Chapter 13: The Wind Rises

In which a lack of answer is an answer.

"Can you take a look?" - Enkidu asked, shifting from one foot to the other near the entrance to the king's private chambers.

"Why me? You can peek inside as well."

Enkidu rolled their eyes.

"Not like that! Using Gil's eyes. Through your Servant bond or whatever it is. It should work both ways, right?"

Arjuna looked at his companion suspiciously, suddenly pale. Did it mean that he had Gilgamesh in his head, using his eyes or reading his mind, no one knows how many times already? And didn't even notice? The thought itself was... disturbing. And, from Enkidu's wicked smirk, Rider could not really tell, if it was just a silly prank or not.

"Why would I spy on the king? He will tell you everything anyway."

"Indeed. But where's the fun in that?"

"So you really get a kick out of dangerous situations?" Arjuna helplessly shook his head. These two were insufferable sometimes.

"You're one to talk! It was a nice duel, by the way. Shame you two were going easy on each other. It must be because of that skill of yours, which constantly makes Gil mad. Ishtar isn't usually this gentle." Enkidu poked Rider with their elbow. "Hey, let's fight for fun later!"

The small, competitive part of Arjuna was delighted by this idea, just to test himself against a worthy opponent, so he agreed with an enthusiastic nod. But something else in Enkidu's words concerned him the most. He was about to ask, what skill they had in mind, when a curtain to the private chambers of the king moved abruptly.

The goddess, angry beyond anything Arjuna had seen so far in this strange place, left the room in fast, violent steps. She slowed down only for a moment, to throw a murderous gaze at the Servant - were those tears in the corners of Ishtar's eyes or Rider's imagination just went wild for a moment? - then floated through the corridors like a golden tornado.

"Come here," the king's voice reached them soon after, loud but somehow tired. Enkidu immediately disappeared behind the heavy curtain.

"And what are you waiting for, fool?" This time Gilgamesh spoke directly into Arjuna's mind, cold and more serious than ever. "Should I send you a special invitation?"

Feeling that he was, at least partially, responsible for this mess, Rider swallowed his pride and obediently answered the call of his Master.

Since he had never been in this part of the palace before, Arjuna couldn't help himself and looked curiously around. Gilgamesh was, indeed, a collector. And the richest man in this part of the world, no doubt about it.

It wasn't a tasteless display of wealth, though. Every single thing was special, either as a rare treasure or as a well-crafted trinket or work of art. The place looked messy at first glance, but this mess was undeniably stylish.

"So... what was all this fuss about?" - Enkidu asked, when Arjuna finally joined them in the room that looked like an office of sorts.

"A marriage proposal." Gilgamesh stood with his arms crossed and back turned to the entrance, so they couldn't see his face. "As if she was a good wife material in the first place! This woman is open like the temple gates during the fertility festival!"

Arjuna thought that Gilgamesh should be the last person to criticize the way others conduct themselves, but wisely kept this opinion to himself. There was something more, both he and Enkidu could tell, just from looking at the king's still tensed arms and his general posture. Even through their bond Rider had troubles guessing, if it was anger or something else entirely. Gilgamesh rarely felt in peace with himself enough to show clear signs of simple emotions.

"I guess you politely refused?" Enkidu nodded understandingly, leaning against the wall.

"Indeed. By politely reminding her, what's happened to all her former lovers." For someone like Gilgamesh, it was actually a calm and surprisingly logical reaction to Ishtar's advances. The king turned around and walked up to the table, to wet his lips with wine... or to enjoy the moment of suspense in his story. "But before all of that, she asked me to play songs for her, can you imagine?" Arjuna swallowed, hoping that his Master won't notice this reaction. Unfortunately, Enkidu did. "Then she demanded to meet the musician. I told her that she already had. She couldn't understand, why someone, who's been playing for her so nicely, attacked her on the spot."

Enkidu frowned, unable to understand it either.

"Were you playing for her?" - they asked Rider, as if it was the most important thing in the entire story.

"No!" For once, Arjuna looked like a capricious prince, pouting with his arms crossed. He denied it so categorically, it would be hilarious in other circumstances. "Of course not!"

"For whom then?" Enkidu tilted their head, completely missing the point.

Embarrassed beyond measure, but also determined to remain silent, Rider only looked off to the side. No way he would ever tell them, even under torture!

Gilgamesh was staring at his Servant for a while, with an undefined expression, as if he saw him for the first time in life.

"It's not like you to behave like this," he said eventually. Arjuna needed a moment to understand that the king meant his reckless charge at Ishtar, not current display of idiotic stubbornness. Or maybe both? "Why did you attack her?"

"I sensed that my Master was in danger. It's an impulse no Servant can ignore."

"What kind of danger?"

"I'm not sure." Arjuna smiled bitterly. He wasn't making much sense lately, even to himself. Gilgamesh had talent for bringing out the worst of Rider personality. "A sword has no idea, why it's been drawn, just cuts what needs to be cut. I must have acted purely on instinct."

"So you are nothing more than a mere guard dog in the end?" The king clicked his tongue, irritated. "Maybe I should keep you on a chain then."

There was a hint of disappointment in his voice, as if he expected more from his Servant, or maybe had seen something in one of his dreams. Arjuna was surprised by this change of tone. Hadn't he been called 'a thing' and 'a mongrel' since the beginning?

Still, the scolding, even if deserved this time, hurt much more than Rider expected. He would prefer to see his Master furious or laughing haughtily, not so strangely serious.

"And what that 'instinct' of yours is telling you now? What do you think we should do?"

Arjuna could not believe his own ears. Had Gilgamesh just asked him for advice? Really? Or maybe it was another way to mock him? He must be careful with the answer then.

"It's not my role to tell you..."

"It is, when I demand it," the king said in that decisive, commanding voice, which could impress even Siduri sometimes. It meant that his patience had reached its limits.

"A woman's rage can be a terrible thing," Arjuna answered, calm and focused. If this was a serious question, he would do everything in his power to help. "The Mistress of Heaven can do awful things she would regret later. If there's a way to direct her anger and punishment at someone, let it be me, a disposable tool."

"I would agree with that," Gilgamesh said without a blink. "But it won't solve this particular problem. It went too far already." There was something unpleasant in his narrowed eyes. "You disappointed me greatly... again. I don't need your foolish sacrifices."

"You don't need me at all, my king."

The lack of answer surprised Rider. And scared him at the same time.

"Gil's right," Enkidu said all of a sudden. Readiness to fight, cold and fierce, was visible on their face. "She would destroy you just to prove that she can and still ask for more later. That would be a meaningless death, probably a horrible one, just for show. And a waste."

"That's why I decided to leave it be. It's her turn to make a move now, no matter what we do." Gilgamesh cut off the topic in a nonchalant tone, but wasn't very happy about his inability to predict the goddess' next actions. "I assume she'll do something as spectacular as idiotic."

"Of course she will. Deserved or not, both of you offended her greatly." Enkidu stroke their chin, thinking. "I feel left behind. If I had known sooner about the competition, I would have joined it with some juicy insult as well."

They said it so solemnly, Gilgamesh couldn't remain serious anymore and reacted with a gentle chuckle. But Arjuna wasn't in the mood for jokes. Just one glance at his Master was enough for him to tell, that the king, as always, intended to simply meet head on any challenge Ishtar could throw at him.

Then why did you stop me, when I was doing exactly that?

Convinced that he won't get any answer, Rider said only:

"I will stand guard outside." Making sure that nothing dangerous would reach the city unnoticed was the least he could do at the moment - and his duty as a Servant.

"Like a dog should." In contrast to his words, the king's expression wasn't vicious and showed only amusement. "One thing still makes me curious... How did you survive that explosion?"

This time Arjuna smiled, as expected from a bold, proud hero from legends.

"I received many blessings during my life and, just like you, my king, have some interesting items at my disposal."

"Hmpf. Good, you will need them soon," Gilgamesh said and turned his back to the Servant, giving him a clear sign that the audience was over.

Rider bowed slightly, mostly to Enkidu, who waved to him, wishing good luck with his duties, and vanished into spirit form. He materialized a moment later in his favorite vantage point at the top of the ziggurat and frowned, surprised by abnormally heavy winds up there.

Something was wrong, no doubt about it. Even the air itself felt strange, as if the Heavens were disturbed. The citizens of Uruk noticed that as well and began gathering on the streets, looking up in awe.

Arjuna instinctively reached for his bow and grasped it tightly. Whatever was coming, they would be ready.