Dialogue

Soldier

Close ranks! Prepare to receive cavalry! Bayonets at the ready!

Soldier

Give them steel, lads!

William

Though the whole city lies in ashes, the lighthouse still guides ships that shall never come...

Shrike

People need a beacon of hope, now more than ever.

Mimi

Here, take this for your trouble.

William

What in the bloody hell?!

Agnes

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Teddy

No, we're not blowing the gate up just yet! We have to wait until the deadlies get closer. And we have to be quiet, do you understand?

Agnes

Yes! Shhh! A good mouse is quiet! Very quiet... And then... BOOM! BOOM! Boom the gate! For the Shrike!

William

It looks as if it were made by children...

Napoleon

Using children as pawns in her game. Despicable.

William

Let it burn to ash.

William

There is no path but through the fire.

William

What were they keeping in these cages?

William

This is sheer madness.

William

This carnage reeks of something foul. Something inhumane...

LUCJAN

I assume you've met the Shrike's most loyal subjects.

William

You mean the children?

LUCJAN

They call themselves mice. And I would take them seriously, if I were you. After all, this city belongs to them.

Be compassionate.

Napoleon

Look at this place... covered in cheap propaganda.

Napoleon

They're all lies. Blatant lies spread by this witch!

Shrike

Men have a lengthy history of calling wise women witches. Especially little, insecure men.

William

'Welcome... to the City... of Orphans'...

Young Man

Have you heard? The Shrike was in the city last night! Said Napoleon's end is coming.

Older Man

Be wary of those who promise much, son. The Shrike is all about promises.

Young Man

War has turned you bitter, Father.

Older Man

Just cautious. And that's why we're still alive. Now, get back to work. These crayfish racks won't fix themselves.

William

Even the crows refuse to feast on these bodies.

William

This isn't war... This is damnation!

William

Am I dreaming this hellish nightmare?

Soldier One

I really think that Pierre's death was no coincidence.

Soldier Two

Quit your rambling, will you?

Soldier One

But listen, there is no such thing as a stray bullet. All is written.

Soldier Two

Pierre couldn't even fucking read.

Frightened Soldier

Lay still... Be the mud. I will become mud.

Frightened Soldier

They can't see me... They can't kill what they can't see...

William

I know some of these faces. Friends, comrades. Now their eyes are hollow, empty.

William

My blasted hand is aflame, yet it pains me not.

William

It spares my flesh... while devouring all else.

Soldier

Steady now, lads! Aim true! Make every shot count!

Soldier

Fire on my command!

Mimi

Quiet! Someone's coming!

Teddy

A grown-up! A real, alive grown-up!

Agnes

And he has both hands, both legs and no guts are spilling from his belly!

Mimi

Wooow...

William

I've never seen such a structure...

William

Surely there's a way to destroy it.

William

Let's see if one gesture is all it takes to burn it down.

William

Time to set something ablaze.

William

Don't you know friend from foe?!

William

I'm with the Foreign Legion!

William

What foul force created this beast?

Sergeant

Red stands for fraternity! That is how you forge bonds with your brothers in blood.

Frightened Soldier

But, sir... We no longer know friend from foe.

Sergeant

It is not your place to know, but to obey orders! Onward!

Captain

So, the wait is over...

Captain

By order of the Emperor. Take one more step and prepare to die.

William

The Eternal Guard, here? When the hell were they deployed?

William

The trail's not yet cold. The Eternal Guard's cargo must be behind this blockade.

William

Guard it with your life, but never enquire as to its contents. The perfect soldier's epitaph.

William

The 'Eternal Guard'... A name to last.

William

Makes one wonder what cargo is worth more than a man's life.

William

The lighthouse was, it seems, the heart of the rebellion's meetings.

Sergeant

Hold the line! You fucking rats!

Sergeant

Freedom comes at a price!

William

What horror has been unleashed on these lands?

Shrike

Please, hurry!

Napoleon

Legends and lies. That is what the Shrike feeds her worshippers.

William

Did she survive the collapse?

William

What was that?!

Napoleon

She had it coming. The French army has arrived at her doorstep... And they're knocking.

Shrike

Time is of the essence. Hurry up, William.

William

He's entirely lost to this madness.

William

Why is this place bleeding lunacy?

Mimi

Look! He's still in one piece!

Agnes

Not a scratch! He must be a magicker!

Mimi

Be careful, mister! The deadlies are near!

No.

Mimi

Oi! Thank you, mister! You sliced that nasty, nasty deadly up real good! Squashed him like an old pumpkin!

Mimi

We're not afraid of deadlies, of course, yet it's truly hard to be a good spy when a deadly blocks the door!

Teddy

Pipe down, Mimi! You're telling him all our secrets, and we don't even know if he's a believer.

William

These visions... Are they memories?

William

One must admire their dedication. Even if it is terrifying.

William

Dear Lord...

William

This is a nightmare... We are both Emperor's soldiers!

William

It seems I am not a good mouse...

Captain

You are not... one of us.

William

This boat might serve as a means of retreat...

Captain

Back in there, you cowards! I gave no order to fall back!

Soldier

Sir, we've no chance against the creature. It tore Durand's head off!

Captain

I care not if it tore his heart from his chest! You were sent to find the Shrike, and you'll hunt her till your final breath!

Shrike

I hear them coming... My time is running out...

Napoleon

Your time is already up, witch.

William

Why are you raising your saber at me?

William

We wear the same colours, for fuck's sake!

Agnes

You did well! Maybe you won't get chopped into pieces. All the others did...

Teddy

The ode to the Shrike is not complete! Come back when all four verses have been found.

Mimi

Here comes the Shrike, Here comes the Shrike, The Shrike will put you on a spike!

Teddy

The Shrike will make you scream and squeal, The Shrike will stretch you on a wheel!

Mimi

It sees the truth, it knows your lies, Its loyal spies have many eyes.

Mice Choir

Defender of the ones who bled, The one who's singing for the dead, The sweetest song you've ever heard, All hail the tiny butcher bird!

William

The Ode to the Shrike? Looks incomplete, like it's missing a few verses...

LUCJAN

I see the light of a man in your eyes...

LUCJAN

May it serve you well.

LUCJAN

Wait...

William

I still hold onto that belief, yes.

Soldier

Remember your training - trust your comrades!

Soldier

Forward, you sons of France!

Soldier

Grenadiers, with me! We'll plug that gap ourselves!

Soldier

Reform the line!

William

What on earth was that thing?

William

Who was that man and what... What has he done to me?

Soldier

To the colours, men!

Soldier

To the colours!

William

Iron bent like a child's toy...

William

Friendly! Erm... 'Ami!'

William

Anyone?! Is anyone...

William

What the bloody hell is that?!

William

The hell's wrong with you?!

William

What the bloody hell just happened?!

Napoleon

Get up, soldier! Scrub the bloody muck from your eyes.

Napoleon

For the love of the Empire, get up!

Napoleon

You are not alone.

Napoleon

Your efforts do not go unnoticed.

Napoleon

I see you - all of you. Each and every one.

Napoleon

Together - and only together - we will triumph.

Napoleon

I shall lead you towards the most fertile lands on Earth.

Napoleon

But I cannot move your limbs for you, nor can I strike the blow in your stead.

Napoleon

The march belongs to the soldier alone.

Napoleon

Seize the world with your own two hands.

Napoleon

Every Empire has been built on ashes.

Napoleon

The line between victory and defeat is thin.

Napoleon

That is why you must never lose faith.

Napoleon

Victory belongs to those most persevering.

Napoleon

Do not forget. Courage never goes unnoticed.

Napoleon

Perseverance is always richly rewarded.

Napoleon

The Emperor's love is eternal, and the Empire never turns its gaze from its heroes.

Agnes

Be careful! The deadlies are near.

Teddy

Why is he still alive? He should be long dead by now!

Mimi

He has fire in his hands! Deadlies hate fire.

Napoleon

Lies... This witch is spewing her lies everywhere.