The Dark Lord's Vessel

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

There was a cow of the moon god Sîn,

Geme-Sîn (‘maid of Sîn’) was her name.

At her wailing and her cries in birth pangs

The shining moon god Sîn heard her screaming.

‘Who (if not) Naundi, who (if not) Naundi (can help)?

This cow, O lord, is having great difficulty in giving birth,

O lord, pour water from your water bucket on her,

So that the cow Geme-Sîn may open her front,

So that (the offspring) may come out

Like a snake and slip out like a small serpent.'

.

—Ancient Assurian Birth Prayer

.

NINSIANNA

She-Who-Serves-the-Goddess twisted the flat, silver dog tag her husband had given her on their wedding day. It was an amazing piece of jewelry, far more intricate than a piece of lapis or a necklace carved of bone. While the goddess' gift of tongues didn't extend to