Marduk opened his eyes just as a cool breeze wafted a sheer, white curtain into the room. Behind the curtain, sunshine spilled in through a mud-brick doorway. Marduk sat up on his arm, scanning the unfamiliar room. He was lying in a large bed, beneath a layer of linen sheets. The white-washed walls reminded him of home, though he had no recollection of leaving the Temple of Power. He ran his hand over the white sheets, and his eyes drifted over the room. Next to a decoratively carved chest at the foot of the bed was a long white curtain leading to an adjoining room. Was he really in Uruk? His last memory was of the fight in the dungeon with Seth, Shamash and Sin. Had Akad taken him away?
The sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts. He looked over at the curtain just as Aya walked through, dressed all in white with a cup in his hand.
Aya brushed his black hair off his shoulder and smiled. “Good morning, Marduk. I’m glad to see you awake.”
Marduk sat up, his eyes darting from side to side. “Aya ... what’s going on?” Was he back in the Order’s custody?
“I just went for some tea.” Aya carried the cup to Marduk, setting it down on a small table next to the bed. Then Aya sat down next to him.
“Where are we?” Marduk asked, his eyes still wide.
“Don’t worry, Marduk. The Order can’t touch you here. You’re in Anu’s temple, and you’re lying in his bed.”
The tension eased from his body. “Well, where is he?”
“Anu is filling in for his father, while Anshar meets with Siren to apprise her of the Order. Anu believes she will abolish the Order, but it’s doubtful they will give in without a fight.”
“What do you mean? How does Anshar know about the Order?”
Aya smiled. “Well, after they gave you to Seth, I tried to find Anu, but Anshar would not let anyone go near Anu’s quarters. When Anu came out for his wedding, I was finally able to tell him what happened. I told him about the Order and where Seth was keeping you. Anu asked me to tell Anshar everything, and immediately left his wedding to go find you. I don’t know what happened next. I just know that Anu castrated Seth and brought you here. Anshar and Anu expect the Order will try to retaliate, so they asked me to stay here under Anu’s protection until things cool down.”
Marduk stared at Aya, trying to make sense of it all. The idea that he was free had yet to sink in.
“Thank you, Aya,” he finally said, lowering his eyes.
Aya took a deep breath. “I owe you more than I can ever repay.”
Marduk smiled warmly and took Aya’s hand in his. The ill feeling he once had for Aya had almost completely faded.
“Aya, you exposed the Order, and you did it to save me. I don’t know what else I could ever ask of you.”
Aya smiled, tears welling in his eyes. Marduk squeezed his hand. He could imagine having Aya as a friend.
“So, did he really cut off Seth’s balls?”
Aya laughed, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Yeah, he cut off more than that. Too bad he’s a god. He’ll grow it all back before long, but I bet it won’t work right for years.”
Marduk heard footsteps approaching and looked up just as Akad appeared from behind the curtain. He wore a wraparound skirt with a cord tied at the waist, and his long, sandy hair fell loose over his white tunic. The instant their eyes met, Akad’s face lit up.
“I’ll leave you alone,” Aya said, and passed Akad on his way out.
Akad strode across the room, sank down by Marduk’s side, and pulled him to his chest.
“Akad.” Marduk’s eyes began to tear.
Akad held him in silence.
“I’m sorry, Marduk,” Akad finally whispered, still hugging him tightly. “I should have trusted you. If I had listened and given you a chance to explain, you would have never suffered in their hands.”
Marduk lowered his eyes, remembering what they had been doing to him when Akad came into the dungeon. His face flushed with shame, and tears burned his eyes.
“No,” he said. “I should have told you about the Order much sooner, but I was afraid.... I was afraid that you would look at me differently—that maybe you would look at me in the same way they did.”
“Marduk.” Akad pulled him back from his chest, gazing into his eyes. “What they did to you, and what they forced you to do, makes no difference in how I feel. I love you, Marduk. Nothing can change that.”
Marduk’s heart swelled as more tears fell. Akad pulled him close once more. Hearing Akad speak those words was more than he could handle. He had lost all hope, and when he heard of Akad’s marriage, he was sure he had lost Akad forever. However, by some bizarre miracle, Akad had come back to him and was in his arms once more.
“What about your wedding?” Marduk finally asked.
Akad smiled. “I guess my bride didn’t take well to me running out on her. She was so upset that she refuses to marry me. Anshar said he’ll have a hard time getting any goddess to marry me after what I did.”
Marduk couldn’t help but laugh.
Akad continued to gaze down at Marduk, his green eyes twinkling as he stroked Marduk’s hair away from his face.
“So what happens next?” Marduk asked, trying to cast away his doubts.
“Well, I’m hoping you will stay with me until the thing with the Order blows over. After that ... well ... I still hope you will stay with me.”
“I want to stay, but what about your father? He told me never to come near you.”
“Don’t worry.” Akad smiled gently, running his hand through Marduk’s hair. “My father and I have an understanding.”
Marduk stared at Akad. He imagined he’d wake up soon to discover this was all a dream, but it was real. Akad gazed back at him. The look in his green eyes told Marduk everything he needed to know. Marduk ran his fingers along Akad’s jaw and kissed him softly.
“My heart belongs to you, Akad.” He took Akad into his arms.