

and went to give it to me, and then...

34:58

And then... What

35:00

happened then? I

35:02

can't remember. It's fading like the

35:04

light of day's end. Sending,

35:06

I think. Did

35:09

the snake return? Yes. Was

35:12

it bitten? Remember. Run.

35:16

Remember. Run.

35:22

Run. Where's

35:26

that sound? Is

35:28

someone screaming? Run!

35:32

Why are we running? What?

35:34

You can't follow me, Jimo. The water's

35:37

just so beautiful! Look at that. No.

35:41

I want to swim. Let's swim, Rude. Who's

35:44

screaming? You, Jimo.

35:49

Help. Wake.

35:52

Help. Help!

35:57

Somebody help us! He's hurt. There was

35:59

an attack! There was an

36:01

attack! Help us

36:03

God, please! Help! Grandmother! Grandmother!

36:10

The The The

36:15

The The Birds

36:20

of Empires stars Jorge Diaz as

36:22

Marlon Midstone and Jacques

36:24

Colomond as Timo Greenwater. Gwendolyn

36:27

Briley Strand as the Keeper James

36:29

Mathis III as Aaron Midstone Jake

36:32

Hart as the Fester Helsy

36:35

Scott as Anada Sage

36:37

Ranson as Serengard Ben

36:40

Grow as Laura Midstone Siddique

36:43

Saunderson as the Stranger Akaya

36:46

Shaw as Groom with

36:48

additional performances from Ashari Bain

36:51

Josh Rubens Written

36:54

and Directed by Jason Liu Executives

36:57

produced by Jason Liu, Rob

36:59

Herding, David Henning and Shin

37:01

Yin Hieu Co-executive

37:03

producers Jorge Diaz and Jacques

37:06

Colomond producers Kyle

37:08

Smithers and Lawrence Vanelli Co-producer

37:11

Nick Shanks Original

37:14

score and composition by Darren Johnson

37:16

and Matthew Carsoni Music

37:18

Editor and additional music Ben Milchiv

37:22

Audio Engineering by Gabe Burch,

37:24

Ben Milchiv and Sarah Ma

37:28

Assistant Engineer Alex Chalk Edited

37:31

by Neely Offering Additional

37:34

Editor Will Tindy Supervising

37:37

Sound Effects Editor and Sound

37:39

Designer Randy Torres Mixed

37:41

by Ben Milchiv Additional

37:44

Mixer Sarah Ma Casting

37:46

Director Kristi Fierrilli Script

37:49

Supervisor Jay C. Himes Production

37:51

Coordinator Brian Colter Production

37:54

Assistant Alex Buda Production

37:57

Legal Christina Bulbruch and Lindsay

37:59

Kiel Production Accounting,

38:01

Tim Chin-Liu. Special

38:04

thanks to Mara Schuster-Lefkowitz, Ashton

38:06

Harrell, and Augustus Stout. This

38:09

podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA

38:11

collective bargaining agreement. Birds of Empire

38:13

is a Q-Code production. Sound recording

38:15

copyright 2023 by Q-Code Media Inc.

38:29

Birds of Empire is presented

38:31

by HelloFresh. Use code

38:33

BIRDSFREE for free breakfast

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for life at hellofresh.com/birdsfree. One

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breakfast item per box while subscription is

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active. Hi, just

38:42

checking in and seeing if you

38:44

might want to step away from the noise of the world

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for just a moment and connect back

38:48

to you. If so,

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join me on my podcast, Letting

38:52

It Settle with Michael Galean, where

38:54

we'll explore mindfulness, self-love, and personal

38:57

growth as I share practical insights

38:59

and tools to hopefully help inspire

39:01

you to start to take charge

39:03

of your mental and emotional well-being.

39:05

Search for Letting It Settle with

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Michael Galean on Spotify, Apple Podcasts,

39:10

or wherever you're listening now. Hi,

39:12

I'm Bobbi Miller, and I host the podcast

39:14

The Afternoon Special, where you can expect a

39:16

ton of media and pop culture analysis and

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history, but also a ton of fun. I

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volunteer as tribute to go down the rabbit

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