Ishtar-Asharru allowed their Blade to do as he was born to do. Which left the other assassin for her to deal with. She grinned at the female assassin as she advanced.
She was halfway to her target when another gryphon stalked forward.
The body wasn’t one of royal blood, but the soul within was most certainly one of her gryphon kings.
Kadashman. That was his mortal name. The young king who’d been murdered and brought back to life with the aid of an ancient Anunnaki.
What an exciting tale that would make for the bards to sing about in the eons to come.
Ishtar reached out and pointed one perfectly manicured nail at Nuannin the Assassin. “You, don’t move.”
The assassin froze in place, choking silently, for she couldn’t even draw breath unless Ishtar released her.
Turning fully to Kadashman, Ishtar-Asharru inclined her head in respect. “Young king whose life was stolen away far too soon, I shall share this vengeance with you. Consider it my gift to you.”
Kadashman bowed to her. “Thank you, Great One.”
With that Ishtar released the assassin so they could claim this was a worthy fight.
Feeling generous toward Kadashman, or perhaps it was her host’s feelings that influenced her, she allowed the gryphon male to dance with the assassin. He’d once died by this assassin’s hand. It was such a dishonorable death for one of her gryphon kings.
At least that’s how he’d see it. She knew her gryphons well. This way he could reclaim some of his honor and walk through this new life with his head held high and proud in the knowledge he’d defeated a great enemy.
Kadashman wielded his sword with skill, matching the assassin in her deadly dance, proving to Nuannin he wouldn’t have fallen to her blade if she’d engaged him in a fair fight.
Nuannin took a misstep. It was all Kadashman needed. He slit her open from armpit to groin. An arm clutched against the wound did nothing to slow her heart from pumping her blood out upon the ground.
Cursing with her last breath, the assassin collapsed forward, all grace gone. The heart within her chest soon had no more blood to pump, and at last, the spark of life in her eyes dimmed.
Kadashman stood over the assassin and watched for long moments. He could not see when the disembodied soul was dragged back into the underworld, but Ishtar-Asharru could.
“The assassin is gone,” she told Kadashman.
He looked sidelong at her and then after a pause he bowed. “Thank you for allowing me my revenge.”
“You earned it.”
The dome surrounding them vanished and Ishtar-Asharru glanced over to see how her Blade faired. Ah. He’d already run Ekurzakir through with his sword. As she looked on, Tirigan-Tammuz kicked the body off the blade and then swept out with his sword a second time, cleaving the head from the body.
Hmm, her Tammuz was never so bloody. “Impressive, my Blade. You have done well.”
Tirigan hesitated, his gaze flicking over her body swathed in power, and he bowed.
“Dear Blade, my husband does not bow to me. And since he is presently dwelling inside you…”
Tirigan flushed and Ishtar bit back a sound of delight.
He recovered himself remarkably well. “I had promised to gift Asharru with the heads of her enemies, saying I would lay them at the foot of her throne. However, Nineveh and the throne are far off. I hope this is acceptable.”
Asharru’s consciousness came to the forefront, and she grinned at him. “It’s a most acceptable gift, my husband. However, others need us now.”
She waved a hand, gesturing the Shadows back and then wove her way through the crowd of garrison guards. She made her way toward the pillars and came upon the first of the bodies.
One of her priests. Young, too young. She blessed him and wished him a safe passage to the underworld where others loyal to her would be waiting to offer him a home.
Next, she came upon another of her people, an older priestess, though still taken too soon. Another whispered blessing and then she walked up to a soldier, one of the garrison guards.
He still lived, though not for much longer if she didn’t do something.
Kneeling next to him, Ishtar placed a hand upon his chest.
His eyes blinked open and took in the sight of her. As close to death as he was, he’d be able to see her as she truly was, not just the form of her host.
“Goddess,” he whispered, awe thick in his voice.
“Yes, my child. Be at ease while I heal you.”
He blinked again as if trying to bring her into better focus. “I don’t deserve to be healed. King Kadashman was murdered on my watch. Asharru kidnapped. I couldn’t keep the royal line safe. I broke my sworn duty.”
Ishtar’s heart warmed. This poor male had carried his guilt long enough. “No mortal could have done better. Our enemies are both deadly and cunning. That is why I sent my Blade. I knew the enemy was too powerful, blessed by Ereshkigal’s many gifts, to be defeated by mortal means.”
“I,” he began but was cut short by a coughing fit. Blood coated his lips.
“Shh. I thank you for your service to the royal line and New Sumer, Libluth. Now let me heal you before you perish.”
“You know my name?” His question was said on a broken, raspy gasp.
“Of course. I know each one of my beloved gryphon and human worshipers.”
“I… I promise to do better at protecting my king and queen.”
Ishtar laughed. “There is always room for improvement, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Rest now.”
He closed his eyes as she poured more power into him. By the time she’d finished healing his wounds, he was already heavily asleep.
Once all the wounded were healed, and the dead blessed, Ishtar turned to the bodies of the traitors. She still needed to do something about them.
Moving toward the bodies, Asharru-Ishtar grabbed the female by the hair and dragged the carcass toward the edge of the temple. Behind her, Tammuz-Tirigan picked up both the head and body of Ekurzakir.
Then together they brushed aside the pale fabric to look down upon the crowds below.
“Behold the fate of traitors who turn against their goddess.” Asharru-Ishtar lifted the body high and then cast it over the edge where it tumbled down the stairs.
“Messy, my love,” Tammuz-Tirigan whispered for her alone as he cast the second body over the edge so it could follow the first down its bone-shattering descend.
“The people expected a show.”
“Not this one.”
She glanced at him, her expression softening. “The night is still young. We can give them the show they’ve been waiting for.”
“We can’t abandon our duty to bless the crops and make the kingdom fertile, now can we?” he replied with a cocky little grin that had her dragging him back toward the altar.
Chapter 33
Three days later, Asharru and her court returned home to the shores of Nineveh. So much of what had happened seemed like a dream. She had trouble convincing herself that her enemies were at last dead. She still half expected them to come at her from every alcove and secret passageway.
Though Hashur had said that was impossible. Once he’d ordered the Anunnaki that Ereshkigal had released to return to the underworld and carry out their duties, he’d told her that one or more of the judges would feast upon the corrupted souls of Nuannin and Ekurzakir.
Not even Ereshkigal could prevent his fellow Anunnaki from carrying out their sacred duties.
Now, three days later, she wished Hashur would return from his special errand. There was so much more she wanted to ask the Anunnaki. But his task was more important, and the information Ishtar had imparted to Asharru was time-sensitive, so she’d had little choice but to send Hashur.
Today she sat her throne, Tirigan beside her in its twin. He still looked uncomfortable with his new role.
“I would almost think you’re planning on running from me and my crown now that the danger
is past,” she told him in a whisper as she took a sip of her wine.
Tirigan snorted. “I don’t know how you think up such fanciful tales, my love. I’ll never leave you,” his gaze flicked down to her belly, “or abandon the children we will one day have.”
Asharru’s one hand came to rest briefly on her belly. It was too soon to know if Tirigan’s seed had hit the mark, but she enjoyed her mate very much and looked forward to future attempts at begetting the next generation.
Motion at the great hall’s double doors drew her eyes.
Hunzuu approached the throne and then bowed. “News, my Queen.”
“Come forward.”
He did and then bowed. “Hashur has returned and is on his way here.”
New excitement bloomed in her heart. Hashur had returned from his hunt already. She hoped it had been successful.
They didn’t have to wait long. Hashur arrived in the company of three Shadows who’d gone on the quest with him.
“My friend,” Asharru called. “It is good to see you again. Did you have a successful hunt?”
“I did,” he replied in his usual mellow tones and then patted the basket he was carrying in front of him.
Asharru broke a few hundred years of royal protocol and descended the stairs to meet him halfway. Behind her, she felt as Tirigan followed. Glancing over her shoulder at him, she smiled.
“Hashur has brought you a gift.” She looked to the landing halfway up the stairs where several city officials waited. Laliya and Bashaa were among them. She called Tirigan’s two oldest friends to come forward. “This is a gift for you all.”
She flipped open the lid of the basket and then reached in and carefully closed her fingers around the hair. Using the braids for a grip, she hoisted the head of Ugurnaszir from the reed basket and held it out to the three.
None of them recoiled from the grisly item.
Bashaa let out a whoop of delight. “Lovely Queen, this is the best gift you could have ever given us.”
“I agree,” Laliya said softly, the faint echo of remembered horror in her voice.
“I did not mean to bring up dark memories,” Asharru said. “I simply wanted you to know he could never hurt you or anyone else ever again.”
“A resurgence of a few dark memories is nothing compared to the relief I feel at knowing that monster is at last dead.” Laliya stepped back to allow Tirigan to come forward.
Asharru met her mate’s gaze. “I know you wished to kill him yourself. But I couldn’t allow him to live a moment longer. He’d already overstayed his time here in the mortal world. As soon as Ishtar gave me the information, I asked Hashur if he’d hunt him down as a personal favor.”
“A favor I did gladly,” the Anunnaki injected.
Tirigan stepped forward and took the head from her and held it up to look into the dead eyes as if reassuring himself that it truly was Ugurnaszir, dead at last. “As much as I wanted to kill him myself, I understand. And I thank you for this great gift.”
“Good. Let us all put this dark chapter of our lives behind us at last.”
There was a round of agreement and afterward worry she hadn’t even known her Blade was still carrying fell away, their link flaring brightly with happiness.
She’d done the right thing. That brought a smile to her face.
Chapter 34
A little over a moon cycle after the night of the Sacred Marriage, Asharru had decided it was time to give her Blade a day of leisure. They had come to the beach in the company of their extended family.
Even Hashur had come. He’d been dropping hints he’d leave Nineveh soon to explore the living world, but he’d promised to return one day. Today he sat on the beach with the rest of them, enjoying the sun, sand, and refreshing water.
Asharru could appreciate the same things for the first time in months.
There was much in her life to celebrate.
She had her beloved brother back. Even though he looked different, he was still the same in all the ways that mattered.
Kuri was happy again. Asharru hadn’t known how much that had weighed upon her until Kadashman had returned.
In the days after his return, Asharru had broached whether he wanted his people to know who he truly was; if he wanted the throne back. She’d have happily given the rule of the kingdom to him.
He’d declined, saying she was New Sumer’s rightful queen now and would be the mother of future generations. It was only right she keep the throne. Though he had said he’d help her rule. They were his people, too, after all.
Asharru had been happy to accept his aid and later laughed as Kuri had breathed a deep sigh of relief, telling Kadashman to never frighten her like that again. She’d been sure he would say yes to the throne and the crown, and Kuri had said she’d make a horrible queen.
Asharru grinned at the memory.
“What’s that look about?” her brother asked.
She chuckled in embarrassment at getting caught. “I remembered Kuri’s panicked look when she thought you might accept the crown again.”
Kadashman laughed in delight; Asharru echoed him until she got herself under control.
“Are you certain you should give up the kingship, though?”
“Yes. I am no longer the King of the Gryphons. That title now belongs to another.” He looked to Tirigan pointedly and then a look of calculation entered his eyes. “You, Blade, how long before you brave an attempt at shapeshifting? As the new King of the Gryphons, you really should take on that form occasionally.”
Tirigan laughed but looked thoughtful. “I’ve never thought to try.”
“Well, what are you waiting for? After acting as host to Tammuz, you should have gained a few more enhanced abilities.”
Now it was Asharru who was laughing in delight as she stripped out of her clothing.
“What are you doing?” Tirigan asked, sounding more than a little exasperated.
“My beast will call to yours and then teach you to fly.”
He still looked doubtful even after she dropped to all fours and surrendered to her beast.
But Asharru the gryphon wouldn’t be denied and gently harried Tirigan into removing his clothing, closing his eyes, and then drawing in deep calming breaths.
Slowly the tension lines between his brows smoothed out. Asharru came and nudged him with her beak in gentle encouragement. She very much wanted Tirigan the Gryphon to run with her.
“I feel it…” Tirigan’s voice was full of surprise and curiosity. “I feel him, my beast.”
“Good. Now all you need to do is give over control to him. Just surrender, and he’ll know what is needed.”
Asharru’s words weren’t lies. In the next moment, a bright, shimmering magic obscured Tirigan’s body as he shifted between forms. When she blinked the spots out of her vision, it was to find a powerfully built gryphon standing beside her.
He was a magnificent beast, all lustrous black fur, tawny golden feathers, and heavy muscles rippling with lethal elegance.
“You look most regal, my King.” Asharru purred as she sidled up next to him to draw in a great lungful of his warm scent. He smelled divine, like a mix of temple incense, the sun on sweet, fragrant grasses, and fertile male.
I can enjoy his scent later, once we’re alone, she reminded herself with a little shake before stretching her wings. But first, it’s time to teach my Blade to be a gryphon.
After waiting for him to get used to walking on all fours, she darted off down the beach, knowing her overprotective Blade would follow.
He did, racing along the sand and surf beside her, matching her perfectly stride for stride. Instinctively, she knew it would always be like this. She and her mate in perfect harmony.
Asharru’s beast was ecstatic and soon urged him into flight.
Chapter 35
Hashur watched as Asharru and Tirigan raced away, leaving their protectors scrambling to catch up. Hashur grinned over at where Laliya and Bashaa sat on blankets a few body len
gths away. “Aren’t you going to run after them like everyone else?”
Bashaa snorted, warm humor glinting in his gaze. “I’m feeling far too indulged and lazy to go chasing a pair of sun-mad gryphons down a beach. Besides, I’m sure they’ll wish to be alone once they tire of playing run and chase.”
Hashur rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he gazed after where the royal couple had vanished around an outcropping of the cliff wall. “The young king and queen will do well together. Tirigan will sire many young on Asharru.”
The two would accomplish much, he’d seen it in his visions. They would rid the kingdom of corruption and put an end to slavery once and for all.
It would take time, he knew, as all great things did.
But it would be worth the effort.
As for Hashur, he’d explore this world. Somewhere, out on one of the other islands, a woman was looking for news of what had become of her husband, son, and daughter.
He couldn’t change the outcome. The spirits of her loved ones were already in the afterlife, but he could tell her what had happened, and that their bodies lived on and would one day carry on her and her husband’s bloodlines through Kuri and Kadashman and Zinura and Hunzuu.
If it turned out that she had other children, he’d offer to bring her family to Nineveh. He’d even stay and help raise them if that was her wish. Though he doubted she’d wish such a thing. He could never be the husband she’d lost, only a bitter reminder, but he could offer her protection.
It was the least he could do. And he was certain kind-hearted Kadashman, who barely remembered his own mother, might like to know the mother of the body he now lived in.
Once Hashur settled that to his satisfaction, he’d go in search of Nergal to see if he could return Ereshkigal’s husband to the underworld where he belonged.
It was doubtful if he’d find him. Hundreds of other Anunnaki had hunted for Nergal, but Ishtar had hidden him too well.
But even if he couldn’t find or free his friend, Hashur would enjoy the rarity of being in a mortal body in the world of the living for a short time.
The Blade's Shadow (Ishtar's Legacy Book 4) Page 15
