Tiger Tiger -- Episode #306

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS:

King Zad (Steven Grives) recruits the reputed marksman, Niqit (Damien Garvey), to capture Ruh alive and bring him back to Xinca. Zad also enlists his sister, Callista (Mel Rogan), a seer who rips open the bellies of living beasts, fortelling the future in the blood-soaked entrails. In doing so, he expects to learn the whereabouts of the BeastMaster's (Daniel Goddard) family members, planning to hunt them down and earn the favor of the evil Balcifer.

On the night Ruh is taken, Dar awakens with a start, knowing that the tiger is near death. He and Tao (Jackson Raine) immediately set out to find Ruh. As they get closer to Xinca, Dar recalls the words of Dartanus (Marc Singer), who said, "It ends where it begins." Thinking back, Dar vividly recalls the day in Zad's arena that Dar and Ruh first met and saved each other's lives.

Meanwhile, Zad's men are examining the nearly dead tiger when Callista sweeps into the room, ordering them not to touch the beast. Unbeknownst to Zad, Callista has no intention of sharing her pending glory with her brother, and is already plotting against him with his top-ranking captain, Kelb (Dominic Purcell).

As Dar and Tao make their way through the alleyways in Xinca, Dartanus comes to their aid. He provides them with a key to the gates of a tunnel that will lead them to Ruh, and a puzzling message that Zad is not the one they have to fear. Dar finds Ruh's cell, but is quickly surrounded and tossed into the cage with the tiger. Pleased to finally see Dar locked up, Zad reminds him that he cheated him out of a kill once before, but it won't happen again.

Later, with Dartanus' help, Tao breaks into Dar's cell releasing his friend from his chains. He then sets about tending to Ruh's wounds. As they make their escape, they are nearly caught by Zad's knights. Dar outsmarts the men while Tao flees. With Ruh on the mend, Dar and the tiger attempt their escape, but are ambushed by both Callista and Zad. Callista reveals to Dar that he will be sent to fight in the arena, while Ruh's blood will be spilled in a sacrifice to Balcifer.

While Dar faces off against his opponents in the arena, Dartanus breaks into the altar room where Ruh awaits his fate. In a brilliant maneuver, Dartanus immobilizes Callista by disguising himself, stealing her sword and releasing Ruh from his cage. Ruh lunges for Callista and is on the verge of killing her, when he suddenly gets a flash from Dar, who is fighting for his life in the arena. The tiger rushes out the nearest window with Dartanus right behind him.

By the time Ruh makes it to the arena, Dar is tiring and his aim is off. Zad is about to finish the BeastMaster off himself, but Ruh arrives on the scene to help Dar take on his opponents. Just when all seems lost, a mysterious sword lands in Dar's hand. He manages to take out the remaining gladiators before making his escape. Later, Dartanus appears and informs Dar that the sword he used had once belonged to his father, Eldar. He hands it over to Dar, telling him that its blade is as pure and strong as the one who wields it.