Overhead the moon still rode high in the sky and dawn wasn’t yet even a thought upon the eastern horizon, but she spotted ten darker shapes against the midnight blue of the sky. As they winged their way closer to the island of Susa, Enkara instinctively reached out with her gift. It confirmed these newcomers were no threat. She’d already guessed as much but would never risk Kuwari’s safety on a guess.
The identity of those about to arrive on Susa confirmed, Enkara looked over her shoulder to see Kuwari emerging from her tent.
“That would be Regent Burrukan come to spank your royal ass.”
Kuwari snorted with humor and came to stand shoulder to shoulder with her. “Burrukan is never boring at least.”
Chapter 2
As the ten gryphons came in for a graceful landing on the sandy beach, Enkara fought to shove aside the feelings of frustration and jealousy the sight inspired. Over the last two years she’d tried not to feel embarrassed over the fact she couldn’t yet shift to gryphon form. She really did.
She still lost the battle every time she saw one of her people swoop down in a graceful dive or run across the ground, their powerful muscles driving them forward and then almost effortlessly up into the air.
Her father was a gryphon. She was a Blade. In historical records, there were even mentions of fully human Blade’s blessed by Ishtar and growing in power over time until they were able to take on gryphon form. Kuwari’s second mother, Iltani, who was born without a drop of gryphon blood in her veins, had gained the power to shapeshift after several Blooding Ceremonies with King Ditanu.
There were even many other documented cases of non-Blade hybrids being able to shapeshift into gryphon form.
But not her.
Not yet. Maybe never.
Kuwari called her a late bloomer. That somehow only made the humiliation worse. She scowled as the gryphons touched down one after another. Once they’d folded their wings against their sides, their riders—other Shadows—dismounted as a group and spread out upon the beach.
They were hunting for any dangers that might be nearby. Not that there were any. Enkara certainly wouldn’t let her prince remain on the beach if she’d sensed danger.
One broad-shouldered, bald-headed figure struck out from the rest and marched straight for Kuwari and Enkara’s position. When Burrukan was close enough that he could address them without yelling, he glowered at the prince and started to chew him out. “Do you know how much trouble you’re in? Again?”
Burrukan covered the rest of the way and came to a halt in front of them in a storm of sand and irritation, then he addressed her. “While Kuwari is completely hopeless, I’m glad to see you’re ready to defend him.”
His eyes narrowed. Glancing over at Kuwari, he took in the prince’s mostly naked form with a frown. He turned his gaze back to Enkara. After a moment, he cleared his throat and rubbed a hand along the back of his bald head. “Did you just give in to the silver-tongued rebel?”
“Give in? Not sure I understand your meaning.” She knew what he was asking, but it was entertaining to goad her mentor when the rare occasion arose.
A deep scowl darkened his expression. “Are you now mates?”
“Nothing happened.”
“Huh. Too bad. The council would be irate. Would have made the next council meeting worth sitting through.” He rubbed the side of his jaw thoughtfully, “You sure nothing happened? I and the other Shadows can go a little way down the beach, and you and Kuwari can retreat back to your tent for a short while…”
Enkara glowered at her mentor. “Not funny.”
“Actually, it is. I never know what I’m going to find when King Ditanu sends me to retrieve his errant cub. It’s possible there might be bets about the outcome of each escapade, but you didn’t hear it from me.”
“I’m not a cub anymore,” Kuwari growled as he approached, his arms folding across his chest. “If something happened between Enkara and me, it’s no one’s business but our own.”
“Nothing happened,” Enkara clarified.
“Not for lack of trying on Kuwari’s part, I imagine.” Burrukan’s dry reply was far closer to the truth than Enkara would willingly admit.
She folded her arms across her chest. “I wouldn’t know anything about that.”
“When Kuwari came sauntering over here wearing nothing but your bedding, I was sure I’d just lost the bet for the first time.”
“We were just discussing how Kuwari can’t keep doing this.”
“Too bad. Because Kuwari in your bedding would be a great story to get the gossip geese honking.” Burrukan guided them back toward the tent while they talked. “Now tell me what’s the real reason he came, if not to seduce you into becoming his future queen?”
There was no putting off Burrukan, so she told him the truth. Kuwari elaborated with details about his newest vision.
“Kuwari, stay here. Enkara, walk with me.” Burrukan jerked his chin in the direction of the empty beach and then broke into a long, ground-eating gait.
She glanced once at Kuwari and shook her head when he made to follow.
“Fine,” he said with an expression of disgruntlement. “I’ll get it out of you later.”
With that utterance, he spun around to go talk with the other Shadow guards. Enkara shook her head and marched off in pursuit of her mentor.
Once she caught up to him, he glanced sideways at her. “Kuwari doesn’t know it yet, but his father has actually ordered for your return. He wouldn’t tell me why, but Ditanu’s gift of prophecy has reawakened of late. If I were to guess, I’d say Ditanu saw some threat to his son that he thinks you can guard against.”
“Kuwari has seen something as well.” Enkara briefly described what Kuwari had revealed.
Burrukan rubbed the back of his neck. There was an old scar there that he sometimes fingered when he was worried or unhappy about something.
“I was against bringing you back to Nineveh until Ishtar awoke your power, but the king overruled me.” Annoyance flicked across Burrukan’s expression. “You’re needed back at the capital, but we still can’t risk exposing you as a second Blade to our enemies.”
“That’s nothing new. I’ve been hiding what I am all my life.”
“There is a new complication given what’s happened in the recent past. The Council has been hounding King Ditanu to agree to a betrothal year between Kuwari and a female of proper lineage.”
“That’s nothing new either,” Enkara stated as she stopped and folded her arms across her chest.
“No, but this time the Council was in complete agreement.”
“Ha. That’s a first.” Enkara chuckled even though she wasn’t feeling particularly humorous. The council never agreed unanimously on anything. Ever.
“Surely you and Kuwari’s parents wouldn’t agree to allow the council to force his hand.” But even as she said it, she saw Burrukan wince. Her stomach did a little unhappy flip.
“Regent Ahassunu and High Priestess Kammani agreed with the rest of the council. They convinced King Ditanu of the merits of such an arrangement. It will halt the infighting between the different city-states once Kuwari announces his choice and the female in question accepts.”
“But what about Kuwari? Doesn’t he get a vote in this? It’s his life after all. What if he doesn’t want to court a woman yet?” She intentionally ignored Burrukan’s raised eyebrow. Nothing had changed. There was no way she could agree to become ‘the female’ Kuwari picked.
“Kuwari doesn’t actually know about the counselor’s decision yet. He escaped his guards just after dinner before the Council meeting had concluded.”
Knowing what she did about Kuwari, she wasn’t sure he didn’t already know about the current decision regarding his future. Was that why he’d let her beat him so easily back in the tent? He’d hoped that things would develop naturally so he’d be spared the Council’s interference in his life?
That was likely. It also explained his vision and why ambitious n
obles would risk royal displeasure for the chance to bind a daughter to the Royal line.
It didn’t make any of it right or just.
“All those in power think it’s just fine to take away Kuwari’s choice in a mate? You’ll force him together with the female, and if she goes into heat and forges mating bonds with him, then that’s just fine? It’s barbaric.” Enkara’s blood rushed in her ears as her rage grew.
“Queen Iltani and I voted against it, but we were overruled.” Another hint of anger touched his voice.
Enkara turned from Burrukan to watch the surf roll in. The briny scent soothed her as it had since she’d first been freed from her dungeon cell to see the beauty of the world outside.
Sighing, she turned back to her mentor. “I don’t see how it affects me directly. There’s nothing I can do to change the councilors’ minds without revealing that I’m a Blade.”
“King Ditanu expected you and Kuwari to become betrothed. We all did.” Burrukan rubbed his jaw. “But you’ve rebuffed Kuwari more than a few times over the last two years, haven’t you? If asked, you’d turn down the betrothal.”
That was an entire speech coming from her closed-mouthed mentor. He deserved a truthful response.
“I love Kuwari dearly, but I couldn’t accept such an overture. It’s my duty to protect him from all dangers, including guarding his heart when he would give it away so freely. He needs a wise and compassionate mate, but one who is also shrewd and commands a solid understanding of how to run a kingdom. I’m sure with a bit of digging he’ll find a suitable mate somewhere among the nobility.”
She couldn’t lie to herself. The thought of the prince finding someone else was…painfully unsettling, but that didn’t negate all her earlier insecurities. She still had so much to learn, personal flaws to overcome before she’d be Kuwari’s equal and a worthy mate to a future king.
“You make it sound easy, like there’s an abundance of tolerable ladies for him to choose from,” Burrukan said with a dry huff.
Enkara shrugged. “As much as I don’t like the Council’s heavy-handed approach to this, there’s nothing I can do to change it, short of killing all the councilors.”
“Hmm. The part about killing all the councilors. Hmm. That idea has some merit…” Burrukan’s grin faded as his expression turned serious once more. “Kuwari is stubborn. He won’t bow gracefully to the council’s wishes. Even if you’re determined to be as blockheaded as him, and he’s forced to pick some other lady for the trial year, it doesn’t mean he’ll court her. Once the trial year expires, he’ll be free to court whoever he wishes. At which point we can all continue as we were, a year older and wiser.”
Enkara nodded in silence. A year or two from now, she might genuinely feel worthy to be both Ishtar’s Blade and Kuwari’s future co-ruler. And Kuwari would have matured into his role of Crown Prince. At which point, they’d be free to love each other if that’s what they both still wanted.
“Nonetheless,” Burrukan said, looking happy to have this particular conversation over. “I just wanted you to know what kind of situation you’d be walking into. Once Kuwari is betrothed for the trial year, no one can interfere with the couple.”
“I know the rules—”
“Then you see the problem. The only humans or gryphons allowed to spend any great length of time with the newly betrothed pair are already mated couples, the King’s Shadows, and Ishtar’s Blade. So once Ishtar awakens your power, you’ll be allowed to spend every moment shadowing him for his protection, but until that happens, Kuwari’s friend, Enkara, cannot remain at his side for any length of time.”
“I know. That’s why I’m hoping you’ll elevate me to a full Shadow shortly after we return to Nineveh.”
“I elevate no one, not even you, to a full Shadow until their training is complete.” His expression softened even though his tone didn’t. “However, I’ve let drop enough comments that even the densest of nobles will think I’m training you to be my replacement. Goddess knows I’m not getting any younger, so I suppose after Ishtar claims you as her Blade, I really am going to have to start looking for an apprentice to follow in my footsteps.” Burrukan shook his head sadly. “Then I’ll have to start all over again.”
Ah. Burrukan was correct. If he named her as his successor, her new duties would give her a legitimate reason to remain close to the heir.
“My mentor is wise,” Enkara said in a somber tone, fighting back a smile. “I am most blessed to receive so many bruises.”
“Mere reminders to move faster and strike down your opponent quicker.”
The grin bloomed fully. “Very true. In all seriousness, I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor.”
“And you are one of my best students. I’d have been happy to retire and leave the Order in your hands one day,” he grumbled. “Don’t know why one of Ishtar’s Blades can’t also be leader of the Shadows.”
“Because Ishtar doesn’t share. Or at least that’s what High Priestess Kammani once told me.”
Burrukan huffed his agreement. “Well, now that that’s out of the way, shall we go collect our very stubborn young prince? If we leave now and fly at top speed, we can be back to Nineveh before anyone knows the prince was missing.”
Burrukan’s words made sense. Unfortunately, she was still stuck on the ‘flying’ part.
“Do you wish me to take a boat back to Nineveh with my possessions?”
“No. You’ll fly with us. I’ll have one of the other students pack up your things and ship them back.”
Enkara nodded sharply, hoping she didn’t give away even a hint of the fear stirring in her blood. Fly. Burrukan wanted her to fly back to Nineveh. Well not actually fly, since she had yet to learn to shapeshift, but ride. He’d expect her to ride one of the other pureblood gryphons.
Goddess be merciful.
Chapter 3
Kuwari fidgeted with his makeshift robe while he waited for Burrukan to finish with whatever he thought he had to tell Enkara in private. The older male was mistaken if he thought she would keep her own counsel.
Secrets were an insult to the bond he shared with his Blade. She never kept secrets from him, and he shared everything with her, even his visions. At least the ones he understood. It needed to stay that way if they had any hope of averting future threats to the crown and the kingdom of New Sumer.
He still didn’t understand everything the goddess chose to show him, but sometimes he saw an event clearly, and by seeing it was able to sidestep some minor troubles. That wasn’t always the case, though. Other times, he’d change one outcome only to cause more headaches, leading in turn to new visions and seeing more fragmented bits of the future.
His father always said the chaotic visions were more curse than blessing, but Kuwari disagreed, at least in part. Without his gift, he never would have been able to touch Enkara’s mind when she’d been trapped in a dark cell. While he hadn’t been able to free her physical body himself, he’d been able to free her mind from that dark dungeon by showing her things through his own eyes.
That same gift allowed him to know her almost as well as he knew himself. He’d watched her grow from a horribly mistreated child into a strong, fiercely loyal woman. Oh, she had many other facets to her personality and insecurities as well. But as a boy, he’d idolized the brave girl who stood up to all those who attempted to befriend him for false reasons.
Being a Blade, Enkara could read a person’s intent. It was one of the first abilities Ishtar endowed upon her Blades. The talent would only grow in strength once Ishtar finally claimed Enkara as her Blade. He hoped other facets of their relationship would grow stronger after that event.
As Kuwari watched Burrukan and Enkara stride across the sandy beach toward his location, he couldn’t help but notice Ishtar had endowed her Blade with other gifts not limited to her mind.
The dark-haired child had grown into a graceful warrior woman. She was no delicate beauty, no. His Enkara was as tall as a man, broad-shoulder
ed and muscular, and could best him in a sword fight, matching him in brute strength while surpassing him in style and skill.
While no one would call her soft and her features might be too lean and angular for the court ideal of beauty, she still possessed enough curves no one would ever confuse her for a man. Only half consciously, his gaze slid from her face to study those enticing curves. Realizing that he’d likely be expected to shapeshift shortly, he directed his thoughts, and his eyes, to a safer location so a specific rebellious body part wouldn’t betray his current line of thought.
“You,” Burrukan growled as he halted before him. “Why aren’t you in gryphon form already? We’re leaving now.”
The barked tone doused the heat rising in Kuwari’s blood which was a benefit.
“You didn’t ask nicely,” Kuwari’s grin stretched further. Actually, Burrukan hadn’t asked him to return to gryphon form at all.
“I didn’t ask?” Burrukan’s question ended in a string of muttered curses in the ancient tongue.
Kuwari’s gaze settled on Enkara in time to see her fight back a smile.
“I’ll be but a moment. I just need to speak with her before we’re in the air and speech becomes difficult.” Kuwari snatched Enkara’s hand and dragged her with him towards her tent.
Communication was limited to their mental link once he shifted to his natural form, but he hadn’t revealed to anyone how deep that bond went. Some secrets were beneficial to maintain.
Once they were far enough away that Burrukan couldn’t hear, Enkara speared him with a dark look and muttered, “You just lied to Burrukan. And, yes, I’ll tell you what he said later before we reach Nineveh. But what do you really want to speak to me about?”
Kuwari didn’t answer her until they were almost at her tent. “I know you can’t shapeshift yet and you dread the thought of flying.”
Blade's Honor (Ishtar's Legacy Book 2) Page 3
