Free Gilgamesh Immortal (Chronicles of the Nephilim) by Brian Godawa Page B

my Right Hand and I expect you to grant him all observance and authority of his position.”
    She listened without a word.
    He said, “I came here to tell you something.”
    He turned and walked to the back of the room.
    He was going to get Enkidu, but when he arrived at the pillar where he left him, Enkidu was gone. He sighed deeply, turned back to Ninsun and said, “Come to dinner tonight and we will talk.”
    “Yes, my son,” she said with heavy sadness.
    Gilgamesh left her to her thoughts.
     
    Gilgamesh found Enkidu in the royal stable. He had entertained the notion that having heard Ninsun’s derogatory complaints, Enkidu would return to where he felt more comfortable – with animals. He found him brooding with the mighty horses of the king’s chariot.
    But this escape was not weakness to Gilgamesh for he understood his new companion maybe better than he understood himself.
    Gilgamesh said, “Enkidu, the animal world is not the only place where hierarchy is dictated by rules. But in human society the strong do not rule. Aristocracy is family born.”
    Enkidu replied through deep sadness, “I have no family. I am not human.”
    Gilgamesh stepped up to him to emphasize his intent. “You are more a man than anyone I have ever known in my entire family.”
    “But I am not your family,” said Enkidu. “I should return to the steppe. That is where I was born to live and die.”
    “Nonsense,” said Gilgamesh. “You have been reborn as my Right Hand. And there is a way for you to be my family.”
    Enkidu looked up at Gilgamesh stupefied. “How, my lord?”
    Gilgamesh gave him a serpentine grin, “It begins with you joining me in a feast.”
    Enkidu asked, “Will Lady Wild Cow be there?”
    Gilgamesh smiled. It was a religious name for Ninsun, but in the lips of this ex-Wild-Born, it carried irony. “Yes, she will. But so will the city elders, because I have a proposition that will affect both your destiny and mine, and I require the approval of the assembly.”
    Enkidu could not shake his sadness.
    Gilgamesh offered his forearm and said teasingly, “I cannot very well show up before the counsel with my left hand and not my Right Hand.”
    Enkidu tried to smile. “Of course I will obey my king.” He grabbed forearms and they embraced.

Chapter 11
    The Hall of Pillars was a common location for the meeting of the assembly of ruling elders of the city. The long hallway studded with massive pillars of strength and ornamented with brightly colored cone mosaics radiated a power and glory that gave the meetings a sense of divine majesty. Gilgamesh had turned it into a hall of feasting. Long tables were spread with fish and fowl, bread and beer, plums and pomegranates. Enkidu and Shamhat sat on Gilgamesh’s right and Ninsun on his left as they ate a hearty meal together. Dumuzi sat next to Ninsun and next to him was Sinleqiunninni. All around them were the seventy assembly members, convened for an important meeting, all wondering what Gilgamesh was up to this time.
    But now was the time to feast, and Enkidu was feasting. In fact, he was eating so fast that he could not keep his plate stocked or his goblet full as the servants scurried around pouring wine and beer. He almost choked on some food and he washed it down with wine splashing down his greasy mug.
    Shamhat was horrified. His animal like eating habits were the one thing that he seemed incapable of civilizing. Shamhat leaned in and whispered, “Enkidu, slow down. You are eating too fast.”
    He knew she was right, but it still annoyed him. She was his wife after all, not his mother.
    Gilgamesh had been watching Enkidu with amusement. He cracked a big smile, “Worry not, Enkidu. The fowl will not fly astray nor the fish swim away.”
    Enkidu slowed down. He thought, Now I have two mothers .
    Gilgamesh added, “I think you are so speedy, you need your own servant just to keep your plate from starving.”
    Okay , thought Enkidu, he is more like a bratty