Revenge!
Historical Fiction set in Ancient Sumer
by James W. Bell © 2003
Dan-Inanna touched on the subject gingerly. “A thousand pardons, my lady, but you appear extremely discomfited.”
Inanna glared at her high priest. “I am. I’m furious at Sipaddu for the trick he played on me. Now this self-proclaimed lugal claims he’s remodeling my temple and I will be invited to its opening. If I go, he’ll likely ask me to crown him lugal of Dabrum. I am angry, Dan-Inanna. That scoundrel’s tricked me once and is preparing to trick me again.”
“My lady, there are ways to stop him. Sipaddu exhibits a fondness for drink and is enamored of young women. You have the love goddess at your call. Why not send her to Dabrum to teach this Sipaddu a lesson? She’s young and might enjoy the challenge.”
Inanna smiled. “Indeed, my priest, Nanay might. Send her to me.”
>>
The doorkeeper thumped the floor with his staff and the love goddess entered the throne room, clad in a gown of diaphanous linen. “My lady, you sent for me?”
“Yes, Nanay, I have a mission that may interest you. A challenge. I seek revenge against a hard hearted man.”
“You wish me to stoke his fire and let him smolder? Break his heart? Who is he?”
“Sipaddu, the self-proclaimed lugal of Dabrum.”
“A man of no little importance. What has he done to incur your wrath?”
“He’s a wastrel. He squandered the city’s treasury and then seized my temple for its wealth. After I put the city under interdict, he sent me a message by boat. It moored at my dock, defiling it. As the ship had violated the interdict, I had Anu destroy it. After its destruction, the captain came to me and claimed Sipaddu was remodeling my temple and that he had sent me the temple valuables aboard the ship for safekeeping.”
“So, the temple treasures were on the vessel Anu destroyed?”
“I doubt it, but that’s what the captain said. Who knows? All was destroyed.”
“How devious the man sounds. You wish me to go to Dabrum and trick him in turn?”
“Yes, Nanay. By the gods, I thirst for revenge. Spin a web of deceit about him so he entangles himself, and finds himself trapped. I want him to suffer like he’s made me suffer.”
Nanay smiled. “My lady, I would find it exquisite to meet this self-proclaimed lugal, tease him and then break his heart.”
“Then go, Nanay. Go to Dabrum and humble the mighty Sipaddu for me.”
“By your leave, my lady.” She turned to leave. “He’ll rue the day he was born.”
>>
Bartan hurried into the courtyard where the lugal rested in a hammock hung between stately palms. “My liege.”
Sipaddu turned his head toward his approaching sukkal. “Yes, Bartan, what is it?”
“A young lady waits in the antechamber, my lord, a woman who claims to be a goddess. She requests an immediate audience with the lugal.”
“A woman, you say? What sort of woman? And, where is she from?”
“A young woman, my lord, very pretty. Just arrived from Uruk, by private boat.”
Sipaddu was reluctant to interrupt his afternoon rest but, goddess or not, a woman traveling by private boat must possess great wealth. He sat up. “Do you find her beautiful?”
“Indeed, I’ve never seen such beauty.”
That did it. Sipaddu rose and arranged his robe so it hung well. “Bartan, despite this being my usual time of rest, I will put my well-being aside and grant this woman an audience. Bring her to me.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Sipaddu’s sukkal left to return in minutes with the traveler. She was all that Bartan said, a beautiful young woman with dark almond-shaped eyes and lips the color of pomegranates. Her hair was styled in ringlets that flounced when she walked. Her dress was an off-shoulder tunic of sheerest linen that exposed a voluptuous right breast. She was beyond compare.
“Welcome,” Sipaddu greeted her.
Nanay smiled, showing the whiteness of her teeth. “My lord, you must be the lugal of Dabrum.”
“Yes, I am Sipaddu. And you are …?”
“Nanay, my lord, the goddess of love. I have just arrived from Uruk.”
Sipaddu’s heart quickened. “Can one as young and as innocent looking as you be the goddess of love?”
“Indeed, my lord.” She went to one of the sesame lamps inset in the courtyard wall and touched it with the tip of her finger. The wick ignited and flared into flame.
Sipaddu was impressed. “My lady, what brings you to our city?”
The goddess sauntered up to him. She looked him in the eye and said, “You.”
“Me?” Sipaddu asked as if he hadn’t heard her and she nodded. “My lady, why me?”
“Because,” she answered. She circled him, eyeing him. “I’ve heard of you and your invincible army of mountain men. I’ve also heard you have a way with women.”
“My lady, where have you heard such things?”
“In Uruk, my lord. Your fame has become widespread. Visitors to my chamber of love regale me with stories about you.” She looked at him and licked her lips. “You are reputed to be exceptionally skilled in the art of love, one who understands the uses of passion and knows the ways of giving pleasure to a woman.”
In spite of his determination to remain aloof, Sipaddu felt his pulse quicken and his member harden. “Truly, my lady, is that what they say about me?”
Nanay nodded. “There are countless stories. My lord, you sound like a modern day Gilgamesh. I had to come see for myself.”
Sipaddu preened and silently cursed himself for not wearing one of his more elegant court robes. “What would the goddess of love like to see?”
“An exhibition of your prowess, my lord. Being a goddess, I have had a hundred thousand lovers. But I’ve tired of them and seek someone new, an extraordinary man, strong and virile but able to subdue a woman without force. Perhaps, my lord, someone like you.”
“I admit, my lady, I am such a man. I am not only strong, but powerful. I gathered an army of mountain men and conquered Dabrum with scarce more effort than lifting a finger. Since then, I have devoted myself to pleasuring the women of this city.”
The goddess of love raised an eyebrow. “Ah, so I’ve heard. But I seek proof.”
“What would you consider proof, my lady? Would the goddess of love like to question one of the women I’ve befriended?”
“My lord, I should prefer to see you in action.”
“I have a spare room, stay the night with me. A woman has been invited for this evening, one I plan to entertain in the courtyard. There’s no reason you can’t watch.”
“But, my lord, the woman invited may be one already charmed by you. I was thinking of a more daring challenge, a challenge worthy of a lugal such as yourself.”
“My lady, why make lugalship more difficult?”
Nanay smiled. “Because, my lord, a goddess doesn’t offer herself to every lugal.”
In spite of his caution, Sipaddu found himself intensely interested. “What challenge would the goddess of love propose?”
“I believe the general of your army has a daughter. One who is still single?”
“He does. Her name is Zadina. But she takes after her father, big as an ox.”
“I should like to see you please this Zadina.”
“But, my lady, I told you, she’s the daughter of the general of my army.”
“That would make it all the more challenging, my lord, would it not?”
“Well –”
“Dear Sipaddu, if you seek to be my lover, you must prove yourself. Invite this Zadina to your palace tonight and let me see how you please her.”
“Is there no other way?”
“Really. My lord, if you’re no longer interested in sampling my delights, tell me now and allow me to return to Uruk. There’s no sense in wasting time …”
“But, my lady, I am interested! Truly. Everything shall be as you wish. I will cancel tonight’s engagement and invite Zadina instead. You can secrete yourself in one of the groves of palms and watch. I will prove my love for you.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
>>
Zadina arrived, heavily robed. She pulled the bell cord at the palace gate and Bartan, awaiting her arrival, let her in. “I am Zadina,” she said. “I am here by invitation.”
“Yes, my lady, the lugal waits in the courtyard. Allow me to show you the way.”
>>
When Zadina entered the courtyard, she bowed awkwardly and said, “My lord, I have come as you requested.” She pulled off the heavy wool robe that enveloped her and handed it to Bartan who took it into the palace.
Although she was dressed in a tunic of bleached wool, her appearance was worse than Sipaddu remembered. She was squat, squarely built like a boundary stone, and probably weighed as much.
But Sipaddu knew Nanay was watching and hastened to greet her. “Zadina, welcome! I met you just after we captured the city, but haven’t seen you since. It’s been too long. Come,” he said and offered his hand, “join me under the palms.”
Zadina let Sipaddu take her hand and lead her to a bench set in a grove. As she sat down, she said, “My lord, your invitation surprised me. What business have we?”
“There’s no business tonight, Zadina. Here,” he said, indicating the pot before them, “we have a whole pot of beer and a whole night in which to share it.”
“My lord, what are you suggesting?”
Sipaddu offered her a straw for the beer. “Zadina, your father is the general of my army. He is a man of stature, a fine man.”
She tried a sip of beer. “Yes, I am proud of him. I am fortunate to be his daughter.”
“I, on the other hand, am the lugal of Dabrum.” Sipaddu hesitated. “Without a wife.”
“Oh?”
He waved a hand in the air. “I was thinking, a union of two families …”
“Are you perhaps speaking of the lugal and the daughter of his general …?”
“Such an idea has its possibilities.”
“But—my lord, I find this totally unexpected!”
Sipaddu reached for her hand again and held it. “Is my idea so bad? I had thought – tonight - we might see how well we get along together.”
“Oh,” Zadina said. Then she blushed. “I’d never considered the possibility, my lord. I know I am not an attractive woman.”
“Yes, Zadina, but you are strong,” Sipaddu said and used his other hand to enclose hers. “A powerful lugal, like me, would require a strong queen … a woman like you.”
“Yes, my lord. Now that you mention it, I can see it. I am strong.” She squeezed his hand and he had to brace himself to keep from wincing.
“Zadina, that’s what attracted me to you.” He leaned closer to her and touched her upper arm. “You have strong arms, too.”
“By the gods,” she exclaimed. His face suddenly filled her vision, a thing she had never experienced before. Before she knew what happened, she found herself in his arms, her body pressed against his, his mouth on hers. She relaxed and let him kiss her.
After the kiss, she said, “But, my lord, I am so plain.”
“But so well formed,” he said. He reached out and touched the fullness of her breast. “You would make a good mother of princes and princesses.”
She didn’t try to push his hand away. “Oh, my lord, I would like children.”
Again, she found herself in his arms and his lips on hers.
A commotion arose. “You can’t come in!” Bartan shouted.
“Damn you!” a loud voice shouted. “I’ve come to see what’s happening to my daughter!”
Zadina looked up, pulled out of the embrace, and shouted, “Father!”
“Zadina! What has Sipaddu done to you?”
“I’ve done nothing!” Sipaddu exclaimed.
“You’re reminding me of Gilgamesh,” the general said and raised his spear.
“Father, stop! My lord has suggested marriage.”
“Marriage? To whom?”
“To me, father, to me. He and I.”
“Well, -” Sipaddu started to say.
“My little Zadina,” the general said and then turned to Sipaddu. “When my daughter came to the palace alone tonight, my lord, I thought something might be afoot and called out the army. Because of my mistrust, I had the palace surrounded, as you can see.”
Sipaddu looked up. Dozens of soldiers were positioned atop the courtyard walls, spears in hand.
The general spoke again. “My lord, I trust your offer of marriage is sincere.”
Sipaddu gulped. “Totally sincere. Of course, it would need your blessing.”
“My lord,” the general said, “please forgive me. I was afraid you were readying to take advantage of my daughter and I was preparing to overthrow you.” He wrapped an arm around Sipaddu’s shoulder. “But now I see our families are to be joined. Of course you have my blessing. Come, let us select a date for the happy event.”
>>
After the date for the wedding was set and the general left with his daughter, Nanay emerged from a grove of palms and shook her head. “I’m sorry, my lord.”
“What do you mean, you’re sorry? You saw me. I charmed Zadina.”
“My lord, I saw you propose. You told her father that. Zadina accepted, her father blessed the union and now, my lord, you are engaged to be married.”
“My lady, it was all in an attempt to become your lover.”
Nanay shook her head again. “My lord, you just got through promising yourself to someone else. How can you be my lover?”
“For a short time? Perhaps this evening? Stay the night,” he begged.
“No, Sipaddu. I’m the goddess of love, not one to disrupt marital bliss. Since you have pledged yourself to another, I think it’s best I leave.”
“Why? There’s been no wedding, no oath given. And I’m feeling no bliss.”
“Don’t worry, Sipaddu, you’ll get used to it. Goodbye, my lord.”
Sipaddu watched the love goddess depart. Left alone, the lugal put his head down on his arms and cursed his fate.
The End
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