Kigal stroked the frail face before her, fingers drifting over Gamil’s withered skin. She was grateful that she’d been able to see him reach such old age, but it didn’t temper the sting of his loss. Even slaying Inanna hadn’t done that.
Using one of the halls off the megaron, one she usually used for entertaining shades, she anointed Gamil and wrapped his body in a linen shroud. She’d had to collect her oils and wrappings from her quarters, as they didn’t have a designated spot in her palace. Never did she anticipate having to tend a body once it was already within Irkalla.
Pashmi-An, mother to the wizened corpse before her, lay a hand on his unmoving chest. Ereshkigal had invited her to view her son. No matter how raw Kigal’s own emotions were, Pashmi deserved to say goodbye. Tears clot
