It Has Been Too Long

[Gilgamesh]

This obnoxious rat spoke more than Gilgamesh would have permitted, his nasally voice grating upon his ears. Gil was slightly surprised at his instant notoriety, his apparent two year disappearance did not dampen his fame. As it should be. His golden boot stood firm on Drake’s back. The new prime’s comment brought a slight smile to the King’s face. This man may have use as a fool after all.

“Just answer the question so I know who to stab…” Gilgamesh finally recognized the voice to be that of his young assassin Victor Wolfe. Originally, Gilgamesh would have Victor’s head for daring to draw his blood, but seeing as Nippur had lacked a leader for two years, the assassin’s doubts were well founded.

Gilgamesh brought up his face to look into Victor’s eyes, “Ah yes. You had decided to make yourself useful by fetching me a fruit.” The Golden King paused in thought, bringing his finger to his lip, pretending to be lost in thought. “An apple if I recall correctly?” His smug, silky voice sweetly caressed Victor’s ears. Stepping over Drake, putting all of his weight onto the foot that was on his back, Gilgamesh walked over to the surprised assassin.

Victor’s eyes went wide in realization of his folly before kneeling before Gilgamesh. His arm was crossed against his chest, proclaiming loyalty. How cute. “My King, I apologize for my blunder. You must understand your throne is a very popular seat of power.” Gilgamesh put his hand on Victor’s chin, forcing his head up to meet his eyes. Victor stumbled through his next sentence, “I was...trying to save it for you my liege.”

The Golden King let go of young Victor’s face and continued to physically impose on the kneeling assassin. “I have been gone for some time. Yet you continue to serve and protect the throne.” Giving Victor a reassuring smile, he continued, “You shall be rewarded promptly upon my return. Whatever you desire shall be fulfilled.”

“My liege what about me?” The foreign prime spoke as he continued to lay prone. With as much ease as cutting butter with a warm knife, a shimmering portal flickered into existence next to Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh couldn’t help but give a sigh of pleasure, the Underverse had made it quite difficult to do anything. The hilt of a sword emerged from the portal, allowing its owner to unsheathe it. He turned and pointed the sword at the prostrate prime.

“What about you?” The King spoke with a sneer in his voice, this man irritated him but he couldn’t understand why.

“I was hoping my, most honorable and generous King, that-” Gilgamesh cut him off with a threatening slash of his sword.

“On your knees.” Drake gave him a smile as he moved from his position. The one-armed prime was about to speak, but Gilgamesh did not want to hear it.
“What is your name?” Gil cut him off as he brought the sword up to the prime’s chest, eying the man up and down.

“Drake Oneir, at your service.” The man continued to embellish his sentences and punctuate them with too much flattery aimed at Gilgamesh. While Gil wasn’t one to denounce praise, this man’s words felt like there was something hidden beneath it.

“So Drake,” Gilgamesh spat out the prime’s name with disdain, “I will be heading back to reclaim my throne. If you do wish to serve me, you serve me by ridding my streets of pretenders and bandits. Not just by worshiping me, although rightfully so.”

Gilgamesh turned around and walked to the final prime, ignoring the man’s response of, “Anything for you my lord.”

Raising an eyebrow of his trusty assassin, Gilgamesh swung three quick strikes against the prime. With ease the stranger  parried each of the blows and responded by placing his sword next to the King’s neck. Giving the primea smug smile, Gilgamesh opened an array of portals surrounding the swordsman. Earning a soft smile from the skilled swordsman, Gil laughed withdrawing his portals.

“I could use a soldier like you back in my city. My people have been exposed to many evils while I was away and I think you could help me alleviate that problem.”