Previously on "The Outpost"...
I am Yavalla, Prophetess of the Blackbloods.
The subjugation of the humans at the Outpost is at an end.
This human is dead.
Talon passed you a sleeping death elixir when she kissed you.
You'll have to just wait down here and recover in hiding.
You must go to Aegisford. Raise an army.
The way to paradise is somewhere at the Outpost.
The kinj.
This is what will free us all.
There it is.
Don't! Let go of me!
Garret Spears is still alive.
- Yes. - We must find him.
Yes, High Priestess.
- So... - Hmm?
I have a feeling you like this Blackblood girl.
Wren? What's not to like about her?
She's got everything you have. She's, um, brave and beautiful.
And strong-willed, but she's also smart.
- Hey. - Not that you're not smart.
You're really smart. You're street smart,
but she's more, you know, hmm, Janzo smart.
My queen.
As you were. No need to stand on ceremony.
Please continue celebrating your new freedom.
Gods, am I glad to see you two.
Janzo, a pint of your finest ale.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Isn't life wonderful?
It's definitely better, but it's a far cry from wonderful.
Janzo, don't be so negative.
- You know, you should be proud. - Proud of what?
Well, the Priestess says if it weren't for the two of you,
she wouldn't be able to spread
all this beautiful peace she's been bringing our people.
Gwynn, you all right?
Yes. Why?
It's just you don't seem yourself.
- Your Majesty, um... - Mm?
...are you sure you haven't been drinking something already?
Maybe using some herbs?
No. Why?
Mm, you seem a little, um, intoxicated.
I am intoxicated, Janzo.
I'm intoxicated with life!
Look. Look at the wonderful friends that I have.
Talon, um, could I talk to you for a minute alone?
Sure.
Everything all right?
I told you, it couldn't be better.
I was just thinking, now that we're at peace,
Garret could come out of hiding.
I don't think that's a good idea.
I mean, the Blackfist still see him as a threat.
They'll want him dead.
Mm. Well, then I want to go and see him.
- Where is he? - He's safe.
- Talon, do you not trust me? - Yeah, of course.
Then tell me, where is Garret Spears?
If you go to him, you have to be careful you're not followed.
Of course. Where is he?
He's in the sewers
where the Mistress used to have her colipsum farm.
You know where that is?
- Yes. - I know where that is.
So glad that you're safe.
And you, too, nephew.
Thank you, Auntie Gertie.
Um, but I have some bad news.
What is it, Munt?
I'm sorry to tell you, but your sister has passed.
She died a hero in my arms,
stabbed during the battle.
Um, I brought you her pipe as a keepsake.
I'm sorry for your loss, nephew.
You may keep that. I don't smoke.
Tobin, you must tell me everything that's happened at the Outpost
- since I've been here at Aegisford. - There's no time for that.
All you need to know is that Rosmund and the Outpost
have been taken hostage by Blackbloods.
- Oh, dear. - I've come to gather my army.
Well, that's gonna be difficult.
Most of your men died or were injured
fighting the Prime Order.
Your army is almost entirely depleted.
- How many do we have? - Maybe a hundred.
- You were supposed to be rebuilding. - I tried.
I recruited the few women willing to fight.
Beyond them, all that's left is old men and children.
Does that mean we can't go back and save everyone?
Oh, shut up, Munt.
You know, you really sound like your sister sometimes.
Why don't you go get something to eat, big guy?
- Over there. - Yeah.
Tell them I'm with you.
Yeah.
I could eat.
- Tobin. - Falista.
- What are you up to? - Nothing.
Falista heard you were home and begged to see you.
I did. I begged.
And what about Lord Relman, your husband?
He died. He was an old man.
So you see, she's inherited all of Lord Relman's wealth and lands.
Ah, and now she's free to wed again.
- Indeed. - Gertrusha, I'm betrothed.
I understand you were unsuccessful in your quest to marry the queen.
Only delayed.
Well, now I'm back in your life, Tobin.
I've known you since we were children.
You'll change your mind.
Remember those?
- I was doing some thinking. - Mm-hmm? About what?
Well, Mother is talking about humans and Blackbloods
- living together in peace. - Mm.
Which means that the two species will be interacting
- a lot more closely. - Yes.
So I was wondering if there was any, you know,
biological, epidemiological, or chemical problems with that.
Not sure I'm following.
Well, humans and Blackbloods have never cohabited
for any amount of time, you know, that I'm aware of.
What if they have a physiological reaction to each other?
Hm. I've been around Talon for quite some time now.
No reaction. Besides,
Blackbloods and humans are almost identical species.
- Well, our ears are different. - Mm, and your blood, too.
And obviously those with kinjes are different,
but then they're different to everybody, aren't they?
So, uh, the point is, those are the only differences.
Are they? I mean, are our insides the same?
Do we have the same organs?
Mm, pretty much exactly.
Same, uh, brain, heart, liver,
kidney, stomach, intestine.
What about reproductive organs? Are they the same?
Yeah, um, yes, I think so.
I wonder, strictly scientifically speaking, of course,
what if, say, a male human
and a female Blackblood were to...
I don't know. I mean, I know what you mean,
I just don't know the answer, scientifically speaking.
Right.
I kissed Talon once. She's a Blackblood.
That's as far as it went. There was no adverse effect.
I mean, I don't really think she was kissing me
with the intent of it going beyond that, you know?
I'm going to stop talking now.
You're cute when you get nervous.
Nervous? I'm not ner... me, nervous?
I'm not nervous. Are you nervous?
What's there to be nervous about?
Yeah, time for a refill.
May I have a moment?
Come in.
- I've been thinking. - Always dangerous.
You came back to get an army to save Rosmund,
but you have no army to speak of.
And here is the important thing,
Falista has a large intact army within range of the Outpost.
- How large? - At least 2,000 strong.
I can only guess what she wants in return to loan me that army.
Oh, you... you can be sure she won't loan it to you.
She'll want to merge it with yours as one.
As is the norm when, um, two nobles marry.
You want me to marry Falista?
You were the one who wanted me to marry the queen.
Yes, you're right, I did.
But I see no scenario in which case that can happen now.
We take the best option before us, Tobin.
This isn't just a business arrangement for me, Gertrusha.
I love Rosmund. I won't do it.
Would it be so bad?
It wasn't so long ago that Falista was the love of your life.
Falista was the love of my childhood.
Rosmund is the love of my life.
Gwynn really isn't acting like herself.
I wish you'd let me go talk to her.
She'd tell me things she won't tell anyone else.
No. The Blackfist would kill you at first sight.
Why? If things are so peaceful up there as you say.
Mm?
You were executed for killing one of their own.
If you show up alive, they'll kill you for sure this time.
Oh, let them try.
Come on, Garret.
Even if you could get past the Blackfist,
their Lu-Qiri would kill you.
Besides, I prefer you alive.
Since when?
Since I found out how good of a kisser you are.
What do you want?
Yavalla would like to meet your human friend.
How does she know I'm alive?
Yavalla knows all.
Now come peacefully
and no one will be hurt.
- What does she want? - To welcome him into the United.
Yeah, I don't know what that means. Do you?
- Nope. - Then it's not going to happen.
Our orders are to bring you back alive or dead.
Then that's really not going to happen.
Might I suggest that you leave peacefully,
so we don't have to kill these two?
Is something funny?
You have bad taste in hostages.
You took the only two of us who aren't Blackfists.
And why does that matter?
It matters because we don't value their lives
any more than we do yours.
How did they know I was alive?
You exposed him.
You used to love him.
Well, hold on, Talon. Exposed who?
You sent Blackbloods to kill Garret.
What? I would never.
You and Janzo were the only ones who knew where he was,
and I know Janzo didn't say anything.
Well, neither did I.
Then why were you so insistent that I tell you where he was?
Because I wanted to go and see him.
To thank him. Maybe bring him some food.
I would certainly never do anything to hurt him.
Then how did they find out where he was?
I don't know.
Maybe one of the guards overheard us.
- Are you all right? - Mm.
Just a headache.
How dare you come in here and accuse me
of revealing Garret's whereabouts?
The man I have loved all my life?
How dare you come in here and accuse me
of revealing Garret's whereabouts?
The man that I have loved all my life?
- Get out. - Get out!
- What is wrong with you, Gwynn? - Get out!
It's just me.
What are you doing here?
Trying to remind you of old times.
Remember when I used to sneak in here when we were teenagers?
I had to pay a guard in gold for his silence.
So many special moments in my life happened in this room.
In our lives.
You mean like the last time you were here,
when you told me you were marrying Old Relman?
I had no choice. My father promised me to Lord Relman.
You should have disobeyed.
I was only a teenager. And a woman.
I couldn't run away and go win fortune and glory.
Disobeying my father wasn't an option for me.
Your father didn't care about your happiness.
He only cared about Relman's wealth.
That may be true, but now both men are in their grave,
and I've managed to inherit all of it.
I'm sorry, Falista.
I didn't know about your father.
I hated them both.
You were the only man who ever really cared about me.
- I'm sorry, Falista. - Stop saying you're sorry.
The point is all that is yours and all
that is mine could be ours to share.
I have all I need.
From what I hear, you need my army.
Maybe if this were another time and place.
But I can't, Falista.
I'm betrothed to another woman.
Queen Rosmund?
I don't believe you're in love with her.
You just want to be king.
It started out that way.
But now it's real.
Please.
You're making the wrong choice, Tobin.
Mm.
Knock, knock.
I was told you wanted to see me.
Leave us.
And what may I do for my Queen?
Oh, Sammy.
We're childhood friends.
You saved my life in battle.
There's no need to stand on ceremony.
Please, sit. Eat.
Oh.
You know, if I recall...
...you once admitted that you were in love with me.
Yes, when we were children.
As my oldest friend in the world,
I wanted to give you something.
I'm so glad you could join the United.
- As am I. - Now go.
Spread my gift to others.
The craftsmanship on this box is really, uh,
quite fascinating.
You have got an amazing array of instruments down here.
Thank you. Made most of them myself.
I guess you're just very good with your hands.
Hmm, I am,
even if I do say so myself.
You know what? I think we should do
that scientific experiment we were talking about.
Mm-hmm. What experiment is that then?
You know, the one we were talking about earlier?
About what would happen if a human and a Blackblood
- were to... - Oh.
I mean, it would be strictly for science.
Mm-hmm. Only for science.
And it wouldn't mean anything beyond that.
No. No, nothing.
Just furthering our combined knowledge of the species.
Exactly.
- Hmm. - Um...
This is going to be really interesting.
I love science.
I understand you wish to see me, Tobin.
Yes.
Gertrusha, would you mind giving us some privacy?
Gertrusha's aware of my proposal.
- She may stay. - Proposal?
Yes.
I need an army,
and it seems like you have one at the ready.
So, I would like to propose...
a payment for the use of your army.
- A payment? - Yes.
So that's what our relationship has become, a transaction?
Tobin, I am richer than you are.
I have no interest in your money.
My only interest is in you.
Even if we were both dirt poor,
I would still love you.
I have done since we were little kids.
I'm sorry, Falista.
I'm sorry, Tobin,
because the only way you can have my army is through marriage.
But I'll only be marrying you for your army.
Not because I...
not because I love you.
I know.
And you still want it?
Time makes love grow.
And you'll be with me, not Rosmund.
And I'm confident that your old feelings for me will return in time.
I'm sorry, Falista. I... I just don't believe that would ever happen.
I love Rosmund.
If your feelings are really that strong for your queen
and you truly wish to save her,
the only way you can do that is to give her up.
Hmm. How very ironic.
What?
Well, I remember when you used that exact same bait
to try and win Rosmund's hand.
- It didn't work on her. - Is it going to work on you?
You're really a bigwig here, eh?
I'm not sure I deserve their respect these days.
Sure you do. You're about to become king.
It's beginning to look like that won't happen.
- Why not? - Because if I don't raise an army
to go back and save Rosmund,
the Blackfist will probably kill her.
But the only way I can raise an army fast enough
is if I marry Falista.
Seems like neither of them is good choices.
- Tell me about it. - So if you marry Falista,
you save the queen.
That seems like the most important thing.
You're right.
Rosmund's survival is more important than my happiness.
You know what, Munt? You're more astute
than most of us give you credit for.
- What does "astute" mean? - Rosmund will hate me,
but at least she'll be alive.
Did I say that?
Hello, Talon.
What do you want?
Oh, my dear,
I had thought we were long past this animus.
I'm busy.
Preparing to fight somebody?
Better to be prepared.
Talon, it's time I passed on some wisdom to you.
More lies about my father?
No.
Truth about everything.
What in the gods?
Talon, you will love being part of the United.
- United? - Give me your hands, please.
- No. - Talon!
Shh, shh, shh. Shh.
Your kinj doesn't do what you said, does it?
No, it does not.
I... I don't understand.
A kinj won't work on someone who already has one.
Shh, shh.
Is it true your kinj does not work on Talon?
Yes.
What have you not told me this before?
It never came up.
Why? Priestess?
What does your kinj do?
Must I repeat myself?
It takes us to paradise.
Then why haven't we gone?
Zed.
You were right.
I have a confession.
I was wrong.
- About what? - The paradise we seek,
it does not lie in another realm.
It is right here inside ourselves.
- I don't understand. - But you will.
You will understand in time.
Be patient.
You have done your part.
All you have to do now is watch with wonder
as I spread peace.
You do trust me, don't you, Zed?
Implicitly, Priestess.
- Janzo. - Nothing.
Wasn't doing anything down there.
- Yavalla's kinj reproduces. - Reproduce? No.
No, that weren't really... wasn't our goal.
We were just trying to, um, experiment.
What are you talking about, Janzo?
What are you talking about, Talon?
Yavalla's kinj doesn't do what she said.
Or maybe it does, but the one thing I do know it does is reproduce.
- How do you know? - Because I saw her kinj
split into two right before my eyes.
And then she tried to pass me one, but my kinj blocked it.
Mm.
What do you want, human?
I just... I just want to pass some knowledge to you.
Explain yourself.
Welcome to the United.
Garret, what are you doing
- out of the sewers? - Doesn't matter.
Look, I just saw Sammy grab this Blackblood woman,
and he was sweaty and pale like he was sick.
And I swear to you, Janzo, I swear Sammy had...
- A kinj. - Two, actually.
And he passed one to... how did you know that?
That means others can spread it.
I thought it was just Yavalla.
Wait, sorry, so Yavalla's kinj
doesn't open a portal to a new place?
I'm not sure what it does.
The only think I am sure of is that it spreads.
Then we have to get to Gwynn and protect her from getting one.
We might be too late.
Gwynn's the one who asked me where you were right before
the Blackbloods came to kill you.
No. No, Gwynn would never give me up.
- What if she had no choice? - What do you mean?
If she's spreading all of these kinjes,
then there must be a reason.
- Something for Yavalla to use. - Like what?
Like a hive. Maybe it connects all of the stingfly brains together.
- Is that even possible? - Oh, yes.
Oh, yes, there's many examples in nature.
There's, um, there's stingflies and... and waju ants.
It will enable Yavalla to control anyone who has one of her kinjes.
And what does that mean? That she can see what they see?
And hear what they hear?
I don't know. Maybe.
Right. If that's true, it means
we cannot trust anyone outside this room.
Not until we know for sure that they do not
have one of those things in their heads.
Which means there may be nobody we can trust but us.
Well, there is one other person.
Marriage is a promise
between two people who love each other,
two people who trust each other,
- and two people... - Minister,
if you could do an abbreviated version?
I have much to attend to.
As you wish, Lord Aegisford.
We are gathered here today beneath the gods
to join this man and this woman in marriage.
Lady Relman,
do you promise before the gods
that no action or no person,
only death can end this marriage?
I do.
And do you, Lord Aegisford,
promise before the gods
that no action or no person,
only death can end this marriage?
I do.
Then I pronounce you husband and wife.
Right. You may now have your wedding present.
Our army awaits your orders, husband.
- Now go save your queen. - Our queen.
Yes, well,
go save her and come back to me.
Just remember the vow you made before the gods
and all of these witnesses.
So I'm supposed to believe she's, what,
spreading kinjes all over the Outpost?
Yes, and she lied to all of us.
Yavalla is our Priestess.
She always speaks the truth.
Why hasn't she opened the portal to paradise?
She told me it doesn't do that. She said it spreads peace.
- Yeah, like a disease. - What you're saying is heresy.
Yavalla's good. The embodiment of peace.
When everyone else was falling apart,
she alone kept us going in the Plane of Ashes.
Let him go, Zed.
Tell me again why we can trust him.
Because he has a kinj. She can't infect him.
Yes, but obviously she's already indoctrinated him.
- Just explain it to him, Janzo. - Yes, please do.
- Explain it to me. - Fine.
Do you even know how stingfly hives work?
What does that have to do with Yavalla?
It's like all the stingfly brains are connected to the queen stingfly.
It's like they all think with one big, combined brain.
And?
And I think Yavalla is the queen stingfly.
How would that even work?
One kinj splits into two and then is passed to someone.
And then that one splits again and so on and so on.
It's exponential.
And what possible purpose would that serve?
That's just the question that I asked myself,
and I came to the conclusion
I think Yavalla wants to control everyone.
You humans have an amazing imagination.
I'm not human.
And I especially don't appreciate the disrespect
towards our Priestess from you, Talon.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have duties to attend to.
You are not going anywhere.
What are you doing, Garret?
Garret, you're dead.
Looks like you've seen a ghost, Zed.
I am. I saw him dead with my own eyes.
- His heart stopped. - Oh, I can assure you,
Garret Spears is very much alive and well.
Now, have a seat
and hear us out.
You wanted to see me, Mother?
Wren, my dear child, come here.
I just wanted to let you know how very proud I am of you.
You have given me the key to paradise.
Yes.
Well, considering you were
prepared to leave me down there to die,
I think you owe me an apology.
You're right.
I do.
- Come closer. - You've never apologized in your life.
Why are you acting so differently?
I don't know what you mean.
Wren, give your mother a hug.
A hug?
That's another thing you never do.
What does your kinj do?
I told you.
It unites our people and takes us all to paradise.
- Show me. - As you wish.
What is it doing? How did you get another one?
Mother, what's it doing?
I am giving you the power, my love.
What power? I don't want it.
Mother, let me go. Let me go!
No!
- Janzo! - Wren?
- Janzo. - Wren. What's wrong?
- Something's wrong. - What?
She might be trying to pass him the kinj.
- Janzo, get away from her! - What are you doing?
Talon, please, if she already had her mother's kinj,
it would have migrated into me.
- Wait, you know about that? - Are you sure?
- Please. What? - Mother has two kinjes.
Two. She tried to put one of them in me.
Wait. Yavalla?
What are you doing here?
Wait, wait, wait. He works for Mother.
- He might have one of her kinjes. - He doesn't.
- How do you know that? - Because he's immune, just like I am.
Then it's true. Yavalla's passing kinjes to other people.
- Yes. - So you believe her,
but you wouldn't believe us.
How do you know these kinjes are bad?
I mean, maybe they only make people happy or peaceful.
She tried to force it on me, Zed.
Does that sound like a happy or peaceful thing?
Sammy did the same thing with the Blackblood he passed his kinj to.
This can't be right.
Now what?
An army approaches.
Who is that?
It's Tobin.
My betrothed has come to save me.
You do not need saving.
I know.
Go to him.
Give him the gift.
Talon, where are you going?
She's going to infect him with one of those things.
We need him.
Rosmund, you're free.
You came back.
You're my hero.
But, Tobin, you can lay down your arms.
Yavalla and I are now at peace.
You are?
But I'm so glad you brought your army.
Soon, yours and Yavalla's together can retake the capital
and rid this world of the Three.
And, Tobin, we can finally be married
and have everything we ever wanted.
- Talon! - I have to stop her.
It's too late!
The only thing you'll do now is expose us.
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