Chapter Thirty Seven - Fellow Caravaneers

Sapphire found Semiramis at Enki’s well, a small oasis in a hidden valley with rock walls. Palms and shrubs grew in the valley. Endless dunes surrounded the thin protected strip of rare green. Sapphire knew the oasis, having passed through before on his mercantile journeys, but it was well over a decade ago since he last set foot here. Back then he had been alone with his small caravan, a small group praising their luck when they came upon the shadowy cool valley, completely empty save palms and water-caves. Now he could see the sprawl of tents all around the oasis, spread out over the sand. A small city, temporarily erected in the nomad’s pursuit of water and sustenance. It seemed Semiramis had only attracted more followers while he was gone from the seemingly empty desert. His small troop passed through the outer layer. Sapphire heard voices, women and children, bleating of goats. These people had kept their minds, most of it at least. With the heat of day setting in rising most were inside, save a few patrols of ashen-faced guards. Inside the valley more tents, and finally the great pavillion of Semiramis herself, lapped together from a hundred different patterns and colours.

As he entered the valley he saw the curly haired priestess emerge from his mistress tent. He also noticed three new camels besides the pavilion. Karkid swiftly walked towards him. She wore a long white dress contrasting with her brown skin. The slave collar with the name-pendant still hung from her neck, but her wrists now held bands of gold. Karkid counted the serviles, then fixed her brown eyes on the merchant. ‘Sapphire-Sarpa.’ Her upper lip curled slightly to show her teeth. ‘Welcome back. Semiramis awaits you. Have you succeeded in your task?’

‘We have murdered the monks.’ ‘

You have lost many.’

‘It was a difficult journey.’ The merchant replied warily.

‘Undoubtedly.’ Karkid retorted with a sense of disdain. ‘One of your friends has arrived. A caravan-man, by the name of Umal. He has pleased my mistress profoundly with his gifts of fabrics and jewelry from Uruk. A shame you did not bring the same gifts when your camels arrived.’

Sapphire frowned. The desert woman drips with venom ‘You speak too much for a slave. All gifts given were my possessions. Umal works for me. I financed the entire operation.’

‘Hé gave it to Hér. She cares not who financed what...’ Sapphire felt his stomach turn and twist with jealousy. Someone else was with her now, pleasing Semiramis. Pleasing. ‘Out of my way Karkid.’ He spat with haste. ‘Go serve my men!’ ‘Your men?’

‘My men!’

Bucket stepped forward. ‘We are sharks.’ He added dutifully.

‘Shut your damned mouth you imbecile!’ Sapphire cursed, pacing past the slave-priestess. A hip-flask of precious water he poured over his face. He tightened his turban and his steps increased in speed. By the time he reached the pavilion he was running. Imprinted guards, armed with stolen swords and wearing captured helmets, allowed him to pass.

Through alleys of cloth and draperies he ran. His nose filled with a myriad of scents, incenses, sweet fragrances. A soft drum sifted through the canvas walls. He winced as he entered an empty room, turned back and sought to find another way through the labyrinth of soft coloured walls. He stumbled red faced into another chamber, now suddenly directly faced with his tall mistress.

He could see Semiramis seated at the back of the room, and a wave of delight coursed through Sapphire’s loins as he saw her tall porcelain figure to be naked. His eagerness evaporated once he saw Umal and the other caravaneers bowed before her toes. Piles of carpets and silver and gold and chests of spices were gathered besides his mistress. Sapphire’s blood ran cold.

‘Ah.’ Semiramis hummed, auburn hair shining red in the warm glow of copper lamps. ‘My desert Sapphire. Your friends have arrived. I thought them all dead.’

‘So did I.’ Sapphire replied, trying his very best to contain the venom in his voice. His thumb fumbled with one of his rings. Umal rose and approached the merchant. ‘Sapphire…’ He rumbled with a wide grin under his black moustache. He opened his arms in greeting. Sapphire forced a fake smile on his sweaty face and accepted the hug.

‘We've made it.’ Umal grunted, tears in his eyes. ‘-And what about Arenaten?’ Sapphire shook his head and pushed himself away from his former camel-driver. He moved to Semiramis and threw himself before her. He removed the turban with the Sapphire so his thin gingerly hair was visible, glazed with sweat.

‘Holy one.’ Her fingers reached out and caressed his wet hair. He gasped, forcing himself not to moan has her nails moved over his scalp.

‘Have you done what I asked?’

‘The monks are dead. I brought their hands trophies.’ Her hand retracted. ‘Good. You can give them to Karkid. I am sure you and your friends have lots to discuss. Go and take them outside.’

Sapphire looked up. ‘But… mistress. Have they not received their reward of paradise yet?’

She smiled. ‘They have not become imprinted, and neither have you, remember?’ her smile widened, almost taunting him. ‘You can go now, Sarpa.’

He took the others to his private tent, which he found furnished and set-up in the valley under the shade of a palm-tree. ‘You were right Sapphire, by the heavens you were right.’ Umal said. ‘A Goddess.’ Another caravaneer exclaimed. ‘-Willing to cast her eyes upon us!’ The caravaneers were glowing. They yapped on, filling Sarpa’s ears with their babble. He replied only sparingly. His throat was constricted by jealousy; His silver eyes kept returning to Umal. From his tent he produced a sealed clay pitcher. He removed the cork and filled four cups for his old companions, then took a swig straight from the pitcher. It tasted well. Rich and aged. The others drank eagerly from their cups.

‘The Uruks found our trail.’ Umal continued. ‘They hunted us like horny dogs chasing a bitch. But I was not afraid. I knew the desert, I remembered your lessons. I lead them on, confused the tracks. Still, we were pursued. By the Gods whoever was hunting us was hard-headed. Their horses died one by one, but they would appear on the horizon time and time again, numbers reduced at each successive dawn. One night I heard one call to us. The voice was horrid. Grating. Like a single-stringed violin built of rotten wood. It was the damned hunter, the ugly bastard we chased off at Uruk’s edge. ‘Sapphyr.’ He called to me, and I heard he was close.

'I said: I am not Sapphire, I am Umal, and I am but a humble trader carrying fabrics and silverware across the sands. Then we left our beds and fled in the night. When it was light we realized Hossa wasn't with us. You remember Hossa, the musician?’ Sapphire nodded dryly. ‘Poor Hossa.’ Umal continued, his moustache twitching. ‘But we managed to evade the Urukians for good. By the Divine, it feels good to be here.’

Sapphire grimaced. ‘You made sure you weren't followed?’

Umal nodded assuringly. ‘I saw none, my friend.’

Friend, Sapphire thought. What happened to master? He put on his widest smile and gave them more drink. They were indulgent like thirsty mules and by the time the sun was lowering the four caravaneers lay in bloody pools of their own vomit. Sapphire had watched them to the very end, then ordered serviles to remove the corpses.

‘I know you dont let good flesh go to waste, but dont eat these.’ Sapphire told the workers. His own stomach felt only mildly nauseous, and every heartbeat he felt better. Years of ingesting poisons had made him effectively immune to the lethality of it all. He undid his sweat-soaked traveling robes. He washed his naked body and shaved the stubble from his chin. From a chest filled with stolen merchant-attire he chose fresh yellow robes. He put on shoes sown with gold thread. He polished the blue gem and wrapped himself in a new turban of white weaving. He fixed a ceremonial knife at his hip, watched his gaunt face in a small mirror and returned to the pavilion.

Semiramis awaited him, now standing upright, unashamedly showing herself to him. He came closer to her towering presence. ‘Have you poisoned them?’ She asked softly.

Sapphire cleared his throat. ‘I did, my mistress.’ He confessed.

‘Your jealousy was so strong. I could taste it on my tongue. It is the sweetest taste.’

‘You are not angry with me?'

‘On the contrary. I am very joyed by your actions, Dan Sarpa. How was your journey?’

‘All went well. I see your devoted have grown in number.’

‘I branded another tribe. We will move to Uruk soon enough. The desert has difficulty sustaining us.’

‘You will be joyed there, great one. You will hear people without number say your name in prayer.’

Semiramis gave a content moan and pressed the merchant against her stomach. ‘Your words are fine, my little merchant. Your absence has been noticed. You serve me so well. As much as I like to keep you however, I need you for another task. Doves have told me the time is approaching for the binding of the King of Uruk. An opportunity will arise and you must find it.’ She let go of the trembling merchant, but kept the man bound with her eyes. Sapphire needed a few breaths to regain his senses.

‘Will he be away from your sister then?’

Semiramis let out a low growl. ‘May her head become infested with ants. She is fighting wars now, undoubtedly this King will be sent out somewhere out of her sight. You must deliver Karkid to the King of Uruk.’

Sapphire nodded. ‘I have informed him of your future arrival. He may have turned against us.’

‘He has not.’ Her eyes squeezed together in joy. ‘Karkid has received her orders. You needn't worry, only to carry her across the sand and come back to me.’ Her eyes stared down into his.

Sapphire bowed his head. ‘Ofcourse. I would do anything for you.’ Semiramis hummed contently and dropped herself into her seat. ‘Karkid!’ She snapped with sudden ferocity. ‘Wine!’ Her scornful face turned to meek happiness when it turned back to the merchant.

The desert woman quickly entered, this time naked. Her small breasts hovered over the amphora she was carrying. Semiramis watched Sarpa’s eyes, but nothing stirred within. ‘Are you not interested in women?’ Semiramis asked. ‘Look at that pretty thing, a rare flower in the desert. Aged but not soured. You can have her - if you wish.’

Karkid showed no emotion as Dan Sarpa’s assaying eyes crossed hers. Sapphire shook his head. ‘I care little for the world, save Semiramis. You are my star in the night.’ Semiramis took the amphora with both hands and Sapphire watched as she drank deeply. Droplets of red dripped from her chin onto her breast and stomach, pooling in her navel, overflowing and streaming further down.

‘For a servant you show little reverence.’ She stated with hard eyes.

Sapphire threw himself to his knees again. ‘Forgive me, Divine one. I am intoxicated with your presence.’

‘Well control yourself, or I’ll have those silver eyes of yours.’

‘Most Revered one…’ Sapphire wheezed.

‘That’s enough, Sarpa. Stand up and give me your ears.’

‘My… ears?’ Sapphire frightfully cupped them with his hands.

‘Listen.’ Semiramis clarified, pointing at her own. She drank again, heavy swallowing followed by a content sigh. She handed the once heavy amphora back to Karkid with one hand. ‘You want too much. Watch your desire or you will burn yourself up. I can see to the depths of your heart. It is the heart of an individual. An egoist. A taker and a thief. You are a predator, but think careful of who you decide as prey.’

Sapphire felt nauseousness overflow him, the judgement of his mistress shattering his world. He stammered futile apologies and Semiramis grinned. She straightened her back and looked at the ceiling. Her tall form started spinning with extended arms. ‘Serve me well. Serve me well. Serve me well.’

She took the wine back from Karkid and drank more, spilling the red profusely over her pale skin. ‘Sarpa, pay attention!’ She suddenly snapped, eyes wide. The enormously tall mistress giggled innocently. ‘A storm is coming Dan Sarpa, I purchased it from Iram with blood. The most terrible storm you have ever seen scour the surface of the earth! Now go, you with that fine sapphire on your head, get that despicable whore Karkid to Kitun the black-bearded. All the devoted power in the world shall now shift from Eneduanna in Uruk to Semiramis the eternal!