Now he would have to find a new host body elsewhere in Nineveh to house Nuannin’s soul.
If he’d had the power and if Asharru didn’t already have layers of protection given by Ishtar, he would have attempted to place his daughter’s soul in the future gryphon queen. That would have solved most of his problems. Alas, Ishtar protected her playthings too well.
Well, if he couldn’t give his daughter the rank of queen, she’d just have to settle for whichever body he abducted next.
Chapter 12
With only three days until her coronation, Asharru was getting antsy with all the demands to oversee the silliest of little details. Presently, she was sitting and listening as a group of nobles discussed the final selections of wines.
Usually, that would be something her council would oversee, but there were still too few council members to go around.
While she had elevated Governor Gishkim of Kish to the council since he had the qualities she was looking for, she still needed several more if she wanted to give each city-state an equal say in matters of state.
The nobility had concluded the same and was leaning on her hard to make her choices, saying she needed to elect more members to her council to aid in the running of the city-states. Asharru had responded by appointing Zinura to a temporary seat on the council to the equal horror of the Shadow and the entire membership of the nobility.
That shut up the governors nicely, though.
Later this afternoon, she was supposed to sit through another lengthy meeting to discuss trade agreements between the islands. As for the present meeting, Tirigan had already studied all in attendance and had whispered that none of them were trustworthy enough candidates for the council. Which meant, this present nightmare of political ambition she was sitting through had little purpose.
She gestured Tirigan forward. When he leaned into her, she whispered in his ear, “Get me out of here. Find a reason for me to be elsewhere. I don’t care where. Otherwise, I will pull that great crystalline sword of yours from its scabbard and start beheading nobles.”
Tirigan gave her a subtle nod. Then still looking alertly bored—a trick she wanted to learn—he whispered, “Perhaps I should just sit and do nothing. I might enjoy watching you use my sword to behead the rich and ambitious. Might make good entertainment.”
“Don’t tempt me,” she hissed in his ear. “Go find me a plausible distraction.”
“Very well.” He circled the table and then gestured for Kuri and Hunzuu to take his place behind Asharru’s chair. Asharru turned her attention back to the table of nobles so it wouldn’t look like she was tracking her Blade and waiting for him to come back with some excuse to allow her to escape.
She felt mildly guilty since Laliya and Bashaa were even now occupied with similar boring last-minute details for the coronation. But they’d only been at it since midmorning. She’d been at it for much longer.
Soon Tirigan returned with an armful of reports. He handed them off to Kuri with the whispered command for her to see to Captain Libluth’s concerns.
Asharru briefly wondered where Tirigan had found the official looking reports on such short notice.
But she couldn’t seem too curious, so returned her attention to the nobles’ discussion. A moment later Tirigan placed a hand on her arm. “Crown Princess Asharru, while I was out, I ran into Nutesh. He has some matters of importance to discuss. What should I tell him?”
“It can’t wait?” she asked. “We’re in the middle of making selections.”
“Nutesh implied it was important.” Tirigan glanced at the nobles sitting around the table, all of them hoping they’d made a good enough impression to be picked for a seat on the council.
“Very well.” She speared the governors with meaningful looks. “I’m sure my governors are capable of making suitable selections.”
Asharru rose and followed Tirigan from the room. Once they were out of hearing range, she giggled and broke into a run, forcing Tirigan and her guards to give chase.
Tirigan quickly overtook her and snatched her by the hips, steering her toward the wall.
“Got you,” he joked. “Now tell me what all that was about.”
“Freedom was my only goal. Though perhaps some exercise. A walk along the beach?”
“Exercise? I can help with that. And you’ll be with Nutesh, so if you’re ever asked, it won’t be like you just lied to escape your duties.”
Well, damnit. When he put it like that, it made her sound like a spoiled little princess. “Fine. Guilting me worked. What do you have planned that you think will be a better use of my time than a walk along a beach?”
“Training.”
Asharru groaned. She’d already had a few sessions of sword training in the practice ring with Tirigan. The following day, she’d hobbled like an old woman.
“Will you be my instructor? If so, no thanks; I’ll just go back to the meeting.”
He laughed. “It doesn’t have to be me. Nutesh has also volunteered to help with training. You can partner up with him if you prefer.”
Asharru groaned. She’d seen the Anunnaki fight. He was as skilled as her Blade and equally as hard a taskmaster.
Chapter 13
“Gods above and below!” Nutesh cursed as he pulled his strike or risk beheading her. “What was that hideous bit of flailing? Have you learned nothing?”
Asharru waved him off as if that would make his scowl less… scowlish. His look only darkened more.
“I’ve learned that I’m no match for either a Blade or an immortal Anunnaki. I’m taking a break and a drink. If you’re civilized for the next few moments, I’ll pick up the sword with my rubber arm and try again.”
“Never mind. Clearly, you’re spent. I forget how limiting mortal bodies are even though I’m living in one.” Nutesh wandered over to where the bucket and ladle sat atop one of the massive clay jugs used for storing wine.
“What’s Tirigan’s excuse?” Asharru asked after downing her first goblet of water.
“That’s just his nature.”
She refilled her goblet, preparing to drain the second as fast as the first.
“Easy. Slow down, or you’ll regret it later,” Nutesh said as he took the cup from her and made a face. “I learned that nasty bit about mortal bodies the hard way.”
She nodded and then looked around for another topic of conversation. In the days since they’d rescued themselves, she’d become friends with the Anunnaki. He was full of wisdom and a good listener.
Even so, she preferred to talk about less personal things since it sometimes felt like the Anunnaki could look right through flesh to know what the mind and soul were contemplating. That was more than a little disconcerting. But Tirigan was still in the practice ring, working his way through all the trainees. Asharru had to stay until he was finished.
He’d extorted a promise from her that she’d go nowhere without him.
Presently he was working with Zinura. The newest member of Asharru’s council had come here to escape her new, never-ending duties for a short time. Asharru couldn’t blame the poor woman. Wasn’t that the same reason Asharru had come?
As Asharru watched, Tirigan trapped Zinura’s sword arm against her body. Then he brought his other arm up in a choke hold briefly before he loosened his hold and whispered in her ear. The embrace almost looked like romantic play.
Asharru’s beast took notice, and she suddenly had to bite back a growl.
Calm, she ordered her beast. Jealousy is never a pretty look.
But then Asharru’s gaze swung back to the two opponents to watch, and her brows drew together over the bridge of her nose. It looked like more than innocent swordplay.
I’m not jealous. Being jealous would be foolish. Tirigan is my Blade. He loves me even if he can’t bring himself to admit it yet. But if things continue as they have, I’m confident he’ll come to accept his feelings in time.
I’m not jealous.
I have no reason to be jealous.
Then she remembered he was human, and they could take many lovers if they wanted. Tirigan had certainly had many lovers before she’d met him. But what about now? Did he want other lovers?
A scowl planted itself on her face.
“Something is troubling you?” Nutesh asked with a glint of knowing in his eyes.
Damnit.
“It’s nothing of any great concern.”
The Anunnaki arched a brow and then made a show of turning to watch where Tirigan and Zinura had begun to circle each other. “Really? You seem rather… unhappy… for ‘nothing’ to be bothering you.”
She scowled harder at him.
Go away.
Her beast agreed.
“Tirigan is playing a part again,” Nutesh said thoughtfully. “He might not even realize he does it now. But he does. You can see it in how he interacts with everyone. He studies them and becomes what they expect. It’s normally more subtle than with Zinura, but she is not a subtle woman, so he matches his personality to hers. As always, his victims are unaware they are being manipulated.”
Asharru drew breath to deny it, but then she studied Tirigan, seeing him as Nutesh did. Her eyes widened. What the Anunnaki said was true.
“He does it for you,” the Anunnaki said. “He grooms others instinctively to assess their loyalty to you. He won’t leave you alone with any of them until he’s fully satisfied with their motives.”
“You make it sound…”
“Unsavory?”
“I wouldn’t use such a strong word, but yes.”
“He doesn’t intend to deceive them. His only concern is protecting you and New Sumer.”
“But you make what he does sound so calculating.”
“Perhaps. But over time, as he relaxes into his role, he will rely less and less on all the instincts that kept him alive and sane while he was a slave. I think you can forgive him for playing the part people expect to see.”
Asharru’s breath stilled in her lungs. If what the Anunnaki said was true…
Could Tirigan be playing a part with her? He’d said he would play the role of her betrothed; he’d even warned her not to fall in love, that it would only be an act on his part.
No. The night of the third Blooding Ceremony, that hadn’t been an act. She’d been in his mind, tied to his soul by Ishtar’s magic.
“It should be safe to drink more of that now.” Nutesh gestured at her goblet of water before continuing. “Tirigan only shows his true self to a few people. Laliya, Bashaa, Kuri, and Hunzuu have all seen bits and pieces of the real Tirigan. But you, he has shown his true self to you almost from the start. Be honored by that gift. Be content he’s grown to trust you more than anyone, more than even himself.”
Asharru’s head jerked up. “What does that mean?”
“You’ve seen the dark side he hides; the side he promised himself he’d never unleash upon you. But as his faith in you has grown, he trusts that you can reason with that side of him. He has slowly come to trust that you are strong enough to see and know that darkness and not run in fear or let it overwhelm you.” Nutesh sipped at his water. “You will always be the one he trusts. He trusted you before he loved you. But that trust has allowed him to love you. Do you understand?”
“Yes. How do you know all this?”
“You seem to forget I’m one of the nine judges.”
“I assure you, that’s not something I’m likely to forget. I just wasn’t aware…”
“That I still possess all my powers even while trapped in a flesh and blood body?”
Asharru nodded again.
“Now you know. And if it comforts you, neither Zinura nor Tirigan feels anything for each other. Zinura is warming to Hunzuu. I wouldn’t be surprised if something comes from that. And Tirigan’s heart is already yours. So, you have no reason for jealousy.” Nutesh laughed at whatever expression had plastered itself on her face. “You might want to compose yourself because here comes your Blade, and he’s almost as good as I at reading people.”
Asharru schooled her expression and then turned to face Tirigan.
“My princess, has Nutesh warmed you up properly for a round in the practice ring with me?” Tirigan’s eyes were bright with happiness.
“Warmed me up? More like ground me into the floor.” Asharru crossed her arms and gave him her best queenly glower. It must not have been convincing for he laughed.
“What if I toss in a massage afterward to sweeten the deal?” His happy expression shifted to more of a mildly hopeful look.
With a grunt, Asharru admitted she couldn’t bring herself to deny him his time with her in the practice ring. He loved swordplay and teaching new students and especially training her. Though why she’d never know. She was the worst student in the history of swordplay.
Attempting a stern look, she squared her shoulders and said, “You most certainly will. It will be a good long massage, too. Otherwise, I’ll be hobbling along like an old woman tomorrow.”
“Of course.” He took the goblet out of her hand and placed the hilt of a practice sword in it instead. Then with an even bigger grin, he gestured her toward the empty ring.
“I hate you sometimes,” she muttered to his face.
“No, you don’t.” He winked at her. “I can read the truth in a person’s words. Remember?”
“As if you’d ever let me forget.” When he turned to lead the way, she used the opportunity to smack him half-heartedly across the rump with the broadside of her practice sword.
Tirigan let out a startled hoot and then turned to her, the light of challenge in his eyes. “Oh, Asharru, you will pay dearly for that.”
“Hmm, probably not one of my brightest ideas.”
Tirigan’s teeth flashed brightly against his dark skin and neatly trimmed beard.
Oh, curse it, what god of mischief had possessed her?
Chapter 14
Zinura was grinning as she left the practice area. After Tirigan had partnered up with Crown Princess Asharru, Hunzuu had come over to her and said he’d continue her training.
Goddess, it was strange to think she now had her freedom and served a queen and a Blade.
Earlier, though she’d already been tired from the bout with Tirigan, she hadn’t hesitated to accept Hunzuu’s offer for more training. There was a goodness and competence to the guardsman that Zinura found compelling. That was certainly a first. Zinura hadn’t ever had reason to trust a male before, let alone admire one for his character.
Though Hunzuu was a full-blooded gryphon, so perhaps that’s why she felt safe with him. He wasn’t likely to corner her in some back hall or empty chamber. In the past, most of her masters were humans or hybrids.
But whatever the reason, she found she liked the gryphon male.
That was a first and almost enough to make Zinura toss caution to the wind and openly court Hunzuu to see if she caught his gryphon’s interest. Almost, but not entirely.
Zinura had only just gained her freedom; she wasn’t ready to tie herself to some male, not even one she liked. For now, she was content to continue with the shared training sessions with her mentor and see what developed.
Distracted by her thoughts, she didn’t realize she’d turned down a wrong corridor until she was partway down its dimly lit length. Sighing, she glanced up and down the tunnel, trying to determine which one she was in. Ahead torches still burned, but only every third one was lit, which meant this was one area where the work crews were still cleaning out rooms.
She’d just started back the way she’d come when she heard the scuff of a boot heel against the stone floor. Before she even glanced over her shoulder, a hand clamped over her mouth. A heartbeat later, cold metal pressed against her neck.
“Don’t struggle if you wish to live,” whispered a male voice that was as cold and unforgiving as the knife pressed to her neck.
Zinura tensed instinctively but forced herself to relax again, her mind working feverishly to come up with ways to escape, but
no matter what plan she thought up, nothing she’d learned so far would allow her to break free of her captor without getting her throat slit first.
After a moment, she concluded the only chance of escape would come later, once the man had removed the blade from against her throat.
With no other option open to her, she forced her body to relax and allowed her captor to drag her backward into a shadowy side corridor. As the light dwindled in the distance, she rethought her choice, but before she could do more than half formulate a plan, a sharp blow to her temple stole the last of the fading light as her body went limp.
Chapter 15
If Asharru stood any straighter, she’d break something Tirigan reflected with a sympathetic twinge at the nervousness his lady must suffer this day. He walked out on the balcony to stand with her and watch the sunrise.
After a moment of silence, he leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Relax. You will do fine. And by sunset, all the long-winded rituals will be over. By this time tomorrow, you will already be settling in as New Sumer’s queen.”
Asharru snorted and then muttered, “It's being queen of all New Sumer that worries me. Rituals and ceremonies, I know all about. Ruling a kingdom? No.”
Tirigan supposed she had performed hundreds, if not thousands, of ceremonies and rituals as part of her training to become Ishtar’s high priestess. She was likely familiar with all the rituals she’d be taking part in today.
“If being the ruler of New Sumer is what bothers you, then you can relax and enjoy the plentiful food and drink. After all, you’ve been New Sumer’s ruler for some months now. The coronation is just a formality.” Tirigan allowed his voice to drop into a soft whisper. “You have been both queen and friend to me since shortly after we first met.”
Asharru’s gaze softened. “Thank you, Tirigan, for being my Blade and my friend.”
As he glanced sidelong at her, that now familiar sensation of warmth and happiness stirred in his chest. It had become a familiar sensation in recent days.
The Blade's Shadow (Ishtar's Legacy Book 4) Page 8
