She shooed the bath attendants away, saying she’d be along in a moment.
When they were gone, a warm, rich voice flowed across her senses. “I am sorry for your loss, my lady.”
Tirigan’s softly spoken words proved just how advanced his ability at reading others was, or, perhaps, she was just that terrible at hiding her emotions.
“Thank you. Though, I think you’ve endured far more hardships than I.”
“My hardships don’t lessen your own.”
Asharru paused in front of him, meeting his intense brown eyes. “You are wise beyond your years, Tirigan.”
“Perhaps, my lady, but I see much wisdom in your eyes as well.”
Chapter 12
Many levels below the palace’s shrine to Ishtar, there was another dedicated to her older sister, Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld. This one was remembered by only a few and visited by even fewer. But on this day, a slim-shouldered figure swathed in a cloak made her way down the dusty corridor.
Nuannin carried a single torch. It was enough for her purposes. She was only coming to pray and renew the spells that kept the altar alive and its cloaking magic strong and to feed the small owl who lived here. None of which needed much light.
In fact, the tiny owl was surprisingly well suited for life down here, growing fat on the mice he found. She only made sure that his bowl of water was fresh each day since he liked to bath in it.
“Come little one,” she called softly when she reached the altar. Soon the little bird’s wings were making her torch flicker as the avian came in for a landing on its perch.
Next to the perch sat an ancient bowl stained a dark, rusty red. To either side of the bowl rested a shard of volcanic rock, a copper dagger, and a vessel containing the year’s best quality wine.
From a pocket in her robe, she withdrew a wrapped bundle. Inside was a bit of finely chopped cow’s liver as a treat for the faithful little owl.
Once the owl was fed, she saw to the other rituals, using the dagger and bowl to catch a few drops of her blood, which she mixed with a bit of the wine. Then she anointed both the owl and the statue of Ereshkigal with the mixture while she prayed to the goddess.
Nuannin finished her chant and was just setting aside the bowl when a soft whisper of chilled power crept up from the surface of the table and radiated from the statue.
While she was still off balance, another, much more ancient mind touched hers.
“Greetings, my priestess. I come with a warning for you this day.”
Nuannin’s breath caught, and her mind went blank in surprise. She’d never expected to be so blessed to have the goddess speak directly to her. Nuannin stumbled over the proper words of response but after a nervous swallow managed to spit them out. “I live to serve. Bless me with your great knowledge so that I can carry out your will.”
In her defense, this was the first time Ereshkigal had spoken with her. Normally the goddess communed with Nuannin’s father, the High Priest, but he was in a council meeting.
“The lost Blade has found his way to his monarch.”
Nuannin’s eyes opened wider in the darkness.
How had that happened? They had been seeking to slide a dagger between the Blade’s ribs since they’d first learned that Ishtar had sent one of her Blades to protect the future queen. But they’d been seeking him for years with no luck.
“Do you know the name of this Blade or possess an image of what he looks like?”
“His name and appearance are unimportant.”
Which likely meant even the goddess did not know what he looked like.
Ishtar was known to jealously guard and protect her Blades until they were mature and ready to take up their roles.
But without a name or physical description, how was Nuannin supposed to find him to eliminate him? Yes, her skills as an assassin were without match. Her father had seen to that. But even the best assassin was useless without a target.
Sometimes the gods saw things too simply.
“I shall send one of the Anunnaki from my realm to help with the hunt.”
Everyone knew of the Anunnaki, fierce guardians of the underworld. After all, one day each soul would stand before nine of the most ancient Anunnaki and be judged before entering the spirit world.
But they were spirit creatures.
What good could one do in this kind of hunt?
Ereshkigal laughed. “Oh, young priestess. The best way to flush out a Blade is to threaten his monarch. An Anunnaki will help with that, and you will aid the one I send. Do you understand.”
“Yes, my Goddess.” She bowed before the altar statue even though she saw nothing of the goddess in the stone.
“Very well. Complete the rituals that will ease his passage into the world of the living. He will explain my wishes and then summon others of his brethren to aid in his task.”
Nuannin bowed deeply to the statue again. “I shall begin preparations at once and perform the ritual this day.”
“That’s a good child. You shall be rewarded greatly in the afterlife.” With another ripple in the air currents, the chilling power was sucked back into the altar.
Nuannin waited with bated breath for ten beats of her heart.
But the goddess was gone.
While she might not yet know the full plan, she knew enough that if an Anunnaki attacked the future queen to draw out her Blade, the chaos would far outlast the assault. Several scenarios could result in further aiding her father and Ereshkigal’s master plan beyond merely killing the Blade.
After she summoned the Anunnaki and listened to what he had to say, she’d share her ideas with her brother and father.
Ereshkigal wouldn’t hold a little ambition against her servants; in fact, she encouraged it. Besides, in this case, the higher up the New Sumer power structure her agents managed to climb, the more Ereshkigal would benefit.
And if Nuannin’s brother played the part she and their father wanted, her brother might one day sire the next generation of gryphon royalty loyal to Ereshkigal. If Asharru was genuinely impressed with Nutesh, she might even name him King of the Gryphons.
She liked the sound of that.
And after Asharru had a litter of royal cubs, she could join her Blade in the underworld.
Then Nuannin could ascend openly and be named High Priestess of Ereshkigal. She rather liked the sound of that title, too. In that future, she dreamed of her brethren being able to openly declare their allegiance to the greatest of goddesses.
Chapter 13
From his spot along the wall, Tirigan surveyed the councilors and Asharru. Even though the Crown Princess was functioning on no sleep, she hid it well. He was impressed with her fortitude. He’d often gone with little rest and knew how hard it was to act normal when you didn’t even feel human.
But Asharru handled her councilors easily as if it came naturally to her. It might have helped that she wore a breastplate and had a sword strapped to her waist today on Kuri’s orders. Combine that with her intense gaze, regal bearing and cold, queenly mask and she made quite the imposing figure.
Despite all that, a few of her earlier comments had let him know she didn’t think she’d ever be a match for her brother’s greatness, but Tirigan thought she was already surpassing him.
Though he admitted he might not be a good judge since he hadn’t known Kadashman and was only gleaning what he could from rumor and second-hand information.
“We must urge you to name new councilors very soon, Crown Princess. Our numbers are growing thin, and it puts the kingdom at risk having so few.”
This was spoken by Ekurzakir, a somewhat hollow-cheeked fellow of middle age—for a gryphon—which put him at close to three hundred years old.
It was clear the male had another agenda besides his ‘great concern’ for New Sumer’s citizens.
“Rest assured I am working on the problem and already have a few new candidates in mind for the positions, I just need to make a few final decisions.”
Asharru’s reply was calm and confident as always.
Councilor Ekurzakir leaned back in his chair and nodded. “Very well, but if you ever wish to temporarily fill the empty seats until you have put forward your candidates for us to vote on, I could suggest my daughter. She has been training under me and is proficient at handling matters of state.”
Ah. So, there it was. The councilor’s agenda. Or at least part of it. There was something in Tirigan’s soul that said this man would use the present upheaval to further his own political ends.
Isiratuu, the lone remaining female on the council leaned forward. “Yes, as Council Ekurzakir has said, if you need more time, perhaps we can make some suggestions for temporary positions until you are ready to make your selections.”
Tirigan scowled. Here was another councilor more interested in growing her power and influence than in helping Asharru or even New Sumer.
“Jackals. Both of you.” The bitter words came from farther down the table where the third councilor sat. He’d been silent up until now. “My mother has not yet been buried, and you’re already squabbling over her seat.”
Tirigan focused his power upon Dipatusu. The male was filled with anger and pain. Not unexpected considering his mother, Diimeritia, had just been murdered. At least none of the male’s dark, turbulent emotions were focused upon Asharru. He didn’t blame her for what had happened to his mother.
Ekurzakir stood and glowered at Dipatusu. “That isn’t it at all. We’re just concerned—”
“Councilors,” Asharru cut him off before the council descended into bickering. “I have given you my answer on the subject. I’ll announce my choices in three days.” She bestowed a long, penetrating look upon each of the councilors. “But if it will put your minds at ease, know that I have another plan to better the protections on the palace and eventually the kingdom so that what happened to my brother cannot happen again so easily.”
She rose from her place at the table and looked behind her. When she caught Tirigan’s gaze, she gestured him to join them.
He came forward until he was brushing the back of her bench; a tall, brooding dark presence glowering at each councilor in turn.
“This is Captain Tirigan. The leader of my new palace guard.”
“Captain?” Dipatusu asked.
Ekurzakir frowned. “Palace guard?”
“Yes. He and all the soldiers under him have been granted royal privilege to go anywhere and search any room, be they a slave’s humble cot, a servant’s tiny room, a noble’s lavish chambers or my own suites. They take orders only from me, and are not required to aid, coddle, or listen to the whining of nobles.”
“The nobles will not stand for this,” Ekurzakir began.
“I do not care. The situation has grown too perilous to worry if a few nobles get their tails stepped on.”
Isiratuu looked up a Tirigan. “Well, at least you look like you could hunt an assassin. That’s an improvement over some of the other soft-bellied guards.”
“I assure you, I will find the ones responsible for the King’s death and lay their heads at the foot of Asharru’s throne. It is as close as they will ever get to her or the throne of New Sumer.” Tirigan allowed a good bit of menace to enter his voice, though it wasn’t acting this time.
While he didn’t like any of the councilors, his strange gift didn’t warn that any one of them had malicious intent toward the future queen either. They could continue to hold their seats until he found replacements more interested in strengthening New Sumer rather than growing their own power base.
Isiratuu glanced away from him to arch a brow at the Crown Princess. “What do you plan to call your new bodyguards?”
“Shadows,” Tirigan supplied before Asharru could answer, the title just boiling up out of him. “The Queen’s Shadows. For we will follow her everywhere, even unto death.”
“Asharru, does this big fellow have a brother? If so, I want him outside my own door.” The councilor laughed. “You have my complete support, Crown Princess.”
“I always appreciate my council’s support,” Asharru said dryly.
The other two councilors soon agreed to the logic of having a new guard. Besides, they’d probably figured out that if the palace guard doubled with the most skilled warriors in the land, it would make their own lives longer.
After Tirigan returned to his spot against the wall, the discussion turned to other things, but he ignored the various reports in favor of learning more about his political rivals. He soon pegged Ekurzakir as the most ambitious, with Isiratuu a close second. Dipatusu was likely the noblest and most trustworthy of the bunch, but his heart didn’t seem into it.
Perhaps once he had time to grieve and heal, he would find the spark to carry on his duties. Though Tirigan wouldn’t be surprised if the gryphon stepped down once his mother’s murderers were found, and the other empty seats were filled.
At last, the council meeting was adjourned, and Asharru stood, the other guards coming to attention.
“Let’s go,” she said as he leaned closer. “I very much would like a chance to rest before I’m needed in the temple.”
“Of course.” As soon as they reached Asharru’s chambers, Tirigan planned to stand in the threshold to her bedchamber and block anyone else from entering. Perhaps then she’d be able to get a little much-needed rest.
They were headed back toward her chambers when a creeping chill spread over his body. He shortened his stride and looked around. Asharru had slowed as well.
Instinctively he reached for her, not knowing what threat this was, only that there was one and it was coming closer.
“Swords out!” he ordered.
Chapter 14
Dragging Asharru behind him with one hand, Tirigan drew his sword with the other. Asharru, attuned to him in some strange way, didn’t question. Instead she drew her own sword. Her swift trust in him came as a relief. Now wasn’t the time for her to doubt and countermand him.
“What do you sense?” The other guards were drawing their own swords, and she shouted to be heard over the noise, but all the time he saw that she continued to scan the hallway.
“Not sure. Something…unnatural.”
Asharru nodded and eased into a battle stance. “The Lamassu sense nothing. They’d be broadcasting their concern.”
“What creature can’t a Lamassu sense?”
“None. They can sense any creature that dwells in the world of the living.”
With growing unease, he turned a slow circle, keeping Asharru behind him. “What about creatures that are not living, beings from outside this world?”
“The gods? It’s said a Lamassu can even sense them.”
“There is something else, though.” Damnit. His memories from the time he trained with the priests were hazy, not that he’d been as gifted as Laliya or Bashaa. They both possessed superior recollection for all the little minutia.
“There isn’t…” Asharru paused and then drew a sharp breath. “An Anunnaki from the underworld. Diimeritia once told me they are the only creatures that can come and go from this world without causing a disturbance great enough for a Lamassu to sense.”
“What’s going on?” Kuri was suddenly beside them, her bared blade at the ready.
Asharru explained while Tirigan sought the direction the danger came.
“One of the servants of the Underworld? Here? How do you know?”
“Shhh. Tirigan has a power.” A hand on his arm drew his eyes briefly to Asharru’s. She was studying him and asking an unvoiced question at the same time.
“I’ll explain later,” he said.
Not that he had an explanation for her.
Kuri turned her attention back to studying the hallway, sword up and at the ready. “How, by Ishtar’s lusts, do we fight an Anunnaki?”
“I think we’re about to find out,” he said as he pinpointed the threat. It approached from behind, trailing after them from the direction of the council chambers.
Thou
gh, Tirigan hadn’t sensed it in there during the meeting, which suggested the creature—the Anunnaki—had only just arrived.
“What do you know about them?” Tirigan asked Asharru without looking in her direction.
After a brief pause, Asharru’s calm voice filled the silence. “An Anunnaki can’t interact with the living world in a meaningful way. They don’t often venture here for that reason.”
Another pause as if she was scouring her memories for every detail. “Their purpose is to guard the Underworld and to guide the newly dead to their place of rest if they try to remain and haunt the living.”
Kuri gestured for the guards to spread out enough to fight if it came to that and then glanced over her shoulder at Asharru and Tirigan. “Could it have come for Diimeritia’s soul? She was murdered and might be restless because of that.”
“Doubtful. As a high priestess, Diimeritia, even if she were an angry soul, would know there would be consequences for staying.”
“What else?” Tirigan barked, feeling like he was missing something. Something that could get them killed if they didn’t figure this out.
“Some legends speak of how an Anunnaki will possess a truly evil person to stop him or her from tilting the balance between good and evil too far toward the dark, like in times of war. The Anunnaki is said to harvest the tainted soul and drag it back to the underworld to be judged.”
Everything clicked into place in Tirigan’s mind, his strange gift practically humming in agreement.
“Ready!” he barked at the other guards. “An Anunnaki has taken over a dark soul to use the body so it can interact with this world.”
“Oh, Pretty Man,” Kuri said with a hint of unease in her voice, “I really hope you’re frothing at the mouth mad, but in case you’re not, everyone get ready.”
“The host could be human or gryphon, but if the creature wants the strongest host it can find, it will seek out an evil gryphon.”
Kuri snorted, sounding unhappy with the news. “That only includes about half of the nobility.”
Blade's Destiny (Ishtar's Legacy Book 3) Page 8
