Nanna's sleep potion was more powerful than I expected. I skipped the whole afternoon, the night and early morning. I woke up still in her bed, and with three main sensations. Hunger, thirst, and a small amount of magical energy in the tank. I ignored the former two and focused on the latter. The feeling of emptiness when one spends their magic is very similar to physical exhaustion I felt it when I Decomposed the zombies, and when I fainted after defeating the lich but at that time I couldn't tell them apart.

I recalled what happened yesterday. That was... awful. This city was going to be turned upside down and rend asunder. I only hoped whatever was patched with the remnants was still able to grant us a livelihood. I needed a plan to protect the girls. Right now the default plan was to kick the butt of anyone that came to get them.

I would even go away. If any of them really wanted to go and find a husband at that bride market, I'd be split between let them have their agency or just shutting the stupid idea down. Maybe it was one of those cases where you needed to intervene because you knew the path they chose was one of self-destruction. I needed to talk to them first. Maybe I was jumping the gun.

I had time to assess the threat, plan, and act. As Arwia said, it would take time to gather all the women. Maybe I should've taken the control of the city to myself. What a bother.

Nope. I did the right thing by stepping out of the spotlight and into the sidelines.

Good. A new day, new opportunities. And new flesh, it seems. I could feel that my body was limber. My mood improved. I even had a sliver of magic left to use. I adjusted the bra straps. Still, not back to full power, it seems. But the amount of magic available seemed stable if not growing slowly. I think the recovery boon was spending less than what was generated.

No idea if that was true or not, just throwing wild guesses.

Nourishment. My body demanded nourishment. I got out of Nanna's bed and looked around. She wasn't home and her cauldron wasn't in use. Did she run out of eyes? At six a day... Maybe?

Note to self. Don't store tons of stuff in the storage even if you can. It meant I had to find a use for that stuff. I was thinking of the city crowded with the remnants of Marduk's army. I should invest in protection. But steel armor had one huge problem. I couldn't use Decompose to destroy the enemy's weapons and armor.

I should have my armor made with titanium. This way I could Decompose iron as much as I wanted. Titanium was softer than steel but not by much. It was also lighter and malleable. And I could repair it using my own power.

I could have armor with comparable resistance and protection, more durability, less weight, repairable, and that wouldn't interfere with my power in combat.

And would earn me a trope.

Enough thinking. Time to depart and find some food.

I left the annex with a spring on my feet. I had to get something in my belly then find the witch. I had to thank her. I knew that taking some of the burdens out of my storage helped but I had a hunch that it was her magic power that fixed some holes in my reservoir, my pond so to speak, of magic.

Moving out might be a smart move. This city is going south from now on. The market, the ziggurat, everything seems very troublesome. I don't want to give up the mine but honestly, I can find mineral veins elsewhere. And I can get enough of what I might need for myself in a few days of digging if I can get my powers back. I might be paranoid, it might be a race against the clock. I don't know.

Next to the kitchen door, I pause for a moment. I need to plan and it will be bad if I took decisions on my own. It means to gather everyone and ask their opinions. I don't want to intrude in their religious beliefs, that would be a major asshole move.

If they want to get down to it and do the sacred rites with as many people they want, more power to them.

That was me, freaking out yesterday because they might target me. Yosh, let's do it. I enter the kitchen and find people busy with lunch preparations. It is amazing how Abil-Kisu's household always has these sumptuous meals every day. Something feels odd about that, but I'm a guest.

I remember what Nanna told me when I emptied the storage of superfluous things. To keep the pantry in the timeless storage. Did I tell her it was timeless? Maybe I did. It would be too weird for her to just know that. Is it okay to consume that much food? I don't think any of it goes to waste because there's a lot of people to eat the leftovers, but we are in the middle of a drought. There's a river and there's water in the river so it seems contradictory, but the river has not that much volume and it is in a bad place for irrigation. Besides, the gravel that makes up most of the soil drinks water like a sponge.

I wondered if the city would be okay with all the workers slash former soldiers coming to work on the ziggurat. It would massively increase the urban population and put a bigger strain in the already struggling agricultural industry. I need to talk to Abil-Kisu about that. But I should work from the micro to the macro.

So, for me, it is death before dishonor. I won't participate in the bridal market, or even set foot in the temple of Ishtar. If push comes to shove, I'll walk away. Next, poll the opinions of the people of my household.

I enter the kitchen, unable to resist the smell of food. I found the cooks and Belle-Sunu, frantically going through the lunch rush. My favorite freckle-holder notices me.

"Sandra! You are awake! Are you hungry? I have your breakfast set apart, let me get it! Sit right there and wait."

She brings a basket of barley bread, a bowl with a kind of milk curd, and ham. She also put a jar of apricot juice.

Before she could go away, I spoke my piece, "Belle, can you step away from the kitchen for a while? I need to gather everyone to talk about something really important."

I didn't wait for her reply before digging in. I felt a brief pang of guilt eating such lavish breakfast, but I needed the nourishment. And it was delicious.

I heard Belle-Sunu gasp. She seemed very surprised. "Sandra! Your hands!" She shouted.

I dropped the piece of bread I was about to put in my mouth after her shout and raised my hands in front of my eyes. I had no idea what she was talking about, both my hands were perfectly normal...

Perfectly normal.

I looked at Belle-Sunu, then at my hand. Then I closed it into a fist, opened, closed, opened it again, and did the happy fingers.

"My hands!" I squealed!

I was so absorbed I didn't notice. Hard to believe, I know. But my brain had a will of its own. I grabbed Belle's hand and was about to get up when she pulled me down.

"Finish eating. I'm going to gather everyone. Hey Barani, can we use the tent?"

The older cook, which I assume was called Barani, answered, "Yes, but try to not mess up the cushions. The master is bringing guests today."

Guests? Well, it's none of my business until it becomes. I should focus on food and drink.

I finish my breakfast and take a walk around before going to the tent. I keep looking at my hand. I'm still lean but no longer looking like I had an eating disorder. I resisted the urge to grope myself in public. A later full-body examination was required. If only I could get the captain to perform it...

It was not the time for that. I reached the tent and entered. Everyone was already there. I could see Arwia and Belle herding the children, Aristunn and the other ten guards, as Departs was still traveling to the capital to bring the kids' mothers back... That wouldn't be a problem, as they already bore enough children and might be past the age of marriage. The quintet of elders was also there. Nanna, the gardeners, and the two ladies.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

I wave at everyone. "Well, you might have heard, but the new Enshi, may he long rule, declared yesterday that he will try and erect a great Ziggurat. To that, he is opening the city gates to the remnants of Marduk's army, and forcing the women in marriable age to be given away at an auction. I will be honest with you, I don't like that a bit. There are several problems with that. But I am not a native of this world. I am a stranger to your culture.

"I wish to protect you. But I also wish you all to live fulfilling lives. To follow your own dreams. Take Rimush as an example, he wants to rebuild his father's house. I'll support him and I hope we remain as friends. I know some of the girls want to find a husband. If you think the bridal market is the thing for you, I won't stop you from going there."

Nanna scoffed. "Yes, we won't stop you from staying at the temple of Ishtar until that blasted ziggurat is finished."

She actually used an expletive that involves doing something with cow dung in one's orifices. I'll settle for blasted.

"Neither I nor Belle-Sunu are going. We will stay with you, Sandra," Arwia declared. "And I won't let them take Zuska, Ivanika, or Belili."

I was pleased by their response and about to reply but paused. "Belili is ten years old. She is not old enough to marry."

"I'm eleven now. And I am a woman already!" Belili protested.

I had no idea if eleven was precocious or not in this place. The dreaded growth hormones absent from their bovines. They didn't even eat that much bovine meat.

"And you are not going to the bridal market," Rimush growled at his sister. "Lady Sandra is right. The whole thing smells worse than rat pee in the grain sack."

I was glad to have Rimush on my side. I was afraid the scion of Tarantula would hold a grudge, but it seems I won their loyalty.

"But the message was clear, there is not much choice except to submit," Aristunn remarked.

I took a deep breath. "If the Enshi wants to pick a fight with me, so be it. I will fight back. I won't let him touch a finger on any of you. If push comes to shove, we will leave this place. Go elsewhere. Start a new life. I don't think this city will survive the ziggurat. To me, it feels like a mad bid for a power that shouldn't be his."

"I also don't believe it will end well," Nanna echoed my worries. "But we need to see what are Ishtar's wishes and blessings she will grant the city. She is Tarhun's sister and maybe she will coax the old fart to finally send us some rain. There's a chance. Running away now might not be the best move."

I nodded. Nanna was a vital source of information.

"Waiting to see what will happen is good, although we will stay ready to get out at a moment's notice. Does everyone agree?"

"Yes," Aristunn cheered. "I can assure you, Sandra. The men and I will protect our people."

I smiled. "Good. Lunch will be served soon, we need to make sure the tent is in pristine condition. So pick up after yourselves and go on with your day. And please, if you want to talk, I have two ears to listen."

They laughed, unsure of what I meant with that. "Of course you have two ears, silly!" Muksu pointed out.

We vacated the tent, making sure it was presentable and the crowd dispersed. I followed Nanna. I wanted to ask her opinion on what was going to happen.

"Nanna, I didn't know Ishtar was Tarhun's sister. Do you think it means she is covered by my treaty with him?"

"No, it is not. Look, girl, being siblings means very little when the gods are concerned. They will fight, make and break alliances. And they surely won't miss even their own mother!"

She roared with resentment and I was confused. Why would she resent the gods that much? Was she a priestess in her youth? Of Tarhun's mother? Who was Tarhun's mother?

"Nanna, I..."

She was fuming. I was sure I'd hit an open wound and wanted to apologize, but she was emanating such a powerful aura of intimidation that I couldn't speak. After a few moments, she returned to normal. The old witch looked very tired and even older. I moved to support her and gently took her elbow.

"Nanna. I'm sorry I asked. I didn't want to pry into your past."

She glanced up at me and gave me a faint smile. Nanna tapped my hand and straightened herself. "It is fine, Sandra. I appreciate your friendship. Do what you must, I won't hold you back. I am just tired. Come, let's go to my room. Could you keep an old lady company for a while? Share a cup of tea?"

I nodded. "Of course. Please, let me lead you, my lady."

I held her by the arm and took two steps forward when a soft and friendly voice stopped us on our tracks. I looked just to make sure, it was Abil-Kisu. The merchant lord was with several other council members, merchants, and craftsmen I knew. Masters Samus and Lu-Ninurta.

"Ah! Ladies! Exactly who we wanted to find. Please, join us. Time is of the essence!"

I exchanged a glance with Nanna and she nodded. We turned around and returned to the tent. I did a quick headcount and we were ten people. I recognized one of the merchants. Sin-Gasit, the owner of the bathhouse.

"Please, sit wherever you want," Abil-Kisu rushed us in. He clapped twice and one servant came from a fold in the tent. I would never get used to that. "Please, refreshments for my guests. Nothing too strong, we need our wits about us."

The servant nodded and vanished back through the folds. Everyone shuffled around. I sat between Samus and Nanna. Once everyone was comfortable on the cushions, the host clapped.

"Friends. We are here to discuss the future of our beloved city. The Enshi is going to ruin us all. This insanity of building a ziggurat in the middle of the worst crisis in the last decades will kill everyone. Officers of the army are as we speak courting our would-be invaders to bring them here to marry our daughters! The outlying villages can barely produce enough food for the local population and you know we've been importing food from the south to keep with the demand. We just can't feed a foreign army!"

A shiver ran up my spine. Was Brandon one of these officers sent to recruit the army remnants? Was that the reason he didn't come back? Abil-Kisu continued.

"Does anyone have any idea why he came up with such crazy ideas? Is this an effect of his malady, corroding his mind just as it is corroding his body?"

I was about to speak when Nanna held my hand and put a finger over her mouth.

"Yes," One merchant shouted. "He is clearly insane! We should assassinate him!"

That would be even worse. Now that the troops were out recruiting, some soldiers would come one way or another. Killing the Enshi would leave these converts without a reason and hanging on broken promises. I knew the promise of available women was a great motivator for these men. Just take for example the terrorist group in West Africa. They recruited men with just the promise of women. Then to make good on that promise, they attacked the school and kidnapped the girls.

Killing Es-Kina the Nephew now would mean also killing these soldiers. The ensuing fight would be a bloodbath. With Brandon right in the middle of the fray. There wasn't a good solution. Letting him build the ziggurat was bad, causing civil unrest and chaos was even worse.

"I am against assassination. Killing the Enshi at this point will only increase the chaos. People will lose heart and maybe burn the rest of the city. It was hard to make them stay or return already. Regarding the food condition, I might be able to help. Although I will charge a price for that."

The three merchants I didn't know grumbled and scowled as I spoke. These were ones that were involved in the impromptu decision to pardon Nephew and reinstate his standing, so he could ascend to the throne. I ignored them, they were harmless. It was time to make my pitch. I would offer my expertise and Earth's knowledge for free, but right then the council had something I needed.

"Let's hear Lady Rinaldi's proposal!" Abil-Kisu clapped hard and silenced the dissent. "Milady, please forgive my companions. They both have daughters in marriable age and are too concerned about their well-being."

I nodded and gave my best friendly smile to the merchants that glared at me.

"Of the people here, I believe I am the one that understands their daughters' concern the best, honorable Abil-Kisu," I jested. Lu-Ninurta chuckled and I could see Samus barely holding his mirth. "I have extensive knowledge of farming techniques from my world. I believe I can greatly improve the yield of the crops. It won't happen overnight or even in a single week. But I know I can bolster the next harvest. I can also enrich the soil and teach the farmers so the benefit will be permanent."

"And what is your condition?" The merchant that cried murder before asked.

"I want the Enshi to grant amnesty for the houses and business of everyone involved. None of our goods shall be confiscated, none of our men drafted, and none of our women brought to the bride market against their will. And also keep us out of any extra taxation."

I couldn't be selfish. The key to a good negotiation was to reach a win-win situation where nobody was left behind. By dragging all of them into the fold and making these ample demands, I hoped to bring them into my side. Of course, asking it only for my own people would be an easier sell, but I had to cover for and repay Abil-Kisu vast generosity.

"There will be at least three thousand men coming in. Do you think you can make food for all of them?" The merchant that glowered harder on me asked.

"I am sure I can keep the city from starving to death, that much I can promise you. I'll need cooperation for that though. There's only so much I can do."

"I believe we should bring the Lady's offer to the Enshi. And we should advise him to accept that," Abil-Kisu interjected. "You all know that the lady is Tarhun's champion! I say I never profited so much in my life before I met her. Those that oppose her suffer ruin, that much I can tell you. I know what side I'm on. Whatever it takes to make the lady's vision come true, I'll put my coin on the table. If she says she can keep the city from starving, she can."

"Gentlemen, I to have several girls under my care that I do not wish to let go to this bridal market. And I won't let them. I don't mean to disrespect your customs but I believe that people should not be forced to do something they don't want to."

The three bellicose merchants exchanged looks. Their silent communication went by for a minute, I watched Abil-Kisu clearly interested in what they were doing as if he could read their silent language. They nodded at the end of their deliberation.

"We shall present your proposal to the Enshi. We will advise him into accepting," they declared.

Abil-Kisu smiled and clapped his hands twice. "Then we shall eat! A feast to celebrate the birth of a light to guide us through this dark night," He exulted and then added in a sad tone. "Since we lost our beloved moon."

Nanna shuddered at the mention of the moon. Was that the goddess she was a priestess of? Was she even a priestess? I was itching to ask, but I knew I wouldn't. If she wanted to talk about her past, she would. But as only one present that gazed at the beautiful silver rock floating around the Earth, I knew how much that celestial body was missed and needed.

I grasped the witch's hand and gave her a sympathetic smile. It was the least I could do.