As they emerged from the palace and into the brighting day, Nergal linked his arm through Kigal’s and looked around each corner before they rounded it, as if anticipating a new horror around each bend in the road. Though many of the buildings had toppled over and the city walls had fractured, Kigal didn’t spot any blood. The dust clouds still hanging in the air made it difficult to tell, however. Kigal’s heart constricted in her chest.
Ekkur was quiet. Uncomfortably so. Not a bird chirped, nor did a single babe cry out. She was glad her husband had returned after leaving Gamil’s body at her temple in Kutha, because she wasn’t sure she could confront what lay ahead without him.
What if no one had made it out? The thought was almost too terrible to bear, but she had to face it. What if the
