(Ereshgal POV)
What should my approach be here?
I looked at him. He was still smiling, patient as ever. What did I actually need from him?
As things stood, I could head straight to Uruk and join my father's faction. A few names came to mind immediately. The moment I proved to them that I was a chosen, even if that was not actually true, they would stand at my side without much doubt.
But simple did not mean wise.
I knew a few things about the situation in Uruk, but only the most important ones. Liraya had never cared enough to look any deeper. Ishtal, however, had spies inside the city, which meant he was constantly informed.
It would be a waste not to hear what he had to say.
There was no harm in hearing him out first. If he said something useful, I could make use of it. If not, I could still leave and go to Uruk on my own terms. Either way, letting him talk a little longer cost me nothing.
So I kept my expression steady and stayed silent for a moment, letting him think I was considering it.
Nadira had probably already told him how I had been yesterday. That meant I still needed to look affected by everything that had happened, just not enough for him to start seeing me as a threat to whatever plan he was building.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Answer me honestly" I said through clenched teeth. "Did you have anything to do with the kidnapping?"
It came out exactly the way I wanted.
Ishtal looked offended immediately, and on anyone else, it might have worked. "You wound me, little brother. I would never do something like that."
Then, almost immediately, the smile returned. "Besides, Nadira helped you, didn't she?"
I held his gaze without answering. For a moment, I just stared at him, then leaned back slightly and closed my eyes as if the thought itself wearied me.
"Well... that's true" I said at last, letting the words come out slower, as though I had chosen to believe him.
It was a lie, of course.
Ishtal's smile widened. "You see? We're on the same side."
"You're right" I said. "Apologize to her when you see her. I was not in the best state yesterday, and I overreacted."
He nodded, clearly pleased with my answer. "I will. Do not worry."
So it was true. I was the only one who could see her. Why? And how exactly did that ability work? Before I could think about it any longer, Ishtal kept talking.
"Still, I was surprised to hear you were that desperate to find him. Did you know them from before?"
Whatever I said now barely mattered. He already believed they meant something to me, and that worked in my favor. If Arisha stayed here, he would keep them safe without me even having to ask. Not out of kindness, but because he wanted something he could use against me if things ever went wrong between us.
But… If it came to that, he would learn it would not be so simple.
"She is the wife and the child of a friend" I said, my fists tightening at my sides. "I ran into them here, and that was when I learned he had died."
Then I slowly loosened my hands again, as if the effort of saying it had taken something out of me.
Ishtal nodded as if he understood. "I am sorry for your loss. Still, at least you had no trouble rescuing him, did you?"
I looked away at once, just enough to make it seem as though I was not sure whether I should answer. Interest lit up in his eyes immediately.
"Do not worry" he said, his voice softening. "No matter what happened, you can tell me."
I let the silence stretch, long enough to make my uncertainty feel real. Then I gave a small nod, as if I had finally decided to trust him with it.
"It was strange" I said. "The moment I left the city, a naked man approached me. He was thin, filthy, and one of his arms was gone. His tongue had been cut out too. He just handed me a clay tablet."
Ishtal said nothing, but I could feel his full attention settle on me.
"There was a threat written on it. It said I had to go to the river." I paused briefly, as if remembering it still unsettled me. "When I got there, another man was waiting for me. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with his face hidden under a hood. I could not see him clearly, but I noticed he carried two daggers. He seemed nervous. The moment he saw me, he told me where Darim was and warned me not to tell anyone I had seen him."
I lowered my voice a little.
"I was about to question him, but before I could, he gathered spiritual energy and crossed the river. I thought about following him." I clenched my jaw, letting the frustration show. "But I was too worried about Darim. I went back first to see whether he had told the truth."
I let the last words fall more heavily.
"And he had. I found him."
For a few seconds, Ishtal said nothing. Then his finger began tapping lightly against the table, slow and thoughtful, his mind already moving through everything I had given him. His gaze shifted to Kisaya, searching her face.
That was exactly why I had not told her everything yesterday. Kisaya was far too easy to read, and her edict only made it worse. I did not like keeping things from her, but sometimes it would be necessary.
For now, that should keep him busy.
"By the way" I said, my voice cooling. "I am getting tired of having someone follow me wherever I go."
Ishtal gave a small laugh and lifted his hands slightly in surrender. "Haha guilty as charged. But you have to see it from my side. We still do not fully understand what you have become. You could be dangerous."
His tone remained light, but the meaning beneath it did not. "And besides" he added, "we have something more important to discuss."
I said nothing. I already knew what was coming.
Ishtal leaned back a little, his smile fading into something more serious. "Kudur will be crowned in two weeks."
"What did you just say?!" Kisaya cut in, just as I widened my eyes and let a hint of surprise show on my face.
Ishtal nodded, as if he had expected that reaction.
"It was supposed to happen in a few months" he said. "But the date was moved up. The clandestine rituals have gotten a little out of control. And Kish has started moving."
Kish.
That part was new.
Still, I could not say it surprised me. If Uruk showed weakness, Enmebaragesi would never let the chance pass him by. He was not the kind of man who waited politely while a rival city tore itself apart.
Which meant the city needed a king soon. Or at least, that was the excuse they would use.
"What is your plan?"