Original subtitles

Watch what you're doing.

I want it all in one piece.

There's no harm done -- It'd take

A battering ram To crack this open.

Or one knock From your hard head.

Build a new one by first light.

Remember your place, tracker.

Lesser tribes don't Command nord warriors.

Voden ordered every tiger In this forest captured.

Out of my way.

You think king voden Can't do without you.

But we conquered The world for him.

Don't insult those who Are better than you are.

Better? At what?

Arina?

Is there a problem?

The cages need to be strong.

The tigers this beastmaster

Commands will exploit

Any weakness and tear Their captors to pieces.

Creatures after my own heart.

Perhaps their fire will

Help me understand The one burning in you.

I thought it might fade once We'd crushed the terrons

After they savagely destroyed Your namib homeland.

But it flares even hotter now.

I'm just following Your orders.

Yes, fate makes Slaves of us all.

Fate...And the will Of the mighty.

But embracing one's destiny Also brings great rewards.

Will this beastmaster

Understand this?

He's not like other men.

But still a man, And all men have a price.

Once his beasts are mine, He will serve me.

He doesn't like animals

In cages.

You run the risk

Of making him A dangerous adversary.

But one who Fights fairly, arina,

And that's what Gives me the advantage.

In a few short days, The beastmaster will be mine.

Dar! Do you see anything?

Should we be moving, or... Should I come up there...

Or what do you want me to do?

There's probably an easier Way to come and tell me.

I thought that was it.

[ growling ]

What's that about?

I don't know. He said he'd tell us later.

-did you see anything? -some people camping in the

No, whoever it is, Isn't afraid of being found.

Priests...

They won't be satisfied Until they kill us all.

I've never known Anger like this.

When I was under The cutting stone,

All of my fear Turned to hatred.

A man who confronts his enemy In anger is already defeated.

I don't forget anything. I know that.

I also know that fear Makes you weak.

You have to confront evil, Not run from it.

I'm not going to rest until

I drive those priests Out of xinca.

Tao, you're one man, and your People aren't a warrior race.

You could help.

You could send in ruh and Sharak. Send in 100 tigers.

Animals kill for food, And they're not

Warriors either.

When I left my home...

My sole purpose was to spread The knowledge of xinca

And find more to bring back.

And now, it's just...

Everything happens for a reason.

If you're meant to, You'll find a new purpose.

-what does he see? -some men have Trapped a tiger.

-ruh? -no.

Look at this trophy.

Voden will be pleased.

Put your ropes around its neck. Choke the fight out of it.

Here, catch!

I'm surprised she doesn't Try to jump on him.

[ whistling ] You better Watch yourself.

In an age when nature And magic rule the world...

There is An extraordinary legend:

The story of a warrior

Who communicates with animals,

Who fights sorcery And the unnatural.

His name is dar, Last of his tribe.

He's also called...

Who else would risk His life for an animal?

I wouldn't do that If I were you.

He's the beastmaster, This forest's full

Of animals that Won't let you do this.

What business Is that of yours?

Well, he's a friend, and I'm a seeker of the truth.

And the truth is, That tiger there

And tigers get very unreasonable When you harm one of their own.

Shut the fool's mouth.

[ screaming ]

-ruh's hurt. -I'll get my herbs.

Dar, I've, uh,

Applied some healing herbs, But he shouldn't walk

On the leg.

What's going on?

-it's ruh's mother. -mother?

Tiala. What's she doing So far away

-from the mydlands? -she's looking for the archway.

The archway of the spirits, Where tigers go to die.

-well, maybe I, I Have some herbs-- -no...

No, it's her time.

Duty as a son to take her, But now that he's hurt,

-he's asked me to do it. -uh...

Where is this place?

Where are we now?

Here.

It's there.

That's near xinca. We can't go back there.

We're not ready. We haven't got a plan.

You don't have To come with us.

Uh, no...

You once told me that everything Happens for a reason.

Ruh's about to lose His family; I've lost mine.

Maybe I'm supposed to do this.

Tao, it's all right. I can do this by myself.

You might need my help.

I was very handy Today -- scared...

But handy.

Besides, you won't Be much use to

Your animals if you get Caught by blood priests or

-more warriors like those. -you two...

Cover ruh's tracks. Those warriors might return.

Oh...

And make sure he Stays off that leg.

You had the beastmaster in your Grasp, and you let him go.

I find failure fascinating.

Does a man fail Because he's outmatched,

Or simply because he can't find

The character To overcome his enemies?

He sent eagles at us,

And tigers.

Beasts he should command for me.

This serpent could Be slain with one blow.

But the beastmaster

Could make it a weapon That would destroy you.

Why, yoken?

Is it his strength That triumphs,

Or is it your own weakness?

Because a king Has to know these things.

I'm only as strong As my weakest man...

For the weak give Hope to my enemies.

I would walk through fire For you, my king, you know that.

Would you?

Well, let's not Get too dramatic.

It's a small tent.

It could go up in no time.

Come.

Bare your shield arm.

Prove to your king

That you are worthy.

A wall of ice

Grinds into our kingdom...

I find new territories for you.

Armies outnumber us...

I create weapons To annihilate them.

There is nothing

I cannot overcome.

I will not be denied The beastmaster.

For he will bring us

Battalions of tigers,

Squadrons of eagles,

Troops of elephants

To strike fear into those That stand against us.

They will conquer all

And leave me an unscarred army To rule the world.

Ahh!

I think we'll need Your fire for this mission.

Bring back The beastmaster alive.

Take this one and teach him What obedience means.

What happens to a tiger When it reaches this archway?

A ghost of Their ancestors

Escorts them to The forests beyond.

The forests beyond?

You see, every tiger has to Make the passage to ensure

-that their kind lives on. -do you believe this?

What I believe doesn't matter.

It's what they believe.

It's a pilgrimage...

Like the one that holy men Make to their shrines.

The journey Signifies their faith.

Is that all she has to do? Just get there?

She must cross a river to give Thanks for the water that

To climb a mountain to honour The ground on which she hunted.

And finally, she must spend

Her last night sheltered Only by the stars.

See, that way she will accept

Her small place In this universe.

Fording a river, Climbing a mountain?

She's ill, dar, She'll never make it.

She has to.

Where are they headed?

Are the tigers with him?

One of them...But this isn't

The one he calls his friend.

It's old. The prints are uneven.

As if every step is painful.

Good...We'll be on them soon.

And this wound can be avenged.

Do I need to Remind you that

We are to take the Beastmaster alive?

I can still bathe this wound

In the blood of his Mouthy little friend.

That'll take out Some of the sting.

Not having to follow you around Will take out the rest.

Voden wants the Beastmaster alive.

Don't overestimate Your value, tracker,

He'll use you and discard you

Like everything else he owns.

She thanks you.

Her bones are old.

It's hard for her To bend down to the river.

We'll cross when she's rested.

Those men You fought,

Where'd they Come from?

Same land as arina, I think.

They had the same weapons.

-why are they here? -I don't know.

But they went to a lot Of trouble to trap a tiger.

After this is over, We'll return, find out.

Great...If we don't run into Blood priests or ghost tigers,

We have well-armed Killers waiting for us.

How far away Is the archway?

A day, maybe two.

It's up to her.

She's growing weaker.

They know when it's Their time, don't they?

Why don't we?

Maybe we do, But we just...

Don't admit it.

Have you ever sensed death?

Did you sense it coming For your tribe, kyra?

If I had, I would Have done something.

Really? It's taken you This long to tell me.

No, oh, it never came up.

-what's his name? -kim.

He left xinca a year Before I began my quest.

Wish I knew where he was.

Is he a thinker, Like you?

No, ha, ha, he's more like you.

Strong-willed and single-minded.

He would have told those

Priests to...

Tao, whatever happens--

Happens for a reason -- I know.

Good.

She said that "Humans spend Too much time talking,"

"And not enough time knowing."

[ laughing ]

Let's go.

Arina's tracking us With a warrior.

Tiala's too weak to fight.

It's this way. Where we going?

With any luck They'll think we crossed.

These are fresh. They're close.

They crossed here. Let's go.

Once again, I owe you my life.

Why are you So close to xinca?

Don't you know how

Dangerous it's become?

Danger isn't high on dar's List of concerns right now.

Shh...Come on. Stay low.

I'm going To get tiala

Out of here Before they return.

So, why were you Near the river?

I'm camped nearby. We must move quickly.

This place is Crawling with priests.

Crawling?

It's eirons who crawl --

Like the vermin they are.

Seize them!

-we must help him. -it's 3 to 1, it's about even.

Like I said -- about even.

Let's go.

Tiala's got a river to cross.

If you've lost

-the trail... -I haven't lost it.

We've been all over this bank.

There's no sign they Left the water.

And what does that tell you?

They couldn't have known We were behind them.

He has other ways

The sun's setting. We'll never Find the trail after dark.

If you knew what you were doing, We would've had them.

Make camp. We'll pick up The trail in the morning.

Why does voden let You get away with so much?

Because I've never Disappointed him.

One day, you will.

One day, he'll realize that

Fallen tribes Like yours were defeated

Because you were Inferior people.

Then he'll realize

What you really are --

Another beast he can use To his purpose.

What's she doing?

Asking for a sign That she can continue

The journey.

Is something happening?

Did something happen?

Did you see something?

No...But she did.

The warriors

Call themselves nords.

Even the priests knew better Than to resist their boy king.

Boy king?

He's very young to wear A crown, but very dangerous.

-where are they from? -the far uplands.

And their weapons?

Made from elements they melt.

They boast of wiping out The terrons in one night.

You mean zad's dead?

Some say he fled To the mountains,

Or hides with a sorceress.

How do you Know all this?

Those of us hiding, Share what we hear.

You've found Other eirons? Who?

When xinca broke apart, The elders arranged

Secret places to leave messages.

Well, do any Of them mention

We don't use names in our Messages. It's too dangerous.

Your family, they could

Be in the forest, but...

Where are you going?

Making sure we're safe. Don't worry about it.

Rest. We'll leave At first light.

Shh...

Ha, I seem to remember being In this position once before.

Just can't stop Following me, can you?

I'm following you because a Great king seeks your counsel.

Why?

He can explain better than I.

And he means you no harm.

Then why does He hunt me?

His camp isn't far. Ask him.

Are you planning on staying In that position all night?

Oh, that's right, I forgot.

You're the one Who likes to be on top.

Why are you helping this king?

Because it serves my purpose.

And because he helped me Defeat my enemies.

You would be wise to meet him.

There's something else I have to do first.

Something more important Than the will of a king?

He's not my king.

The tiger slows you down.

She's old and tired.

We'll catch you before The next sundown.

If I agree to see him?

-we can leave tonight. -no.

I'll go with you -- But not until I get

The tiger where she must go.

How do I know I can trust you?

You don't.

But I'll find you. I always do.

-if you let me down-- -I'd never forgive myself.

There must be a way to retake Xinca from the priests.

If we could discover What brought them--

What brought them?

Yeah, did they come to trade?

Tao, the blood priests

Are eirons.

That's impossible.

It's true.

As xinca grew Wealthy, many

Turned to A thirst for

Pleasure and power.

Everything began To fall apart.

The priests promised A return to order.

At first, they killed anyone Who had broken their laws.

But soon they came after anyone Who did not serve them

Or their goals.

That's imp... It can't be.

Eirons respect life.

They don't take it.

Everything happened so fast.

Nobody could stop it.

The corrupt quickly Embraced the dark side.

And the rest--

Hide in the forest like ghosts.

Where have you been?

I got up early.

Had a look around on my own.

You've been gone A long time.

I had a good look.

They went this way.

You're sure this time?

You're not the only one Who can read tracks, you know.

Good, maybe we'll Find him today.

Are you sure you Want to find him?

Or can we look forward to

Another night sleeping In the mud?

Put me in charge -- And we'll spend a hundred nights

In the mud if that's what

Gives voden what he wants.

I left my name On a message telling

The eirons to come together.

And then what?

We'll find each other. Stop being ghosts.

Can't find your family If you're hiding from them.

I'll visit as many places Possible to leave the message.

It would be safer To stay with us.

I'll travel more quickly alone.

I'll find you again.

I promise.

Let's find tiala Her mountain. Come on.

You know, dar, I've been thinking.

I'll take that As a sign

You're Feeling better.

Yes, I am, now That we have a plan.

I've been thinking About an old saying.

It doesn't matter If a man falls,

So long as he Rises and goes on.

I like that.

It's just like tiala, It doesn't matter

How much she hurts Or she stumbles, she goes on.

She doesn't even know If she'll make her goal.

By following in her Footsteps, I know

I can rise again, And so will my people.

Just don't fall here.

This ground looks A little unstable.

We should let tiala rest Until we find a safer way down.

[ screaming ]

Maybe I should follow you.

Maybe I should be behind In case you slip.

Better plan.

Ahhh!

Dar, I can't hold on.

Trust me, it's A better choice

Than letting go.

What are you doing?

If I can wedge my staff Into the rock,

I can pull us up onto the ledge.

-give me your hand. -what?

I can't put my staff Together one-handed.

-I can't hold on with one. -why not give up, let go?

Come on, you can do this.

Tao, give me your hand.

Give me your hand.

I got you!

[ panting ]

All right.

This is my wife, alau. We found your message scroll.

We heard the rock Fall and screams.

Just a moment.

Thank you for helping us.

We shouldn't Stay here.

Others may have heard Your screams. Come, quickly.

I know what happened last night.

The beastmaster was in your Grasp, and you let him go.

You planned To lead me in circles

Until you could claim the glory Of his capture for yourself.

Sane enough to know A traitor when I see one.

Bind her...

And put her on a leash.

So you can lead us Like the dogs

That taught her to track.

My mother used to make these.

Her name's lana, Wife of san the teacher.

Do you know what became of them?

Don't despair. They May well be safe.

There are many in hiding.

We've waited so long for Someone to give us hope

That xinca's greatness Could be restored.

No eiron In xinca

Had ever studied The arts of war.

We were defenseless When the priests attacked.

-I don't know the arts of war. -but your scroll...

I thought, If enough eirons cooperated

Like the councils did, A plan would follow.

How's tiala?

She's fading fast.

We'll sleep under the stars Tonight. Leave at dawn.

Stay in the forest. Someone will see you.

I have no choice.

Your beastmaster travels With an eiron

Who plots an insurrection.

This one was his messenger.

When your warriors capture The beastmaster,

We want his friend.

Does she know where they are?

You'll find eirons don't talk

Until the cutting stone Is at their hearts.

Leave her. She'll talk to me.

But she's tomorrow's sacrifice.

If I've finished with her By then, you can have her.

No one will force you to talk.

But you will talk.

I know you're tired.

And I know how much it hurts.

But you can't give up now.

Will she make it?

If she survives Through the night.

You seem more concerned For her than your own family.

I'd like to know One of them has a future.

With all the dangers, You've never once wavered

From your promise to ruh.

A grace and an honour That no other human has.

I've learned a lot On this journey.

Simply complete the sentence And your torment ends.

The beastmaster travels to...

Martyrs intriguing -- they hold A cause so dear that they die

For it, but in dying, they lose Any chance of making it succeed.

I might win tonight's battle And still lose the war.

But if you succeed,

You die...And never Savour my defeat.

Surely you don't want your life To have been that pointless.

We found him.

He camps with A helpless old tiger.

If you had your way, we never

Would have found Him so vulnerable.

Tonight I regain my place With voden, and you die.

You don't have A chance, beastmaster.

-do the smart thing. -I am. -kill it!

[ groaning ]

Has she passed the last test?

She's done what was needed.

Now, let's get to the archway.

[ cawing ]

There's more warriors.

-tao, caro's with them. -is she all right?

She seems to be. There's a man on a white horse.

They're coming this way.

Arina...

I couldn't ask you to stall him?

He's smarter than that.

All right, tao, Go and hide your people.

Dont' worry, caro'll be safe Until they get to me.

The beastmaster's gone.

And I would be too, If I were you.

Voden will be here any minute.

You could kill me, But these ropes

Have left marks he'd understand.

I'd take my chances back home

With that wall of ice, If I were you.

You'll pay for This, tracker.

I don't think so.

What is it?

I know how to face Their weapons.

What are you Talking about?

Watching dar fight... It's so simple.

Use your enemys' strength Against them.

-that's our answer too. -I don't understand.

We can't fight the priests Using weapons.

We don't know how -- We can infiltrate them.

Use knowledge to discover What their strengths

Are and turn it against them.

We stop living in fear, Being ghosts to one another.

We'll pass the message to Others and send you word.

I knew you were our answer.

Dar, look.

Ruh, how did He get here?

I don't think much Would have kept him away.

She will make it, won't she?

Yes, she is.

[ voden ]: beastmaster,

A word, if you please.

Caro.

Put down your weapons.

Rest easy, beastmaster.

I mean you no harm.

-perhaps not today. -perhaps never.

If you were to join me,

It might make life Easier for us both.

You have loyal friends.

This one did not betray you.

Fortunately, like you,

I have eyes everywhere.

What do you want?

Your friendship, your help.

I apologize for...Our intrusion.

I don't understand.

You come here with warriors.

You turn away. Why?

Because you've never met Anyone like me before.

I'm not a mindless brute Like king zad.

I leave you with your tiger,

Your friends, your lives,

Favours which should Perhaps be repaid.

Come see me in xinca.

-the priests will kill us. -no.

The priests won't harm you. I promise.

Now, I believe you Have a tiger waiting.

We'll talk another time.

Go, as fast as you can.

Come with me.

Someday we'll be Together in xinca.

Go!

Let's go.

Why are you doing this?

We could take him now.

He has a dedication To his creature's

Which will take some exploring.

It takes great skill To turn defeat

Into new purpose, arina.

A trait of power which you Would do well to learn.

And you'll keep Your word?

Until I know What will break him.

Back to xinca.

What's she doing?

She's asked for passage To the forest beyond.

-he's come for her. -yeah.

She's home.

You can see?

Dar! [ groaning ]

I forgot something.

Thought you Were on their side.

So did I.