Her trial year with him would be real?
Why?
Then he remembered Tirigan hadn’t wanted to be Asharru’s Blade, not really. He likely didn’t want to be tied any more closely to her than he already was. Asharru hadn’t been able to win her Blade over yet.
How delightful.
This assignment would be interesting if nothing else.
Chapter 28
The day after Tirigan had suggested Asharru invite Governor Ugurnaszir to court—a suggestion that had deeply disturbed him—he’d awoken early and restless. Though, he wasn’t given long to dwell on the cause since Nutesh arrived shortly after dawn.
An early rising noble?
That was cause for suspicion.
But Tirigan’s gift didn’t warn him of danger, and Nutesh seemed like a pleasant, honest type. A rare gem in the gryphon court. No wonder Asharru had picked him out as a possible candidate for the Trial Year.
Though, she hadn’t done it because she’d wanted Nutesh as a mate.
That had been clear from her interaction with the noble. She tolerated him, nothing more.
While Nutesh might not pose a threat, if he courted Asharru more aggressively than she wished, Tirigan would teach the other male some manners.
This morning, Bashaa and Laliya were overseeing Nutesh’s move while Asharru read some reports over breakfast. She sat hunched over, one elbow propped against the table while in the other hand, she held a large mug of steaming tea. The bustle and noise of the servants seemed not to touch her at all.
He envied her that ability to tune everything out. That had never been one of his gifts. No, he heard everything, studying and weighing every sound for potential danger. He’d always thought it was just a survival trait he’d learned early in life, but now he knew that hyperawareness was the gift and curse of being a Blade.
Without looking up from the scroll she was reading, Asharru waved her mug of tea at the empty seat beside her. “Tirigan, come. Sit and eat.”
“I’m not hungry.” His reply came out sounding more sullen and mulish than he’d intended.
Asharru snorted, a grin twisting her lips. “Fine. If you don’t want to sit and eat, then go be a cranky hermit farther away from me. Your grumpiness is distracting.”
Tirigan really wasn’t hungry, though, so decided to pace like a trapped animal instead.
“What’s gotten under your skin?” Kuri asked a short while later. “I know it’s not just Nutesh moving in. He’s no competition for Asharru’s affections.”
He glowered at her comment about Nutesh but didn’t bother denying it. Kuri was the type to just keep digging once she caught a hint of something she found interesting.
“I’m just restless. I’m not used to this kind of inactivity.”
He’d missed his evening sword practice with Kuri and Hunzuu last night because of the dancing and celebration after the Trial Year announcement. And now with Asharru refusing to leave until she caught up on some of the reports, Tirigan was missing his morning practice as well.
If Nutesh hadn’t been here, with a flurry of unknown servants coming and going, Tirigan might have left Asharru in the care of Kuri, Hunzuu, and an extra company of guards to see to the training of the newest recruits they’d managed to funnel away from Libluth.
But Tirigan would not abandon Asharru to the company of Nutesh even though he sensed no deceit in the male, certainly not when thirty servants were bustling about the chambers and would make it too easy for an assassin to slip in among them unnoticed.
Kuri tilted her head as she continued to stare at him. Then suddenly her eyes narrowed as she glanced around, taking note of Nutesh and his servants unpacking items. “Come with me.”
Kuri turned on her heels and marched toward a side room where Asharru usually retreated to when she had a lot of messages and reports that needed her attention.
Tirigan paused to motion Hunzuu to take his place near Asharru. Once the man moved to obey, Tirigan followed Kuri, curious what had piqued the guardswoman’s suspicions.
Instinctively, he scanned the room. At the moment, it was empty.
“What did you w—” He began.
Kuri grabbed his hair and lifted it out of the way and at the same time started yanking at the neck of his robe.
“Ha,” she crowed. “That’s what I thought!”
She reached out and touched the mark. Tirigan jerked away. Instantly defensive.
“Don’t touch me.” The three words were laced with menace.
“Goddess, Asharru is right. You’re grumpy today. The moodiness might be because the mark’s glowing.”
Tirigan froze and then slowly reached up to touch the area above the neckline of his robe. The skin had that strange, slightly roughened texture he’d noted before, and it was sensitive to his touch, more so than usual. The mark was also warmer than the surrounding skin.
He was surprised he hadn’t noticed it earlier, but when he rolled his shoulders, it felt like it always did. Perhaps the heat had been increasing so gradually, he hadn’t noticed?
But he knew what it meant.
The mark was announcing that it was time for the next Blooding Ceremony.
I’m not ready, he thought to himself, I need more time to get to know Asharru.
The link between Monarch and Blade was a powerful, sacred bond. If he already felt this drawn to Asharru now, how much more sway would she have over him once their link was fully formed?
I’m not ready to surrender my mind, body, and soul to her, he beseeched to any god who would listen.
His lips compressed unhappily.
But, in a way, the gods had already spoken, hadn’t they? Or else his mark wouldn’t be glowing. The gods wanted him to become Asharru’s Blade in more than title. When the gods spoke, mortals turned a deaf ear to them at their peril.
“You didn’t know, did you?”
“No.”
Kuri’s expression softened. “You need to tell her.”
“I will.”
Sighing, Tirigan turned and made his way back toward the noisy outer chambers. He continued until he joined Asharru in her dining room. Nutesh had invited himself to breakfast while Tirigan and Kuri talked in the other room.
He found himself glowering at the male and then scolded himself. Why does it matter if Nutesh courts Asharru? It would be better for all concerned if she fell in love with the pureblood noble and left me a scrap of freedom.
Tirigan’s thoughts rang hollow, though.
He knew jealousy when he saw it. He’d just never seen himself as the jealous type.
But it didn’t matter what kind of emotional turmoil he was experiencing, he was a Blade, and he knew his duty. And right now, Nutesh was getting in the way of that duty.
Outwardly, he smiled for the male’s benefit, but Tirigan’s attention was on Asharru. “Forgive me for the interruption, but Guardswoman Kuri has brought something to my attention that you need to be made aware of, Crown Princess.”
“Of course. Nutesh, if you will give us a moment.” She smiled at Nutesh, but there was no warmth in her eyes, her face a coldly smiling mask.
Tirigan realized it had been there since before his arrival. That made him far happier than it should have.
Nutesh rose and bowed to Asharru. “I am your humble servant. Summon me if there is anything you need.”
“Thank you. I shall.”
Nutesh bowed again and then retreated from the room. Though he did cast Tirigan a calculating look before he left.
Hmmm. They would need to find a quiet place for future talks. Asharru’s chambers were getting too crowded.
Once Nutesh was gone, Asharru’s mask dropped away. “What’s wrong? What’s happened now?”
“Nothing bad,” Kuri piped up before Tirigan had a chance. She joined them at the table and then leaned down to whisper, “But somebody needs a good back massage, paying particular attention to the spine if you know what I mean.”
Asharru’s eyes wid
ened in surprise after a moment. “Already?”
“It would seem so,” Tirigan offered a little grumpily.
“Come, let’s go somewhere more private,” Asharru said as she rose from the table and then led them into the larger of the two smaller rooms branching off her bedchamber.
He looked around at the room with its bare, unadorned walls. She’d assigned this one to him, but he hadn’t had time to furnish it yet.
Although she’d said she could see that it was furnished for him, he’d wanted to do it himself. It would be the first time he could procure items for himself, things not picked out for him. But that would have to wait until after the present situation had been resolved.
Turning, he disrobed and presented his back. “Either the gods are eager, or there is a pressing and immediate danger. Since we have already been visited by Anunnaki, I imagine my mark is responding to heightened danger.”
Behind him, he heard the soft footfalls of Asharru’s approach. Then she was pushing aside his braids. A moment later warm, slender fingers stroked along the heated length of his mark.
Unlike when Kuri touched it, Tirigan had to resist the urge to lean back into the innocent caress. And it was innocent. There was no desire bleeding from her skin. But when her fingers caressed his neck a second time, he couldn’t claim the same himself.
He grew hard at the simple touch, almost like her fingers were stroking a different heated length.
Half turning, he grasped her hand and then linked their fingers together, needing to maintain contact, but one that would allow him to concentrate on the issue at hand. “My Princess, that feels entirely too good.”
“I sorry. It’s just so striking when it shines with power like that. The glimmering light reminds me of the sun reflecting on early morning dew.” She gave herself a little shake and the drew her hand from his. “It won’t happen again.”
“Do not worry about it.” His fingers twitched to recapture hers. The need for closeness was out of character for him. It must have something to do with Ishtar’s mark.
Asharru stepped back, her familiar, emotionless mask back in place.
Unhappy he’d caused her to doubt herself, he stepped closer and placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head a fraction higher. “Your touch is never a hardship.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “You’ve been mauled enough in your life. Fear not, I’m not about to press myself upon you. Though, my curiosity sometimes gets me into trouble.”
A traitorous little voice whispered, but what if that’s what I want? Your slight weight pressing against me, hands caressing…
No!
He couldn’t think like that, couldn’t risk rousing his other, darker nature. Asharru had been nothing but kind to him, he wouldn’t ever unleash that upon her. She’d already caught a glimpse of it once. Never again. “I suggest we find somewhere…out of the way…before you anoint me.”
Asharru nodded, all business again, completely unaware of his inappropriate thoughts. “I have an idea. We just need to get there without anyone seeing. Kuri and Hunzuu can help with that. They know the palace better than anyone.” She paused for a moment. “I think we should bring Bashaa and Laliya was well. They have advanced in their studies far enough to act as our priest and priestess for the ritual.”
Tirigan nodded, but he was having trouble pushing aside the last threads of his pointless desire for Asharru.
And just when had he started thinking of Asharru in that light? It was the last thing he wanted. It should be the last thing he wanted.
“There is just one thing we need first,” Asharru called behind her as she rushed from the room.
His conflict would have to wait. Tirigan gave chase, wondering what Asharru was after now.
Chapter 29
Standing in the middle of the palace’s large treasure vault, Tirigan still didn’t know what Asharru sought. He’d followed as she’d rushed out of her chambers and eventually into the treasury where he now found himself.
The room was vast and could likely hold ten times the coin and riches it presently housed. Though, it wasn’t a surprise that the royal coffers weren’t as full as they should be. Kadashman and Asharru’s parents had died unexpectedly when the siblings were still young children, leaving the throne and its wealth vulnerable.
Tirigan would bet more than a little of the taxes collected to ensure roads, walls, and temples were maintained instead found its way into city officials’ personal coffers.
Just then, Kuri stormed through the entrance, took one look at Asharru, and then scowled fiercely enough that Tirigan wouldn’t be surprised if she could turn people to stone with that look alone.
But Asharru seemed unconcerned by the guardswoman’s glare, and her determined searching said she was looking for something in particular that was more important than Kuri’s displeasure.
“I swear, if someone stole it, I will call the wrath of the gods down upon them!” She kicked an embossed chest out of her way and started sifting through the next pile of riches.
Hunzuu, Laliya, and Bashaa arrived within moments of each other and then looked first to Asharru and then to Tirigan.
Bashaa cast a questioning glance at Tirigan, then used their hand signs. ‘You know what she’s looking for?’
Tirigan shrugged. ‘Not a clue.’
Laliya stood to Tirigan’s right, looking as baffled as the rest of them.
“I know it’s here.” Asharru shifted more clay jars, chests with jewels, boxes of scrolls, and various other valuables out of her way. “Kadashman showed it to me when we were children. It was here.”
She dug a little longer, leaning down with her shapely butt up in the air.
Laliya smacked first Tirigan and then Bashaa in the back of the head before walking to Asharru’s side. “Tell us what you’re looking for, and we can help.”
Asharru glanced up, a look of mild surprise on her face as if she’d forgotten they were there. “I’m looking for a dagger…..wait! That’s it. Weapons.”
Asharru darted off down a different section of the treasury.
With a shake of his head, Tirigan trailed her. Eventually, she stopped at a section where ancient weapons wielded by previous kings and queens were on display.
“At last!” She crowed, holding up a long, slender cloth wrapped bundle.
“And that is?” Kuri asked, sounding grumpier than usual.
“I’ll tell you later. Once we reach our destination.” Asharru grinned, the expression lighting up her eyes and making Tirigan forget that she was a future queen. In this moment, she was a woman—strong, intelligent, resilient, beautiful, and happy.
Kuri rolled her eyes again. “And will you share that detail with us, or do you expect us to go blindfolded, it’s so secret?”
“You know of the old hot springs below the palace?”
“Yes. It’s a long trek, and you’re going to help us think up a good excuse for why the future queen has vanished for several hours in the middle of the day.”
“Well,” Asharru’s grin grew broader, “Tirigan will be missing as well. Let the councilors and nobles speculate.”
Kuri snorted and muttered under her breath, “Their speculation might be closer to the truth than you plan if Ishtar takes notice.”
Tirigan wasn’t meant to overhear, but the guard’s comments drove home just how this Blooding Ceremony might end if Ishtar did show up. From his temple days, he knew every Blooding Ceremony used chants and prayers to call Ishtar’s power and blessing down upon the newly anointed Blade.
Sometimes, though it was rare, Ishtar came in person.
Squaring his shoulders, he drew himself up to his full height. He’d maintain his dignity even if he were forced into the role of plaything for a goddess. It certainly wouldn’t be the worst that had ever happened to him.
Unaware of his dark thoughts, Asharru continued to chuckle at Kuri’s innuendo as she led them all in the direction of the hot springs.
Chapter 30
Their destination was buried underground. The air here held a warm dampness with a hint of sulfur, which grew stronger the closer they got. The old stairs cut into the stone were worn from generations of traffic.
Stillness and tranquility lay heavy all around, almost like a presence that he could feel when he briefly closed his eyes. None of his companions spoke to break the silence, and Tirigan was content to allow the peacefulness of this subterranean world to wrap around him.
At last, they emerged into a massive natural underground chamber. Stone benches circled a small lake and steam rose off the water in gentle wisps. Tirigan looked with more than his eyes, studied their surroundings, seeking dangers though he knew there were none. He’d have felt the menace as they approached if there’d been any awaiting them.
Kuri and Hunzuu split up and began lighting the torches along the walls.
Even with the added light, the ceiling high above was a dark, shapeless mass.
Asharru joined him, holding out the bundle for him to unwrap. He took it and unfolded the outer fabric. Inside was a lined and padded box. A non-descript dagger rested within.
“That is the dagger that has shed the blood of royals for thousands of years. Each Monarch and Blade have used this small, unassuming weapon since the time King Hillalum and Blade Amata took part in the first Blooding Ceremony.”
Tirigan lifted the dagger, studying its blade. It was as sharp and polished as any Tirigan had ever used. There was also the tingle of magic woven into this weapon. He could feel it. Taste its essence on the back of his tongue.
“You must use this on yourself?” he questioned, sounding unhappy.
He found he didn’t like the idea of her wounding herself and shedding blood to make him stronger, which was silly. What were a moment’s pain and the splash of blood compared to the lifetime of safety a fully anointed and matured Blade could provide?
“Very shortly, yes.” She gently took it from him, and together they walked toward the lake with its circling benches. Laliya and Bashaa were already setting up their supplies. Candles, holy oils, perfumes, and richly scented incense were each carefully laid out, so it would be ready when it was needed.
Blade's Destiny (Ishtar's Legacy Book 3) Page 17
