If the royal line failed, so too would all New Sumer’s magic, Asharru reminded her gryphon.
Ishtar had set down that curse long before gryphons had ever lived on this island chain. It was during the time of Hillanium, the first King of the Gryphons. The goddess had created the curse to safeguard her earlier, less civilized gryphons from killing each other in territorial fights for the throne.
So, unless you know something that I don’t, Tirigan—as lovely as he might smell to you—is entirely off limits.
Her gryphon paid her no mind.
Blessedly, Tirigan seemed unaware of Asharru and her gryphon’s silent battle of wills.
He escorted her to her seat and then bowed over her hand before settling on the bench beside her.
“Shall we start with a few of your present problems to give us an idea of what roles we’ll need to play?” Tirigan suggested as he poured a goblet of wine for her.
Across the table, Laliya and Bashaa nodded their agreement and Kuri and Hunzuu, who sat on opposite ends, snorted in unison.
“That will only take until dawn,” Kuri said in all seriousness.
“Then we should begin,” Tirigan returned in equally serious tones.
Asharru filled them in on some of the things they did not know about, ending with Councilor Diimeritia’s poisoning.
Laliya set down her wine and strummed her fingers on the table softly. “Your problems are multi-layered indeed. And while I’m very sorry for your grief at the loss of your mentor, there is a greater concern. Your coronation is in two moon cycles. While you can replace Diimeritia’s council seat at your leisure, only a High Priestess of Ishtar can crown you queen.”
“Yes.” Asharru knew that, but as the other woman had likely guessed, she’d been more focused on the grief and the rage than on what it would mean for her coronation.
“Bashaa, Tirigan, and I have all attended training with the priests and priestesses at Uruk,” Laliya said. “We can pass for members of that order and keep an eye on whoever you pick for the new High Priestess. I’d suggest a youth for the role—less chance that she will already be loyal to one of the nobles. It also increases the likelihood she’ll look to a mentor for guidance.”
“Yes.” Asharru nodded. “I’ll have to postpone the pick until after Diimeritia’s funeral, but I can begin researching a new candidate and then begin her training, and as you say, if I assign a mentor I trust to the girl…”
That might just work.
If she could trust her three new allies.
Every fiber in her being said she could, and she’d gotten very good at reading people.
But as slaves who were trained from an earlier age to read and anticipate the tiniest change in their master’s moods, they might be better at reading her than she was at reading them.
Hunzuu leaned forward. “It’s not that I doubt your abilities, but are you sure you can pull off the role of a priest or priestess? There are rituals and prayers and rites. Not to mention we don’t need to displease Ishtar.”
Laliya’s expression said she wasn’t insulted by his question. “All three of us came to our fates as young children. I was sold into slavery because my parents couldn’t feed all my siblings and they thought slavery was a better choice than starving.”
“And in my case,” Tirigan said softly in Asharru’s ear, “An orphan whose family died in a fire.”
“We were all bought by slavers who saw great potential in us and sent us to Uruk for education in statecraft, history, politics and, once we were older, the art of sex and love play. But during that time the priests and priestess were also training us in their rites and rituals.” Laliya paused to sip from her goblet. “We moved up from novice, to apprentice, to acolyte and had almost completed the training of a priest or priestess, though the slavers never forgot us and came back to collect us before we could complete the final ceremony and become one of the order.”
These three were a few years older than Asharru’s twenty-five summers. If she were to guess, she’d put them at closer to thirty.
Fate was such a strange thing.
If she’d been older, she likely would have shared some lessons with them, perhaps they even would have become friends. And to judge by her gryphon’s response to Tirigan, maybe something more than friends.
Which would have been allowed back then, because Kadashman was still alive and she wasn’t destined to become a queen.
But that was an idle thought she didn’t have time for now.
“If I give you a little refresher in the prayers and ceremonies any one of you could play the part of priest or priestess. And once I perform the rituals and name you to the order, then it would be real and lifelong. There would be no insult to the gods. Are you truly willing to take on that role? Once done, it cannot be undone.”
“I would be willing to give my life to the gods,” Laliya said and then glanced at her two companions.
The three of them seemed to communicate in some silent way, and then the woman turned her gaze back to Asharru. “I would also be the best choice. Bashaa and Tirigan would serve you better here, in your court.”
Asharru arched a brow.
Laliya explained. “Governor Ugurnaszir liked some of his entertainments to be very realistic. He had his captain of the guard train several of his favorite male slaves in the art of combat. Tirigan and Bashaa both received that training. Because of that, I’d suggest keeping them close to act as bodyguards.”
Asharru glanced up at Tirigan. “Are you and Bashaa both agreeable to that? As a mentor to the next high priestess, Laliya will be away from Nineveh a great deal.”
Tirigan looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. “If whoever you pick as high priestess also holds a seat on the council, then she will need to be here a great deal as well. And while here, Laliya can act as a spy for you. As for Bashaa and I, we will aid Kuri and Hunzuu in protecting you from physical threats until we can create a guard loyal to you and only you.”
Pondering the idea, she studied Tirigan’s expression, trying to see what he honestly thought about this idea. The three of them were friends clearly. But were either Tirigan or Bashaa more than friends with the beautiful woman?
She’d seen no hint of jealousy or competition between the males, though.
But it really wasn’t her business either, so she held her silence on that intriguing speculation.
“Hold up, Pretty Man.” Kuri speared Tirigan with a look. “Don’t think you can smile and flirt your way into getting a sword in your hand. Our princess might trust you already, but that doesn’t mean I do. You’ve got a long way to go before you prove your loyalty. I’m not just going to give you a weapon when you’re going to be standing close enough to her to use it on her.”
“I have never harmed an innocent.” Tirigan drew himself up without actually standing. His presence and dominant personality expanded until even Kuri noticed it.
The guard made a face. “You, go stow that bruised male pride somewhere out of the way. If our positions were reversed, you wouldn’t give me a sword on the first day either.”
Tirigan huffed but folded his hands calmly on the table again. “Fair enough. I’ll earn your trust and prove my worth.”
“Glad we understand each other.” Kuri ended her verbal debate by sipping a bit more of the watered-down wine.
Asharru knew neither guard would consume much. Glancing at Tirigan’s cup, she was surprised to see he’d only had a sip or two, sticking to water with his meal.
Hunzuu cleared his throat. “Even after you three prove your loyalties, we are still very short on trustworthy guards to protect our future queen. We need more bodies, and we need them soon. I think our enemies are gathering for another strike.”
Beside her, Tirigan stiffened ever so slightly.
When he spoke, it was in a low, almost quiet voice that sent a chill up her spine. “You think whoever is behind the king’s assassination is after more than whatever political gain they might
acquire by placing Asharru on the throne in place of her brother?”
Hunzuu shrugged, and Kuri looked unhappy, but it was the brother who answered. “They might seek to keep Asharru a prisoner in her own palace, a figurehead for them to control.”
“We can’t rule that out,” Asharru agreed, though she’d die before allowing the one who killed her brother to use her in such a way.
Tirigan’s nostrils flared. “Then we will be extra vigilant.”
“Thank you. Not for myself, but for all New Sumer. We cannot allow New Sumer to fall.”
He bowed over her hand again and one of his braids, still wet from his bath, fell across her arm, causing gooseflesh to rise along it. But she didn’t think it had anything to do with the dampness.
When Tirigan straightened, he looked back at Kuri and Hunzuu. “If you don’t trust me then you’re probably not going to like my next idea about where to find three more people to join our little cause.”
Curious, Asharru listened as Tirigan explained his plan.
Chapter 9
Kuri stomped ahead, leading the group toward their destination. Bashaa and Laliya flanked the guardswoman, dressed in the garb of the Nineveh garrison, complete with the traditional harnesses, bow, and sword.
Tirigan, decked out in similar garb, walked next to Asharru with a hand on the hilt of his sword, which was likely the cause of Kuri’s sour disposition. Tirigan had pointed out that it would look strange for the guards of Asharru’s protection detail to be weaponless and unable to defend her.
Asharru had agreed, overruling Kuri this time.
Following along behind, Hunzuu remained watchful for dangers in their wake and seemed unconcerned that Tirigan, Bashaa, and Laliya now possessed swords.
Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said about Kuri.
Though Tirigan and his sword were likely only partly to blame for Kuri’s sour mood.
After hearing out Tirigan, who hadn’t tried to sugar coat the facts as he told her about the three soldiers who’d helped them escape, Asharru had decided she had to save the three deserters even if Kuri refused to bring them into the group just yet.
Though, she’d been surprised by one thing in Tirigan’s story.
They’d been aided by Governor Ugurnazsir’s own daughter. She’d given the slaves and deserters enough money to live off should they survive an escape attempt. That just told Asharru how depraved the governor had become. She would need to do something about that once she had conquered her own court.
The governor’s daughter could be a possible candidate for a position in her court. She’d just have to discover if the woman had acted because she wanted to help the three slaves or if Tirigan had seduced the woman into doing as he wished.
Eyeing Tirigan, and after what Kuri had said about the slaves, she knew he’d do much to assure his friends’ safety. But that was a concern for later. Now there were three other lives on the line.
They were almost to the garrison when Kuri barked at the soldiers streaming out of the large building—it looked like they’d arrived just as a new shift was leaving for their assigned posts.
“To order! To order for your Crown Princess!”
The soldiers were swift to snap to attention and form up lines.
“You six!” Kuri seemed to pick them at random, “You’re now with us.”
It was smart of Kuri to fill in their ranks since the group had snuck out of the palace just as dawn broke. It was early enough that if they accomplished their mission swiftly, they might still avoid the notice of the remaining councilors and early rising nobles.
Bemused, Asharru watched as the ones Kuri had picked rushed to do her bidding with looks of astonishment to be assigned to the Crown Princess’s detail. That’s when Asharru realized the six youths weren’t picked at random.
“I think they’re all youths from the outer islands. Probably so new to Nineveh their hair still holds a hint of sheep and cows,” Asharru whispered to Tirigan. “Memorize their faces and find excuses to interact with them. See if you can determine if they have already been bought by one of the nobles.”
“As my queen commands.”
“I’m not queen yet.”
“And yet, you are already a worthy queen.”
She glanced up at him just in time to see his chagrined look. Ah, he hadn’t wished to reveal that he already respected her. He’d let his guard down enough to show her some emotion. She rather liked it and hoped he’d reveal more over the coming days. The glimpses of emotion made him less aloof, more approachable.
Ahead, Kuri continued to march, occasionally calling out to alert others in their path that Asharru was among the group. None of the soldiers questioned what the future queen was doing dressed as one of them.
If anyone had asked, Asharru imagined Kuri would make an example out of the unfortunate individual.
They crossed through a gate, walked down a long tunnel, dark even in the early morning light, and emerged into a walled courtyard. A scaffold had been erected against the building, forming a stage for later that day.
Priests and priestesses were already anointing and blessing the stage so the souls of the three deserters wouldn’t linger after their deaths and seek revenge.
Asharru planned to render the stage pointless and prevent Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld, from gaining three more souls this day.
“Damn,” Hunzuu muttered from behind. “Captain Libluth is being efficient for once.”
That’s when she noticed the soldiers in the courtyard were there to watch, not to get the day’s assignments as she’d first thought. Off to one side, a gathering of officers looked about ready to call everyone to order.
If that was the case, she didn’t have time to do the backroom dealings with the captain of the guard as she’d hoped.
Kuri said Libluth was an excellent fighter and trainer of men, but his moral code was…highly underdeveloped. He was happy to take bribes from councilors and various other city officials to turn a blind eye to things that were not entirely legal by Ninevian law.
Kuri said Kadashman only kept Libluth around because he was protecting her. If Kadashman removed Libluth, then Kuri, as the next most senior officer, would have become captain of the guard and he didn’t want to elevate her and make her a target for some other ambitious soldier with an eye on the title of captain.
Besides, Libluth, while not as spotless as one might like, was still fiercely loyal to his city and its ruler.
He’d been genuinely distraught over Kadashman’s death. Kuri had found him after the funeral more than half drunk and bawling into his cup.
Those were the only reasons Asharru kept him on as captain of Nineveh’s garrison. It certainly wasn’t because she trusted him to keep a secret if someone put a bit of gold in his palm.
But she had wanted to get him in a room where they’d have some privacy to come to a deal. Out here in the open, there would be far too many other eyes and ears trained on them. She’d have to improvise.
Kuri continued her march, aiming for the cluster of offices. When she got there, she called Libluth’s name. Once she had his ear, she gestured back toward Asharru.
“How good are you at lying?” Tirigan asked in a whisper that even her sensitive gryphon hearing had trouble discerning what he said over the noise of the crowd.
“We’re about to find out.”
Tirigan grunted.
But then they didn’t have time to worry, for she was in front of her target.
“Captain Libluth, I must apologize for I’m about to cause you some work, but there is a situation I’d rather remain concealed.”
At first, Libluth looked surprised, but then his expression took on a hint of pleasure and interest that the future queen had come to him in person instead of summoning him. She could practically see as he worked out in his mind what her secret would be worth.
“I live to serve, my Lady.”
“Good. Let’s go somewhere more private.”
&nb
sp; “My office isn’t far.” Libluth bowed over her hand.
Asharru allowed him to escort her inside.
Chapter 10
Once they reached Libluth’s office, Asharru wove together a lengthy and wholly fabricated explanation about how she had once known the three slaves when they’d studied on Uruk together and she had grown to ‘care’ for them but couldn’t openly buy them without defying her brother, who was against such practices.
She went on to say that she’d then decided to send a priest to see about buying the slaves and bringing them in secret to Uruk. If Ugurnaszir wasn’t willing to sell, she’d instructed the priest to find other ways, even going so far as to bribe a few of the guards with the promise of being welcomed into the garrison on Uruk, a much more sought-after post.
“But then my brother was killed, and I became distracted by my new duties,” Asharru said as she finished her tale.
“I can’t believe Ugurnaszir would be so foolish as to deny one of the royal line.” Libluth seemed affronted on her behalf.
“Yes, one would think he would have jumped at the opportunity and the amount of my offer.” Asharru frowned to show her displeasure at such a denial.
“As future High Priestess and your brother’s heir, the slaves should have been yours at the first hint that you wanted them,” Libluth agreed smoothly.
“Alas, they were among Governor Ugurnaszir’s favorites, and he thought of them as his mates.”
“Perverse bastard. I’ve heard about his entertainments and his harem,” Libluth said and made a face. “So, the three deserters were actually acting upon your orders?”
“Yes.”
“Forgive me, my Lady, but that doesn’t excuse them of the crimes of deserting their post. There are official channels these things normally go through.”
“Were they really deserting if they were following the orders of the future Queen of New Sumer?”
“When you put it that way, of course not.” Libluth bowed over her hand again.
“Exactly.”
But Captain Libluth’s expression remained sceptical. “What I don’t understand is why the three guards didn’t just bring the slaves to you at the palace.”
Blade's Destiny (Ishtar's Legacy Book 3) Page 6