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

by Lisa Blackwood

  “I must thank our Queen then.”

  Burrukan grunted. “Iltani said you were holding your own until she got there. Clearly, there was a physical cost since your mark was dormant. You’ll need to rest and heal before we continue your training, but that’s a small price to pay for saving the heir.”

  “You did well,” Queen Iltani said as she joined them. “Besides, I don’t know how much I was able to help. You were doing well on your own. Kuwari is lucky to have such a fearless and loyal Blade.”

  Enkara wasn’t so sure. If the Anunnaki was to be believed, she was originally Ereshkigal’s Blade before she was Ishtar’s.

  To focus on something other than that new fear and the growing pain throbbing along her back, Enkara glanced around the room. Ditanu’s aunt, High Priestess Kammani, was approaching with a large bowl in one hand and a copper pitcher in the other.

  Enkara stood while the elder poked and prodded at her back to evaluate the extent of the damage and then applied cream to the burn. More than once, only her iron will held back the pained hisses.

  “The cream will numb the skin for now, but I’ll instruct Kuwari how to clean and dress it for the day.” Kammani patted her shoulder in sympathy. “You will heal up in a day or two. Blades always recover faster than the rest of us.”

  A new concern entered Enkara’s mind. “The damage...will it affect my ability to become a Blade later, during the Blooding Ceremony?”

  What if she was crippled for life? That was one way of stopping Ereshkigal from claiming her as her Blade. But if she was crippled, how would she protect Kuwari if the Queen of the Underworld sent her Anunnaki to recapture him? Because after witnessing that vision, she was sure their enemies would strike again soon.

  A shudder rolled down her body at the thought of Kuwari becoming Ereshkigal’s new husband.

  “No need to fear,” Kammani said, misreading Enkara’s worry. “Any remaining damage will heal during the first Blooding Ceremony. Or if the damages are greater than what Kuwari’s magic-laced blood can mend, Ishtar will heal it. What is a little burn to a goddess’s power?”

  Enkara wasn’t at all reassured. If Ishtar could heal such a wound with ease, so too could her sister.

  “I’m fine,” Kuwari growled, drawing Enkara’s attention. “Stop fussing and give me a moment to get dressed. I’ll fill you in on the details of the vision in a bit.”

  “Very well,” King Ditanu said as he gently cuffed his son’s ear. Then he turned to the others. “We’ll continue this discussion in the throne room over first meal. I’m certain Enkara and my son need some nourishment after the night they’ve had.”

  With that, King Ditanu held his arms out wide and physically herded the others from the room.

  Once the room was empty except for Kuwari, Enkara braced an arm against the wall by the hearth. She swiftly changed her stance since it hurt too damn much. It took two tries before she could put words to the horror swirling in her heart and mind.

  “The vision...I’ve never experienced one that strong before. Have there been others like it while I was away training on New Assur?”

  Kuwari shook his head. “No. That was the first of that strength. They’re not normally so detailed either. I’m usually an observer in the visions, not a participant.”

  “I don’t like it.”

  “Can’t say I’m very fond of it either.” Kuwari glanced down at his folded hands for a moment and then tossed back his blankets and stood. He pulled a robe from the chest at the foot of the bed and was still belting it on when he joined her by the hearth.

  “I want to see the damage for myself.” Taking her by the shoulder, he gently urged her to face the fire. His hissing exclamation wasn’t very reassuring.

  “By the goddess! Burrukan was right. The power burned clear through the linen.”

  His fingers poked at the bits of fabric fluttering along her back. Then she felt his thumb brush along the blistered skin. “My poor Kara. I’m so sorry.”

  He left her side to retrieve the bowl, rag, and pot of cream Priestess Kammani had left for Enkara’s use. When he returned to the fire, Enkara held out her hands for the supplies.

  Kuwari snorted. “There’s no way you can reach your own spine. At least not without making it hurt worse than it already does. Lie belly down.” One long finger indicated the nearby bench.

  She gave him her best ‘don’t be daft’ look but knew what he said was true. Twisting, stretching, and straining to dress the burn would do more damage than good, but that didn’t mean she was completely comfortable having the future king of the gryphons attend to her like a servant.

  He set the supplies down next to the bench and picked up a finely woven blanket and placed it over one arm while he eyed the hem of her shift.

  “I can undress without help.”

  “Only you would be stubborn enough to try.” Kuwari turned her to face the fire a second time. “It’ll just be easier and less painful if I do it. Trust me.”

  Deft fingers brushed against the back of her neck, and then the sound of tearing fabric was loud in the silence. Linen brushed against her body as it slid to the floor. Then Kuwari was wrapping the blanket around her waist, being careful he didn’t touch painful burns.

  She’d never been particularly modest and Kuwari’s unusual seriousness was strangely comforting.

  “You. Bench. Now,” Kuwari ordered. She complied, and he wasted no time in dipping the rag into the bowl of water infused with healing herbs. Soon the air filled with the rich scent.

  Once she was on her stomach—which was a very slow and painful process—she used her arms as a pillow and tried to ignore the throb of her back. Soon Kuwari was dripping the cool herbal water over her shoulder blades and down the length of her spine. The coolness of the water took away most of the heat and soon he was rubbing more of the herbal pain-deadening cream into her back. A numbness spread out from his fingers’ point of contact.

  “Oh, Goddess. Thank you.”

  Kuwari huffed and continued to work. “I’m not sure you should be thanking any gods. They’re the ones that caused this damage.”

  “That’s sacrilege,” she mumbled into her arms.

  “Perhaps a bit, but it doesn’t mean it’s not true in this instance.” He paused as if thinking. “I’m sorry I dragged you into the vision but thank you for being there for me.”

  “I will always come for you.”

  “And I, you.”

  As Kuwari worked, the pain faded to a more manageable level. She’d be as slow and stiff as an old woman tomorrow, but it would heal. In the interim, she’d continue to see to Kuwari’s protection in other ways.

  That included protecting him from herself. His vision had proven how much danger Kuwari faced and it made it clear that she was also a threat.

  Whether the Anunnaki’s words were true or not, it was clear Ereshkigal wanted to steal Kuwari away from Ishtar and make him her new husband. It was also abundantly clear that the Queen of the Underworld wanted to make Enkara into her Blade to perform a perversion of the Sacred Marriage.

  Well, she’d just have to teach a goddess that this ‘Blade’ was not a tool easily mastered.

  But first Kuwari would need convincing that she was a potential threat. Things had to change. She had to put emotional distance between them. A betrothal was now out of the question. It was far too risky for him to become further romantically entangled with her.

  If she thought for a moment her absence would prevent Ereshkigal from hunting Kuwari, Enkara would leave, put an entire ocean between them if that’s what it would take to keep him safe. But Ereshkigal would only find another way to have him, and if Enkara was far away, there’d be nothing she could do to stop the next attempt.

  So, she’d stay.

  Beside her Kuwari froze, an intense and unmoving presence. “Enkara, what’s wrong?”

  Damn. He’d read something in the tension of her body. Now that her back didn’t hurt as much, she got up, wrapped the blanke
t around her shoulders and met his gaze.

  “Kuwari, you were there. You heard Ereshkigal and the Anunnaki. You heard what they wanted of us. After what I learned in that vision, I can’t be your betrothed. Completing a trial year with you would be a risk we can’t afford. I might form mating bonds with you. That would make Ereshkigal’s task all the earlier.”

  “Enkara, you’re panicking. Just because the Queen of the Underworld wants an event to turn out in such a way, doesn’t mean it will. Ishtar is a jealous goddess. She’ll not willingly share us with her sister.”

  “This feels different.”

  Kuwari took her hand and pulled it into his lap. “Ereshkigal has been planning attacks against my family for thousands of years. She hasn’t defeated us yet. I don’t plan to be the first of my line to fail.”

  Kuwari tried to draw her closer, but she blocked his hand from touching her face. “That doesn’t mean Ishtar will win this time. Ereshkigal is just as powerful as her younger sister.”

  “That doesn’t mean our fate is set. We can fight, avoid Ereshkigal’s plans. Together we are strong.”

  “Not this time. As long as I draw breath, I will do everything in my power to keep you out of her clutches. And that means I must turn down your offer of betrothal.”

  He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Enkara please…”

  “I won’t change my mind. I can’t.” Standing, she shook off his hand and started to walk away. “I’m going to get dressed, and we’re going to go tell your parents exactly what we saw in that vision. They need to know about the danger I represent to you.”

  Powerful fingers locked her wrist in a punishing grip. She turned and stared at the offending digits. If anyone other than Kuwari attempted such, they’d swiftly find themselves on the ground with a dislocated shoulder and their hand crushed under her boot.

  He jerked her closer, surprising her. She was suddenly nose to nose, looking into his fierce eyes.

  “You are my Blade. You will do nothing that will spur my parents to act rashly. I will not be parted from you. Our futures, our very lives, depend on the special bond we share.”

  “Now isn’t the time for passionate speeches.”

  “Speeches? Passionate?” Anger edged his voice and his eyes narrowed.

  Before she thought to react, he jerked her closer, his lips coming down to press hungrily against hers, demanding she acknowledge him as a male entering his prime. He stole her breath with his power and passion.

  She knew better than to let him steal her wits. After breaking off the kiss, she shoved him and put a body’s length worth of space between them.

  Panting, he stared at her. Something ancient and powerful peered out at her through his eyes. “That was only the smallest shred of my passion.”

  Enkara didn’t know how to counter that confession, but the foreign look in his eye was more concerning.

  “However,” he continued just as fiercely, his tone and manner almost unrecognizable. “I will concede to your wishes in one thing. I would never force you to become my betrothed. If I must complete a trial year with some other female, I shall. But it will mean nothing to me. No matter how much the Council likes to manipulate events, they can only force me to the betrothal ceremony. They cannot make me love or take to mate their choice.”

  “That is true.” Enkara was still uncertain where this new Kuwari had come from.

  “And you will not share your fears with my parents about being Ereshkigal’s Blade until we have solid proof. All I saw was Ereshkigal attempting to steal what rightfully belongs to her sister. It isn’t the first time the Queen of the Underworld has tried to capture one of my family line. It won’t be the last.”

  “I’d feel better sharing this with someone.”

  “Do you actually believe Ishtar would have allowed you to grow up at my side if you really are Ereshkigal’s Blade?” Kuwari stepped closer and tucked a loose piece of her hair behind her ear. His expression softened, the fierceness fading from his eyes until the Kuwari she knew returned. “Ishtar isn’t subtle. If you are not her Blade, she’d have made her displeasure known long before now. Besides, the Lamassu like you. And my other visions involving you have been far more pleasant than the one we just shared.”

  That all might be true, but Enkara was still going to tell his parents the truth.

  “Fine. I can see I still haven’t convinced you.” Kuwari’s nostrils flared, and he hissed out a frustrated breath. “Have you thought what will happen once you tell my parents? No? Then let me tell you! I’ve seen snippets in some of my visions. Although I didn’t know until today what could possibly cause my parents to try to separate us.”

  Enkara latched onto his words, fear rising within her. “So, once I tell them, your parents will come to the same conclusion as me? That I’m a threat? It’s not just my overly suspicious nature dreaming up dreadful scenarios then?”

  Kuwari huffed in humor. “My Blade and my parents both dream up ‘dreadful scenarios’ more often than anyone should. Unfortunately, I’m both blessed and cursed with the gift to witness potential future events. Those fragments always show that nothing good comes from our separation. So, if you love me at all, you will do everything in your power to remain close.”

  Enkara curled her fingers into a fist. Why does this have to be such an impossible situation?

  “If it gives you comfort, just remember you’d find it terribly difficult to protect me locked away in a dungeon somewhere below the city.”

  “Fine!” Enkara met his stare and frowned at him. “I won’t risk your safety by getting myself shut away somewhere, but if Ereshkigal manages to dig past my defenses and gets her claws into me, then you must tell your parents and let them deal with me.”

  Kuwari’s expression still bordered on rebellious but he nodded his agreement.

  “We still need to learn more about the vision-dream and Ereshkigal’s plans,” Enkara said to redirect the topic to something more constructive. “The quickest way would be to ask High Priestess Kammani if something like this has ever happened before, but since we can’t come straight out and ask, we’ll have to find another way.”

  The prince nodded, his gaze turning thoughtful. “We could hunt through the city archive, look for any mention of previous attacks. I remember a few from my studies, but no exact details that match our present conditions. Unfortunately, accounts of a darker nature that might contain information dangerous to New Sumer are unlikely to be part of public record.”

  “At least it’s a place to start.”

  “High Priestess Kammani keeps copies of all historical records back on Uruk.” Kuwari rubbed his chin and compressed his lips. “I know for a fact she has scrolls in much greater number than what’s here in Nineveh.”

  “Yes. She brought me some scrolls of our ancient kings and queens, and their Blades, when I was on New Assur training. Due to your vision, I would like to take a second look at some of them. And if we can learn more about the underworld Anunnaki, all the better. But we can’t just go off to Uruk without drawing suspicion.”

  “No, but we can start here, and if we find something in the public record, then we can say that it has caught your interest. And since we all know you’re like a hyena with a bone when you’ve set your mind to something, it will look like natural curiosity as part of your Blade’s training.”

  She wasn’t entirely satisfied, but it was a place to start. Something better than having no direction at all.

  Chapter 11

  Kuwari ordered Enkara to her bed to rest and heal. Which she was fine with until he left without an explanation and only a vague promise to be back shortly. After the vicious vision-dream, she wanted to keep him in her sights. At least his father had doubled Kuwari’s Shadow guard.

  Unfortunately, the king had assigned a group to her as well, with the order that Enkara was to remain in bed until she healed. If it had been life or death, she would have fought the guards to reach Kuwari’s side, but her gift didn’t warn of any
immediate danger to the prince, so she remained in her bed, belly down and bored out of her mind.

  But I swear, as soon as the rebellious brat returns, she mused darkly, I’ll make him regret leaving without sharing his plans.

  After all, even though she could use their special link to track him, it was still common courtesy to notify his Blade.

  Not long after she’d planned her revenge, the sound of the outer door opening announced his return. Soon he entered her room carrying a large armful of scrolls.

  “Since we’ve been taken off active duty, I decided now is as good a time as any to start our research. These are the scrolls from the palace library that mention attacks against the throne. Most aren’t detailed enough to offer much help, but if I remember correctly, a couple went into more detail.”

  Enkara nodded, her earlier annoyance forgotten.

  ***

  “Well, that was less useful than I’d hoped,” Kuwari said with a tired sigh. He stopped and stretched. “We’ve been through all the scrolls and haven’t found anything similar to the conundrum we find ourselves in.”

  Enkara wasn’t so sure.

  “Come read this. We may have gotten lucky,” she said, walking the scroll she was reading over to Kuwari. “This one talks about one of your ancestors—Queen Asharru—and how she was the last of her line. It states that agents of Ereshkigal nearly managed to insert one of their number into her inner circle. She might actually have mated the male if her Blade hadn’t intervened and saved her from her fate.”

  “Yes. Asharru and Tirigan. An unusual pairing. I remember their story now,” Kuwari said, looking thoughtful. “I always wondered what my several-times-great grandmother must have thought when she discovered the man she loved was actually there to destroy her, and that she had a stranger for a Blade. They didn’t meet as children as is normal. That must have been a shock.”

  Kuwari took the scroll and reread the contents. After a moment he laughed. “While it doesn’t directly pertain to our present concerns, it should be a good reminder why you have no need to be ashamed of your heritage. Not all Blades were born to upstanding families, some, like Blade Tirigan, were sold into slavery by their own fathers.”