The word tore out of her the same way her fire did. Her actual flames were still smothered by the bull’s censure, but nothing could change that Bex was the one all of Ishtar’s people had bowed to. She was the queen who’d destroyed the Hells, stood up to a goddess, and cut Gilgamesh’s fortress in half. With a lot of help, admittedly, but the whole point of being a leader was that people followed you. Bex wasn’t strong because of her horns or her fire or her name. She was strong because she had strong people who supported her without reservation. They were the ones who’d lifted her up to where she was now, and pride in them was the mountain she stood on as she stared the charging bull down.
“Stop,” she said again.
The bull roared and tossed his horns, turning the stone road to gravel as he stomped his sharp hooves. For all the destruction and noise, though, he was no longer moving forward, and for the first time since the Prince of Envy had tossed them down here, Bex’s face split into a smile.
“Kneel,” she ordered.
The bull bellowed again, but his knees still hit the ground, going down one leg at a time until his giant belly was pressed against the road.
“That’s better,” Bex said, breathing deep to hide her crushing relief. “Can you speak?”
The bull snorted through its giant nostrils. Just like before, though, the meaning still came through clearly.
Of course. I am a divine creation, not some dumb animal.
“Then why are you charging around like one?” Bex snapped, getting angry again now that the terror of impending death was subsiding. “We’re all children of Ishtar here, so what are you—”
Liar!the bull trumpeted.I know you! You are the Blade of Ishtar, and yet your flames are tainted with the blood of Holy Enki! You are a godslayer! Atraitor! You—
“And you are dead,” Bex reminded him, waving her hand at the stone roof high above their heads. “The mortal hero Enkidu slew you five thousand years ago, after which you were sealed down here by Gilgamesh the Traitor, conqueror of Paradise and murderer of the gods.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “If you’re going to point your horns at me, know that all of mine are pointing back. This war’s a lot more complicated than it used to be, but we are both creations of the gods. The important thing now is to decide whose side you stand on: Gilgamesh’s, or your fellow children of Paradise?”
I stand with Ishtar,the bull snorted.But what do you mean I am dead? I’m a creation of the eternal gods. I cannot die!
“I don’t know how you ended up here,” Bex told him honestly. “But if you’ll stop raging for a moment and look around, you’ll see that we’re not on Earth or in the Riverlands anymore. We’re stuck in one of Gilgamesh’s prisons. My sister and I were trying to escape when you attacked. I can take you with us when we go back to Paradise, but only if you promise to stop trying to kill me.”
Never!the bull roared, tossing his head.You are a godslayer!
He ended with his black nose stuck obstinately in the air, and Drox made a disgusted sound inside Bex’s head.
Don’t waste your time on this oaf, my queen.His rage-drunk mind can’t possibly understand the nuances of all that has changed in the past five thousand years.
“Perhaps,” Bex said. “But I was a loyal weapon of Ishtar myself not that long ago, so I understand where he’s coming from.” She frowned for a moment, and then she glanced back up at the bull, who was already pushing at the limits of her new pride.
“How about we make a deal?”
The bull looked disgusted.I don’t bargain with murderers.
“This bargain doesn’t involve me,” Bex promised. “I won’t even be there. I’m just offering you a chance to trample some actual traitors.”
The bull stopped fighting at once.Continue.
“There’s a great forest down in the living world where the armies of Gilgamesh are gathered,” Bex explained in her best tempting voice. “Why waste your time in this dark, boringplace, chasing one godslayer, when you can trample thousands of them? They’re mortals, too. Easy to crush.”
An army of mortals, you say?The bull perked up.I haven’t crushed one of those in ages.
“You can crush these to your heart’s content,” Bex promised. “They’re servants of the enemy, slavers who’ve befouled Paradise. They’re down there right now, seeking to destroy the last power capable of dethroning Ishtar’s murderer. If you trample them, you’ll be avenging her death.”
Yes! Yes!the bull bellowed.I would do anything to avenge her! Even in this strange land, I knew that she was gone.His black eyes flashed as he started fighting Bex’s command to kneel even harder.I will destroy them all!
“Then you’d better not trample me, because I’m the only one who can get you down there,” Bex said. “You also have to swear on Ishtar’s name that you won’t hurt the trees or the witches who guard them. Only Gilgamesh’s servants shall die. Promise me that, and I’ll let you get up.”
I promise! I promise!the bull cried.Take me to them! Let me crush them!
“We’ll head right over,” Bex promised, easing back her hold to let the bull rise to his feet again. “Just let me talk to my sister first.”
The bull nodded and started kicking his hind legs excitedly. If he hadn’t been a murderous monster the size of a barn, it would’ve been cute. As it was, the shaking from his pounding hooves was collapsing the last parts of the ancient city that hadn’t already been trampled. That was a shame considering the age of the place, but since the city was Gilgamesh’s, Bex was having a hard time feeling guilty.
“That was well done,” Nemini said, patting her sister on the shoulder. “You’re a better Pride than I was.”
