Enheduanna: The First Author - Wattys Winner 2021

6. King Of Beggars

"Deviance runs in your veins, but must you act like a fish porter?" Father groaned, his eyes glued to the falcon that drifted through the blearing mid-afternoon sky, its wings held aloft on a passing sigh of the wind and its eyes scanning the procession of horses below.

"But abba, Idal insulted me!" I cried out.

"That doesn't mean you have to respond so rudely," father responded. "There are more civil ways to handle conflicts." 

Whistling in the lowest pitch, he extended his left arm towards the sun. The falcon twisted in his flight, her eyes narrowing as she edged her sharp talons firmly in the leather cuff bound from father's wrist up to his elbow.

"Like how you responded to Ur-Zababa's distrust by civilly cutting his head off?"

The falcon's yellow-ringed eyes shifted curiously when my father stared daggers in my direction. "Hold your tongue, young lady! You know not of what you speak."

"I know very well of what I speak, father." It was no lie. I had heard the story of how my father went from a mere cupbearer to a king countless times, from myriad mouths. Each one told it more fantastical than the last, as if it was a competition for who could make themselves the most unbelievable. Because how could this man that I call father, this man that stood tall and proud like a mountain, be the bastard child of a priestess? And there was no way a newborn abandoned in the Euphrates river could survive the rough waters. It was merely an impossible tale made up.

But who created it? Did father fabricate it himself? 

His crown shifted from side to side. "why does my only daughter take delight in vexing me?"

The purring bird seemed so content as father padded his head, that it would make a child almost jealous of these ministrations. Too bad I was no longer a child. "You mistake my intentions. Vexing you is the last thing I would ever think of, let alone take delight in. It is a level of equal respect I wish to receive."

"Then, let me tell you that respect is something you must earn."

His words only added insult to injury. "And how am I to earn it? I have no army that fights for me, nor any combat skills to defend my person or my honor. All I have is my words."

"That is all you will ever need." And with those final words, the white stallion picked up his pace and rode ahead.

As we rounded the final sand dune, a walled fortress of a city build from tan sandstone and grey mortar appeared upon the horizon. Its vaulted turrets capped in spirals of gold, reflecting the rays of the sun.

"The King of Akkad approaches!" a city guard cried out as our procession neared the gilded gate, which swung open with barely a moment to spare. Servants and laborers scrambled out of our path as father's stallion barreled past with Idal hot on his heels. Leaving mother and me wobbling behind them, too tired, and far too sore to keep up.

The governor of Kish, Lawium, was already bowing like a pigeon, gathering invisible breadcrumbs at father's feet by the time we caught up.
"Welcome, oh greatest of kings. I have prepared the most exquisite of chambers for you and your family as soon as your message arrived. Allow me to escort you to them." 

"Thank you, old friend. But my daughter and I must first make our way to the temple of Inanna. It has been too long since I visited my define goddess at her earthly seat." Father replied with a smile the governor did not return.

Without another word, father guided me through the streets of Kish, moving as swiftly as a snake in the sand.

I was so tired my eyes couldn't seem to focus on that which was right in front of me. Stones melted into a massive tan mass, forcing me to close my eyes for a moment. The darkness was soothing until it brought me into a collision with someone who smelled of jasmine tea and honey. It was such a warm, comforting scent I wanted to lay my bed there.