“But, seriously,” Kuwari asked, “who actually cares about what herbal oils are used to scent the candles as long as they burn evenly and produce a good flame?”
“Oh, come on. It wasn’t that terrible.”
“Death. By. Boredom.”
“Fine. At least it’s over now.”
“Only until tomorrow. She wants me to report back in the morning.” Kuwari shuddered dramatically.
“Well, you can always pull one of your vanishing acts,” she said brightly and was rewarded by his pained groan.
“Don’t tempt me, woman.”
“Very well, boy, I won’t.”
Kuwari’s sour expression transformed into a grin as he began to laugh. Once he had himself under control, he raked her with a heated look. “If you think I’m a boy, then you have very poor eyesight.”
Enkara swallowed back her retort when she heard footfalls approaching. She assumed it was a servant going about their business since it was only the one person and nobles seemed to travel in packs.
Glancing behind to study the newcomer, she realized her mistake at once. By the woman’s dress, she was most certainly a noble lady.
“Prince Kuwari, Shadow Enkara, forgive me for interrupting.” The woman halted, bowed deeply, and then straightened in another graceful move. She hesitated a moment as if uncertain of her welcome. “I had just joined my mother when she spotted this. She said it was for you.”
Kuwari took the hammered gold torc she held and gave her a regal nod in thanks.
The gregarious young man was gone, replaced by an aloof stranger. This was Prince Kuwari, future ruler of the gryphon kingdom. There was no hint of Enkara’s lifelong friend in evidence.
Seeing the change was fascinating. She’d known he’d have changed in ways she hadn’t yet discovered, but this was the first time she’d witnessed one of those changes. It was mildly disconcerting.
“I’m sorry to interrupt. In truth, my mother sent me in pursuit so we’d have reason for some small interaction.” The young woman’s rueful twist of lips suggested this was nothing new. “May I walk with you for a short while? Otherwise, my mother will just find some other reason to send me chasing after you.”
The woman blushed with embarrassment, and Enkara almost felt sorry for her.
Kuwari must have as well for his posture softened and he nodded. He inclined his head in her direction. “Enkara, meet Lady Kullaa, councilor Nakurtum’s oldest daughter and heir to Nippur.”
Enkara bowed to Kullaa. “I am honored.”
Lady Kullaa grinned, genuine joy sparkling in her eyes. “I’m glad we meet at last. Kuwari has told me many stories about your shared childhood. It’s almost like I already know you.”
Under normal circumstances, Enkara would have attributed the statement about spending time with the prince as a female gryphon’s natural tendency to mark her territory or stake her claim to a male she fancied, but strangely she felt no accompanying hostility or jealousy radiating off this lady.
Enkara stole a glance at Kuwari. His earlier aloof mask had cracked, replaced by something humbler. Actually, he looked mildly flustered. Hmmm. Perhaps he wanted to say something but was tongue-tied? Kuwari tongue-tied?
Nope. That would never happen. Something else then.
She glanced at her oldest friend and then back to Lady Kullaa. “You and Prince Kuwari are close acquaintances?”
Lady Kullaa frowned. “Yes, whether Prince Kuwari wished it or not. You see, my mother is very manipulative. However, the prince has been kind enough not to chase me off every time my mother shoves me in his direction.”
Truth. Every word dripped with honesty. Lady Kullaa didn’t have one ambitious or dishonest bone in her body. The poor girl. The more ambitious, or merely cruel, members of the court would devour her alive. No wonder Kuwari had taken her under his wing.
“I don’t remember you from before I left for my Shadow training on New Assur. How long have you been at court?”
“Five months. It has been very...”
Enkara could practically see the girl hunting for something polite to say. Eventually, she settled upon a satisfactory word. “Very eye-opening.”
Kuwari snorted with laughter. “That’s one word for it, but I can think of a few more accurate descriptors as well, though, they are better not spoken in such delicate company.”
“He’s definitely referring to you, not me,” Enkara added for clarification.
“No doubt,” Kullaa agreed, craning her neck to look at Enkara. “You’re much worldlier than me. Though, even with your training and knowledge, I doubt I’d be much use in battle or putting down assassins.”
Kuwari grinned. “Enkara is breathtaking to watch in the practice ring but let us hope she doesn’t have to use her skills in a real battle anytime soon. I’m much more partial to peace than strife.”
As they continued to walk, Kuwari and Kullaa enlightened her to other minor things that had changed here on Nineveh while she’d been away training. After walking one whole wing of the palace with them, Lady Kullaa sighed. “Well, that should be long enough to satisfy even my mother. Thank you for your hospitality Prince Kuwari, Shadow Enkara. It was a pleasure, but I won’t monopolize any more of your valuable time.”
“You’re welcome to seek us out anytime your mother becomes too overbearing,” Kuwari offered.
Lady Kullaa thanked him and then bowed deeply, saying her goodbyes. Once Kuwari had excused her, she departed. Though, at a much slower pace than they’d walked before. Grinning, Enkara knew she’d walk just as slow if her destination was Councilor Nakurtum.
Once they were alone, Enkara grinned at Kuwari. “I think I just met a mythical creature.”
“Yes?” he prompted
“A noble lacking ambition.”
Kuwari’s expression remained neutral. “There is nothing between us.”
“Don’t recall saying there was.” Enkara arched an eyebrow at him. While her love for her childhood friend was limitless, she knew they weren’t well matched. As much as it hurt to admit, fate was showing her a way to divert his affections elsewhere. She’d thought finding a pure soul worthy of him would be hard, but perhaps it wouldn’t be such a problematic hunt after all.
He would need a woman he could trust for the betrothal year, she reasoned. “You could do worse than Lady Kullaa.”
“Do?” he asked, although she was sure he knew exactly what she was talking about.
“Betrothal. Marriage. Mate.”
His brows furrowed. “Haven’t you listened to anything I’ve said since I snuck into your tent night before last? Or do my words just slide off your skin? Because if you need actions instead of words, I’m happy to demonstrate my feelings for you.”
The earlier glint of anger morphed into something more mischievous as he stepped toward her.
She held out her hand. “Don’t do it or you’ll find yourself on your ass again.”
“I rather like a challenge and if you have to pin me down, all the better.” Kuwari spread his arms wide and started for her only to pull up short as the sound of voices carried down the hall. His expressionless mask settled back in place, but he stepped closer so he could whisper in her ear. “I have already chosen my mate, as well you know. This mockery of a betrothal the Council plans to force on me will be as fake as all those smiles I gave Councilor Nakurtum earlier.”
Enkara rolled her eyes at him. “Fine. You’ll still need someone you can trust in your fake betrothal. She seems like a good choice.”
Kuwari’s expression darkened further as he leaned in even closer. “If you like her so much, you marry her.”
With that, Kuwari jerked straight and marched off. She’d almost caught up when he halted and turned so suddenly she was nearly nose to nose with him.
“That’s perfect. Why didn’t I think of that sooner?”
“What’s perfect?” Enkara asked, trying to figure out the inner workings of his mind.
“Your idea about fake b
etrothing someone I can trust,” Kuwari said, his devastating grin back in place.
Enkara’s brows scrunched together. “Your thought process always makes my head hurt. Are you agreeing that Lady Kullaa would be a good match?”
“No. She has a lovely soul, but for the last time, I’m not interested in her. However, as you pointed out, I need a female I can trust at my side. And since you aren’t ready for a real relationship with me, why not a fake one instead?”
Enkara gripped his shoulders and turned him in the direction of his quarters. “The servants will have your midday meal waiting for you, and you’re clearly delirious with hunger and rambling nonsensically.”
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
“Fine. We’ll continue this in my chambers,” Kuwari said with a glance around at the corridor and the Shadows standing guard. “But only because this isn’t the best place to have this discussion.”
Kuwari grabbed her hand and hurried back to his quarters. Once there, he did a quick check to be sure none of the servants were present. The guards could be trusted implicitly, but Kuwari’s expression said he was thinking of sending them out into the hall.
After a slight hesitation, he scooped up the trays containing their midday meals and continued deeper into his chambers. He didn’t stop until he was in Enkara’s room.
“Kuwari, I’m not going along with whatever idea you’ve concocted.”
He snatched a warm roll from the tray and tossed it at her. “Eat. You get grumpy when you’re hungry.”
She glowered but bit into the deliciously fresh, still-warm bread and nearly moaned. The food on New Assur was more along the lines of cold rations and hard, day-old bread. She took another bite. “Mmm. That’s good. Fine. You talk.”
Kuwari grinned and opened his mouth.
“Oh,” Enkara muttered around a mouthful of bread. “You have until this roll is gone to explain your grand plan and it better make sense.”
“I’m going to announce to the council that we’re betrothed.”
Enkara choked on her roll and Kuwari calmly thumped her on the back hard enough to clear her airways. When she could breathe again, he sat next to her and slung an arm around her shoulders. With his free hand, he held out a goblet of water.
“You said you’d give me time to settle in, for us to learn the depth of what we feel.”
“Yes, and you can still have that. What I’m proposing is a fake betrothal.” He grinned impishly.
Enkara scowled at him. “How’s this going to be any different from a real betrothal?”
“We won’t actually be courting each other. It’s the best solution to our unique problems. And you have my word that I won’t court you once we’re in private. It will just require a little acting on both our parts when we’re out in public.” Kuwari started in on his own meal, devouring one of his favorite sweetcakes while he waited for her response.
She closed her eyes and debated that possibility. “But it won’t be fake for you, would it?”
Goddess, of course it wouldn’t. Kuwari would court her with every bit of his seductive charm. She wouldn’t last a moon cycle before she gave into him.
“I won’t lie. You’d sense it anyway. While it might start as acting in public, I’ll still want you with everything in me,” he said, honesty burning in his voice.
“Gods, Kuwari. I’ve told you I’m not ready for a complicated relationship.”
Kuwari stroked her cheek. “I know, and I respect that. I’m patient and willing to wait until our joining is free of fear and is something we both want above all else.”
“Gods, you’re such a romantic.” That’s what made it so hard for her to deny him.
He shrugged. “I’m my father’s son.”
Enkara could only nod. “You swear this will be fake on your part?”
“I swear before our great goddess Ishtar, that if you agree to this, I will keep my word and not attempt true courtship until after I’ve gained your permission.”
“That’s an evasion.”
“It’s the closest thing you’re going to get from me. I’d take it if I were you.”
Sighing, she glanced sidelong at her prince, already sensing defeat looming. Besides, he looked so damned hopeful she found the words slipping out before she could stop them.
“I’m not saying no, not yet. But I do still want more time to think about this.”
His boyish grin lit up his entire face.
I’m going to regret saying that, aren’t I? Enkara thought to herself.
Chapter 9
It couldn’t possibly be dawn, her exhausted body reassured her waking mind, but a noise reached Enkara’s ears, and she was instantly awake. Her eyes strained to find the threat in the darkness.
Reaching under the pillow next to her head, she eased a dagger out of its sheath and slid out of bed without so much as a rustle of fabric to betray her movement. She used the flat of her blade to shove the curtain aside. Unfortunately, there was no way to shift the curtain without setting the small beads rattling.
A soft sound of denial came again, this time accompanied by the sound of Kuwari fighting the blankets trapping him. She sensed no immediate danger or hostile intent focused on him. This wasn’t a physical threat to his life. In fact, when she came to the side of the bed, it looked like he was in the grip of a nightmare. Though, she doubted this was anything as harmless as a simple dream.
Coming alongside his bed, she scanned the room once more and then laid her hand on his bare shoulder. It was cold to the touch and magic tingled against her fingers.
No, not a dream. This was a magic-induced vision.
His gift had him firmly in its grip. A soft footstep near at hand distracted her for a moment. When she confirmed it was just one of the Shadows guarding the outer chamber come to check on the prince, she nodded to the sentry. “Vision. A bad one.”
The guard nodded and then vanished back the way he’d come. A moment later he spoke with one of his brethren. There must be standing orders to report all such events to the king.
Turning her attention back to Kuwari, she set her dagger on the small table beside his sleeping platform and then pressed both hands to his shoulders and closed her eyes.
His muscles twitched and shifted under her touch, and soon a chilled magic flowed from him, over her hands, and up her arms. A vision chased close on the penetrating power’s heels. Enkara knew enough from previous encounters not to fight the magic or risk pulling Kuwari out of the vision before either of them could learn anything of importance.
Relaxing into his vision, she waited as a new world formed around her. She now stood in a temple. Tall columns, statues, and mosaics decorated the antechamber she found herself in. Burning torches lined the walls, providing the only source of light. She saw no windows or archways leading outside from her present location. And no visible indication where Kuwari was either.
She took a closer look at the columns and walls with their strangely familiar motifs, but these were not Ishtar’s symbols. These belong to her sister, Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld.
An increasing sense of danger rolled over her like a wave, and she reached out for Kuwari. Moments later she felt his strong life force and the warmth of his mind. He was near, but somewhere in one of the upper levels of the structure.
At least her gift worked even in a vision. She hesitated to converse with him using their mental link, fearing it might give away her location to their enemies. Surprise might be the only advantage she had in this strange dream-world.
But what else might be all-too-real in this vision? Was it possible for him to come to harm here?
The antechamber had two exits, one at either end of the large, column-lined room. She headed for the closest. A scabbard bumped against her leg as she walked. Frowning down at the harness and sword, neither of which had been there a moment before, she drew forth the sword and was only a little surprised to see this was a crystalline blade of power like what Ishta
r had given Queen Iltani.
She hadn’t been wearing a sword when she’d sought out Kuwari, but in the way of dreams and visions, she accepted the sword for what it was: an item of protection given to her by a goddess.
Striding from the antechamber, she came to a long tunnel that opened onto a landing in the distance. Beyond, the open sky beckoned her forward. She was confident she was inside a ziggurat and looking at one of the exits which would lead her up to the next level.
With her new sword’s hilt held firm, she darted down the tunnel. As she approached the exit, drums and chanting drifted to her. Human voices wove a counterpoint to the deeper tones of the drums. She couldn’t be sure of the exact number of priests and priestesses worshiping close by, but there were enough that they might have been able to overpower the prince. And that wasn’t counting the unknown number of guards that would undoubtedly be present.
That didn’t bode well. She bolted to the archway on silent feet and was about to cross under to the landing beyond when her gift flared in recognition. Coming to a sudden halt, she sidestepped and put her back against the wall as she peered out through the opening.
Just outside, two winged Anunnaki stood guard on either side of the archway. And these Anunnaki weren’t locked in stone. They were very much awake and on guard. Worse, they blocked the stairs she needed if she had any hope of getting up to Kuwari on the next level of the temple.
The Anunnaki were fierce guardians of what they deemed worthy of protection. These beings would battle anyone they deemed a dangerous outsider every bit as much as the ones back on Nineveh would act to protect the city. But they stood between her and fulfilling her duty, and she was also a fierce protector with a great power gifted to her by a goddess.
She approached them with bared blade, her power rising within her to meet this new challenge. To her surprise and great distrust, they stood at attention. A moment later, they raised their crossed spears, allowing her to pass. The male on her left was one of the bird-men variety, with the body of a human and the head of a desert eagle. In contrast, the one on the right looked entirely human if one ignored the wings.
Queen of the Gryphons: Ishtar's Legacy: Books 1 & 2 Page 34