Yukichi!
Yukichi! Yukichi!
H-Help me.
Please help.
Save my brother!
I beg you! I don't mind if I die! So please!
A golden raven?
Have no fear. I'll return both of you to your nests.
We may meet again someday.
For now, forget and go to sleep.
YATAGARASU
The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master
Yamauchi
Yamauchi.
The yatagarasu race has long called this land of deep mountains home
The yatagarasu race has long called this land of deep mountains home.
Once these strange, three-legged birds took human form and trod the earth,
they tilled fields and built towns.
The lord of the yatagarasu is called the kin'u: the Golden Raven.
The lord of the yatagarasu is called the kin'u: the Golden Raven
The kin'u wields supreme authority in Yamauchi.
The title is passed from parent to child, generation to generation.
The kin'u has long ruled the people well and has brought plenty to Yamauchi.
Yet its history has also been replete with scheming by those who flock to the throne.
The plots reach their height in the choice of the crown prince's consort:
Rite of Ascension
the Rite of Ascension.
Noblewomen contest a single place at the future kin'u's side.
They shoulder their families' fates in the fierce battle about to unfold.
Wisteria Hall, Cherry Blossom Palace
What do you say to "Asebi"?
"Asebi"?
As your alias.
A lady who might marry the Prince, however lowly,
can hardly remain a nameless second daughter.
Or does my choice of name dissatisfy you?
P-Perish the thought!
A name from Your Majesty's own lips honors me more than I deserve.
Goodness.
"Asebi," she said.
Her Majesty took the joke too far.
Does the girl not realize?
Then, let it be so, Lady Asebi.
Spring Hall
I leave the Spring Hall in your care.
Y-Yes, ma'am!
Congratulations.
Today, through the Rite of Ascension,
you have formally entered contention for His Highness's hand.
First daughter of the Southern House Hamayu
First daughter of the Southern House, Lady Hamayu.
First daughter of the Western House Masuho-no-Susuki
First daughter of the Western House, Lady Masuho-no-Susuki.
Third daughter of the Northern House Shiratama
Third daughter of the Northern House, Lady Shiratama.
Second daughter of the Eastern House Asebi
And second daughter of the Eastern House, Lady Asebi.
Yet only one among you will be chosen.
Here in the Cherry Blossom Palace, you will spur each other to new heights,
so that you may experience a joyous day in one year's time.
The Empress Her Majesty Omurasaki
Still, I can't help feeling lonely without our guest of honor.
I had hoped he would accept the invitation for once.
Honestly, what is His Highness thinking?
Lord of the North Genya
I wish he'd show the people sending him their dear daughters some courtesy.
Lord of the East Haruhito
And I believe Lady Shiratama is only 14.
You must worry for her.
Lord of the South Toru
He can't neglect the Four Houses and still hope to govern.
I don't doubt he'll realize that soon.
Oh, I'm shaking in my boots!
Lord of the West Akira
Whatever are you plotting?
In any case, there will be no hard feelings, no matter whose daughter he chooses.
Sister!
Princess Fujinami
Your Highness!
How many years has it been? I never dreamed I'd get to see you here.
Forgive me. I didn't even write.
Seeing you well brings me the greatest pleasure.
Stop being so formal. There's no need for ceremony between us.
Very well. Princess Fujinami, then.
Still, you really have grown into a beauty.
You're sure to catch my brother's... I mean, His Highness's eye.
Really? Thank you.
But I wouldn't go that far.
No, I mean it!
I hope he chooses you.
I mean, then we really would be sisters.
You're busy winning over His Highness's little sister already?
Not half bad.
Um, aren't you the Southern House's—
Lady Hamayu, you forget yourself.
Do I? I hope you'll forgive me.
You, uh, second daughter of the Eastern House.
Y-Yes?
Are you really happy to receive a name like Asebi?
Yes. It's a lovely name.
If that doesn't top it all!
Hamayu!
Um, did I say something odd?
My lady, allow me to explain—
You write "asebi" as "horse intoxicating tree."
Asebi flowers have poison in them.
Nibbling on them makes horses disgracefully drunk.
The flowers symbolize you. And the horse...
Tell her straight. Don't try to dress it up.
The "horse" is the Prince.
What?
"Just like brainless horses get drunk eating asebi,
a man of the Prince's caliber will lose his wits over you."
"So have at it."
Basically, the Empress used your alias to insult the Prince.
It's just the sort of thing she would do.
What? His Highness, a horse? I never—
My lady! You mustn't say another word!
Princess Fujinami...
What a shame. After hearing her dear brother so insulted, well...
You aren't to blame. Allow me to reintroduce myself.
I am Masuho-no-Susuki, first daughter of the Western House.
Oh, I'm—
I love beautiful and charming things.
I think we could be great friends.
Y-Yes.
Still, my condolences on attracting such unpleasant attention.
Hah. There's that western "friendliness"!
Better a people pleaser than a greedy southern boor.
The Southern House is honest.
We can't fake smiles that shamelessly.
How nice for you.
I suggest welcoming His Highness with a frown, then.
U-Um...
Yes, I think I will.
They don't consider you a threat.
Lady Shiratama?
They don't think either of us could ever be chosen.
That's enough. Any more will spoil my drinks.
Well then, if you'll all excuse me.
Spring Hall, Cherry Blossom Palace
I should have explained the situation more clearly.
Eastern lady-in-waiting Ukogi
Everyone ascends to the palace determined to be chosen.
Every house leaps at the chance to make one of its ladies a kin'u's bride.
I'm exhausted. I can't even tell what...
The Singing Beak of Yamauchi
The Singing Beak of Yamauchi. We'll begin your studies here.
Remember, my lady? I read it to you when you were little.
Oh, the book that put me to sleep—
My lady!
We'll start with the absolute basics and review Yamauchi's origins.
Pay close attention.
When the Mountain God visited this land, water gushed from its peaks.
Soon, trees, flowers, and ears of rice hung heavy.
The Mountain God named the bounteous land Yamauchi,
and appointed a golden raven to rule it in his stead.
The golden raven apportioned lands to his four children.
To the first, an eastern land awash with flowers.
To the second, a southern land ripe with fruit.
To the third, a western land thick with rice.
To the fourth, a northern land gushing with springs.
Thus began the domains of the Four Houses.
Royal House
Northern House
Eastern House
Southern House
Western House
Meanwhile, the golden raven gained the name of "kin'u,"
and his line would dwell on the central peak, closest to the Mountain God.
In contrast to the Four Houses, this royal house...
My lady! Are you awake?
O-Of course I am!
The kin'u serves the Mountain God, maintaining peace in Yamauchi, right?
Exactly.
His Highness may be crown prince now,
but he will accede as kin'u before much longer.
To become his consort is to uphold the peace in Yamauchi.
Every house that sends a daughter takes pride in that.
Or so they say in public.
Huh?
This is war!
W-War?
Royal authority touches all political and economic life in Yamauchi.
Naturally, the kin'u's consort receives a share of that power.
You mean the Empress?
Every consort brings vast wealth and power to the house that sent her.
Any children brings them even closer to royalty as guardians and caretakers,
and a male child will become kin'u himself one day.
And that house's future will be secure.
Precisely.
Royal House
Northern House
Eastern House
Southern House
Western House
So this rite is a proxy war by ladies on behalf of the Four Houses!
That explains it. No wonder they don't take a provincial know-nothing like me seriously.
You mustn't lose heart!
My lady.
Lady Masuho-no-Susuki of the Autumn Hall has sent you a gift by way of greeting.
A sappanwood red gown!
And look at this fine embroidery!
Wh-Wh-Why, it's magnificent!
Oh, whatever shall we send in return?
I am hosting a tea party tomorrow.
Please feel free to attend.
I've never been to a friend's tea party before!
What a wonderful person Lady Masuho-no-Susuki turned out to be!
I see a "Lady Raven" has slipped into the palace this time.
We hardly need panic to remove her.
Her presence may nudge things in the right direction.
His Reigning Majesty
Let us enjoy her antics to the fullest,
along with His Highness's own performance.
Lady Shiratama presents this incense.
Autumn Hall, Cherry Blossom Palace
The Northern House has treasured it for generations.
Northern lady-in-waiting Cha-no-Hana
Its production and composition remain the most closely guarded of secrets.
We bring it today especially for your—
It certainly is an uncommon fragrance.
Perhaps a bit heavy on cloves.
Well, it reminds me of kurobo, so I can guess at its composition.
Western lady-in-waiting Kikuno
Shiratama, what do you think of my incense?
A bit heavy on musk, perhaps.
And it rather reminds me of jasmine.
I'm impressed you can tell.
Lady Masuho-no-Susuki compounded it herself.
What are they doing, Ukogi?
Identifying the elements of incense as a game.
Oh, I was right to have a bad feeling about this.
Lady Asebi, would you tell us about your fragrance?
Yes!
Oh, I'm sorry. I don't really know.
I do use incense, but...
What could it be?
Not musk or anything so costly, I shouldn't think.
Surely you jest. What noble doesn't know their incense?
I can't believe it. Has the Eastern House fallen on such hard times?
Begging your pardon...
The Eastern House has ancient and noble incense traditions of its own,
but my lady was a somewhat delicate child and has little experience with them.
My, what a pity.
The doll festival is almost upon us, so use that to ward off evil influences.
I actually have them with me.
My dolls for the festival.
How shabby. Practically peasant dolls.
Leave her be. The provincial set can't produce anything better.
Lady Asebi, are you certain...
you really belong here?
Oh dear. I do beg your pardon.
My lady's favorite Grey Heron teacup!
Enough, Kikuno. You're making a scene.
My lady!
Ow.
My lady!
Let me guess. Someone's been bullying you?
Was it Masuho-no-Susuki or Shiratama?
I have no right to be here.
My older sister was supposed to come.
But she fell ill.
I took her place at the last minute.
I felt so happy.
I've lived in a country villa for as long as I can remember.
I had nothing but worrywart ladies-in-waiting for company.
I barely ever got to go outside and play with other children my age.
But it's no use.
I stand out like a sore thumb.
Will you take your leave, then?
Come to think of it, we have one other out-of-place person this time.
Someone they say turned witless on a long trip abroad.
Someone who everyone calls an unbelievable fool.
The Prince.
His Highness?
It's not exactly a secret.
You really don't know anything, do you?
Then, I guess this will be news to you.
The Prince wasn't anyone's first choice to succeed the current kin'u.
He's a second son.
His brother who's five years older should be the heir.
The brother was a razor-sharp kid. They said he'd make a great ruler one day.
But for whatever reason, the royal priests declared the infant prince
more worthy to inherit than his brother.
Even though the older prince's mother is the kin'u's wife, the Empress,
while his younger brother was born to a concubine.
I hear it caused a panic in the Center.
Factions formed and split the court in two.
In the end, the older brother lost the power struggle and had to become a priest.
So that's why Her Majesty used my name as a slight to His Highness.
I feel terrible for the elder prince.
Well, officially, they settled everything,
but who knows how he really feels?
You never know what might happen during this rite.
And you, Lady Hamayu?
Consider me a spectator.
Oh, and there was one other rumor.
I hear the foolish prince is a real kin'u.
"Real"?
The North
My lord.
Oh, Yukimasa. In good health, I hope?
Yes, sir.
I cannot thank you enough for inviting me here today.
Lord of Taruhi Village in the North Yukimasa
Have you just returned from the Center?
Mansion of the Northern House
Yes. The Rite of Ascension makes life hectic.
By the way, Yukimasa...
Sir?
Did your boys come with you?
O-Of course.
I can't wait to see them.
Yukiya moaned about stomach trouble and excused himself last year.
He must have done a lot of growing.
Where has that blockhead gone?
The Lord of Taruhi Village's second son Yukiya
So, um, you're saying you won't pay, no matter what?
We told you, you've got it all wrong.
As if we'd ever dine-and-dash at this peasant kid's place.
Liar! I know you took our mochi!
Enough!
You hill ravens owe us court ravens every hospitality, anyway.
Even if I did eat your mochi, what's so wrong with that?
Excuse me.
A lot of people saw you, so it's an open-and-shut case.
Won't you please pay for the mochi?
You hill ravens don't know your place.
Come on.
Y-Yukiya!
Don't worry. We can talk this out.
Yukiya, are you okay?
Yukiya!
Huh?
Big brother? Yukichi? What's the matter?
The Lord of Taruhi Village's eldest son Yukima
You idiot! Why do you always put yourself in danger?
It's not Yukiya's fault!
The Lord of Taruhi Village's third son Yukichi
Just 'cause they're court ravens from the Center,
they made fun of us and threw their weight around.
Hey, isn't today...
the Northern House's banquet?
Yeah. But with a face like that...
And those court ravens will be there, too, right?
Hey, this better not be another of your...
Don't be silly, Big Brother. I'm not planning anything.
Well, I'll see you there.
Yukiya!
Ugh. I knew this would hurt.
The Northern House puts forward Lady Shiratama as consort.
After causing a scene at the banquet,
Yukiya is ordered to wait on the "foolish" prince.
Yukiya and the Prince.
Their strange fate is set in motion.
The Blockhead
Second Son
Next time: "The Blockhead Second Son."
YATAGARASU: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master
Illustration: Natsuki