Rise of the Conqueror

Timur...

Get up!

We must protect the king.

Nice of you to show up.

Grandfather...

Who did this?

The Mongols?

He was appointed by Tugluk Khan himself.

Why would the Mongols kill a king that paid him tribute?

What is the meaning of this?

A Barlas dagger?

Was it you?

It wasn't me.

He was just a puppet under Mongol control.

This was made to look like the Barlas clan,

our clan!

I will gather my men,

and we will go to your brother in Khorasan,

prepare him to be our next king.

And you...

You will find who did this.

And what if I don't, nephew?

Ugh!

Let it be known

the king is dead.

The king is dead!

What if he tries to take the throne for himself?

Convince the nobles to wait for our return with Hussayn.

Because if they don't,

war will come to Samarkand.

Tugluk Khan will come.

Timur,

when will your time come?

Kay Khusrau,

let it go.

The king is dead!

In our absence, our fears for Samarkand

became reality.

Kay Khusrau vanished, presumed dead.

My uncle Hadji led a reckless rebellion against the Mongols,

bringing Tugluk Khan's wrath upon the entire city.

I chose loyalty to the Mongols,

to Tugluk Khan.

Timur is a fool.

He has betrayed his people.

I wondered if I could have

stopped it all that night.

If I had not believed my uncle.

Yet with his dying breath,

he swore he didn't kill the king.

It wasn't me.

Tugluk Khan sent his son Ilias

to fetch us from the Silk Road.

Where raiders, emboldened by turmoil,

preyed upon the trade caravans that sustained us.

Where are the Baghatur?!

Now we wait...

for an end to the fighting,

for word from the Khan,

for the day when Hussayn claims his rightful throne.

On behalf of our future king,

we protect the road.

Holding the line until order is restored.

They were after black powder.

En route from China.

Nothing more dangerous than a weapon you can't control.

I'm telling you, that was the Zoroastrian witch

- who's fabled in these parts. - Uh-huh.

Because no ordinary woman could have bested me.

Ah!

Don't be so sure of that, brother.

We can still catch more of them.

We can cut them off at the next pass.

You would want me to attack a woman in retreat?

Ah yes, I forget that you are a man of honor.

Those laws of Yassa will get you killed one day.

Those raiders will return

for more as soon as we turn our backs.

And the Baghatur will be here to protect the Silk Road.

As we've promised to do.

Those promises will do no good

if the road is overrun, Timur.

Son of Taraghai?

Timur Barlas...

from Kesh?

Yes.

Eh! Elchi!

Help these travelers gather their things.

They'll camp with us tonight.

Saved by the legendary Timur,

the pride of our fair city.

I'm honored.

You exaggerate.

Is it true...

you fought off the pack of wolves

to defend your mother?

I would have to have been very young.

So the story goes.

I am just an ordinary Barlas man like you.

There is nothing ordinary about what you did today.

My grandfather received this from great Kublai Khan.

A promise of safe passage along the Silk Road.

He said the glimmer alone would keep raiders at bay.

Now it seems to be an invitation

even before your grandfather's death, my king.

And here I thought you knew only the legendary Timur.

Kazkhan was a great leader

and a good client.

Tugluk Khan and the Jette Mongols

are our only chance to restore order to the Silk Road.

And when they restore me to the throne,

I will bring peace to our people,

from one end of the Silk Road to the other.

You cannot afford to lose

one of your strongest men.

Just take a few days, heal.

Aljai, why retreat?

Why are you pretending to know the intricacies of the game?

Has your sister ever retreated from anything?

She's laying a trap for our new friend.

Timur. It's been too long.

Prince Ilias.

What brings you this far?

My father wishes to see you in Samarkand,

straightaway.

As soon as I've seen to my men.

These raids are growing more frequent,

and some of the Baghatur need time to heal their wounds--

Your Khan does not summon your men, Amir Timur.

You seem well enough to ride.

Of course he is.

He wouldn't disappoint the Khan or his messenger.

A game of strategy.

Come, my friends.

Let us gather some spoils for our journey with Timur.

Perhaps he will join me for a game in Samarkand.

Why summon you and not Hussayn?

I don't trust Ilias.

I trust his father.

Tugluk will give Hussayn the throne.

What will the people think when they see you

riding into Samarkand instead of Hussayn?

I am no threat to them.

There are rumors, Timur.

Rumors of your father's visions.

I am not my father.

Nor am I his visions.

The people don't see the man I do...

or the kind of father...

you are about to become.

Father?

My love!

Put me down.

-What will we name him? -Him?

Or her.

Something noble,

like you.

Tekina,

after your mother.

For a son,

Jahongir.

King of the world?

Your brother won't like it.

Aljai,

I promise you,

before our child sees this world...

I will restore our family's place in Samarkand.

Everything will be as it was.

In sha Allah.

Are you certain you don't want me to join you?

In these uncertain times, I will not risk my lovely wife.

You'll be safer with your brother.

Just promise me you'll be careful.

With the Jette Mongols, nothing comes free.

I will make you proud, my queen.

Make both of us proud.

Do you have children, Timur?

Soon.

I've only just found out.

All things are held

in perfect balance.

As we see it in nature,

so it goes with our very souls.

"And he raised up the heaven

and set a balance that you may not transgress..."

"...you may not transgress in the balance,

but weigh things equitably."

Your father always knew you were destined for great things.

I hear his visions are coming true.

I am a trusted advisor without any trust,

to a newly appointed leader

without the sense to lead.

"To get what you love,

you must first be patient with what you hate."

Al-Ghazali?

Tugluk Khan sees something in you, as we all have.

Even if your short-sighted teacher

told you to stay closer to home.

Foolish, as it turns out.

Come, sit.