(Kisaya POV)
My fingers traced the edge of the silver cup, following the raised patterns across its surface. I hadn't expected things to reach this point so quickly. The metal was cool against my skin, and I realized I'd been fidgeting without noticing.
I lifted my eyes… and there he was.
Eresh's brother, Ishtal.
At first glance, the resemblance was unsettling. The same jaw, the same shape of his face, only older. His hair was darker, his eyes brown instead of gold. But where Eresh had been direct and impulsive, Ishtal was the opposite. Every movement felt measured, deliberate, like he was already deciding what to do with you before you even spoke.
He smiled, and it wasn't comforting.
I shifted my legs, unable to stay still. My fingers wouldn't stop moving. The pulse in my throat tightened. You never know what he's thinking.
"Aren't you going to drink your wine?" he said. "Don't worry. It's not poisoned."
I let the cup touch my lips. Grape wine—rich, smooth. Too fine for a casual talk. He'd chosen it on purpose, that much was clear. This wasn't a coincidence. For him, this was an occasion.
"You usually waste wine like this on casual meetings?" I asked, trying to sound calm.
"Casual? This is nothing of the sort. My dear cousin just came to visit me in my city, for the first time ever. That calls for celebration" he said.
I stared at him. His smile didn't fade, even when I spoke. "Since when am I your dear cousin? The day you left us? And when did this become your city?"
He lifted his chin, as if that could erase the past. "Don't be like that. I had my reasons. And I'm in a good mood today."
"And why's that?" I said.
"Because my dear cousin is actually having a conversation with me" he said, giving me that look that pretended to be surprised by my presence in his life. "Not sure if you remember, but these past years, every time I tried to talk to you, you wouldn't even look me in the eye. You just ignored me."
I blinked, and then I remembered. It was true, we'd run into each other a few times over the past years. I'd ignored him completely. Back then, I was too focused on moving from one fight to the next to listen to anyone. Still, I think he tried to bring me to his side.
"So you do remember! But I have to say, you've changed a lot. Did something happen?" he asked, like he was checking whether a weapon had rusted.
I lifted the cup again, turned the wine inside it. It moved slow "Nothing. What could've happened? I'm the same as ever. Just felt like talking more today, I guess."
"Haha… that's good, that's good. So? Have you thought about my offer? Don't you want to join me?"
I set the cup down gently and looked at him directly. "No matter how many times you ask, the answer is still no."
He sighed, the kind of disappointment that comes from expecting obedience and not getting it. "Well, it was worth a try. Anyway, what brings you to Sippar? Maybe I can help."
The question came softly, careful, like he was weighing my answer before I even gave it. I could've lied, said it was something personal, like last time.
I turned the cup in my hand, watching the wine catch the light. The soldier in me said to stay quiet, to measure my words. The rest of me wanted to speak. He'd never cared for family. If I told him I'd come for Ennari… would he help, or stand in the way?
My throat felt dry.
I took a breath.
"I came to take Ennari with me" I said.
His smile faded. His expression turned serious, and the air between us seemed to cool all at once.
"Kudur sent you to do it?" Ishtal asked. The words were small and sharp, falling between us like a test.
"No! I'd never follow an order like that from him!" The words slipped out before I could stop them. My voice came out sharper than I meant.
Why do I keep doing this? Why can't I stay calm? It's been happening more and more since Ereshgal came back. Am I already following my Edict without realizing it? Have I really reached that point?
He blinked, eyes widening for a moment—whether from my tone or my answer, I couldn't tell. "Haha… well, you're right, he is a bastard. But even so… you can't take Ennari."
I kept my posture steady. "Why not? I'm sure you don't even want her here."
Ishtal's voice changed, softer "You know, since he died, I never thought you'd act like this again."
Why mention him now? Did he notice something?
No… impossible.
I met his eyes, trying to look more annoyed than worried.
"That's not funny, Ishtal" I said.
"Haha, forgive me. I didn't mean to offend." He raised the cup, took a slow sip, and then finished the rest in one motion. Setting it down, he glanced at the surface for a moment before looking back at me.
"But you know? I learned an interesting phrase the other day." He paused, his tone turning lighter. "When you eliminate all the possibilities, the impossible, however improbable, must be the truth."
The words lingered, careful and deliberate. I didn't understand what he meant. I kept my eyes on him, waiting.
The room stayed still.
"You may leave. Just tell him… I want to talk."
I froze.
(Darek POV)
Ughh… I'm so tired. I don't even know why I keep doing this.
If there were any justice left in this cursed land, I'd be lying under the sun right now with a cold beer in one hand and absolutely no sense of purpose in the other. But no, apparently I've decided to dedicate my life to delivering bad news to men who don't sleep and don't like surprises.
I knocked on the door. Once. Twice.
No answer.
Typical.
"It's me" I said.
"Come in."
His voice came through the door before it opened.
Inside, the room was almost completely dark. The curtains were closed, the lamps unlit, the air unmoving. I couldn't see him, but I didn't need to. He was there, waiting, like always.
If I'd had the energy, I might've cracked a joke. Something about working more overtime than a priest during harvest season. But I was back in Uruk now, and humor wasn't exactly a survival trait here. Not with the kind of man waiting for this report.
I shut the door behind me. "You really should get some light in here" I said. "The mood's starting to feel… haunted."
"Report" he said.
Straight to it, as always.
"The creature is dead" I replied. "Kisaya killed it without much trouble."
Silence stretched.
Then came the sound I expected, the faint click of his tongue.
Disappointment.
"I thought…" His voice drifted, almost thoughtful. "After all the chosen ones it slaughtered, this might finally be the day…"
He sighed.
"But no. We'll have to take other measures…"
"Well done" he said at last, voice smooth again. "You may leave."
"Yes, Lord Kudur."