by Kelly Coon
Murmuring echoed from inside the cavernous temple, where Ummi and the sarratum stood talking.
The stately woman angled herself toward us, her thin eyebrows raised on her wide forehead. “Do not stand there darkening the doorway,” she called. “Enter and ask what you will.”
We both took off our sandals and walked toward the sarratum, bowing to the shrine of Linaza. We added our offerings—a sampling of embroidery, a few coins, some fresh honeycake made by Simti yesterday morning before she’d left to be a bride—and turned to bow.
“You may rise.” The regal woman’s voice was rich like a bell. “Ummi tells me you have business with me, Sarratum Arwia.” She stared at us, eyes wide and honest. Gold glittered on her lids, while her mouth was tinted a purplish brown like a date. She folded her hands neatly over her crimson tunic.
Arwia dipped her head in acknowledgment. “Well—my lady—yes.” She cleared her throat. “You’ve heard of the assassination attempt on me, and I’m wondering what you would do in my position. I have friends here, who are like family, since, as you know, my family is all gone to the Netherworld, and I don’t know how best to keep these friends safe. Should we flee to Enlidu? I think I can get us all there in a day’s journey with provisions, but I don’t know if that would expose us on the road. It might be better to hunker down here in place, especially because Kammani here has a great healing practice—”
“Arwia, you’re rambling.” Sarratum Tabni studied her, brow knitted. Behind her, Ummi’s eyes lit up with mirth.
Arwia twisted her hands in her skirt as she flushed furiously. “My apologies. I’m trying to keep my friends safe.”
A flicker of a smile landed on Sarratum Tabni’s face. “An honorable desire. What does your god tell you to do?”
Arwia blinked rapidly. “He says to protect those I love.”
“So you should do that.”
“But how would you suggest I proceed? Our home is not that secure.”
Sarratum Tabni lifted a thin shoulder. “Do you want my best recommendation for your ultimate security and that of your people?”
“Well, yes, of course. That’s why I am here.”
“I’m waging war on Alu. I will put down that impostor who rules your city, and will need to replace him with someone honorable and loyal. That, dear child, should be you.”
Although we knew it was true, hearing the confirmation of her decision to besiege our city, our old home, felt like a kick directly in the gut.
Arwia nervously twisted her hands in front of her. “But how does that protect those here? With me?”
The queen furrowed her brow. “Don’t you have an entire city under your veil of protection? One currently being ruled by a man who was wily enough to take your throne from underneath you, and punish those citizens he is supposed to serve? He is harming your people, Arwia. Did you know that?”
“I suspected it, but…it was not confirmed.”
Sarratum Tabni crossed her arms over her chest. “My spies tell me a skirmish broke out several moons ago in your city—maybe right after you left Alu—between the poor and the wealthy. Those with coin, no doubt bolstered by the lugal’s favor to them, began tormenting the poor. Taking their silver after trading in the Libbu. Harassing their women. Worse. A group of the poor banded together and entered the Palace to stand in front of Uruku. They called for something to be done. For someone to be held responsible for the crimes. When he did nothing, they set fire to the counselor’s home. Several other homes nearby caught fire, too. That started the skirmish, which led to every single poor person who’d been involved in the initial group being killed in the Pit by the guardsmen as traitors.”
Arwia’s face drained of color. She pressed a knuckle to her lip beneath the birthmark.
“That is your new lugal’s way. My spies tell me he kills anyone, especially the poor, who oppose him. He’s been ransacking the ships that come in from the ports. Disrupting trade in the entire river region. Harming city-states much weaker than we are. That’s the man you allowed to take your throne.”
Sarratum Tabni looked up at the shrine of Linaza glittering in the soft light from the torches that lined the room. “Do you know why our goddess is so important to me and earns my daily worship?”
We both shook our heads.
“Because she knows there is a time to love and there is a time to fight. And when a mangy dog of a ruler brings a fight to me, I believe it is time to exact retribution.”
“But how will you do that?” Arwia asked.
“We attack the city-state with every weapon at our disposal. The full force of the Manzazu army.”
“But what of the innocents?” I blurted.
Arwia delicately stepped on my foot as Sarratum Tabni turned to me. When I swallowed, I was certain my gulp could be heard all the way down into the marketplace.
“My apologies, Sarratum Tabni. I spoke out of turn—”
“No, no.” She smirked. “I like your forthrightness, and I admire your sentiments, but innocents are always lost in war.” Her voice softened in fervor. “Our cause is holy. I will have retribution for the slaughter inside my city. He will pay tenfold with the blood of his citizens.”
Arwia bristled. “Those are my citizens.”
Sarratum Tabni pursed her lips. “Are they? You left those people in his care to save your own skin with no plan of taking back the throne. I would think someone desperate to care for her people would also be willing to do whatever it took to ensure his tyranny ceased. Taking him and anyone who stands with him down means peace in the region, a restoration of trade here in Manzazu, and protection for my citizens down the line. We must put down this rabid dog before he attacks with an even stronger bite.”
Arwia’s mouth opened and closed like a fish.
Sarratum Tabni looked up at the shrine, admiration in her eyes. “And Linaza supports my methods. It feels right to me in my soul.”
A fierce sense of urgency flooded through my veins.
“But what if, my lady, we could get Arwia on the throne without war? Couldn’t you simply send in a small band of Koru warriors to silently…kill him?”
My guts twisted that I was even saying the words aloud, as if taking a person’s life was a normal daily occurrence. Even wicked men were to be shown mercy, my abum used to say. Even Alani deserved a just trial.
Arwia raised her chin, the flicker of a flame burning inside. “Your Grace, I…I support you in restoring me to the throne.” She glanced at me nervously, her cheeks flushing, but continued when I nodded at her encouragingly. “You’d have a wonderful, loyal ally in me, and if you were provoked, I would always come to your defense. But Kammani asks a good question.”
The sarratum snorted. “You know nothing of the world yet, Arwia. A healer and one of my own Koru were slaughtered right under my nose. I do not want Uruku silently killed.”
“You don’t?”
“No. I want Uruku delivered into my hands very much alive.”
Chills ran up my backbone at the gleam in her eye.
“I must mount his head on my wall to display my strength in the north. The sarratum in Kush does not take me seriously enough as it is. And the lugal in Enlidu is even worse.” She held a fist in front of Linaza, her eyes burning with passion. “If I take his city and put an ally in charge, they will know what I can do.”
“My…my apologies, my lady.”
She inhaled through her nose, stepped back, and clasped her hands in front of her. “You’re forgiven. You’re young. Naïve.”
Arwia nodded. “Perhaps.” But indignation simmered in her eyes.
The sarratum sighed. “Arwia, please come live with me in the Palace for protection.” She held her hands out to us. “All of you. And when we’re through putting down the dog and disposing of his loyalists, you can take your rightful place on the throne
and solidify an allyship that will last a lifetime.”
“Is that…an order, Your Grace?” Arwia asked, raising her chin just the slightest bit.
The sarratum assessed her coolly. “It is my strongest recommendation. For now, go. You can take a few days to pack. I’ve preparations to make since we go to war in half a moon.”
She flicked her eyes up to Ummi. “Commander, see them out, and keep them safe on their journey back home.”
“Yes, Sarratum.”
Ummi escorted us to the landing outside the temple and held out her hand. “After you.”
Arwia gnawed her lip as we walked lightly down the long flight of sandstone stairs to the Libbu below.
“Putting me on the throne has been her goal since we got here, Kammani,” Arwia murmured in a voice lower than Ummi could hear.
“Yes, I can see that.”
“Of course she wants our loyalty and allyship. Alu is closer to the ports! We could potentially restore order in the south and help rekindle trade up here in Manzazu. I’m so stupid. I thought she was just being kind, but she wants me on the throne for her own uses.”
“You’re right. It’s why she’s been giving you her advice as queen and protecting us here in the city. Nothing is free.”
“I see that now.” She glanced worriedly up at Ummi. “But this is a serious problem. She’ll hurt my people to restore me as queen, and they will have no reason to welcome me back if I align myself with the city that has just attacked it.”
“Yes. Uruku is the problem, not the rest of Alu. We need him—and only him—killed!”
So how do you do that? Get him alone and slit his throat? My abum had died that way on the road to the Palace. Or poison? Gudanna, Arwia’s former handmaid, had used monkshood on Lugal Marus. The poison was quiet and had caused very little fuss before I’d asked Dagan’s ummum about it. She’d trained as a healer with my father, and had recognized the signs of his poisoning because of her knowledge of medicinal plants.
Healers, like me, knew how to save lives, but we also knew how to take them.
My throat closed.
Though we had a serious problem, we also had a very clear—if terrifying—solution. It was as plain to me as the city of Manzazu stretched in front of us. The Libbu with people bustling around like beetles. The wide, squat houses with smoke trailing up to the sky. And beyond them, the river Garadun, a blue serpent basking in the sunshine, its curvy body wending toward other cities and eventually to Alu.
My legs jittery, I glanced at the woman who was supposed to be my queen. “Ah…this isn’t a problem, my friend.” I swallowed my nerves. “The sarratum said they’d go to war in half a moon, which is actually good news if you think about it.”
“How is that good news?” she squeaked.
“Well?” I lowered my voice, glancing back at Ummi, who was staring resolutely ahead. “It means we have half a moon to follow that river back home and…uh…kill him ourselves before Manzazu attacks.”
She looked at me, eyes bulging. “How could we possibly—”
“Like Dagan said! Sneak in! Get the ensis on board with you returning to power and then assassinate him. And”—I sucked in a deep breath—“I know who should do it.”
“Who? You?”
I blinked guiltily at her.
“What?” she squawked. “You’re not an assassin. None of us are.” She met my eyes and slipped on a stair, and I grabbed her arm to catch her.
“Are you all right?” Ummi asked from several steps above us.
“Just fine!” I waved.
“Yes, Arwia. Me.” Though Kasha and Nanaea were going to be hysterical when I told them I was leaving them behind to try to save their lives. Though my abum would probably join forces with the Boatman and haunt me forever for even letting this thought cross my mind.
“I’m not an assassin, but I do know a thing or two about—” I looked over my shoulder “—poison. I also know the city inside and out. I traveled each one of those roads as a healer. Many people there owe me a favor for healing them. For my abum healing them. I’d have allies who could protect me.”
“I don’t like it. You’re not a good sneak.”
“Then I’ll bring Iltani, too. She can talk anyone into anything, and nobody even knows who she is.”
“As if Dagan would agree. Or Nasu.”
“Dagan could come with me if he were disguised. He’s of the noble class. He can…I don’t know…sneak around and convince the ensis to accept you and get the people on our side. Nasu could come along to protect us.”
She stared at me, her black eyebrows coming together in angst. “Then I am coming as well.”
“No! You’re too precious. If something were to happen to you, then who would rule?”
“Kammani, stop it. We’ll have to figure out another way. This is ludicrous.”
“We can do this, Arwia. We can sneak into the city and send him to the Netherworld before that insane sarratum up there bloodies everyone in Alu.”
“This is terrible.” Arwia crossed her arms over her chest as we took the last remaining steps and descended into the chaos of the Libbu. A pair of donkeys pulled a creaking cart stacked high with spears, their sharpened blades a stark reminder of what was at stake.
“We’ll be ghosts in the night, my friend. He’ll never see us coming.” I couldn’t believe I was convincing her I would make a good murderer. I couldn’t believe I had to.
After several moments, Arwia straightened her shoulders, but her eyes were bleak as she assessed the frenetic movement in the Libbu.
“You’re probably right, Kammani, though I hate it. I hate the whole idea.” She stared at the weapons gleaming in front of us. “But if we don’t, we’ll live the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders, waiting for the blade. She touched her stitched ear absently. “I have far too many plans for my life to live like that. Well, I did. I suppose now my plans include a throne.” She stared gloomily at the weaponry cart.
“And I have plans, too.” In Alu, I could rebuild a healing practice with my own citizens. I could build a home with Nanaea and Kasha. Spend a long life with Dagan in whatever form that took.
Uruku had already taken my abum, my good kind mentor who’d taught me everything I knew about healing. He’d stolen Mirrum. Mudi.
He’d stolen this safe haven of Manzazu right from under our feet.
Though it sent shivers of dread up into my hairline and guilt into my heart that I was already thinking of the deadliest poisons to use, I wouldn’t let him steal anything else from me ever again.
NANAEA AND KASHA walked next to me on the road to Alu, their sandals crunching in the silted sand, eyes squinted against the blazing sunshine. Their presence grated on my nerves. They’d refused my demands to stay in Manzazu, safe and secure with Simti and Ilu. Kasha had wailed in fright, beating his chest and threatening to sneak away and follow us if I left him. Nanaea had promised she’d help get us into the city with clever disguises and had argued that her life was on the line, not just mine, and wasn’t she a grown woman now, too, so she should be able to do what she liked.
By the time she’d finished speaking, my head had been pounding, and I’d agreed to let her come if only to shut her up. We’d tearfully hugged Simti goodbye, promising we’d return with news of our triumph.
Obviously, we couldn’t all just march into Alu’s gates, so we decided to stop in Wussuru, an abandoned city-state a few hours’ ride from Alu. Nasu and the traders had slept there before and said it was safe and had a working well. Arwia said that she needed to be near enough to claim the throne quickly should we accomplish our task, so she’d camp there until she got word. Since she couldn’t stay alone, Nasu agreed to stay in Wussuru as her guardsman. We all convinced Kasha he should also camp with them to be an extra set of eyes and ears.
The rest
of us would head into the city of our birth.
Nanaea to disguise us.
Dagan to pave the way for the nin’s coronation.
Iltani to be the sneak.
And me to mix the poison.
My throat went dry even thinking about it. I still needed to find something deadly enough to do the job. My tinctures had dwindled since trade had been reduced, and I didn’t have time to test any new plants or berries before we left. With Mudi gone, there was no one to go to for help, either. I was counting on Dagan’s mother to have something suitable at the farm. If anyone would have a tincture to take down Uruku, it would be her.
I am going to kill a man.
My abum had always trained me to do no harm. Ease someone into death only if they’re suffering greatly. Keep my feelings out of my practice if I was angry with the person I was treating.
Churning with dread, I brushed the damp hair out of my eyes and laid a hand on the packed, squeaking cart to steady myself in the blazing sun. We were disguised as traders, loaded down with carpets and casks from Ilu’s father. Dagan and Nasu marched up front, flush with weaponry to discourage theft as we traversed down the busy road that wound near the river.
“You all right?” Beet red, Arwia sat under a thin linen on the cart, rocking gently with every bump and turn. We’d advised her to stay hidden as much as possible, but in this heat, it was difficult to be strict.
“Just hot. Very hot. The sun is relentless.” A trickle of sweat rolled down my throat where my scorpion necklace should be. I had taken it off and stowed it in my healing chest for safekeeping.
“It is. But Nasu says we should arrive by nightfall.” She blinked up at the sun and frowned. “Whenever that will be.”
“See anything behind us?” I asked her, glancing over my shoulder.
“Not a thing. Just traders and travelers. That’s it.”
“Good.”
We’d told Sarratum Tabni that we were going to go hide in Enlidu until the war was over in case Uruku tried again. Arwia explained that we didn’t feel safe in Manzazu since the assassination attempt, and there was a high likelihood the sarratum didn’t believe a word of what she said. She’d offered to send some Koru with us to protect us on our journey, but we’d declined. They could report on our attempt to subvert the war that the queen had planned, and we’d be hauled back to the Palace, likely in chains.