The Outpost

Mistress: Previously on "The Outpost"...

Gwynn really isn't acting like herself.

- How dare you come in here-- - Come in here and accuse me

of revealing Garret's whereabouts?

Falista was the love of my childhood.

Rosmund is the love of my life.

- You need my army. - And do you promise before the gods

- that only death can end this marriage? - I do.

Talon, you will love being part of the United.

A kinj won't work on someone who already has one.

Maybe it connects all the stingfly brains together like a hive.

- You came back. - She's going to infect him with one of those things.

But, Tobin, you can lay down your arms.

- Yavalla and I are now at peace. - You are?

That army might be our best chance to stop Yavalla.

We need to keep them out there.

They're less likely to be infected by Yavalla's kinj that way.

It won't matter if Tobin has one.

They'll just follow his orders.

Well, then we capture Tobin. Find out if he has one.

It's Vikka.

It could be helpful having a Lu-Qiri on our side.

Welcome back, old friend.

What a happy reunion.

I'm going to capture Tobin.

Wait, no. Talon, wait.

You don't know if Tobin's been infected or not.

And if he has, we don't know the extent of the hive connection.

If Yavalla can really see through his eyes

and hear through his ears, she'll send Blackfists to protect him.

Well, then I'll figure something out.

I have to find him first.

Rosmund.

What's wrong, my love?

Listen, Rosmund,

there's something that I need to tell you

that happened while I was in Aegisford.

Whatever it is, it doesn't matter.

As much as I like where this is headed,

I've been riding for a long while.

And-- and, uh,

I suspect we'll both enjoy more once I'm cleaned up.

- I smell like a horse. - You do stink.

So I'll draw you a bath here.

I'll be back before you know it.

- -

- Hey! -

I wonder if all this writing

can help us contain this infection.

Here we go again.

Time to find out if Tobin's been infected by one of Yavalla's kinjes.

Have you two lost your minds bringing him in here?

If Yavalla can really see through his eyes,

then she's gonna send people over here and--

and destroy everything I've been working on,

not to mention my own safety and Wren's safety.

I'm sorry, you've got to get him out of here before he wakes up.

Janzo, there is nowhere else to take him.

This is a bad idea. It's a very, very bad idea.

And do you have a better suggestion?

Fine. But when he regains consciousness,

just make sure that-- that his head is covered and--

and that he-- he can't see where he is or-- or who we are.

And how are we meant to question him?

Can't Yavalla hear through his ears as well?

You see, the answer to both of those questions is I have no idea.

And I have no idea because I already told you this is a bad bloody plan!

What's going on?

Where's Rosmund?

Does she know about this?

Uh, Gwynn-- ahem.

Gwynn-- Gwynn is under Yavalla's control.

Ahem. She is not herself.

Spears, is that you?

- Was it that obvious? - Oh, gods. Roz, am I dead?

Is this the afterlife? I saw you die, Spears.

Yeah, that's why we thought you wouldn't think it was me.

- So I'm alive? - Yeah.

- And you're alive? - Don't tell him anything.

- Just find out what he knows. - Zed?

You Blackblood bastard.

Garret, are you working for Zed now?

No. He certainly seems to think so.

Well, you can take this thing off my head.

I know who you are,

and I assume Janzo is in here somewhere.

What? How did you know that?

Because I'm in a cage and it stinks like a brewery.

I told you this was a bad idea.

All right, you, come here.

- Forward, forward. -

- Thank you. -

Tell me, what do you know about Yavalla?

Not much. I thought I was coming back here

- to save Rosmund from her and her Blackbloods. - Mm-hmm.

- Why? - Is that what you still believe?

This is absurd!

Spears, let me out!

Tell me, what did Gwynn tell you when you arrived?

- That's what this is about? - Mm.

Munt told you I married Falista.

Uh, I'm sorry. You did what?

- It was the only way I could raise an army. - What in the gods, Tobin?

- God, I wish I was dead now. - Does Gwynn know?

Who cares about any of this? I just need to know if he has a kinj or not.

- I have an idea. - Please.

Raise your arms.

- Don't do this. - Now dance.

No, I'm not dancing.

He's fine. You can let him out.

- Are you sure? - Mm-hmm.

If he had a kinj, I wouldn't be able to control him.

And you couldn't have thought of that any sooner?

What in the gods is going on?

Look, can we trust you to stay here until we explain?

I wouldn't miss it for the world, Talon.

Your Majesty, may I have a word?

I'll leave you. It's a honor to see you, Priestess.

Why did you not unite with your betrothed?

My kinj had not yet divided when I was with him.

You should have kept him with you until it did.

He went to clean up. He seemed reluctant.

But I expect to see him soon.

His army is a threat to us. We must not delay.

Of course. Once I have the gift to give him,

I'll take great pleasure in sharing it, I assure you.

Good. However, we have another small problem.

- What is it? - Talon.

She's resistant to becoming United.

Let me talk to her. She listens to me.

It is rather more complex than that.

We may have to kill her.

Absolutely not.

That's out of the question. She's my closest friend.

Rosmund, peace and unity do not come without a price.

We shall both have to make sacrifices to assure complete compliance.

Mine will unfortunately be Zed.

You told me you created this paradise to avoid bloodshed.

Do what you will with Zed, but I'm the queen of this realm

and I will not have you hurt Talon.

Because she cannot be United, she is a threat to our mission.

She is a dangerous killer.

You do understand that, don't you?

She's always been my loyal friend.

I see.

And if the choice comes down to Talon or me?

I'll do everything in my power to avoid such a choice.

But of course, if it comes down to it,

I'll choose the United.

I choose you.

Good.

We need to figure out a way to identify the infected.

What if you capture Yavalla, bring her here,

and then Wren and I can study her and try to figure out how to stop this.

You really think you can trust Wren not to free her mother?

- Yes. Yes, I would. - It doesn't matter.

She's guarded by Blackfists day and night, not to mention her Lu-Qiri and theirs.

It would be a suicide mission to take them on.

- Then why don't you do it? - Why me?

Because this is all your fault!

You are the one who forced Talon to bring Yavalla here.

I didn't force her to do anything!

Enough! All right, we're on the same side now.

I'll do it.

I can't just stand here and do nothing.

- We have to save Rosmund. - That's not such a bad idea.

Rosmund will be easier to get to.

That's not what I was suggesting.

Pretend it was. It sounds smarter.

Do you have a problem with me, Talon?

How about the fact that you betrayed my best friend?

I thought I was your best friend.

Weren't you the one who was just saying we're on the same side?

I do have free access to Rosmund.

I'll get us in.

Well, but you see the problem there is Yavalla knows

everything that Gwynn is doing. That's how she found Garret.

If you go capture Gwynn, then Yavalla will just

send everyone she knows after us.

It's what I'm counting on.

Tobin, you've come back.

I think I'm almost ready for you.

What does that mean?

I wanted to welcome you to the United

while we make love.

In the throne room?

That does sound tempting,

but I've got to get you out of here, all right?

- For your own safety. - Why, Tobin?

You don't have to fight for me anymore.

The Priestess assures my safety.

The Priestess is controlling you, all right?

You're basically still her prisoner.

That's ridiculous.

Yavalla has enlightened me.

This is the only way for peace.

What are you doing? I don't understand.

If I have to force you to come with me, I will.

Sammy, you're infected, too?

There's no need for violence.