The Empire

Shibaagh! Wake up, Shibaagh!

Wake up, Shibaagh!

You must not stop. Keep running.

Remember this day.

Mother!

And let this day make your destiny!

No.

-Mother. No, Mother. -Go. Leave this place.

-Go, Shibaagh. -No, Mother!

Don't stop.

Mother!

Mother!

This day will change your destiny.

Never forget this day.

This day will change your destiny.

-I shall always be in your thoughts. -No!

Mother!

Mother!

No.

I will always guide you.

You must write your own destiny.

Mother!

No.

Shibaagh?

He died with his mother.

This is all that's left of him.

The scar on my face reminds me of the bad times.

Mother!

And this spur...

is the only good memory of that past.

You carry this reminder of your bad times with pride.

From today you shall carry this memory just as proudly.

The Shah of Persia has sent orders to join forces.

Or else, he shall attack Samarkand.

Pity that Persian.

He wants me to be scared.

Fine. I'm scared.

And now? Shall I bow before him?

Qambar Ali.

Send my message to the Shah...

that he can dream on.

Sire, the Shah of Persia is one of the mightiest--

So?

Babur also tried to challenge me.

And now he's wandering in the wilderness,

wallowing in his failed efforts.

Sire, his efforts are bearing fruit.

He no longer roams in disappointment.

Everyone's kneeling before Babur's wrath.

Babur is laying siege on smaller towns,

winning over them

and recruiting them.

He's building an army.

Pardon me, my Lord.

I am just informing you.

How are you?

My Babur, it's been so long.

Five moons have passed.

Your son was busy counting the men he's gathering,

increasing his army's strength.

I didn't realise the passage of time.

But you remember each day, each night.

Not a single moment went by when you didn't pray for your son.

You too.

Babur, your grandmother's eyes were always glued to the door.

Some relationships are like air.

You may not see them.

But you can't live without them either.

Why wouldn't I wait for him?

After all, I'm his grandmother.

I apologise for my past mistakes.

I shouldn't have been so harsh.

No, Grandmother, your harshness gave me strength.

Without you, I wouldn't be here today.

I was never in favour of bloodshed.

But you made me realise the worth of being a soldier,

the worth of my strength.

I've heard that King Babur has won many townships in the east?

You've been keeping track.

Every small victory means

more soldiers in our army.

And a bigger army means I am that much closer to Samarkand.

And Khanzada.

No need to draw your sword.

You're not on the battlefield.

There's no danger here.

This is Maham. Baisanghar's daughter.

She's been looking after your mother.

Thank you.

She's the one who saved Kutlugh from drowning in the lake too.

I can never repay your debt...

but please accept this small token as gratitude.

It's my privilege to serve you and your family.

Don't embarrass me with these gifts.

My happiness lies in your service,

and no tokens can match that.

How did you know?

I even know how long you've been here.

What were you watching?

Not watching, but reading.

The story of your pain written on your back.

Others feel your pain too.

You were sent to call him, not to stand here chatting.

I was just about to--

Wazir Khan and Baisanghar wish to have a word with you, Babur.

A lot has happened in Samarkand in our absence.

Shaibani Khan came up against the Shah of Persia recently.

And the Shah asked Shaibani to align with him.

Wild horses can't be tamed that easily.

Shaibani will never accept this offer.

You're right, my Lord.

Shaibani rejected the offer in not the kindest words.

Now the Shah will want revenge for this humiliation.

And we shall help him.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

The sooner we get aid from the Shah

the sooner we can reach Khanzada.

Every moment without my sister reminds me of my failure.

I must free her from that captivity.

That's all.

Going through trauma is no excuse for torturing others.

Everyone has endured pain.

He was only 10.

I was 11 when I lost everything.

You were 16, and your brother was 14.

Haven't you suffered enough?

What has Shaibani done to you

that you hate him so much?

-I was-- -King Shaibani is on his way.

Congratulations.

You'll get to spend a few more days in the open air, free from imprisonment.

I leave for an attack tomorrow.

There's a kingdom in the north, Kaziganj.

Just like you.

Stubborn.

Every year I try to win it but end up defeated.

So, you will win this time.

Just like you won me over.

Father always used to say.

The kingdoms in the north are blessed by the grace of nature.

The altitude and the cold are enough to keep any invasion at bay.

How many soldiers are you taking?

My entire army will go with me.

10,000 soldiers.

And how will you go?

On horseback. How else?

In my opinion, you should take a small army.

Only your best soldiers.

And take mules.

Mules are better for climbing mountains compared to horses,

and they make less noise.

The more silent your attack

the more your victory will resonate.

The small towns are worried about Shaibani's attacks, my Lord.

We should offer them protection and ask for their loyalty in exchange...

Forgive me. I fell asleep.

If you're awake now, can we talk about more important things?

What were you saying, Wazir Khan?

If these towns join hands with us,

then 2,000 soldiers will join our army.

This town faces east.

I suggest we plan our attack from the west.

This way they won't see us coming.

And at the crack of dawn--

We've no enmity with this town.

It's stupid to speak without knowing the conversation.

We should initiate dialogue with them.

Dialogue.

Dialogue is a shield for the weak.

Your mother and grandmother are waiting for you.

Are you coming?

My father always taught me that

lands can be won with swords,

but loyalty only through strategy.

So, let's talk to them.

Maybe we won't have to use force.

Give me a tobacco pouch.

-Are you all right? -Yes, of course.

No, you're not all right.

It's been two years.

You built an army by winning over small kingdoms,

but it feels like you don't want to wage war.

That can only happen for two reasons.

If one is too scared to die or if one has found a purpose to live for.

And I know you don't fear death.

You're willing to forego everything

just for some village belle?

Have you forgotten that your sister is at Shaibani's mercy?

Whether a person is born in palaces or on the streets,

he's just a mere mortal,

a slave to his emotions.

And...

Your emotions are getting the better of you, Qasim.

I've always respected your love and I'm thankful for it,

but friendship is all I have to offer you.

I want you to go meet the Shah of Persia

with my message of friendship.

It seems like you don't need me.

That's why you're sending me away.

I trust you, so I am sending you.