Episode 15--The Night Lords I: The Return of Envoy

We see Ion and Esther in Imperial dress, on the deck of a ship bearing them through the Lazuli Wall into Byzantium, the Capital of the Empire. Ion proudly asks "isn't it beautiful?" and she agrees it is--the fine particles deflect ultraviolet rays and make it possible for Methuselah to be about in the day. Ion thanks the captain, Mimar, for looking after him, and he replies that they were headed back to the Empire anyway and he's happy to be able to repay any of the generosity he's been shown by the Duchess of Moldova (Ion's grandmother). Ion suggests he stop by and visit, but he says no, he has cargo to deliver, and Ion thanks them again for letting him and Esther hitch a ride on their freighter. The man adds that Ion seems to have changed and become kinder, and he says maybe that's so, he's been through a lot with her…letting his eye linger affectionately on Esther as she watches the city draw closer.

Below we see a girl dressed in red selling tea in the street; she sees the ship pass by overhead and smiles…

Abel is found lying in a heap in the ship corridor, saying he was so hungry that he ate leftovers from the ship's garbage, and now feels very ill. He melodramatically tells Esther that if he should pass on to heaven, she should bury him somewhere overlooking the sea, and he'll protect her from there. It's just food poisoning, she tells him impatiently, geez…

Mimar and Ion part company, and Mimar seems ill at ease, nervously telling Ion "young master, take care". They walk into the impressive gardens of Ion's grandmother's palace, Esther asking in amazement if all this is really hers. Milka Fortuna is Duchess of Moldova and keeper of the Secret Imperial History, he tells her with pride. I'll tell her how things went and have her arrange a clandestine meeting with Her Majesty the Empress. This is the end of our journey, he adds, and, collecting his nerve, hesitantly asks if there's any chance her schedule would allow her to stay in the Empire with him. (Abel has to be rescued from a fountain at that point, distracting her from a reply.)

They reach the palace. Ion runs inside, calling to his grandmother, and pulls up short at the terrible sight of a floor strewn with bodies; the household staff has been murdered. Fearing the worst, he races up the ornate staircase and into her room calling for her--only to find a blood-soaked bed and two Autojaeger with bloody axes. He draws his dagger and charges the monsters, slicing one easily in half and stabbing the second through, but is thrown sprawling by a third...could this be a Haze? He wonders aloud. He stops its axe with the guard of his dagger, holding it off with all his strength--it forces down, so close that the edge of its blade draws blood from his neck-- a gun blast throws it off him and Esther races into the room. Ion throws his arms around her, sobbing. Abel uncovers the body of the last 'jaeger, sees that it's boobytrapped with a bomb and grabs Esther and Ion by their collars, running down the hall and hurling all three of them out the nearest window just as the thing explodes.

Outside, Abel tells Esther each of the creatures was carrying explosives. Ion says he's all right, but…his grandmother… both share his grief. --Abel suddenly looks up alertly and says, this is dangerous, we're surrounded. Uniformed troops march toward them. Janissaries, says Ion, the Empress' personal army. As their commander comes forward Ion races toward him. Lord Baybars, he calls, you've come at the best possible time-- my grandmother-- But the bearded man stops him with a stern glare. Ion Fortuna, Count of Memphis, he declares, in the name of the Empress you’re under arrest, charged with the murder of the Duchess of Moldova and the destruction of her residence. You're saying I did this? But these thugs were already here when I arrived! --cries Ion. Then where are they now? retorts Baybars. And you were on an Imperial mission; why did you not report to the Empress as soon as you returned? Why sneak in so quietly? --Ion suddenly realizes that the merchant who so kindly gave them a private lift was in all probability part of a plot to frame him, and stops short in confusion. Baybars draws his sword. Turn yourself in quietly, he says, or I’ll kill you right here. Ion snaps, draws his dagger and charges the man, whose return blow throws him sprawling and cuts the dagger in half. Face your death like a man, growls the Janissary, pointing his wickedly barbed sword at Ion, but Abel throws two packets into the air and fires into them, generating a smoke screen. If you die here, Your Excellency, you'll never be able to disprove these false charges, he says...we're leaving. And leave they do.

At Astharoshe Asran's palace, she's walking along the terrace with her vizier, telling the man that she's gotten a special assignment from the Empress: envoys from the Vatican will arrive soon, and she's under secret orders to shelter and protect them. Is this connected with your recent assignment in the Outer?--he asks and she agrees. She hears something in the shrubbery, charges with drawn spear shouting that they are trespassing on the Duchess of Kiev, and--and--guess who. She stops short, stunned, as Abel waves up at her. It's been awhile, Asta-san, he calls cheerfully, while Esther and Ion do their best to look harmless. She sheathes the spear, calls back to her servant to prepare to receive their guests, and then collars Abel, grinning fiercely. I look forward to hearing a suitable explanation, my tovarash, she says…

In a room-sized golden bathtub Esther is marveling at the opulence of the place...but why is this water so white? It's cream of sea slug's milk mixed with myrrh and marigold oil: great when you’re tired, Asta tells her, arriving (quite casually naked) and walking into the tub. Esther, embarrassed, begins to leave, but the Duchess says no, Esther is her guest and should relax. They chat, and Esther asks how Asta came to know Abel; she says that he helped her on her assignment in the Outer, and that the Empress has assigned her to take care of them now. It's almost as if the Empress knew what was going to happen to us, says Esther. I don't know what's going on, Astharoshe says, but I do know that Her Majesty knows everything that goes on in the Empire. The Empress is our mother, the one and forever empress for us Methuselah; she was there in the past, she is with us now and will be there in the future. Through her this Empire becomes immortal, and on her order I would give my life to protect you.

As they put on bathrobes, Asta catches sight of Esther's birthmark. Is that a battle scar? she asks in surprise. I can't believe a Terran could sustain such a wound. Esther explains, and Asta looks thoughtful; in the shape of a beautiful star, she says…

In the Imperial throne room, Baybars is reporting that they are still in search of the Count of Memphis and the Vatican envoys, but should find them soon. The woman on the throne, a tall, slender blonde with her face veiled, thanks and dismisses him. Once alone, she hears a sound--it's Abel, who apologizes for intruding and introduces himself as an agent of the Holy See. Is there something you wish to share with me regarding the case of the Duchess of Moldova?--she asks him, and he replies that first he has a question for her: who is she? What are you saying? I am the one and only mistress of the Empire, Augusta Vradica, she replies. He looks her coldly in the eye. Really? are you really the Empress? She steps back a pace: what are you trying to say? I mean, what is it...that you know?

--Baybars charges in to apprehend the intruder, and is ordered to stop--you must not kill that man, she says, and he leaves in dismay. The veiled woman stands: that man, she wonders, could he be..?

...go on to Episode Sixteen.

...return to Trinity Blood Episode Guide.