by Lexi Ander
My bicep was caught in an iron grip and I was hauled away from Marduk. Snarling, I tore my arm from Brian's hold, keeping my body between Marduk and Brian, who was naked and vulnerable. I glimpsed an open wound on Brian's foot that bled sluggishly.
"His necklace," I gasped to Brian, struggling to catch my breath.
Marduk gripped the clay bracers on his forearms and drew on a power I hadn't sensed until then. The bolt of lightning that hit me fried my nerves from head to toe. Brian pried the Green Bastard from my fingers as I curled up into a ball on the ground screaming. I was helpless to do anything other than ride out the agony. But even with the pain strangling my muscles, I kept my eyes on Brian, terrified Marduk would tear him to pieces.
Brian fought with a ferocity that belied the vulnerability of his human shape, giving Marduk no time to initiate another attack. Brian pushed him hard, keeping him off balance, but by doing so he couldn't grab the necklace Marduk wore. Brian's stamina wasn't infinite. He needed my help. Only by destroying the little medallion would we know if it was tied to the enchantment holding Tiamat's children captive. If not, we needed to break every damn clay accoutrement Marduk had on his person. Even if they only managed his access to power, we had to destroy them and put him in shackles.
Knowing Brian couldn't win against Marduk alone, I was forced to shift. My dragon form was wingless and more wormlike than Brian's or Tristan's. I screamed through the transformation as I elongated into a serpentine shape, sloughing off black-singed scales. The change was quick, but the pain made those few seconds feel like an eternity. Once on the other side, the injuries settled into a dull ache. I shook my head, my beard and mane puffing out, and I assessed the situation through a new set of eyes, homing in on the glow from all the items of power Marduk wore, over and under his clothing.
Circling the fighting duo, I came up behind Marduk. Brian's eyes were bright with ruthless determination, lips peeled back in a feral grin as he harried Marduk. His gaze burned brighter upon seeing me. Without thinking through what I should do, I chomped on Marduk's side, my jaws encompassing his torso down to his ankle. Beneath his loose tunic, his belt of clay discs cracked under the clamp of my teeth. The taint of magic they held curdled on my tongue with a sort of vileness I'd never tasted before. The remnants of the human prayers whispered in my ears, their words tinged with unmatched emotion. For every word of praise, I tasted their fear. The swell of trepidation, despair, and helplessness solidified into a bitter bile that rested on my tongue. Entranced by the sensations, I would've lost my eye if Brian hadn't cut off Marduk's hand. No sympathy rose at the sound of Marduk's anguished cry. I ground my teeth into his side, wanting to hear him scream for mercy. His blood didn't wash away the vile begotten magic. The thought of Tiamat's children being subjugated for so long under his thumb brought out a mean-heartedness I didn't know I had in me.
"Ushna." Brian's call pushed back my anger enough for me to recognize his concern. "I'm the ruthless one. If you feel we should kill him—"
Marduk began to thrash, beating me on the nose with his only hand. Fed up, I shook him like a wolf would its prey. But when I stopped, Marduk hung limp in my mouth, defeated. For the time being at least.
"As I was saying, if you feel we have to kill Marduk, Tristan will understand." Brian quickly removed all Marduk's mes and other items of power he wore.
Corey approached cautiously, holding out a set of rust-red shackles that Brian accepted and snapped onto Marduk's ankles.
We had a plan. Marduk deserved death, but by doing so, we could be starting a war with the Gods. We had allies at the moment, but if we started picking Gods off they'd align against us, an action we couldn't afford. Tristan's strategy was solid, and even though the thought of making Marduk pay for those he'd hurt seemed the best course of action, I realized part of the blame also lay with the other Gods, who refused to police and govern their own.
Easing my grip on Marduk, I watched Brian run his thumb over the small rectangle medallion taken from Marduk's neck.
"The inscription is old. I can read the symbols for a binding, but the rest isn't legible. Let's hope your guess is right and this what we've been searching for." Brian closed his fist around the small clay tablet. The audible snap resulted in a magical backlash that burned my whiskers. The children of Tiamat in the skies and on the ground screamed in agony, the reaction to the breaking so widespread the hills boomed with the noise.
Glancing at the mouth of the amphitheater, I saw the Servants of the Glorious One retreating. With both the Goddess Inanna and God Marduk defeated, and the children of Tiamat freed, it seemed the assassins weren't willing to face their fate. No one bothered to chase them, knowing the enemy couldn't leave Sanctuary. The city's guardians would apprehend any who tried.
I spat Marduk out at Corey's feet. Close by, Bixx Decimus yelled commands, directing warriors and Ophidians alike to tasks that would secure the grounds.
Corey prodded Marduk with his boot. Disheveled and bloodied, his exhaustion was palpable as he addressed us. "It seems you have broken the enchantment on the children of Tiamat. They all immediately stopped fighting and surrendered." He motioned to Brian's foot, dropping to his knee to have a look.
"Marduk stabbed me with something that caused me to lose my dragon form. I haven't been able to change back since."
"There's something here." Corey pressed against the wound and Brian's pallor increased, but he didn't utter a word as Corey withdrew a clay shard.
I glanced at Bixx. The children of Tiamat changed into their human forms, or for some as human as they could be, and they knelt. "All hail King Tristan! All hail King Brian! All hail King Ushna! Long we've awaited the Blood Trinity." As one they pressed their foreheads to the ground.
At the mention of Tristan's name, I turned and ran to where I'd last seen him. Changing back to my half form, I stretched my legs. Ladon swooped down from the sky. Expertly turning into his smaller pot-bellied body right before he dropped onto my back, he moved to my shoulders, his concern floating along our link. Other dragonets landed on the amphitheater green and rushed to—
"Where's Tristan?"
The bright jewel-toned serpents were mounded into a small hill. The closer we came, the hotter the area.
"What the fuck?" Brian breathed out, skidding to a stop next to me.
We halted five meters from the serpents, the heat unbearable. The only ones closer were the Goddesses: Ereshkigal, stood over Inanna.
"Ushna! Brian!" Gregori called from the opposite side. We rounded the area. The dragonets seemed undisturbed by the heat and climbed onto the pile, growing the mound.
"Where's Tristan?" I demanded. Something was very wrong.
Gregori pointed. "There. He… he ate my fire. I don't know how, but he did."
Juan clutched Gregori, his complexion ashen. Gregori's trembling didn't escape my notice, nor did Juan's guilty expression. Randy sat next to them with Neesie and Lonnie. Neesie was strangely dry-eyed.
"He will be fine," she murmured when she caught my glance. "I cannot believe differently."
"What are we supposed to do?" Brian took a step closer but flinched back.
Nothing in my past lives gave evidence of an occurrence similar to what Gregori described. I changed into full dragon and the heat I felt reduced. Brian followed suit. When we approached the mound, the serpents and dragonets moved aside.
Tristan's blue-green scales were more green than not. Next to him, the Earth tingled under my toes and I heard her song of healing. This was one Tristan had taught me, and I lifted my snout to sing aloud, my dragon voice rough and rumbly. The words weren't human, but rather the language of the dragons. There were no words, the melody forced out of vocal cords not meant for song, but I couldn't stand this close to Tristan in human form; I would have to be enough as I was. The Earth didn't seem to mind, and when Gregori caught on to what I was doing, he buried his toes in the dirt and lent us his baritone voice.
Brian lay down next to Tristan and l
icked his face. Blue-tinged smoke curled from Tristan's nostrils. A low rumbly whine came from him, causing Sanctuary's guardians to swarm over both Brian and Tristan, but they didn't completely cover them this time. I wondered why, but a new voice distracted me. Corey stood at the edge of the heat ring, his sable eyes wide with concern as he sang in a surprising tenor voice the song of rejuvenation. How he knew the words was beyond me, but I sensed the Earth strengthening as if she drew power from him.
Behind Corey trailed the warriors, Ophidians, and the Children of Tiamat. They filed into the green space of the amphitheater, climbing the tiers as more and more people piled in, circling us. I sensed the Earth reach for them, whispering her secrets to the captive audience. They quieted until Corey's, Gregori's, and my voice could be heard crystal clear.
Then the people sang. Their singing slowly gained confidence. The love they felt for Tristan fell over us like a warm blanket, adding to the rising tension as they strengthened the song of the Earth.
When the bubble of magic burst, the hair on my mane stood on end. Sanctuary, this place of healing where Brian, Tristan, and I felt more connected to the land, groaned on a sub-sonic level, as if doors that had been locked for eons burst open. The air flooded with the scent of sea water and the overpowering sense of being watched.
A shadow fell over the interior of the amphitheater and instinct caused me to glance up. There, above us, was Tiamat the Dragon. She was huge, only her head visible atop the high walls. The breadth of her head easily took up half the opening, blocking out the sun and casting shadows. Brian's dragon was smaller than one of her sea-green eyes.
One would think the most impressive dragon ever seen would be terrifying, but everyone was strangely calm as Tiamat stretched her blue-green scaled neck, the colors much like Tristan's, to sniff him delicately. Suddenly, she inhaled, and an eerie blue glow rose from Tristan. She sucked in the flame with a pleased hum of obvious approval.
Impossibly, the line of fire coming from Tristan didn't seem to have an end. With rising horror, I wondered how Tristan had taken it all in. He had to have been in agony. I was scared that despite the combined efforts of the Earth, serpents, dragonets, and singers that Tristan would be fried on the inside. Had whatever Tristan done broken him even as he triumphed over the Goddess Inanna? My terror was short lived when, as the final strands were taken from him, Tristan stirred, craning his neck to gaze at Tiamat.
She nudged him with her nose and he rolled to his stomach. The last words of the song of rejuvenation were sung, the stadium filling with a reverent hush as Tristan stood shakily. Brian rose next to him and I hurried over, shoring Tristan up as we bracketed him. I rubbed my scales against his, not detecting excessive body heat, and noticing with relief his coloring returning to normal.
"My Chosen," Tiamat rumbled. "I couldn't be more pleased or more proud. You have done exceedingly well. My children are released from bondage. I trust you to lead them, teach them how to live free, and protect them from those who would do them harm."
She arched her neck, looking at Gregori. He stepped forward, closing the distance until all he had to do was to reach out to touch the tip of her nose. The red hair that had pulled loose from the braid ruffled with each of her breaths. When Juan went to move closer, Gregori gestured Juan to stay. He cocked his head as if listening to Tiamat even though she didn't speak aloud. For long moments, she stared at him, and didn't turn away until Gregori bowed.
She cast her intense gaze to those sitting in the stands. "Children. I present to you my Blood Trinity, my Voice, my Heart, and my Sword. Heed their council, for I have set them to rule over you."
The remaining crowd on the green parted and Gods and Goddesses strode forward, their expressions filled with awe and bewilderment. Tiamat had been diminished for some time, and among their numbers were those who'd fought against her at Marduk's side in the Igigi War. The God Ashur dropped his human guise, revealing his copper-tipped black wings and head-full of tentacles. Holding the chain to Marduk's collar, Ashur stepped forward, pulling along the obviously reluctant God of Magic. Those who had been Marduk's and Inanna's allies in the fight against us shied away from him. Marduk hurled useless verbal curses at them as he stumbled along.
Tristan released a noise of distress, moving to cross the distance to Ashur. Brian and I moved with him, staying close, not trusting he was well enough to do anything strenuous, but he wouldn't be stopped.
When Ashur stepped free of the group, Tristan transformed. His scale silk leggings were sliced up, but the copper breastplate of the Tablets of Destiny and the Horned Crown of Divinity were intact.
"He comes no closer," Tristan spat, his disgust evident. "Put Marduk on his knees."
Ashur didn't argue, pressing Marduk to do Tristan's bidding. Marduk snarled. Brian growled in return and lunged forward, causing Marduk to flinch.
"My Heart believes you are better off dead, child of Enki," Tiamat mused. "He tasted the torment my children experienced under your thumb. He knows the travails of the humans you kidnapped and coerced. He sees the blood of the innocent on your hands. But my Heart is wise. He understands those who knew of your deeds looked away or colluded with you."
Many of the Gods and Goddesses shuffled their feet nervously, some attempting to melt into the crowd only to be shoved to the forefront and forced to kneel next to Marduk.
"My Voice, what is your judgement?" Tiamat asked. Everyone turned their gaze to Tristan.
"Tiamat! You cannot possibly condone this. He is not one of us to pass judgment!" The Sky God Enlil exclaimed, pushing his way to the forefront.
"You've finally acquired a backbone, great-grandson?" He flinched. "You, as the appointed ruler of the Gods, are responsible for what has taken place here in my sanctum. You indulged Inanna too much. Looked away when her pettiness threatened creation. If she had released the chaos demanos before his time, the world would have been doomed. Like the poltroon you are, you would have fled to Dilmun, returning only when the destruction was complete. You have no care for this world or its people. Only Enki has endeavored to protect them. What have you done? You shied away from confronting Marduk, afraid he would unseat you. You joined Tristan's side only in a ploy to keep your throne." Her tone gave away her disappointment. "Tristan—"
"He cannot be our judiciary! He's only a half-blood, and not even born a demi-God," Marduk yelled.
"Do you not see what he wears? Has it been so long since you've laid eyes on the Tablets of Destiny that you've forgotten them?" Tiamat purred, as if daring Marduk to contradict her.
"They mean nothing. They didn't keep Kingu from dying by my hand." Marduk spat with derision.
"That had more to do with Kingu's belief in himself, not your battle prowess," Tiamat replied, sweeping Marduk's reasoning aside. I'd ask Tristan later if he knew what she meant. "Since the beginning, those who led, who ruled, wore the tablets. He is your ruler and his word will be law. King Tristan, what say you?"
Tristan leaned against me, draping an arm over my scaled neck to whisper, "Are you still okay with the arrangement?" in my ear. The real question was whether I truly wanted Marduk dead. Without saying the word, he was offering to be the executioner.
I nodded, indicating I still agreed to our original plan. He rubbed his face in my mane, the exhaustion rolling off him in waves. The warmth of the Earth surged into our feet. If her strength wasn't shoring him up like normal, he was still injured.
Tristan's arm slid off me as he stood tall. "Those who sided with Inanna and Marduk, as well as those who looked the other way when they noticed Inanna's vendetta against the descendants of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, are banished to Dilmun. The Ophidians will change the gateway to restrict access. Those who insist on being worshipped will also be banished. Earth is no longer your playground."
Many gasped at Tristan's declaration. Scanning the group, I could see their disappointment. They'd evidently expected a revival of the Sumerian Gods with this turn of events. The discussion with Bixx beforeh
and had pinpointed those who needed to be escorted away in shackles. Tristan turned, leaving the Adon of the Ophidians to sort out those who would stay from those who would go. Tiamat reinforced her backing of Tristan by giving her approval. Who would argue with her? Especially after discovering she wasn't as weak as they believed her to be. With the passing centuries, she'd regained the power she'd lost as she healed from the wounds Marduk had inflicted.
As Tiamat made to leave, Ashur stumbled forward. "Grandmother!" When she turned, he dropped to his knees. "Please forgive me. I shouldn't have taken their side in the Igigi War. I was terrified I'd be unmade. Please."
Tiamat's breath was hot, but not excessively so. "Child. I, too, was in the wrong, driven mad by my grief. I've seen your endeavors to make recompense, how you worked to ensure my Blood Trinity had backing, protecting them however you could."
"Then let me come with you." Ashur's face crumpled with sorrow, his need palpable.
"Come, then. Dine at my table and regale me with tales of your battles."
Without another word, Ashur spread his wings and took to the sky. The ground shook as Tiamat moved away from the stadium. All around us the people cheered, the roar filling the amphitheater deafening.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Tristan Janick
I was so bone weary I wanted to sleep for a month, but there was more to do. Neesie flung herself at me and I caught her up. She smothered laughter and tears against my neck, asking me repeatedly if I was all right. I reassured her every time. Honestly, I wasn't sure. Gregori's fire left me feeling hollow. If Nathan had been here, I would've confessed the truth. In that moment, his absence was achingly obvious.
