Original subtitles

3,000 years ago, the Kurds,

led by the ferocious Thor, conquered Damascus,

forcing the Sultan Selim and his daughter Myriam

to flee into exile in Al Kufra.

Consumed by the desire to recover his kingdom,

Selim looked with favor on the love match

between his daughter and the young prince Phira,

son of the Sultan of Nisibi,

whose powerful army was Selim's only hope

of resuming his throne.

Stop. Don't drink that water.

Here, you can take mine.

Safawidi,

is it still far to Nisibi?

Another two days march, princess.

But before sundown, we should reach the frontiers

where you'll find young prince Phira waiting.

Your wedding is going to be the most sumptuous

the Orient had ever seen.

Thank you, Safawidi.

We must defend our princess!

I would enjo killing you.

But I promised Thor of Damascus I would deliver to him his hostage.

Princess Myriam.

Only bandits like you and your men

are low enough to collaborate with invaders.

But remember this,

my father Selim

will return to Damascus

and chase out the Kurds, and then you'll be punished.

Be careful how you talk to me.

I am Ralek,

chief of the Kharagites.

Look out.

My name is Safawidi.

I'm chief of Selim's guards.

I was escorting Princess Myriam

to Prince Phira at Nisibi.

Myriam and Phira are to be married,

but they kidnapped her. Her life's in danger.

Go to my king at Al Kufra.

Tell him that Myriam was carried away by the Kharagites.

I promise you he'll reward you handsomely.

He is the person I was on my way to see.

He sent for me secretly.

He wanted my help in reconquering Damascus.

Goliath,

I should have known it could only be you.

We'd waited for such a long time.

We'd almost stopped expecting you.

the wedding of Myriam and Phira

was to cement the alliance between Selim and Saud

against the Kurdish usurpers.

The king hoped you'd arrive in time

to escort the princess.

I was in distant lands.

Now, let's go.

No, I'm afraid I've lost too much blood.

We'd never be able to reach Al Kufra.

Go alone.

You're going to get there, my friend.

Al Kufra.

If it's not a mirage, we've arrived.

But I told you we'd get there, didn't I?

I watched her right away with those kharagiti bandits,

and she turned one last time to look at me,

and Goliath

crossed the desert on foot to bring me safely home,

even after I had asked him to abandon me.

It's obvious that the Kurds and the Kharagites have just made a pact.

This stranger is, in my opinion, a little too well informed.

We are greatly in his debt

and must at least listen to him.

Did you discover the secret hideout of the Kharagites?

No.

It would have been impossible for anyone to follow their tracks.

The sandstorm covered them up.

There's only one way to free your daughter, Selim.

Someone will have to get into the Kharagites camp

and be accepted as one of them.

Myriam must be liberated immediately!

I propose that we start negotiations with the Kharagites

to learn what they demand as ransom.

He's right. We should act at once.

The princess must be saved.

Myriam has been kidnapped on orders from the Kurds.

Apparently, they think that with her as a hostage,

they can wreck the alliance between you and Nisibi.

Are these facts or are you just guessing?

The desert sun, I've heard,

can cook a man's brain.

Perhaps.

But I seem to be hearing from the lips

of a prime minister

the stupidest word I've ever heard in my life.

You dare!

I'm grateful to you for saving one of my best men,

but that doesn't allow you to insult my ministers.

I ask your pardon, Selim.

You have it.

Go and rest.

You have no faith in that man?

I have no faith in anyone.

Who do you think you are, the monarch of Al Kufra?

No, I just wanted to sit down.

Hey, you!

There's no you sitting down.

There's nothing more to drink.

No offense intended.

So, you might as well leave.

We don't like strangers here.

To me, you are strangers.

In the name of the king !

You want to destroy Al Kufra?

Stop it, I say !

stop fighting in the name of our king Selim!

That's an order!

The first man who makes a move will have to deal with me!

On the king's orders,

the stranger is to be imprisoned.

Father,

I can't believe that your friend Selim would go back in his way.

Is it possible that he would have sent

no one at all to the rendez-vous?

I have a premonition.

Your imagination runs faster than your horse ever did.

It's entirely possible that Selim

has changed his mind about his daughter's future.

And since he's my friend,

I can't take issue with him on that score.

In other words, father,

if the alliance falls through, you won't be unhappy.

Why should I be?

It was Selim, not us, who requested the alliance.

When he was driven out of Damascus,

his army was cut to pieces by the Kurds.

Without the support of our troops,

he hasn't a chance of retaking the city.

Did you think I was happy over the prospect

of sacrificing our magnificent army

for a cause that doesn't concern us?

The Kurds are installed in Damascus,

and each day they grow more powerful.

The chief Thor is ambitious and unscrupulous.

If you ever have to turn to him for help,

may have him protect you.

Are these the words of my warrior son or of a love sick boy?

Please try not to lose your temper.

All I ask for is a small squad of cavalry

to ride to Al Kufra and see Selim.

I've already said no.

And now I'm going to tell you for the last time.

No!

Then I'll tell you for the last time that I'm going anyway.

And don't try to stop me!

Impulsive young fellow, isn't he?

I like to see that in him.

It means he has his father's blood in his veins.

Love has made him a rebel.

And why not?

But Princess Myriam is a woman who could set any man's heart on fire.

To the devil with Thor and his gold,

you're worth more to me than money.

Ralek,

a Kurd has arrived from Damascus.

In the name of Thor,

greetings, Ralek.

You brought the gold?

Is this Selim's daughter?

Thor wants her alive and unharmed.

?? found her.

Where's the gold?

My master Thor will hand it over to you personally.

I am under orders to escort the princess to Damascus.

Will nothing satisfy you, Kurds?

Isn't it enough that you've stolen a kingdom?

Thor isn't stupid.

He knows this will destroy the alliance between your father

and the Sultan of Nisibi.

That alliance was only intended to check Thor.

So, the throne of Damascus is already beginning to tremble.

That may be truer than you think.

No doubt about it.

She's the king's daughter.

I'll go to Damascus.

The city of Damascus is still full of men

who are loyal to your father,

even though the Kurds killed thousands.

I'm sorry to spoil your plan,

but you're not going to spoil mine.

Thor will bring the gold here himself,

and only then will he get the princess.

But I won't discuss it any further.

Be thankful

that I need money.

Prince Phira, this is a hopeless undertaking.

No one who's dared to venture into that territory

has ever returned.

And the men you persuaded to go with you

are too few.

I would have gone alone

if I hadn't volunteered to go along with me.

You're making your father very unhappy.

Dismissed.

Open.

You can go.

Aren't you able to sleep, Selim?

I haven't really

and I apologize to you.

All strangers are treated with... suspicion, here.

Non capisco perché ?? cosio ostili contro di me.

Non preocupate.

?? straniere ??

Ma parliamo piutosto di cosi piu serie.

Io ti avevo mandate chiamare segreto per condure e mie ejercito.

Ma prima voglio salvare mia figlia.

A donde costo...

I sent word for you to come here secretly.

Are you willing to join the ranks of the Kharagites to save my daughter?

Forgive me, Goliath, for asking you

to take such a terrible risk.

If you can rescue my daughter,

you may ask for anything that's in my power to give you.

Even if she were the lowliest of slaves,

I would do the same.

However, before you accept,

remember, Goliath,

that to become a Kharagite,

you must submit to being branded...

here.

If you refuse,

you still go free.

I accept.

Fine.

I'll say that you've escaped.

If there's a traitor here, he won't be able to inform

those bandits of our plans

before daylight you'll find your cell open.

But now, Goliath,

look at this ring.

A lion's head.

You will see one like it on the hand of a man

you must find in Damascus.

He's one of the faithful.

He will tell you how to get to the hideout, Kharagite.

You will enter Damascus

by the great gate that faces the desert,

where the merchants gather in the sun

to dock business the whole day through.

Careful, Goliath,

keep a sharp lookout.

When you reach the palace,

mixing with my people,

spare a thought to me.

Continue along that street

and you'll find yourself in the marketplace.

Cross it.

Beside a white stairway,

you'll find the emblem above a shop.

Enter.

Go to the south wall.

In the center, there's a secret door.

To the man you find within,

speak these words.

Greetings from the fountain of black fire.

Luck is not with you today.

And again.

All right.

- So, you've lost once more. - I'll get it all back.

I'm betting on the two of them against Horval.

If you want to get your money back,

why don't you bet on me?

I think he's worth betting on, Yssour.

I guess a woman is a better judge.

10 piasters on this man.

Your strength couldn't possibly match your arrogance.

I'm going to take you apart like a bunch of grapes.

Farewell, piastres.

Don't weep too soon.

You don't have to work so hard to win.

I hope you'll agree to be my guest, this evening.

In the meantime, I want you to accept these piasters

you won.

You've won them.

I'll accept your hospitality,

not your money.

It's the first time you've won any money

betting against Horval. - As you wish.

You're a very fortunate man, Yssour.

My house is over there.

I'll expect you tonight.

Wait a minute.

No one ever beat me fair and square before.

You're a good man.

Those weren't love bats that you gave me.

No one ever was so horrible,

so helpless.

The expression on his face was delightful.

He He didn't know which end was up.

I'll be right back.

A friend wants advice.

It's dangerous for you to come here, Evan.

I must leave the city tonight.

Perhaps you prefer the slave.

I saw how you looked at her.

You know only too well how beautiful you are.

I also hoped I was irresistible,

but not for you, apparently.

Don't let Yssour stop you.

He's so drunk he's probably already asleep in some corner.

No, Fatma.

I can't forget that I'm a guest in the house of Yssour.

Please thank him for his hospitality.

That man is loyal.

Selim has chosen well.

If he was able to resist you,

his loyalty must be as great as your beauty.

Strike down all of our enemies

with the sword of black fire.

We, Kharagites,

swear eternal fidelity to our goddess.

I swear

that when the Kurds have eliminated all the enemies

that threaten Damascus,

I will force those ??,

we, Kharagites, will become the masters of Damascus.

And you will be the favorite, Myriam.

Kill that man!

No!

I came here of my own free will,

because I want to join the Kharagites!

Kill him!

I know you need strong men who are ready to fight.

Why not put me to the test?

Drop your weapons!

How did you find your way here?

I followed your man across the desert all the way from Damascus.

You've already cost me one of my men.

I would have cost you more

if you hadn't ordered your men to stop fighting.

I have good eyes

and I ought to kill you.

But I've decided to give you a chance.

Before you can become one of us,

you must prove yourself worthy.

I'm ready for anything.

Why do you burn that brand on your faces?

Because with this mark, once you become a Kharagite,

you remain one forever.

Before all else, you must swear loyalty to our goddess.

I'm ready to kneel before your goddess of fire,

after I've made my peace with my own god.

I must feel

free in mind

and without any hate in my soul.

I'll repeat the words of the holy sage.

The prayer of Sapadidi.

The wise Sapadidi

who lived a thousand years ago

is not dead.

He is not dead.

He's immortal,

and Sapadidi's words are

except in silence.

Use your eyes but not your tongue

to guard yourself against enemies.

Being true to yourself,

fulfilling your heart's desires.

The gods watch over

and protect you like fathers in heaven.

Your pray is too long.

Don't try the gods patience.

Now swear allegiance to the goddess of the flame,

protectress of the Kharagites.

I swear.

And may our God approve of your being with us.

Now you must show your loyalty to me.

A number of horsemen coming from Nisibi

are crossing the desert in this direction.

It seems that they're escorting Phira,

the son of Saud.

Evidently, he's searching for his promised bride.

He might find her,

anyways too close for comfort.

You are to attack him.

And bring him to me alive,

if you really want to become a Kharagite.

There they are.

The Kharagites !

Don't fight me.

- Do as I tell you. - What do you mean ?

Stop resisting me.

Do you think I'm fool enough to trust you?

I'm a friend. I'll explain later.

I'll take care of the prince.

Phira !

Phira !

Myriam.

My dearest,

there's no hope for us.

That's not true.

I mustn't speak openly because they're listening to us.

But we have hope.

I'm certain that when I fail to return,

my father will search everywhere.

Even though I left against his wishes,

our cavalry is very strong.

We don't need your cavalry.

My father has sent someone to rescue me.

How do you know?

I dreamed it.

A daydream.

Yes. With open eyes,

I saw him.

Shut up, you two!

Stop dreaming and go back to sleep!

Father,

don't ever forget me.

Receive him, Selim.

A messenger Thor sent from Damascus

may have information that will be useful.

I had promised myself

that I would never again speak to Thor,

the usurper in his courts,

if it weren't with

the sword.

But you didn't expect that he'd ever send

an unarmed messenger

who refuses to give his message to anyone but you.

Very well.

My lord,

we must leave no stone unturned

if we're to rescue your daughter.

My sovereign lord Thor charges me

to convey to you this message

as though he was speaking.

Selim,

renounce the unification of the remnants of your army

with that of Nisibi.

Renounce the alliance with Saud.

Unless you give ample guarantee of this renunciation

before the full moon waines,

your daughter Myriam will die.

This is extortion!

Is there more?

No.

What is the news of my daughter?

She's alive.

You Kurds have her kidnapped by the Kharagites

I know nothing.

Neither where she is nor with whom.

Only that for the moment she's still alive.

You may go.

Selim,

my lord,

all of us ask that under the circumstances

you put aside your personal sentiments

for the benefit of ??.

Our shattered army is only now being rebuilt.

Any military action would be premature.

Give up this dangerous alliance.

No one will ever be able to say that you're a coward,

but save your daughter.

My friends,

give me a little time to reflect.

Don't expect me to submit to Thor's blackmail.

No use of Goliath?

Nothing, unfortunately.

I'm about to become a Kharagite.

And I've been given the honor of guarding the princess.

With this brand,

I declare you a Kharagite.

It will print itself on your spirit

as it does on your flesh.

Your life no longer belongs to you alone

but to your all powerful goddess.

One moment.

Goliath must depart immediately.

As soon as I have brided him with the sign,

he may leave.

He's being sent to a place where a Kharagite

would be under suspicion.

Anyway, he's already given us enough proof of his loyalty.

That is true.

The ceremonial flame was put off once

for another man.

If his face had been marked,

he wouldn't have been able

to send us the priceless information

he's been furnishing for months.

As you command, I obey.

You'll go to Damascus.

The city is full of followers of old Selim.

They all know we Kharagites

helping the Kurds,

and they killed many of our men.

But you are a Kharagite without showing it.

You will deliver this message to Thor

and return here.

Depend on it.

Pretend to be insulting me in a loud voice.

I have something to tell you.

So, you decided the iron was a little too hot, didn't you?

You were afraid you'll let them put the mark on you.

I wanted to remain handsome for you, my dear.

You'll never know.

I'm going to Damascus.

I have a message for Thor.

I don't know yet what it says.

Maybe one of these days, ?? will get tired of you.

You're a filthy dog.

As soon as I come back, be ready to escape.

Who sent you?

Ralek,

Lord of the Kharagites.

Tonight you remain here as a guest in the palace.

Tomorrow you leave.

What?

The time has come for us to speak Frankly, Goliath.

I know the contents of the message.

What did it say?

Selim has rejected Thor's conditions.

And though we'll probably cost him the life of his daughter,

he's mustered all the men he could find

and left Al kufra to join Saud

at Nisibi.

But how does Ralek find out the secret plans of Selim

and get the information to Thor?

There's obviously a spy among Selim's counselors.

Since Ralek receives the information,

the traitor must be a Kharagite,

but one who is unrecognizable.

Just a moment.

I know that there's a Kharagite without the mark on his face.

He must be at the court of Selim.

But who is he?

How do you know that?

I'm the second Caragita without the mark.

At least for the moment.

Are you in the service of Selim?

Yes, I am.

So am I.

Greetings from the fountain of the black fire.

Greetings from the fountain of the black fire.

Now I know why you doubted me.

Selim must have shown you a ring exactly like this one

before he sent you to Damascus.

The man who wore that ring was killed.

Certainly by a Kharagite.

He was my brother,

the most faithful of Selim's men

who had remained here to prepare a revolt.

I'm taking his place.

I want revenge.

That's just one more reason for serving Selim.

I know your loyalty.

The Kharagite you saw at my house even

and whom you followed all the way back to their hideout

was actually in my employee.

What are your orders from Selim?

To save his daughter Myriam.

She's a prisoner of the Kharagites.

She's the pawn in Thor's game against Selim.

But Selim won't accept it.

Unfortunately, Thor knows it.

Destiny sent you to us in this moment of crisis.

When he found out that Selim's marching towards Nisibi,

Thor decided to fall on Al Kufra

to capture all his supplies

and then to outflank him from the rear.

That plan has every chance of succeeding.

You're the only one who's able to prevent it being carried out.

In what way?

The quickest route to get to Al Kufra from here

is through the pass of Death.

With only a few men, you could resist any attack.

Take command of the pass.

I must return to the Kharagites.

You have time.

Thor isn't going to kill Myriam before the next full moon appears.

He may be a devil, but he keeps his word.

Regardless of what it costs all of us,

we must aid Selim in retaking Damascus.

So before that, we must defeat

Thor, the usurper.

You will not be alone in this.

You'll be joined by the others

before you get there.

This is my chance for revenge.

I was only joking!

One match with you is more than enough.

We're all friends of Isur.

Then you are the ones that he told me about.

We're going with you to the pass of Death.

Who are you? Friend.

Don't move. Go.

We are Selim's men.

Goliath!

Goliath.

Safawidi.

I'll never forget that you saved my life.

Selim has departed for Nisibi

with the main body of our forces.

While I remain here with only a few soldiers

to guard the pass.

Thor's cavalry is likely to attack at any moment,

but I think that we can handle them.

Come and see.

Their cavalry will have to pass through here.

When they reach that line, they'll find a wall of fire.

They'll have to turn back.

Only to find more fire behind them.

As soon as they're halted by the flames,

we'll attack their flanks.

Any news of Myriam?

She's alive,

in the hands of the Kharagites.

Phira's with her.

- Phira? - The Kurds!

The Kurds!

The Kurds are attacking! The Kurds!

Every man to his post!

You come with me!

I don't want anyone to recognize me,

but I want to fight him.

All right. In the name of deliver Damascus!

Forward! Forward!

Light the fire.

Follow me, men, we'll write them down!

We won.

It's ??.

I didn't know

that he'd remained at Al Kufra.

Once again, the gods of war have smiled on us.

I'm glad you're on our side.

You hurry to Nisibi.

Advise them that the moment has arrived

to begin the attack on Damascus.

Half the Kurdish cavalry has been killed.

I'll ride with you.

The Kurds will never again attack Al Kufra.

And you?

I'll go back where I came from.

My horse has gone lame.

You and your men stay here.

I'll go into the cave myself.

I'll call you if I need any assistance.

Hide in there.

It was a man with his face covered who fought us like a tiger.

With a bare handful of men,

he turned back our whole cavalry.

Are you trying to say that a few men were able

to stop all your forces?

They were led by a demon.

He was everywhere.

And the pass of Death

became a wall of fire.

I've come to relieve you. You can go now.

Where's Myriam?

They just came for her.

There's a mob of Kurds outside.

It must mean that their chief is here.

It's time to take action.

For the moment, you stay here.

Now, I'll tell you what you must...

Here's the woman.

When I took Damascus, she escaped with her father.

What I couldn't do with force,

I can do with gold.

You are now.

I'm paying plenty for you.

I thought they must have killed you

or that you had

betrayed us.

I carried out the mission as you ordered me.

There are certain things you'll have to explain.

Such as the late arrival of your messenger.

Why did it take him longer to get here than it did me?

Maybe it would have been better if I had offered my services to Thor.

Do you permit a Kurd to insult a Kharagite?

All of you, you're a pack of idiots!

Kaichev,

what are you doing here?

I've come to open your eyes.

This is the man who defeated you at the pass of Death.

Goliath is a spy of Selim.

You traitor.

You're the Kharagite without a mark who's betraying his own king.

Kill him!

Let him live!

Is there a secret exit?

Why do you ask?

I'm afraid of an ambush.

If you go to the end of this underground passage,

you'll reach the desert unseen.

We'll have to get closer to the walls.

Let's go.

Stay down.

Don't let the sentries see us coming.

It's time for us to attack.

From here, it's open ground all the way to the city walls.

Some of you will die.

Are you all still with me?

- Yes. - Yes.

Keep going! Go on! Don't stop now!

Go on!

Finally, I see my city again,

my kingdom.

And it's all thanks to you.

The cavalry is ready for the charge.

Get out of my way, merchant.

I'm the brother of the man you had murdered, miserable Kharagite.

I'll mark your face with a sign

so everyone will know you're one of those scum.

I'm going to give you one more chance to save her.

Go to Selim and tell him to call off the attack immediately.

And that's my final word.

??

??

Calmati.

O jurato di vedere di nuovo Selim

sul trono di Bagdad.

Chi reuscirai.

I leave the crown

to my children.

Goliath,

please escort them to the throne of Damascus.