As she watched, the damages to the body were miraculously healed. Lungs that hadn’t known air for a time began to work, the gryphon’s chest rising and falling. Even his wings quivered.
A moment later the body jerked and coughed and choked as Kadashman took his first breath of air since his death. Within moments of returning to the living, he curled on his side and threw up what looked like far more than a single lungful of water.
Kuri was beside him in seconds, her hands sliding along his damp feathers and fur as she crooned softly to him. Soon his body quivered again, and then he was shapeshifting back into the form of a man.
Kuri whispered words too soft to hear and then she swiftly turned him on his side, and he retched into the damp sand, emptying his stomach instead of his lungs. The entire time, Kuri stayed with him, holding his hair out of his face while she steadied him with the other hand.
Once he recovered enough to sit up, Kuri handed him her drinking flask so he could rinse his mouth.
“That’s it. Just a little,” she crooned.
After Kadashman rinsed his mouth and spat several times, he collapsed back down onto the beach.
“I think I’ll just lay here for a while,” he whispered weakly.
Asharru wanted to go to her brother and wrap him in her love but could see Kuri and Kadashman needed this time to re-familiarize themselves with each other. There would be lots of time later—three hundred years or more if they were lucky—to have brother-sister talks. For now, she was just happy to see two of the people she loved together again.
“It’s so cold,” Kadashman said, forcing the words out between his chattering teeth.
Kuri dashed to where she’d dropped her pack and pulled out a blanket and robe. Thankfully, Hashur had wisely warned them to grab some supplies before they’d left Uruk.
“You’ll be warm and dry soon,” Kuri promised as she tucked the blanket around him and then wrapped him in her arms. At last, she sobbed into his shoulder. “For now, share my heat.”
Kadashman reached out a shaking hand and caressed Kuri’s hair, then he tilted her face toward his for a gentle kiss.
Kuri jerked back in surprise and touched her lips.
“I know I don’t look like your love, but please stay with me,” he whispered to Kuri loud enough Asharru could hear all the love in his voice.
Then Asharru gave them what privacy she could considering they were sitting on a windswept beach. She turned to watch as Hashur prepared the body of the young woman to receive the soul of Zinura.
The fierce blonde with the heart of a warrior was a little hesitant at climbing into a new body, but soon she laid down and merged with the body as Hashur whispered his chants and prayers.
Soon the female’s chest was rising and falling with life.
Lastly, Hashur took the body of the older male, the drowned siblings’ father, as his new host.
Then it was done.
Asharru had never dreamed such happiness could come from such a tragedy.
Chapter 26
In the weeks leading up to the Sacred Marriage, everyone was on guard. Kuri, Hunzuu, and Asharru spent as much time with Kadashman as possible, laughing, crying, and getting used to his new face. Tirigan was happy the sadness that had clung to the three for as long as he’d known them was at last gone.
Today, Kuri and Kadashman were in gryphon form, their beasts still getting to know each other. But already it was clear Kuri’s had recognized the spirit of her beloved in his new body for there was much courting and crooning between the gryphon pair.
Oh, Tirigan knew it would take time for them to reform mating bonds, but he didn’t doubt that it would happen. After all, even he had found love. A thing he hadn’t believed possible for one such as him.
But what was between him and Asharru was as real as what Kuri and Kadashman shared.
He turned his attention to the other newly restored body and soul. Zinura seemed happy enough with her new body. Though she was half-gryphon now, so had more to learn and adjust to than Kadashman. Hunzuu had stepped up to mentor the human-turned-gryphon in the ways of her new beast.
Tirigan hid a grin. The guardsman likely thought he was acting perfectly natural, but to everyone watching, it was apparent Hunzuu returned Zinura’s interest and was hoping their gryphons would be amiable to something more than friendship in time.
It was good to see his friends together at last.
As he watched, Zinura again prowled up behind Hunzuu, her tail flicking gently as she play-stalked him.
Tirigan looked away before he laughed and embarrassed either of the awkward pair. That was the last thing he wanted to do.
Soon his thoughts wandered down darker pathways. There was only one thing ruining his happiness. Their enemies were still free and making plans. And there was no guarantee that everyone he loved would survive to the end of all this.
And as Hashur had said, the other Anunnaki would not let him escape the underworld with souls a second time.
Sand suddenly pelting down upon him drew Tirigan out of his thoughts, and he glanced in the direction the attack had come.
“Why such a sour look on so fine a day, my King?” Asharru asked, the picture of innocence as if she hadn’t just lobbed a handful of sand in his direction.
“It’s my natural expression, my Queen,” Tirigan said with a snort to hide his reaction to his title. It still came as a shock each time she used it. “And why do I think you’re in a mischievous mood on this lovely day?”
She shrugged and crawled toward him on all fours across the sand. He found even that innocent shift of muscles seductive. When she reached him, she lowered herself down into his lap. Then leaning forward, she pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose.
“Ha! There’s the grin I was looking for,” Asharru said.
Tirigan laughed, his happiness winning out over the thought of what his enemies might be doing.
“You know, that’s very male of you. A woman comes and sits in your lap, and suddenly you’re all gracious smiles and happiness.”
A snort issued from behind Tirigan where Bashaa was lying on a blanket, gorging himself on food.
A barefoot prodded Tirigan in the back. “Gracious and Tirigan have never sat well together, my Queen.”
Soon Laliya joined in the gentle ribbing to further ‘lift’ Tirigan’s somber mood. Before long, they were exchanging tales of a few of his exploits. Some were humorous, others of a more sensual nature involving certain nobles he’d humiliated and lived to tell about it.
Tirigan only rolled his eyes and then looked around for someone else to act as a distraction for the group. His eyes landed upon Hashur.
“Anunnaki, you’ve lived longer than just about anything. Surely you must have some tales?”
Hashur gave the group a playful bow. “I make no claims of being a grand storyteller; however, I know many tales. What do you want to hear?”
“Something entertaining?” Tirigan suggested. Really anything at all will do.
Hashur laughed, and Tirigan had the distinct impression the Anunnaki had heard what he hadn’t said.
“Well, then. How about the story of Hillalum, the first King of the Gryphons and Amata his Blade? After all, you aren’t the first Blade with an unlikely history and path to his monarch. Amata, Hillalum’s Blade, was a shepherdess of all things.” Hashur’s mellow voice soon had his audience enrapt.
Tirigan braced his arms and leaned back to listen. Asharru relaxed against him, her head resting on his shoulder.
“To protect her sheep from raiders, Amata drove her herd high into the mountains and into gryphon territory. Now, these weren’t the gryphons of today, but a wilder, more vicious beast. In those early days, the gryphons had yet to be given the power to shapeshift.” Hashur accompanied his story with great sweeping arm gestures.
Asharru wiggled in Tirigan’s lap, seeking the most comfortable spot.
“Stop that,” he whispered in her ear, “Or everyone will see how st
rong and proud the Blade’s sword is for his Queen.”
Asharru laughed but didn’t tease him. She never played sensual games with him in public, mindful of his history. Though once in private, they both enjoyed her heat cycle and indulged in a great deal of love play as often as time and duty allowed.
For the first time in his life, he delighted in such activity.
Though, in public was something else entirely. But his Queen was attentive to his feelings, more so than she really needed to be, but if it made her happy and feel like she was caring for him, he wasn’t about to complain.
He rather liked the protective streak she exhibited toward him.
He was almost certain Asharru would have performed the Sacred Marriage alone to spare him, but the ritual required two. And while Ishtar and Tammuz had said they didn’t want slaves, only willing participants, Tirigan wasn’t about to deny the gods their chance to be together for one night a year after all they did for New Sumer.
He owed them too much to simply turn his back upon them because of his own history.
“You’re unhappy again, my Blade.” Asharru’s statement was said in soft tones so as not to distract the others from Hashur’s tale.
“I am only thinking about the future, and what new direction danger will come.”
Asharru sighed and pressed a kiss to his jaw. “I hope for a time when we finally defeat our enemies and can look forward to nothing but happiness.”
“I dream of that, too.” The absolute truth of that statement surprised him. There’d been a time when all he dreamed of was escape and freedom. Then he’d met Asharru and dreamed of keeping her safe and making New Sumer a better place.
It was only after they’d become lovers that he’d started to believe there could be a future where he could have all those things, and he might even be allowed to find lasting happiness with New Sumer’s Queen.
Tirigan wrapped Asharru in his arms, holding onto her like it was a way to grasp and hold the future he wanted so badly. She tilted her head up to press another gentle kiss to his jaw before turning back to listen to Hashur’s story.
He, too, looked toward the Anunnaki.
“Amata knew the danger of going into gryphon territory, but she was both brave and stubborn, and would rather provide a meal to the gryphons than fatten the raiders. Thus, she found herself in King Hillalum’s territory. Lucky for her, Hillalum had been stocking her for some days, though it had nothing to do with wanting food…”
A disturbance farther down the beach drew Tirigan’s attention. Three men wearing city garrison uniforms rushed up to the royal party.
Apparently, Hashur would have to finish his tale another time.
Chapter 27
Hashur fell silent and watched as several of the new Shadow guards moved to intercept the other soldiers. Tirigan’s students took their duties seriously; he was pleased to see.
There was a brief exchange between the Shadows and the garrison guards, and then Shadow Burrakurin was striding back across the sand to Asharru’s side.
By this time Kuri and Kadashman and Zinura and Hunzuu had returned to the group to listen in on the report.
“Garrison guards doing a routine sweep of the city found the body of a merchant,” Shadow Burrakurin said. “Thinking the merchant had been murdered for his wares, the guards immediately searched his properties and found another body. Captain Libluth confirmed it’s Ekurzakir. Though he’s requesting that Kuri and Tirigan view the scene.”
Asharru straightened, her queen’s mask returning, all signs of the playful young woman she’d been all afternoon vanishing. “I’ll come at once.”
“We’ll all come,” Hashur said. “I don’t trust Ereshkigal’s agents, not even their dead bodies. Ekurzakir is the type to lay a trap.”
Both Queen and Blade nodded in understanding.
The royal party set off swiftly. The garrison guards led the way back down the beach and through Ishtar’s gate, before reaching the Processional Way that led deeper into the city.
They crisscrossed their way through the city until at last, they made their way into a merchant’s storage building. Near the back of the building, where large clay jars holding wines stood in neat rows, a body lay sprawled.
After Hashur had checked the area and given the all clear, Asharru and Tirigan knelt to study the body. Hashur had already concluded Ekurzakir’s body had been killed in the last day. The ritual blade buried in his chest proved this wasn’t just a crime of opportunity.
“There’s dark magic clinging to the body,” Hashur said, sharing his findings. “You’ll probably find symbols painted on his skin under the robe.”
Asharru narrowed her eyes. “You’re about to tell me I shouldn’t rejoice yet, aren’t you?”
“That would be correct,” Hashur agreed. “Ekurzakir’s spirit was freed from this body and now resides in a new one. He’ll have taken a young body, one that’s strong and fit.”
Tirigan grunted unhappily and paced around the body.
Asharru cursed. “It will be even harder than ever to hunt them down and eradicate them. Can they just keep body-hopping? If they can, we might never catch them.”
Hashur shook his head. “No. The power required for such a spell is very draining. They won’t be able to take new bodies again for at least half a moon cycle. If we can determine their new identities, we still have a chance to eradicate them.”
And with the Sacred Marriage looming, the time when the young queen and her Blade might be able to enlist Tammuz and Ishtar’s aid in hunting these enemies was fast approaching.
I’m feasting on those two souls once we find them even if they give me indigestion, Hashur thought darkly.
Chapter 28
“You’re nervous,” Tirigan said as he watched Asharru be prepared by her new servants. If the attendants had been the old servants, he would have ordered them out before exposing a vulnerability to them, but these were some of the ex-slaves, his people, and he trusted them. “It’s only natural.”
And she wasn’t the only one nervous. While Tirigan had performed many times and was prepared for that part of the ritual, hosting a god was somewhat more fear-inducing.
“I’m not nervou—” Asharru cut herself off. “That’s a lie. My knees are almost shaking. What a sight I’ll make. I hadn’t thought getting up in front of all those people during my coronation would bother me, but it did.”
“You’re afraid of the audience?”
“Aren’t you?”
“No. I’m too busy fretting over hosting a god, to be honest.”
Asharru looked at him, her expression momentarily slack-jawed.
“But we have already received their gifts, so it’s not like a first meeting. This will not be so very different.”
He shrugged, feeling a rare blush heat his skin. “I did not say it was logical. Fear often isn’t.”
“Well, we’re well matched at least,” Asharru said, humor returning to her eyes. “You can offer support and reassurance when we first present ourselves at the base of the temple, and I’ll return the favor once Laliya and Bashaa call Ishtar and Tammuz.”
Tirigan found an answering smile curving his lips. “Agreed.”
“I suppose we must go.” She glanced at him again, noting his burnished and oiled skin, and the golden shendyt with its pleated front panel. At last, her eyes landed on his wide, jewel-encrusted belt and matching arm and wrist bands. “You look resplendent, my King.”
She laughed at his expression, and he glowered. “I’ll probably get used to the costume long before I get used to that title.”
“I’m told one grows used to titles, crowns, and all the foolish finery in time.”
Tirigan grunted. “You sound doubtful.”
It was her turn to shrug. “I’ve only been a queen half a day longer than you’ve been a king.”
They might have said more on the subject, but just then a knocking on the outer door interrupted them. Before either of them called for whoev
er was outside to enter, the door swung open.
Bashaa and Laliya walked in, hand in hand. Which, Tirigan reflected was odd. While they could both be affectionate with each other during leisure time, this evening was far from a lazy afternoon on the beach.
Moonrise and the Sacred Marriage was almost upon them. As Ishtar’s High Priest and Priestess, his two friends should already be atop the temple leading the chanting and blessing.
Asharru must’ve thought the same for she asked, “What has happened? Why aren’t you leading the chants?”
His friends’ hesitation was warning enough. He drew his crystalline sword.
“Blade, you will not need that. Not yet,” Laliya and Bashaa said in unison, their voices not their own. Then they looked up and met Tirigan’s gaze. Divine power glowed in their depths. “My Blade, you know me. Look with more than your eyes.”
Tirigan realized his magic wasn’t reading a threat. It was vibrating in recognition at a goddess’s power.
“Ishtar,” he mumbled and dropped to prostrate himself on the ground.
Asharru followed him, Ishtar’s name a murmur on her lips.
The goddess huffed. “As pretty as you both bow, there is no time for that. Our enemies plan to strike tonight.”
Tirigan glanced up and then came to his feet. “Speak and share your knowledge, great goddess, and I shall carry out your will.”
At last, he would have the heads of his enemies. He could feel it.
“Why come like this? Why not contact us directly?” Asharru asked, his astute queen seeing something obvious he had missed.
“Because there are several Anunnaki outside your chamber.”
The goddess’s simple reply caused an uneasy lump to form in his gut. How had he not sensed their arrival?
“They were not summoned here. Ereshkigal opened one of the gates to the underworld and released them. She told them the eldest of their kind is being held here by my Blade. They came to free Hashur at any cost.” Ishtar-Laliya raised one hand and gestured behind her, toward the corridor. “So many Anunnaki surrounding my Blade interferes with my ability to touch your mind.”
The Blade's Shadow (Ishtar's Legacy Book 4) Page 13
