(Ereshgal POV)
I looked at Kisaya. She was already asleep.
Strands of her dark hair had fallen over her face, softening her expression. It suited her. She should wear it like that more often. I reached out and gently brushed it aside, tucking it behind her ear. She shifted slightly in her sleep, and the linen sheet slipped down just a little.
For a moment, the thought crossed my mind.
I could wake her.
Continue what we had been doing not long ago.
I smiled.
Better not, she must be exhausted. I pulled the linen sheet back over her, covering her again.
In the past, I would never have understood my own feelings… or hers. Living more than a hundred and fifty years had its advantages, you learn to see things more clearly.
On the other hand, it was also… convenient.
Among royalty and nobility, it was common for families to marry within their own bloodlines, to preserve power or secure an unquestionable claim to the throne. There were exceptions, but they were rare.
In most cases, it was simply how things were done.
I looked up at the ceiling. There were still a few hours left before dawn.
As time passed, my thoughts turned to what would come next. Liraya was gone, Urhen was dead.
Things would not stay quiet for long.
I doubted I could convince my brother that I had nothing to do with it. He was far too perceptive for that. Still, I would try to keep up the act with him as well. It wouldn't fool him for long, but even a little time would be useful.
That led me to another thought.
What had my father been thinking? Why was I raised the way I was?
Anyone in my position should have been raised differently. I did learn, and I did grow, but always under careful supervision. It made me a capable fighter, but left me lacking in other areas. He kept me sheltered, as if I were something fragile, something that might break.
That only changed after I was not chosen… he said nothing when I decided to fight the wendigo. If I had been chosen, he would probably have been against it.
Why? Did he truly want me to become king?
There had to be a reason. I brought my arm up to my forehead.
Uruk.
I needed to return soon.
If Ishtal had received the same information as Liraya, then he already knew the coronation had been moved forward.
Only two weeks remained. Whatever plan he had in mind, he would have to act sooner.
He would probably come today.
At some point, without me even noticing, the night had passed. Daylight had already settled in.
Beside me, Kisaya shifted. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at me, studying my face for a moment.
"…Wasn't a dream?"
I smiled.
"That depends" I said. "Would you like it to be?" She shook her head quickly.
I laughed as I leaned closer and kissed her. She responded, a little shy at first, and when I pulled back, her cheeks were flushed.
"I didn't expect you to still blush from a kiss after last night."
The next instant, Kisaya's punch landed cleanly against my ribs. I let it land—I probably deserved it. But as she went for a second, I slipped out of the way and stepped off the bed, laughing.
She was about to say something, but I cut her off before she could.
"Before you say anything" I said, glancing at her, "remember I can't take you seriously like that."
I glanced down.
She did the same.
"ERESH!"
Her face flushed instantly as she pulled the sheet up to cover herself.
I burst out laughing.
"Alright, alright, sorry" I said, still smiling. "Let's get dressed. It shouldn't be long before they bring the animals. And… something tells me we'll probably have company today."
She noticed the change in my tone, and her expression shifted at once. Without another word, we both got dressed, pulling on simple tunics. As I fastened my belt, I hooked a small leather pouch to it and slipped the spatial ring inside.
Once we were ready, we moved to the table and sat down. Kisaya had already started eating the bread left from the night before.
I watched her in silence as she ate.
"Do you miss eating?" she asked.
I shook my head. "Not really. Just remembering that cheese makes me lose any desire to eat."
She gave a small nod and kept eating. Now that I thought about it, I still wasn't thirsty. Not even the slightest discomfort. It seemed that human blood satisfied me more than animals.
I should test it further.
Maybe if I drank without killing, I wouldn't have to live through the other person's life and could still remain this satisfied.
It was worth trying.
But not with just anyone.
It would have to be someone who meant nothing to me, but not a criminal or a lunatic, because if I ended up inside their mind, I would have to feel everything they felt for their entire life…
No.
That wasn't something I wanted to experience.
A few moments later, I heard movement in the distance, footsteps, and the low sounds of animals being led through the streets. When they reached the door, I stood and walked over, opening it just before the knock came.
Ishtal.
Behind him, six sheep stood tied to a wooden post, shifting restlessly.
"Oh… little brother" he said, that familiar smile forming on his lips. "I see you're as well as ever."
For a brief moment, I almost smiled and told him I had been expecting him. I stopped myself. Instead, I widened my eyes slightly, pretending to be surprised.
"Ishtal." He held my gaze for a second, that same faint smile still on his face.
"May I come in?"
I stepped aside without a word. He walked past me. As soon as he saw Kisaya, Ishtal said lightly, "I'm glad to see you too, cousin."
Kisaya ignored him.
"What can I help you with?" I asked as he sat down across from Kisaya.
The moment he did, she stood up and moved to the wall, leaning back near where her spear rested, making it clear he should be careful.
"Don't rush" Ishtal said calmly. "It's been a few days since we last spoke. Sit. Let's talk."
I walked toward the table.
As I approached, I sharpened my hearing, focusing only on the room. Every sound became clear, the rhythm of their breathing, the steady beating of their hearts, even the faint flow of blood beneath their skin.
But that wasn't what I was listening for. I was looking for Nadira.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then… a heartbeat.
Faint. Almost imperceptible.
Coming from the right of the door, the corner of the room.
I focused on that point alone.
It was still faint, barely there.
But it was there.
Liraya had been right. She could suppress any sound her body made until it was almost undetectable. But with my hearing, at least within a closed space, I could still find her.
I turned my gaze toward the corner, expecting to see nothing but empty space. After all, she could make herself disappear.
I paused for a second.
She was there.
Leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, watching me. A soft grayish-violet spiritual energy flowed around her, the scarf still covering part of her face.
"Is something wrong?" I looked at Ishtal, then at Kisaya. Neither of them seemed to notice anything.
…Only I can see her?
I shook my head. "Nothing."
And kept walking. So she's a chosen of Ninshubur, the messenger of the gods.
I reached the table and sat down, fixing my gaze on Ishtal.
"So? What do you want?"
He smiled. "Always straight to the point. Maybe I just want to spend some time with my little brother."
I didn't answer. When he didn't get the reaction he wanted, he let out a quiet sigh. "Several things… but first, are you alright after what happened last night?"
Ishtal studied me closely, his expression almost… concerned. Kisaya lifted her gaze as well, now paying attention to the conversation.
There it was.
His first question. If this had been before, I might have said or done something that gave things away.
I smiled faintly to myself.
Now…
Now it was different.