Wicked pain lanced through Ninshubur. She dropped the wicker basket she held and clutched her side with a gasp, then swallowed down the icy fear that swept through her. A tremble crept into her hands. Her vision began to blur, the temple around her fading.
As Inanna’s most dearly devoted, her sukkal, the goddess had warned her of this. Spoken of what may come to pass in her descent to the Underworld. Inanna had not even confided in her other High Priestesses on the matter, seeking to keep her journey as secretive as possible lest Irkalla’s queen catch wind of her plans. When Inanna had told her of the possible outcomes, there was only one Ninshubur hadn’t dared to believe. It was impossible that the Queen of Heaven could be slayed. She had outsmarted An and even Enki, so surely she could
