Iltani closed her eyes as the boat began to move, slicing through the water with incredible speed. The boat’s rocking lulled her, and the presence of the goddess faded, though not wholly.
Chapter 15
Iltani felt time’s passage and the sky turning pink in the east.
Dawn came at last as the boat continued gliding through the water, drawing ever closer to Nineveh and her king.
Iltani’s mind drifted for a time, and then Ishtar returned, her presence strong once more.
Between one moment and the next, Iltani found herself impossibly back in the king’s rooms.
And yet not, for the boat still rocked with motion and Kuwari whimpered softly. Somehow, her blood link with Ditanu, or another of Ishtar’s gifts, was allowing her to see what he was seeing.
In her vision, Ditanu was sitting on his bed, stroking the still fluffy mane of his second-born cub. It took her a moment to realize the little one’s sides no longer rose with life, that at some point during the battle, a second tiny thread in her blood link had snapped and she’d been unaware of its absence until now.
Grief welled up within her soul—mirroring Ditanu’s pain. The blood-link, gift and curse that it was, allowed her to partake in his deeply personal pain.
Iltani wished she could offer him comfort in person, but she was still out in the ocean, in a boat guided by Ishtar’s hand.
Ditanu stroked his cub’s mane as he murmured a prayer to speed his little one’s soul into the afterlife. Iltani sensed he was holding onto his composure by tiny little threads. Each moment that slipped by, her thoughts merged more fully with his, until there were only his thoughts.
His mind was a chaotic well of emotions.
Grief and rage were mixing into a lethal brew. But above all that pain and despair, was the need to know what happened to the rest of his loved ones. He refused to acknowledge the horrible possibility that they might all be…no he would not…no.
Ditanu choked back a sob and raised his eyes from the body of his cub to direct his cold stare straight at his second in command.
“Uselli, what news have you learned? Surely some of the survivors have news. Someone somewhere knows something. Where are my other cubs? Iltani? Ahassunu or Burrukan?”
Uselli shook his head. “I’m sorry my king. We don’t know what has happened to them yet. More survivors arrive every hour. There is still hope. Burrukan is well trained, and Iltani is your most loyal Shadow.” Uselli reached out and rested his hand on Ditanu’s shoulder. “Now that we know she is Ishtar’s chosen…I know she will protect your remaining cubs. Iltani is too stubborn and determined. She won’t let anything stop her. Besides, she has a goddess on her side.”
Ditanu desperately wanted to believe that Iltani was still out there somewhere, his remaining cubs safe in her care. Nevertheless, hope was a hard thing to cling to with each hour’s passing and still no word of his loved ones reached his ears.
He’d reverted to his human form, but he could feel his gryphon in his mind, pacing, always pacing, wanting to go find his true mate and cubs. The need was nearly too much to battle, but he did. He couldn’t allow his gryphon self to win. His people needed their king thinking and reasoning, not one who was raging mad.
“What else have you learned? Who are these mercenaries working for and to what extent have they compromised our defenses?”
Uselli gave his report, and Ditanu clung to each detail, hoping to fight the growing wildness within himself.
***
The king’s mind vanished from Iltani’s consciousness as Ishtar dragged her attention elsewhere.
“No, wait,” Iltani pleaded with the goddess. “Ditanu is in danger. If he thinks his family is dead…”
Therein lay the real danger to the king—himself. If he thought his entire family was dead, he would succumb to a gryphon’s grief madness, like his father before him.
Please, go back, Iltani begged.
Ishtar didn’t listen and the world shifted and spun away.
In another moment, Iltani found her mind thrust into another body. This new body was female. People were flocking around her. After a moment, Iltani recognized them. Priests and priestesses in service to Ishtar. Iltani was within High Priestess Kammani’s body.
She stood in the throne room, on the stairs leading to the throne where King Ditanu now sat, as stone-faced as she’d ever seen him.
He was holding a war council, gathering information so he could mount some form of retaliation. Priestess Kammani was there to offer support, but Iltani could sense the deeply rooted fear Kammani had for her nephew’s well-being.
Ditanu sat, listening as the reports came in, but he was so still it was as if he wasn’t even breathing.
Other survivors had made it back to the king’s city, but all their reports were equally unhappy. When asked, none of them had heard anything about Burrukan, Ahassunu, or Iltani. No one knew what happened to the king’s other cubs.
Burrukan’s second in command, Uselli, had sent out search parties to learn what happened. Now all anyone could do was wait.
Iltani, trapped within the priestess’s mind could feel her despair, but was unable to talk to her, to reassure her—she couldn’t give the priestess so much as a glimmer of hope to share with the king.
Time crept by. Iltani’s drifting mind returned to the boat, but her connection with the priestess was still strong, and sometime later, when Uselli returned with more survivors, she was thrust back into the priestess’s body.
The court fell silent as Ditanu ordered Uselli forward. He came and placed a small cloak-wrapped bundle in Ditanu’s outstretched arms and then prostrated himself on the floor.
“I am sorry, my king,” Uselli whispered.
Priestess Kammani placed a hand upon Ditanu’s shoulder. “Why don’t we retire to your personal quarters for this?”
Ditanu ignored her and unwrapped the bundle.
It was the oldest cub, Humusi. The one Iltani had failed to save and been forced to leave on the beach.
The king ran his fingers over her delicate head and whispered a prayer, then with such gentleness causing Iltani to weep, Ditanu covered his cub back up and held her small body to his chest, as if the sound of his heart might still somehow comfort her.
If Uselli had managed to get there and back already, perhaps they had found and rescued Ahassunu and Burrukan? Maybe they were with healers even now?
Uselli’s next words destroyed Iltani’s naïve hope.
“By the time our troops had gathered and made the crossing to Uruk, it was too late. The surviving invaders had already abandoned the beach. We combed through the temple and rubble. We found the bodies of Etum and Eluti as well as others.” He drew a deep breath before continuing. “We are still in the process of bringing back bodies…however, there was a large pyre on the beach…”
Iltani saw a muscle twitch in the king’s jaw, but he gave away nothing else. “Continue,” he ordered.
“Evidence shows the enemy dragged many of the bodies there and burned them before they left.”
“To dishonor the dead and inflict more pain upon the living,” Ditanu’s sharp retort was pain etched, but he motioned Uselli to continue. “You have more to report?”
“We were unable to identify Ahassunu or Kuwari among the dead, but...”
“Burrukan?”
“No sign, my king. I’m sorry.”
“Iltani?” Ditanu uttered as his voice broke. His jaw flexed again. “I would know if Iltani was dead. As long as she draws breath, there is hope my Kuwari still lives.”
Uselli flinched and his eyes slid toward the Priestess as if begging for some distraction.
“You know something else.” Ditanu leaned forward, his fingers gripping his throne in a white-knuckled grip. “Tell me.”
It was an order clear and simple, one no Shadow could deny. Uselli didn’t look happy, but he continued. “We found a survivor in the ruins. One of Beletum’s guards. He claims to have knowledge of
Iltani and Kuwari. He would not tell me the news. If you would give me a few moments with him, to be certain this is not just some political maneuvering to gain your favor, I would like to verify this. To be certain.”
“I will hear him and then decide a course of action.” Ditanu gestured with his right arm, his dead cub still held in the other. Pain etched across his face, he snarled, “Bring him forward.”
Priestess Kammani offered to take the lifeless cub, but Ditanu waved her off.
There was a shuffling and shifting of bodies as another person was brought forward. He wore the uniform of a guard of the house of Beletum. His appearance was as rough as the rest of the court, bloody and battle worn. The newcomer had a noticeable limp, his lower leg bandaged.
Still, he hobbled forward and then executed an almost elegant bow to the king.
“Your Highness, I am sorry for your loss,” he paused, his demeanor taking on a nervous quality.
Ishtar’s power stirred fitfully, her hostile interest narrowing to focus upon Beletum’s guardsman.
“Rise,” Ditanu said in a clipped voice. “Tell me what you know.”
“I was injured in the first volley of cannon fire. In the chaos, I was separated from the rest of my men, so I helped others reach what we thought would be safety on the northern beach. We were wrong. The battle was raging there as well. A few other survivors and I made it to the harbor. We made a last stand among the rocks at the edge of the cliff while the tide was low. From there I saw much of the battle.” His eyes shifted to the left, scanning the faces around him.
Looking to see who all had survived? Or was that nervous evasion?
He continued on, unaware of Kammani’s and Iltani’s deepening scrutiny. “It was there I saw them moving the bodies of Consort Ahassunu and her Shadows. Burrukan had been killed first I believe, though, from my location, I only saw what happened afterward.”
Iltani’s heart constricted with new pain. So Burrukan and Ahassunu hadn’t escaped. She knew they didn’t stand much of a chance, but Burrukan had always been so resourceful she’d held out hope that he’d find a way.
“And what did you see?” Ditanu’s cold voice pierced Iltani’s thoughts. “Afterward?”
Yes, Iltani thought, what did you really see? The battle would have been over by then. Ishtar had already put her and Kuwari in the boat and escaped with them before Burrukan met his fate.
“I think Burrukan and Consort Ahassunu fell trying to protect the two cubs. Afterward, I saw Burrukan’s apprentice, Iltani, running across the beach with Kuwari in her arms. One of the enemy soldiers shot her in the back with a musket. Seeing she was wounded but still alive, the other survivors and I tried to aid her. Many were slow, already injured and fell to the enemies’ weapons. I took a blow to the head. I think they thought I was dead. Too stunned to move, at first, I could only watch as they toyed with her…before…before they decapitated her,” he paused in his story and then nervously glanced behind him. Seeming to gather his courage, he looked up from the floor. “I am sorry, but once she fell, they made short work of your helpless cub.”
“Lies!” Ditanu roared and lunged up from his throne.
Iltani agreed. For that, most certainly, was not what had happened.
Ditanu slashed out at Beletum’s guard, claws extended as he shifted into gryphon form. The guard, too surprised by the sudden attack, didn’t react fast enough, never seeing death coming. One moment he was standing before the king, the next, a sharp snap heralded his neck being broken by a mighty blow from Ditanu’s paw.
Ditanu blasted out another roar and charged at Uselli. The Shadow was faster than Beletum’s guard, and he managed to escape a killing blow. Still, blood flew in a spray across the polished stone floor.
The court erupted in shouts and yelling as King Ditanu, lost to battle rage and grief madness, cut his way across the crowded hall.
He lies. Ishtar whispered.
Those two words seemed to reach Priestess Kammani’s mind where Iltani’s had not. The High Priestess halted in her tracks.
My Blade still lives. She guards the seeds of the future.
Kammani remained frozen a moment more, then began shouting orders. “Shadows, to me! Half of you clear the room, the rest distract your king. We must contain him.”
More guards rushed in from the main doors, coming to her calls and the king’s roars.
Uselli was beside her in moments and together they started to build a plan.
Iltani watched and listened, still linked to Kammani through Ishtar’s magic, but she felt more ghost than alive now.
Ditanu had descended into grief madness. Iltani didn’t know if even Kuwari would be enough to bring him out of it again.
***
Priestess Kammani rubbed a hand over her eyes, trying and failing to rub away the exhaustion blurring the edge of her vision. The King’s Shadows had been successful in luring the enraged Ditanu down into the cage of magic she’d created in the sands of the practice ring.
The golden glow of the shield circling a large expanse of the sand ring didn’t soften the despair emanating from the other Shadows standing guard outside the ring. By the time they’d gotten Ditanu into the cage, he’d been far beyond reason.
Nothing Kammani said calmed the enraged king.
At least, he was safe within the cage. Only the quick thinking of Uselli allowed them to trick Ditanu into it at all.
Uselli had sent servants running to steal pillows from the royal nursery. Using the pillows with the scent of Ditanu’s cubs, they tricked him into the cage. However, once he’d learned his cubs were not within, he’d set to pacing and attacking the walls of his prison.
With many Shadows injured, their grief-maddened king far beyond help, the court in disarray, the council broken, many of its members dead, Kammani dearly needed Ishtar’s guidance, but Ishtar had been silent after that first warning. Kammani barely knew where to start.
No. That wasn’t true. She knew where to start.
Find Iltani and Kuwari.
May Ishtar grant her blessings upon them all.
For only Iltani and Kuwari could save King Ditanu now, and if they were not found soon, it would be too late.
Chapter 16
Many hours later, the council was at an impasse. Kammani secretly wished Ishtar would come and dance upon all their heads, but of course—the goddess was busy elsewhere, keeping Iltani and Kuwari safe, she hoped. If Kammani could have simply told the other councilors Kuwari still lived—somewhere—it would calm some of this storm.
But she didn’t dare risk endangering Iltani or Kuwari by repeating what Ishtar had told her.
There were traitors somewhere deep in gryphon territory.
Perhaps as high up as a council member.
Kammani glanced around at her fellow councilors.
If those traitors learned Kuwari still lived, they would do all in their power to make sure he never made it back to Nineveh.
“I refuse to believe my daughter and Kuwari both are dead. I want more proof than speculation and that questionable source of Beletum’s.” Councilor Shalanum stood so fast his chair scraped across the floor with a screech.
Ahassunu’s father was one of the few councilors Kammani trusted. Their friendship went back a long way, but even so, she feared if she told him, he would do something rash and alert their enemies that Kuwari was still alive.
“While you have us all out searching on your impossible fool’s errand,” Beletum sneered, “we’ll be allowing the line of the gryphon kings to perish. We’ll all die with it. Or is that what you want?” Beletum retorted.
“Fool’s errand?” Shalanum snarled back, looking like he was going to come across the table to challenge Beletum to a physical battle, mere words not satisfying enough. “How is seeking the last hope of all gryphonkind a fool’s errand, tell me that?”
Beletum waved her hand dismissively. “Your misguided theory is understandable, given your own grief at your daughter’s loss.”
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br /> Kammani decided she wouldn’t get in Councilor Shalanum’s way if he made a move to kill the other councilor, but she did wonder what Beletum was after. Apparently she had a plan. One Kammani wouldn’t like, on principle alone. Beletum’s father was tight-lipped as well.
A slow smile spread across Beletum’s lips, confirming Kammani’s earlier misgivings.
“Ishtar has blessed us with another possibility. Yes, his mate and cubs are dead, but the king still lives. The seed of the gryphon line can be renewed.”
Councilor Ubarum looked up from where he’d been studying the table as if it was the most exciting thing in the room. He probably had as little stomach for the bickering of the councilors as Kammani herself. Burrukan had been his brother.
Ubarum’s gaze narrowed upon Beletum. “What are you going on about?”
Beletum smoothed a hand over her hair as if in thought. “We all saw our king descend into grief madness at learning the fate of his mate and cubs. Once the rage burns itself out, it will take his will to live with it. When that happens, he will go into an unresponsive state, and then fall into a deep sleep from which he will not wake. When he dies, most, if not all, gryphon magic will die with him. All the inhabitants of the city-states will be exposed to the outside world.”
“We all know the worst-case scenario.”
“But have you thought about the best case? We have a little over a day to preserve the line of the gryphon kings, and by that, I mean begetting another litter in a fertile womb. With enough herbs and a fertile female willing to allow the impregnation, it might be possible to avoid doom for many more generations.”
“You speak treason so easily,” Kammani said in passing.
The silence in the room was absolute. Kammani could hear the other councilors breathing. No one moved. Too shocked? Or weighing the possibilities of success? When one’s own life was on the line, one tended to become morally flexible. Still, no one wanted to be the first to agree to Beletum’s treasonous words.
Queen of the Gryphons: Ishtar's Legacy: Books 1 & 2 Page 15