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

by Lisa Blackwood

  Soft sobs reached their ears, and then Kuwari-Nergal walked over and took Ereshkigal in his arms.

  Enkara held her breath, afraid of what any accidental skin contact would do to Kuwari. But Nergal was cautious as he bent down to place a kiss on the top of Ereshkigal’s head and then he murmured soft words, rocking her gently in his arms.

  Eventually, he guided her over to a bench and sat her down upon it. Ereshkigal’s weakness lasted only a few moments more and then she dried her tears—one’s of joy, Enkara realized.

  The Queen of the Underworld turned to look up at Enkara. “Come forward, Blade.”

  Enkara obeyed but held her breath, not knowing what this goddess would do. Though she hoped for all concerned that Ereshkigal would agree to the terms. New Sumer and its people needed a rest from the feud between the two sister goddesses.

  “I want two nights and two days a year. The solstices. Tammuz and Ishtar can have the equinoxes. Then I will accept your gift,” Ereshkigal said, and she stood, coming to circle Enkara.

  “I believe I can speak for Kuwari as well when I say we are willing. As for Tammuz and Ishtar,” she glanced over her shoulder at the harvest god. He nodded his head and grinned. “I would guess they would not be against such an arrangement. Though perhaps I would not be the best one to mention it to Ishtar. I am certain she did not intend for Kuwari and me to become your Monarch and Blade.”

  Ereshkigal inclined her head. “That would be her loss but doesn’t affect the agreement we make here today.”

  “No,” Enkara agreed. “I will honor your request for the solstices.”

  Ereshkigal glanced from her to look upon Kuwari, a clear look of longing in her eyes. “I have one other request to ask as well.” She hesitated then added, “Though you don’t have to agree to this one.”

  “I would be honored to hear it.”

  “I want to spend the rest of tonight with my husband.”

  For two beats of her heart, Enkara was certain her mask of neutrality cracked and showed how much that disturbed her. This goddess wanted to spend the night with Enkara’s mate. It took several more heartbeats before she could form a non-fiery response. “Do you mean you wish for us to perform a Sacred Marriage ritual this night?”

  That was mildly better than what Enkara thought the goddess truly meant. Please, let the fates not ask her to stand aside while another woman, goddess though she might be, made love to Kuwari.

  “No. Neither of you are physically or mentally prepared to act as hosts during that rite, and there is much ritual and magic which needs to be performed beforehand. We’ll save that for the summer solstice.” Ereshkigal held out her gloved hand for Kuwari. He took it.

  What, by great Anu, was going on? Enkara wasn’t the adventurous type.

  “I have missed my king. I simply want to sit and talk with my husband, to know what it was like living all those lives only to die and be reborn to start fresh.” With a gloved hand, Ereshkigal brushed a caress along Kuwari’s jawline. “While I look forward to a more intimate time with my husband, I cannot do that tonight without killing Kuwari, and that would start the cycle anew.”

  “If Kuwari is willing, so am I.” Enkara understood Ereshkigal in that moment. If she’d been separated from Kuwari for thousands of years and she was at last given a chance to see and talk to him again, but nothing more physical, she would take what was offered even if she did want so much more.

  “I am in your debt.” There was a depth of emotion in those simple two words.

  The Queen of the Underworld’s thanks came as a surprise, making her seem more compassionate than she’d appeared at first.

  When Ereshkigal tugged on Kuwari’s hand, he allowed her to pull him along. They were almost to one of the archways leading to the stone stairs when the queen glanced over her shoulder. “Blade, attend us.” Her gaze landed on Tammuz next. “Even you, my troublesome trickster brother-by-marriage, are welcome to join us. I’m feeling rather benevolent tonight. I might even forgive betrayal by a certain Anunnaki judge.”

  With that, she turned and continued to walk. Enkara and the Anunnaki glided along behind. The Queen of the Underworld toured her city, showing Nergal some of what had changed since he’d last been here. He in turn shared some of the stories he’d gained from hundreds of lifetimes.

  “I have learned what it is to be mortal and fear death, to dread the loss of what we know and value. It gave me a different outlook,” Nergal said as they walked under the star-filled sky. “I would like to share that with you one day if you’ll allow.”

  Ereshkigal looked surprised. “I will happily accept anything you want to share with me, my beloved.”

  He nodded and the tension in his shoulders relaxed.

  Soon Tammuz was telling Enkara stories of his and Ishtar’s first meeting and how she’d not been that impressed with him, that a simple human farmer had almost won her hand in marriage, but with much courtship, he swayed her.

  “Your Kuwari reminds me a little of myself when I was younger. Stubborn and bull-headed to a fault. It’s likely why I feel a kinship with him after only knowing him such a short time. He’s a determined sort.”

  Enkara laughed and agreed wholeheartedly. Soon she relaxed and enjoyed the strange tour of the underworld. The stars were brighter and filled the sky with more glorious color than what resided in the living world.

  Everything seemed just a little more beautiful and peaceful here than back home. But for all that she could admire the beauty of the underworld for what it was, when Ereshkigal said the sun would be rising on New Sumer and it was time to return to the living world, Enkara was more than ready to go home.

  With a final kiss to the top of her head, Nergal said goodbye to his wife and then released his hold upon Kuwari to return to his state of half-slumber until he was called during the solstice rite.

  Kuwari swayed on his feet and Enkara stepped forward to steady him.

  “Are you all right?” she asked using their mental link.

  “Yes. I’m tired and have the mother of all headaches, but I’m me again, and we managed what I think could have been classified as a small miracle.”

  Ereshkigal turned her gaze upon them both. “Now that you are ours, at least two days out of each year, I will expect to see you guarded by an appropriate number of Anunnaki befitting your new status.”

  The eagle-headed Anunnaki’s beak gapped open in avian humor. “I shall see that it’s done, my Queen.”

  “Good.” She turned and walked away.

  Once she was gone from sight and presumably out of earshot as well, the Anunnaki clicked his beak. “I will see them returned home as well, my Queen.”

  “Thank you,” Kuwari said, an answering grin on his lips. “For I haven’t a clue how to return to the living world and my visions never showed me that detail either.”

  As it turned out, the trip to the living world was easy. The Anunnaki placed a hand on each of their shoulders, called power and in the next moment Enkara and Kuwari were no longer in the Underworld. Instead they were once again standing on the black-sand beaches of Nineveh.

  “Be well, Blade and Prince. And expect the arrival of your Anunnaki guard shortly. Until we meet again.” The Anunnaki bowed then and left them standing there on the beach, within easy walking distance of Ishtar’s Gate and the processional way.

  “Let’s walk slowly,” Kuwari said. “I need time to think of something to calm my parents so they don’t imprison me in the nursery after what I did and what we’ve agreed to.”

  Enkara bumped shoulders with him. “Has the silver-tongued prince run out of persuasive words? That’s a first. Should I be concerned?”

  “No. I just need to think of something really, really good. Getting banished back to the nursery with all my younger brothers and sisters would curtail certain...er…fun activities I intend to partake in with my Blade later tonight.”

  “Hmmm, what about the traitors that released the plague and delivered you to the underworld.
The Anunnaki told me about them.”

  “Ah! That’s something I can work with. It was councilor Enheduana. She isn’t a councilor at all, but one of Ereshkigal’s priestesses. With a little swift talking, I should be able to nicely redirect my father’s anger toward hunting down Enheduana and her collaborators.”

  “Well, you’re about to get your chance to prove just how good your persuasive skills are, because I think someone had a vision of our arrival.” She pointed to where the gate was opening, and a horde of Shadows were even now making their swift way forward. They were soon outdistanced by King Ditanu and Queen Iltani.

  “Damn it, I’m not ready yet.” Kuwari wasn’t given long to worry though. Ditanu reached his son and wrapped him in his arms. A moment later a powerful arm snaked out and hooked Enkara into a bone crushing hug as well.

  “My idiot son and his equally foolhardy Blade, I swear you scared forty years off my life.” Ditanu gave them two more powerful squeezes and then released them. “The youthful escapades Iltani and I undertook pale in comparison to what my visions say you just lived through.”

  Iltani was steps behind Ditanu, and she grabbed Kuwari and Enkara before either of them could formulate a response to his father’s comment. After another series of crushing hugs, they were released into Burrukan and Ahassunu’s care.

  Everyone babbled at once, demanding to know about everything that had occurred. Kuwari winced at the noise.

  “Peace! I’ll tell you everything, but merciful goddess Ishtar, please just stop all the shouting.”

  “Fine. We’ll be silent if you start talking faster,” Ditanu said with a grumble.

  Enkara bumped shoulders with her prince and grinned. “Shall I start?”

  “Please, goddess, yes.” He laughed ruefully. “It will give me more time to work on my defense.”

  Chuckling, Enkara started their tale. It would take the entire walk home and most of the rest of the day to finally satisfy everyone’s questions, but she didn’t mind.

  She and Kuwari now had their entire lives before them, minus two days spent in the underworld each year. As far as possible futures that might have unfolded, she thought they had done alright, all other possibilities considered.

  Like what you’ve read so far?

  Than don’t miss Blade’s Destiny, book 3 in Ishtar’s Legacy

  Now available to pre-order!

  https://lisablackwoodbooks.com/2018/09/18/blades-destiny/

  What say you?

  Pre-orders are great, but you need another book to read in the meantime?

  Well, in that case, you might like to read about a Warrior Scout and her Phoenix Prince.

  Betrayal’s Price (In Deception’s Shadow Book 1)

  mybook.to/InDeceptionsShadowBook1