01x08 - Ringo no Ki no Shita de

[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.

- UNDER THE APPLE TREE

- Under the Apple Tree.

There's no going back.

But if we go any further...

A message for His Majesty.

The price of grain has soared,
causing uproar in all markets.

Grain? But we ordered
enough to be imported.

Yes, but we have received no caravans
from Mesopotamia in a month.

How is that possible?

We received notices of departure
from those caravans, did we not?

Indeed, Highness. But all have vanished
on reaching eastern Anatolia.

Why don't you send troops immediately?

That area borders the Mitanni kingdom.

If caravans are disappearing,

that must mean the Mitanni are robbing
our imports with impunity.

O-Of course.

Find those caravans at once!

Y-Yes, ma'am!

What afflicts the queen?
She was more agitated than usual.

Her mind is dogged by the question
of who will accede to the throne.

If that's relevant to this trouble...

It would mean something connected
to the throne is tied to those caravans.

If she's plotting another scheme,
we can't just turn a blind eye.

Let's investigate.

And Zannanza...

Zannanza, be ready to respond
if the Mitanni mobilize.

I will.

Have Prince Kail and Lady Yuri
still not made amends?

It's gotten worse.

Is Prince Kail going to stay
at the king's palace again tonight?

He's occupied daily
with the w*r council.

And the queen seems to be
plotting something yet again.

Do you think so?

Lady Yuri.

Is the queen really scheming again?

Yes.

According to Kikkuri,
she sent for something from Babylonia.

Sent for what?

Whatever it was disappeared
with the caravan.

The queen practically screamed
at people to search for it.

Lady Yuri, we should take a meal
to Prince Kail.

What?

You wish to talk with him
about the queen's plot, yes?

S-Sure, but...

That's not all.

Prince Kail will be ever so delighted.

Uh, but I...

Yes, as you talk about the queen.

Prince Kail is still at the w*r council.

Listen, will you?

Yes, yes. We're just bringing food.

Come. Let us wait in his parlor.

Isn't that the queen's lackey?

Lady Yuri, this way.

Lady Yuri?

We know that Malatya serves
as the Mitanni's forward base.

Thus, we must dispatch troops to the city.

Third Prince Kail Mursili,
I bid you to command the vanguard.

Yes, sire.

Fourth Prince Zannanza Hattusili,
you will lead the second legion.

Sire.

The crown prince will remain in Hattusa,

and the other princes will stand
ready to march into battle.

Your Majesty.

These troop numbers seem excessive
simply to strike Malatya.

You're right.

Our objective isn't simply to subjugate
the fortress city of Malatya.

It's to obliterate
the Mitanni kingdom itself.

We have repeatedly skirmished
with the Mitanni,

but now that we have iron, this is our
chance to settle the feud for good.

I don't care how many years it takes.

We'll send the Mitanni king, Tushratta,
straight to the underworld god, Nergal.

Don't return until that is achieved.

It could take years?

I shall also march into battle.

The king will lead us!

Prince Kail, congratulations
on leading the king's expedition.

We also have Ishtar on our side,
so victory will be ours.

Prince Kail!

You haven't seen Lady Yuri, have you?

We lost sight of her.

Have you discovered its whereabouts?

Indeed. We now know
it is in the hands of the Mitanni.

Curse them. We need to retrieve it.

We need it.

We must have the Eye of Illuyanka.

The Eye of Illuyanka?

Who goes there?

Oh, crap.

Prince Kail?

The mouse.

My queen, do you need
my consort's assistance?

Wh-What I need is for you
to explain yourselves.

Why is your consort lurking
in this place?

Because I told her to take stock
of the remaining grain stores.

We need enough rations for our campaign.

Is something wrong?

You may take you leave, my queen.

It would be unseemly for a priestess
to be near a drawn sword.

Prince.

Prince Kail.

The Eye of Illuyanka?

The queen sent for that of all things?

I didn't know it really existed.

Hold up. What's the Eye of Illuyanka?

A precious talisman of legend.

Whoever wields it is able to control
the minds and bodies of all people.

Mind control?

The queen seeks to seize control
of the empire with that?

But they said the Mitanni have it now.

The Mitanni?

It's worse if they have it.

It appears our campaign
has a new objective.

You mean we're going after
the Eye of Illuyanka?

Then we have to make sure we find it.

We can't let the queen have it.

Then we should prepare to march.

Yup.

No, I'm not taking you on this campaign.

You'll stay in Hattusa.

But why? Take me with you, Prince Kail.

This w*r will be like no other.

I won't return until the
Mitanni are destroyed.

This w*r may take years to conclude.

Years?

Yuri.

You are to return to your family
within the next year.

In ten months, the springs should be
full under the morning star.

There are other high-ranking clerics
apart from me and the queen.

You'll be able to return
without me present.

Without you around?

Fear not. You are capable
of resisting the queen now.

I'll also assign capable guards to you.

No, take me with you.

I want to be with you!

Yes, I want to go back to my family.

But you're the one
who makes life here worth living.

I don't want to be left
in Hattusa without you.

You will stay here and
then go back to your family.

Prince! Prince Kail!

No! Take me with you!

Lady Yuri.

Lady Yuri.

Look, guys. I'm sorry
I caused a scene back there.

Don't be.

I'll be fine. I'll do as the prince said.

He's right, after all.

I just have to stay here and
wait for the morning star.

Hadi, do you think that
Prince Kail hates my guts?

That can't be.

It's because His Highness
cherishes you so.

I've given up on Yuri because
she belongs to my brother.

But if my brother leaves her,

I'm well within my rights
to take her as my own.

Prince Zannanza?

Kikkuri, will you relay that
to my brother?

Prince Kail!

What is it?

Prince Zannanza stated
he's taking possession of Lady Yuri.

He said he's doing it
of his own free will this time.

What?

Prince Kail!

Prince Zannanza has grabbed
Lady Yuri and carried her off.

Kikkuri, where did Zannanza elope to?

O-Oh, right.

He said he was briefly returning to
Kanesh before the campaign.

Damn you, Zannanza.

Why do you think I'm leaving
Yuri behind in Hattusa?

I'm not giving her to any man.

Not even you.

I'll have your head.

Prince Zannanza, don't do this!

Yuri!

This is the fastest way to collect apples.

Seriously, stop it.
You're getting bugs on me.

Oh, brother. You caught up
quicker than I expected.

Prince Kail? What are you doing here?

You're asking me?

I want to know what you two
are doing here.

What's the big deal?

Prince Zannanza invited me
out here to cheer me up.

Hadi and the twins said
it'd be good for me.

I knowingly tricked Prince Kail.

Brother.

I am your most beloved sibling
and your most trusted retainer.

Wh-Why remind me of that now?

Yet you came galloping here
with the intent to k*ll me if necessary.

If you care for your woman that deeply,
don't even think about leaving her behind.

With that said, I'll leave
you two to settle matters.

Good luck.

Zannanza?

L-Look. I don't mind at all.
I'll stay in Hattusa.

Ten months.

I'll destroy the Mitanni in ten months.

Huh? But you said it would take years.

I'll find a way, fair or foul.

So Yuri...

Come with me.

We'll be back in ten months
so that you can go home.

So please...

Stay with me.

Prince?

Are you sure about this?

The truth is I was terrified.

I was afraid you'd grow to be
such a large part of my life

that parting would be unbearable.

But as long as you're here,
we'll stay together.

I won't let go.

Prince Kail.

Oh, my gosh!

The whole army's on the move.

Lady Yuri.

My father remade this iron sword for you.

Thank you.

The fire season will soon end and
the windy season will be upon us.

We'll be able to make
more iron weapons than before.

Yuri, this is belated,
but these are my officers.

I am the chariot commander, Kash.
It is an honor to meet you.

Infantry commander, Mittanamwa.

It is a pleasure.

I command the archers. I am Rusafa.

I am delighted to make
your acquaintance, Lady Yuri.

Y-Yeah, um, it's nice meeting you all.

Mr. Ilbani?

Are you coming with us, too?

Yes. I'm tagging along
as the chronicler of this w*r.

A long campaign needs more than soldiers,
so we'll bring cooks and craftsmen as well.

Oh, I see.

Lady Yuri.

Come with us.

Wow, he's gorgeous. Who is he?

They say his name is
Shalma. He's a priest.

He's such a beautiful gentleman.

A full-on campaign really
has all sorts of people on it.

We'll be in position
to surround Malatya in a few days.

Will we be able to strike immediately?

The Mitanni are skilled charioteers.

And the topography of the area
favors the chariot.

We'd be prey for the Prince of Darkness.

Which leaves us with a siege?

That would greatly prolong the w*r.

We won't stage a siege.

We can topple Malatya in five days.

Just five?

Prince, I know we want to be back in Hattusa
in ten months, but please don't rush things.

It'd actually be nice if we could
be together for a little longer.

I'm not rushing things.

As promised, in ten months...

No, in nine months
I'll take you back to Hattusa.

She says she wants to be together?

Hopefully, she doesn't think
that's all there is to being a concubine.

Hey. Is it really safe to sleep like this?

I'll ravish you.

Dark Prince, there's a report
of a Hittite legion one day north of here.

They've shown themselves?

Yes. It seems our gambit to attack the
caravans to lure them here has paid off.

Their flags also bear the mark of the army
we fought in Kizzuwatna.

What? Kail Mursili leads this army?

Yes.

I've been wanting to do battle
with that man once more.

Right. I'll go.

Dana, you'll stay and defend this place.

Highness.

A report from our scout.

The Prince of Darkness is on the move.

Are we discovered?

Uh, no. He marches north.

I instructed Zannanza to draw the
Prince of Darkness from his stronghold.

He'll lead him around for five days or so.

We must also move.

First, I'll ask the Malatya governor to host
the third prince Kail Mursili as his guest.

I'll turn up there with a
small number of associates.

What?

They're unaware that we know the Mitanni
are using Malatya as their forward base.

With the Prince or Darkness out the way,

they'll welcome me since
they won't want to cause waves.

Don't be absurd!

He's right! It's too dangerous
to enter the city without an army!

To conquer Malatya in five days,
we need the right bait.

Be reasonable!

Take me with you.

If you don't, I won't let you go.

Of course you're coming.
You're the main event.

And Kikkuri, intercept
every messenger from Malatya.

We don't want the Prince of Darkness
to know I'm there.

Lord Governor, we greatly appreciate
your generous hospitality.

Oh, you must be the prince's retainers.

I do wish to greet His Highness himself.

Enough with the formalities.

Il, show me in.

Yes, Your Highness.

If it isn't Prince Mursili.
It's my most humble pleasure to—

We'll be making ourselves
at home for a while,

governor.

THE SIGN ON THE PALM