Queen of the Gryphons: Ishtar's Legacy: Books 1 & 2

by Lisa Blackwood

  Enkara knew the teachings, that the food was for those in the afterlife, but secretly she’d always just assumed it was eaten by the temple servants or was discarded once the altars were cleaned. She’d never thought it made its way to the afterlife or that mortals were living here.

  “I will summon you when I am ready. And destroy that crystalline sword she was wearing when you captured her. I can feel it tainting my realm with my sister’s power.” Ereshkigal shuddered. “It offends my senses.”

  With that the Queen of the Underworld dismissed Enkara. At a silent signal from the goddess, a priest came forward carrying long gloves made of tanned animal skin. Ereshkigal pulled on the soft leather gloves as she turned her attention entirely upon Kuwari.

  The prince stood his ground as Ereshkigal walked a slow circle around him and then stopped directly in front of him to press her palm against his chest. She whispered something to him below Enkara’s hearing, but she could guess the type of conversation by the flare of a blush upon Kuwari’s cheeks.

  “You might as well tell me what that whore is whispering to you, so I know how much revenge I have to exact later.” Enkara didn’t care if various gods and goddesses overheard their conversation.

  “You can look in my head if you wish. I’m not giving her words more power by repeating them.”

  Enkara restrained herself. Barely. “I’m half-gryphon. I will make her pay for touching what is rightfully mine.”

  “I imagine the goddess will have something to say to that.”

  “Let her.”

  The Anunnaki ushered her away, but every twenty paces, she glanced back at Kuwari until she walked under an archway and out into a hall. She did not have to like this situation, she only had to endure it for a short while until she managed to bargain for their freedom. She hoped.

  Chapter 43

  The Anunnaki led her lower into the temple until they eventually came to a hall with several curtained alcoves. When they entered one, she discovered they were personal chambers, likely belonging to the priests, priestesses, and servants Ereshkigal had mentioned.

  “If you plan to free Kuwari,” the Anunnaki spoke suddenly, “you will have to do it swiftly, before she attempts to wake the spirit of her husband and discovers something I’d rather she not know about until after you’ve rejoined your prince.”

  “Tell me now if it is a danger I should know about.”

  “It is a long story and there’s no time. You’ll understand shortly.” The Anunnaki waved his hand in the air, and suddenly he was holding a garment comprised of many veils. “I believe this is appropriate attire for the role you are about to play.”

  When he shook out the skirt, she recognized the many veils as the ceremonial garb worn by Ishtar’s Blade during various rites and ceremonies, but most especially during the Sacred Marriage.

  The Anunnaki must have stolen it from the mortal world. Enkara reached out a hand and took what he offered. Kuwari’s feathers, removed during the formal blooding ceremony had been beautifully stitched into the waist of the skirt as well as falling from the back of the diadem.

  She stroked the feathers and felt that much closer to Kuwari. “Thank you for this.”

  “Ishtar also said you’d want this,” he said as he returned her harness, scabbard and the hefty weight of the crystalline sword he’d taken from her earlier.

  She glanced up in surprise but accepted the sword from him. Then she retreated behind a screen and shed her training tunic and donned the battle dress of Ishtar’s Avenging Blade.

  The sword warmed in her hands and Ishtar whispered into her mind. “I am proud of you. Do not falter and you will again have your freedom and Kuwari at your side.”

  “Forgive me for doubting you. I shouldn’t have lost faith, not even when you wouldn’t answer me.”

  The goddess’ warm humor danced across Enkara’s mind. “I had to make my sister believe I’d sacrificed you and Kuwari for the sake of my other gryphons. But you are a true Blade in all ways. I will never abandon you.”

  When she was ready, the Anunnaki led her back out into the hall. This time they headed farther down instead of back up. Enkara arched an eyebrow and the Anunnaki explained.

  “While the negotiations will be held on the roof, Ereshkigal has sent Kuwari down to the lower levels of the temple where she plans to wake Nergal and begin altering the prince so that he can reside here permanently.” The Anunnaki increased his pace. “Once she completes that, there will be no going home for either you or your prince.”

  “We must hurry.” Enkara broke into a run and the Anunnaki glided along beside her.

  They halted four levels down from where they’d started and Enkara’s magic told her Kuwari was here, just a few chambers of space between them. She’d relax once she had his back and he had hers.

  As they hurried down a corridor, she felt as the Anunnaki called power. One moment his hands were empty, the next he was holding Kuwari’s favorite sword and set of daggers.

  Mild envy of the Anunnaki’s power was quickly pushed aside for the more immediate concern of how dangerous their plan was and how quickly it could go wrong. For it to even work, Enkara would need to be touching Kuwari before the Queen of the Underworld knew what she was about.

  The Anunnaki led her farther down a narrow corridor but held his hand up signaling that they should stop. He listened—at least she thought he listened, his head turning this way and that—and then he urged her into motion again.

  They ghosted through the archway on silent feet. Enkara slid sideways and put her back to the wall and held her sword at the ready. But there was no attack. Her eyes narrowed. The room was silent but not empty. Kuwari and Tammuz were standing beside an altar in the center of the room.

  When the Anunnaki started forward again, the two males looked in their direction.

  “Ah, the young Blade has come for her beloved,” Kuwari said, his speech patterns nothing like she was used to hearing.

  Enkara skidded to a halt and raised the tip of her crystalline sword higher in readiness to do battle. What she would fight, she didn’t know.

  “Easy, Enkara,” Tammuz said. “Don’t call power yet. We don’t want Ereshkigal to know that we are defying her. It’s a miracle she hasn’t yet sensed our manipulation.”

  “Ereshkigal is the judge and lawmaker here. She’ll never expect anyone would be capable of defying her in her own realm,” said Kuwari who wasn’t her Kuwari at all.

  “Who are you?” Though she knew this must be Nergal, Ereshkigal’s husband, the god of war and pestilence, a bringer of death. Was she too late? Had Ereshkigal awakened her husband already?

  “I am the one you name in your mind,” he murmured along their mental link. “Nergal. Though, those other titles were applied to me by mortals. Humans don’t need encouragement to war. They seem to do that readily enough on their own.”

  “What about the ‘pestilence’ and the ‘bringer of death’ parts?”

  He shrugged. “I am a bringer of death and a balancer. I free souls from dying flesh and help them cross over into the afterlife.”

  Enkara edged closer. “What has become of Kuwari?”

  “He is still here with me. Unharmed.”

  “Is he now a slave to you?” Her eyes worked fine, but she had to hear the words to confirm what her heart and mind already dreaded.

  “No. I have no interest in a slave, but Tammuz and I needed to talk. This was the fastest way. Kuwari willingly surrendered but do not fear. You will get your prince back shortly. In the meantime, we’d like to discuss an amendment to the Anunnaki’s original plan with Ishtar.” Nergal gestured for Enkara to join them.

  She was reluctant, but in the end, she joined them and listened as they laid out their plan.

  After hearing it in its fullness, she shook her head doubtfully. “I don’t know. This plan sounds like it could enrage both goddesses instead of just one if it goes badly.”

  “Leave it to us to soothe our queens,” Tammuz
said. “But you are correct. There is great risk to our plan. It might fail completely and ruin any chance you have of negotiating with Ereshkigal.”

  “But I might get Ereshkigal to release Kuwari from the underworld.”

  “That is the hope,” Nergal said.

  “And you’ll just agree to give up your chance to return to your queen’s side?”

  “I’ve grown to care for you and Kuwari as well. And if it works out like I hope, I’ll still get to be with my queen.”

  “But you must agree to this,” Tammuz interjected. “We will not force you.”

  “If Kuwari agrees, then I will gladly follow.”

  Nergal nodded and then said his goodbyes to Tammuz. A short time later, he surrendered control back to Kuwari.

  Enkara held herself back only long enough to use their mental link to confirm it really was him and then she was dragging him into an embrace.

  “You idiot. Give me some warning next time you decide to let a god borrow your body.”

  “I’m sorry.” Kuwari brushed back her hair so he could press a kiss to her shoulder. “Time was short, and we needed to hammer out the bones of a plan. It was easier if Nergal and Tammuz could talk directly.”

  “Do you really think this will work? That it’s not suicide? Neither Ereshkigal nor Ishtar are known for their calm and controlled responses.”

  “No risks, no rewards,” Kuwari said with a chuckle.

  Enkara muttered a prayer to Anu, hoping the father of the gods might be swayed into intervening should two of his granddaughters go to war.

  “How can an Avenging Blade of a goddess have so little faith?” Kuwari’s grin was back in place.

  “Oh, I have faith. Lots of faith that if something can go wrong, it usually does.”

  “You’re terrible.”

  Enkara rolled her eyes and then turned serious. “I know we don’t have much time, that Ereshkigal will be here soon, but seeing Nergal in control of your body really drove something home. Has he been there the whole time watching? Or has he been unaware, asleep and dreaming?”

  Kuwari’s expression turned thoughtful. “I think he’s been aware of his surroundings. It may even go deeper than that. He might share my emotions, experiencing some or all of what I have experienced. It’s also why my visions are so much stronger than my father’s, whose gift is no small thing.”

  Nergal might have been spying on them? That was a disconcerting thought.

  Chapter 44

  Outside in the hall, Enkara heard the approach of many people. Moments later, Ereshkigal entered with a horde of chanting, dancing, praying priests and priestesses. The group halted, their surprise evident by the sudden cessation of sound.

  “What is going on here?” Ereshkigal shouted.

  “A rebellion,” Tammuz said calmly, taking hold of Enkara’s arm and then a moment later, Kuwari’s.

  Enkara reached for her power the same moment Tammuz summoned his. Ishtar’s warm magic flooded out, eager to reunite with the harvest god’s, but they didn’t stop there and included Kuwari and Nergal in their net of building magic.

  “Stop!” Ereshkigal screamed as she summoned her own power and shouted for the Anunnaki to separate them. “Ishtar can’t perform the Sacred Marriage within the Kur. They are contrary powers! It will rip the realms apart!”

  The eagle-headed Anunnaki paced forward to face Ereshkigal. “I and my brethren will not serve you in this endeavor.”

  “What?” Ereshkigal’s shock flicked to rage and then back to fear as the power continued to pour off Enkara and Tammuz. “You knew about this? Are you a part of this?”

  “This is a deviation from my plan, but yes, I was aware no party was pleased with the way things were, so it was time for a change. Though this is a little livelier than I’d envisioned,” the Anunnaki’s beak clacked in humor.

  Enkara found nothing humorous about the situation. Drawing on such great amounts of power without Ishtar’s guidance was taxing her. She’d never mastered this level of magic in training yet. Only with Tammuz and Nergal’s aid was she able to rein back the great power they’d summoned.

  Though for how much longer, she didn’t know. Given half a chance, it felt like the power wanted to burst forth from the depths of her bones and incinerate her and everyone in the immediate area.

  “Just hold on for a little longer,” Kuwari-Nergal whispered into her mind.

  “Have you all lost your minds?” Ereshkigal shrieked. “It will destroy the Kur!”

  “Actually,” the Anunnaki continued, tilting his head one way and then another, “Without Tammuz merged with Kuwari, they can’t draw enough power to destroy the Kur, but that’s not their intention. Though it will certainly bring life to the land of the dead. We’ll be sorting out the mess for eons. Your priestesses will likely all end up with child and will need time to raise them. Babies in the underworld. Pure chaos.”

  “Go!” Ereshkigal yelled, her rage and torment etched clearly upon her face. “I free Kuwari from his oath. I decree it void. All Anunnaki shall witness it.”

  Enkara swallowed back the power she’d been keeping in check, an act much harder than the actual summoning. Sweat poured down her skin, and her arms and legs shook with the force of exerting her will upon Ishtar’s fractious power.

  When she at last had it under control, Tammuz released his hold on her arm. Kuwari did the same a moment later.

  “It is witnessed,” Tammuz said.

  “Just go before you upset the balance greater than you already have!” Ereshkigal stumbled back, her wings sweeping a priest out of her way as she turned to leave.

  The Anunnaki overtook her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You are out of balance. Bitterness holds sway over your heart and mind. It taints all within the underworld. You used to value honor and integrity. I am sorry if you see my actions as a betrayal, but I had to act.”

  “If you seek forgiveness, you will not get it.”

  “Then it is good I do not seek that,” the Anunnaki said. “But if you are willing to listen—”

  “I am not. I have agreed to their terms. They are free to go. Their kingdom is safe from me. I want them gone.”

  “There is something else—”

  “What more do you want from me? What more do you dare ask?” Ereshkigal advanced upon the other winged being, her eyes sparkling with rage and rising confrontation. “It was Ishtar who, in her naïve arrogance crossed into my domain, breaking all the seals placed there to warn mortals and foolish gods away, but she was so focused on demanding I take back my gifts of death and renewal she didn’t know she’d inadvertently allowed the Kur to trap her.”

  Ereshkigal’s voice edged higher, in step with her rising rage. “Finally understanding what she’d done, she cried out to Tammuz for aid. He did the only thing he could and surrendered his life force to her so that she could return to the living world and make it fertile once more. With that act, he trapped himself here for eternity. Then do you know what my wise and most beloved sister did? She blamed me! Then she stole my husband, so I would know her pain. A pain she brought upon herself.”

  Kuwari-Nergal stepped forward, his hands outstretched before him, beseeching her to listen. “Beloved, it is not that we are asking for something else. The young prince and his Blade are offering you a gift. Please do not turn it down out of spite and misplaced pride.”

  Ereshkigal looked genuinely baffled for a moment. “Nergal? How?”

  “I have been awake for many years, watching as my host and his Blade grew. Their love is so pure and all-encompassing even I find myself touched by it and will not willingly let harm come to them if it is in my power to prevent.”

  New pain and horror transformed Ereshkigal’s expression. “Oh, my Nergal. I have given Kuwari back his freedom. I had to save the Kur and all the souls within its domain.”

  Enkara felt a tiny welling of pity for what the Queen of the Underworld must now be feeling.

  “Shhh, my love. I know and would have d
one the same.”

  Ereshkigal stepped closer, her wings folding down as she unconsciously sought to protect herself from a trap. “My Nergal, to have you so close at last…only to lose you.”

  “You do not have to lose him, not completely,” Enkara joined in at last, seeing the opportunity Nergal had said to watch for. She sheathed her crystalline blade, unbuckled the harness and laid it aside. Then with hands outstretched before her, she dropped to her knees and closed her eyes. In a graceful move, she prostrated herself before Ereshkigal.

  “Great Queen, I know you have been wronged and have wronged in turn, but if it is in my power to stop that vicious cycle, I gladly will. I humbly offer myself for your use as a host during a Sacred Marriage. Tammuz and Nergal suggested we create a new ritual, one that takes place during the dying season to balance the one between Ishtar and Tammuz in the Spring.”

  Enkara remained bowed down, but she expanded her senses to follow every sound and movement in the room. “I would be a willing host so that you and your husband could be together again.”

  “I do not need your pity, mortal.”

  “It’s not pity,” Enkara countered, fighting down the annoyance she felt rising within her at the goddess’ attitude. “It’s righting an injustice. For one night a year, you can be with your beloved, just as Ishtar can have her Tammuz. It is symmetry and balance. I assure you, while I might once have pitied you, all I need do to vanquish it is to remember what you attempted to do to Kuwari’s younger brothers and sisters and every other soul in New Sumer.”

  Kuwari-Nergal stepped closer to Ereshkigal. “Will you accept this gift? For me, if you are too proud to accept it for yourself? I have missed you.”

  The goddess drew back as if his nearness somehow weakened her. She spun on her heels and then marched away to stand beside a carved and painted column. She leaned against the stone, one arm bracing her weight and then to the surprise of Enkara and perhaps every other person in the room, her shoulders began to shake.