We begin with an old man running along a night shrouded
path trying to carry an armload of documents until a wolfy-type thingy leaps on
him. I’m assuming that’s not a good thing. We also have a woman, Lara, and her
son being helped considerably by an Priest and she seems more than a little
perturbed by his solicitous charity.
And Sinbad and co have arrived in Malta, looking for a map to the Land of the Dead - someone please at least question this dangerous quest. Aha, Gunnar is questioning whether any such map exists – something Tiger objects to (she apparently knows the map maker, Brother Angelico… presumably some details have been retconned – I mean, added, since last week). Even if it exists, Gunnar think it’s a bad idea to go since the living probably shouldn’t wander around the Land of the Dead. Also, Gunnar, as a Viking who has killed a great many people doesn’t especially want to go visit either. He also has trading to do – actual trade, for money, at least someone is watching the purse strings.
Sinbad, Tiger, Rina and Anwar enquire after Brother
Angelico in a tavern – except the tavern is for islanders only (good business
practice there) and he tells them that brother Angelico is old, infirm and
doesn’t leave the monastery. He’s dying.
Sinbad, being a gentle and kind soul, understands that Tiger must be sad about her friend’s death and, after 2 seconds of respect for that, focuses again on his map. They’re interrupted by everyone suddenly locking up their houses – and monks running around painting red lines on the doors. Hey, can I get some monks in to do the redecorating?
Gunnar goes to deliver the silk to Lara; her husband, the
tailor has died recently leaving her unable to pay – he gives the silks as a
gift. She invites him to dinner and he is all adorable with her son – but also
sees giant scratches on the wall of her house, like claws. He fixes a window,
sets the fire and engages in some gentle flirting. When it’s time to leave, an
odd wind starts up and she begs him to stay. She fears a Fiend that apparently travels
on the wind
The priest is being strangely creepy – for a start a
mysterious woman who I shall pretend, for 5 seconds, isn’t Taryn since I think
the show’s trying to save that as a surprise, has been called in to help Brother
Angelico. He finds papers on the path dropped by the old man who was running at
the beginning of the episode – he seems to find them annoying and screws them
up and throws them away, looking more angry and menacing. He goes to see Lara
and seems less than pleased to see Gunnar through the window being all cutesy
with Lara. The priest and his men burst into the room and one of them bashes
Gunnar over the head.
Sinbad and his friends are hurried into the tavern by the
tavern keeper who explains that everyone is hiding from the Zalok Fiend. (Well
he explains after Sinbad roughs him up a bit – which seems rather unnecessary
and uncalled for for someone who called you in to safety). Apparently the wind
carries a spirit that can possess people and turn them into a monstrous killer –
Islanders are strong enough to resist but visitors are at risk, so he says
anyway. He doesn’t say more because Lara bursts into the room looking for
Sinbad.
Gunnar has been kidnapped and is due to be tried for being
the Fiend - time for a rescue, with
Tiger going to find the map – eeerrr, see her dying friend. He recognises her and Tiger speaks of herself
as his pupil. She asks after the map and he says there’s no map or chart – but she
can see, by moonlight
In the trial, Gunnar is accused of being the Fiend and to
prove it they point out he gave a wolf necklace to Lara’s son. And point out he
had one of Lara’s handkerchiefs (which she gave to him to clean ash from his
face) and no new widow would ever do something so wanton – it’s proof he’s a
Fiend. To protect Lara, Gunnar claims he stole it. The Priest won’t hear any of
it and condemns him to die. Sinbad rushes in and negotiates a stay of execution
until nightfall – when Gunnar is supposed to transform – if Sinbad can find the
real Fiend by then, Gunnar is cleared, or Sinbad dies as well. Love that
criminal justice system.
Time to harass the poor tavern keeper again (what did
this guy do) and shout down Anwar who thinks that this might not have been the
best bet in the whole world and go Fiend hunting, following trails of hair
where it killed the Harbour Master (the old guy running for safety in the
beginning). Tiger also tells Sinbad there is no map and becomes all apologetic
and comforting – Sinbad pouts a bit but finally accepts he needs to focus on
the living.
Taryn, (oh, wait, let me pretend to be surprised. OH MY
GODS IT’S TARYN!) is also after the map (why? Who knows) but Angelico
recognises her for who she is and refuses – bye bye Angelico.
Rina and Anwar do their own investigation of the Harbour
master’s death and find, through his meticulous notes, that just before each
death from the Fiend, a shipment of aconitum (a herb – wolfsbane) arrived. And
they believed the Priest was the next victim (oh good). They go to warn him
(why?) But on the way they hear the
landlord of the tavern drop a bowl and go to check on him – just as Tiger and
Sinbad also track the Fiend’s trail there. They find wolfsbane in the drink, irresistible
to the Fiend, it’s being used to draw him out. At this point, in case you still
haven’t put 2 and 2 together, the landlord turns into some kind of viney
werewolf and goes haring off to eat Gunnar, the world’s not-sharpest-detectives
on his trail.
The Priest imprisons Lara and her son in his monastery
for “protection”. Gunnar and Lara do more flirting – but we also learn some
more of Gunnar’s past – he lost his family when people took them in revenge for
his raiding days. As night falls, he and his guards lead Gunnar off for
execution. Being Gunnar and an awesome fighter, he easily fights off both
guards – but Lara’s son sees him and declares that he is a monster – which
causes Gunnar to collapse in total wet-lettuce fashion.
The Priest decides to lampshade his obvious attraction
for Lara to which she concludes he controls the beast (as far as Sinbad goes
that’s not too great a leap of logic) and that she wants nothing more to do
with him. Further, as Gunnar as being taken to execution, she speaks up for
him, pointing out it’s dark and Gunnar hasn’t transformed and that she gave him
her handkerchief. Her impassioned plea
does little – the beast showing up to eat Gunnar, however, causes everyone to
scatter.
Gunnar throws a double handed executioner axe at the fiend to distract it (see, he can be awesome) while they all run for the building. Epic chase scene follows until they reach a dead end and Tiger realises the coat Gunnar is wearing is covered in wolfsbane – attracting the wereplantwolf. Quickly they strip him of it and throw it out the window. Thankfully, despite wearing it for some time, the scent has magically not transferred to Gunnar’s normal clothes and the fiend ignores them all to leap out the window – onto the Priest who just happens to be passing. Hey, as far as Sinbad plot lines go, this one’s as solid as a rock.
They discuss with the Tavern keeper ways to control
himself during wolfy times (big cages are the cure), Tiger gets to say a
tearful goodbye to her friend and mentor – and sees that there is a map to the
Land of the Dead that can only be seen by moonlight on the floor of the gardens
(you’d think someone would have noticed! What with it being there every night) –
she turns with glee and runs into Taryn.
Sinbad goes to see Tiger, she gasps and nearly collapses but tells Sinbad she’s seen the map – then faints. Gunnar kisses Lara and Anwar and Sinbad hurry Tiger back to the ship. They prepare to go to the Land of the Dead – but Gunnar joins them, he won’t let them go without him. They leave Tiger alone to rest – but when she checks a mirror, it is Taryn who looks back. She’s been possessed.
The only thing I really have extra to note on this
episode is that I do like Gunnar as a character despite, or because, of his Wet
Lettuceness. It makes him a complex character, haunted by his guilt despite his
combat abilities.
