Lady Death

Your army is in place, milady.

Observe you demon horde!

She is here!

We await your command.

Hmm...

What thoughts plague your mind, milady?

Even such as we fear Lucifer's wrath.

Fear?

I know not the meaning of fear.

Lucifer is a powerful enemy.

We would understand if you choose not to fight this day.

There is no other choice.

Were you not there when I first took an oath as lady death?

Hmm...

The time is now.

We march on Lucifer!

I will not stop 'til the "lord of lies" is dead!

Come on you!

Mother, father, no! No!

Release me!

Hold still!

Here's money!

Take it, and leave the boy.

I have no need of your money.

It's souls I'm after. I've a war to wage!

Only god can take charge of men's souls!

Or have you forgotten your place in god's grand plan, Matthias?

God's grand plan?

Oh no, I haven't forgotten.

Take the boy, and his father.

Ahh...

You beast! He's just a boy!

No! No!

Mother. Mother!

When will the madness end?

As long as god rules in heaven, this eternal struggle will never end.

Hah ha hal

Matthias speaks and god answers.

Satisfied, priest?

Perhaps you pray to the wrong god!

God works in mysterious ways.

Father in heaven. Why have you forsaken us?

I've made up my mind, hope.

I'm not going back to school at uppsala.

But niccolo...

Our world is not ready for science.

At least not the type I wish to learn.

Then what will you do?

Go to where I can learn.

Come with me, hope.

It's too dangerous.

The war. The plague.

I've heard this all before.

I can't.

Father would never let me leave.

Your father cares nothing for you or your safety.

He's utterly consumed by his personal crusade.

He needs me.

I need you, too.

Since mother's death, I'm all he has left.

I wish she were here now. She would know what I should do.

I am here.

You are kind and good niccolo.

Like she was.

Don't ever leave me, niccolo. Promise me!

I promise you.

We are destined to be together in this world, and the next.

- Niccolo. - Hope.

He-yah!

He-yah! Ha ha ha!

Daughter, you disrespect me by ignoring my wishes!

You know you are forbidden to leave the castle without my permission!

I meant you no disrespect.

My lord, if you must place blame,

know then that I am the one who is at fault.

I see.

Niccolo, is it not?

You study medicine at uppsala?

I am niccolo, but I am no longer a student.

I came to tell hope that I am finished at uppsala.

Excellent.

My army's always in need of a good surgeon.

I am not a surgeon.

Quiet!

God can ill afford to lose any more poor souls to the devil!

Take our new recruit to the camp, there are many fresh wounds to sew.

No! Father, no!

No, niccolo!

Hope, we will be together. It is our destiny!

Father, I beg you!

Niccolo is...

Niccolo is mine, for all eternity.

See to it that my daughter is returned safely to my castle.

You will stay there and reflect upon your insubordination.

I will decide an appropriate punishment for you when I return.

Argh!

Ugh!

No.

Ha ha ha!

Uh... uh, no!

Uh! Ah!

Niccolo!

Lower the bridge!

Matthias claims he does god's work.

I say blasphemy!

God would never condone the useless deaths and atrocities

brought about by this madman.

Tonight, this unholy travesty must be put to an end.

Are you with me?

I conjure thee, invisible shadow.

I call to thee, llluminators of darkness.

Destroyers of light.

I call to thee by the name that I was given.

I ask thy gate be open.

Open to me!

Open the gate!

Come and face us tyrant!

We have a message for Matthias.

It is late. Come back in the morning.

This cannot wait!

Ugh!

Onward!

Ahh!

Niccolo!

Hope?!

Niccolo!

Bad timing, daughter!

Who are you?

The better question is, who are you?

Take him!

Take the blasphemer!

I see you also do the devil's work.

I'm impressed.

I am a man of god!

And yet the blood on your staff would seem to argue otherwise.

Ahh!

I have plans for more, but they'll wait till tomorrow.

As for you, I'm afraid your punishment will have to wait.

See you in hell, daughter!

Ah ha ha ha!

Unholy spawn of evil.

You shall be condemned to death for the sins of your father!

God help me...

I wasn't expecting visitors.

But I do appreciate the company.

Don't go!

I see you are awake.

What do you plan to do with me?

Isn't it obvious, girl?

I had no part in my father's affairs.

Do you take me for a fool?

How else can you explain why you were not destroyed by Lucifer's deadly fire?

I have no explanation.

How long have you been the devil's consort?

How dare you! He was my father.

Does the devil come to you other than in his earthly guise?

Now, reveal your witch's secrets to me!

We have nothing further to say.

So be jt!

You will burn in hell for all eternity!

I suggest you make peace with whatever gods you worship.

Confession is good for the soul.

Even one as cursed as yours.

Huh?

So, you didn't leave after all.

Actually, I just got here.

You will have to forgive the delay.

Hmmm?

Heh heh.

I am pagan. Court Jester to the prince of darkness.

And you are?

No, don't tell me. Let me guess...

You are hope!

The hopelessly naive daughter of Matthias, also known as...

Lucifer, the lord of lies.

And, thank god, you don't look a thing like him.

God, if I have done anything to offend you, I ask your forgiveness.

Oh please! You think that's going to keep you from burning at the stake?

Get away from me. You're disgusting.

I need you...

Niccolo!

We are destined to be together in this world and the next.

How?

Not one of my better impressions.

Bastard! Why do you torment me? Isn't my death enough?

Mmmm. Actually, now that you mention it...

No.

What then?

I can offer you eternal life alongside your lover, niccolo.

All you need do is honor your father and take your rightful place by his side.

Honor Lucifer?

It is a holy commandment.

It's so difficult to keep track these days.

Never! Get out.

Get out!

As you wish, but keep in mind your father's prayer...

When yours fail to bring you salvation.

We'll be waiting.

By the way...

I have grown rather fond of your niccolo in the past few days.