Hakuno could tell something was wrong.
She didn't know exactly what it was but a sense of foreboding seemed to hang over her for the rest of the afternoon. Enkidu seemed to be reading the feelings off her as they were restless to the point Ninki asked if they were alright.
When she returned to the rooms that evening, she was surprised to find Gilgamesh and the guards had not returned yet from the parade around the city. Odd since she had seen Ditanu on her way back to their rooms.
"Hakuno, I noticed some guards posted near our rooms," said Shub. "More than what is usually there."
"Wait here." Enkidu sniffed the air and did a quick sweep of the rooms. They returned to the main chamber where the girls were waiting. "There is nothing odd about our space but, yet I feel like something is wrong. Gil's scent is also stale, he had not been here since earlier today."
"I do not know what is going on but I have a bad feeling," replied Hakuno. Now that she was thinking back on it the Queen had started to appear more standoffish during the end of today's meeting.
"Urash!" exclaimed Shub.
Urash stepped into the room and put a finger to his lips. He set a stone on the ground and murmured a few words. The hairs rose on the back of Hakuno's neck, he had obviously completed a spell of some kind.
"What are you doing?" growled Enkidu.
"Putting a spell in place so no one can overhear our conversation," replied Urash.
"Urash, what happened to Gil? You were with him right?" asked Hakuno. "Did something happen during the parade?"
Urash grimanced. "Suse has made their move."
Hakuno's eyes widen. "Where…where is he?"
"King Ditanu made his move once they were beyond the city gates. The guards, they stood no chance from the surprise attack. The King of Uruk is alive for now. They are a superstitious lot here, thank the Gods. They want to keep the King alive long enough to kill him by the light of Sin. So thankfully all they had me do was knock him out-"
If Urash was going to say anything else, he was unable to as Enkidu slammed Urash into the ground, pinning the boy in place. "You knocked him out!? You gave Gil over to them!?" they snarled.
"Enkidu wait!" Hakuno ran over and put a firm hand on Enkidu's arm and tried to pull them away.
"No Hakuno! He gave Gil over to them! He helped them and he thinks he can come back here…"
"It was the only way I could tell you what happened!" Urash managed to get out. "They told me the plan this morning and told me what I had to do." His words were quick, like he was trying to get them all out as fast as possible. With the way Enkidu was bearing down on him, it was probably for the best. "I could not get in contact with you Hakuno. I could not tell you what was happening. I knew he would be safe for a time at least. Until the moon is at its peak." He looked at Hakuno with frightened eyes. "Nippur is connected, the King and Queen are alive and in hiding. They care a lot for their son, the only heir to Nippur."
"Is that what you were doing every night?" whispered Shub. "You kept getting up and going out. Were you telling Suse about us!?" Tears prickled the corners of her eyes. "You betrayed us. You betrayed the guards. You betrayed…"
Hakuno knew the name on Shub's tongue that she refused to say. Damn it. She didn't want this to end like this. "Enkidu, Shub, Urash was acting as a double agent on my order. He was only working with Suse to gather information for us."
Enkidu and Shub looked at Hakuno in surprise.
"What?" asked Shub.
"Please get off him Enkidu."
Enkidu did but continued to stare at Hakuno in confusion. "A double agent?"
"I was pretending to work for Suse to order to find out information." Urash sat up slowly. "Hakuno and I went over the information I could tell Imi, the spymaster beforehand." He grimanced. "I did not think it would end up like this though."
"What is their goal?" asked Hakuno. She could feel her anger simmering under the surface, but she held it back. This was not the time to be responding based on emotions. She grimanced as she realized it herself. "I'm to be a 'special guest' here aren't I?"
Urash nodded.
"Special guest?" asked Enkidu.
"A prisoner more or less. With the treaty in place, and the Queen of Uruk here, well Uruk cannot do anything to harm Suse. I am a bargaining chip, a hostage." The beloved Queen of Uruk. She knew the people would not want to take up arms to fight Suse if her life was in danger. "I also wonder if the treaty agreements have been changed since Gil signed them." Not like it mattered. The treaty agreements were off as soon as they went after her King.
"We need to help Gil," said Enkidu.
"Yes we do," agreed Hakuno. They still had time before the moon was at its peak. It was some time but not a lot. They would need to work fast. "Urash, do you know exactly where they are taking him for the sacrifice?"
Urash nodded. "It's outside the gates of the city. They have a stone pillar that is said to have been touched by Sin. They will do it there."
"So we need to get out of the palace, and out of the city without anyone noticing," murmured Hakuno.
"But how are we going to even get out of this room?" wondered Shub. "I don't think those guards will let us walk past them."
Hakuno glanced at Urash. "Can you do it?"
"I can make them fall asleep and set up a spell that makes it appear we are in this room for a little while at least. It won't last until morning, but it will give us time."
Hakuno nodded. "You get started on preparing those spells." She thought of something. "Urash, can you also prepare a sleep spell that can be activated by someone without magic?"
"Probably?" He thought for a moment. "Yes, I can do that."
"Good, I want one of those as well. Enkidu, I hate to do this, but I need you to do something for me-for us that will help us immensely."
"Of course Hakuno, anything."
Urash nodded and retreated to a corner of the room to get to work.
"But how are we going to get out of the city?" asked Shub.
Hakuno grimanced. "We're going to ask my old friends for help."
Shulpae rubbed his eyes as he climbed into bed. It was another long, boring day for him. He missed his mom and dad. Ever since he was forced to live here, with the royalty of Suse, he had been bored. They didn't let him do anything! Just spend time with the tutors and walk around the palace grounds. And ever since the royalty of Uruk came to visit he wasn't even allowed to wander the grounds!
He wished those people would hurry up and leave! He wanted to be able to walk around again. He wanted-
His wishes faded away as he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned but saw nothing in the shadows of his room. When he was at home in Nippur, he was allowed to keep a burning lantern in the room until he fell asleep (there was no risk of a fire as a slave always slept in the same room as him). Not here though. He was a "big boy" in Suse and did not require his night lamp. He also had to sleep in a room by himself and he was still not used to it.
Rarely did a night go by without him worrying if there was a demon lurking around his bedroom, watching him from the shadows.
He was about to go under the covers when he noticed a shadow at the foot of his bed. A large shadow. Eyes that were reflecting the light coming in from the moonlight.
It was nothing. Just his imagination at work. His heart pounded painfully against his chest. He just needed to calm down and then the shadow would go away.
The shadow moved.
Before Shulpae could scream, the shadow was upon him. A hand clamped over his mouth and something was thrown over his head. A necklace of something kind? A buzzing echoed in Shulpae's head as his eyes drooped and he fell limp in the shadow's hands.
Susuda was in the middle of dinner and he jumped back in surprise as Hakuno stepped into the tent. She gave him a weak smile as she approached him. "Again, with the potatoes? Also, why are you eating so late? I've told you time and time again that eating this late is bad for your health."
The older man reached out with a shaky hand and touched Hakuno's cheek. "It is you. I cannot believe it. I thought it was a trick by Enki."
Hakuno smiled. "It is me." She grimanced. "I'm sorry Susuda but I do not have time for pleasantries or time to catch up with you at the moment."
Susuda pushed his plate of food to the side. "I imagine so since it is the middle of the night. I'm surprised you made it all the way to my tent without alerting anyone."
Hakuno shrugged. "Years of experience. I know how to be quiet."
"Oh I know you do. Keeping track of you sometimes was a job in and of itself. What is it you need?"
"It might be too big of a favor, you will be putting yourself at risk if you are found out."
"What is it Hakuno?"
Always one to get to the point. Hakuno missed that no-nonsense tone. "I need help getting me and my companions out of the city. We have no time to waste, we need to be out as soon as possible."
She could see Susuda's mind connecting the dots. Why would the Queen of a country be fleeing in the middle of the night? Why would she go to a caravan for help?
He nodded. "You all can wait in here while I set things up for you."
"Thank you Susuda." Hakuno bowed her head to her old leader.
"In return, once the caravan returns to Uruk, you and I are going to have a long talk."
She grinned. "Of course."
While Susuda went to arrange matters, Hakuno invited Shub and Urash into the tent.
"Is Enkidu still not here yet?" she asked.
"It does take some time to get from the back gardens to here," said Urash. "Are you sure you can trust the caravan Hakuno?"
Hakuno shrugged. "It's not like we have any other choice. Enkidu is the only one that could possibly scale the gate and get out undetected but I know they won't leave me here."
"And besides, if they did go, once Suse finds out about what happened…" Urash grimanced. "It's for the best we get you out of the palace."
Hakuno caught Shub staring at Hakuno's belly. Hakuno rested her hand on it. Yes, she also needed to protect her child as well.
The tent opened and a familiar ur-sal walked in with a sack over their shoulder. They relaxed as they took in the group. "I followed your scents here and was careful to not be seen. I'm glad to see all of you made it here safely."
Urash nodded. "It was the least I could do."
"I'm glad I spent so long mapping out the backways of this place," said Shub.
The group fell silent as the tent flap opened and Susuda walked in. He only seemed mildly surprised to see Enkidu there with a suspicious looking sack. "I've taken care of everything. A group will be leaving the caravan tonight due to a family emergency in Chogha Mish. It's using the false bottom wagon." He eyed Hakuno.
She nodded. Sure, the traveling caravan functioned legally for the most part but there was always some goods that the vendor wanted to keep away from prying eyes. "It's going to be a tight squeeze, but we'll make it work."
"I'll do whatever I can to throw them off your trail," promised Susuda. "And don't you argue me on that point girl. I've gotten out from far bigger scrapes than you've ever seen."
Hakuno wanted to cry as she thought of Ekur back in Uruk. They had to get back so she could have the old man bother her about translating texts. She stepped forward and hugged Susuda. "Thank you. And I promise we will. In fact I know a fellow old man you will get along well with."
"Who are you calling old?" He lightly bopped her on the chin. "Good luck."