The lamps in the great hall still burned long after night had fallen over Uruk.
Kudur crossed the hall in silence. This was where everything he had worked for would finally become his. He had spent more than half his life waiting for this moment, and now it was so close he could almost taste it.
Nothing could stop him now.
Kudur stopped beside one of the columns and rested a hand against the stone.
"Too many ways in" Tarin said behind him. "We need more men inside."
Kudur frowned.
"No."
Tarin didn't look satisfied, but he said nothing more and lowered his head. He knew he was there mostly for appearances. Kudur hardly needed protecting. Most of his strongest Chosen had been sent elsewhere, some to watch the routes toward Kish, others to deal with the clandestine rituals spreading through the city.
Being only an Awakened, Tarin didn't have much say in the matter.
A few moments later, someone knocked at the main doors. Kudur glanced at Tarin, who went to open it. Darek was waiting on the other side. He smiled when he saw Tarin.
"How are things going?"
"Fine" Tarin replied curtly.
Darek sighed and folded his arms. "I miss the old you. You were more fun."
"Enough. Report" Kudur said.
Darek hesitated for a moment, then dropped to one knee.
"Everything went smoothly."
Kudur narrowed his eyes but didn't press him.
"Ishtal?"
"Our spy still hasn't reported in. He's probably dead by now."
Kudur ran his fingers along the carvings on the column, once again considering what could go wrong if Ishtal appeared.
The answer was always the same.
Nothing.
He simply didn't have the power to do anything.
The only thing that still bothered Kudur was Namur. He had left on a mission with Hadan's men and no one else. Had something happened?
Kudur shook his head.
He had no reason to think so. Namur was too deeply embedded for anyone to have discovered him. Whatever mission they had been sent on must have been urgent enough that he hadn't had a chance to leave word.
Kudur looked across the hall again.
During his first rebellion, he had made the mistake of believing soldiers were enough. He had tried to tear the throne from Lugalbanda's hands and lost because he hadn't had enough chosen on his side.
He would not make that mistake again.
This time, he hadn't taken the city.
He had won it.
Lugalbanda had lost himself searching for a dead son. Ishtal had renounced his claim and then abandoned the city. Ennari was too young.
Someone had to rule.
Kudur wasn't stealing a kingdom. He was taking the place that had always been meant for him.
…
(Ereshgal POV)
The rest of the final day before the coronation disappeared into preparations.
Hadan's soldiers would seize the witnesses at the last possible moment. Nadira came by to report that she had finished scouting everything, while Ashren gathered the men who would be helping her. So far, everything was going according to plan.
Whenever there was nothing else to do, I trained with Kisaya while Lureh either watched us or talked with Bazi.
Kisaya would come with me to stop the coronation. Lureh, on the other hand, would stay in a house near the palace in case anyone was injured. She would keep out of sight as much as possible.
Before dawn, I drank Zabar's blood again. I could have gone another day without it, but there was no reason to take the risk.
A few hours later, the morning of the coronation finally arrived. Hadan came for us at first light.
"We have them" he said as soon as he arrived. "Both were taken without trouble. No one had time to raise an alarm."
Good. That was one less thing that could go wrong.
We blended in with his soldiers, the two witnesses hidden among them as well. Our helmets concealed our faces easily enough.
Lureh had wrapped cloth around her face and remained at the workshop with Zabar. She would leave later with Kelzar and meet us at the agreed location.
We made our way through streets packed with people. Entire families had gathered along the procession route. Some carried offerings. Others were simply trying to find a good place to watch.
Near the palace, there seemed to be more guards than civilians, though Kudur had clearly made an effort to keep it from looking like a military occupation.
When we reached the palace, guards were stationed at the entrance. They recognized Hadan immediately. His rank allowed him to bring a small escort into the palace, though we were expected to remain in a side chamber during the ceremony. One of the guards counted us, looked over our helmets and weapons, then stepped aside.
"Go in."
Being one of the leaders of the military branch had its advantages.
We crossed the inner courtyard without trouble. It looked almost exactly as I remembered, which somehow made the difference harder to ignore. Five years ago, I had crossed it as Uruk's heir. Now I was returning beneath a borrowed helmet to stop my uncle from taking the throne.
Then the sound of drums and flutes rose through the palace and spilled out into the city.
The coronation had begun.
Once inside, no one paid us much attention. There were too many people moving through the palace, too many orders being shouted, too many faces for anyone to examine closely.
We reached the side chamber and fell into formation. The doors leading into the great hall stood open, giving me a clear view of everything inside.
Six seats had been arranged on either side of the hall, clearly reserved for the members of the Council. Between them stood a pedestal bearing a thin golden diadem, decorated with small rosettes and pieces of lapis lazuli.
Once, I had assumed my father would be the one to place it on my head.
Part of me wanted to walk in right then and take it.
Only the king was allowed to wear it. It was a divine artifact, though no one knew what it actually did.
No one except the king.
It was still early. There were plenty of people left to arrive, including Kudur.
The music continued as the hall slowly filled.
I recognized many of the people who passed through. Some from Namur's memories, others from my own childhood. Even everyone I had trained with five years ago was there.
Eventually, the doors were closed, cutting off my view of the hall.
By the time the sun stood high overhead, the drums and flutes fell silent. A few seconds later, a slower melody began, played only on lyres and harps.
I couldn't see inside anymore, but I knew what it meant.
Kudur was entering the hall.
Then a voice rose above the music.
Talia, the royal scribe, recited Kudur's titles and recalled the Council's decision that had first appointed him regent. Sagar, High Priest of Shamash, spoke of the need to restore order to the city. Uren, High Priest of Anu, called upon his god to give his blessing so that Uruk might once again speak with a single voice.
We waited.
Hadan had insisted that we couldn't move too early. If we interrupted before the Council formally established the grounds for Kudur's coronation, the proceedings could simply be postponed and we could be removed before forcing the Council to answer.
We needed to force them to answer us here, in front of all twelve members of the Council.
Then the moment came.
"Before the Council of Uruk," Talia declared, "let it be entered into record that no other recognized heir remains capable of laying claim to the throne, and that, by decision of the Council..."
"That is false."
The old man's voice cut through the hall.
Kudur's guards reached for their weapons. Whispers broke out across the chamber, and several members of the Council began speaking at once.
We started toward the doors.
"Hadan" Kudur said. "I don't recall giving you permission to interrupt."
"I don't need your permission to challenge a lie before the Council."
At that, the rest of us entered.
For a moment, no one seemed to understand what was happening. Then they saw the number of soldiers coming through the doors, and the entire hall tensed. Several of the Chosen had already begun tracing their runes, ready for whatever came next.
The whispers only grew louder.
"What's happening?"
"Another coup?"
"They're not going to fight in here, are they?"
Kisaya, Ashren, and Azel removed their helmets.
Kudur looked at Hadan.
"Explain yourself."
"There is an heir."
Kudur showed no surprise. He simply stared at him with open contempt.
"Age must finally be getting to you. There is no..."
I stepped out from among the soldiers and removed my helmet.
I smiled.
"It's been a long time, Uncle."