The Golden Blade

It is written that once, long ago...

during Baghdad's golden rein, a strip of desert...

lay in dispute between Baghdad and Basra.

It was across this desert that a youth name Harun...

journeyed to join his father's caravan, unaware that Allah...

in his mysterious ways, had decided his Destiny.

Father, father!

By Allah's will, I depart, my son.

- They'll pay for this. - Do not give your life for me.

But seek out the maker of these crimes on all Basra.

This, torn from my murderer...

shall one day lead you to vengeance.

Go now, my son, and may Allah keep you.

I'm dying of hunger. I'm dying of thirst.

I'm old, I'm sick.

Oh, son of a fortunate father, give a little coin or I shall perish.

May the greatest felicity come unto you. May your sons be like...

No, Khairuzan, I beg you, leave!

Trouble follows you like a faithful dog.

You want me to leave?

- Then buy these clothes. - No!

Then I'll stay here until I'm found.

Blossom of spring, I appeal to your justice...

these clothes are useless to me. Not worth one dinar.

Somebody's coming. Go! Hide! Quickly!

Welcome to the humble shop of Barcus the Greek.

I would like to buy some clothing, not necessarily new.

Fate has guided you properly, I have many bargains.

Here is one. Imported cloth. The latest fashion in Baghdad.

- And the price? - For you, merely a token.

Shall we say 10 dinars?

Something tells me the price is too high.

Does it not tell you the garment's value?

- Yes, one dinar. - One dinar? For clothes like these?

- You're mad. - Your sign speaks of bargains.

But not of gifts.

You shall have your 10 dinars. Here, it's equal.

20 aspers, but for a complete outfit.

Basra coin.

Follow me.

There are things just arrived from Syria. Find what you like and we'll bargain.

- Khairuzan, I implore you. - No.

Approach, citizens! Gather to hear of your plight!

Of the disgrace to Baghdad!

No longer does Baghdad reflect glory, nor her sons breathe defiance to the enemy!

While Basra steals our land, the Caliph shrinks...

in cowardice refusing war.

- He lies! - No, please! Don't go.

It is not Basra that attacks nor steals from Baghdad.

- What proof is there of you tale? - Are not my words living proof of truth?

- Why does this girl lack discretion? - She lacks nothing else.

Such spirit must be rewarded.

Yet, whilst the Caliph cowers in his palace...

The Caliph does not cower, you horse thief!

It is false that he does not think of his people.

Ignore this daughter of a horsefly that she might return to her kitchen.

Daughter of a horsefly!

Why you misbegotten son of a flea-bitten camel!

- A Dog and a liar! - After her!

Guards, guards!

Let go!

Do not be concerned. This is not your affair.

- The girl, who is she? - Forget about her.

- She is not for you. - How your mouth tightens...

when there's no talk of money!

You are from Basra. What does one call you?

What is your name?

I am Harun...

Son o Unkai.

And your sword? Is it from Basra, too?

No, I found it in your shop.

- It's mine, then. - It was, until I bought it.

Look, my friend. You don't expect a sword like this...

You bought only clothes.

- You... you... It was there by mistake. - You said pick what I like.

Look, here. This is... look.

- You wouldn't go back on your word? - I, a Greek? Never.

- If you insist, I'll buy it back. - No, I like it.

A bargain is a bargain.

Many more such bargains will return me to slavery. Come.

I know you saved my life, but let's be reasonable.

What's so important about this sword?

You did not notice?

Let me have it for a moment.

It didn't work now.

Could I have been wrong about the sword?

You did not expect it to cut heavy iron?

Here. You try it.

Why Zeus, I knew I was right.

Where did you find this weapon?

Right here.

- I see now. - I don't understand.

The sword works for you. Not for me nor did it for him.

It's the magic combination of you and the sword.

I recall legends buried in the forgotten past.

It's written somewhere. I must search.

- There's faint writing on the blade. - Inscriptions. Let me see.

- What does it reveal. - It's in two languages. Both dead.

I'll find a way. I'm the only one who can.

I have ancient records. You may have found a magic weapon.

What glories can be ours. What fortunes won.

By Allah.

Would be magic indeed if this were mine at such a time as this!

Destiny has guided us together!

I to interpret, you to wield the blade!

Alas, good Greek. I do not seek fortune.

But I'm here upon a bitter quest. Can you recognize these?

My destiny is to seek their meaning.

- They are strange to me. - If, in this quest...

- the mysterious sword can aid me... - No! You do not understand!

All swords are two edged. This one doubly so.

It worked for you, yet it refused my effort.

Until we learn more, beware.

Doom may be our fate as easily as success.

I must take that chance.

These legends can wait, my mission must not.

No doom can be greater than to fail in this.

I... I...

But there is discontent in Baghdad.

Rebellion against you is growing, Caliph of Caliphs!

Each day brings news of Basra's violence.

Each day there're more attacks against our people.

Then route our caravans another way.

But the land in question belongs to Baghdad.

The land in question is only sand. That has never been in doubt.

Let Basra keep the sand, Jafar.

For war brings only sorrow and violence.

Let go, fool. Let be!

Hold still, crimson plague!

Behold the conquering hero subduing the helpless girl.

Khairuzan, now what mischief inspires you?

No mischief of mine, father, but of those in the streets who speak bad of you.

So, you've been about the city again, against my orders.

Look at you. You look like all the ginns of Gehenna!

I go among my people only to learn the truth.

- Is there harm in this? - Harm?

Is brawling with rabble fit for a princess?

Such acts are aids to a riot.

A princess would have no need of these acts if your idle son...

did his duty and struck down my father's defamers!

- My son protects the princess. - Protects me?

- He demolishes me. - You are too impetuous.

Impetuous fails to describe such conduct.

The princess's contempt for holy laws...

her behaving like a country wench incites the people.

Destroys faith to the throne.

- Opens the door to rebellion. - Jafar speaks wisdom, my daughter.

I command that the Princess be confined to the Palace.

I charge you, Captain Hadi, with full responsibility.

As you desire, Oh Caliph.

I will have a word in private with you, Prince of True Believers.

If you mean Basra, there will be no war.

It was the Princess I had in mind.

The princess is no longer a child that can be cured by confinement.

True, she has grown into womanhood suddenly.

We did not properly perceive it.

By chance the answer might be in marriage.

For Khairuzan?

It's said that marriage calms the tempestuous nature.

He who now watches over her, would cherish her as his wife.

Granted my son is not gifted in speech or manners...

but he is of noble birth, and as a warrior, second to none.

Your thought indeed has merit. I will speak to Khairuzan.

Perhaps it shall be arranged.

If one's son be not wise, let him at least be tall.

- What is amiss? - I incite a riot.

- You interfere. - It was the foolish Princess.

Enough. It is done.

And the Basra incident avails us nothing!

What can be gained from a strip of desert waste?

What stupidity. It is to undermine the Caliph, take power in our own hands...

that I provoke these troubles! Not for a parcel of sand.

But I'm wasting words. Hearken now to this...

the Caliph will soon consent to your marrying Khairuzan!

Me marry that snarling infant. Ten thousand devils, no!

Why not?

Should something overtake her father, you would go far with her as wife.

- She has great riches? - And should she also suffer...

- a mortal accident. - I could even then be Caliph!

Your keen perceptions humble me.

Caliph of Baghdad. Perhaps Basra conquered.

- The world in the palm of my hand. - Our hands, son. Our hands.

All right, say it! A plague upon me! I'm a thankless pest!

- I'm a thankless pest! - I did not think that, Princess.

Almighty Allah, how could you impose such a life upon us?

While men are permitted to roam, to live...

we are imprisoned in a harem!

There must be so many lands to see!

Lands more beautiful than poets can say!

And wonders unheard of in Baghdad.

Compassionate Allah, how I would like to see for myself!

Why the laughter?

Pray, let us all hear. We could do with some amusement this day.

- It is not of my invention. - Come out with it.

It was told me by the eunuch, who heard it from the guard...

- who heard it from his Captain. - Who was so informed by Hadi...

- Who was told it by Jafar... - Who conferred with the Caliph.

Not who, but what?

Hadi is to marry the Princess Khairuzan!

- What did I hear? - It's true, Oh, Princess.