With a huff of annoyance, Beletum’s father, Councilor Ziyatum stood, the sound of his chair scraping back loud in the quiet room.
He gestured at the table. “This silence is as ridiculous as Priestess Kammani’s mention of treason. We are all facing our doom. The king will be dead in a day, two at most. Then it will be just us alone, trying to keep our kingdom safe as our magic dies. How are my daughter’s words any more treasonous than sitting and doing nothing?”
Pirhum, the oldest gryphon on the council, squinted at Beletum and gave her father a deep frown, but he looked thoughtful, too. “What you suggest goes against everything we hold sacred. Under normal circumstances, it would be treason to take away the king’s will for no reason other than to save our own hides.”
He stood and went to a side table to pour himself a drink. “Yet, as you say, King Ditanu will die, and much of our magic will die with him. He loves his people, and I believe he would not wish that fate upon any of us. If he were capable of understanding our dilemma at this time, he would forgive us.” The councilor shrugged. “He will likely be too far gone to realize what is happening, or that he isn’t with his mate. If he can be persuaded at all.” His tone suggested he doubted it.
“Doubtful,” Kammani agreed, and then arched a brow, already knowing the answer to her next question. “Who do you plan to send?”
“It’s no secret my mate is sterile,” Beletum said with a shrug. “Yet I still cycle for him.” She glanced at her mate in question. Nidnatum looked mildly uncomfortable but offered no comment.
Beletum patted her mate’s hand with what must be honest affection. “I am presently in the early stages of my fertility cycle. I’m willing to risk whatever I must to ensure our culture survives. Besides, I won’t ask another to do what I wouldn’t do myself.”
Oh, the tremendous self-sacrificing Beletum. So noble and concerned for her people. Of course, it had nothing to do with her ambitions for the throne, to be the new consort, mother to the next generation of gryphon royalty. Kammani snorted.
Beletum was the most self-serving of the council members, and that was saying something.
“Ditanu will likely just kill you.”
The momentary calm soon dissolved into the chaotic debate of earlier. Priestess Kammani could only shake her head. Ditanu was loyal to his true mate, that bond unshakable and goddess blessed. He would kill whatever female made an attempt to supplant her.
Kammani had never liked Beletum, and wouldn’t be too broken up when Ditanu carved her to pieces. Better her, than some other poor innocent they might try to match with the king.
If this distraction kept the traitor on the council from guessing Iltani and Kuwari still lived, all the better. Once Ishtar’s Blade and the cub were found, the Shadows would protect them from further harm.
When she knew the future of the gryphon kingdom had been safeguarded, Kammani would turn her attention to rooting out the vipers within her kingdom.
Again, her eyes slid to Beletum. As much as she disliked the female, the young councilor wasn’t the mastermind behind the first attack which had killed Ditanu’s mother and siblings. No, she was far too young, a cub herself at the time. But Beletum’s father? He warranted close watching.
Kammani was about to leave the council to their bickering, when her link to her goddess awoke, flooding her with power. Ah. Ishtar had a task for her. Kammani could only hope it was the answer to her prayers. Standing, she stepped away from the table. The vocal debate stilled. Into that brief silence, she said, “Ishtar has need of me elsewhere. Once I have attended to that summons, I will deal with King Ditanu. In the meantime, do as you wish, but know if my nephew comes to harm from Beletum’s scheme, I will personally seek you out and remove your head from your shoulders.”
If Ditanu didn’t do it first.
With that threat still hanging in the air, she swept from the room, heading in the direction Ishtar urged.
The tug led Kammani out of the palace, down the long, twisted path of the Processional Way, and on by Shadows guarding the streets, keeping the peace and preventing panic from harming the citizens. She walked swiftly onward to Ishtar’s Gate.
When she reached the gate, she motioned four of the Shadows guarding it to follow her.
“Come with me,” Kammani ordered. There were many on duty, more than usual after the attack on Uruk, but instinct told her she’d need the guards.
Kammani continued down the stairs until she stepped onto the beach. There she stood looking out into the ocean’s vast expanse.
Behind her, she sensed the Shadows following. They were too well trained to question her actions, but they must be curious. She was opening her mouth to tell them she was serving Ishtar’s wishes when she spotted a bright bit of magic racing toward them from far out on the ocean.
As it drew closer, it took the shape of a small boat. A clear shell of protective magic encircled the entire boat, but when it finally came to shore, propelled by Ishtar’s unseen hand, the magic protecting the boat burst, vanishing in a cloud of sparks and mist.
Kammani’s breath hissed out on a gasp at what was revealed and then she sent up a prayer of thanks, for the hope of all gryphonkind lay curled in the bottom of the boat.
Iltani slept, still curled protectively around the remaining royal cub.
Chapter 17
Iltani jerked awake with a gasp, not knowing where she was at first. Slowly, too slowly, she began recognizing the furniture around her. A plush quilt covered the massive bed. Brown silk drapes shrouded it from the rest of the suite. By some strange twist of fate, she was in the king’s suites, his bed to be precise. She glanced around once more.
The king was nowhere near. Her blood link told her he was farther away, but still in the castle.
Alive, but terribly distressed.
Of course, he was. He’d thought everyone he loved was dead.
She needed to go to him, to let him know he still had one living cub and four tiny unborn sparks of life that would one day grow and mend the hole in his heart. The unreasoning need had her up and stumbling from the bed before she noticed there were others in the room with her.
High Priestess Kammani and several other priests and priestess were gathered around a low table, their backs to Iltani.
Kammani glanced over her shoulder at Iltani, acknowledging her with a nod, but turned back to Kuwari. After a moment, she finished with the cub. A squawk emanated from behind Kammani, and Kuwari’s head popped up, swiveling from side to side, searching for her.
“Good, you’re awake. How do you feel?” Kammani asked.
“I need to see Ditanu.” Iltani didn’t want to stand around discussing useless things while she still didn’t know the king’s full condition. While he ‘felt’ wrong to her blood link, it didn’t exactly tell her how far he’d already succumbed to grief madness. There were several phases, each worse than the last until finally, death claimed the hapless victim. She hoped he was still in the first phase, but the sooner they reunited Kuwari and his father, the better.
Iltani walked over to the table, intending to scoop up the cub and then seek out his father until she remembered something else and her fingers rested against her own belly.
It was still unreal. So much had happened in a short time, she was still trying to process it all. No. Kuwari wasn’t the only surviving member of Ditanu’s family. She was the new surrogate mother to Ditanu’s next litter.
Goddess Ishtar be merciful.
What a mixed up fate.
Later, she’d sort out her chaotic emotions and thoughts. For now, there was only Ditanu’s need. He needed to learn he wasn’t alone in this world.
Kammani made room for Iltani at the table. “We are almost finished healing Kuwari. As important as it is to reunite Ditanu with his family as quickly as possible, I decided it was best not to take an injured cub to Ditanu in his present state. He is already unbalanced. Seeing his cub in pain would only trigger even more over-protective parental instincts. Ditanu has already c
arved up enough of his Shadows.”
“Does Ditanu have other injuries?” Life-threatening ones? She couldn’t ask it aloud.
“A few minor wounds. The greatest threat is grief and stress to his body.”
“I had dreams while I was traveling here,” Iltani frowned. “Ishtar somehow linked our souls, and I could see through your eyes. I saw Ditanu kill that guardsman—the one who claimed to have seen me die along with Kuwari.”
“Then you know a bit of what has happened.” Kammani scooped up Kuwari and then gave him to Iltani. “I would prefer to keep Kuwari here, but I don’t know if Ditanu will be reasonable enough to follow you back to these chambers without the cub to lure him along.”
“He might,” Iltani said guardedly as she pressed a hand to the slight curve of her belly. “There’s something else you likely don’t know. How closely did you check me over?”
She had Kammani’s attention now, the priestess looking her over with sharp focus. Her eyes narrowed slightly and then widened when she noticed the protective hand Iltani had over her belly. “What?”
“Consort Ahassunu had taken a terrible wound to her stomach. The unborn cubs were in distress, her body already starting to abort them. Ishtar reached out and took them from the consort and put them here.” Iltani touched the unmarked skin of her stomach, still in shock from the event. “That’s why I was unconscious when you found me in the boat. My body needed time to adjust.”
It seemed more dream than reality. Yet it was real. The blood link allowed her to sense the tiny sparks of life within her. They were strong and stable. Would those tiny unborn cubs help to ground Ditanu and convince him to surrender his rage and grief for a time?
“Ishtar be blessed,” Kammani mumbled as she reached out and laid a hand over Iltani’s stomach. “We could use some more good news.”
A commotion at the door had the Shadows in the room jerking to attention, and Iltani only then realized they had been edging closer to her. Curiosity? The need to protect? Iltani didn’t know but didn’t care either.
A young priestess was admitted into the room, and she made straight for Kammani and then spotted Iltani. She froze, dropped into a deep bow at Iltani’s feet and then glanced between the two older women nervously.
“What have you to report?” Kammani asked the young novice.
The girl’s throat worked, but she found her voice. “The council moved forward with Beletum’s plan as you expected they would. She slipped something in Ditanu’s water before the Shadows could stop her. The council members said it was an herbal brew to increase the chances Ditanu would become fertile.”
“When did this happen?” Kammani snapped.
“More than an hour ago. Councilor Ziyatum had guards outside the area. They wouldn’t let me go. They kept me prisoner for an hour. Then I heard screaming. I don’t know what was happening inside, but I think King Ditanu may have attacked Beletum as she entered the cage, and then I heard the councilors all shouting, and Shadows drawing weapons. When Ziyatum’s guards were distracted, I escaped.”
Iltani’s heart started to pound, pumping adrenaline and rising magic throughout her body as it prepared for battle. She had already stayed here longer than she could stand with Ditanu in distress. She took Kuwari in her arms, and she bolted out of the room at a run, leaving the others scrambling to follow. The Shadows were upon her in moments, the majority surrounding her in a wall of bodies while others moved ahead to clear the halls.
While Iltani could take care of herself, she didn’t mind them clearing the way.
Kammani squeezed between the Shadows and hoisted a heavy sword harness at Iltani and then the sword itself. “You may not need it, but better to have it.”
Iltani blinked at the crystal-bladed sword in her hands, a touch surprised she’d forgotten it.
“I would prefer our enemies not know you are Ishtar’s Blade just yet,” Kammani said as she hustled a cloak around her shoulders while Iltani fought with the harness’s buckle one-handed. She wasn’t used to carrying a cub, and she suddenly had greater respect for mothers everywhere.
Iltani won the fight with the harness and glanced sideways at Kammani. “The element of surprise might allow us to catch our enemies off guard.” She grinned wickedly. “Besides, revealing myself might be far more opportune later.”
A relatively short time later, Iltani was striding down the corridor that led to the practice ring. The main door, a massive construction of metal and oak wide enough to allow horses and chariots to pass through unhindered, was gaping open.
As she approached, there was movement at the entrance, and a body came hurtling out to land in a heap on the floor. Iltani slowed her step, took one look at the fallen soldier, and noted he was still alive and mostly unharmed and that he was not a Shadow.
The Shadows surrounding her moved around the guard and on into the room. She cut around as well, but the priestess just stepped over him, her robes slapped at him as she moved.
Kammani raised an eyebrow at Iltani’s look. “He’s a fool fighting on the wrong side. He deserves far worse.”
Iltani didn’t bother with a reply. Instead, she pulled the cloak’s cowl over her head and made certain Kuwari was hidden within the heavy folds. That done, she entered the practice ring to find the chaos she’d expected.
The Shadows with her spread out, quickly joining their brothers and sisters to help subdue the guards belonging to the house of Beletum. Once they made quick work of that, they shoved aside councilors and guards alike with equal disregard and cleared a path for High Priestess Kammani and Iltani.
As Iltani walked further into the sand ring, her eyes riveted upon a golden dome-like cage that took up the far end of the ring. Through the gold-tinted hazy walls, she could just make out the form of a gryphon pacing.
The closer she got, the easier it was to see inside the cage.
Ditanu was indeed in gryphon form. Iltani’s eyes narrowed. Beletum was in gryphon form as well—although her formidable gryphon body had not been enough to protect her. She had collapsed on her side, panting, one shoulder and foreleg covered in blood where Ditanu had mauled her. Beletum’s father stood over her protectively, a drawn sword in his hands.
He’d taken a nasty wound in his right leg, blood staining his robe and running down his leg to soak into the sand. Ditanu continued to pace and snarl at them. Iltani wished she knew whether Ditanu’s drug-addled mind had decided he wanted to mate the female after all, or if he simply wished to finish off his prey.
It might be petty of her, but Iltani hoped his snarls meant he wished to kill, not breed.
One of the Shadows who had been with the king’s contingent of bodyguards stepped forward and reported to Uselli. “King Ditanu attacked Beletum. Her father must have expected it, for as soon as it happened, his guards converged upon us and the distraction allowed her father to enter the cage before we could stop him. When we tried to pursue him, the dome locked itself down, preventing anyone else from entering. I believe Ziyatum sabotaged it to stop us from protecting Ditanu.”
Iltani stepped up to the cage and reached out to trail her fingers along the golden dome. The power felt warm and familiar. Ishtar’s power.
No. Ziyatum hadn’t sabotaged the cage. Ishtar had. Iltani felt her goddess’s presence. The Queen of the Night trusted her chosen king was capable of defeating both Beletum and her father.
Iltani frowned. Be that as it may, having Ditanu kill members of his council, even if their own stupidity was the cause, wasn’t a good idea. Ditanu was wild enough, more so than she liked to see. Reasoning with him wasn’t going to be easy as it was—she didn’t need him descending farther into bloodlust. Or any kind of desire for that matter. She eyed the big gryphon as he paced the confines of his cage.
Just what had that fool Beletum given him? And what was Iltani, herself, willing to do?
Kammani leaned closer and whispered in Iltani’s ear. “He won’t hurt you.”
“I know.”
; “Good. Now go save Ditanu from killing those fools.”
With a nod, Iltani paced halfway around the golden cage’s perimeter and arrived at the ‘door’. Two Shadows were flanking it, keeping the councilors and Beletum’s guards at bay. When the Shadows acknowledged her presence with raised swords, she tilted her head back so they could see who was under the cloak.
Still, she kept Kuwari hidden from view. The cub had suffered enough traumas this day. He didn’t need to see more adults waving swords at him. Kuwari made no sound, clinging to her body where she held him braced against one hip.
She could feel his soft furry paws shifting against her skin from time to time, but his beak never so much as poked out of the robe to see what was going on. She doubted if the cub had any interest in anything except his father. Every few breaths, he’d draw in a deeper lungful, likely scenting for his father.
Iltani doubted he could detect anything through the shimmering of the cage’s golden walls. Neither scents nor sounds filtered through that she noted. Her fingers trailed along its warm surface.
At least, she hoped that was why Ditanu still hadn’t taken note of either her or the cub. If he was too far gone to recognize Kuwari than Iltani didn’t know what she’d do.
“Clear the room,” Iltani whispered to Uselli.
He repeated her order with a sharp authority. The councilors started a righteous shouting and refused to leave. The Shadows began removing them bodily. Iltani touched the archway spell, and the energy parted to allow her passage.
Her sudden arrival in the dome caught Ditanu’s attention, and he whirled towards the door, his beak gaping and his paw raised to strike. Every line in his body said he was going to charge at her, but that’s not what caused her spike of fear.
Recognizing her mistake in the time between heartbeats, she reached out with a small trickle of Ishtar’s magic. It wasn’t enough to harm the tiny sparks of life in her womb, but it was enough to reshape one wall of the golden cage. The old councilor continued to rush at the king, his sword raised to kill, but the wall of magic got there first, and Ziyatum’s strike bounced off it harmlessly.
Queen of the Gryphons: Ishtar's Legacy: Books 1 & 2 Page 16