Page 2 of Ensii
“Build a fire,” Ashek ordered. “That is wht Debrei instructed us to do. See to it that every charm, amulet, and anything that was made for the sake of Anatki or in Her temple is burned.”
Talitha stiffened. “Debrei—”
“Anatki may not be real, but the power wielded by Nehemian is.” Ashek was dead serious. “It doesn’t matter. From prayer beads to good luck charms. If it was made for worship of the war goddess, we must burn it.”
Talitha opened her mouth to protest, but Ashek caught the corner of her eye. He raised his brows, looking pointedly to the city below.
“Who is Debrei?” Zula demanded.
“The Hudspethite prophetss,” Talitha explained.
“We can’t do that,” Zula argued, lip curling ever so slightly. “Most of these people have worshiped Anakti their whole lives. She is the patron of this city.”
“Your city had another patron before that,” Ashek said calmly. “Would you still seek to serve a goddess that ordered you bound in chains?”
Zula’s nostrils flared.
“Do as he says, Zula,” Talitha ordered. “Burn it. All of it.”
Zula blinked. “My lady?”
“Gilsazi, make sure every trinket and bauble that came from Anakti is burned. If that goddess saw fit to drive me from this city as Nehemian and Naram claim, then I will drive out Her.”
Gilsazi’s brows rose. “Many of them may not give up their trinkets.”
“Then they will not fight with us.” Ashek’s words were flat, unimpressed, and unworried.
“We’re outnumbered as it is, my lady,” Gilsazi said, looking at Ashek, but addressing her.
Ashek did not take back the command, his order hanging in the air like a madman’s words.
“Do as he says, Gilsazi.” The time would come to disagree with her husband, but it wasn’t in front of their soldiers.
Gilsazi hesitated, but nodded after a moment. “As you command, my lady.”
“Are you insane?” Zula grabbed her arm, dropping her voice. “We are badly outnumbered and now is not the time to force these people to give up their way of life.”
Talitha’s resolve faltered a moment.
“Can’t we begin this religious madnessafterthe city is stable?”
Talitha looked past Zula to Ashek. Her husband turned away, speaking with Shaza. He wasn’t concerned. He had faith that Talitha would honor Debrei’s words.
“No, Zula,” Talitha said quietly, a little surprised at herself. “It can’t wait. Anakti is my enemy and the enemy of Ilios as surely as Naram or Nehemian that murdered my family.” She pulled her arm free. “Regardless of what the Hudspethite prophetess has said, I don’t want anything to do with that goddess coming with me into battle. If you want to stay here, you may.”
Zula’s eyes widened. “Stay?” She shoved away Talitha’s arm. “Haven’t I been loyal to you since I pledged allegiance?”
“And all of that has been willing, Zula. If it is no longer willing, I do not want it.”
Zula shook her head. “You’re different.”
Talitha broke eye contact, looking back to the city. “I thought being ensaak meant sacrificing everything. But there are some things I should have never sacrificed.”
It was through her own passivity that Nehemian’s influence had been allowed to grow. It was by her own negligence that the priest had a following to orchestrate the coup. Those things should have never been laid on the altar of peace. Those things should have been hers and hers alone.
“You’ve sold yourself to him,” Zula said. It was not a question and Talitha didn’t need her to clarify what she meant. “Haven’t you?”
Talitha found Ashek, his back to them as he spoke with Kurzik, Shaza, and Gilsazi. “What do you want me to say, Zula?” Talitha exhaled. “He won me, yes, and Ilios with me.”
