Kigal’s head lolled against Nergal’s thigh as they sat in Damu’s temple, in one of the back rooms reserved for more distinguished guests. Nergal would have taken her to the healing god’s heavenly residence himself, were he confident she could endure the journey. She required an escort to visit even the Land of the Living, so was visiting the Heavens possible for her? He didn’t want to risk finding out, especially not when time was of the essence. Damu had come to the aid of them both in Kutha, and Nergal hoped he would again. Mercifully, his guess was right.
After Damu’s priests poured an herbal tincture down Kigal’s throat and applied a venom-sucking poultice to the bite, their patron god showed himself.
“Her color has improved,” he said as he looked down at her, turning over her cheek
