Knight of the Dead

In 1349,

there was a great pestilence and mortality of men

in the kingdom of Britain.

So great a plague has never been heard of

from the beginning of the world to the present day,

or been recorded in books.

For this plague vented it's spite so throughly

that fully a third of the human race was killed.

At God's command, moreover, the damage was done

by an extraordinary and novel form of death.

Many died of boils, abscesses, and pustules which erupted with virulent rage.

Others died in frenzy,

brought on by an affliction of the head, or vomiting blood.

This plague generated such horror

that children did not dare to visit their dying parents,

nor parents their children, but fled for fear of contagion.

In this manner, whole villages were emptied

but for the dead and the dying.

And into this void were drawn the looters, the pillagers, the miscreants

and with them a party of knights charged with a secret mission.

This is their story.

Stay here.

Anzo.

Gabriel.

Go with him.

My Lord.

Risk of death.

I'd rather die by steel than by the likes of this.

It must be done.

God wills it.

Father?

Are you here?

Father!

Father.

Anzo!

Stay back.

You are...

Leuthar of Avignion.

Bless us, Father.

I have what you seek.

Stay here.

You!

Will pay for this!

What kind of nave would attack someone with his cast affliction?

The fools see it as the wrath of God.

They have no experience with the plague.

We can do nothing for her now.

We have to move.

You know where to take this.

Yes.

Keep it hidden.

I am bound by His will.

I know.

Be aware that darkness will be drawn towards it.

Darkness is all there is now.

How can it get any worse?

It will get worse.

Things we cannot be speak of.

Father!

Father, please.

Complete your journey.

Make it not be in vain.

We must make haste.

I'm afraid we've stirred up a hornets' nest.

We must go!

C'mon!

They were four men of war traveling with a priest.

We will find them.

We kill them all.

We will bathe in their blood.

No time to rest, priest!

Can you continue?

- Aye. - I'll carry him.

We need to keep moving.

Anzo!

Raphel.

Gabriel.

Take the Priest!

Father.

Something is wrong here.

Something is very wrong.

Arms...

Father, I beg of you.

Get in the cave.

So help our God.

It smells of death here.

What is this place?

The ass of the world.

Why do they not advance?

It's best not to question these things.

We press on.

Come, Father.

It's a repository for the dead.

They're not all dead.

The bitch.

Bjorn!

Gabriel!

My Lord.

We'll need a way out.

His wound is severe. We need to get Magna.

No time to waste.

Father, hold his head.

Raphel, grab his arms, pull him up gently.

Easy.

Anzo!

There is passage, but... it's quite tight.

We'll have to take our chances.

Move!

Raphael?

This place...

Raphael!

No!

Raphael!

Raphael!

Raphael!

Gabriel?

Gabriel, what happened?

Where's your brother?

My lord...

Bjorn has lost much blood...

He needs water.

Give him mine!

A hand would be nice.

I hope this isn't your idea of a joke, brother.

Let's get you out of this hole.

There.

My Lord.

You are revived, my Lord.

Where's the girl?

You killed her, my Lord.

Your brothers will attend to Bjorn's wound.

Anzo and I will scout for the route ahead.

Unless you think differently, my Lord?

As you say, Father.

See to Bjorn.

Get him to an open clear and start a fire.

We need to cauterize that wound.

I hope you know where you are heading, Priest.

I do.

Up that mountain.

A long way up.

Gently.

Keep watch over him, Will.

What other mysteries do you contain, priest?

If you wish to comment...

Then speak your mind clearly, Anzo.

Such as it is.

You climb fast.

You have a... strength in you.

I can do all things through Him that strengthens me.

In that what your Messiah say?

No...

Those are the words of one that knew him.

A lens.

I've seen such tools before on my journeys deep into the East.

What territories?

I fought with the Hittites.

Studied war with the Kushan.

They use glass to see enemies over distance?

They make fire from the sun.

And look at the night sky.

There's someone out there.

We need to find safe passage.

Priest reckons he's found something.

Or someone.

If we can find them,

they may be able to aid our safe passage, food, shelter.

Good.

Bjorn will need rest.

There!

Argh! Bloody hell, Priest.

Come with me.

What about Bjorn?

We can't leave him.

Go. I don't need a nursemaid.

My Lord.

Stop Anzo!

It's a woman!

A woman about to cut your throat, Father.

And likely to attack again if we turn her loose!

Then we only have one choice.

Anzo!

There is no need for you to send this woman to the afterlife.

Enough!

- She dies! - No!

Please!

I can help you.

Oh! She can help us.

When you've already helped yourself to our food.

You a witch?

Are you!

No! I am Badriyah.

We were brought here to die.

This land is cursed.

And you.

You brought us here?

Did we have any choice?

Will you harm us if we let you go?

I will not harm you.

- She lies! - I swear it!