Gilgamesh grabbed the solider by the waist and with a grunt of exertion, lifted the man upwards and slammed him into the ground. The solider cried out as the wind rushed out of him.
The soldiers that were watching the match murmured among themselves and clapped.
Gilgamesh pushed his hair out of his eyes and took in the crowd. King Ditanu had taken Gilgamesh to the training grounds. To show the might of the Suse army or to make Gilgamesh cower, the golden king was not sure. It did not matter. After King Ditanu had finished with the tour, Gilgamesh had challenged him to a wrestling match.
Unfortunately, the King of Suse refused the challenge, instead offering Gilgamesh a chance to wrestle the guards.
Hearing gasps to his left, Gilgamesh glanced over to see Enkidu pinning a guard to the dirt. He grinned. It looked like Enkidu had not been holding back. Not like they should. It had been three days since they had arrived at Suse and it had been dreadfully boring.
Every day had been the same so far. He spent time with the King Ditanu while Hakuno was with Queen Ninki. It seemed like every day the royals of Suse prodded for information. Princess Aea sometimes attended Hakuno's meetings and Gilgamesh had never seen a hair of Prince Shulpae. It was like they were not even trying to hide the fact that the boy was not theirs. What kind of son was not allowed to sit in with a conversation of Kings?
"I have heard of your wrestling skills but I am surprised that the rumors were true." King Ditanu stood back, against the fence that surrounded the training grounds. Probably not to get mud on his royal robes.
Gilgamesh would have scoffed if this was his own court. This King was probably the type to sit back and let his men do the fighting in a war. He walked over so only the fence separated the two kings.
"Your companion is very strong as well."
Gilgamesh glanced back at Enkidu. They were in a chat with the guard they had pinned, the pinnacle of relaxed. However, he could tell from the way Enkidu's shoulders were set and the quick glances, they were keeping an eye on Gilgamesh's conversation.
"Enkidu is from the mountains. I think they have a strength all of their own." He laughed. "When we wrestle, it is the toss of the coin to see who would win."
"That would be interesting to see someday." King Ditanu looked like he was going to say more but a slave boy ran up to him and whispered something into the King's ear. "I am sorry but some pressing matters have come up, just a fight of the farmers and I will have to leave you for the rest of the day." He gestured to the slave boy. "Take them to the stables. You have an interest in horses correct King Bilgames? We have some new horseflesh, bred in the lands far to the east that I am sure you will take interest in. How about you chose one, as a token of goodwill?"
How annoying. However, Gilgamesh put on his pleasant face and accepted the terms. After retrieving Enkidu, the two of them followed the slave in the direction of the stables. Sure Gilgamesh would love to go back to his room to take a bath and change but stables were a messy place and if he was going to be getting one of these apparent prized horses, then he was going to examine them.
"What is it?" asked Enkidu as Gilgamesh slammed to a stop.
The slave boy took a couple more seconds to realize his charge was not following. "My King?"
Gilgamesh pointed to the area near the stables where a collection of tents was set up. Carts with colorful ribbons and decorations were scattered about and there were a good number of oxen tethered to posts. A few woman were stoking small pit fires with children running about. There were men around as well, some sitting with the women while others did work on the tents or the carts. "Who are they?"
"It's a traveling caravan, King of Uruk," said the slave boy. "They are selling wares to my King. They have been given permission to camp here during the stay in the city."
"Remember what Hakuno said," murmured Enkidu.
Damn them. How could they tell what Gilgamesh was thinking? He had been a good King the past few days! He had listened to her wishes and not asked about that Kalbum fellow even though it was burning him from the inside. Besides, it was not like he actively sought them out, he ran into them! It was a coincidence!
"I want to see their wares if they are so fine that a King is interested."
He saw Enkidu grimace but they did follow Gilgamesh as they approached the caravan.
A woman, sitting in front of a cook pot, looked up from her stitching. Her brow furrowed. "Yes?"
Gilgamesh looked down at her. "Take me to the leader of your caravan."
She looked like she was going to say something but she finally got a good look at Gilgamesh's king amulets. Her eyes widen slightly and she scrambled to her feet and dropped to a bow. She spoke quickly in a language the King did not understand and a young boy jumped out from within the nearest cart and headed deeper into the camp.
"He went to tell our leader, Susuda, you are coming. They need to prepare for your arrival King…"
"of Uruk," finished Gilgamesh.
"Of Uruk," repeated the woman. She dipped her head. "Follow me, King of Uruk."
"She is not going to be happy about this when she finds out," murmured Enkidu.
"She does not need to find out."
Enkidu's expression said what they thought about Gilgamesh's statement.
"Well if neither of us tell then she will not find out. Obviously."
"Uh huh."
The woman stopped before a large tent made from brightly colored clothes. She stepped to the side and pulled the flap open and gestured for the two of them to walk in.
The inside was spacious despite the fact it was a tent. Long rods made from wood lifted the ceiling higher than it would be otherwise. There was a surprisingly amount of decoration in here from the cloth carpeted floor to the pillows strewn about. Sitting on the ground, on a soft pillow was an older man. Not as old as Ekur but he was up there in age, with hair that only had the faint traces of dark color to it.
"Welcome King of Uruk." His eyes settled on Enkidu. "And companion of the King." He bowed low. "Forgive me if I do not stand, my legs do not work as they used to."
Gilgamesh sat down across from the man, on a stack of pillows that made him higher than the caravan leader. Enkidu sat on the carpeted floor and put a pillow on their lap and gently squeezed it.
"I am Susuda, the leader of this caravan. What may I help you with King of Uruk? I was only expecting to have dealings with one King while in this kingdom."
"I was just curious about your wares, that is all," replied Gilgamesh. "The King of Suse spoke highly of your vendors so I am curious too."
"Well, what kind of wares are you interested in? I currently have people selling all manners of items. Carpets as luscious as the one you are sitting on? Pillows like the one your friend seems to be enjoying."
Enkidu startled and meekly put the pillow down next to them.
Susuda chuckled. "I also have a seller of mirrors. I know a few who have taken an interest to such items. Ah, you can come in. I have sent for drinks and some light snacks."
"Excuse the intrusion." A young man stepped into the tent with a tray in hand. His eyes were focused on the ground as he set the plates of food and a pitcher on the ground between the King and Susuda.
"It is you!" Enkidu exclaimed.
He looked up and seemed to be as shocked to see Enkidu as Enkidu was to see him.
"What is going on here?" asked Gilgamesh.
"Yes, I am wondering as well." Susuda crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.
"It...I…"
"He was the one that met Hakuno in the gardens," said Enkidu. "Kalbum was your name right?"
With the mention of her name, Gilgamesh say the corner of Susuda's eye twitch. Interesting. However, his focus was on the younger man. This, Kalbum fellow that Hakuno insisted that Gilgamesh not speak or approach. There was nothing about him that could be called handsome, he was barely average. Perhaps his personality was better than his looks? His Queen was not the type to be swayed by looks after all, it took a while for her to be smitten with him.
"Join us." Gilgamesh gestured to the floor, his tone conveying how non-negotiable was.
Kalbum swallowed and set next to the caravan leader. Well, he had good manners at least, as he kept his eyes trained to the floor.
Gilgamesh would have grinned at the obvious discomfort, but it would be for the best if they did not know how much this delighted him. He focused on Susuda. "I noticed you react when I said her name, Hakuno."
"She was a member of my caravan," Susada said slowly, like he was trying to figure out what Gilgamesh was looking for. "She no longer is. Has she done something?" His attention flickered to Kalbum, who winced.
"You obeyed her wishes to not tell." Enkidu's eyes sparkled, and Gilgamesh hated how Enkidu seemed to somehow gain some respect for the mongrel.
"Her wishes…" Susuda repeated. Now he was shooting a pointed look at Kalbum. "King of Uruk, I do not understand what your companion meant when…" A pause and Susuda gave Enkidu a once over. "they said Hakuno was in the gardens."
"Hakuno arrived here with me." Gilgamesh crossed his arms and locked eyes with the mongrel. The grin was no longer held back. "She is the Queen of Uruk after all."
Susuda had just taken a drink and Gilgamesh was impressed there was no spit-take. Instead the caravan leader broke into a coughing fit. The mongrel's hands curled in his lap. Gilgamesh's eyes narrowed. Well then.
"I am sorry, King of Uruk." Susuda lightly hit himself in the chest.
"Are you alright? Should I uh, hit your back? I think that's what she told me what to do when someone is choking."
"That is alright." Susuda waved Enkidu's concern away. He took a shuddering breath and focused back on Gilgamesh. "I will admit, I am surprised by this news. I had thought it would be…something else when you said she was here with you."
Ah. A slave most likely.
"A lower position does not suit her. A Queen is more her status," replied Gilgamesh. "I will admit, I came here knowing she had connections to this caravan and she grew up here." He glanced over at the mongrel who seemed to be getting more and more uncomfortable. Excellent.
Susuda chuckled and he seemed to relax ever so slightly. "That girl was raised with the oxen reins in her hand. I was the leader
when her parents joined my caravan."
"Her parents?" Gilgamesh saw Enkidu perk up. He had to admit he was curious as well.
"Passed to the underworld when she was barely three years old." Susuda shook his head. "They were only with my group for a few months at that point. We could not leave a little girl to fend for herself so she was raised through a community effort."
Interesting. And more information than he has been able to get out of his Queen. "What about you?" Gilgamesh gestured to Kalbum. He relished in the fact that the man looked like he wanted to bolt. "How do you know her?"
"We grew up together," murmured Kalbum.
"They were scamps together, running around and causing mischief. Kalbum is the son of my second in command so while other children came and gone, those two were together a lot."
"Susuda, you might be saying too much," whispered Kalbum.
"Kalbum really now…" Susuda trailed off and his attention flickered to Gilgamesh. "Excuse me King of Uruk for relishing in the past. Is she alright? Is she well?"
"Hakuno is very happy where she is," said Enkidu cheerfully. "She loves G-the King of Uruk very much and I love her too!"
Susuda seemed to struggle to make sense of Enkidu's comments. "Perhaps one day we can go to Uruk again." He paused and added. "We are planning to be here for a few more days if Ha-your Queen would like to stop by to look at wares as well."
"I will let her know," said Gilgamesh. Now it was his turn to pause before adding. "She will make her own decision whether to visit or not." From what he could gather, it seemed like Susuda cared for Hakuno's well-being. Perhaps a father-like figure to her? But then why had she never mentioned him? Why did it feel like he had gotten more questions out of this visit than the answers he thought he was going to get?
Gilgamesh waved his hand, knowing there was no more he could gather here for the moment. He had already dawdled long enough. There was always time later to gather more information. "Enough of this kind of talk, I did not come here to just speak about my Queen. Show me some wares."
"Of course, my King." Susuda bowed.
