“I’m fine, but if you could remove the servant and give Enkara and I some space, all will be well.”
“First shift?” the Shadow asked.
“Yes. Unexpected. She had no time to prepare.”
“We’ll give you space but remain close enough should you require anything.”
Once the others were gone, Enkara relaxed her guard. Reaching out, he caressed her cheeks and then massaged her upright tufted ears.
“It’s good you’re finally able to shift. We can go hunting together now.”
He spoke mostly about inane things, merely wanting her to hear his voice and relax.
She was already calming when his father called to him from the outer chamber.
“Enter but come alone. Enkara has shifted and is ruled by her more primal instincts.”
“That’s what Uselli reported.” Ditanu walked into the room and his nostrils immediately flared. “I smell blood. Yours?”
Ditanu homed in on the two pale scars on Kuwari’s chest and one eyebrow arched with humor. “I see you take after me more than your mother. Ah, well, High Priestess Kammani should be getting used to Royals and Blades pre-empting the formal ritual.”
Heat flushed Kuwari’s cheeks. “I didn’t realize exposing Enkara to my blood would trigger her change.”
Ditanu chuckled. “That must’ve been a surprise. Did it happen during or after the Blooding Ceremony?”
“After.”
That damned merry twinkle in his father’s eyes grew brighter. “Somehow I imagine you envisioned a somewhat different ending to the ritual.”
Kuwari grinned sheepishly. “Last night Enkara agreed to become my betrothed. I see no reason not to start the courtship before the official announcement.”
Ditanu’s expression relaxed, the fine lines around his mouth and between his brows smoothing. “I’m happy Enkara has finally admitted her feelings.”
“As am I.”
The merry light was back in his father’s eyes a moment later. “She couldn’t stand aside and allow another female to claim you even if it was only going to be a false betrothal.”
Ditanu held out his hand for Enkara to sniff. She gave it a good once over and then returned to rubbing her scent on the back of Kuwari’s calves.
His father’s look of humor grew as he took in Enkara’s vigorous rubbing.
Kuwari scowled at his father, having a feeling this moment was going to be discussed with Burrukan later over a pitcher of wine and much laughter. “If you grin any harder, your face is going to split in two.”
The king managed to choke back his laughter. “It’s just that this type of scent marking often leads to other things.”
“I have no intention of—”
“Enjoy your hunting trip, my son.”
Damn! His father had seen a vision of this. That’s how he’d gotten here so fast. Kuwari glowered at his father. “Enkara’s human side will reassert itself shortly.”
“Don’t worry about your duties today,” Ditanu said, completely ignoring his son’s comment. “I’ll see that everyone is made aware that you are taking a day for yourself.”
“That isn’t entirely necessary, I’m sure a morning hunt will be sufficient.”
“Take the day, trust me.” With that, his father left him standing there with Enkara half curled around him, and he didn’t have the slightest idea how to bring her human mind to the forefront.
***
Gathering her thoughts was like getting honey to flow from a clay jar on a cold morning. It would happen eventually but might take a long while. In the meantime, there were worse things than drawing in deep breaths of Kuwari’s delectable scent.
Subtle variances in his scent markers told her many things. He was a male entering his prime breeding years. And his contentment over the fact she’d chosen him was a rich, warm scent suffusing the room.
What? Wait!
What had happened and why was she kneeling next to Kuwari?
Glancing down at herself, understanding struck. Ah! She’d finally shifted to gryphon form. A few other details snapped into place as well. She’d been scent marking Kuwari. While she’d likely find that embarrassing when she returned to human form, her gryphon mind thought it the most natural thing in the world.
“Come,” Kuwari said as he looked down at her. “Hunt with me. It will help you become more accustomed to your new gryphon body.”
Bobbing her head, she silently admitted she’d follow his delicious and entirely too appealing scent anywhere.
Gesturing her forward, he walked to the door and out into the corridor where he gave the guards new orders. As she followed, she discovered the spacious chambers and passageways now felt narrow and confining.
“We’ll be out under the open sky shortly,” Kuwari murmured in soothing tones, his fingers finding their way into her feathered ruff. After a few good scratches, she found herself purring.
She likely should feel somewhat more self-conscious than she did, but once they were outside, surrounded by the sky and the green scent of plants, her human concerns fell away. Her wings unfurled to cup the breeze.
“Soon,” Kuwari promised. “Let me shift and I’ll teach you the joys of flight.”
As promised, he soon found a secluded part of the garden where he shed his clothing and shifted forms. Enkara sniffed as the handsome gryphon sidled up beside her playfully. He smelled even better as a gryphon and she like the flex and ripple of muscles below his sleek fur. Purring, she decided her prince was a fine looking male in either shape.
He didn’t give her long to admire him though, and soon he was touching her mind, showing her about the wind currents and the thermals rising from the ground and how to harness them to take command of the skies.
When she understood, he led her to a long flat bit of land where he put on a burst of speed, leaped up into the air and left the ground behind in a series of powerful wingbeats. He didn’t go far. Circling back around, he slowed his airspeed and angled his wings to drop gracefully to the ground beside her.
He demonstrated twice more before urging her to run with him. Then with a mighty leap and a few beats of her wings, she was airborne, flying wingtip to wingtip with her chosen one.
Chapter 19
Lady Kullaa stood in the royal gardens, the flowers she’d been picking long forgotten, as five Shadows in gryphon form dropped out of the sky to land in a stretch of well-groomed grass surrounded by small, flowering trees. Moments later, Crown Prince Kuwari and an unknown female gryphon with glossy black feathers lightening to burgundy at the tips came in for a landing as well. The coloring was both rare and striking.
Kullaa felt a spike of guilt. She wasn’t supposed to be here, and while she wasn’t spying for her mother, she was curious which female had caught the prince’s eye enough to share a flight with him.
Then the two shapeshifted and she realized the other female was Shadow Enkara. But that wasn’t what shocked her. It was the tattoo running down Enkara’s back that made Kullaa’s eyes widen in surprise. Moments later Enkara pulled on her robe, hiding the mark of Ishtar.
Now it was apparent why Crown Prince Kuwari ignored every eligible female that crossed his path. They all paled in comparison to his goddess chosen Enkara.
Kullaa had once seen Queen Iltani’s tattoo during the spring planting festival, so she knew the mark of a Blade when she saw one.
Enkara was Kuwari’s Blade.
No one would ever have guessed. Never had two Blades been born at the same time. If her mother and the other council members had known this, they never would have interfered, no matter how much they wanted a pure-blooded gryphon lady sitting on the throne. None would be so arrogant as to go against Ishtar’s wishes.
For some reason unknown to Kullaa, her mother, and the other council members, the Royals were keeping Enkara’s heritage a secret. Assassination attempts were far from unusual. That must be the reason for the secrecy. And hadn’t King Ditanu done something similar in his que
st to protect Iltani?
Kullaa grinned as something else became clear. Her mother could do nothing to influence Crown Prince Kuwari’s choice. Maybe now Kullaa would be permitted to court the male she fancied instead of being forced to appease her mother’s wishes.
Excitement and hope flowed through her blood, and she waited impatiently for the prince and his escort to leave the gardens. Once they were gone, she squeezed out of her hiding spot. Well, she wasn’t actually hiding. Not from the prince and Enkara. Her mother, that was another matter.
She’d been coming here every so often as an escape from her mother and the court. It was quiet here, and she’d found a broad flat rock overlooking the ocean at the edge of the garden that was perfect for sunning.
Sunning in the king’s garden was the one bit of rebelliousness she allowed herself. She’d only been caught once, by Shadow Uselli. It had been her first meeting with the imposing Shadow. That first time she’d been terrified, thinking he was going to execute her for trespassing in the Royal Gardens.
Yet he only laughed and asked why she was there. Still too terrified to lie, she spilled the truth about her overbearing mother. Uselli had just laughed harder and told her she could continue to use the garden as long as the royal family wasn’t present.
After that, she’d seen him in the garden a few times, and they’d always exchanged pleasantries before returning to their duties.
But now she’d gone and accidentally broken that rule. She’d be lucky if—
“Lady Kullaa,” a deep, familiar male voice called from just behind her shoulder. “I thought I’d made myself clear about certain requirements.”
Kullaa nearly jumped out of her skin but swallowed back her surprise and answered calmly. “Shadow Uselli, I’m so sorry. If I’d known the prince and Enkara had gone for a flight and would be coming back this way, I never would have stayed.”
“All the same, you will accompany me back to my office for questioning.” He said it with such a straight face, she began to fear he was in absolute earnest.
A blush climbed up her cheeks. She nodded her head, murmuring an apology.
Uselli maintained his serious expression for a good half of the trip to his office. Kullaa grew more and more nervous.
“Please don’t tell my mother,” she begged at last.
“What? Hold a conversation with that bloodthirsty jackal? Never.” At which point, he doubled over laughing and told her he was looking for an excuse to avoid Burrukan in the practice ring.
After a long afternoon sitting across from Uselli, hunched over a plain, unadorned Ur board, losing round after round of the game to him, he took her last white square, winning again. But she’d never enjoyed losing a game as much as she did to the Shadow.
But eventually, he admitted he’d have to let her go or risk her mother calling for a hunt to look for her missing daughter.
She’d departed then, feeling ridiculously flustered and happy. At least until she reached her mother’s chambers. Kullaa had barely closed the door behind her when she heard footsteps approaching.
“Where have you been?” Her mother growled.
“I went for a walk.”
“For half the day?” she challenged in her best Councilwoman tone.
“I... I sometimes walk in the garden reserved for the royal family. I know it’s off-limits, but it’s always so quiet there, and the king and his family almost never go there, and Shadow Uselli said it was all right as long as I’m not there when the Royals are using it.”
Nakurtum’s eyebrow nearly arched to her hairline. “You were caught and then given permission to return by the second in command of the Shadows? The king’s oldest and closest friend?”
“Yes,” Kullaa said in a meek voice, already knowing what her mother was thinking.
“That shows great favor. A Shadow wouldn’t act without instruction. Either King Ditanu or Crown Prince Kuwari must favor you. And everyone saw how the prince selected you to dance with him three times during the night of the celebration.”
Actually, Kullaa was pretty sure she’d been selected by Enkara because she’d been deemed safe and the least likely to assault the prince during the dance. “I can say with confidence that Kuwari and Enkara will be mated shortly.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“They love each other.”
Nakurtum scoffed. “Enkara was raised with him like a sister.”
“There is nothing brotherly and sisterly about their relationship.”
“Be that as it may, Enkara is just an unknown half-breed orphan. Take away her upbringing, and she has no more social standing than a peasant or a servant. Prince Kuwari knows his duty. He’ll pick a suitable mate to keep the magic of the gryphons strong.”
Kullaa winced. “You may want to rethink your words, Mother. Even though she’s an orphan and doesn’t claim a tie to one of the noble houses, I think Enkara might be noble blood.”
Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “What makes you say that?”
“Her black and burgundy coloring is very unusual. When I was studying the heraldry lists during my education on Uruk, I read about the rare coloration. I just can’t remember which line produces it.”
“Black coloration? There hasn’t been a black gryphon in several generations.” Her mother looked thoughtful. “Enkara’s heritage shouldn’t be that difficult to track. And if she is noble blood and King Ditanu is hiding that fact, then there must be a reason.”
“Mother! Just stop. It doesn’t matter if Enkara is noble born or the daughter of a fishmonger, she’s been chosen by Ishtar to be Kuwari’s fated mate.”
“Nonsense. The gods don’t concern themselves with such insignificant mortal matters. Certainly not a half-breed gryphon like Enkara. But the council exists to make certain the royal line is protected from making bad decisions.”
“Enkara is his Blade.”
Kullaa savored the moment her mother understood her words.
Eyes widening, lips parting, Nakurtum mouthed the word “no.” Then in a strangled voice, “That’s not possible. There’s never two.”
“Until now, no,” Kullaa agreed.
“But a second Blade!”
“I know it’s hard to believe, but Enkara had been out flying with Kuwari, and when she shifted back to human form, I saw the tattoo. It was exactly like the one on Queen Iltani’s spine.”
For the first time in her life, Kullaa witnessed her mother speechless. It was a new and rather enjoyable experience. “You see? Kuwari and Enkara are perfectly matched. No other female ever really had a chance with the prince.” Kullaa squared her shoulders. “Given this new information, I would like to focus my courtship elsewhere.”
Nakurtum’s expression went from shocked to thoughtful. “You’ve done well my daughter, but don’t start courting another male yet. There is still hope to land the prince.”
“He loves Enkara. That was plain to see.”
“Dear girl, have you not noticed that there are four thrones sitting at the front of the Great Hall?”
“Yes of course —”
“King Ditanu has a queen to love and a consort to rule at his side.”
“Two regents actually,” Kullaa pointed out, feeling rebellious. “But that was just an elaborate ploy to protect Iltani when she was young and vulnerable. Ahassunu was never mated to King Ditanu.”
“True, yet King Ditanu still shares the ruling of New Sumer with Regent Ahassunu even after he revealed to all that Iltani was his mated Blade and elevated her to Queen. Ditanu values Ahassunu for her wise guidance. Look at Enkara, training for war and protection, but she knows nothing about how to rule a kingdom.”
“The situation with Enkara is nothing like Ditanu and Iltani. For one, Enkara is older and likely only a moon cycle or two away from completing the Blooding Ceremony. Once that happens there will be no need to hide what she is, and he’ll be able to name her as his Blade and mate.”
“Goddess, it will be a disaster. That
girl is like a female version of Burrukan—the least politically-minded man ever born.”
“But it doesn’t matter. Enkara is Ishtar’s choice.”
Nakurtum’s eyes widened and she laughed. “Ishtar’s choice for a Blade, yes, but many Blades never perform the Sacred Marriage or become mated to the monarch. Sometimes Ishtar simply wished a military leader to aid a young king or queen. For all we know Ishtar fully plans for Kuwari to take a noblewoman as his mate for the good of all New Sumer.”
“But Kuwari loves Enkara.”
“Yes, yes, perhaps. But he’s still unmated, and the gods haven’t called on him and his Blade to perform the Sacred Marriage. It’s likely they won’t since they already have Ditanu and Iltani. And if the gods don’t declare Enkara and Kuwari a pair, then that leaves you a wide, clear path to the throne.”
“But Mother—”
“All I need is the correct leverage…and you may just have found that for me as well. I must arrange a trip to Uruk to view the heraldry scrolls.”
Kullaa sank down in a nearby chair.
Oh, great goddess Ishtar, please strike me down for being so foolish as to think my mother and I could ever reach an understanding.
There would be no reasoning with her mother. Kullaa knew she needed to find a way to warn Crown Prince Kuwari and Shadow Enkara.
Chapter 20
Priestess Enheduana placed a bowl of water on the altar. “Thus, do I honor Nammu of the primeval waters.”
Balahu stepped forward and cupped his hands over the bowl, shaping the dome like-symbol for the heavens. “Thus, I do honor An of the Sky.”
“And Ki of the earth.” Enusat dropped a shard of volcanic rock into the small bowl.
Next Balathu placed a bloodied dagger and a stalk of diseased wheat upon the altar. “I honor slayed Nergal, god of pestilence, war, and the killing high summer sun. May he soon be restored in all his glory.”
Enheduana freed a tiny owl from his cage and gave him a gentle head scratch before setting him on a perch just above the altar. Reaching inside her robe’s sleeve, she drew a dagger from a hidden sheath. The owl turned his wide, unblinking eyes upon her.
Blade's Honor (Ishtar's Legacy Book 2) Page 15
