Red River (manga)

Red River
天は赤い河のほとり (Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori)
Demographic	Shōjo
Genre	Historical
Manga: Red River
Author	Chie Shinohara
Publisher	Shogakukan
Other publishers: VIZ Media Egmont Manga & Anime Editions Star Comics
Serialized in	Sho-Comi
Original run	1995 – 2002
Volumes	28 volumes

Red River (天は赤い河のほとり, Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori: Anatolia Story^?, "Heaven by the Red River"), is a shōjo manga series made by Chie Shinohara. It is published in Japan by Shogakukan, and it is published English by VIZ Media. The series originally ran in Shogakukan's shōjo manga magazine Shōjo Comic. The English releases are currently up to volume 19 of 28. In 2001, it won the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo.^[1] Red River is about a fifteen-year old Japanese girl named Yuri Suzuki, who is magically transported to Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite Empire in Anatolia. She was summoned by Queen Nakia who means to use Yuri as a human sacrifice. Yuri's blood is the key element needed in placing a curse upon the princes of the land so that they will perish, leaving Nakia's son as the sole heir to the throne. The story takes place during the reign of King Suppiluliuma I, at a time when the Hittite Empire was near its peak of power, rivaled only by Egypt, which was then ruled by the young Pharaoh Tutankhamen. Many of the people and events in the story are drawn from actual history, from Princes Kail Mursili, Sari Arnuwanda, and Zannanza, to battles with the neighboring Mitanni kingdom around the town of Kizzuwatna.

Contents 1 Characters 1.1 Main 1.2 Enemies 1.3 Royalty 1.4 Servants 1.5 Hittite generals and military leaders 1.6 Egyptians 1.7 Animals 1.8 Characters from Yuri’s Time 1.9 Others 2 Manga Summaries 3 English Covers 4 References 5 External links

Characters

Main

Yuri Suzuki (鈴木夕梨, Suzuki Yūri^?)

The main character of the story. Only fifteen at the start of the series, Yuri is confident and willing to take up any charitable cause. As she possesses knowledge far greater than any woman of the time (such as recognition of iron and knowledge of 20th century medical practices and hygiene), and often seems to find herself in situations that "prove" she is Ishtar, she is often considered to have divine powers and is thought by most to be the living incarnation of the goddess of love and war, Ishtar. As such, she is often referred to as Yuri Ishtar (ユーリ・イシュタル, Yuri Ishtar^?). Despite this, she is tomboyish, preferring to dress in men's clothing for the sake of practicality, much to the consternation and dismay of her handmaids. She is an accomplished gymnast, and during her stay in Hattusa, she learns the art of sword fighting and archery, so that she can better help Kail, and survive on her own.

In volume 14, Yuri decides to stay with Kail for the rest of her life, giving up her family and her way back to modern times. In volume 16, Kail informs the Senate of his wish to marry Yuri, and some of the members oppose the idea. When they turn to Nakia for council, she places the condition that Yuri may only become Kail's queen if she becomes Gal Meshedi, Commander in Chief of the Hittite army, and comes back victorious from the campaign against Egypt. In volume 18, while out out preforming her duties as Commander in Chief, she realizes she is pregnant. Kail is ecstatic with the news and quickly relieves Yuri of her duties, despite the threat that it may delay or end their plans to wed.

In a desperate attempt to overthrow Queen Nakia, Yuri raises a private army and unites other factions loyal to her and Kail, and eventually succeeds in deposing Queen Nakia once and for all.

Kail Mursili

The third prince of the Hittite empire, son of King Suppililiuma and the second Tawananna, Queen Hinti. At the beginning of the series, he finds Yuri running frantically from guards, and gives her the gift of understanding and speaking their language by way of a kiss. He finds Yuri to be quite unlike any woman he has ever met, and promises to help her find a way home to Japan, while struggling with his own growing love and desire for her. He initially calls Yuri his concubine and the incarnate form of Ishtar in order to protect her from Queen Nakia, but even he begins to believe his own tale after a while, and the legend of Yuri as Ishtar grows beyond his control. He is loyal to those he cares for, but constantly at odds with his stepmother, the third Tawananna, Queen Nakia. A powerful sorcerer in his own right, he has the ability to control wind and air, and is one of the few who can counter Nakia's spells in any way. Part way through the series, in volume 12, he ascends to the throne as King Mursili II. In volume 14, he announces to his servants that he wants to marry Yuri and make her his queen, despite the fact that custom dictates that he may only marry a member of the royal family, or a foreign princess. Later in volume 16 he lets the Senate know of his intention to marry Yuri.

Enemies

Queen Nakia

The third and current Tawananna (queen) of the Hittite Empire, wife of King Suppililiuma. It was Nakia's spell that took Yuri from her original timeframe, and she intends to use Yuri's blood as part of a curse to kill the five princes ahead of her son in line for the throne. Foiled by Prince Kail in her initial attempts to secure Yuri, Nakia constantly and shamelessly manipulates people and situations to her benefit. She has some control over water, using certain kinds of enchanted water as a form of mind control. The character is loosely based on the historical Tawananna Malnigal of Babylon.

Urhi Shalma

Nakia's personal servant, an assassin who usually takes the guise of a royal priest. He takes advantage of his position and his uncommonly feminine appearance to gain the trust of people to be used in Nakia's plots against Yuri and Prince Kail. His surname is not well-known, and is used when he chooses to go incognito. He is rumored to be the true father of Prince Juda. In a later volume not yet translated into English, Urhi stabs himself.

The Prince Of Darkness

Prince Mattiwazza is the crown prince of Mitanni. While in a battle with the mitani Urhi knocks Yuri out and leaves her to be captured by Mattiwazza. Mattiwazza then fakes that Yuri is his new concubine, and she is taken to his sereglio. Yuri is tricked to go into the "blue deer room" which is forbidden to all, where Mattiwazza almost kills her. He Later uses her as a hostage, and tries to rape her, only to be stopped by his own gaurds mutany. Yuri later finds out that his sister was sold to the egyptians to be a queen, and is now known as Neffertiti. Finally he lets Yuri go to run away with Nadia, sister of Nakia, and also quite evil.

Royalty

King Suppililiuma

The ruler of the Hittites, by the beginning of the story he is already advanced in years. He has fought several wars with the Mitanni and the Egyptians, and his reign is considered to be a high point in the history of the people.

Sari Arnuwanda

The Crown Prince, oldest son of King Suppiluliuma and the King's first wife. Largely invalid, he relies heavily on his brothers, specifically Zannanza and Kail, in order to fulfill his duties. After he ascends to the throne, he in turn picks Kail to be his heir, as he has no sons.

Zannanza Hattusili

The fourth son of King Suppiluliuma (with a palace maid), he is very skilled with swords and military tactics, and is the mayor of the Hittite city of Kadesh. Prince Zannanza is very fond of Kail, whom he regards as a full brother, since they were playmates when they were little, and he was also raised by Kail's mother after his own mother died. He also falls in love with Yuri, which unfortunately is exploited by Queen Nakia. Zannanza is very loyal to Kail, and despite his feelings, does not try to get in the way of the relationship between Kail and Yuri. He is betrothed to Ankhesenamen, the widow of Tutankhamen, in an attempt to make peace between the Hittites and Egypt, but never arrives at his destination, having been assassinated en route.

Juda Haspasrupi

The sixth son of King Suppiluliuma and the current Tawananna, Queen Nakia. Despite his mother's constant and blatantly evil scheming, Prince Juda is a kind boy who doesn't understand his mother's enmity towards his beloved brothers, particularly his favorite, Kail. His dream is to serve as a domestic advisor to Kail, whom he wishes to become king, and thinks of Yuri as an older sister. Juda falls victim to his mother's schemes quite often but is an unwilling pawn who must be controlled by magic to cooperate. When he eventually discovers the truth behind his mother's schemes, he attempts suicide. He later tries to slay his mother in a fit of rage before Yuri and Kail intervene.

Rois Telipinu

The second son of King Suppililiuma (with a concubine), he is not considered to be one of the serious claimants to the throne and is largely relegated to royal ceremonies. He is the mayor of the Hittite city of Haleb.

Servants

Tito

Yuri's first true friend after arriving, he is a servant in the palace, but also the only son of Talos, the head of the Hatti clan, and the inheritor of the secret of iron-making. While helping Yuri escape from Queen Nakia, he is murdered by Nakia's servant, Zuwa. Yuri is framed for the death, and his sisters attempt to kill her in retaliation. Tito is finally avenged when Yuri defeats Zuwa and reveals him as the true killer. In gratitude, Talos granted Tito's inheritance to Yuri, and Tito's sisters take his place in the royal household.

Hadi

The eldest sister of Tito, she is an intelligent and skilled fighter. She and her sisters tried to kill Yuri in order to avenge Tito's death, but after finding out the truth, pledges her life as one of Yuri's handmaids. Though she admires Yuri for her bravery and kindness, her attempts to get Yuri to be more traditionally feminine have mixed results.

Ryui and Shala

Twin sisters of Hadi and Tito, both loyal and capable fighters in their own right. Along with Hadi, they pledge their lives as Yuri's loyal handmaids. Both of them often conspire with Hadi and Kikkuri to draw Kail and Yuri closer together, and eventually, both Ryui and Shala become romantically involved with Kikkuri, due to similar tastes and personalities.

Kikkuri

Prince Kail's servant, who goes everywhere with him. Though quite cautious and timid by nature, he is not above conspiring with Yuri's handmaids and working behind Kail's back in order to encourage him to "settle down" with Yuri.

Il Vani

Prince Kail's strategic advisor, foster brother, palace steward, and childhood friend. Though very serious and formal, Il Vani has a dry wit and an insatiable urge to find a wife for Prince Kail. (He can also appear from behind curtains at will.) At first unsure of Yuri's intentions and suitability, he quickly decides that Yuri is the perfect wife for Kail and the best possible candidate to unseat Nakia as Tawananna. He is one of the few to consistently see through Queen Nakia's plots and has been known to manipulate Urhi to benefit his counter schemes. His loyalty to Kail and Yuri often seems rooted in a greater loyalty to the Hittite nation on the whole.

Hittite generals and military leaders

Rusafa

The leader of the Hittite archers, he is highly loyal to Yuri and Kail. Free-spirited and easygoing, he nevertheless falls under Nakia's control at one point. His name is often mistranslated as "Lucifer" due to the ambiguity of the katakana used in the original Japanese.

Rusafa's unrequited love for Yuri makes him go out of his way to protect her, even if it means disobeying orders from his superiors. He swears that he will eventually give his life for her, a promise that he eventually fulfills to prevent Nakia from banishing Yuri from their time.

Kash

The leader of the Hittite chariots, and a guard of Prince Kail. He falls in love with Ursula not long after she comes to live in the palace. Following her execution, he wears a braided lock of her hair around his head.

Mettannamuwa

The leader of the Hittite infantry, he does not play much of a role in palace politics, as he is considerably older and spends most of his time out in the field.

Shubas

The second commander of the Hittite archers, he is first introduced in book thirteen of the series, having gone to war with Egypt along with Mursili II, as Shubas' superior officer is serving the second army in Arzawa with Yuri. Like his fellow officer Zora, he seems to be largely inexperienced at first, a fact remarked upon by Kikkuri.

Zora

The second commander of the Hittite infantry, he is first introduced in book thirteen of the series, having gone to war with Egypt along with Mursili II, as Zora's superior officer is serving the second army in Arzawa with Yuri. Like his fellow officer Shubas, he seems to be largely inexperienced at first, a fact remarked upon by Kikkuri.

Egyptians

Ramses

A military officer from a lower-ranking noble family, he initially encounters Yuri while on patrol near the Egyptian-Hittite border awaiting Zannanza's caravan. He is intrigued by Yuri's ingenuity in preventing a war between Egypt and the Hittites following Zannanza's assassination and requests to be assigned to Hattusa as a military liaison. His true motive is revealed when he later kidnaps Yuri. He tells her he has ambitions of becoming the next Egyptian pharaoh by ousting the current, corrupt leaders of the Egyptian 18th Dynasty. To do this, he needs a woman of his own caliber, like Yuri, to be his future queen. But his first (and second) attempts to kidnap her are foiled by Kail. A third attempt is successful when a desperate Rusafa seeks his help when Yuri is weakened and in danger of dying after a shipwreck. After Rusafa escapes Egypt and informs Kail that Yuri did not die in the shipwreck, Kail sends Ilbani, Hadi, Ryui, and Shala to Egypt. By this time Ramses, who had initially only wanted Yuri because of his ambitions, has fallen in love with her. But soon after Kail's servants arrive, Egyptian soldiers come to arrest Yuri for interfering with an official's attempt to cut off the hand of a child. Ramses goes in her stead to Queen Nefertiti's palace. After Yuri rescues him from death at her hands, he gives her a document found in Queen Nefertiti's palace concerning Queen Nakia's betrayal before she goes back to Kail.

Later, Ramses and Kail fight to a draw, and Ramses accepts defeat, asking Yuri to bear a daughter to marry his son.

He later becomes Ramses I, first Pharaoh of the Egyptian 19th Dynasty. In the manga, he is easily distinguished by his heterochromatic eyes, blonde hair and tanned skin.

In actual history, Ramses was known as Paramesse prior to succeeding Horemheb (the historical pharaoh of this period).

Nepheruto

A free-spirited sister of Ramses, who seems to have feelings for Rusafa.

Nefertiti

A famous queen of Egypt, once a princess of Mitanni, and the blood sister of Mattiwaza, with whom she had an affair when they were younger. She was sold to Egypt to solidify the legitimacy of the Mitanni kingdom, and was married to Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten). On the death of Tutankhamen, she orders her daughter to send a message to the Hittites to send a son to become the next Pharaoh of Egypt.

Ankhesenamen

The daughter of Nefertiti, married to Tutankhamen. When Tutankhamen dies, her hand in marriage is offered to a son of the Hittite king, but this deal is never completed due to treachery, and she is married off to a high-level government official, Ay.

Ay

A formerly a high-level (though largely incompetent) government official, he ascends to the position of Pharaoh after the failure of Ankhesenamen's arranged marriage to the Hittite Empire. Ramses sees him as a personification of the corruption of the Egyptian 18th Dynasty, having married a girl "young enough to be his granddaughter."

Animals

Aslan

Yuri's black war horse, whom only Yuri can ride or control. (In volume 13, Aslan is referred to as a "she," which may - or may not - be different from the original translation.)

Shimshek

Yuri's hawk, raised by her from a chick, usually kept in a wicker basket when not out.

Characters from Yuri’s Time

Yuri's family

In modern-day Japan, Yuri has a mother, father, and two sisters, Eimi and Marie. Very little is shown of them beyond the initial pages of the manga, but it is assumed they are a normal Japanese family.

Satoshi Himuro

Satoshi is a classmate and longtime friend of Yuri. Towards the beginning of the story, Satoshi and Yuri had just officially become a couple: the story opens with their first kiss. While they were out on a date, Yuri was grabbed by the queen by way of a snow puddle. Yuri misses Satoshi for the first few months in Anatolia, but his memory fades gradually with time.

Others

Zuwa

The leader of the fierce Kashuga (Kaska) tribe, he works for Queen Nakia. Larger than the average man, he is also very sadistic, collecting the skins of his human victims much like a hunter would collect the skins of animals, and crafting his attire from them. After killing Tito, he meets his end, outmaneuvered and outsmarted by Yuri, who shatters his outsized copper sword and the mud bricks beneath his feet with an iron blade.

Talos

The headman of the Hatti people, keeper of the secret of ironmaking, and father to Hadi, Ryui, Shala, and Tito. He is one of the first to see the true potential in Yuri ("proving" her claim as Ishtar by asking her to pick a blade from his armory), and quietly supports her from behind the scenes throughout the course of the series.

Prince Mattiwaza

The crown prince of the Mitanni kingdom, son of King Tushratta, and younger brother of Nefertiti. Called the "Prince of Darkness" for his ruthless demeanor and behavior at war, he launches a campaign against the Hittites and kidnaps Yuri in an attempt to demoralize them. This strategy fails, as the Mitanni people rally around Yuri when she tends to the injured and sick in the capital. Mattiwaza himself is eventually won over by Yuri's charm. When the Mitanni kingdom is completely overrun, and the king murdered by his own soldiers, Mattiwaza abdicates the throne and departs with his head concubine Nadia. Though Mattiwaza and Nefertiti were siblings, they had an affair when younger. The jewel Mattiwaza wears of his forehead is a memento of his love for his sister, and this memento is passed on to Yuri, who wears it around her neck for much of the rest of the series.

Nadia

The head concubine of Prince Mattiwaza, and younger sister of Queen Nakia. She initially plans to trick Mattiwaza into killing Yuri, but only because she was afraid of being replaced. Though long suspected of being a spy for Queen Nakia or her birth kingdom of Babylonia, she has no intention of being a pawn of Nakia or Urhi, as she is genuinely in love with Mattiwaza, defending him with her life. Her selfless act redeems Mattiwaza, and they leave to find a new life together.

Ursula

She was initially used as a pawn by Queen Nakia, she is introduced as a false Ishtar in a town ravaged by "the seven day fever". When unveiled by Prince Kail and subsequently forgiven, she joins Yuri's retinue as a handmaid. She falls in love with Kash, and they become betrothed, but she ultimately sacrifices her life for Yuri when Yuri is falsely accused of the assassination of King Arnuwanda. Before her execution, she gives a lock of her hair to Kash, who wears her braid as his headband until the day her innocence is proven and the true assassin is revealed.

Guzel

The daughter of the chairman of the Hittite senate, who claims her son is Prince Kail's while under the control of Queen Nakia. Previously one of the leading candidates to become Kail's queen, and still a close friend to Kail. Her son, whose father was really a traveling minstrel, was named after Kail.

Alexandra

The first princess of Arzawa (a country to the west of the Hittites on the shores of the Aegean Sea), Alexandra is sent by her mother to give herself to Ishtar as a concubine, not realizing that Ishtar is female. Alexandra is about 13 years old when she is first seen in book 13 of the series. After Arzawa becomes an ally of the Hittites, Alexandra spends a great deal of time in the Hittite kingdom, and later becomes the love interest for Prince Juda. (In a slight difference to the English edition, probably changed to appeal more to an American audience, the manga translation only mentions that Alexandra has been sent to "serve" Ishtar, not that she has been sent as a concubine.)

Manga Summaries

This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available.(March 2007)

The plot summary in this article or section is too long compared to the rest of the article. Please edit the article to focus on discussing the work rather than merely reiterating the plot.

Volume One: Yuri Suzuki is an ordinary 15-year-old Japanese student of the 21st century. But her life changes forever when hands drag her into a water puddle and out of her land and time. The land is the Middle East, and the time is the 14th century B.C. She is in Hattusa, capital of the Hittite empire, in the region known today as Anatolia, the central part of the country of Turkey. After she emerges from a spring, soldiers try to capture her. She escapes straight into the arms of a handsome, well-dressed man who promptly pulls her into a passionate kiss, which gives her the ability to understand his language. But his amorous advances and the strange circumstances frighten her, and she flees only to be caught by the soldiers. Taken prisoner, she meets the priestess who took her from her land: Queen Nakia, wife of the king of the Hittites. Nakia tells Yuri the reason she was pulled into the spring: Yuri’s blood is the essential element in a sacrifice that will kill the five princes in line to the throne, so that her son, the sixth prince, can ascend the throne when King Suppiluliuma dies. The queen takes Yuri to the great temple, on the pretense that she is sacrificing a virgin to the storm god. But the man she had met before, the third prince, Kail Mursili II, saves her, claiming that he took her virginity, making her unsuitable as a sacrifice. Yuri agrees to the lie in order to save her life.

Over the queen’s objections, Kail takes Yuri to his palace as his "concubine." Here she meets a young servant boy named Tito, who looks remarkably like her sister, Eimi. That night, the queen sends her magical "black water" to the palace, and Tito falls under its spell and tries to kill Yuri. Prince Kail saves her, but does nothing at first to save Tito, who will be executed for the attempt on her life, even though he was under the queen’s control. Yuri convinces Kail to use royal prerogative to save Tito. Yuri finds out from Prince Kail’s servant, Kikkuri, that any priest or priestess who has magical power can send her home, and that Prince Kail has that power. The prince also informs her that the conditions need to be the same as when she was summoned for her to return: one, she must have the aid of a powerful, magical priest; two, she must return during the time when Venus, the morning star, is in the sky and the seven springs of Hattusa are full; three, she must have the clothes she was wearing at the time she was stolen. Though Kail warns her to wait until the next day to retrieve her clothes from the queen’s castle, Yuri can’t wait. Tito follows her. They walk into a trap, and Yuri is captured by Zuwa the Kashuga, a cruel giant of a man working for the queen. As the queen and her loyal servant Urhi prepare to sacrifice Yuri, Tito attacks Zuwa, and the two flee with Yuri’s clothes. She nearly makes it to the door of the queen’s castle, but Zuwa recaptures her. Tito saves her again, pushing her through the door to safety. As a distraught Yuri bangs on the door of the castle, Prince Kail arrives. Volume Two: Prince Kail tries to save Tito, but the queen claims to have no knowledge of Tito’s whereabouts. Prince Kail decides to seek the help of his father, but Kail’s palace steward, Ilbani, tells him that Tito is probably already dead, as Zuwa takes the skins of his victims. Kail assures Yuri that he will try to save Tito. But when news arrives that the body of a skinned young boy has been discovered, they realize they are too late. Yuri grieves the loss of Tito, but she doesn’t have long, for Ilbani tells Kail and Yuri that she must be sent home before dawn of the next day, or she will have to wait until the next year to return. But when Kail tries to send Yuri home, the queen interferes, disturbing the water of the spring and sending Zuwa to try to capture Yuri. Dawn arrives, and it is too late: she can’t return until the next year. Though heartbroken at not being able to go home to her family, Yuri tells Kail that she wants to avenge the death of Tito. Soon after, the Kashugas attack the city of Alinna, and the king orders Kail to take his armies and free the city. (It is also at this time that Yuri finds out from Ilbani that, despite Kail’s current playboy attitude, Kail has vowed that once he meets the right woman, he will take her as his wife, and take no concubines or other women.) Kail takes Yuri with him to Alinna, after telling the soldiers that she came from a sacred spring, sent by the goddess Ishtar. But the queen sends Urhi and Zuwa to Alinna. Urhi goes to Tito’s home in Alinna, and tells his sisters, Hadi, Ryui, and Shala, that Yuri ordered the death of their brother. They attempt to lure Yuri into Zuwa’s hands. They get the chance to do just that when Kail’s armies battle the Kashugas outside Alinna. But Yuri flees Zuwa’s clutches, riding a horse for the first time in her life, and unwittingly turns the tide of the battle in Kail’s favor. Alinna is saved. The city gives her the horse, Aslan, in gratitude. But Urhi is not done. He returns to the sisters’ home, and gives them a poison, which they give to Yuri. Kail sends for doctors, who pronounce Yuri dead. When Yuri’s body is stolen from the temple of the sun goddess, Kail realizes that Yuri might not be dead after all, as the queen wanted Yuri as a sacrifice. Yuri wakes up to find herself in one of the temple’s secret passages with Zuwa and the priest, Urhi Shalma. She flees, and breaks through a hole in the wall into a room. But Tito’s father, Talos, is on the other side. Volume Three: Talos tells Yuri that she must fight Zuwa herself. But he will allow her to pick a weapon from his armory. Yuri passes over the large ornamental swords in favor of a small rusty dagger, a choice that surprises Talos. Talos reveals the reason not long after Yuri has left to fight Zuwa, telling Prince Kail that he was trying test Yuri’s powers as Ishtar, and that she passed the test, choosing the ancient treasure dagger of the Hatti, prized because it was made of iron, rare in the Bronze Age. Prince Kail rushes to help her, but she ends up defeating Zuwa on her own atop the city walls, first by shattering his sword with her own, and then by breaking the mud bricks beneath his feet, causing him to fall to his death. When Tito’s sisters see the necklace they gave Tito adorning the dead Zuwa’s arm, they realize the truth of who killed their brother. Kail offers them the job of caring for Yuri as her handmaids, and they accept. In gratitude for killing the murderer of his son, Talos gives Yuri access to the secrets of ironmaking. Kail and Yuri return to Hattusa, but peace does not last long. War with the Mitanni kingdom is looming, and the king has summoned the princes to the capital city of Hattusa. Kail prepares for war. Yuri is preparing in other ways. Determined to not be a burden to Kail, she begins to learn how to ride a horse, and asks the sisters to teach her to use a sword and bow. They agree, but also take it upon themselves to try to get her to act more (and dress more) like a princess. But Yuri prefers boy clothes. When Prince Kail’s younger brother, the fourth prince, Prince Zannanza Hattusili, comes to meet his brother’s “beautiful” concubine, he is startled to find a girl who dresses like a boy. But Zannanza is soon impressed by Yuri’s character and her willingness to learn. When he sees her dressed up at a feast, he notices for the first time how much she reminds him of his dead mother, who had been a maid to Kail’s mother, the late Queen Hinti. Seeing Zannanza’s interest in Yuri, Queen Nakia exploits it, putting him under the control of her magical "rose water." The infatuated and bewitched Zannanza then abducts Yuri from his brother’s palace and flees. Knowing his brother is under a spell, Kail leaves to rescue Yuri after promising his father that he will not forget his duties in war. Kail tracks Zannanza and Yuri to the country of Kizzuwatna. Meanwhile, Zannanza and Yuri have already reached Kizzuwatna. Zannanza’s attempt to rape Yuri is interrupted when Mitanni soldiers attack the city. Yuri forces Zannanza to throw up the magic water, and he comes to his senses. With Yuri’s help, he captures a soldier, who tells Zannanza that the Mitanni forces are led by Crown Prince Mattiwaza, who is known as the "Prince of Darkness" for his merciless, bloody ways. Volume Four: Zannanza goes to roust nearby troops to defend the city, while Yuri heads north and brings Kail and his armies to Kizzuwatna. Together, the two brothers face off against the Prince of Darkness. The Mitanni gain the upper hand, but the townspeople, having been treated kindly by Yuri and the Hittite soldiers, revolt and force the Mitanni soldiers to flee. Though the two brothers return to Hattusa in triumph, they still have to deal with Zannanza’s kidnapping of Yuri. Nakia attempts to force the king to strip the princes of their rank, but Yuri lies and says the kidnapping was a tactical ploy Kail used to fool enemy spies. Soon after, Yuri overhears the queen speaking of a magical talisman called the "Dragon’s Eye" that has been taken by the Mitanni. The talisman would give its user mind control over others. The Hittite king decides to go on the offensive against the Mitanni, and sends Prince Kail and Prince Zannanza to the city of Malatia, a suspected Mitanni base. Knowing that war could take years, Prince Kail at first decides to leave Yuri in Hattusa, so that she won’t miss her next chance to go home. But his brother convinces him to take her, and Kail promises Yuri he will end the war in time to send her back home. Winning the war so quickly will take more than just military might, so Prince Kail devises a plan to take the city in five days. Using Zannanza’s troops to lure the Prince of Darknesses’ armies out of Malatia, Kail enters the city with her and a few of his servants. Volume Five: Kail, taking advantage of his reputation as a playboy, dresses Yuri up as his concubine, and plays the part of a hedonist prince trying to avoid war. His plan of distraction works, and the leaders of the city allow him to stay, believing him to be no real threat. But a traitor is in their midst, and news of Prince Kail’s arrival in Malatia reaches the Prince of Darkness, who rushes back. Kail steps up his plan, and his servants immediately set fire to the armories and open the gates to the Hittites, and the city is easily taken. But Yuri is captured by Mitanni soldiers soon after she finds the Dragon’s Eye, having been knocked unconscious by the traitor, Urhi, who had come with the armies in the guise of a priest named Shalma. But Urhi is ultimately prevented from taking the Dragon’s Eye himself when the Prince of Darkness returns to the city long enough to order a retreat. Learning that Yuri has been captured, Kail determines to take her back, but with the city in chaos and his own duties to attend to, he is forced to stay. But Yuri is not alone, as Hadi has sent her two sisters after Yuri. A rumor reaches the Prince of Darkness that Prince Kail’s concubine, the Hittite Ishtar, is among the captured women. When he commands that the women be brought to him, Ryui switches clothes with Yuri, knowing Yuri would stand out in royal clothes. But her plan fails when the Prince of Darkness recognizes the scent of frankincense on Yuri, something only a prince could afford. The Prince of Darkness takes Yuri to Wassuganni, the Mitanni capital. There, he puts Yuri in an execution pit with a hungry lion, telling her that lions are sacred animals that serve Ishtar, and if she is truly Ishtar the lion won’t eat her. He mockingly promises to grant her any favor she asks if she survives. With quick thinking and the help of her horse Aslan, Yuri not only escapes death but also convinces the Mitanni people that she really is Ishtar. She takes the prince up on his promise, and demands humane treatment for the Hittite prisoners. Though he has no interest in her, the Prince of Darkness takes Yuri into his seraglio in an attempt to take advantage of his people’s belief that she is the goddess Ishtar, and to demoralize the Hittites and Prince Kail. Learning of this, Prince Kail sends his commander of chariots, Kash, into Wassuganni on the pretext of proposing a prisoner exchange. But his real purpose is to have Kash secretly give Yuri a message: a clay tablet with a heart inscribed upon it. The message of love gives Yuri the strength to wait for Kail to rescue her. Meanwhile, Nadia, head concubine to the Prince of Darkness and sister to Queen Nakia, tells Urhi that Mattiwaza’s seraglio will become Yuri’s tomb. Volume Six: In Mattiwaza’s seraglio, Yuri is warned that she must never go into the Blue Deer room, as Prince Mattiwaza has killed all who have entered. She has no interest in the room, but head concubine Nadia lures her there with a fake message purportedly from Kail. Mattiwaza nearly kills her, but stays his hand when she briefly reminds him of Princess Tatukia, who used to live in the Blue Deer room. His anger turns on Nadia when he learns of her deception, but Yuri persuades him to spare her life. Later, Yuri asks Mattiwaza to allow her to see the prisoners, to see if he kept his promise to treat them well. He has, but injured and sick men, both Mitanni and Hittite, are being left to die in the nearby “House of Rest.” Yuri cleans up the filthy building, brings fresh food and water to the patients, inspires others to help, and even impresses Mattiwaza. Meanwhile, Prince Kail’s forces quickly break through the first and second lines of defense around Wassuganni, prompting Mattiwaza to go out to meet him in battle himself. Yuri goes to the prisoners of war seeking one to escape and carry a message to Kail. She finds the newest prisoner is Prince Zannanza, sent by Kail to rescue her. She refuses to leave, having a plan to help Kail. Later, as the armies led by Kail and Mattiwaza fight at the third defensive line, the prisoners of war open the gates of Wassuganni, letting in Zannanza and his soldiers. When Mattiwaza sees that the city is in flames, he abandons the fight and rushes back. Yuri, who has headed to the palace to find Mattiwaza’s father, King Tushratta, watches as Mattiwaza prepares to leave his palace, freeing his concubines and abandoning Nadia. When Yuri asks him if he will leave Tatukia too, she finds out that Tatukia was his sister who was sold to the pharaoh of Egypt long ago as a concubine, eventually becoming the famous Queen Nefertiti. Further intrigued by Yuri, Mattiwaza tries to take her with him, but she escapes on Aslan with the help of Ryui and Shala. In the chaos, Yuri doesn’t get far and is recaptured by Mattiwaza as Kail arrives. Using Yuri as a hostage, Mattiwaza escapes with his father and his army and flees to the city of Karkemish. Four months later, the armies remain at a standoff in Karkemish, with Mattiwaza’s armies slowly starving. When Mattiwaza’s former concubine Nadia begs the Hittites to be allowed into the city, Kail takes the opportunity to sneak into the city disguised as one of her maids. But he may be too late to save Yuri, who has been drugged with incense after refusing Mattiwaza’s advances. Volume Seven: Mattiwaza’s attempts to rape Yuri are interrupted when soldiers burst into the chamber and announce a mutiny. They have killed King Tushratta, and plan to kill Mattiwaza too and hand him over to the Hittites. Mattiwaza fights back, and nearly dies trying to protect Yuri, but is saved when Nadia appears and takes the blow meant for him. Nadia’s actions and Yuri’s words finally convince Mattiwaza that Nadia truly loves him. Before fleeing to Babylon with Nadia, he frees Yuri, giving her the jewel he wears on his forehead, a gift from his sister Tatukia, as a means for her to leave the palace. In the chaos outside, Yuri reunites with Kail. Their reunion is short-lived: Kail tells her she has only three days to return to Hattusa and then to her homeland. But Kail’s steward Ilbani is determined that Yuri stay and marry Kail, so he arranges that Urhi overhears that Yuri is leaving. When Yuri and Kail try to ride home, they discover that Urhi has burned the bridge over the Euphrates River. With no way to cross, Yuri must stay in the past another year. Later, the Hittites return to Hattusa in triumph. But Yuri is not happy, and resolves to avoid Prince Kail. So Kail’s servants interfere, and convince him to try to make Yuri fall in love with him so that she’ll forget her homeland. But his plans are interrupted when a letter arrives from Egypt. The pharaoh, King Tutankhamen, has died, and his widow, Queen Ankhesenamen, wants to marry a Hittite prince. Queen Nakia seizes upon the opportunity to get rid of Kail and has her servant Urhi propose the idea of a chariot race to determine which prince will marry the Egyptian queen, knowing Kail, honor-bound and a superior charioteer, will not lose the race on purpose. Nakia’s son, Prince Juda, decides to win the race himself and has Yuri drug Kail’s wine. Juda then easily overtakes Kail, but is beat at the last moment by Prince Zannanza. Yuri decides to accompany Prince Zannanza partway on his journey, and Kail, newly-appointed as the Gal Mashedi, the commander-in-chief of the Hittite armies, agrees. But after Zannanza’s caravan leaves, Juda notices his mother acting strangely and tells Kail. Kail then prevents Nakia’s personal guard from following the group. But Nakia has another plan: her servants are also in Zannanza’s group, and they kill Zannanza and his entire retinue and leave Yuri for dead. Volume Eight:

Nakia’s main servant, having killed all his co-conspirators, rushes back to Hattusa and informs the Hittites that Zannanza and Yuri have been killed. As proof, he brings an Egyptian arrow. Furious, the king rushes with Kail to war with Egypt. Meanwhile, Ramses, commander of the Egyptian escort for Prince Zannanza, grows bored of waiting and heads out into the desert in search of entertainment. What he finds is a wounded Yuri. He refuses to help her. But Yuri follows him and pulls his own blade on him. Now impressed, he offers to remove the arrow from her back, but she refuses, demanding only that he take her to the Hittites. At the border, King Suppiluliuma accuses the Egyptians of murdering his son, which the Egyptian general Horemheb denies. As tempers flare and war theatens, Yuri rides between the two armies. Yuri accuses Nakia’s servant of the murder of Zannanza. As proof of her words, she has Prince Kail remove the arrow from her back, proving that the arrowhead is Hittite. Urhi then kills Nakia’s main servant in "self-defense" before the man can reveal that Nakia was behind the attack. Peace doesn’t last long after they return to Hattusa. The seven day fever strikes King Suppiluliuma, and Kail must take charge of palace matters, one of which is welcoming Ramses as the Egyptian military envoy. Soon after, the king dies. His eldest son, Arnuwanda, is crowned king. Two candidates for crown prince are put forward: Kail and Juda. Nakia, now the dowager queen, hatches a plan to turn the people’s favor on her own son. First, she opens up houses of rest for the sick. Second, she has a woman in the city of Katapa impersonate Yuri and ruin her reputation. Determined not to let Nakia win, Yuri goes to confront the false Ishtar. Volume Nine: As punishment for "claiming" to be Ishtar, Yuri is sent to the valley, a settlement for the sick and dying. There she meets Kurk, the son of the city’s mayor. He offers to help her escape. But after seeing the sick people, who are too poor to go to Nakia’s houses of rest, Yuri joins Kurk in taking care of the valley’s residents, though she herself is at risk of contracting the seven day fever. Soon the city is talking about the girl who helps the sick and is immune to the fever. She motivates the townspeople, and they storm the city hall, demanding food and medicine. Yuri is then thrown into prison, but is quickly rescued by Kurk and the townspeople. She heads back to the valley and discovers that Kail has already sent aid there. Kail himself has finally arrived and exposes the false Ishtar. He then heads for the valley and reveals the Yuri is the real Ishtar. At city hall, Yuri gives the false Ishtar, a woman named Ursula, the chance to be one of her handmaids. Overwhelmed by Yuri’s generosity and mercy, Ursula accepts. Back in Hattusa, Kail is named crown prince. As Yuri and Kail grow closer, another woman intervenes. A Hittite princess called Guzel announces that her young boy is Kail’s son. Kail, who knows that the child is not his, is certain that Nakia is controlling Guzel. Volume Ten: Ursula, newly-engaged to Kash, the commander of chariots, sneaks into the queen’s palace and discovers Nakia has bought something from Egypt. Ramses informs Yuri that the substance is poison. Yuri then uncovers the dowager queen’s scheme: to frame Kail for poisoning the king. Yuri follows Nakia’s poisoned wine to the palace, enlisting Juda’s help in preventing the king from drinking it. She does, but while she is in a nearby room, Urhi enters and murders King Arnuwanda. Only Juda’s presence prevents Yuri from being suspected of the crime. Kail is certain that Urhi killed his older brother, and that Nakia meant for Ursula to discover the plot in order to frame Yuri. When Kail convenes the Senate in an attempt to expose the truth, Juda, now under the control of his mother’s black water, lies and says that he saw Yuri kill Arnuwanda. Outraged, the Senate tries to arrest Yuri, but Kail intervenes and takes her back to his palace. Knowing that he cannot avoid the law (and the soldiers now outside his palace), Kail arranges for Yuri to "escape" with Hadi, Ryui and Shala and head to the girls’ hometown of Alinna. Kail decides to try to prove Yuri’s innocence by proving that Guzel is under the control of the black water and that Juda is as well. In front of the Senate, Kail forces Guzel to throw up the black water. Guzel, free of the queen’s control, reveals the lie about her son and that the last thing she remembers was being given wine by the queen. But when the Senate tries to examine Juda, Nakia refuses to let them touch him, and threatens war with her home country of Babylon if they do. Desperate to give the Senate a scapegoat, Nakia sends her troops to take over Alinna and kill Yuri. Volume Eleven: Yuri has Rusafa, Kail’s chief of archers, send an arrow into Urhi to create chaos among Nakia’s troops. It works, and Yuri escapes with Hadi. But she is followed, and as she tries to escape, her horse falls off a cliff into the Red River. She is rescued from drowning by Ramses, but it seems he has an ulterior motive for rescuing her: he has ambitions of being the next pharaoh of Egypt, and wants her by his side as his queen. When she rebuffs him, he takes her prisoner by force. Meanwhile, Ilbani prevents Kail from leaving: if Kail goes to Alinna and defies the dowager queen’s troops he could ruin his own chance to become king. But when Hadi informs him of Yuri’s kidnapping, Kail rushes off to rescue her. Thinking quickly, his servants conceal his departure. Ursula, feeling guilty for having let the queen mislead her, decides to claim responsibility for the king’s assassination and turns herself in, hoping that this will free Kail’s troops to rescue Yuri. When the Senate questions Ursula, she claims that the dowager queen herself ordered her to kill Arnuwanda, a charge Nakia denies. Ursula is sentenced to death. When a desperate Kash offers to help her escape, she refuses in the hope that her sacrifice will mean that Kail will become king and Yuri will become queen. She is hanged, and the army heads to Alinna to subdue the dowager queen’s troops. Yuri tries to escape from Ramses, but only succeeds in losing her horse, Aslan. Aslan returns to Alinna without her, and Kail realizes that Aslan may lead him to her. He arrives in time to prevent Ramses from raping Yuri. As Ramses and Kail fight, Kail’s servants arrive, and Ramses escapes. The news of Ursula’s sacrifice is revealed to a stunned Kail and a shocked Yuri. The group returns to Alinna and Nakia’s troops are easily overcome. But a message from Nakia soon dampens their hopes of overthrowing the dowager queen as well, as Nakia has decided to blame Urhi for the assault on Alinna. Volume Twelve: (Starting with this volume, Viz is putting a parental advisory on the cover. The change seems to be a recent decision of Viz on all titles rated T+ [ages 16 and over], as other titles rated T+ or higher now warrant the warning.) Urhi eludes capture by Kail, throwing himself into the Red River rather than give testimony against Nakia. Now without proof of Nakia’s involvement, Kail and his forces return to Hattusa. The Senate unanimously approves him as their next king, and preparations are made for his coronation. But Yuri is filled with despair, hating Kail’s acceptance of Ursula’s sacrifice, and at first refuses to attend the coronation. But when the people call her name, she goes in her capacity as Ishtar, telling Kail that she will serve him only as Ishtar until she goes home the following year. The new King Kail is now faced with an interesting problem: he is still unmarried. Proposals of marriage arrive from all over. And now the woman he wants for his wife, Yuri, is getting ever farther away from him. So one night he goes to her room and attempts to seduce her. When she resists, he tries to take her by force, and Yuri screams for help. Only Hadi is brave enough to interfere, and Kail comes to his senses. The next morning, Yuri asks Kail to help her get home the next time the morning star appears in the sky. He agrees. Meanwhile, a very much alive Urhi is starting a war by helping troops from the bordering country of Arzawa to the west to take over the Hittite city of Beykal. As Kail prepares to go to war, more news arrives of an attack by Egypt on Ugarit, a Hittite ally. The timing of the two separate attacks convinces Kail that there must be spies in the palace. Yuri discovers the spies – palace servants with the western accents of Arwaza – and leads them into a trap by pretending to be drunk and "revealing" that military secrets could be found in her room. Soon after, the spies are murdered in their prison cell. When information reveals that the spies worked for Nakia, Yuri heads to Nakia’s palace where she sees a mysterious man leaving. She apprehends him and is surprised not only when he kills himself, but that he is an Egyptian. King Kail realizes that he has to confront both forces at once. Yuri, who had planned to go to war with him, realizes that her fate is to take one offensive while Kail takes the other. After one last kiss – and a promise from Kail that his half-sister, the priestess of the third temple, will send her back in his absence – Yuri heads to Arzawa and to war. Volume Thirteen: Yuri, determined to make the war as bloodless as possible, hits upon a plan after five Arzawan soldiers try to capture her and her maids and bring them back to their lecherous commander. So Yuri, Hadi, Ryui, Shala and Ilbani pose as entertainers and enter the city of Beykal, soon capturing the attention of the commander. Yuri then persuades the commander to invite all his top officers to watch her dance. As she dances, and Ilbani sings and plays the lyre, her maids get the men drunk and steal their weapons. Yuri persuades the commander to give her his own weapon under the pretext of performing a sword dance for him, and before the soldiers realize it, they are under the mercy of four women. King Kail, now in Ugarit, receives news from Ilbani. Yuri has continued her success, and captured a total of seven castle cities, with only the capital of Hieropolis left. A personal note to Kail from Yuri says both “farewell” and “I love you.” Yuri offers Arzawa a peace treaty, but when Arzawan forces attack them near Hieropolis, Yuri orders the capture of an Arzawan general. Convinced of Yuri’s superior military skills, and believing her to be a man, the general goes to advise his queen, the current ruler, that she should accede to the peace request. As Yuri and her maids relax at hot springs nearby, a surprise envoy from Arzawa arrives: the queen’s daughter, Princess Alexandra. She had been sent by her mother to serve Yuri. Alexandra is surprised to learn that Yuri is a woman, and the truth about Arzawa's motive for the war comes out: the widowed Arzawan queen had been told by a Hittite - Nakia's agent - that King Kail was cruel and would attack her country and kill her son, the heir to the throne, and that her only hope was a preemptive strike. Yuri sends Alexandra back to her mother, and the queen decides to ally with the Hittites. The war is over, and not a moment too soon: the morning star is appearing in the sky once again. As Yuri and her troops head back to Hattusa, news reaches them of a new temple being built by Nakia over the spring from which Yuri came. If the spring is destroyed, Yuri’s way back home is destroyed as well. As Yuri rushes back to Hattusa with her maids and two of her commanders, Nakia gloats that Kail will surely issue a decree to stop the demolishment of the spring, but to do so he will have to send back a contingent of soldiers to enforce his decree, weakening his defenses. Though Kail guesses Nakia’s plan, he feels he has no choice if he is to keep his promise to Yuri to send her home. So he divides his forces and relies on another plan. But he doesn’t count on Commander Ramses being in the Egyptian army. Ramses figures out that the Hittites are trying to lead them into a trap, and when General Horemheb – eager to exploit the knowledge he gained from Nakia of Kail’s weakened defenses – follows the seemingly "retreating" Hittites, Ramses goes another way and catches up to Kail in secret. As Ramses shoots an arrow into Kail, far away to the north, the headband Kail gave to Yuri breaks and falls into the Red River. Volume Fourteen Believing the breaking of the headband to be a bad omen, and having just learned from a messenger of Kail’s weakened forces, Yuri is forced to make a decision. She gives up ever going home, accepts that her home is now with the Hittites, and goes to Kail’s aid with military reinforcements. Kail is alive, his life saved when the arrow Ramses shot was partly deflected by the clay tablet letter from Yuri, for Kail wore it next to his heart. The injured Kail mourns her loss as he watches the morning star rise and dawn come. But more than the dawn comes: Yuri has at last arrived. The Egyptian troops are quickly defeated, and Yuri goes in search of Kail, who is stunned. She discovers that he is indeed injured. When Kail realizes she is staying with him forever, he kisses her. Later, in the Hittite city of Haleb, Kail and Yuri finally consummate their relationship. Four days later, he emerges from their room to tell his servants that he is determined to make Yuri his lawful wife, despite the laws that stipulate he may only marry one of the Hittite nobility or a princess from a foreign country. When Kail and Yuri return to Hattusa, they find a surprise waiting for them in Kail’s seraglio: Nakia has assembled seven possible brides (including Nakia’s niece and a former lover of Kail’s) and over a hundred possible concubines. Kail tells Yuri that she is the only woman he wants. Though Yuri has a friend in the Arzawan princess Alexandra, who not only adores her but has no interest in marrying Kail, Yuri soon finds herself the target of bullying in the seraglio. Though unhappy with the situation, Kail doesn’t interfere, knowing that people will not think Yuri worthy of becoming his queen if she can’t handle the other women at least for now.

Volume Fifteen: The bullying continues, but when Yuri finds scorpions in her bed, she at last confronts the women as the act could have put Kail in danger. Yuri then gains control over the seraglio. Meanwhile, Nakia has sent black water to control one of the princesses. Before Kail can figure out to whom it was sent, one of the princesses is murdered. A second follows soon afterward, and all evidence points to Yuri. Determined to find out the true murderer, Yuri follows one of the princesses, Nakia’s niece, when the princess acts suspiciously. Yuri is knocked unconscious only to wake up with the princess dead beside her. Even worse, a Babylonian prince, and uncle to the murdered girl, arrives in the room as this happens. Nakia is sure Yuri cannot escape and will be executed for the murders. But a fourth princess is murdered while Yuri is in custody, and Yuri is exonerated, infuriating Nakia. Yuri deduces that Nakia’s black water must have also triggered the killer’s own feelings of jealousy, so she plays on it by gathering the three remaining princesses and flirts with Kail in front of them. Princess Selto, a Hittite princess and former lover of Kail, reveals herself as the killer and takes Princess Alexandra hostage. Yuri offers to switch places with Alexandra, and Selto accepts, only to drag Yuri off the roof with her to near certain death. Though Kail uses his magic power over air to cushion Yuri’s and Selto’s falls, when he rushes downstairs he only finds Selto, who has thrown up the black water. Yuri wakes up to find herself in Rusafa’s hands. Volume Sixteen: Yuri realizes that Rusafa is also under the control of Nakia’s black water. Urhi arrives and informs her that the queen not only sent water to one who hated Yuri, but to one who loved her as well. Knowing Nakia is behind Yuri’s disappearance and knowing that the citizens of Hattusa are convinced Yuri was taken back by the gods that gave her to them, Kail hits on a plan. So he makes a decree: he will offer up a public prayer to the gods at the main temple asking for Yuri's return, and if she is not returned unharmed by the end of the prayer, he will sacrifice Nakia to appease the gods. Urhi, knowing Kail will keep his word, leaves a clue that points Kail’s servants to Yuri. But before he leaves, he tells Rusafa that he can do what he wants with her. Kail’s servants arrive to find the honor-bound and lovesick Rusafa only kissing her feet. After Rusafa is brought back to his senses, Yuri rushes back to the palace, where Ilbani asks her if she can swim. Kail offers up his prayer at the temple, and everyone, including Kail, is surprised when Yuri suddenly emerges from the spring. The people, awed at the apparent miracle, start cheering and praising Yuri as the next Tawananna. Soon after, Kail announces to the Senate that he wishes to make Yuri his queen. While the Senate is divided on the issue, Nakia unexpectedly adds her support, but with a condition: Yuri must first prove her worth by taking over the post of Gal Mashedi, the commander-in-chief of the Hittite armies, and defeat Egypt in the battle sure to come. Though Yuri is at first reluctant to take on such a role, and is sure Nakia is only scheming, she decides that she will do anything to help Kail build a peaceful empire and accepts the post. Meanwhile, in Egypt, the aged pharaoh has died and General Horemheb has taken his place as the next pharaoh. Volume Seventeen: While Yuri prepares the troops, Kail accompanies one of the remaining princesses back to her home in Assyria. Nakia takes advantage of Kail’s absence to launch a campaign against Rusafa, newly-appointed as Yuri’s second-in-command. A noblewoman under the influence of Nakia’s black water falsely accuses Rusafa of attempted rape, and he is subjected to a brutal test of innocence, the "trial of the scorching sun." He is tied by wrists, ankles, and neck to stakes, and left to die of exposure on a mesa. If he is able to escape, he will be proved innocent. Unable to stop the sentence, Yuri goes to the place of execution. Unexpectedly, Yuri breaks an obsidian finial and then kisses Rusafa before leaving. Three days pass, and Kail is back home, having been informed by a messenger of Nakia’s latest plot. He immediately sets out to countermand the death sentence, but is surprised when Rusafa arrives back alive. Rusafa informs the rest of Kail’s servants that Yuri had put a sharp piece of obsidian in his mouth during her kiss, and he was able to use the piece to slowly cut his bonds. Soon after, word arrives from Karkemish: Kail’s brother, Mali Piyasili, has gone missing during his mission to reinforce the frontline forces in Ugarit. Kail sends Yuri and her troops to investigate. She arrives in Ugarit to find a main town deserted, and no sign of any villagers. A messenger arrives, bearing a message from Ugarit’s King Arhalba to come to his castle. But the king has laid a trap: thousands of snakes block the way. Yuri also discovers that the villagers are in hiding upstream, convinced that the Hittites are going to kill them. Wondering what has turned the king against her, Yuri receives a second message from the king saying that if she doesn’t arrive at the castle by the next night, he will execute Prince Mali. Unwilling to get to the castle by sacrificing human lives in an attempt to get rid of the snakes as the Ugarit king suggests, Yuri has her hawk stir up the local hawks, who eat the snakes blocking the way. At the castle, Yuri finds Arhalba’s troops in disarray, and Prince Mali and his troops being held captive. She also finds Arhalba and the reason for his hatred: he had sent his beloved only daughter Princess Endra as one of the candidates to become Kail’s wife, only to receive a message from Nakia that Kail had callously used her and then killed her. But Yuri has no time to explain that Endra never arrived in Hattusa, for Egyptian troops are gathering on the far bank of the Orontes River. And the newly-promoted General Ramses is at the head, and is determined to capture Yuri alive. Volume Eighteen: While preparing her troops to defend the town of Ugarit, Yuri learns that Ramses is commanding the invading Egyptian forces. This worries her greatly, as she is well aware that Ramses is a highly skilled military leader and will not be fooled by battle plans that would defeat less experienced generals. Her advisors inform her that fortifying the town successfully will take 3 days, and she must figure out how to hold off the Egyptian army until that time. While evacuating the townsfolk, Rusafa discovers several dozen prostitutes eager to offer their services to the visiting soldiers. Together with Yuri, they devise a plan to stall the Egyptians: the prostitutes will distract the Egyptian soldiers while they camp in the nearby village of Beida. This will allow Hadi, Ryui, Shala, and Rusafa to untie the Egyptian army's horses and cripple their mobility. Against Rusafa's advice, Yuri insists that she accompany the group. Ramses and his troops arrive in Beida and are all too happy to accept the hospitality of the Ugarit prostitutes. Yuri's team hurry to unleash as many horses as possible, but it doesn't take Ramses too long to realize that there are too many prostitutes in town and that something strange is going on. On his way to check the stables, he runs into Yuri in disguise. Yuri tries to hide under a cloak, but Ramses immediately recognizes her voice and traps her. He announces his intention to immediately withdraw his troops and return with Yuri to Egypt as soon as possible. Two of the prostitutes spot Ramses carrying Yuri and inform Rusafa and the sisters. Rusafa furiously threatens to take Ramses down, and Ramses immediately signals for back-up from his troops. Yuri insists that Ramses will not kill her and orders him to return to their troops in Ugarit. Badly outnumbered, the sisters make a run for it, dragging a distraught Rusafa with them. Ramses drags Yuri to an empty house, and Yuri is convinced that the best way to protect Ugarit is to just let Ramses have his way with her. However, she suddenly begins feeling ill and spends much of the time throwing up into a nearby urn. Ramses is visibly annoyed and insulted, believing that his touch has made Yuri sick to her stomach. Yuri explains that she's been feeling exhausted and nauseous for some time and has lost her appetite for her favorite foods, changes that she attributes to the stress of her position as gal meshedi. Ramses, on the other hand, points out that her symptoms may be due to morning sickness, and Yuri slowly realizes that she is pregnant with Kail's child. Interestingly, this revelation doesn't seem to bother Ramses in the slightest and he insists that he will be a good father to her child and the future children they will have together in Egypt. Kail, meanwhile, has arrived in Ugarit and learns that Yuri has been taken prisoner by Ramses. Enraged, he immediately gathers his troops and cuts off the retreating Egyptians. Ramses keeps a tight hold on Yuri, but freaks out when she announces that she feels sick again and accidentally drops her. Both he and Kail leap forward to break her fall and she lands in both men's arms on the ground. Ramses is ready once again to face Kail, but Rufasa and the others intervene. They all seize the opportunity to escape from the Egyptians with Yuri, leaving Ramses furious as another failed attempt to claim Yuri for himself. Yuri is anxiously trying to figure out the right time to tell Kail about the baby. She realizes that if she resigns as gal meshedi, Nakia will be able to argue against her marriage to Kail. Despite her determination to defeat Nakia, Yuri is even more certain that there is nothing she wants more than to have Kail's baby. She asks Kail for permission to step down, stating simply that something more important has come up. Kail agrees to let her resign, but insists on knowing what happened and is paranoid that it might have something to do with Ramses. Yuri tearfully tells Kail that she is pregnant. Kail immediately falls into an uncharacteristic panic, shouting for all his advisors. Yuri is distraught, believing that Kail is angry and doesn't want the baby. However, he is soon frantically asking a confused Hadi what foods Yuri should have to eat. He assures Yuri that he is esctatic about having a child with her and simply didn't know the proper way to react. The others are thrilled by the news, but agree to keep the pregnancy a secret to prevent Nakia from launching an attack on Yuri. The pregnacy doesn't stay secret for long, however, as Urhi recognizes the sisters when they make offerings at his temple and ask him to pray for Yuri and the baby. Soon, all they townspeople are celebrating and shouting congratulations. Kail puts Rusafa in charge of the Hittite army and insists that Yuri be hidden in another town for her protection. Suspecting (correctly) that Nakia's agents will try to harm Yuri as she travels, they set up a decoy caravan on land and secretly arrange for Yuri to travel by ship. The decoy caravan is trampled by overexcited townspeople, who discover that it contains only rocks. Meanwhile, Yuri is prepared to set sail. As the ship pulls away, Rusafa lanches himself off the dock and onto the ship, insisting of protecting Yuri during the voyage (leaving the visibly unenthusiastic Kash to lead the troops). Urhi quickly realizes that Yuri is traveling by sea, and is clearly planning some kind of attack. Volume 19: After Yuri has gotten on the ship headed toward Karkemish, Ilbani is talking to Chairman Aygil about Yuri being pregnant. Nakia overhears their conversation and later throws a fit when she's by herself. A maid comes and tells her that she has a letter, that doesn't say who its from. Nakia knows that the letter is from Urhi. Urhi writes that that Yuri is expecting and that he will deal with the matter. Yuri is lying on the ship's head saying to her maids (Hadi, Ryui, and Shala) that she is a good swimmer. They all warn her against it. The captain comes over to greet Yuri. Yuri finds that the hittites don't have a naval fleet. Yuri thinks that her mom and dad would be shocked to find that she is pregnant. But that, she and Kail were very much in love. Later, the captain sees that one his men is acting funny. He questions him about his ailing son and that warns him to stay alert at night because sailing is tricky then. Back in Ugarit with Kail, Kail finds out that it was Urhi that incited the crowd into knocking down Ishtar's pavilion. He also finds that not only is Urhi in Ugarit, he also knows about Yuri's pregnancy. On the ship, the winds are picking up, knocking Yuri and her maids to and from. Officer Alek, the man with the ailing son, is sneaking around. He is caught cutting a rope that holds a sheet down. He has a scuffle that ends with the ship on fire. We learn that Alek did this because he was told, by Urhi, that if he sunk the ship he would get enough money to save his son's life. In the panic that ensues, Yuri gets knocked overboard. She starts thinking that she's fine and that she can swim until her stomach starts hurting. The ship sinks and Prince Piyasili yells to search for Ishtar. Rusafa and many others are in the water. He sees Hadi and Shala. He asks what's wrong with Hadi. Shala said she got hit in the head by the debris and that Ryui is missing. She tells him to look for Yuri. Rusafa madly searches for Yuri in the dark water. He finally finds her floating on a box. Yuri asks him save her baby. The fleet by this time is very far away and can not hear him scream for their help. In Ugarit, Kail is pacing back and forth worried about Yuri. He receives a messenger that his troops are engaged in battle with the Egyptians on the banks of the Orontes river. He learns that the battle is led by User Ramses. He then heads off to the battle after assuring himself that Yuri is safe. Urhi sees him leave. Yuri and Rusafa are still out at sea. He yells in frustration when he sees that Yuri is exhausted and that the water is sapping her strength. While Kail is in battle, a messenger arrives (Prince Mali Piyasili) saying that the flagship, with Yuri missing, has been lost. Kail is frozen with the news and thus doesn't give any orders to his men. The Eygptians use this weakness to make it across the river. Kail finally snaps out of his stupor to grant Mali's request to help out. Kail calls for a retreat. Rusafa is telling Yuri to hold on, while Yuri is so sick that she's asking Kail to save her baby. Rusafa sees a ship and calls for help. Kail has called for a retreat. Mali asks to go to the rear while they make their retreat. Mali sees Ramses and then tries to engage in battle with him. Ramses, knowing that the only one able to par with him is Kail, stabs Mali. When on board, Rusafa learns that the Eygptians are in control of the ship. He says he a merchant from Ugarit and that Yuri is his sister. He also asks to be dropped off in Ugarit. The Egyptians say no and that they're heading to Byblos (a city controlled by the Eygptians). Yuri starts to miscarry the baby. Kail finds Prince Mali, where after a short time, Mali dies after saying that he regrets he won't be able to see Kail's first child. After this, Kail starts suffering from Nausea. Ramses after winning the battle says that he is going on leave and hands the fighting reins over to the Pharaoh. He heads to Byblos. Kail is still feeling ill. His commander says he thinks that the reason he feels this way is because of stress in not knowing where Yuri is and how she is faring. Rusafa has taken Yuri to a doctor, where he learns that not only is Yuri's baby in danger, but also Yuri's life. He goes to the Eyptians and begs them to ask for help from General Ramses. They make him get on his knees and beg. He hands Yuri's necklace to them, and his blade. The men, are in a bar, where a commander sees the blade and takes them to Ramses for questioning. Ramses hears of Yuri's medical emergency. He brings doctors to yuri and says that the child is his. the doctor comes out and says that he couldn't prevent the miscarriage. Yuri is in the border between death and life. Her baby is crawling away from her. She calls for it to come back. She then sees Prince Zannanza pick up her baby. Ursula comes and says that they will take care of him. Yuri makes to go with them, but Prince Mali says not to. He tells her to return to Kail, who needs her. Yuri wakes up and says that her baby is with Zannanza, Ursula, and Mali. Yuri is lamenting over her loss while Rusafa finds that Ramses intends to take Yuri to Egypt. While Yuri is in bed upset about her miscarriage, Kail is still ill. While he can take care of military and state affairs, he can't sleep or eat. Ramses comes in, (they are on a ship headed to Egypt) picks up Yuri and shows her the banks of Egypt.

English Covers

Viz Volume 2	Viz Volume 3	Viz Volume 4	Viz Volume 5
Viz Volume 6	Viz Volume 7	Viz Volume 8	Viz Volume 9
Viz Volume 10	Viz Volume 11	Viz Volume 12	Viz Volume 13
Viz Volume 14	Viz Volume 15	Viz Volume 16	Viz Volume 17

References

External links

• Viz Media website The Red River product page on the English language publisher's website - Viz Media. Contains a synopsis of each volume, cover art and option to purchase the manga from America.
• Anime News Network: Red River Has basic plot and publishing information.
• Akai Kawa no Jinja Fan site devoted to the series with pictures, series info, history as related to Red River and much more.
• Red River Fansite Contains many pictures, character bios, and may soon include manga summaries.
• Across History ♥ The official, TAFL-approved fanlisting for Red River.