01x04 - Ishtar no Keshin

[bunniefuu]

This is Hattusa,

the capital of the Hittite Empire
in the 14th century BCE.

This is the story of a girl
who rides the sultry winds

across the vast stretches of Anatolia.

The wind blows strong,
kicking up the dry sand.

The wind blows hot,

and I live under these skies,

- RED RIVER

- on the banks of the red river.

- ISHTAR INCARNATE

- Ishtar Incarnate.

I ended up coming along
without thinking.

What the...

Is that river red?

That river is the Marassantiya.

The red earth found in the banks
dyes the river that color.

The Hittites of old used to live
in the territory bound by this river.

Our empire now stretches
countless leagues beyond these banks.

But the realm this side of the
Marassantiya remains our true homeland.

So this is the birthplace of the Hittites.

The city of Alinna sits along the river.

Tito said he had three sisters.
I hope they're okay.

I wouldn't worry about them.

They're of the Hatti clan. Those girls
can match most men in using weaponry.

Tito belonged to one
of this realm's oldest clans.

And his father was the chief.

Those girls are quite striking.
You'll soon see for yourself.

But I was the one who got Tito k*lled.

How do I face his sisters?

We are honored to meet you, Lady Yuri.

We are the daughters of Talos,
chief of the Hatti.

I'm the eldest, Hadi.

These twins are my sisters,
Ryui and Shala.

All three of us have been
looking forward to your arrival.

They really are Tito's sisters.

So, I, um—

Hadi.

Forgive me, but I need to know
the situation in the north.

Take me to the w*r council.

Certainly, Your Highness.

Sorry, Yuri, but you'll have
to speak with them later.

Uh, right.

I understand.

Is there nothing more to her?

I thought Prince Kail's concubine
would be a beauty beyond compare.

Seriously. She's just a wisp of a girl.

Indeed she is.

She's utterly useless without
the protection of His Highness.

Yet she k*lled Tito all the same,
so she must pay with her life.

Yuri.

I must take to the b*ttlefield,
but I'm loath to put you in danger.

Your Highness.

If you will permit it,
we will look after Lady Yuri.

Hadi.

But I...

Prince.

I'll wait here for you.

I'll be perfectly fine with them around.

I also want to talk to them about Tito.

I suppose these three can repel
the queen's henchmen.

Understood.

Then I leave her in your care.

Highness.

Don't chase the runners!

Our mission is to defend Alinna.

We only need to keep the Kashugas at bay!

Huh? Are there no horse riders?

Don't be absurd.

Horses are only for
pulling chariots in battle.

I-Is that a rule?

There's Prince Kail.

Prince!

Say...

I'm no expert, but aren't we losing?

You're right.

The Kashugas are the feeblest of foes.

Did they receive some prior information?

Maybe the queen is manipulating things
from the shadows.

Prince Kail, please come back safe.

Wait! What's that about?
Am I in love with the prince?

Make way! Make way!

I'll cut down friend and foe alike
if any dare to stand before me!

A female?

Is it that wench?

The queen must have lured her here.

This time, I'll have her head.

If you bring Yuri before Zuwa,
you will surely avenge Tito's death.

Hopefully, those two
were able to bait Zuwa.

We will make you pay for slaying Tito.

I can't possibly be in love with him.

Wench!

I've found you!

Zuwa!

That fool. She thinks
she can outrun a chariot?

k*ll her. Do away with her now.

You won't get away!

Horses?

She's on a horse?

I'm falling off! Bad horse!

You're being too rough with a first-timer!

She won't escape.

She's heading...

straight for a cliff.

- Good horse! Don't do anything stupid!

- Taste death, wench!

A-An as*ault!

From the flank?

How did she come down from up there?

Stupid horse! Stop already!

Stay back! You'll trample us!

P-Prince Kail, the Kashugas
are breaking rank.

Who rides a horse into battle?
Such a gambit is unheard of.

But I can see it offers more mobility
and penetrative force than a chariot.

Yuri.

This is our chance, men!

Let's crush the Kashugas in one stroke!

The Kashugas have scattered.

And they were winning until that girl
turned the tide with her horse.

Sister, look. Over there.

Ryui!

Hey, horse! Go over there! Now!

Wh-What?

Fine, sorry.
I should've asked a little nicer.

Can you take me to that girl,
pretty please?

We can let the troops
take care of the rest.

Where's Yuri?

Lady Yuri is over there.

What a girl she is.

She single-handedly turned a looming
defeat in Alinna into victory for us.

This city is filled with talk
of you, Lady Yuri.

They say you may be
the incarnation of Ishtar.

Aw, cut it out.

All I did was hang on
to a horse for dear life.

Besides, Prince Kail only called me
"Ishtar" in the spur of the moment.

Isn't that right?

Yes, you're right.

Never mind that. You'll please the people
if you wave to them from the balcony.

I said cut it out.

She's right that me calling her Ishtar
was a spontaneous act. Still...

Pardon me.

Mayor.

You have chosen your consort well.
She saved us all.

As such, I wish to present you
with a gift, Lady Yuri.

The same horse?

His name is Aslan.

He's a bit unruly, but he seems
to have taken a liking to you, Lady Yuri.

He is yours to keep.

We should also equip her
with a sword to protect herself.

Then I suggest a small blade that a lady
can carry on her person inconspicuously.

Sheesh. I don't want a horse or a sword.

More importantly,
where are Tito's sisters?

I still haven't talked to them about him.

I can't believe she survived
in the middle of a battle.

B-But she went out of her way to save me.

Maybe she did, but she m*rder*d Tito.

It seems we must now take matters
into our own hands.

But the prince never leaves Yuri's side.
Not even for a moment.

And he's too skilled with a sword
for all three of us to overcome.

It's you.

If you seek a solution,
I suggest this white water.

White water?

Place the water in the mouth of
your victim, and it's over in an instant.

You must be tired.
I'd say it's time for bed.

Huh? Y-Yeah, about that...

Look, if you intend to stay
in this country,

you'll do well to accustom yourself
to sharing a bed with me.

As long as you're here,

you are to be my concubine,
no matter the true circumstances.

Yeah.

Thanks for reminding me
that I'm your fake concubine.

I only thought I was in love with him,
and that's it. I should get over it.

Is something wrong?

Nothing at all.

I'm going to bed.

Prince, what's going on?

Lie perfectly still.
Leave everything to me.

Yuri! I will have your life!

Good block, Yuri!

Who are you?

Shala? And your sisters?
What is the meaning of this?

We're prepared to accept death
for entering your sleeping quarters.

But we'll exact revenge on the one
who m*rder*d our brother.

You say Yuri m*rder*d Tito? But he...

Wait, prince!

I want to say it.

I admit it's my fault Tito died.

But please listen.

What I want to say is...

I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.

I know apologizing won't bring him back,

and I don't expect you
to forgive me, either.

But Tito was really, really good to me.

The queen has been constantly
trying to k*ll me.

But Tito stepped up to save me.
Then, Zuwa—

You lie!

A messenger from Prince Kail told us
that Tito died by your hand!

Ryui! Shala!

On it!

What are you doing?

If you wish to apologize,
do it to Tito's face.

Do it before Nergal,
god of the netherworld.

Hadi, Yuri speaks the truth.

Zuwa k*lled Tito and wears his torc
on his wrist like a bracelet.

I also sent no messenger.

Yuri!

Yuri.

I... I can't breathe.

Sister.

My chest and throat are burning.

What's…

happening to me?

Yuri!

Someone help us! Kikkuri!

Yes, I'm here.

Call a physician.

Lady Yuri! What happened to her?

Hurry!

Y-Yes! Right away!

Hadi, you must've used poison.

What type was it?

I-I don't know.

My heart grows cold.

My heart is turning to ice faster than
how Yuri's body grows colder and colder.

Yuri's eyes will open again.

They must.

How is she?

Answer me!

It's too late.

You don't mean...

There's no breath or pulse.
She has passed away.

No. It can't be.

Yuri!

Prince Kail.

You must eat something
for the sake of your health.

If this was going to happen,

I should've forced her to go home
when we had the chance.

I can see you're blaming yourself.

But it was Lady Yuri
who made the choice that night.

No!

You're wrong, Kikkuri.

The truth is I wanted her
to remain with me.

I didn't want to send her home that night.

I know you're hurting,
but shall we question Hadi and her sisters?

We will.

We have committed
an unpardonable crime.

We accept the penalty.

Imbeciles!

Tito loved Lady Yuri and
gave his very life to save her!

- Yet you—

- Enough, Kikkuri.

Hadi, you testify that you didn't see
the face of the instigator?

Forgive us, Highness. His face
was covered with black cloth.

That's Urhi, the queen's aide-de-camp.

Yes, perhaps. But since they didn't see
his face, we cannot know for sure.

Excuse me, Your Highness.

Someone has stolen Lady Yuri's body
from the Great Temple.

What?

We had soldiers stationed
at the entryways.

So how did it happen?

The fiend used a secret exit.

Palaces and temples always have
such passages in case of emergencies.

Who's the cleric in charge of this temple?

The queen.

But why would she lower herself
to stealing a corpse?

Indeed. The queen doesn't
simply want Yuri dead.

Her plan is to behead Yuri alive
as part of a ritual.

Poisoning her would run counter to that.

Surely not...

I can't move.

Not now. We behead her
after taking her to the queen.

Who's that?

You only need her head.

Chopping it off here
won't make a difference.

The queen wishes to behead
the maiden during a proper ritual.

We'll remove her head
once we reach Hattusa.

We didn't simply poison her.

The white water places the body
in a state of temporary death.

The queen's lackey and Zuwa?

Why am I here?

Aw, come on. Just let me do it now.

I promise you'll get to keep the head.

N-No.

Wondering about the "whys" can come later.

I have to get out of here.

Relent already. A severed head
is the same anywhere.

Oh, you're awake, wench?

Zuwa, don't swing your blade recklessly.

I have to get outside.

A light!

Who are you? Why are you here?

Uh, I'm Yuri.

Yuri?

You say you are Prince Kail's
first official concubine?

And who are you?