Enheduanna: The First Author - Wattys Winner 2021

22. Betrayal On Both Sides

That night I had a dream. It was overwhelming and indescribable, but melted into a blur as soon as I opened my eyes. All day I tried to remember that dream, reach for something within that I could not quite grasp.
Kituzda was cross with me, but what else was new. No, she wasn't in my dreams, nor were Idal or Dingira, who both acted out of the norm. One was struck with muted disappointment, the other with loud encouragement.

The daily tasks eluded me. Parts of last night flashed before my eyes, but it was not enough to shape an image of what happened. I felt like my head was filled with mist and all I could do was flail blindly around, hoping to strike something, anything.

"High priestess Enheduanna, might I have a moment of your time?" Lugal-ane's bald head shone in the sun as he bowed before me. Since when did he put his nose towards the ground for me?

The thought cleared a path in my mind like a flash. As if a strike of lightning made everything clear in the blink of an eye, and then it was gone.

A woman with golden wings and a mountain that would not bow.

"Wise En-priestess, your words have touched me deeply. I came to make my apology for not showing respect at you anointment." Lugal-ane said, his voice as sweet as ever.

"Sweet smells are sometimes used to cover foul ones," were the words Idal spoke when we entered the mountain temple of Ningishzida.

With another flash, I saw her. Inanna, goddess of the fearsome divine powers, clad in terror, made complete by the strength of the holy ankar weapon, drenched in blood, rushing around in great battles, with her shield resting on the ground. She was covered in a storm and blood. O great lady Inanna, knowing well how to plan conflicts, you destroy mighty lands with an arrow and strength alone.

"Thus you must care greatly for the people of Ur," Lugal-ane concluded an argument I did not hear.

Never the less, I smiled. "I gave my word that I intended to bring peace to Ur and protect its people, and my word is my bond."

"I am delighted to hear you say that. Because Rimush rages his anger across the land like a serpent pumping venom into its prey. At least Sargon, may his soul rest in the land of no return, had respect for our Sumerian customs." Lugal-ane fumed, forgetting any and all manner of discretion, as he spoke so bluntly about my family.

This man spoke of respect, yet he only showed it when it would benefit him. He didn't show me any respect when I became high priestess, never showed my father any while he was alive. So, why was he feeding me these honeyed words, while simultaneously berating his king?

His red robes fluttered like fire when he threw his hands to the sky. "In heaven and on earth, your hymns roar like a lion and united the people. Like the bull of heaven, your words triumph over those who are hostile. Like a fearsome lioness you will pacify the insubordinate and unsubmissive with your call."

I cocked an eyebrow. "what is my call, may I ask?"

"To aid the Sumerians in our fight for freedom from the Akkadian tyrant." Lugal-ane stated, his back standing as straight as a mountain.

It made me sick. This was not respect. He did not care about my hymn unless they benefitted him. And the nerve to tell me to fight against my own blood. "No." was all I could muster, without cursing him where he stood. That single word carried enough venom to kill an army, and Lugal-ane went pale as it reached his ears.

"I don't understand. In your hymn you spoke about Rimush."

"King Rimush of Akkad," I corrected him. "I do not agree with my brother's methods, as I made clear. But that does not mean I would ever do anything to harm him or his reign. So, enlighten me why you insulted and disrespected my family and your king to my face?"