Queen of the Gryphons: Ishtar's Legacy: Books 1 & 2

by Lisa Blackwood

  And now that taint was back again, emanating from Gemekala.

  Shortly after she’d scented it, Enkara had stopped fighting and allowed herself to be led back to her rooms. She hadn’t promised she’d stay there. Which was how she’d come to be hiding in the shadows of well-groomed nobles, hunting for Gemekala in the crowds.

  Lies, determination, and the need to protect Kuwari from an assassin had gotten her this far. Now to do the rest. Enkara glanced around and studied the Lagashian guards as well as the dozen Shadows stationed along the walls of the hall.

  She picked out a broad-shouldered Shadow guard standing next to a column done with a bull motif. Making her way to him took some doing. She had to weave her way between all the laughing and dancing adults without drawing their attention.

  Plus, she didn’t want to alert the assassin, so she forced herself to calmly walk to the King’s Shadow. When she reached his side, the Shadow glanced down at her, somewhat surprised by her sudden arrival.

  “Are you lost, child?”

  She continued to stare at her feet as she nodded.

  “Well, I’m Kurumtum—a King’s Shadow. Let’s see if we can get you back to your parents.”

  “I’m one of the orphans,” Enkara said in a small, timid voice, knowing that was what he’d expect to hear from her. “I was supposed to come with Lady Ettu, but I was playing in the pasture and lost track of time.”

  Kurumtum laughed. “I can see.”

  He wiped at one of the smudges of dirt and sighed. “Ah well. My daughter was just as bad growing up. Besides, it’s not like King Ditanu hasn’t seen his share of dirt in the training ring. Come, I’ll take you to Lady Ettu.”

  Enkara nodded. The Shadow merely nodded and held out his hand.

  After a short hesitation, she took it and followed him into the hall. Navigating the press of the crowd, which thickened the closer they got to the front, took longer than she wanted, but they eventually made it to Lady Ettu who was speaking with King Ditanu.

  The noblewoman half turned and gestured, indicating the line of orphans. King Ditanu nodded and called behind him. A tall, muscular woman descended the stairs of the dais where four thrones dominated the front of the room.

  Enkara didn’t pay the woman much mind, even though she knew from her lessons and Kuwari’s memories that she was Ishtar’s Blade, goddess-chosen protector of the royal line.

  No. Enkara was much more interested in the fat cub the woman carried. He was still a ball of soft feathers and fur; although his wings did have the beginnings of short primary flight feathers. She frowned in sudden thought. He would likely be flying in another year or two.

  Being half human herself, she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to shift into gryphon form. Her mother had died before she’d thought to ask, and after she’d been freed, Enkara had feared to expose the depths of her ignorance to Lady Ettu or her other instructors and raise their suspicions.

  But flight was a curiosity to mull over later. Now, she was much more concerned about the other assassin. Enkara’s magic was stirring stronger, a strange mix of creeping cold and simmering heat just below her skin. It guided her eyes in the direction where Gemekala stood ready to usher forward the first of the orphans.

  As the gryphon royalty started forward, heading toward the line of orphans, apparently unaware of the danger, Enkara allowed Shadow Kurumtum to take her to the end of the line which put her in striking distance of Gemekala.

  When Enkara reached them, Gemekala glanced down at her with startled surprise followed by mild disdain, but she swiftly mastered her emotions, and they vanished behind a fake mask of pleasantry.

  The mask did nothing to hide the assassin’s dark intent. So as not to betray her own, Enkara tucked her chin to her chest and stared at her grubby feet—projecting a humble demeanor that she hoped would fool the assassin.

  It seemed to. The assassin paid her no more attention, transferring her focus back to the approaching king. The cub was now in his arms, and it seemed to take the king’s full attention to hold back his struggling cub.

  “Kuwari!” the king said in a deep voice laced with humor. “You must learn patience if you will one day rule after me.”

  He ignored his father’s voice, growling louder and continuing to struggle until his father relented and set him down on the polished floor.

  Kuwari bolted forward, surprising everyone as he raced past the other children and launched himself at her. Enkara stumbled back a step, Kuwari’s weight greater than she’d expected, but he stayed with her and continued to shove at her, issuing high pitched growls and squeals.

  Surprised by his near-panicked thoughts bombarding hers, Enkara reached out to calm the cub until she realized he was pushing her away from her prey. Kuwari’s snarls and growls were, in fact, his attempt to drive her away while also letting others know about Gemekala.

  “I will protect you,” she whispered to the cub.

  King Ditanu stepped forward and glanced down at his still growling cub. “I’m not entirely certain if my son has picked a lifelong friend or a lifelong enemy.”

  The towering king looked bemused as he studied first his son and then Enkara.

  She only spared Kuwari’s father a glance before darting forward, coming close enough to brush the king’s ornate robes.

  “Assassin!”

  Chapter 2

  Enkara shouted a warning as she leaped forward, putting herself between Kuwari and their enemy.

  Gemekala hiked up her skirt and pulled two daggers from sheaths strapped to her thighs. With a flick of her wrist, she sent one blade flying.

  Kuwari growled a warning, but Queen Iltani’s reacted faster, darting forward and trapping the dagger between her palms. Moments later, she released the blade with a hiss of pain, and Enkara glimpsed a line of blisters marring her palms.

  The assassin’s blank mask had been replaced by surprise. It didn’t last. Gemekala lunged forward, slashing with her second dagger.

  As Gemekala’s deadly blade completed its arc through the air, Queen Iltani raised her hand to block the strike, her fingers spread wide as a shimmering golden shield materialized above her palm.

  The blade struck the disc of magic and blew apart in a cloud of rusty colored dust.

  While Gemekala was momentarily stunned, Queen Iltani drew her sword. Darting forward, she kicked the assassin in the knee, shattering bone. The assassin stumbled back, uttering a scream but didn’t go down.

  But surprise was no longer on Gemekala’s side. The King’s Shadows rushed her, disarming the assassin and dragging her back from the Royals.

  While Enkara was distracted, Kuwari had found her again and wrapped his body around her legs. She couldn’t move without accidentally kicking the cub, so she settled for stroking his soft ears.

  Kuwari reached up and gently took her fingers in his beak, tugging gently on the digits until she came to kneel on the floor next to him. He then climbed up in her lap—which was too small for the four-summers-old cub—and proceeded to butt his head against her stomach. His growls turned to purrs.

  “Clear the hall!” King Ditanu bellowed. “Secure all the guests outside in the corridor. Search them. If there are other assassins, I want them found.”

  Over half of the Shadows moved to do his bidding while others continued to encircle the royal family protectively.

  Queen Iltani stalked forward, in pursuit of the guards dragging Gemekala across the room. “Halt! I need to examine the assassin.”

  The expressions that flitted across the Shadows’ faces told of their dislike at having their queen so close to the assassin. However, she was queen—and more importantly, she was Ishtar’s Blade, a divinely ordained warrior tasked with overseeing the protection of the royal line.

  The Shadows moved aside to allow Queen Iltani to approach the prisoner, but two guards remained with their swords at Gemekala’s throat. If the assassin attempted to wiggle so much as a finger, she risked decapitation. Iltani held her own s
trange crystalline sword poised above the assassin’s heart.

  “How is it that I didn’t sense you the moment you stepped foot on this island?” Iltani hissed. “What new trickery has Ereshkigal concocted this time?”

  Gemekala had to be wearing one of those burning-cold medallions Enkara had seen in her grandfather’s possession. She didn’t see any, but Gemekala was wearing an ornate headdress and a thick gold and lapis lazuli collar around her neck. None of the jewels and baubles were big enough to be one of the medallions, but somewhere on Gemekala’s body was one of those pendants that could hide a person’s dark intentions.

  It was only when King Ditanu knelt next to her that she looked away from Gemekala.

  The king’s expression was more thoughtful than surprised or hostile, but Enkara still didn’t let her guard down. King Ditanu might try to take Kuwari from her. She squared her shoulders and thrust her chin out as she stared up at the king of New Sumer. He tilted his head to the side and sighed.

  “My son has always been a good judge of character. However, little warrior, I have a few questions for you. And….” A bemused expression settled on the king’s face as he watched her stroke the cub’s ears. “I doubt my son will be willing to part with you, so we will do it here.”

  At his words, King Ditanu’s eyes lifted to study the rest of the large hall. Somewhere behind her, Enkara heard the questions, grumbles, and indignation of the nobles as they were unceremoniously herded out into the hallway to be searched while more guards flowed into the room from every entrance.

  After he’d reassured himself that his son and his queen weren’t in any further danger, Enkara felt the king’s attention upon her again, almost like a physical weight. He was studying her—judging her trustworthiness?

  “May I take my son?”

  Enkara’s hand tightened upon Kuwari’s soft downy feathers for a moment before she forced her fingers flat. She wouldn’t willingly leave Kuwari, but the king wasn’t asking that, was he? He just wanted to talk and hold his son. Besides, this was the king of the gryphons. If she disobeyed, he might put her in a dungeon.

  Reluctantly, she bobbed her head in agreement. Lady Ettu had also drilled into her that one should stand tall and dignified when speaking with the king unless instructed otherwise. She stood slowly, forcing the cub to roll off her lap. Kuwari stopped purring and wrapped his paws around her lower calves instead. His baby claws scratched at her skin. The pain was enough to make her eyes water, but she didn’t utter a sound.

  She could sense the cub had other ideas though and when King Ditanu reached down to pick him up, Kuwari twisted and snaked his head around to snap at his father’s fingers.

  “Kuwari! Enough of that,” King Ditanu scolded his son, but there was no anger or cold cruelty behind the tone.

  “My King,” Regent Ahassunu said as she came to stand at the king’s shoulder. “Let me hold Kuwari while you, Iltani, and Burrukan introduce yourselves to our newest guest.”

  Enkara watched as Ahassunu studied her from head to toe. She sensed more curiosity than animosity, so she merely stood silently as the king of the gryphons handed his son to the woman.

  Kuwari seemed no more pleased now than he had earlier in his father’s arms. But just then, Queen Iltani and Regent Burrukan joined them. Enkara knew from her recent schooling, as well as Kuwari’s vision-memories, that Burrukan was the man who had raised King Ditanu and Queen Iltani went they’d still been children. As an ultimate act of love and trust, the king had made Ahassunu and Burrukan both Regents in name as well as authority so that should something happen to him and his queen, the ruling council wouldn’t squabble for the Regency like starving gulls.

  After King Ditanu finished issuing orders, he pulled Queen Iltani close for a quick kiss before wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Enkara made a face. She’d seen adults do such things since she’d been freed, but it was still disgusting.

  “Young one,” King Ditanu addressed her. “I would have that talk now. Do not be afraid. We mean you no harm. Your warning saved my family from possible harm. I am in your debt.”

  “I’m not afraid,” Enkara said while holding the king’s intense gaze. It was true. She’d faced much scarier things than being questioned by Kuwari’s father.

  King Ditanu nodded and reached for Enkara’s hand. She hesitated a moment, then relented. Queen Iltani fell in on Enkara’s other side, and when the two Regents joined them, the royal party moved in behind the four thrones where there was a screened off private area.

  Once there, four more guards dragged a trussed up Gemekala between them. For several moments the only sound to break the silence was Kuwari’s soft growls drifting through the air.

  “While I’d rather do this in a dark dungeon, well away from my family,” Queen Iltani paused and glowered at Gemekala, “there’s always the possibility of another assassin. I won’t leave my family undefended.”

  The queen seemed unsurprised when the assassin made no response. Instead, she motioned for the guards to tie Gemekala to a chair.

  “I know you’re somehow hiding your intent.” Queen Iltani paced around Gemekala as the guards tied the other woman down. Drawing her sword, she pressed its tip to the skin just over the assassin’s heart. “I’ve only seen that once before. That time I ended a traitorous bloodline upon this very sword.”

  King Ditanu released Enkara’s hand, but she remained rooted to the same spot, afraid to draw attention. The queen had been talking about Enkara’s grandfather and aunt. But Kuwari’s safety outweighed her own fear.

  She tapped the king’s hand, and he glanced down at her. “Yes, little one? We’ll be most interested to hear your story after we’ve dealt with this assassin.”

  “She has a medallion,” Enkara said as she stepped toward Gemekala. The king held up his hand to halt his guards that were moving to intercept. “It’s how she can hide from your Blade and the guards. She still has it upon her. I can smell its cold power.”

  The magic in her blood stirred. Instinctively Enkara’s gaze returned to the vulnerable expanse of the assassin’s throat. The close-fitting gold and lapis lazuli necklace circling Gemekala’s neck looked more like a collar than ornamentation to Enkara.

  “It’s part of her collar.” She glanced up at the tall warrior woman.

  Queen Iltani nodded. Then with a few deft twists, she’d spun the collar until its locking mechanism was visible. A small medallion dangled from the clasp.

  Queen Iltani freed the collar and handed it off to one of the guards. “We’ll need to study that before it’s destroyed. And I think High Priestess Kammani should have a look as well.” Turning back to the assassin, Iltani smiled. “Ah. There you are. I can feel you now. Tell me, are there other assassins even now hunting my family?”

  Gemekala said nothing.

  “The silence doesn’t surprise me, but you would’ve saved yourself a lot of discomfort later.” Queen Iltani tilted her head. “I’m completely fine with that.”

  “Give me until dawn, and I will have the truth from her,” Regent Burrukan said as he glowered at Gemekala. “I want a chance to question the assassin in depth before she’s executed.”

  Enkara was momentarily forgotten as the adults ordered Gemekala removed to a secure location to be questioned later, and then they spoke of defenses, the possibility of more assassins, and immediately returning to the royal palace on Nineveh to call together the council. But even so, it wasn’t long before the adults’ conversation turned back to her.

  Regent Ahassunu stepped closer, carrying a still fussing Kuwari in her arms, but her attention was all for the other adults. “Is the girl what I think she is?”

  King Ditanu’s gaze landed upon Enkara again. “I believe so. Iltani?”

  The queen approached and knelt next to her. “Hello, young one. I mean you no harm, but I would like to see the back of your neck. I think you are something extraordinary.”

  Enkara knew what the other Blade wanted to see. For the first nine ye
ars of her life, she’d hidden it as her mother had asked. Yet these were the very people her mother said she could trust. The other Blade certainly.

  Slowly Enkara reached back and pulled her wild hair away from her neck.

  “It’s the mark of Ishtar,” Iltani said as she ran a finger along the birthmark. “She is a Blade.”

  “A second Blade?” King Ditanu mused as he circled around Enkara’s other side to gaze at the mark. “Never has there been more than one Blade born at a time. Our Goddess must see a great danger in the future. One that requires two Blades.”

  “I’m afraid so,” Iltani whispered.

  “Well, little one. You seem to know more than we do about this new danger.” The king’s expression softened as if he could already guess some of her story. “Will you share with us what you know about our common enemies? Afterward, I promise you can eat and then sleep.”

  Fear stirred in her heart. Here was the moment she’d dreaded. What would the king do when he found out she was of a bloodline tainted with traitors? Would Ishtar’s mark be enough for him to set all that aside and trust her? Would he allow her to protect his cub?

  The king’s expression remained open and patient, so she hesitantly began to tell them the story her mother had shared with her, about how her father had been murdered and she and her mother forced to live in a dark cell. She told them of Ziyatum and Beletum’s cruelty and the cold power she’d felt radiating from their souls.

  She even told them of how she knew the moment Kuwari was born into the world and a strange link was forged between her and the cub. One that allowed them to communicate in a language of visions and memories. Kuwari shared his father’s ability to see chaotic bits and pieces of future events. He’d known that she’d one day escape her prison and seek him out. She didn’t say it aloud, but that hope was the single brightness in her otherwise harsh existence.

  When she finally looked up, the king’s expression showed only sadness. There was even the shimmer of tears in his gaze.