But even she knew love was not enough--had love been enough to keep Akkasur from murdering Uta-nammu even though he was a weak old man? He went to protect her; she had erred. She never told him what she was--that she was a snake, and shed her skin, and stayed forever young. He lived watching himself fail, and herself thrive, and never spoke a word. And he went to his death--how could she believe it was not at her hands? That it was as much her own responsibility as anyone else's? And she knew what Methos was--better she not try to love him. He was too free. He was as the wind.
But then there was this child. Maybe she could hope for some kind of mainstay in her life, when ought else failed. Could she not raise this boy, and have something she could call her own?
Eventually, Methos spoke, and it was a question she dreaded, but knew she should answer truthfully. Methos was a natural liar, and thus was expert at discerning lies.
"Why would you wish to do this thing, when Akkasur dogs your tail? And why does this man dog your tail? Why is he after you, after you even through these many years?"
She fixed him in her eye, lapis set in bleached chalcedony. "He was one of my servants," she began.
"I did not care for him, but he cared for me. And so, one day, he wished to show me of his cares. He, with force, twisted mine arm, and slapped my face, and tried to shame me with cruel words.
"But had I not come into this world some centuries before? Had I not known glory in battle? Was my arm weak? Nay, not before such a one as this. So I subdued him with my strength, and bid the guard come in."
And here she paused as Methos lie on her bed, and her eye gleamed most evilly. "He was then...had you spoke of eunuchs? Well, then, he was made an eunuch for the Kingdom of Heaven. And so he is, even now, for all his Immortal life."
Methos gasped, and stared. He had heard nothing like this before. He knew she had once been cruell, and then he saw how she smiled at this statement.
"And so you speak of such things before one who has just shared your bed?"
"Methos, I would speak with you about anything."
In a state of unquiet he sat. What would this Anath-Sin not speak of? Had she not taught him of Uta-napishtim, and the jewel of Methuselah, and of Inkhnaton, her own teacher? He knew more of the old ones because of her...was that not why he wanted to be free of her? For she was old, and she would try to rule him? She might speak of love, but he knew what she was.
A lion. A devourer.
He wondered what she might do with a child.
Posted on Aug 9, 1999, 10:22 PM from IP address 216.164.251.22