Even without that, she could hear him reading softly.
Drawing a deep breath, she marched over to the large raised bed, stomped up the four stairs and peered around the heavy drapes that were only partially drawn. Ditanu sat with his back propped against a stack of pillows, a book in his hand and Humusi and Ilanum play fighting on his lap.
A heavy coverlet offered protection from tiny claws.
He stopped reading long enough to glance in her direction. “If I keep reading they will eventually fall asleep. It doesn’t seem to matter what I read them. Guess my tone must bore them to sleep.”
Patting the coverlet to the right of his hip, he gestured her to bring Kuwari to him. Iltani eyed the distance and winced. There was no way she could reach. She’d have to crawl.
That just had to be in violation of some court edict somewhere.
“Your bed is so large it borders on obscene,” she groused as she hoisted herself up onto it and crawled one-armed toward him, the cub tucked against her side. “And this is completely destroying my fierce Shadow warrior persona I’ve worked so hard to maintain.”
Ditanu laughed, the rich tones sounding far too intimate trapped within the bed’s drapes.
Her long nightdress didn’t help at all. She kept getting tangled up in it as she tried to crawl. Kuwari awoke and gave a questioning cry, which had the other two cubs bolting toward Iltani.
“Oh, for the love of Ishtar!” she cried as they piled into her.
She rolled to her side so she wouldn’t crush any of them, but it left her vulnerable to their assault. They clambered over her, grabbing any bit of lace and cloth they could find, or pouncing and pawing at it.
Kuwari, having decided to get into the game as well, pounced on her sword belt, chewing and biting the leather. When that didn’t gain him anything, he started on her scabbard, trying to pry off the jewels embedded in the leather.
“Gah! Stop. Don’t eat those.” She pushed his head away and only succeeded in having him attack her fingers instead.
It didn’t hurt, his beak still too soft and rubbery to really cause damage, but it felt peculiar and ticklish at the same time.
Humusi had moved to the hem of her nightdress and started yanking and growling playfully. She heard the sound of tearing fabric. Kuwari abandoned her scabbard and was now pawing at her hair. “Hey, the servants just fixed that!”
She twisted and lunged at Kuwari, rolling him onto his back and tickling his belly.
As children, she and Ditanu play-fought for hours, and while she’d been outmatched physically when he was in his gryphon form, she was cunning and had found all his ticklish spots.
A few exploratory wiggles of her fingers and she found Kuwari shared a lot of his father’s ticklish spots. The cub squealed in delight and batted at her hands with his paws. He kept his claws sheathed, thankfully.
Ditanu hadn’t always bothered when they’d used to play fight as younglings.
The other two cubs charged back toward her though she found they were after Kuwari as much as her.
Iltani turned her attention toward the other two.
Laughing and lunging at them, her guard completely down, she didn’t see the attack coming.
A full-grown gryphon slammed into her side, his massive paws flipping her as easily as she had his cub. She rolled across the bed twice before coming to rest on her stomach. As she lay there with the breath knocked out of her, she realized her fatal mistake. Ditanu was a full-blooded gryphon, possessing the heightened protective instincts all gryphon parents shared.
She still had the wherewithal to go limp as she waited for Ditanu to make the next move.
The killing blow she half expected didn’t fall. She cautiously raised her head a few inches only to have one of the cubs leap at her. It was Kuwari. The sweet little fellow didn’t know the game was no longer a game.
She expected Ditanu to nudge the cub out of immediate danger, but he didn’t, confusing Iltani no end. She knew gryphons. She should have been dead.
A massive paw landed on her butt, holding her down as a rather large and wickedly sharp beak started nuzzling her. His purr echoed around the room.
That wasn’t an aggression sound.
Slowly, Iltani’s adrenaline-filled mind cleared enough to think. She wasn’t going to die. He had simply wanted to join the play fight with her and his cubs. Well, she didn’t want to disappoint him. A grin of challenge spread across her face.
Thoughts of how to retaliate were floating through her mind when the tufted tip of his tail found its way into a tear in the side of her nightdress. Giggles burst forth from deep inside her, but she didn’t admit defeat so readily.
A skillfully placed heel jammed into a tender place had the large gryphon grunting and leaping away before she could land another blow.
While Ditanu was stalking her from the left, two cubs were circling from the right. Kuwari, at least, sided with her and together they attacked the other two cubs. Ditanu launched himself at them all.
They scattered out of the way with only moments to spare, then in lightning fast agreement, Iltani and the three cubs changed tactics, coming together to face a greater foe.
Before they could formulate a plan, the big gryphon charged them all, opening his forelegs wide and scooping them all up. Instinctively, Iltani snatched all three cubs into her arms as Ditanu’s momentum carried them off the large bed. A pile of arms, legs, and wings, they rolled across the floor.
Iltani and the cubs weren’t hurt. Ditanu had curled around them, taking the brunt of the impact. While he was still getting his feet under him, Iltani leaped backward, flipped clear of his limbs and landed with her legs planted on either side of his head.
She dropped down and hooked her legs around his thick neck and wrapped her arms around his head and then hauled back with all her might.
“Get him,” she yelled.
The cubs leaped upon their father with squeals of glee and Iltani’s laughter echoed theirs. They ran their beaks along his tidy feathers, tickling and biting and pulling until a few feathers drifted to the ground.
Ditanu mock growled at the sight, but those feathers were likely loose anyway, so she shouted encouragement to the cubs.
“That’s it Humusi! Three points for the big feather.”
Of course, she couldn’t hold Ditanu for long.
He hoisted himself back to all fours, his cubs rolling harmlessly out of the way.
Meanwhile, Iltani found herself dangling across his back, trapped in place by his great wings while he chased each cub. He paced them at his leisure, eventually pinning them down one at a time and blowing hot breath into their baby down, making them squeal with delight.
After a time, Ditanu finished his play discipline. Then he ducked his head and heaved his great shoulders, sending Iltani rolling down his neck. Knowing what he planned, she hit the ground, rolled and then sprang back to her feet and bolted for the massive bed, using the obstacle to try and evade Ditanu’s pursuit.
Every moment she remained free was a point in her favor. If she managed to complete a circuit around the room, she won the game. At least, that was how they played it as children.
Behind her, Ditanu bounded over or around anything in his path, keeping an even pace, never hurrying. The cubs had switched allegiances again and were now targeting Iltani, too.
“Why you little traitors,” she called between gales of laughter. Even as she continued her mad run around the room, she already knew the end of the pursuit was a foregone conclusion, and the longer she made Ditanu chase her, the longer her tickle session after was likely to last.
“I surrender!” She stopped running and Ditanu knocked her down.
One large paw caught her and prevented her from slamming into the ground full force but it didn’t deter the three cubs, and they landed upon her, tiny balls of fur, hissing and growling mock fury. Ditanu sat with his paws planted on either side of her body as his cubs gloried in their win.
A long t
ime later, when the cubs finally tired of the game, she backed out from under Ditanu’s bulk and glanced up into his face. Both the earlier merry cant of his tufted ears and the glimmer of humor in his eyes were gone, replaced by a much more soulful expression.
“Promise me,” Ditanu demanded in his deep, gravelly tone. “You’ll never leave me again.”
The breath froze in her lungs, her heart pounded. She swore her stomach had just plummeted to the ground.
Oh, my king, I never wanted to leave you in the first place.
His tone completely extinguished her playfulness, and she returned his gaze with her own level look, all the while fighting the urge to tell him of her love.
Coming to her feet, she stepped up to him until she was standing on his left side, then she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his feathers as she had as a child and hugged him fiercely.
“Even if my duties as Ishtar’s Blade should require me to hunt down our enemies and leave you for a time, I will always return.”
“I suppose that will have to do,” he whispered back to her reluctantly and then fell silent. She thought he was done until she heard his deep purring voice wrap around her senses. “I will hold you to that, my Little Shadow.”
Her heart overflowing with joy, Iltani squeezed harder. It was a fight to let him go.
While she was still futilely attempting to brush out the wrinkles and snags in her nightdress where the cubs had clawed and chewed it, she slid her gaze sideways to Ditanu and witnessed him take the hook of his beak to his forearm.
“While I have you here,” he said, his deep gryphon voice vibrating along her breastbone. “I see no reason not to go ahead with the second blooding.”
Iltani arched an eyebrow and glanced between his determined gaze and the new wound. This slice wasn’t as neat and clean as the ones he’d made on his chest earlier, but his beak did an adequate job.
“You’re really out to annoy your aunt, aren’t you?”
“In this instance, Ishtar’s high priestess will forgive us if we forgo some of the trappings of the ceremony. The safety of my cubs comes first. Maybe if someone had listened to my childhood nightmare, we might each have had a chance to know our parents.”
Iltani merely nodded and then turned her back to him and dragged the nightdress over her head. She knelt, bowed her head and dragged her braids off to one side. This time was less nerve-wracking than the first time. While she was honest with herself, she admitted she found Ditanu as a gryphon surprisingly less intimidating than Ditanu as a man.
A brush of feathers along her side was the only warning before he pressed his bleeding forearm against her spine. Unlike the first time, there was no sense Ishtar was present. However, her body did react to Ditanu’s blood, eagerly drawing it in and adapting her body to be more like him.
“I wonder,” his voice rumbled loudly next to her ear, “what color of gryphon you’ll make.”
“You’re so certain that I’ll advance that far? Most of Ishtar’s other Blades never did.”
“The strongest did. You hold the potential to be one of Ishtar’s greatest Blades.”
“How very brash of you.” It was easier to bait him than acknowledge how much she would one day like to be able to fly, wing to wing, as his equal.
“It’s not speculation. Ishtar told my aunt, and she told me. If you don’t believe me, go ask High Priestess Kammani yourself.”
Iltani held her breath and fought not to grin like a fool.
Even knowing it would one day be possible, she still had trouble imagining herself as anything other than human.
They were silent after that, but Iltani was still aware of the environment around them. The cubs sleeping curled nearby, the night breeze blowing in from the ocean. Even the silent regard of the Shadow standing at guard in one corner. That one now knew what she was, but he, like all his brethren, was not inclined to gossip.
Iltani hadn’t forgotten him, but like the king was pretending he didn’t exist.
Ditanu shifted at last, taking the weight of his forearm off her back and licking to close the wound. When his own wound was closed, he nudged Iltani in the side, urging her to stand up.
She would have obeyed at once, but at this second blood exchange, she now felt a deep sense of lethargy seeping through her body. She’d be content to sleep on the floor. The carpets covering the king’s floors were plush enough.
Ditanu nudged her with his beak. “Up with you. Ishtar’s Blade does not sleep on the floor.”
“Not even just this once? I won’t tell if you don’t.” She turned her head enough to see him pad softly toward his bed. With a heavy sigh, she scooped up her discarded nightdress and stood.
It wasn’t until she poked her head out the top and wiggled the bunched fabric down her hips that she noticed Ditanu sitting on his haunches watching her.
His tufted tail flicked softly, and his dark bird-like eyes studied her in that unfathomable way shared by both gryphons and birds of prey.
He watched her a moment more as if he wanted to tell her something, but then his gaze slid away from her to land on the other guard in the room.
At his soft call, the cubs stirred awake from where they were having a power nap, and then followed him back up onto his bed. There the big gryphon curled on his side and offered his warm flanks and belly fur for the cubs to nestle in.
They did and soon Iltani heard their soft snores.
“Come here and sleep with the cubs. You need time to rest and allow your body to process my blood. Tomorrow will be a long day, and I don’t want Ishtar’s Blade falling asleep at her own blooding ceremony.”
Iltani snorted with humor but realized she was tired and her body did need rest.
“Do not worry,” Ditanu offered. “I will stand watch over both you and my cubs this night.”
She hesitated a moment more. Then with a shrug she went to the head of his bed, grabbed a pillow, gave it a couple savage fluffs and then flopped down next to the cubs, circling them protectively.
Little Kuwari grumbled softly and then shifted closer to her and began to purr.
The whole time, she felt Ditanu watching, but she didn’t look up at him.
After a moment, a large wing curved over both her and the cubs.
Iltani sighed, closed her eyes, and slept peacefully for the first time in four years.
Chapter 9
Dawn had barely painted the clouds with the first rays of light and already gryphons darkened the skies. Iltani stood at the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean as she waited for the king’s entourage to ready themselves for flight. King Ditanu and Ahassunu, as well as many of their Shadow guards, had already taken on gryphon form. As was customary, a third of those in gryphon form already wore harnesses and saddles so they could carry armed riders as a precaution.
Burrukan, still in human form, was holding a heavy-bodied crossbow in one hand similar to the one Iltani carried. Although, hers was slightly lighter. Given what she’d learned the night before, seeing the crossbow in Burrukan’s hand was more worrisome than reassuring. He adjusted the harness and saddle of the gryphon that would be his mount.
Other bits of armor and weapons were strapped to those gryphons not caring a rider. The king’s cubs were also bundled onto three gryphons like so much baggage. When King Ditanu finally gave the order to mount up, Iltani thanked her gryphon mount and settled into the saddle and clipped herself into the harness.
With a barely discernible signal, the king ushered the vanguard of his escort into the air. They were soon followed by Ahassunu, the three gryphons carrying the cubs, and then Burrukan. Iltani’s own mount followed next, and then Ditanu took wing next to her. He darted forward, taking his place in the formation to the right of his cubs.
The rest of the escort followed a few wing beats behind.
If Iltani hadn’t been preoccupied with worry for her king and his cubs, she might have enjoyed the flight. However, she imagined she would like it be
tter when she had her own wings. She rather hoped her king was right on that account. Though she honestly didn’t know if Ishtar would bless her so greatly.
Personally, Iltani thought Ditanu might be wrong. She was no great war hero or wise advisor to her ruler. To be a Blade was blessing enough. She wanted no honor or glory, especially if it meant something might happen to Ditanu or his little ones.
Iltani cursed herself for woolgathering again.
She was just reacting to Ditanu’s talk of his and Kuwari’s returning nightmares.
***
By the time the island of Uruk came into view, the sun was well above the horizon. It promised to be a bright, clear day. The gryphons in the lead began their descent. Iltani’s own mount followed suit. Soon, the entire entourage was landing, their wings kicking sand high up into the air as they touched down upon the beach.
The island home of High Priestess Kammani had some of the most beautiful beaches she’d seen. As children, she and Ditanu had come here to play many times. It didn’t surprise her that Ishtar would demand a temple built here.
The Queen of the Night loved things of beauty and claimed them as her own. Be it a stretch of scenic beach, or the grace of gryphons on the wing—Ishtar appreciated them all.
Iltani jumped down from her mount and landed on the sun-warmed sands. Already several of the king’s councilors, and what looked to be half the court had gathered on the beach between them and the stairs leading up to the cliff-side temple. Iltani would have preferred if the escorts could simply have flown straight to the temple, but one did not approach Ishtar’s temple with anything other than humble bearing.
The first of the councilors had already cornered Ditanu while he was still in gryphon form. The escort circled the king, his consort, and his cubs protectively. Iltani pushed her way through the throng, not caring if it was a priest, a noble, or a councilor she shoved out of her way.
Being a Shadow and having to answer only to the king and his safety was a benefit. When she finally reached the king’s side, she stood so close to his flank she could feel the heat of his body. The tip of his flicking tail occasionally brushed her arms.
Queen of the Gryphons: Ishtar's Legacy: Books 1 & 2 Page 9
