Chapter 1
Around 4000 B.C
I started my day by hearing a clay pot crash. I knew that probably one of the queen’s servants broke the pot. The reason I heard the clay pot crash is because I live near the castle. I’m Aea, the head priestess of sumer who kills people for the gods. I decide on the sacrifices and conduct them. I start getting dressed and eating a healthy meal of offerings from the temple. I do everything else like brushing my teeth to finish up getting ready.
As I walk downtown I go over what I know. A: there is no rain. B: I need to kill someone. I quickly start heading to the ziggurat of Enki, the god of wisdom.
Suddenly, I hear the voice of the blacksmith, Hawk.
“Good morning Aea,” He said.
“Hey, hawk,” I say as I run past him.
I did not think much of it as I went to the ziggurat of Enki, the god of wisdom.
The second I entered the ziggurat, it felt a bit odd and out of place. For one, I was met with a timid looking priest. Second, I felt as if something was not there. I began to pace around the place, looking at everything. The art on the wall looked pretty normal, The statues around the place barely had dust on them. After looking around a bit, I realized that there was no sword. I needed to take action.
“I want to call a meeting with the queen and blacksmith!” I yelled at the timid priest.
He whimpered and walked out the door.
Soon, The queen, the blacksmith, and his assistant were at the ziggurat, probably wondering why I called an emergency meeting.
“I have called this meeting because the gods are angry, and have not allowed rain” I explained with some fear in my voice.
“I will arrange for a sacrifice at sundown because we need to kill some people!” I yelled.
After a while, the king sent a team of three army men, the blacksmith, and the blacksmith’s assistant, to get the materials needed for a new sword. I felt so helpless because all I could do was wait. I knew that the group might not make it back in time before sundown. Suddenly, queen Nammuu came behind me and put her hand on my shoulder. I needed to tell her what I thought.
“Queen Nammuu, we can’t just sit around and expect the blacksmith the come back in time before the execution,” I explain.
“Not to worry, Aea” she replied briskly. “Do you think they have failed before?”
“No, I guess not…,” I replied. “But, I need to go into town to inform them of the sacrifice!”
And with that, I walked out of the ziggurat to inform the city of sumer.
Soon I was downtown, with so many unexplained feelings inside of me. But, I knew I needed to do this.
I began to scream at the top of my lungs, “Good people of Sumer, I have arranged for a sacrifice today at sundown!.” Suddenly, the town was a buzz, with people chatting everywhere.
I yelled, “QUIET!”
I followed with, “I’m going to pick one lucky person to be killed today!”
There was absolute silence. Then, I grabbed a random stranger and walked away with him, heading towards the ziggurat. He was going to be sacrificed.
Soon, I was heading towards the ziggurat, with the queen and king not far behind. An army of peasants and slaves followed, with sad expressions on their faces. I could not blame them for what was about to happen.
We all reached the top of the ziggurat with heavy hearts.
Then, the blacksmith came with the weapon that would end a life. A life I never have seen before, the life of a person who once had the earth at their very fingertips, a life that was pure. I felt horrible for doing this.
The blacksmith came and placed the weapon in my hands. I trembled and shook. I did not want to do this. I raised the weapon and with all my might, I struck the man right before me. And it began to rain. I felt good knowing my home is safe.
