The Outpost

My name is Talon.

I'm the last Blackblood, or so I've been told.

I escaped when Everit Dred killed all my people.

I cut off the points of my ears to hide in plain sight.

A tiny creature lives inside me,

passed to me by my dying mother.

It gives me the power to open portals to another world

and summon powerful demons called Lu-Qiri.

But I can only summon them when I have their names,

something that's proving to be a challenge.

The Prime Order wants me dead, but I've found sanctuary

at the farthest edge of the Realm in a place known as the Outpost.

Previously on "The Outpost"...

Admit the truth. You are no queen.

You're making colipsum inside the Outpost walls with live Plaguelings?

Ow!

Janzo, you're really close to finding a cure.

- Oh, dear. - Sister.

Nothing to say to your long lost baby brother?

- Do you believe he really is your brother? - I really want him to be.

Mother!

I did it! I found the cure!

Regardless of all the good you've done for this Outpost,

you still committed treason against the throne.

Take him to prison. Garret, put the sword down!

What have I done? I have to stop the people who did this to me.

So is that why you came looking for me? So you could get your revenge?

I need you to help me make things right.

We are looking for a young woman, murdered a man.

- I'm here for my family. - I killed them years ago.

What's your business in the Capital?

Since your weapon failed,

I thought you should see

a small demonstration

of the weapon that will replace it.

Watch.

This is it. Stay here.

Wait, you dragged me here to help you.

Yeah, now stay out here and make sure nobody comes in.

- I'm coming with you. - Talon, I am doing this alone!

Now I need to look into the Tormentor's eyes when I kill him.

Well, you have changed. You've gotten stupider.

- They're over there! - Hurry up!

- Get them! - You got this.

Don't let them get away!

Garret!

- Garret. - Sorry, Talon.

Your plan didn't work. The Queen lives.

Yeah? Sana left with One,

Bringer of Pain,

to finish what you couldn't.

I guess you've forgotten how my fist feels like.

I haven't forgotten,

and I also haven't forgotten how slowly you move,

which is what I was counting on.

I'm going to kill you for that.

Where did you learn to fight like that?

My father taught me.

I'll say good-bye to Sana for you...

just before I kill her.

Garret?

Are you all right?

Sana and One have already left

with the Prime Order army for the Outpost.

We need to get there first.

When you first heard I was alive, what were you thinking?

Well, to be honest, I wondered if you were really who you said you were

or just some imposter using our family name to draw support.

So about the same when I met you.

Mm.

For the whole journey here, I had this hope.

You know, the "what if?"

What if I still have a sister?

And then crazy fears.

Would she accept me?

Is she a complete monster who'll murder me the instant I show my face?

Mm, maybe I'm biding my time.

I didn't realize how lonely I've been,

living a life not even my own,

not telling anyone who I really was.

I'm just happy to have a family again.

That's the most important thing.

What do you want?

I request an audience with the Queen.

Oh, she'll see you all right, love.

Arrest this traitor.

How dare you show your face in here, traitor!

I know you hate me, Your Majesty,

though I still love you with all my heart.

You spied on me for my enemy.

You released Dred so he could kill the man I love.

Yes, but Garret's not dead, is he?

That is immaterial!

And Dred is dead.

I killed him.

I don't believe that more than I believe anything else

that comes out of your mouth.

Nevertheless, I've returned,

despite knowing you would reject me,

despite knowing you would probably order me killed.

Then why?

To warn you. The Prime Order has a weapon,

something like I've never seen before.

You must leave the Outpost.

Leave?

An enemy spy returns with a message.

Leave your stronghold, the one advantage you have in this battle.

Outrageous.

Did she really think you would fall for such a thing?

It's true. You must believe me.

I must do nothing of the sort.

Guards, take her away until I decide what to do with her.

Rosmund, please listen to me.

The weapon will turn your walls into dust.

You must leave! Rosmund, please!

That's what you get for your kindness.

You were always friendlier with the servants than I was.

Shut up.

Naya?

Janzo!

Janzo!

Rosmund, you've done well.

I've walked your walls, and I'm impressed.

To all your successes.

What? No one else will drink to that?

None for me. Thank you.

- Rozie? - No, thank you.

Is something wrong with it?

We received some intelligence that some of the wine

has been poisoned by Prime Order operatives.

What?

Yeah, we think it was, uh,

one of the vintages from cellar four.

Cellar four?

I've had five bottles from that cellar since I got here.

- Oh, dear. - Yeah, that can't be good.

Oh.

Oh.

Ha ha. Good one.

The cellar four bit? Touch of genius.

I thought so, too.

- Your little face. - I will get you both back.

Oh, come now, isn't that what having a little brother is all about?

It's like old times, isn't it?

What? You mean when you and the maid's boy,

the little fat one, what was his name?

You two were relentless, always ganging up on me.

- Oh, Sammy! - Yeah, Fat Sammy.

You're Fat Sammy now. Hope you're happy.

- Sounds like a solid bloke. - Bloody comedians.

When I'm king, I'll keep you both on as court jesters.

If you're king.

We still have that small matter

of the Prime Order to deal with, don't we?

Oh, you two are doing a bang-up job

clearing that obstacle for me.

We're clearing this up for her.

- Queen Rosmund. - Be nice, Tobin.

I wasn't kidding when I said I was impressed.

In what I imagine have been very difficult circumstances,

you've really come through.

You have a thriving community,

an army, even allies.

You belong on the throne.

Then where does that leave you?

I'm not abdicating, if that's what you're suggesting.

First you've got to have a throne to abdicate.

I'm not in any rush, Rozie.

I'm not of age yet.

You stay where you are ruling like a champion,

and I'll wait here in the wings

till the time is right for us to make the change.

Oh, gods, get a room.

I thought I'd never see you again.

Yeah, ironic, isn't it?

The reason you're in here, Janzo,

is 'cause you got her out of here.

What are you doing back?

I had to warn Queen Rosmund.

Warn her about what?

She's gonna have you executed, missy, and good riddance.

Mother, please, a little privacy.

- Yeah, good luck with that. - Janzo,

the Prime Order has a new weapon,

a terrible thing that tore an entire building apart

in an instant with noise and fire.

Forgive me, Naya, but that sounds a bit farfetched.

It was a big metal round thing with tubes on it.

It looks like something from your lab.

It made a terrible noise and shook the ground louder than thunder.

Fire tore through the air,

and everything around it was rubble.

I tried to tell her, but she wouldn't listen.

Janzo, you have to make her believe.

Yeah, and if you believe that, I've got some magic beans I can sell you.

I came back. I came back even though I knew I would die.

Janzo, she's Dred's spy!

She's the reason we nearly all died.

Look, I know she's pretty and she paid you some mind,

but use that big brain of yours.