Events are coming to a dangerous head as our players all try to maneuver themselves into the most advantageous positions before the Sacred Trial. Loyalties constantly shift, and every act of trust is a deadly risk when the power to control the known world is the prize. Our heroes will need to look within themselves for the correct path, as the fate of Arthdal depends on their survival.
EPISODE 12 RECAP
While escaping Mihol, Tanya is caught by Moogwang, who sneers that he's still alive despite her curse. Her vision blurs for a moment, and she tells him, "'You're too late.' Those are the last words you'll ever hear." Nunbyeol attacks Moogwang but he soon shoves her to the ground, and he raises his sword... only for the Neanthal, Yiseuroob, to stop his hand.
Yiseuroob casually flings Moogwang into a tree then turns to Tanya, as Nunbyeol's eyes flash Neanthal blue. Chaeeun tells Tanya that her father is at the apothecary, assuring her that they'll be fine. Tanya runs, but someone trips her and she looks up at the point of a sword.
Nunbyeol tells Yiseuroob that she doesn't want to leave her family and go with him, and his expression is kind as he says he understands. Nunbyeol asks him what happened to the Neanthal people, and he tells her that they've all died but five, including himself.
He says that he asked her to join them because he hoped she'd find a good man among them, and Nunbyeol understands that she's the only female Neanthal left. Yiseuroob tells her that unlike humans, he respects the choice she makes for herself.
She asks what if she wants to see them again, and Yiseuroob tells her "Manteiv..." He turns to go, followed by Rottib. Rottib says that he knew Nunbyeol wouldn't come with them, and Yiseuroob gently chastises him for smiling when this is the end of their pure blue blood. Rottib says that's not necessarily true as long as they're still alive.
Moogwang wakes with a start to find Moobaek and Chaeeun standing over him. He lunges at Chaeeun, demanding to know where Tanya is, but Moobaek stops him and tells him that Chaeeun was saving Tanya from Yeobi. Chaeeun says worriedly that she sent Tanya ahead but thinks she was caught.
Meanwhile Saya finds the dead Daekan soldier while looking for Tanya, and he heads back to the city. When Tagon's guards try to refuse him entry, he bellows, "Tell Tagon Niruha his son is here! My name is Saya!" The guards think he's crazy, but Tagon comes at the sound of the commotion.
He drags Saya inside and slams him to the floor. He pins Saya to the wall by the throat and asks for one reason not to kill him now that he doesn't know where Tanya is. He locks Saya in the room, walking away as Saya yells that he won't forgive Tagon if anything happens to Tanya.
The guards tell Kitoha and Yangcha that Tagon apparently has a son nobody knows about. When Yangcha doesn't seem surprised, Kitoha accuses him of knowing already. A frantic Moogwang joins them, and when Kitoha says Tagon is with his son, Moogwang is all "Oh, he's here?!" and runs off. HAHA, Kitoha is so hurt that everyone knew but him, and I swear Yangcha is laughing behind his mask.
Yeobi brings Tanya to Nihol, and Mihol visits Taealha's prison to ask if she knows Tanya. Taealha says that he'll never be able to find Tanya, and she laughs when he says he already has her, reluctant to believe anything he says. Mihol takes Taealha to see Tanya, who's confused by the complicated web of allies and enemies in Arthdal and prays to the Great White Wolf to give her the wisdom of the star.
Tagon goes back to Saya, who apologizes — he saw the dead Daekan warrior and assumed Tagon took Tanya, but now he realizes that a dead warrior means it was Asa Ron. He says frantically that they need to attack the Great Shrine before Asa Ron kills Tanya, and Tagon wonders if Saya's behavior is because he tricked him, or because he likes Tanya.
