The Bastard Executioner

Previously on The Bastard Executioner...

My name is Wilkin Brattle.

I was a knight in Longshanks' army.

Gawain Maddox was an executioner killed

in service to your husband.

I took the punisher's identity to save myself and my friends.

I'm sorry I lied to you, Lady Love.

Why is it that you bring these men to my chapel?

What is it that demands such secrecy? Not your concern.

He had us stripped from neck to waist,

looking for heretical markings.

Did the archdeacon say what they looked like?

You have seen such markings. Yes.

The healer in the Far Caverns.

You think he spins a tale to save himself from servitude?

We will see what becomes of it

on our way out of this godless, damp hole.

My needs here will grow.

I'm depending on you.

A brother could not ask for more generous sisters.

Half-sisters.

The rebel threat is to be crushed by any method.

These people are nomads, not rebels.

Sir Norton.

He is my offering.

Torture him. Kill him.

You wrath will not touch our reeve

or any of his other men.

You are well aware of the consequences,

if you turn against that.

Our chamberlain will think this was our brutal blade.

The reeve... Leon didn't see it.

Corbett will only see betrayal.

Thank you.

Devotion requires no thanks, my husband.

You have not given to a mood or spirit of joy

since we laid together.

Did... I give pleasure?

Yes.

I was most satisfied.

Pater noster...

qui est in coelis.

Sanctificter nomen tuum.

Adveniat regnum tuum.

Fiat voluntas tua...

sicat in coelo et en terra.

Panem nostrum quotidianum

da nobis hodie.

Et dimitte nobis.

Is that not layered too thick?

I do not want the earl to think

I swallowed a lamb shank in my sleep.

I must use twice the padding as last week, my lady.

With your ever-shrinking waistline,

that stuffing went utterly undetected.

You are supposed to be two, three months?

Three blessed months.

The Earl of Warwick's urgent visit

may yet bring more progeny scrutiny from Windsor.

As I am devoted to you,

and all the truths you hold close, my lady,

I must ask: in light of this growing royal scrutiny...

is there anything I need to know about our punisher?

You and Master Gawain spend accountable time

in each other's company, Baroness.

I just want to be...

To be what, maiden?

Oh, do not give feigned deference

when your boldness already fills the room.

Speak!

There is nothing I can speak you do not already know, Love.

You are of royal, noble blood.

Master Gawain is a common man who holds a brutish trade.

Any suspicion of... Suspicion is fear without truth.

That turns to poisonous talk and spreads like fire on hot oil!

I am sorry, Baroness.

And, yes, I am aware that my deep affection for you

continues to push me beyond reasonable behavior.

But I fear if I say nothing, nothing will be said...

until it is too late.

Leave me.

Your stubborn king finally put quill to parchment.

Honored his promise to the Ordainers.

"Having led the king astray,

"and persuaded him to do evil,

Piers Gaveston shall be cast out and exiled."

And it is my mission

for both God and country to make certain

that his third banishment be his last.

He is with his brother now.

Guilt of that death never settled well for him.

I'd wager Calo and Aron have already

beat the piss out of each other.

Yea.

Fighting over the last bowl of stew.

I'm sorry, brothers.

I never thought my deception here would turn this way,

bring this much suffering.

We were all a part of it, Wilk.

You have done nothing in need of contrition, brother.

Give your eyes and mind some rest, good priest.

I read it three times.

Each time brings a need to read it yet again.

You may ask your questions now.

Are there more?

There are nine scriptures.

All of them are hand-scribed by the Nazarene?

Yes.

Jesus... son of Joseph.

One testament, one author.

If these are truly his words,

the very foundation of all that I believe

and all that I preach...

Is shattered.

That is why Robinus and his army pursue us.

We are the seraphim...

the ones chosen to carry and protect

the words of the Nazarene.

Protect?

From the Church?

They are called Socijs Rosula.

"Knights of the Rosebud."

Descendants of the very soldiers who whipped,

tortured and lay a crown of locust thorns

on the head of the one they mocked as King of the Jews.

The Rosula believe

Jesus rose from the dead, walked out of his tomb,

and when faced with these same soldiers,

he pardoned their sins,

and appointed them keepers of his sacred history,

granting them divine impunity,

and the power of the Church to destroy

anything or anyone

that might prove a threat to that story.

The danger that is found in these pages...

What will Robinus and his knights do if they capture you?

Bring them all to their knees, stripped.

Only the seraphim lives.

I do not understand the purpose I serve in all of this, woman.

I'm but a manor priest,

not a scholar or a prophet.

We do not need a scholar

or a prophet.

We need a warrior.

Templar traps.

There's a letter.

No!

Above!

Devils.

(seagulls screeching, waves crashing)

Is there anything else you wish me to tell our punisher?

No. Only where we can now be found.

This bond that you have to Maddox...

Is between the executioner and myself.

The Rosula, they know the priest came to us.

And now they will come for him.

Yes.

His next test of faith.

Yeah.

Edward's utter disregard for sound council

pushes England to the brink of civil war.

Our loyalties are twisted, our power is diminished,

and our finances... apocalyptic.

So in order to prevent doom

and insolvency, you and the Ordainers have seized

the strings of our king's frivolous purse.

We return stability

by giving the rights of disbursement to Parliament.

Influential barons forcing the hand of the king.

Are not you the ones pushing us to the brink of civil war?

May lead to greater conflict.

Edward may try to amass forces.

But without his conspirators and bottomless coffers,

he will never gather an army

that can best our combined efforts.

May we assume you are here to gather more combined efforts?

That is one of the very reasons

we travel here this day.

The Ordainers would like to offer Ventrishire

a seat at our concerted table.

You provide us with your formidable military support

and access to the sea.

In return, we make certain that Parliament never divides

or bestows Ventrishire to another.